NHRA races usually take much less time to run, anywhere from 3.75 seconds to 9.0 seconds, but the events last for 2-3 days.
At a recent NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) “Winternationals” event, with only the 4 Final races to run, after a massive Thunderbolt, and lumps of frozen water falling from the sky, the track was covered with hailstones. So much that some of the pit crews made little snowmen, with red assembly lube making the facial features.
This year it was rain, but with a weather report predicting a break of a few hours from late morning until the afternoon, NHRA mounted an “All Hands: (and machines) effort to dry the track and make it raceable. And they did!
With about 15 minutes until the first elimination run …Oops! The few hardy spectators began to bolt for the exits. And in less than a minute (“Gone in 60 seconds”) the event was a washout both literally and figuratively. Four hours of feverish work, and MILLIONS $$$ of dollars in costs went floating away!
Look, California can always use the rain, but today? What was the old children’s rhyme…”Rain Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day…”
This year’s champions, racers to their core, were genuinely disappointed at not being able to shake the ground with 11,000 Horsepower of Nitro-Fueled Thunder, were nevertheless elated at winning a championship and were gracious in the post-event interviews.
In Top Fuel, NHRA’s most prestigious class, Doug Kalitta won the season Championship, a repeat of last year’s win, his first after decades of trying, and a number of runner-up finishes.
In Top Fuel Funnycar, one of the most entertaining of all of the NHRA’s classes, it was John Force Racing’s (JFR) Austin Prock who took the crown after winning no less than 9 event finals over 2025. Austin steps into the shoes of his Boss, the GOAT, John Force, who recently announced his retirement after 16 Funnycar World Championships and over 150 event wins. But if anyone can step into those shoes, it looks like Prock is a likely candidate.
Next up was “Pro-Stock”. “Pro-Stock” is class where the cars “kind of” resemble the shape of actual street cars, that is until the massive motos hurl them down the strip in just over 6 seconds.
Dallas Glenn went toe to toe with 6-time National champ Greg Anderson last year, but a minor mis-step at one event cost him the championship. Not this year, as Dallas said he went to each event determined to win. And win he did, taking the event finals wins at 8 of the National races. It was Greg Anderson in his shadow all year, but that is where Dallas kept him, just slightly in the shadow, nevertheless winning 6 national events.
Last but certainly not least was the first-time winner in Pro-Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadsden. Richard is the nephew of long-time motorcycle drag racer and road-tester “Ricky” Gadsden, famous for his ability to squeeze every inch and ounce of performance out of a bike on the quarter mile. Richard and class runner-up Gaige Herrera are on the same Vance and Hines team, but when asked how it is with being on the same team as your nearest competitor, his response was “It’s Kill or Be Killed” all the time with a big grin on his face. Richard can’t be 5’5” tall and 135 pounds with all of his gear on, but he handles the V&H Suzuki Hayabusa like Goliath!
In other news, the rain spoiled the final Race in the long career of Brittany Force. Brittany is the other side of her Father’s (JFR) team, and has decided to step away from Top Fuel Racing to start a family. She may return “At Some Point” in the future, but walks away with two National Championships, and almost all of the top 10 fastest runs in Top Fuel history and Lowest ET’s ( elapsed times) Her recent record is a pass at 343.51 Miles per hours, the fastest speed in NHRA History.
The 2026 season starts in just a couple of months at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida, be ready!
Story: Richard T. Haight
Photos: Chuck Null and Richard T. Haight
