Chad Green Targets A Funny Car Win At U.S. 131 Motorsports Park

NHRA’s return to Michigan after 66 years already makes the inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by Mopar a big deal. Chad Green would like to make it even more memorable by leaving U.S. 131 Motorsports Park with the trophy.

Green will roll into Martin, Michigan, in the familiar blue, orange, and white bproauto Ford Mustang Funny Car as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins its six-race Countdown to the Championship. The Texas businessman and racer enters the weekend eighth in Funny Car points, just 86 points from the lead, and already owns two national event victories in 2026.

The Great Lakes Nationals marks NHRA’s first national event in Michigan since the 1960 U.S. Nationals at Detroit Dragway. That history alone gives the U.S. 131 event a different feel.

For Green, the significance is amplified by bproauto’s Michigan connection.

“We are very excited for the first NHRA national race in Michigan in 66 years,” said Green. “But even more excited to be displaying the bproauto colors again this weekend. Based in Michigan, bproauto brings a popular new brand to the Funny Car ranks, and I would love to put their colors in the winner’s circle in its home state.

“With cooler weather in Michigan, I think you will see some impressive times and speeds at the new race, and it is a big difference from the last race two weeks ago in Indianapolis, where it was 97 degrees and humid. I know our team is prepared to perform well in better weather conditions, and I believe we have another good chance for a win. Plus, we want to start the ‘Countdown’ strong with a win towards the championship.”

Green has proven multiple times this season that his CGM team can finish the job on Sunday. He won the NHRA Gatornationals in March and followed that with another victory at the Route 66 Nationals in May. Those two wins helped put him into the Countdown with a realistic shot at climbing the standings during the six-race championship sprint. Green is a four-time career NHRA national event winner in Funny Car, and another victory in Michigan would come at an ideal time.

Before Green can think about a Sunday win, he wants to put the bproauto Mustang in a favorable position on the ladder.

“Qualifying well really sets you up for a good position in Sunday’s eliminations,” said Green. “You want to be in the top half of the 16-car Funny Car field so you can gain lane choice and get the proper advantage for the rest of the day. Our goal is to run hard in qualifying.”

That’s especially important in Funny Car, where the depth of the field can make every first-round matchup difficult. A top-half qualifying position can provide lane choice and potentially give a team a better chance to dictate how it approaches race day.

Chad Green Motorsports will also have another family member involved in the weekend.

Green’s son, Hunter, is in his second season as a professional Funny Car driver and competes in the CGM Bond-Coat Dodge//SRT Hellcat. Hunter has already shown he can race with the established names in the class. He also has one particularly important result on his résumé this season: he beat his father in eliminations. That adds a little extra family rivalry to the CGM operation.

Green enters the Great Lakes Nationals eighth in the standings and 86 points behind the leader. That may sound like a lot, but the Countdown format can create big swings quickly. A deep run combined with an early exit by one or two drivers ahead of him can change the standings in a hurry. If Green can put all of that together, the first NHRA national event in Michigan in 66 years could end with a very memorable trophy headed back to Texas.