With a quarter of NHRA’s Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitions in the book, this 75th anniversary season is looking to be one for the record books, even if those record books don’t count for points as they once did. One thing we know for sure, in the nitro classes, both teams from legendary former drivers are looking exceptionally good. But since there’s still 15 races left in a 20-contest season, it would be smart to take a step back and look at possibilities, probabilities and sure things.
This weekend’s Southern NHRA Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park, the first of four new venues for NHRA’s professional series during its 75th diamond anniversary season, showed that the cream of the early season crop is easily Kalitta Motorsports and John Force Racing. In qualifying, the Brian Husen-led, Connie Kalitta-owned and managed team for 2013 Top Fuel titleholder Shawn Langdon rewrote the record books with their 345.00-mph (3.724-mph) blast on Friday. While he didn’t earn the No. 1 slot – that went to his teammate and reigning champion in Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta, Langdon shined on Sunday before the second consecutive sell-out crowd at this track, earning his second win of this season and 24th of his career.
Holding off Kalitta’s 3.954/314.61 with his own 3.808/333.16 lap down the 1,000-foot track, Langdon defeated Cameron Ferre, four-time champ Antron Brown and Clay Millican to get to the finals, using consistency throughout eliminations to earn his second diamond trophy. This meet-up was the sixth between Langdon and Kalitta and the Californian continues to hold a lead over his teammate at 4-2 wins in final rounds. Kalitta dropped a cylinder early and that’s what it took. “It’s always a good weekend when you can wake up in the morning and feel like you can win,” Langdon said after hoisting his trophy. “A lot of hard work went into the off-season, trying to improve a lot of things with the car, and it’s paying big dividends right now. All three Kalitta are are fantastic right now.”
While Kalitta Motorsports’ J.R. Todd earned No. 1 status with his Toyota GR Supra Funny Car after three rounds of qualifying were complete, he wasn’t able to hold off John Force Racing’s newly hired Jordan Vandergriff’s Chevrolet SS in the final round. While conditions had been cool and wet through Saturday’s single qualifying attempt that came late in the day, Sunday’s sunshine meant changed conditions for everyone. Vandergriff’s crew chief, Chris Cunningham found the sweet spot for their newest driver.
Vandergriff, in only his fifth Funny Car race, had the traction to take Todd in the finals after his nemesis clicked off under difficult driving conditions. Vandergriff hit 4.007 seconds at 314.17 mph to beat Todd’s 4.784/169.89. Once he reached the turnout and received his prizes, Jordan emulated his uncle Bob Vandergriff, who sprinted from his winning Top Fuel rail back to the Christmas tree to celebrate with his crew. “I’m still kind of taking in just how special this is,” Vandergriff said. “This moment is something I thought of for a very long time, since my last final in 2019, when I lost to Billy Torrence in Dallas (driving in Top Fuel).
“Running up the track was something I always thought about doing because my uncle did it out of pure joy when he won his first, and I just had to do it. I was contemplating it in the car before the run and I was like, ‘I’m doing it, no matter what.’ Hopefully, this is just the first of many and it’s a good one to start!” Vandergriff is currently living in the Atlanta area, making this track’s contest his home race. He also dedicated his victory to the late Adria Force Hight, who passed away April 28. “I was just thinking about everything Adria did for John Force Racing; she was a pivotal part of this organization and I thank her for all the hard work she put in, helping John build this amazing race team that is giving me the chance to live my dreams and represent them.”
While reigning Pro Stock champion Dallas Glenn looked a bit more human in last week’s 4-Wide NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, he and his KB Titan Racing squad were back to busting balls again this week in Georgia. Glenn yielded the No. 1 qualifying slot to teammate and six-time champion Greg Anderson, posting only the ninth best qualifying run on the quarter-mile. On Sunday Glenn didn’t have an easy time making it to the final round, winning a first-round pedalfest against Elite Motorsports’ Jeg Coughlin Jr. and again in the semifinals against Elite’s Greg Stanfield. He had clean runs in the quarters against KB Titan’s Matt Latino and again in the final round against surprising Troy Coughlin Jr., who has had issues getting his Elite Motorsports Camaro down the track in these early races.
Leading the points as the tour anticipates a weekend off, “Today was definitely weird,” Glenn acknowledged. “This is probably the weirdest elimination day of Pro Stock car that I can remember. I’ve seen bad rounds before, but never continuously all through the day It’s a combination of the track not quite being what we’re used to, and the air being really good. Luck definitely played a role today. If anybody makes a clean run against me on either one of those two runs, first round and semis, I’m dust,” Glenn acknowledged.
Matt Smith, winner in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class with his Matt Smith Racing Buell, took his first diamond Wally trophy of this young 2026 season. While he’s qualified No. 1 at each of the first three races in this Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Sunday eliminations haven’t been kind to Smith – until this one. With only 14 motorcycles on the grounds, Smith enjoyed a bye on his first round but didn’t get his Buell down the track, went on to defeat a tractionless Chase Van Sant’s Suzuki in the second round with a 6.685/203.06, then took out wife Angie in the semifinal bout to meet reigning titleholder Richard Gadson and his Vance & Hines Motorsports Suzuki Hayabusa3. In a battle of titans, Smith used a 6.724/202.06 lap to defeat an early leaving but slowing 6.834/193.24 lap for Gadson.
In earning his 43rd Wally trophy as he seeks a class record seventh world championship, “This is not only rewarding for me, but it’s just rewarding for our team. We worked so hard this winter to find a little bit of power,” Smith explained. “We found some power and we’re showing it. We’ve been No. 1 qualifier for three races in a row now. We just hadn’t shown up on Sunday and I’m glad we showed up today.” Talking about his lucky first-round bobble, “As soon as I brought the engine up, the toggle switch on the fuel pump went out, so we lost lane choice (for the second round). As soon as I saw this [75th anniversary NHRA Wally trophy] I knew I wanted one. I’m glad we didn’t have to wait too long to get it!”
NHRA welcomed a new winner in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod class when Jason Collins, making just his second career start, drove to the victory over Mike Thielen in the final round of this sold-out race. This was the fourth of 11 Pro Mod races and this weekend’s race was powered by Dixie Trucking. Collins qualified second and rolled past Thielen in a wire-to-wire lap on the quarter-mile. After first competing in Pro Mod last week in Charlotte, “It’s hard to believe,” Collins said. “I have to thank my dad and mom; they spent a lot of money helping me learn how to drive a race car. I know it’s my second NHRA race, but I’ve done a lot of racing in my life, so I want to thank Scott Tidwell for putting me in this ride!”
NHRA will celebrate the Mother’s Day weekend by taking time out to spend with families. Then it’s time to race in Joliet, with the May 15-17 Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK at Route 66 Raceway outside Chicago.
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