As the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series rolls into Pomona, two of the sport’s biggest names, Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan, are arriving with a lot of momentum. The Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip marks race three of the season, and for both drivers, it represents an opportunity to build on strong early-season performances while chasing another milestone win at a track rich in personal and professional history.
Leah Pruett’s return to Top Fuel competition has been nothing short of impressive. After stepping away to start a family, Pruett has quickly reestablished herself as a contender. She currently sits fourth in points after qualifying third at the season-opening Gatornationals and following it up with a No. 2 qualifying effort and runner-up finish at the Arizona Nationals.
Heading into Pomona, she brings both confidence and a sense of preparedness that she hasn’t experienced before at this event.
“Over the course of history, the Winternationals has been the kick-off race for the NHRA, where you first started to find your footing for the season. This year, being third on the schedule and already 14 laps in, I feel an elevated level of preparedness for the Winternationals that I’ve never felt before,” said Pruett, who won the 2017 and 2021 Winternationals. “I am more comfortable in the car than even at the start of the season. Winning the Winternationals in the past meant you hit the ground running. Right now, we already have momentum. It can be done; we can win, and knowing we are capable is what excites me most.”
Pomona carries even deeper meaning for Pruett, who grew up just 40 miles away in Redlands, California.
“Racing in Southern California and at the Pomona Dragstrip specifically is forever sentimental because it’s home for me,” Pruett said. “Those purple mountains visible from the staging lanes and behind the tower always bring a sense of majesty to the races. That, combined with not only the NHRA heritage but my own, puts it on another level.”
The last time Pruett competed at Pomona was during the 2023 NHRA Finals, where she raced for the championship in a winner-take-all final round. While she came up just short, the experience still resonates.
“I’ve thought a lot about that day, that final round. Finishing a race weekend with a Wally is always the goal. Getting the win this weekend in Pomona would also simultaneously finish that last piece of unfinished business. But that chapter has closed and so much life has taken place since then,” Pruett explained. “The Winternationals carries with it new beginnings, with new orders of business that are far greater than just one round at one racetrack against one team.”
She’ll also compete in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, facing reigning champion Doug Kalitta in a high-stakes rematch during qualifying.
“I am in my element when I’m competing, and the more I can be in that element, the better. No simulator in the world can give you the experience that something like the Tortilla Tussle (aka the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge) does,” Pruett said. “I’ve always thought the #2Fast2Tasty challenge was neat. It gives fans a chance to see competition on Saturday, and if you couldn’t put down great qualifying on Friday, it still gets you the chance to qualify at the back of your class in the session. There’s the added value of the bonus championship points and a bit of a cash bonus for the guys. So, it’s a win all the way around to be in it.”
On the Funny Car side, Matt Hagan enters the Winternationals with momentum of his own. The four-time world champion sits fifth in points after a solid start to the season, including a semifinal finish in Arizona. Hagan will also compete in the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, facing Spencer Hyde in a rematch scenario that adds intensity to qualifying.
“The Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, racing within a race, is always great. I think it gives you an opportunity to get your adrenaline up and get out there and recreate what could happen on Sunday,” said Hagan, who won the overall Challenge title last season. “Competition is competition, I don’t care whether we’re racing lawn mowers or racing fuel Funny Cars. You just want to see the win light come on and know that you did a better job than the person beside you. It’s another accomplishment, and Mission Foods has done a great job putting money back in our guys’ pockets and giving them something to be motivated about. I want to thank Mission Foods for continuing this program, continuing the money, and continuing to give out the trophies and accolades that come along with it.”
Few active Funny Car drivers have been as successful at Pomona as Hagan. With seven career wins at the facility, second only to John Force all-time, Pomona has consistently been one of Hagan’s strongest tracks.
“Momentum is everything. We ended 2025 really strong. We didn’t get the chance to compete in Pomona at the Finals I really thought we had something to really contend for the championship, and we just had it pulled out from underneath our feet,” Hagan said. “But we’re still right there. Qualifying well, winning rounds. And you know, Pomona has been good to me. It’s one of the racetracks where we’ve had a lot of wins, been crowned champion there multiple times. Long story short, track record is good there.”
Hagan’s connection with Pomona extends beyond wins it’s also where he’s made more final-round appearances than any other track, including multiple Winternationals victories. Despite the emphasis on results, Hagan hasn’t lost sight of the bigger picture.
“We have a lot of momentum, and things are going well, so I’m excited to get out to Pomona and put on a show for these fans. I think that’s the biggest thing that we forget sometimes when we get so caught up in the winning and the glory and all the other things that come along with it,” Hagan said. “You have to remember you have to put on a great show because without our fans, we don’t get to do this. A great show sells tickets and a great side-by-side drag race sells tickets, and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing out there this weekend.”
With both Pruett and Hagan carrying strong early-season performance, deep experience at Pomona, and added incentive through the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, the stage is set for a high-impact weekend. For both, Pomona represents a critical step in shaping the 2026 championship picture.
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