Kalitta, Todd, and G. Anderson Score Big Wins in Mission #2Fast2Tasty at NHRA Brainerd

Doug Kalitta maintains firm control at Brainerd, winning his fifth Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of 2026 and securing his 70th career No. 1 qualifier. The Top Fuel champion sets the pace ahead of Sunday eliminations.

Kalitta opens Saturday with a 3.673 at 332.26 mph, his fourth No. 1 of the year, then proceeds to top all four sessions. It is an emphatic statement of car and crew consistency.

The bonus-race victory comes against Josh Hart with a 3.726 at 329.50 mph in the final. It complements Kalitta’s recent Sonoma and Seattle wins that propelled him to the points lead.

Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. CT, with Kalitta drawing Cam Ferre in round one. The target remains clear: translate qualifying supremacy into another Sunday sweep at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals.

J.R. Todd mirrors that momentum in Funny Car, taking the Mission #2Fast2Tasty win over Austin Prock. A 3.938 pass, underpinned by a .051 reaction time, reflects DHL Toyota execution under pressure.

Jordan Vandergriff then underlines Funny Car one-lap pace with a 3.879 at 323.50 mph for his third No. 1 of the year. The John Force Racing rookie’s upward trajectory continues to accelerate.

In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson edges Dallas Glenn in the bonus final with a 6.555 at 209.04 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. It is a tight, methodical win built on incremental gains.

Glenn still sets the Pro Stock qualifying benchmark earlier with a 6.535 at 208.10 in his RAD Torque Systems Camaro. The bracket looks finely poised heading into race day.

Maddi Gordon impresses in Top Fuel, qualifying second with a 3.695 at 336.99 mph. Shawn Langdon sits third on a 3.730 at 331.20 mph, reinforcing Kalitta Motorsports’ overall depth.

With form lines established, Sunday brings a different examination: adaptability round by round. The field chases pace, trophies, and the iconic Brainerd Battle Axe, where execution often decides fine margins.

Kalitta’s current package is repeatable and robust, as highlighted since Sonoma and Seattle. But eliminations reward precision under pressure, ensuring no guarantees despite a commanding qualifying ledger.

The Mission #2Fast2Tasty program again shapes competitive momentum, with further context from Kalitta’s Brainerd build-up detailed in pre-event coverage. All eyes now turn to execution when it counts.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.