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2026 NHRA Rookie of the Year Candidates Officially Revealed
Highlights
- Four drivers currently eligible for 2026 NHRA Rookie of the Year.
- Cody Anderson competes in Pro Stock; secured Countdown playoff spot.
- Maddi Gordon won Norwalk Nationals; ranks eighth in Top Fuel points.
- Will Smith achieved first runner-up finish; ranks fifth in points.
- Dylan Winefsky will finalize rookie list with Las Vegas debut.
- Winner announced November 16 at NHRA Awards, Pechanga Resort Casino.
NHRA confirms the 2026 Rookie of the Year field: four eligible now, a fifth likely after Las Vegas. The winner is named November 16 at Pechanga Resort Casino.
The candidates span Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, reflecting breadth of new talent. Ballots by journalists weigh results, participation, and promotional impact alongside playoff relevance.
Pro Stock rookie Cody Anderson, son of six-time champion Greg, builds a consistent platform. He claimed Indianapolis’ Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, reached Rockingham’s final, sits sixth, and secured a Countdown berth.
The winner is announced November 16 during the NHRA Awards at Pechanga Resort Casino.
Maddi Gordon heads a Top Fuel case in Ron Capps’ Carlyle Tools dragster. Her rookie campaign includes two semifinals and a Norwalk win, beating four-time champion Antron Brown in final.
Gordon holds eighth in points with a Countdown berth and a 340.65 mph personal best at St. Louis, reinforcing Maddi Gordon’s career record as a rapid riser.
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Clayton Howey trends upward. He reached semifinals at Gainesville, Charlotte, and Maryland, qualified for eight starts, and posted a fifth. He sits ninth with three events left.
Cody Anderson’s Rockingham final and Indianapolis #2Fast2Tasty win underpin his Pro Stock rookie playoff berth.
Top Fuel’s Will Smith, driving Scag Racing’s Bluebird Turf dragster, delivers a St. Louis runner-up and Rockingham semifinal. He sits fifth and draws comparisons to comeback kids for sharp launches.
Funny Car hopeful Dylan Winefsky completes the picture. After four entries and qualifications at Phoenix and Pomona, his Las Vegas Nationals start will confirm eligibility before the season’s penultimate weekend.
Dylan Winefsky will secure Rookie eligibility with his Funny Car start at the Las Vegas Nationals.
Spencer Hyde claimed last year’s Rookie honor in Funny Car. Previous winners include Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley, Chase Vant Sant, Dallas Glenn, and Austin Prock, underlining the award’s proven trajectory.
The ballot will finalize after Las Vegas, with voters balancing on-track output and off-track engagement. Awards week also spotlights showcases like the Stampede Speed Showdown, celebrating drag racing’s rising profile.
Visual Summary
🏆
2026 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
PS
Cody
Anderson
Anderson
TF
Maddi
Gordon
Gordon
MC
Clayton
Howey
Howey
TF
Will
Smith
Smith
FC
Dylan
Winefsky
Winefsky
6th
Pro Stock • Playoffs
340.65
mph
Personal Best
Personal Best
3
Semifinals
2026
2026
5th
Points
Top Fuel
Top Fuel
Debut
Las Vegas
NHRA’s rising stars charge for Rookie of the Year —
Each lane brings a new hope to drag racing’s finish line.
Who will claim the crown at the Pechanga Awards?
Each lane brings a new hope to drag racing’s finish line.
Who will claim the crown at the Pechanga Awards?
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.
