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Hagan, Kalitta, and Anderson Claim Thrilling Wins at NHRA Brainerd Nationals
Highlights
- Matt Hagan leads Funny Car points after Brainerd Nationals win.
- Doug Kalitta wins third consecutive Top Fuel title at Brainerd.
- Greg Anderson claims Pro Stock victory, extending points lead.
- Maddi Gordon reaches second Top Fuel final, losing to Kalitta.
- NHRA U.S. Nationals set for September 2-7 at Indianapolis Raceway.
Matt Hagan seizes the Funny Car points lead with victory at the 44th NHRA Brainerd Nationals on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, delivering 3.946 seconds at 320.13 mph.
The Brainerd Nationals again underscore Funny Car volatility, elevating Hagan from fifth to first. He leads Jordan Vandergriff by seven points, with Ron Capps, J.R. Todd, and Jack Beckman close.
Hagan dispatches Jim Campbell, Chad Green, and Austin Prock, stringing three 3.94s. Vandergriff slows to 4.038 in the final. It marks Hagan’s third win of 2026 and 58th career.
Hagan credits a predictable window and clean execution from his American Rebel Light Beer Dodge crew. In an inherently volatile class, repeatable performance proves decisive.
Hagan moves from fifth to first, leading Vandergriff by seven points heading to Indy.
Top Fuel belongs to Doug Kalitta. The reigning champion qualifies first, tops every session, and defeats rookie Maddi Gordon with a 3.743 at 333.74 mph in the final.
It is Kalitta’s third consecutive win and second straight at Brainerd, his 63rd overall. Crew chief Alan Johnson’s tune-up delivers multiple 3.74s, balancing grip, power, and repeatability.
Gordon reaches her second final after defeating Scott Palmer, Tony Stewart, and Leah Pruett. Her 3.770 at 328.78 shows rapid progress against an in-form, data-rich Kalitta operation.
Kalitta’s 3.743 at 333.74 mph seals his third straight Top Fuel win.
Pro Stock again tilts toward Greg Anderson. The HendrickCars.com Camaro runs 6.584 at 208.17 mph to chase down first-time finalist Chris Vang for consecutive Brainerd wins.
It is Anderson’s fourth win of 2026 and 116th overall, stretching his cushion with one regular-season race left. He beats Mason McGaha, Troy Coughlin Jr., and Greg Stanfield.
Anderson’s 116th career victory extends his Pro Stock points lead.
Vang reaches his first final by eliminating Matt Latino, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and rookie Cody Anderson. The category’s depth keeps margins tight as teams pivot to Indianapolis.
The series resumes September 2–7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. See our breakdown of Kalitta, Todd and Anderson wins for context before the championship fight intensifies.
Visual Summary
Matt Hagan
Funny Car Winner
3.946s @320.1 mph
Doug Kalitta
Top Fuel Winner
3.743s @333.7 mph
Greg Anderson
Pro Stock Winner
6.584s @208.2 mph
Hagan and Kalitta Take Points Lead, Anderson Extends His Dominance
Consistency, horsepower, and cool nerves made champions at Brainerd. Who’ll hold on at Indy?
+7
on Vandergriff
on Vandergriff
3️⃣ wins
in a row
in a row
116
career 🏆
career 🏆
Funny Car: Points Chase to Indy
1 Hagan
2 Vandergriff -7
3 Capps -12
4 J.R. Todd -22
2 Vandergriff -7
3 Capps -12
4 J.R. Todd -22
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.
