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Jordan Vandergriff’s Funny Car win at the NHRA Southern Nationals made him the 97th Funny Car driver to hoist a winner’s trophy at an NHRA national event. How many of them can you name?
07 May 2026
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Jordan Vandergriff’s Funny Car win at the NHRA Southern Nationals not only made him NHRA’s newest first-time Pro winner but also the 97th Funny Car driver to hoist a winner’s trophy at an NHRA national event.There have also been 114 different Top…
Newly reopened Thunder Road Raceway, located in Sturgis, S.D., has joined the NHRA Member Track Network in NHRA’s West Central Division (Division 5), bringing eighth-mile drag racing back to the Black Hills region for the 2026 season and beyond.
Newly reopened Thunder Road Raceway has joined the NHRA Member Track Network in NHRA’s West Central Division (Division 5).Located in Sturgis, S.D, Thunder Road Raceway is preparing for an exciting new chapter as the historic facility, which closed…
Go behind the scenes with the winners of the 2026 NHRA Southern Nationals as they celebrate with their teams and accept congratulations from their defeated final-round opponents. Plus: Jordan Vandergriff's epic uptrack victory run!
On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Brian Husen, crew chief for the record-setting and NHRA Southern Nationals-winning Kalitta Air dragster, and Chris Cunningham, crew chief for the winning Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Funny Car, join host Brian Lohnes.
On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Brian Husen, the crew chief for the record-setting and NHRA Southern Nationals-winning Kalitta Air dragster, and Chris Cunningham, the crew chief for the winning Cornwell…
Super Comp racer Chris Benham earned the Holley EFI Never Rest Award at the NHRA Southern Nationals.Eleven hours into a long tow from his Crosby, Texas, home, a gooseneck failure on his trailer crushed his truck’s tailgate. Stranded for hours, he…
The NHRA made its first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series national event stop at South Georgia Motorsports Park a memorable one for the rebirth of the NHRA Southern Nationals. Check out this highlight video from the weekend.
Matt Hartford rides early-season highs and lows — from Gainesville glory to tough early exits — showcasing his team's capabilities and ability to bounce back.
The 2026 Pro Stock season has already delivered the kind of emotional swings that define championship-caliber racing, and Matt Hartford has been at the center of it all. Hartford opened the year in Gainesville with a statement, capturing the Pro…
Funny Car champion Matt Hagan has never been shy about his personality, and after securing the historic 1,000th Funny Car victory, he’s having a little fun imagining how the world might look now that his name is etched into NHRA history. Seen…
Rising NHRA Top Fuel talent Maddi Gordon continues to make waves both on and off the dragstrip, adding another milestone moment to her fast-growing résumé with a ceremonial first pitch at a Atlanta Braves game. Gordon, part of drag racing’s…
NHRA Top Fuel driver T.J. Zizzo, whose family owns a body shop in Illinois, is the cover subject of the May 2026 issue of FenderBender magazine, a trade magazine catering to the automotive repair/refinish industry.
NHRA Top Fuel driver T.J. Zizzo, whose family owns a paint and body shop in Illinois, is the cover subject of the May 2026 issue of FenderBender magazine, a trade magazine with about 40,000 circulation catering to collision repair shop…
You didn’t need to look far in order to learn a few new things as NHRA returned to Georgia with the NHRA Southern Nationals, but here are five of the high points.
04 May 2026
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
You didn’t need to look far in order to learn a few new things as NHRA returned to Georgia with the NHRA Southern Nationals, but here are five of the high points.GEORGIA HAS A NEW HOUSE OF SPEEDIt took just one day for South Georgia…
In addition to the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at South Georgia Motorsport Park, five champions were crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action at the Southern Nationals, including Super Stock winner Dan Fletcher, who won for the 114th time.
In addition to the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at South Georgia Motorsport Park, five champions were crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series action at the Southern Nationals.Dan Fletcher collected his 110th NHRA national event…
Making just his second career start in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Jason Collins drove to the victory, defeating Mike Thielen in the final round on Sunday at South Georgia Motorsports Park as part of this weekend’s NHRA Southern Nationals.
