NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Last year was a banner year for first-time winners in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series as Tony Stewart, Shawn Reed, Paul Lee, Cory Reed, and Richard Gadson all joined the list of drivers who have won at least one Professional event in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, or Pro Stock Motorcycle.

As big as last year was in terms of first-time Wally recipients, this year has the potential to be even bigger with many noteworthy candidates spread across each of the four Professional categories.

Could we exceed last year’s total of five new winners? The short answer is: absolutely. In fact, with just two races in the books, we’ve already come incredibly close with Spencer Hyde and Cody Coughlin each reaching the final in Phoenix, a pair of semifinals by Maddi Gordon, and impressive semifinal finish by Jordan Vandergriff and Clayton Howey in Gainesville.

This year, everyone wants one of the special edition 75th diamond anniversary NHRA Wallys, and here’s a look at the drivers most likely to get one. We’ve separated the eligible candidates into several categories, ranging from most likely to biggest upset.

WE’D BE SURPRISED IF IT DOESN’T HAPPEN, AND HAPPEN SOON

Jordan Vandergriff
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t think that Jordan Vandergriff is going to win at least one Funny Car race this season? Disagree if you like, but prepare for a healthy serving of crow when one of NHRA’s most promising young talents finds the winner’s circle. There is no such thing as a lock in drag racing, but this one comes close. Consider that Vandergriff is driving the car that dominated the last two seasons, albeit with a different crew chief. He’s also got a grand total of about 20 runs in a Funny Car but has looked right at home in his first two events. On the sidelines since 2019, Vandergriff waited a long time for this opportunity. He’s not going to squander it.

Spencer Hyde

Quite honestly, we’re a bit surprised this hasn’t happened already. Spencer Hyde had a dubious introduction to Funny Car racing when he missed the field at his first two events last year, but since then, he has been what anyone in their right mind would call a contender. The winner of several Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge events, he’s also been to three final rounds, including the most recent event in Phoenix. Jim Head runs a first-class operation, and it’s hard not to see a path to the winner’s circle this season.

Cody Coughlin
In just over a year, we’ve seen a bit of everything from Cody Coughlin, from upset wins to frustrating losses. While the results haven’t always been positive, the potential is definitely there to join an exclusive fraternity of Pro Stock winners. So far, Coughlin has qualified No. 1 twice in 18 career events, and he has been to a pair of final rounds, including the Phoenix event this season. Perhaps more than any other class, Pro Stock is a “right time, right place” category, and when Coughlin finds himself in that spot, it’s almost guaranteed to cash in.  

Maddi Gordon

When it comes to spectacular debuts, it’s hard to do much better than Maddi Gordon and her back-to-back semifinals. Gordon is still learning the finer points of driving a Top Fuel car, particularly on the starting line, but the progress is already evident. Team owner Ron Capps and crew chief Rob Flynn have taken a calculated approach when it comes to their young prodigy, but when the time is right, they’ll have the ability to turn up the wick, which could push someone who is already a fan favorite into instant stardom.

YOU WOULDN’T NEED A CRYSTAL BALL TO SEE THIS ONE COMING

Cody Anderson
The son of six-time champ Greg Anderson, Cody faces an uphill battle against Maddi Gordon for the NHRA Rookie of the Year award, but given the very small sample we’ve seen so far, the thought of him actually winning a race isn’t too far-fetched. Much like his father, Anderson has never raced anything other than a Pro Stock car, but he’s looked right at home in his two appearances. Given the high level of competition, a win might be a bit of a stretch, but then again, would it?

Jasmine Salinas
The only real question here is opportunity, as the Scrappers team is committed to just a part-time schedule at this point. Given past history, there is plenty of reason for optimism as one might recall Jasmine Salinas went to the semifinals in four of six events during the 2025 season. Salinas also has a career best of 3.691, and that’s the sort of number that can get the job done at almost any event.

Daniel Wilkerson

Here we have another case of why this hasn’t happened already. Quite honestly, the only thing separating the Scag team from a win is luck. Father and crew chief Tim Wilkerson won 24 events in a nitro car, and the once independent team now has a solid marketing partner in Scag Power Equipment, so all the elements that are necessary for success are already in place. Daniel has also competed in more than 50 races as a Pro, and has appeared in two finals, so lack of experience isn’t a factor. So yeah, let’s just chalk this one up to luck.

Matt Latino
Matt Latino has only run 13 races since joining the Pro Stock class, so we’ve got a very random sampling to choose from, but so far, we like what we’ve seen. For one, he’s got KB Titan power, so that isn’t an issue. When it comes to driving, we’ve already seen flashes of brilliance with a handful of holeshot wins, including one against Gainesville winner Matt Hartford last week in Phoenix. The problem with Pro Stock is that there are at least 12-14 drivers capable of winning on any given weekend, so there really is no margin for error, and no matter what you might bring to the starting line, there’s always the chance it won’t be enough.

Brayden Davis
We’d like his odds a bit better if he were able to continue racing with the Vance & Hines team, but when it comes to raw talent, this kid is the real deal. He's currently racing with Ryan Oehler, and his debut in Gainesville was solid. We saw a glimpse of what  Brayden Davis is capable of last year when he finished in the top five and went to a pair of finals. Give him a bike that's even close to the leaders and he can do the rest.

I’D BE A LITTLE SURPRISED, BUT NOT TOO MUCH

Gary Pritchett
He’s already won races in Top Alcohol Dragster and enjoyed a successful debut with Doug Foley’s Top Fuel team with a recent win at an IHRA event. At this point, Gary Pritchett has competed in just two races in Top Fuel, so there’s not a tremendous amount of data to analyze, but so far, we like what we’ve seen. Also worth noting that when Doug Foley drove the car, he went to a pair of Top Fuel finals, including one as recently as the 2024 Charlotte four-wide, so it’s not like this team hasn’t experienced previous success.

