Matt Hagan, Doug Kalitta And Greg Anderson Score Huge NHRA Brainerd Nationals Wins

With the NHRA regular season rapidly running out of races, every round win is becoming more important. Matt Hagan, Doug Kalitta, and Greg Anderson picked the perfect weekend to make major moves.

Hagan left Brainerd International Raceway with the Funny Car points lead after defeating rookie Jordan Vandergriff in the final round of the 44th annual NHRA Brainerd Nationals. Kalitta completed a nearly flawless weekend by scoring his third consecutive Top Fuel victory, while Anderson continued his impressive history at Brainerd with a second straight Pro Stock victory.

More importantly, all three winners will arrive at the upcoming NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park leading their respective championship standings.

Matt Hagan Takes Control Of Funny Car Points

The Funny Car championship battle has been ridiculously tight, and Hagan entered Brainerd sitting fifth in the standings. By Sunday afternoon, the four-time NHRA Funny Car world champion had completely changed the complexion of the points race.

Hagan powered his American Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car to a 3.946-second pass at 320.13 mph in the final round to defeat Vandergriff, who slowed to a 4.038. The victory was Hagan’s third of the 2026 NHRA season, his 58th career Funny Car win, and his second victory at Brainerd International Raceway.

Consistency was the key to Hagan’s march through eliminations. He opened race day by defeating Jim Campbell before getting past Chad Green and reigning world champion Austin Prock. Hagan ran 3.94-second elapsed times during each of his final three rounds, giving his Tony Stewart Racing team the kind of repeatability every nitro crew chief dreams about.

“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.”

Hagan’s victory couldn’t have come at a better time. He’ll enter the NHRA U.S. Nationals with a seven-point lead over Vandergriff. Ron Capps is only 12 points behind Hagan, while J.R. Todd trails by 22 points and Jack Beckman sits 74 points back.

That means the Funny Car regular-season championship will be very much up for grabs at Indy.

Doug Kalitta Completes A Perfect Brainerd Weekend

It’s difficult to imagine Doug Kalitta having a much better weekend at Brainerd.

The reigning Top Fuel world champion made the quickest run during all four qualifying sessions, qualified No. 1, won Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, took over the Top Fuel points lead, and then finished the job by winning Sunday’s NHRA Brainerd Nationals.

Kalitta defeated rookie Maddi Gordon in the final with a 3.743 at 333.74 mph from his Mac Tools dragster. Gordon grabbed the starting-line advantage and made a strong 3.770 at 328.78 mph run, but Kalitta had enough horsepower to drive around her and turn on the win light.

It was Kalitta’s fourth victory of 2026, his 63rd career Top Fuel win, and his second consecutive Brainerd Nationals victory.

“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.”

Kalitta certainly didn’t have an easy road to the final. He defeated Cam Ferre in the opening round before knocking out Antron Brown and Justin Ashley.

Now Kalitta is on an impressive three-race winning streak after victories at Sonoma, Seattle, and Brainerd.

Greg Anderson Remains The King Of Brainerd Pro Stock

Some racers just seem to have certain tracks figured out. For Greg Anderson, Brainerd International Raceway is one of those places.

Anderson grew up racing at Brainerd, and the six-time Pro Stock world champion added another chapter to his history at the facility by defeating first-time finalist Chris Vang. Anderson recorded a 6.584 at 208.17 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro to chase down Vang and secure his second consecutive Brainerd Nationals victory.

The win was Anderson’s fourth of the 2026 season and the 116th of his remarkable Pro Stock career. It was also his fifth victory at Brainerd, giving him the most Pro Stock wins in the track’s history.

“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.”

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns September 2-7 for the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

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.