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Lucas Oil Sportsman stars shine at Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals

In addition to the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, nine winners were crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series compeittion at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.
08 Sep 2026
NHRA National Dragster staff
News
Sean Bellemeur

In addition to the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, nine winners were crowned in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series compeittion at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.

In addition to his 2016 Top Fuel win, Richie Crampton added a Top Alcohol Dragster title to his resume when he downed T.J. Tindle in the final with a 6.255. The victory was also the first Indy title for the Samsel family, who tunes the car.

Sean Bellemeur won for the 53rd time in Top Alcohol Funny Car when he drove past Shane Westerfield in the final round, 5.486 to 5.513. Bellemeur is also the runaway leader in the battle for a sixth championship.

Don Thomas earned the biggest win of his career after five-time world champ Jeff Taylor suffered a mechanical problem in the Comp final. Thomas, now a three-time national event winner, ran a (-.410) 6.950 to seal the win.

Former world champ Pete D’Agnolo now has two Indy wins after downing Michael Reynolds in the Super Stock final. D’Agnolo closed out the seven-round battle with a 9.603 on his 9.59 dial.

Hunter Pierdolla’s first career win was a big one as he claimed the Indy Stock title over Ray Thurston. Pierdolla made the most of the opportunity with a .009 light in the double-breakout final.

Bryan Harris was sharp in the Super Comp final with a .014 light and an 8.906 to secure his first win and defeat Kevin Thorp, who broke out with an 8.883.

Rob Kropfeld, who has had previous success in big money bracket and NHRA index racing, scored the biggest win of his career with a 9.865 to 9.862 double-breakout win against Johnn Pratt in the final of Super Gas.

Coming off a semifinal showing at the recent Indy divisional event, Brandon Baxter scored big in Right Trailers Top Sportsman with a final round win over Doug Gbur, who encountered a mechanical issue in the final.

The very quick field in Right Trailers Top Dragster came down to a battle between Zach Sackman and Tom Bayer with Sackman scoring his third Indy title with a nearly perfect run that included a .003 light and a 6.200 on his 6.19 dial.