NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After a wild day of final qualifying, the fields are set for the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP), and with a drastic improvement in weather conditions, track records are expected to fall as NHRA’s newest event races to a conclusion today. Here is a preview of what to expect on Sunday.

No one was able to match Shawn Langdon’s record 345.00-mph speed on Saturday, but Doug Kalitta did run quick enough to capture the Top Fuel pole with a 3.657 run in his Mac Tools dragster. Kalitta will lead the field, and with 15 cars on the grounds, he will get a bye run into the quarterfinals.

There are some prime matchups in Top Fuel, including Leah Pruett vs. Gainesville winner Josh Hart, Tony Stewart vs. Justin Ashley, and an all-team-Ware battle between Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican.

In the Funny Car class, J.R. Todd joined his Kalitta Motorsports teammate atop the charts with a 3.887 in his DHL Toyota Supra. Todd also ran a 339.29 top speed, which is the new SGMP track record.

Todd will be paired with Daniel Wilkerson when eliminations begin on Sunday. Other marquee matchups in Funny Car include Jack Beckman vs. Matt Hagan in a battle of world champions. Reigning and two-time champ Austin Prock will also look to snap out of an early-season funk with a race against reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde. Chad Green, the Gainesville winner, will also race against Ron Capps, who has banked two wins this season, including the most recent four-wide event in Charlotte.

The Pro Stock field is led by Greg Anderson, who was the only driver in the 6.4s with a 6.498 on Friday. Anderson’s quest for career victory No. 114 will begin with a tough race against Matt Latino.

World champion Dallas Glenn will also have his hands full with Jeg Coughlin Jr., while Matt Hartford races Deric Kramer and Erica Enders will be paired with Elite teammate Aaron Stanfield.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith made what is so far the quickest run of the season with a 6.699 on his Denso Buell. As the low qualifier, Smith will also get a bye run in the opening round.

Smith’s wife, Angie, was the No. 5 qualifier with a 6.757, and she will race against Brayden Davis in the opening round. There is also an epic battle brewing between Jianna Evaristo and Kelly Clontz, who each made solid runs during qualifying with Evaristo the No. 7 qualifier at 6.778 on her JHG Buell.

The South Georgia race also features the latest round of the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, where Derek Menholt is the top qualifier with a very impressive 5.623-second run. Menholt will race against Nick Januik, who holds down a very quick bump spot at 5.786.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.657 sec. by Doug Kalitta, May '26; 345.00 mph by Shawn Langdon, May '26; Funny Car - 3.887 sec by J.R. Todd, May '26; 339.28 mph by Todd, May '26. Pro Stock - 6.499 sec. by Greg Anderson, May '26; 211.49 mph by Matt Hartford, May '26; Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.699 sec. by Matt Smith, May '26; 203.03 mph by M. Smith, May '26.

NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading; 345.00 mph by Shawn Langdon, May ‘26, Adel, Ga.
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

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

TELEVISION
Sunday, May 3, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 1 p.m. (EDT). 
Sunday, May 3, FS1 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (EDT).