Making just his second career start in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Jason Collins drove to the victory, defeating Mike Thielen in the final round on Sunday at South Georgia Motorsports Park as part of this weekend’s NHRA…
Shawn Langdon, Jordan Vandergriff, Dallas Glenn, and Matt Smith scored pro titles at the NHRA Southern Nationals in front of a sellout crowd at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon, who went a record-breaking 345.00-mph on Friday, finished off an incredible weekend and picked up his second win of the season in front of a sellout crowd on Sunday at South Georgia Motorsports Park, defeating teammate Doug…
By all accounts, the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park was an epic event and the National Dragster photo staff has recorded some of the best moments from Sunday's action here in our daily gallery.
Sherman Adcock Jr., previously a three-time Southern Nationals Super Gas champ, scored this time in Super Comp, defeating recent 4-Wide Nationals winner Lauren Freer in the final to collect his 15th career win.
Michael Brand prevented Dan Fletcher from what would have been his second career double, defeating him in the Stock final round for his fourth career win.
Dan Fletcher collected his 110th NHRA national event victory, defeating Casey Smith in the Super Stock final. More than half (58) of Fletcher’s wins have come in Super Stock in addition to wins in five other Sportsman categories.
NHRA officials announced a second consecutive sellout crowd on Sunday for its debut at South Georgia Motorsports Park for the NHRA Southern Nationals.The race marked the first visit to four new facilities during NHRA’s 75th anniversary and fans…
News, notes, quotes, and photos from the final day of eliminations at the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park. Updated throughout the day.
03 May 2026
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
TOP FUEL ROUND ONESouth Georgia fans experiencing nitro for the first time on Sunday got a perfect introduction in the first pair as Antron Brown took out Shawn Reed via a holeshot. Brown banked nearly three hundredths off the starting line and made…
After a wild day of final qualifying, the fields are set for the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park, and with a drastic improvement in weather conditions, track records are expected to fall as NHRA’s newest event races to a conclusion today. Here is a preview of what to expect on Sunday.
After a wild day of final qualifying, the fields are set for the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP), and with a drastic improvement in weather conditions, track records are expected to fall as NHRA’s newest event races…
Doug Kalitta made the quickest run of 2026 in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday at South Georgia Motorsports Park, powering to his first No. 1 qualifier of the season at the NHRA Southern Nationals. J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1.
Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta made the quickest run of 2026 in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday at South Georgia Motorsports Park, powering to his first No. 1 qualifier of the season at the NHRA Southern Nationals.J.R. Todd (…
After a lengthy rain delay, qualifying was completed at South Georgia Motorsports Park and the fields are set for the NHRA Southern Nationals. AS usual, National Dragster's ace photo team was out and about and captured all the drama and excitement of NHRA's newest event.
News, notes, quotes, and photos from the second day of qualifying at the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park. Updated throughout the day.
02 May 2026
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
TOP FUEL Q3After a lengthy rain delay, the fans who braved the elements at South Georgia Motorsports Park were rewarded with an outstanding show as NHRA’s top pros delivered the goods. Will Smith kicked off the session…
It took just one day for South Georgia Motorsports Park to become the fastest track in all of drag racing after Shawn Langdon posted a record 345.00 mph speed in his Kalitta Air dragster during Friday qualifying. That was one of Friday's biggest highlights. Here is a preview of what to expect on Saturday.
It took just one day for South Georgia Motorsports Park to become the fastest track in all of drag racing after Shawn Langdon posted a record 345.00 mph speed in his Kalitta Air dragster during Friday qualifying.The Langdon provided the biggest…
Shawn Langdon, J.R. Todd, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith lead professional qualifying after the first day of the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon made the fastest pass in NHRA history on Friday, making a huge splash in NHRA’s debut at South Georgia Motorsports Park and taking the provisional No. 1 spot at the NHRA Southern Nationals.J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Greg…
National Dragster's award winning photographers were on the scene at South Georgia Motorsports Park on the first day of the NHRA Southern Nationals and they captured all the drama and excitement of NHRA's newest event.
After a tough 2025 season, things are looking up for past Rookie of the Year Chas Van Sant and his Trick Tools Pro Stock Motorcycle team.
01 May 2026
First things first. Chase Van Sant knows how to win races. He proved that during the 2024 season when he claimed his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle win in Seattle. He even beat Gaige Herrera in the final, and Herrera didn’t lose many races that…