As NHRA rushes to finish its 14-race regular Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, first with this weekend’s 44th annual Brainerd NHRA Nationals and two week later at the Big Go, the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, there are many positions available for the taking in the series’ six-race playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship.
We know who’s hot in the three categories racing in Minnesota this weekend – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – and we also know who needs a boost to elevate themselves to possible title hopes. And there are plenty of titles up for the taking: there’s a regular season championship and a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge title on the line by the time racing is completed in these two events.
There are opportunities in every class to move up – or down – in this pair of contests and the will of racers is something that can definitely influence results. While the regular season dragster trophy will likely go to either Shawn Langdon or reigning Top Fuel titleholder Doug Kalitta, both of whom race with Kalitta Motorsports, the ability to make big moves exists within this class.
Langdon and Kalitta have a measly five points separating them. Third through eighth place in the Top Fuel class belongs to Leah Pruett, Antron Brown, Tony Stewart, Maddi Gordon, Josh Hart and Billy Torrence, with 280 points separating these six racers. Justin Ashley is 83 points behind Torrence in eighth, with Clay Millican in tenth and his teammate, Tony Schumacher 11th. Shawn Reed is 86 points behind Schumacher, making the caboose of this field tightly loaded. Consider this: between them, Millican and Schumacher have 14 dragster titles, and both know what it takes to earn a championship.
Ashley had a good 2025 season but hasn’t shown the spark he possessed at the start of his career. What’s the cause? Who knows? He’s got a good team backing him, and he knows how to win. He just hasn’t had the pace he once possessed, but it will be interesting to see if the new father can rebound. Same goes for Josh Hart, who has a way of winning his home race in Gainesville, Florida, having achieved that distinction twice in his short dragster career. Now with John Force Racing (JFR), Hart has the expertise of former driver David Grubnic and John Collins to guide him.
Last year, with two wins and great consistency, Tony Stewart earned Top Fuel’s regular season nod. He won’t do that again this year, but sitting in fifth place with Maddi Gordon breathing down his neck, “Smoke” is in a good position to gain points, should any of those in front of him – including wife Leah Pruett – falter in these two contests. Keith Murt, Cameron Ferre and Scott Palmer join the regulars for a car count of 16.
Funny Car is, in no way more settled than Top Fuel, as there’s only 307 points separating first from tenth, with five drivers already in the fight for the title during the six-race Countdown. Who’s left to pick up the pieces in this nitro-burning class? First through fifth places are already in the Countdown: Ron Capps and his Ron Capps Motorsports’ Toyota GR Supra, Jack Beckman’s JFR Chevrolet SS, JR Todd’s Team Kalitta Supra, Jordan Vandergriff’s JFR Chevy and Matt Hagan, driving Tony Stewart Racing’s Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
That’s definitely a rogue’s gallery of winners and champions, but the five chasing this quintet is no less talented, starting with Chad Green’s Ford Mustang, reigning titleholder Austin Prock driving Bob Tasca’s Mustang, Alexis DeJoria with the third JFR Chevy, Spencer Hyde’s Jim Head Racing Mustang and Daniel Wilkerson’s Mustang. Behind Wilkerson, Dave Richards has been going rounds with his Mustang, and two-time champ Cruz Pedregon has been qualifying well but having Sunday issues. Those two have opportunities to move up but the racers ahead of them are throwing blocks at every race. Look for Jack Wyatt, Jim Campbell and Bobby Bode III to augment the regulars for a 15-car Flopper field.
Pro Stock offers quite a few opportunities for racers to move up in the standings and to move others behind them. While only three drivers are safely in the Countdown: Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn from KB Titan Racing and Elite Motorsport’s Greg Stanfield, the field behind this trio is tight and tautly talented. Start with Matt Hartford, who’s having another banner year; he’s in fourth place and 216 points behind KB Titan’s Anderson, with whom his team has affiliated.
Hartford has been both hot and cold this year and needs consistency to rack up a first national title – or even a regular season nod – as does his closest follower, Elite’s leader Erica Enders, the six-time titleholder (like Anderson) who is in the midst of changing mounts to a Jerry Haas chassis. Stanfield has been using a Haas car throughout the season and his success and consistency mirror his position in the standings. Now that teammates Enders and son Aaron Stanfield, in fifth and sixth, have joined him there could be some big adjustments for the KB Titan crowd.
Still KB Titan’s Matt Latino is tied with A. Stanfield, while both Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Troy Coughlin Jr., racing Haas cars could move up if they come to terms with the chassis quickly. Eric Latino is in tenth place, 522 points behind Anderson. Eric Latino does have another driver to worry about; Cody Anderson, who has the misfortune of attempting to win Rookie of the Year in the season that Maddi Gordon has already notched her first victory. He is only ten points behind Eric Latino in tenth place. As he gets his bearings, it’s easy to see that apple didn’t fall far from the Anderson tree. Cody will have success, but will it come this year? In addition to our top 13 or so, look for Deric Kramer, Alan Prusiensky and his Dodge, Kenny Delco, Mason McGaha, Stephen Bell, Jerry Tucker, Joseph Wilczek with a Ford and Chris Vang in the 19-car lineup.
There will be a wrinkle in Friday night’s qualifying session in Brainerd, when the “Battle for the Axe” offers bonus money, bragging rights and, as NHRA puts it, a distinctly Northwoods flavor. Presented by Visit Brainerd & Baxter, during the second round of time trials on Friday, low qualifiers in all three classes will earn a special cash bonus. The tourism agency is partnering with Brainerd International Raceway to welcome visitors to the area, offering lodging options, restaurants and breweries, while also highlighting upcoming events, trip-planning resources and outside activities from racing, taking place both in town and on the water.
While racers might be eyeing the cash payout that goes with the “Battle for the Axe”, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce will help bring the personality of the region to the top end of the track, with an appearance by Babe the Blue Ox, legendary companion of Paul Bunyan. That babe will join the track’s own Nitro Babe on Friday and return for eliminations on Sunday. Low qualifiers will receive custom chainsaw-carved axes as their Friday night trophies, made by I Saw It In MN.
Last season, Doug Kalitta was the winner in Top Fuel as he worked towards his second Top Fuel championship, as was Austin Prock in Funny Car, prior to taking his second consecutive title in a JFR Chevy. Anderson, originally from the area, earned the victory in Pro Stock. That was then, and this is now. Weather forecasts predict excellent racing conditions, with Friday being the warmest day, followed by sunny and mostly sunny weather with temps in the high 70s for Saturday and Sunday.
A hefty group of sportsman racers will get their opportunities in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. Sportsman qualifying starts on Thursday and there is the possibility of light precipitation later in the day. The schedule for Mission Foods Drag Racing Series contestants shows qualifying beginning with Pro Stock at 3:30PM Friday, followed by the “Battle for the Axe” starting at 6pm. On Saturday, Top Fuel lines up first at noon, with both qualifying and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge rounds, followed by the final qualifying and challenge opportunities starting at 2:30PM. Sunday eliminations are set for 11am.
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