If you want to understand what pure drag racing looks like, no electronics, no gimmicks, just a driver and their machine, you didn’t have to look any further than Shadyside Dragway to kick off the 2026 Southeast Gassers Association (SEGA) season. The First Drag Race presented by Robbins Repairables was an absolute banger, and here’s who brought home a win.
The A/Gas category put on one heck of a show at Shadyside. Returning hitters like Barry Adler in the Iron Eagle and Leslie Horne in the Chick Magnet were back in action after 2025 incidents, while new combinations like Alan Pittman’s Gravedigger II and Ken Rainwater’s move into A/Gas with the Instigator added fresh intrigue.
But when the dust settled, it was two-time champion Gabriel Burrell in the Southern Flyer who set the tone early, grabbing the No. 1 qualifying spot with a 5.26 elapsed time. Burrell’s path to the final wasn’t without its advantages. He leaned into bye runs in both round one and the semifinals, but he still had to earn it, taking down Dean Jonas and Rainwater to get there.
On the other side of the ladder, Todd Blackwell in the Sling Shot Chevy II proved he was ready to contend, knocking out reigning champion Chase Howard and holding off a strong charge from Pittman. The final delivered exactly what fans came to see, a classic Ford versus Chevy showdown under golden-hour conditions. Blackwell left first, but Burrell’s consistency carried him to a 5.34 ET victory over Blackwell’s 5.43. “It ran good yesterday [during testing], so we knew we had a little bit of hope. Tickled to be here. Didn’t really expect it. John Kaase horsepower put us up front,” said Burrell.
With no defending champion in the field, B/Gas was wide open, and Ted McKee took full advantage. Driving the Rocky Top Missile, McKee set the pace early as the No. 1 qualifier with a 5.60 ET and never looked back. His path to the final included wins over 2024 champion Daniel Haynes and rising talent Brilee Stott, setting up a showdown with Michael Oden in the Double Down Chevy II.
Oden brought consistency to the table, but McKee had the edge in both reaction time and elapsed time. A 5.62 ET in the final sealed the deal, along with low ET honors for the class.
In C/Gas, it was a battle between two of the category’s best, Todd Oden and reigning champion Jerren Perdue.
Oden set the tone in qualifying with a 6.03 ET, narrowly edging Perdue, and both drivers carved through tough matchups to meet in the final. When it mattered most, Oden delivered. His Double XX 1958 Chevy left first and held on for the win, overcoming Perdue’s quicker elapsed time pass.
“Beats the heck out of last year at this time [Todd was recovering from heart issues], I can tell you that. I’m so excited to be up here and get back to the winner’s circle – it makes me feel wonderful,” stated Oden on his 25th SEGA victory.
If there’s one constant in SEGA Super Stock competition, it’s Jerry Dean. Once again, Dean and the Last Rebel II proved to be the class of the field, rolling through eliminations and defeating Rob Walden in the final to continue his dominance. “We tried. Didn’t have a perfect day, but it was a good day,” Dean said, in typical understated fashion.
If the opener is any indication, the 2026 Southeast Gassers Association season is shaping up to be one of its most competitive yet. Stacked fields, evolving combinations, and a mix of veteran champions and rising contenders are creating a recipe for some hot championship battles this year.
You might also like
Photo Extra: 2026 NHRA Winternationals
The NHRA Winternationals is a special event. Check out this massive photo gallery from the 2026 Winternationals.
