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WEATHER DELAY

Rain has delayed the NHRA New England Nationals Funny Car and Top Fuel Finals. They will now run on Friday of Bristol.

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Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals Saturday preview

Friday’s cooler Chicago conditions set the stage for the two qualifying sessions at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK, and as many drivers have shared, this race usually presents one of two racing conditions.
15 May 2026
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Race coverage
Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals

Friday’s cooler Chicago conditions set the stage for the two qualifying sessions at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK, and as many drivers have shared, this race usually presents one of two racing conditions.

However, it looks like the 2026 installment will see both, as the weather could change drastically heading into Saturday, with cool 70-degree temps set to rise into the upper 80s.

One team that’s ready to battle in any conditions, it seems, is reigning Top Fuel world champ Doug Kalitta, as he leads the field into Saturday’s qualifying after his 3.720 in the second qualifying session. Top Fuel young gun Maddi Gordon proved she can hang with the veterans as she sits in the No. 2, followed by Capco’s Billy Torrence.

John Force Racing’s Jack Beckman bettered his e.t. in round two of qualifying to take the provisional pole in Funny Car with a 3.913. Beckman is the defending race winner and also the 2025 No. 1 qualifier, and would love nothing more than to turn his luck around at the track where he’s been successful previously. Also picking up bonus points are Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon, who ran an impressive 3.920.

The Pro Stock field has seemingly turned upside down, where Elite Motorsports is back on top. A cautiously optimistic Erica Enders jumped up from No. 15 to No. 1 after she made her quickest pass during the second session on Friday with a 6.542. Following her are fellow Elite Motorsports teammates Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Greg Stanfield. Greg Anderson found himself in fourth, and rounding out the top five is Matt Latino, who is “tired of being Mr. Nice Guy.”

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, the Windy City wind struck many of the riders, but there were some who were able to conquer its strength. Angie Smith pulled into the provisional No. 1 position after Q1 with a 6.738. Splitting the Matt Smith Racing teammates are the Vance & Hines riders, Richard Gadson and Gaige Herrera. Gadson’s 6.778 came during the first round of qualifying, and Herrera’s 6.784 did as well. Following in fourth is Matt Smith, and then John Hall.

Saturday will also feature the Mission #2Fast2Tasty bonus race, which will rematch the semifinalists in Top Fuel, nitro Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle from the NHRA Southern Nationals. The winners of the initial pairing will then compete for points and bonus money.

Top Fuel
Shawn Langdon vs. Clay Millican
Doug Kalitta vs. Justin Ashley

Funny Car
Jordan Vandergriff vs. Chad Green
J.R. Todd vs. Alexis DeJoria

Pro Stock
Dallas Glenn vs. Greg Stanfield
Troy Coughlin Jr. vs. Erica Enders

Pro Stock Motorcycle 
Matt Smith vs. Angie Smith
Richard Gadson vs. Gaige Herrera

DEFENDING EVENT CHAMPIONS
TOP FUEL: Tony Stewart
FUNNY CAR: Jack Beckman
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Gaige Herrera
*Pro Stock was not contested

MOST WINS
TOP FUEL: Tony Schumacher (5)
FUNNY CAR: Matt Hagan, Tony Pedregon (4)
PRO STOCK: Jeg Coughlin Jr. (6)
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Gaige Herrera, LE Tonglet, Andrew Hines (3)

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.661 sec. by Doug Kalitta, May '25; 338.09 mph by Antron Brown, May ‘25
Funny Car - 3.831 sec. by Robert Hight, May. '23, Brainerd; 336.40 mph by J.R Todd, May '25
Pro Stock - 6.510 sec. by Dallas Glenn, May '23, 212.39 mph by Greg Anderson, June '19
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.672 sec. by Gaige Herrera, May '23, 204.26 mph by Matt Smith, May '25

NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading, Pa.; 345.00 mph by Shawn Langdon, May ‘26, Adel
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. '24, Pomona
Pro Stock - 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March '25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown, N.J.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. '23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21, Sonoma

SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, May 16
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8 a.m. 
Peak Street Car Shootout 11:20 a.m. and 4:25 p.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 3
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m

TELEVISION
Saturday, May 16, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 11:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, FS1 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 5 p.m. (EDT).