NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

In addition to the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at Brainerd International Raceway, 10 winners were crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series compeittion at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals.

Anthony Troyer successfully defended his 2025 Brainerd title in Top Alcohol Dragster with a narrow 5.220 to 5.250 win against Melanie Johnson in a battle of Top 10 contenders.

Shane Westerfield won his 19th NHRA event and third in Brainerd on a single after opponent Christine Foster had a fire in the semi’s and was unable to make the Top Alcohol Funny Car final.

The Comp final was a heads-up A/Econo Altered battle between former world champ Cody Lane and Bruce Schmiedl. The win went to Lane, who left first and made the quicker run, 7.348 to 7.351.

There was also a heads-up final in Super Stock where Jack Beutler won his first national event title over Division 7 racer Mike Graham, 10.181 to 10.340.

For the second time this season, Jamey Picht won a 75th anniversary NHRA Wally after Dirk Olson fouled by .005-second in the Stock final. As a result, Picht is now a Top 10 contender.

Jeff Cheney claimed his fifth national event win when he beat past world champ James Glenn in the Super Comp final, 8.947 to 8.961. The final margin of victory was just .002-second.

Appearing in his first national event final, Greg Maaninga cashed in with a winning 9.917 after opponent Dale Evans fouled in the Super Gas final.

Rich Hill scored in Super Street after Division 5 standout Donnie Durenburger fouled in the final round. Hill cut .00 lights in four of six rounds including a .002 in the final.

Kendra Larson ran her record to a perfect 3-0 in national event finals, all of them in Brainerd, when she defeated Bob Fischer in the final of Right Trailers Top Dragster. Larson was perfect at the start and finished the job with a 6.929 against her 6.91 prediction.

Curt Fredrich ran right on his 6.58 dial in the final to win in Right Trailers Top Sportsman after opponent Chris Roe red-lighted by .001-second.