The first NHRA national event at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in 66 years delivered just about everything you could ask for.
A new Top Fuel speed record was set, the Funny Car winner started from the No. 16 qualifying position, a Pro Stock driver snapped a 41-race winless streak, and a Pro Stock Motorcycle winner who admitted he was ready to quit racing earlier in the weekend.
Shawn Langdon, Jordan Vandergriff, Troy Coughlin Jr., and John Hall walked away from the inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR with victories as the 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship opened in Martin, Michigan.
Shawn Langdon Puts On A Top Fuel Clinic
Langdon and his team showed no mercy as they absolutely hammered the Top Fuel field. In the final round, Langdon ran 3.664 seconds at 346.15 mph in the Kalitta Air dragster to defeat Spencer Massey’s 3.764 at 327.75. That gave Langdon his sixth victory of the season, his second consecutive win, and 28th of his career.
But the number everyone will remember came one round earlier. Langdon went 3.663 at 346.95 mph in the semifinals against teammate Doug Kalitta, breaking his own previous NHRA Top Fuel speed record of 345.00 mph set earlier this season at Valdosta. Then he backed up the performance with another 346-mph pass in the final.
“It just goes to show it takes everything,” Langdon said. “You have a facility like U.S. 131 that takes a lot of pride in their facility. It’s a great track, and then you get some good conditions, and really anything’s possible. It all starts there, and my guys have been doing such a great job.
“Brian (Husen, crew chief) made perfect calls, and he races smart. It was just getting everything in sync, and the car showed what it was capable of. We knew that it was going to be good, but to be able to do that for four runs today, I’m just proud of my guys to get this win. There was just a lot of good things going on this weekend.”
Jordan Vandergriff Goes From Worst To First
Jordan Vandergriff’s weekend looked terrible right up until it became unforgettable.
The John Force Racing driver qualified 16th after failing to make a clean pass in any of the four qualifying sessions, then things got even stranger. Vandergriff smoked the tires almost immediately in the opening round against No. 1 qualifier Austin Prock. But, Prock went red, handing Vandergriff the round win. That was the break the Cornwell Tools team needed.
Once Vandergriff got through the opening round, his crew diagnosed the issue that had plagued the car all weekend. After that, the Funny Car became a completely different animal.
Vandergriff ripped off three consecutive runs in the 3.80s and eventually defeated points leader Matt Hagan in the final with a 3.858 at 329.43 mph. The win was the third of Vandergriff’s career and made him the first Funny Car driver to win from the No. 16 qualifying position since Del Worsham did it in 2003.
“It almost doesn’t even feel real. We struggled so much, but my guys looked at everything, and we finally dissected the singular problem. Once we found that, we went out there (and went 3.871). It’s just an unbelievable weekend and a credit to my team,” Vandergriff said.
“We capitalized on some good luck in that first round, and I’m just very fortunate to be part of this team and for this opportunity. We came out of round one, diagnosed the problem, and fixed it. Today’s win is a total credit to my entire team. Funny Car is a battle, and I recognize how hard these next five races are going to be. It wasn’t easy today, and it’s not going to get any easier. It’s a gauntlet out there, but thankfully today was our day.”
Troy Coughlin Jr. Ends A 41-Race Winless Streak
Troy Coughlin Jr. had been waiting a long time for another Pro Stock Wally, forty-one races, to be exact, and that wait ended in Michigan.
Coughlin drove his JEGS entry to a 6.515 at 209.69 mph in the final to defeat points leader Matt Hartford and earn his first victory since 2024. The win was the sixth of Coughlin’s Pro Stock career and his first during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
“There’s a lot of emotions with this. It’s extremely exciting,” Coughlin said. “I love the history of this sport, and to have a Diamond Wally celebrating 75 years of this great sport, it’s majestic. I’m very humbled, and everyone at Elite Motorsports has worked extremely hard to give us the best.
“I had so much faith and trust in this team. I’m really lucky to have such a wonderful group of guys on this team. This is extremely rewarding. We’re constantly pushing ourselves for the love of the game. We had a blast today, and when we have a blast, it’s fun. This is a hard sport. There are so many things that have to go right to win one of these races.”
John Hall Wins Another Countdown Opener
If John Hall likes opening playoff races, there’s a pretty good reason, because ee won the first race of the Countdown for the second consecutive season.
Hall defeated first-time finalist Marc Ingwersen in the Pro Stock Motorcycle final after Ingwersen went red. Hall still made a strong pass, running 6.808 at 194.22 mph aboard his Outlaw Beer Buell for Matt Smith Racing. It was Hall’s first win of the season and fifth of his career.
“It’s just a great feeling coming in strong and getting some momentum,” Hall said. “We did it last year, but let me tell you, I was ready to quit racing this weekend. I was so down on myself, and that’s what drag racing does to you. I wasn’t riding like I wanted to, but I’m happy I’m back, and I hope I’m back for a long time.
“I just go up there and do what I do. I don’t put a lot of thought or stress into it. It’s just awesome to be able to do this, and these fans are awesome. The stands were full on a Monday, and that was really cool to see. Everyone I raced was tough, so I knew I had to be good on the starting line. I got my confidence back, but it can go quick.”
Top Fuel — Shawn Langdon, 3.664 seconds, 346.15 mph def. Spencer Massey, 3.764 seconds, 327.75 mph.
Funny Car — Jordan Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 3.858, 329.43 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 8.357,
84.97.
Pro Stock — Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.515, 209.69 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.527, 208.14.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — John Hall, Beull, 6.808, 194.22 def. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, Foul – Red Light.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Greg Hunter, 5.221, 275.40 def. John Paul Gutierrez, Foul – Red Light.
Top Sportsman — Curt Fredrich, Chevy Camaro, 6.529, 210.87 def. Bob Mandell III, Chevy Belair, 6.299, 223.21.
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