NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will officially kick off in Las Vegas with the historic Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. The first of 20 events, the Gainesville opener traditionally sets the tone for the new year.

The Gatornationals also marks the beginning of NHRA’s much anticipated 75th anniversary season, a yearlong salute that honors the sport’s past, present, and future stars. Among other things, each winner in the 2026 season will receive a special diamond edition NHRA Wally.  

Shawn Langdon, Austin Prock, Greg Anderson, and Gaige Herrera come to Gainesville as favorites in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

As part of PlayNHRA, drag racing fans have the opportunity to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for this event and every event in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Betting markets feature Professional classes, where fans can wager on event winners, low elapsed time of the event, head-to-head matchups, 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

Shawn Langdon is the pre-race favorite at +550 and for good reason. Langdon not only won the Gainesville Top Fuel title in 2024, but he was the star of preseason testing with runs of 3.621 and 345.62 mph, both quicker and faster than the current NHRA records.

Langdon’s teammate, Doug Kalitta, is chasing his third Top Fuel title in four years, and he enters the season as a favorite at +700. Kalitta is among the most successful drivers in the Top Fuel category, but he’s got just two wins in Gainesville in 2005 and 2014.

Leah Pruett has the respect of the oddsmakers as she returns to competition after a two-year absence. Pruett, who nearly won the 2023 Top Fuel title after a winner-take-all final round with Kalitta in Pomona, is priced at +800, while Justin Ashley has similar odds.

The Top Fuel field for the season opener is absolutely loaded with talent as Kalitta and Langdon are joined by fellow world champions Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher, as well as Tony Stewart, Shawn Reed, and Clay Millican, all of whom won at least one event last season.

Also among the favorites is Josh Hart, who is now driving the same John Force Racing dragster that carried Brittany Force to multiple 340-mph runs last season. Hart, at +850, was also very quick in preseason testing and is very likely a top championship contender this season.

There is also plenty of storylines to follow, including the debut of Maddi Gordon in the new Top Fuel dragster from Ron Capps Motorsports. Gordon is a big long shot at +8000.

FUNNY CAR

Can Austin Prock win a third straight Funny Car championship? Of course he can, and he’s once again the favorite at +425. Even though he’s racing with a new team after moving from John Force Racing to Bob Tasca Racing during the offseason.

Matt Hagan, chasing a fifth world title this season, follows Prock at +500, while Jack Beckman remains a leading title contender along with Ron Capps, who are both at +700.

Daniel Wilkerson opened at +900, while defending Gainesville champ Chad Green carries a price of +1000.

Jordan Vandergriff, who replaced Prock at JFR, is priced at +1100 along with 2025 NHRA Rooke of the Year Spencer Hyde at the same odds.

The 19-car Funny Car field also includes a few big long shots, including Buddy Hull, Hunter Green, Julie Nataas, John Smith, and Todd Lesenko, who are all at +8000.

PRO STOCK

To no one’s surprise, KB Titan teammates Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn occupy the top spots in Pro Stock with odds of +320 and +350, respectively. Anderson and Glenn combined to win the majority of the events last season, and while that’s likely to change at some point, the oddsmakers see them as overwhelming favorites.

Matt Hartford finished third in the points battle, and he’s a solid contender at +900, while Aaron Stanfield, fresh off a big Pro Mod win in Bradenton, Fla., is at +1200, a price he shares with teammate Erica Enders and Matt Latino.

Greg Stanfield (+1600), Deric Kramer (+1600), and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (+1800) represent value picks.

One intriguing entry is rookie Cody Anderson, the son of six-time world champ Greg Anderson. Cody was recently licensed and is making his debut. As such, he carries a long shot price of +8000.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

While Richard Gadson is the reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, it’s his teammate, Gaige Herrera, that is the favorite at +125. Gadson is not far behind at +300, while Brayden Davis, who made some impressive testing runs with new teammate Ryan Oehler, opens at +1000. Matt Smith is also among the favorites at +1100, a huge value for someone who has six world championships to his credit.

John Hall, who won two races last season, has an opening price of +1100, while past national event winner Chase Van Sant and Steve Johnson come in at +1400.

Former world champion Geno Scali has rejoined the Vance & Hines team this season, and he’s among the prime long shots at +6500 along with Clayton Howey, who was impressive last season.

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

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