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HAGAN, KALITTA AND ANDERSON BATTLE THEIR WAY TO WINS AT NHRA BRAINERD NATIONALS
– Hagan moves into FC points lead with win
– Kalitta caps off perfect weekend with TF victory
– Anderson goes back-to-back in Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 23, 2026) – Four-time Funny Car world champion
Matt Hagan moved into the points lead, defeating Jordan Vandergriff in
the final round in front of another huge crowd on Sunday at Brainerd
International Raceway to win the 44th annual NHRA Brainerd Nationals.
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also won the 13th
of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
season.
Hagan went 3.946-seconds at 320.13 mph in his 12,000-horsepower American
Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car to power past Vandergriff
and win for the third time this season for Tony Stewart Racing. It is
Hagan’s 58th career win and second at Brainerd, and the triumph in the
final round sent him to the top of the loaded Funny Car category.
Hagan was incredibly consistent on raceday, reaching the finals after
defeating Jim Campbell, Chad Green and Austin Prock. Hagan went 3.94 in
the final three rounds, including the finals when he quickly drove past
Vandergriff, who slowed to a 4.038.
The standout started the weekend fifth in points but ended as the points
leader in the ultra-competitive Funny Car class. Heading to Indy, Hagan
will have a seven-point lead over Vandergriff, with Ron Capps, J.R. Todd
and Jack Beckman all close behind. Capps is just 12 points back, with
Todd and Beckman 22 and 74 points behind, respectively.
“It’s very humbling because you never know what you’re going to
get in a Funny Car. If you think you’re going to go out there and
pound on your chest, these things will kick you in the (butt),” Hagan
said. “I’m just very grateful that we have such a good group of guys
putting a great race car underneath me.
“We definitely could have bracket-raced this car this weekend. It just
shows what our team is capable of. Everybody is just working hard and
doing what they’re supposed to do. As I was doing the burnout and
backing up, it gave me chills, man. The fans were packed in here. NHRA
is doing a great job promoting our sport, and our sport is growing every
day.”
Vandergriff, who qualified No. 1, reached the finals for the third time
this season thanks to victories against Alexis DeJoria and J.R. Todd.
Top Fuel reigning world champion Doug Kalitta finished off an epic and
flawless weekend in Brainerd, getting his third straight victory by
holding off rookie Maddi Gordon in the championship round with an
impressive run of 3.743 at 333.74 in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools
dragster.
It’s also the second straight Brainerd victory for Kalitta, who moved
into the points lead on Saturday and strengthened his grip on the
regular season championship on raceday. After qualifying No. 1 –
making the quickest run in all four sessions – and winning the Mission
#2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, Kalitta was unbeatable on Sunday,
too, rolling past Cam Ferre, Antron Brown and Justin Ashley to reach the
final round.
Gordon left first and put up a respectable 3.770 at 328.78, but Kalitta
quickly tracked her down to pick up his fourth win this season and the
63rd in his career.
Just like last year, Kalitta has a dominant car at the perfect time as
the veteran attempts to win the world championship for the third time in
the past four years. First up, Kalitta will try to win the regular
season title in Indy, and he’ll have an impressive 67-point lead over
teammate Shawn Langdon leading into the world’s biggest drag race.
“It was definitely an interesting day,” Kalitta said. “My guys did
a great job throughout the weekend, through qualifying, the Mission
Foods deal and then being able to go rounds on Sunday and get to the
final and beat Maddi. She’s doing a great job and they’re tough.
“Alan (Johnson, crew chief) and those guys had my car running 3.74
like three times. That was enough, even with a little bit of a cushion.
It was what we needed to do to get the job done today. The momentum is
really good. We’re all really hungry.
“When you get down to those last six races, every round is so
important. Today actually felt that way, too. Getting by those first
couple rounds, I was like, ‘What a relief,’ because you don’t want
to go out early.”
Gordon reached her second final round in her debut season after getting
past Scott Palmer, Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett.
In Pro Stock, the track where Greg Anderson grew up racing continues to
be very good to the six-time world champion, as the points leader won
for the second straight year in Brainerd, going 6.584 at 208.17 in his
HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro to chase down first-time finalist
Chris Vang.
It was a massive points day for Anderson after KB Titan Racing teammate
and reigning world champion Dallas Glenn fell in the first round after
qualifying No. 1. Anderson took advantage in a major way, defeating
Mason McGaha, Troy Coughlin Jr. and Greg Stanfield to reach the finals.
Vang left first, but Anderson tracked him down to win for the fourth
time this season and the 116th time in his spectacular career. He also
opened up a significant 85-point lead over Glenn with one race remaining
in the regular season. That gives Anderson a sizeable advantage as he
aims to win the regular season championship in Indy. It’s also the
fifth career Brainerd victory for Anderson, which is the most in Pro
Stock history at the standout facility.
