The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is heading into uncharted territory this weekend as South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP) hosts its first-ever national event, the NHRA Southern Nationals. For most of the Funny Car field, the Valdosta-area facility will be a complete unknown, but for Chad Green, it’s familiar ground. That experience could prove valuable.
Green, a two-time NHRA Gatornationals winner (2025 and 2026), is one of the few Funny Car drivers in the field with prior seat time at South Georgia Motorsports Park. Before stepping into nitro Funny Car competition, the Midland, Texas-based driver spent time competing and testing at the track in the Pro Mod ranks.
“I have been to the Georgia track many times with the Pro Mod car,” said C. Green. “I think it will be a good track for an NHRA national event. We had some clutch issues last week at Charlotte, but I think we have them solved. And I’m excited for Hunter and I to run in the Southern Nationals. We want to get back to the winner’s circle soon after kicking off the season with a win at Gainesville. I believe we have the team to consistently run for the win. And Hunter’s car is improving with each race. I know he is anxious for this weekend’s race.”
Adding another compelling storyline to the weekend, Chad Green will once again compete alongside his son, Hunter Green. The duo remains the only father-son pairing in the nitro Funny Car ranks, campaigning CGM Bond-Coat machines against one of the most competitive fields in the sport.
Hunter Green showed flashes of potential at the 4-Wide Nationals, narrowly missing a round win despite an impressive .049 reaction time in the opening round. Now, with more seat time and adjustments to his setup, he’s eager to take the next step.
“Getting back in the driver’s seat at Charlotte was good for me,” said H. Green, whose 2026 race was the Gatornationals in March. “I had a new steering wheel (MPI) and a new helmet that I wanted to get used to, and I think I adapted pretty well with the new equipment. The four-wide race is always different and unique compared to the normal two-wide action. But the four-wide format has never bothered me. I know it’s tough on some drivers.
“We are working to get my car closer to my dad’s car in terms of horsepower. We aren’t there quite yet, but we should see a gain with the engine this weekend at Georgia. If that works out, I’m very excited about our changes this weekend. I would like to sneak up on the competition as we did in the first round at Charlotte. We may be a second-year team, but we have the crew and the equipment to be contenders in the future.”
After opening the season with a win at Gainesville, Chad Green has already proven his team has the capability to contend. Now, both he and Hunter are focused on turning potential into results at one of the most anticipated events of the 2026 season.
You might also like
Here's Your Chance To Be A Part Of The 2026 Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout
Do you have what it takes to win the $10K Drag Shootout? Here's your chance to apply and be a part of the ultimate drag racing show.
