NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Ever since the weather forecast for the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals firmed up raceweek, everyone had their eyes on Sunday at The Big Go, and now it’s here. After a series of blistering, humid days leading up to today, teams are literally licking their chops at the opportunity to make their best runs of the event.

A number of the lower-funded teams chose to forego running in the heat, knowing that whatever they might have accomplished would be wiped out Sunday, so here we are.

Racers and crew chiefs have had their eyes on Sunday for the much-needed break in the heat that’s been camped out over Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park during the first few days of the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. If they’re looking to better their position on the ladder, Sunday would be the day to do it before eliminations start on Monday.

In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon still leads the field of 22, with his 3.727 blast he laid down on Friday night. His teammate, Doug Kalitta, who clinched the season-ending Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Championship, is still in the bottom half of the field, which is uncharacteristic for the reigning champion. Following Langdon in the provisional second spot is Tony Stewart, and then Leah Pruett in third.

Still unqualified in Top Fuel, as rounds four and five are set for today, are Will Smith, Billy Torrence, Lex Joon, Shawn Reed, Krista Baldwin and Jacob Opatrny.

While it’s still a possibility to have the first all three-second Funny Car field, the bottom half of the ladder, beginning with the No. 9 qualifier, will all need to run a quicker time. One thing to keep an eye on is whether Alexis DeJoria was able to get her John Force Racing Bandero Cafe Chevy re-wrapped in the throwback “Nightstalker” tribute scheme after the explosion she suffered on Saturday.

The PlayNHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout will be one of the marquee events taking place on the track. The callout ceremonies took place on Saturday, when the matchups were set: J.R. Todd vs. Austin Prock, Jack Beckman vs. Chad Green, Matt Hagan vs. Spencer Hyde, and Ron Capps vs. Alexis DeJoria. These Funny Car titans will battle for $80,000 and bragging rights going into race day.

There was a bit of a shakeup in Pro Stock with Matt Hartford moving into the No. 1 spot, and there could be more moving around in the field. Sitting on the bump right now is Mason McGaha, while Shane Tucker, Alan Prusieksky and David Vaseloff are on the outside looking in.

Gaige Herrera, who won the final Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and the season-end title, took the top spot from Matt Smith on Saturday. Herrera has the chance to three-peat at the Big Go, and it seems that he’s heating up at the right time. M. Smith splits the Vance & Hines teammates, with Richard Gadson in third, followed by Clayton Howey and Angie Smith. Mark Paquette, Steve Johnson and Michael Ray still haven’t punched their ticket to race on Labor Day. Oddly enough, none of the bikes has cracked the 200-mph barrier this year, though Smith got close with a 199.26-mph clocking.

The Right Trailers NHRA Outlaw Street and JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will begin eliminations, while sportsman in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will continue to roll through eliminations.

PlayNHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout Pairings
J.R. Todd vs. Austin Prock
Jack Beckman vs. Chad Green
Matt Hagan vs. Spencer Hyde
Ron Capps vs. Alexis DeJoria 

DEFENDING EVENT CHAMPIONS
TOP FUEL: Justin Ashley
FUNNY CAR: Austin Prock
PRO STOCK: Erica Enders 
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Gaige Herrera

MOST WINS (Active drivers)
TOP FUEL: Tony Schumacher (10)
FUNNY CAR: Cruz Pedregon (3)
PRO STOCK: Greg Anderson (7)
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Matt Smith (3).

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.640 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '22; 343.51 mph by B. Force, Sept. ‘25.
Funny Car - 3.799 sec. by Matt Hagan, Sept. '17; 338.77 mph by Hagan, Sept. '25.
Pro Stock - 6.491 sec. by Greg Anderson, Aug. '25, 211.79 mph by Dallas Glenn, Sept. '25.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.738 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Aug. '25, 201.73 mph by Jianna Evaristo, Sept. '25.

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading, Pa.; 345.00 mph by Shawn Langdon, May ‘26, Valdosta.
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. '24, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock - 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March '25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown
N.J.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. '23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21, Sonoma.

SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 6
Lucas Oil Sportsman eliminations at 8 a.m.
Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at noon and 2:45 p.m.
Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying at 1:35 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Monday, September 7, 2026
Pre-race ceremonies including SealMaster Track Walk at 9 a.m.
Eliminations begin at 10 a.m.

TELEVISION
SUNDAY, September 6 FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 3:00 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, September 6 FS1 will televise one and half hours of All-Star Funny Car Callout at 7:00 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, September 6 FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10:30 p.m. (ET)
MONDAY, September 7 FS1 will televise two hours of finals coverage at 12:00 p.m. (ET)
MONDAY, September 7 Fox will televise three hours of finals coverage at 2:00 p.m. (ET).