“The world knows this is the place where it all started for me. I
wouldn’t be a Pro Stock racer today if it wasn’t for this place and
all the people around here,” Anderson said. “My father and John
Hagen gave me my start in Pro Stock. It’s been a special place to me
since the first time I walked on the grounds.
“It’s pretty cool to win here and apparently have the record for
most wins. This place has everything. It’s a great, great event. The
prestige of this one never, ever goes away. It’s certainly at the top
of my list, and I think it should be at the top of a lot of people’s
lists. To come out on top is just an incredible feeling. It never gets
old, and I hope it never does. I treat every one like it’s the first
because you never know when the last one is going to be the last.
They’re all special. I hope this one wasn’t the last, but I’m
going to enjoy the hell out of this one tonight.”
Vang reached the final round for the first time in his young career
thanks to round wins against Matt Latino, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and rookie
Cody Anderson.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action Sept. 2-7
with the prestigious 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S.
Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
***
BRAINERD, Minn. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 44th annual NHRA
Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the
13th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Maddi Gordon; 3. Leah Pruett; 4. Justin Ashley; 5.
Tony Stewart; 6. Antron Brown; 7. Shawn Langdon; 8. Clay Millican; 9.
Billy Torrence; 10. Will Smith; 11. Josh Hart; 12. Keith Murt; 13.
Cameron Ferre; 14. Scott Palmer; 15. Tony Schumacher; 16. Shawn Reed.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Matt Hagan; 2. Jordan Vandergriff; 3. Austin Prock; 4. J.R. Todd; 5.
Bobby Bode; 6. Alexis DeJoria; 7. Chad Green; 8. Ron Capps; 9. Cruz
Pedregon; 10. Dave Richards; 11. Spencer Hyde; 12. Daniel Wilkerson; 13.
Jim Campbell; 14. Jack Wyatt; 15. Jack Beckman.
PRO STOCK:
1. Greg Anderson; 2. Chris Vang; 3. Cody Anderson; 4. Greg Stanfield; 5.
Matt Hartford; 6.
Aaron Stanfield; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 8. Jeg Coughlin; 9. Dallas Glenn;
10. Erica Enders; 11. Matt Latino; 12. Eric Latino; 13. Deric Kramer;
14. Kenny Delco; 15. Mason McGaha; 16. Jerry Tucker.
BRAINERD, Minn. — Sunday’s final results from the 44th annual NHRA
Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the
13th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.743 seconds, 333.74 mph def. Maddi Gordon,
3.770 seconds, 328.78 mph.
Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.946, 320.13 def. Jordan
Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 4.038, 266.27.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.584, 208.17 def. Chris Vang,
Camaro, 6.615, 207.34.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Anthony Troyer, 5.220, 276.63 def. Melanie
Johnson, 5.250, 274.00.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.523, 264.49
def. Christine Foster, Camaro, Broke – No Show.
Competition Eliminator — Cody Lane, Bantam, 7.348, 171.01 def. Bruce
Schmiedl, Bantam, 7.351, 179.97.
Super Stock — Jack Beutler, Olds Cierra, 10.181, 128.90 def. Mike
Graham, Ford Mustang, 10.340, 126.00.
Stock Eliminator — Jamey Picht, Pontiac Grand Sport, 11.140, 99.54 def.
Dirk Olson, Chevy Nova, Foul – Red Light.
Super Comp — Jeff Chaney, Dragster, 8.947, 168.26 def. James Glenn,
Dragster, 8.961, 166.81.
Super Gas — Greg Maaninga, Chevy Camaro, 9.917, 145.55 def. Dale Evens,
Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Super Street — Rich Hill, Chevy Camaro, 11.225, 105.43 def. Donnie
Durenberger, Chevy Nova, Foul – Red Light.
Top Sportsman — Curt Fredrich, Chevy Camaro, 6.587, 209.79 def. Chris
Roe, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
Top Dragster — Kendra Larson, Dragster, 6.929, 191.59 def. Bob Fischer,
Dragster, 6.828, 194.97.
Outlaw Street — Scott Taylor, Camaro, 3.709, 202.82 def. Shawn
Ellington, Nova, 3.717, 203.46.
Junior Dragster Shootout — Evan Songas, Halfscale, 8.038, 80.53 def.
Bodie Carlson, 8.018, 80.94.
Outlaw Snowmobiles — Anthony Mini, HRC4, 4.195, 168.87 def. John
Jacklitch, HRC III, 4.522, 154.92.
BRAINERD, Minn. — Final round-by-round results from the 44th annual
NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 13th of
20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Tony Stewart, 3.726, 334.32 def. Josh Hart, 3.789, 330.47;
Leah Pruett, 3.702, 341.08 def. Will Smith, 3.726, 330.47; Clay
Millican, 3.796, 311.05 def. Billy Torrence, Foul – Red Light; Maddi
Gordon, 3.752, 336.32 def. Scott Palmer, 4.363, 196.93; Doug Kalitta,
3.713, 336.23 def. Cameron Ferre, 4.092, 293.73; Shawn Langdon, 3.708,
335.57 def. Keith Murt, 3.953, 316.23; Justin Ashley, 3.750, 331.36 def.
