NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will return this weekend to historic Route 66 Raceway for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak, the sixth of 20 events scheduled this season.

This week, the PlayNHRA Favorites include Shawn Langdon in Top Fuel, Ron Capps and Matt Hagan in Funny Car, Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock, and Gaige Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The event will be part of the PlayNHRA initiative, where drag racing fans have the opportunity to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for this event. Betting markets feature Professional classes, where fans can wager on event winners, low elapsed time of the event, head-to-head matchups, Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge results, and season champions.

Below are the opening odds as provided by Alt Sports Data.

(Note: In American sports betting, odds are typically expressed with a plus (+) or minus (–) symbol followed by a number. For example, +200 signifies the amount a bettor could win if wagering $100. If the bet works out, the player will receive a total payout of $300; $200 profit + $100 initial stake.)

TOP FUEL

Kalitta Motorsports teammates Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta have opened up a solid lead in the NHRA Mission Foods Top Fuel standings, so it’s no surprise they once again lead the way with the oddsmakers. Langdon has opened at +600 with Kalitta close behind at +650.

Langdon’s price of +600 means that a $10 wager would return $70, while the same bet on Kalitta at +650 would return $75.

At mid-pack, there is a logjam of talented drivers who appear more than capable of claiming a win in Chicago, including Justin Ashley at +800. There is also defending event winner Tony Stewart at +900, a price he shares with Leah Pruett, Josh Hart, and Billy Torrence.

There appears to be value further down the order with Maddi Gordon and Antron Brown at +1000, while Shawn Reed and Clay Millican are +1200 and +1600, respectively.

The long shots include three drivers with roots in Chicago, with Tony Schumacher and T.J. Zizzo at +2000, while Krista Baldwin opens at +2500.

FUNNY CAR

There is so much parity in the Funny Car class right now that it’s difficult to pick a favorite, which helps explain why the oddsmakers have Ron Capps and Matt Hagan installed as favorites at +550. Both drivers have won races this year, and they are ranked second and third in the Mission Foods points standings, behind leader J.R. Todd.

Chad Green and reigning and two-time world champion Austin Prock are close behind the leaders at +600. Green won earlier this year in Gainesville, while Prock continues to make progress in his first season as a member of Bob Tasca’s team.

Championship leader J.R. Todd would appear to have solid value at +650, and the same can be said for Jordan Vandergriff at +700 because Vandergriff is coming off his first career win in Adel two weeks ago. Jack Beckman’s +900 price is also interesting because he has gotten off to a slow start this season but could be primed for a rebound at any time.

For those who are fans of long shots, there are plenty to choose from, including Blake Alexander at +3000, Bobby Bode at +6000, and Dave Richards at +7500. Richards is particularly interesting because his performance has improved dramatically this season with the addition of new crew chief Aaron Brooks.

PRO STOCK

Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson are once again big favorites with the Chicago oddsmakers. The KB Titan teammates, who have combined for seven world titles, are favored with Glenn, fresh off an Adel victory, at +250, while Anderson is a fraction behind at +300. Glenn and Anderson have combined for three wins so far this season, and they are currently first and second in the NHRA Mission Foods standings.

Matt Hartford, winner in Gainesville and Charlotte, is third at +800, while rapidly improving Matt Latino is +1100. Dave Connolly will make another appearance for the KB Titan team, and his opening price is +1200, just a shade ahead of Erica Enders, who is returning to Route 66 Raceway, the site of her first Professional win. Enders opens at +1300.

There are a lot of solid drivers at mid-pack, including Aaron and Greg Stanfield, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Deric Kramer, Adel runner-up Troy Coughlin Jr., and Cody Anderson, who are valued between +1400 and +2000.

One fascinating long shot is Chris Vang, who has been solid in his infrequent appearances on the NHRA tour but also appears to have the potential for a breakout weekend. Should that happen, bettors can take advantage of a robust +6000 price.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

There have been three Pro Stock Motorcycle events this season, and they have produced three different winners with Richard Gadson (Gainesville), Gaige Herrera (Charlotte), and Matt Smith (Adel) each scoring one of the prized 75th anniversary NHRA Wallys.

Heading into Route 66 Raceway, Herrera is favored at +175, while teammate Gadson opens at +275 and Smith is +500.

Should there be a fourth different winner, bettors will be rewarded as everyone else in the field falls at 14-1 or longer, beginning with Angie Smith at +1400, Brayden Davis at +1500, and John Hall at +1600.

In the long shot department, the picks begin with Chase Van Sant, Ryan Oehler, Jianna Evaristo, Clayton Howey, and Steve Johnson between +2000 and +2500. It’s worth noting that Van Sant, Oehler, Evaristo, and Johnson are all past national event winners, while Howey is a top-notch E.T. bracket racer who appears destined to join that group.

Opening odds provided by Alt Sports Data (Odds are subject to change).

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