The Mission Foods Drag Racing Series only four-wide racing event of the season, provided plenty of excitement. Veteran racers and world champions dominated the finals at zMax Dragway during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Doug Kalitta, Ron Capps, Matt Hartford, and Gaige Herrera all brought home a 75th Anniversary Wally this weekend.
Kalitta Continues Championship Form
Doug Kalitta delivered a historic performance at zMAX Dragway, blasting to a track-record 342.98 mph run in the final round to secure victory at the fourth stop of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Kalitta’s path to victory wasn’t easy.
He navigated through two competitive quads to reach the final, where he faced a stacked lineup that included Shawn Langdon, Tony Stewart, and Leah Pruett. Langdon had the early advantage off the starting line, but Kalitta’s monster top-end charge erased any doubt as he powered to his second win of the 2026 season and the 60th of his career.
“Alan [Johnson, crew chief] thought it was going to run over 340 mph, so that was good. I don’t know how he predicts these things, but the guy’s a wizard tuning these cars and I’m just very, very fortunate,” Kalitta said. “It’s a hell of an opportunity to work with him and Connie’s [Kalitta, team owner] given us everything we need with all three of our cars. I’m sure he is pretty proud of what we accomplished.
“The guys pulled through for me. I was really happy to see that light when it came on. We had a lot of support here and this is the kind of race you want to win.”
With the win, Kalitta becomes the first Top Fuel driver in 2026 to collect two victories, further solidifying his position as a championship favorite.
Ron Capps Stays Hot In Funny Car
In Funny Car, Ron Capps continued his early-season dominance.
Capps piloted his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra to a 3.905-second win in the final round, holding off a loaded field that included Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, and J.R. Todd. The victory marked Capps’ second win in the last three races and his 79th career triumph.
“I still can’t believe it,” Capps said. “You have cars like this at times in your career and you just don’t want to mess up as a driver… it’s like you’re given this to not screw up and to cut a light and, most importantly, drive it, keep it as straight as possible in a Funny Car.
“The four-wide brings such a unique mentality to everything… this is especially cool because this is the only four-wide race this year.”
Capps qualified No. 1 and posted the quickest pass of the weekend, reinforcing his position as one of the top contenders in the Funny Car championship race.
Matt Hartford Breaks Through In Pro Stock
Matt Hartford added another highlight to the weekend, capturing his first career 4-Wide Nationals win in Pro Stock.
Driving his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro, Hartford ran 6.526 at 210.05 mph in the final to defeat Cody Coughlin, Greg Anderson, and Matt Latino. The victory marked his second win of the 2026 season and the 10th of his career.
“If you’re going to win in this class, you pretty much have to leave ahead of everybody and that’s really hard to do,” Hartford said. “I struggle with it. I was .024 in the final and I thought that was great for me, especially on the four-wide, which is hard.”
The win moves Hartford into third place in the Pro Stock standings as he continues a strong early-season campaign.
Gaige Herrera Returns To Form In Pro Stock Motorcycle
Gaige Herrera reminded everyone why he’s been one of the most dominant forces in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The two-time world champion captured his first win of the 2026 season with a 6.758-second run at 199.88 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Herrera outdueled a competitive final quad that included teammate Richard Gadson, Clayton Howey, and Chase Van Sant.
“I knew we all were going to push the tree in the final and I think that’s the tightest I’ve seen a four-wide final in the bike category,” Herrera said. “It’s pretty cool to have all Suzukis in the final, too… it’s pretty cool to win in NHRA’s 75th anniversary.”
The win marks Herrera’s 29th career victory and his third four-wide win in Charlotte.
Sunday’s final results from the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. The race is the fourth of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.692 seconds, 342.98 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.727 seconds, 338.51 mph and Leah Pruett, 3.724 seconds, 329.42 mph and Tony Stewart, 10.663 seconds, 66.89 mph;
Funny Car — Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.905, 334.90 def. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.917, 329.50 and Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.947, 330.55 and J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.050, 323.81;
Pro Stock — Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.526, 210.05 def. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.529, 210.14 and Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.529, 210.31 and Matt Latino, Camaro, 11.390, 78.39;
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.758, 199.88 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.809, 198.17 and Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.854, 196.87 and Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, foul;
Top Alcohol Dragster — Joey Severance, 5.203, 274.50 def. McKenna Bold, 5.264, 276.52 and Jamie Noonan, 5.226, 273.22 and Jackie Fricke, 5.261, 275.79;
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.388, 269.73 def. Phil Esz, Camaro, 5.464, 261.42 and Bob McCosh, Camaro, 8.907, 112.28 and Chris Foster, Camaro, 10.331, 107.76;
Competition Eliminator — Monty Bogan, Pontiac G5, 8.410, 150.21 def. Joe Carnasciale, Chevy Cavalier, 8.895, 143.02.
Super Stock — Kent Hanley, Chevy Cavalier, 9.296, 136.87 def. Patrick Glade, Pontiac Firebird, 10.049, 130.62.
Stock Eliminator — David Barton, Chevy Camaro, 10.386, 112.06 def. Jeff Strickland, Camaro, 9.478,134.08.
Super Comp — Lauren Freer, Dragster, 8.920, 180.57 def. Vance Houston, Dragster, 8.884, 178.40.
Super Gas — Tim Powell, Chevy Corvette, 9.901, 165.84 def. Keith Mayers, Spider, 9.845, 148.31.
Super Street — Keith Mayers, 968, 10.874, 147.49 def. Ray Dew, Nova, 10.845, 140.93.
Top Dragster — Robert Houston, Dragster, 7.085, 183.82 def. Walter Zalak, Dragster, 6.627, 204.79.
Top Sportsman — Frank Altilio, Chevy S-10, 7.320, 166.31 def. Carl Freeman, Chevy Cavalier, 7.752, 174.12.
Pro Modified — Mike Stavrinos, Chevy Camaro, 5.669, 253.56 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.658, 253.66 and Jason Collins, Camaro, 5.695, 250.60 and Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.766, 251.81;
Factory Stock Showdown — Jonathan Allegrucci, Ford Mustang, 7.716, 178.42 def. Jason Dietsch, Mustang, 7.722, 166.93 and Raymond Nash, Dodge Challenger, 7.739, 175.50 and Taylor Dietsch, Mustang, 9.007, 159.08;
Outlaw Street — Ryan Martin, Chevy Camaro, Broke def. Scott Taylor, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
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