Shawn Reed, 4.927, 148.04; Antron Brown, 3.776, 330.63 def. Tony
Schumacher, 4.714, 165.01;
QUARTERFINALS — Ashley, 3.793, 335.57 def. Millican, 6.390, 96.30;
Gordon, 3.740, 330.72 def. Stewart, 3.751, 338.85; Kalitta, 3.742,
326.56 def. Brown, 3.796, 322.81; Pruett, 4.158, 194.49 def. Langdon,
4.247, 254.66;
SEMIFINALS — Kalitta, 3.747, 329.18 def. Ashley, 3.805, 327.74; Gordon,
3.770, 329.91 def. Pruett, 3.776, 325.14;
FINAL — Kalitta, 3.743, 333.74 def. Gordon, 3.770, 328.78.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Bobby Bode, Ford Mustang, 4.483, 206.99 def. Daniel
Wilkerson, Mustang, 7.925, 101.02; J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.898,
333.66 def. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 7.852, 77.86; Jordan Vandergriff,
Chevy Camaro, 6.044, 110.47 was unopposed; Austin Prock, Mustang, 3.947,
327.27 def. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Charger, 12.032, 83.48; Matt Hagan,
Charger, 3.897, 326.00 def. Jim Campbell, Mustang, 9.727, 112.27; Chad
Green, Mustang, No Time Recorded def. Jack Beckman, Camaro, Foul –
Centerline; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.934, 325.14 def. Cruz Pedregon,
Charger, 3.919, 319.98; Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 3.927, 328.14 def. Dave
Richards, Mustang, 5.358, 135.63;
QUARTERFINALS — Prock, No Time Recorded def. Capps, Foul – Centerline;
Todd, 3.953, 330.63 def. Bode, 3.954, 318.77; Hagan, 3.944, 320.05 def.
Green, 4.191, 275.00; Vandergriff, 3.956, 320.13 def. DeJoria, 3.956,
323.97;
SEMIFINALS — Vandergriff, 3.977, 314.46 def. Todd, 5.800, 161.30;
Hagan, 3.942, 319.37 def. Prock, 4.764, 237.84;
FINAL — Hagan, 3.946, 320.13 def. Vandergriff, 4.038, 266.27.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Chris Vang, Chevy Camaro, 6.561, 207.02 def. Matt Latino,
Camaro, 6.572, 207.30; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.600, 207.43 def.
Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.593, 207.62; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.558,
207.56 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.622, 208.26; Cody Anderson, Camaro,
6.540, 207.11 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.564, 209.30; Matt Hartford,
Camaro, 6.551, 208.81 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.576, 207.02; Jeg
Coughlin, Camaro, 6.572, 208.94 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.555,
208.39; Greg
Anderson, Camaro, 6.546, 207.72 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.596,
208.62; Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.554, 208.07 def. Eric Latino, Camaro,
6.572, 209.20;
QUARTERFINALS — Vang, 6.577, 206.89 def. Coughlin, 7.186, 203.46; G.
Stanfield, 6.587, 207.50 def. A. Stanfield, 6.594, 207.15; G. Anderson,
6.572, 207.69 def. Coughlin Jr., 6.844, 166.05; C. Anderson, 6.561,
206.89 def. Hartford, 6.557, 209.07;
SEMIFINALS — G. Anderson, 6.608, 208.46 def. G. Stanfield, 14.159,
60.58; Vang, 6.581, 207.15 def. C. Anderson, 6.594, 207.37;
FINAL — G. Anderson, 6.584, 208.17 def. Vang, 6.615, 207.34.
BRAINERD, Minn. — Point standings (top 10) following the 44th annual
NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 13th of
20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta, 1,232; 2. Shawn Langdon, 1,165; 3. Leah Pruett, 974; 4.
Antron Brown, 808; 5. Maddi Gordon, 784; 6. Tony Stewart, 753; 7. Josh
Hart, 705; 8. Billy Torrence, 655; 9. Justin Ashley, 609; 10. Clay
Millican, 540.
Funny Car
1. Matt Hagan, 938; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 931; 3. Ron Capps, 926; 4.
J.R. Todd, 916; 5.
Jack Beckman, 864; 6. Austin Prock, 771; 7. Chad Green, 755; 8. Alexis
DeJoria, 737; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 615; 10. Spencer Hyde, 610.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 1,140; 2. Dallas Glenn, 1,055; 3. Greg Stanfield, 942;
4. Matt Hartford, 861; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 735; 6. Erica Enders, 727; 7.
Matt Latino, 716; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 649; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 596; 10.
Cody Anderson, 566.
-NHRA-