The 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex kicks off the final leg of the 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. We’ve seen drivers step up and assert themselves as Countdown contenders in surprising fashion, and we’ve also seen others establish themselves as the favorites to win a world championship.
Every driver will have to earn the big trophy during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. Here’s our take on what’s happened so far in the Countdown and our predictions on how things could shake out in the final three races.
Top Fuel
Let’s be real, what Shawn Langdon is doing to the Top Fuel field in 2026 is borderline criminal.
Brian Husen, Justin Groat, Arron Cave, and the Kalitta Air team have dominated every facet of the season. Doug Kalitta and his team are the only ones in the same zip code as Langdon. Yes, other drivers have scored victories, but Langdon and Kalitta have owned Top Fuel. The Top Fuel title is going back to Ypsilanti, Michigan. The only question is whose name will be on the trophy.
That said, there are still plenty of drivers who can keep things interesting during these final three events.
In any other universe where Team Kalitta isn’t steamrolling the field, the battle between Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett would be grabbing the headlines. These two have kept the Kalitta cars honest and put up some big numbers. Don’t be surprised if either Stewart or Pruett takes over the second spot in the points before the season is over.
We also have to talk about Will Smith. The progression we’ve seen from Smith in 2026 has been impressive. Smith has been a menace on the tree, his Bluebird Turf team has figured his dragster out, and now he’s jumped up to fifth in points during the Countdown. Don’t be surprised if Smith steals a win and makes the chase for the championship interesting.
Funny Car
The Funny Car regular-season points championship was decided at the final event, and there’s a darn good chance the Countdown is going to end the same way.
Matt Hagan bulldozed his way to the regular-season title and has kept his blade down during the Countdown, maintaining the points lead. The problem for Hagan is that he hasn’t been able to create any separation from the rest of the field, and they’re all nipping at his parachutes.
Funny Car rookie Jordan Vandergriff has turned things up and sits just 72 points behind Hagan after the first three Countdown events. He’s been fast, consistent, and is already driving like a seasoned veteran. If Hagan slips up at all, Vandergriff is in the perfect position to swoop in and snag the points lead.
Who’s behind Vandergriff? The two-time and defending Funny Car champion Austin Prock. For some reason, many wrote Prock off after a rough start to the season, but Jimmy and Thomas Prock have lit the afterburners on the Prock Rocket. The Tasca team behind Prock is charging hard and sits just 106 points out of the lead. They’re going to be a factor in the title hunt.
Behind the top three is an absolute hornet’s nest of top-tier drivers who could still sneak into the top spot. Jack Beckman is just 123 points out of the lead in fourth, J.R. Todd is 132 points back in fifth, and Ron Capps is 162 points behind in sixth. If these drivers want their shot at the Funny Car world championship, they’ll need to get on their horse and ride hard starting at the FallNationals.
Pro Stock
Every sign in the universe during the regular season pointed to either Dallas Glenn or Greg Anderson walking away with the 2026 Pro Stock title, but things are going a bit differently in the Countdown than expected.
The biggest story so far in the Countdown is that an Elite Motorsports car has won each event, while the KB Titan cars have struggled. Greg Stanfield has ridden a wave of consistency to the top of the Pro Stock points standings, with Dallas Glenn right behind him, just 71 points out of the top spot. Matt Hartford’s 2026 season has been impressive, so it’s no surprise he’s just 81 points behind Stanfield in third.
Behind the top three is where things get really interesting in Pro Stock. Greg Anderson has struggled in the Countdown so far but is just 109 points out of first. One thing is for certain, and two things are for sure: one of the best Pro Stock drivers ever isn’t going to struggle forever. When Anderson gets hot, the complexion of the Pro Stock Countdown title chase is going to change.
Troy Coughlin Jr. is the other big X-factor who could shake up the Pro Stock title picture. Coughlin and the JEGS team woke up at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and snagged a win. They’ve picked up the pace and now sit in the fifth spot, just 124 points behind teammate Greg Stanfield. If Coughlin keeps marching toward the top, we could see an all-Elite Motorsports battle for the 2026 Pro Stock championship.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Richard Gadson and Gaige Herrera have owned Pro Stock Motorcycle for the past three seasons, and they might be adding another notch on the wall in 2026.
Gadson, who won the regular-season title, has maintained his hold on the top spot in the points standings thanks to strong performances in the Countdown and a win at Rockingham. Herrera is hot on his heels, just 32 points behind in second, and picked up a win at the St. Louis stop. Long story short, the Vance & Hines riders are in control and keeping it a two-rider title chase so far.
What you see behind the top two riders in Pro Stock Motorcycle is a gang of four who are trying to claw their way to the top.
John Hall’s win at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park has helped keep him in the third spot, just 105 points behind Gadson. Matt Smith sits in fourth, 113 points out of the lead. These two riders are in the best position to challenge Gadson and Herrera. Ryan Oehler currently holds down fifth, while Angie Smith is in sixth. If these two want to make a title run, they’d better get after it in Texas.
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