In 2025, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series introduced a regular season championship for each of its professional categories. Those championships came with substantial cash payouts and gave teams another meaningful title to chase before the start of the Countdown to the Championship.
For the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season in 2026, the regular season championship returned, and after the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, only four races remain before the Countdown begins. Nearly $400,000 in prize money will be awarded to the regular season champions in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The regular season champions will be crowned at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in September. Here’s a look at the drivers still in contention for an NHRA regular season championship in 2026.
Top Fuel
One thing is certain, and two things are for sure: the Top Fuel regular season championship will almost undoubtedly stay within the Kalitta Motorsports camp. The only question is which driver will leave Indianapolis with the championship trophy and the bonus check.
The Kalitta dragsters have dominated the 2026 season. Shawn Langdon has controlled the class, reaching eight final rounds and earning four victories. Crew chiefs Brian Husen and Justin Groat have the Kalitta Air dragster performing at an elite level, making Langdon the clear favorite heading into the final four races.
The only driver with a realistic chance of catching Langdon is reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta. Crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Mac Savage have kept the Mac Tools dragster firmly in the title hunt, but Kalitta has yet to match Langdon’s week-to-week consistency.
Leah Pruett has enjoyed an impressive return to Top Fuel competition in 2026, but the dominance of the Kalitta entries has left her sitting a distant third in the standings. She would need a remarkable late-season surge to challenge for the regular season championship.
Funny Car
The Funny Car regular season championship remains completely up for grabs.
Following his victory at Norwalk, Ron Capps and the NAPA Auto Care team moved into the points lead. However, a talented group of championship contenders remains close enough to erase that advantage over the final four events.
Capps has collected three Diamond Wally trophies during the 2026 season, but Matt Hagan sits just behind him in second place. J.R. Todd continues to be one of the most consistent drivers in the category, keeping the DHL Toyota Supra firmly in championship contention.
Still within striking distance are Jack Beckman, Jordan Vandergriff, and Chad Green. Mathematically, each driver remains capable of winning the regular season title if they can put together a strong stretch while the current leaders stumble.
Pro Stock
The NHRA Pro Stock championship battle has largely belonged to Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson.
The two KB Titan Racing teammates have traded victories and points leads throughout the season, establishing themselves as the favorites for the regular season championship.
One driver could still spoil those plans.
Matt Hartford has earned three victories in 2026 and remains within striking distance. Glenn and Anderson control their own destiny, but if either driver falters during the final four races, Hartford has the experience and momentum to capitalize.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Among all four professional categories, Pro Stock Motorcycle has the clearest championship picture. Everything comes down to the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the final regular season event for the class.
Richard Gadson strengthened his position by defeating teammate Gaige Herrera in the Norwalk final round. Herrera trails Gadson by just 83 points and is determined to defend his regular season championship.
Angie Smith and Matt Smith currently occupy third and fourth place in the standings after putting together strong seasons. While they face an uphill battle to capture the title, drag racing has proven time and again that anything can happen.
Remaining 2026 NHRA Regular Season Schedule
July 17–19
38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge
Sonoma Raceway — Sonoma, California
July 24–26
37th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals
Pacific Raceways — Kent, Washington
August 20–23
44th annual NHRA Brainerd Nationals
Brainerd International Raceway — Brainerd, Minnesota
September 2–7
72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park — Indianapolis, Indiana
NHRA Countdown To The Championship Playoffs
September 18–20
Inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR
U.S. 131 Motorsports Park — Martin, Michigan
September 25–27
Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock
Rockingham Dragway — Rockingham, North Carolina
October 2–4
15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals
World Wide Technology Raceway — Madison, Illinois
October 9–18
41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals
Texas Motorplex — Ennis, Texas
October 29–November 1
26th annual MOPAR NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway — Las Vegas, Nevada
November 12–15
61st annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals
In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip — Pomona, California
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