Dan Mercier
Here we have another case of a team that probably would have won already if they raced a full season. As it is, Dan Mercier and his Canadian crew compete in about six to eight events annually, and they’ve earned a reputation as someone to avoid on race day. Mercier has been to a pair of semifinals in his career, and his personal best is a 3.714, which is right in the ballpark when it comes to competitive runs. The only question here is can they do it four times in a row on race day, and the answer to that is most likely yes.

Hunter Green

Already a winner in Top Alcohol Dragster, Hunter Green hopes to follow his father, Chad’s lead and join the list of nitro Funny Car winners. First off, this is a relatively new team that debuted only last season, and right now, Green has appeared in a total of 10 events as a professional. He has managed to score a handful of round-wins but is still looking for his first semifinal finish. Given the level of competition that currently exists in the Funny Car class, a victory this season would probably qualify as an upset, but probably not as big as some might think.

Kelly Clontz
When Kelly Clontz's bike ripped off a 6.705 run three years ago in Dallas, it seemed entirely reasonable to think this might be the next first-time winner, but maintaining that pace has been a bit of a challenge. There is also the small matter of Gaige Herrera, who has won the bulk of the events in the last three seasons. Regardless, this is a team that has made steady progress and regularly qualifies in the top half of the field. Over the years, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class has had its fair share of “OMG moments” where first-time winners seemingly come out of nowhere, and the next time that happens, this would be a prime candidate.

Ida Zetterström

Ida Zetterström has already won some of the biggest races in the world, including the FIA Top Fuel world championship, so things like final-round jitters shouldn’t be an issue whenever she gets there. This year, Zetterström is scheduled to make several events in Shawn Reed’s Top Fuel car, the same one that won last year in Reading and has regularly run in the 3.6s. A win here is entirely possible. In fact, it wouldn't be shocking at all. The only question is how many opportunities is she going to get this season.

Julie Nataas
When it comes to winning races and dealing with pressure, Julie Nataas has a pretty good handle on that after a world championship in Top Alcohol Dragster, a NHRA U.S. Nationals victory, and five straight JEGS Allstars titles. Now, the challenge becomes a bit more difficult as she looks to becomes just the fifth woman to win in the nitro Funny Car class. Crew chief and team owner Del Worsham certainly knows his way to the winner’s circle, so the real question here is opportunity. So far, Nataas has raced in just five events as a Pro (including one in Top Fuel) and her current schedule remains a work in progress. Simple answer: The more opportunities she gets, the higher her odds of success.

Eric Latino

We can cut directly to the chase here. This is a Pro Stock car that can win races right now because more often than not, it qualifies in the top half of the field, including the pole position last year in St. Louis. That being said, horsepower is only part of the equation, and it’s only slightly more important than the ability to get the clutch pedal out on time. In 13 races last year, this car was only outrun to the finish line three times. The other 10 losses came via either holeshot, red-light, or breakage. Latino has put forth the effort to address some of those issues, and it’s not unreasonable to think there is a final round, or possibly even a win, in his future.

The Cuadra Boys
We're going to list all three Cuadra brothers — Fernando Jr., David, and Cristian — together becuase they all have the same equipment and appear comparably talented, with each one having a roughly equal chance to win. Although, so far, Cristian has mostly had the best results. At this point, the Corral team hasn't raced in either of the first two events of the season, and there is no real indication of their 2026 schedule. That being said, when they do show up, they merit some respect. 

HEY, THIS IS DRAG RACING AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN

Mason McGaha

Mason McGaha’s driving talent is undeniable. He proved himself as an 18-year-old rookie in 2020, and now, five years later, he’s still seeking a first win, so what gives? The one-word answer here is horsepower because all the holeshots in the world don’t mean much if you can’t stay ahead of your opponent. This is not for lack of effort as the Harlow Sammons team leaves no stone unturned in an effort to get quicker. Give this kid about .03-second and watch out.

Buddy Hull
After several seasons with Jim Dunn Racing, Buddy Hull launched his own team this season, and under any circumstances, that’s a big undertaking. Adding to the challenge, the team took a big hit in Gainesville with an explosion and fire that forced them to miss Phoenix. At this point, winning a race remains a long-term goal, but there does seem to be a concerted effort here to build a competitive and sustainable program, so there’s definitely an upside.

Terry Haddock

No one races with more heart and does more with less than Terry Haddock. The mere fact that he has been a staple of the Funny Car class for two decades while so many others have come and gone is a testament to his dedication. In recent years, Haddock has made great strides. He not only runs a clean operation, but he has dipped into the threes on several occasions, which makes him a threat to steal a round or two.

Dave Richards
One of the biggest (and perhaps most unexpected) announcements this offseason came when veteran tuner Aaron Brooks was named as the crew chief of Dave Richards’ Blue Bird Ture entry. That single move represents a major step forward for a team that has had occasional success but has struggled to find consistency. Brooks will undoubtedly make this program more competitive, and two races in, there are signs that he’s already done so.

Will Smith

It’s awfully difficult to grade someone who has run just a handful of events and is beginning the season with an all-new team that was assembled at the last minute, but here we are. The good news is that Will Smith and the Bluebird team are scheduled to race in a full season as a teammate to Justin Ashley, so there should be a high ceiling when it comes to potential. Honestly, they’ve already shown signs of progress following a DNQ in Gainesville with a better effort in Phoenix. In the interest of full fairness, it would be far better to reevaluate their chances at midseason.

Stephen Bell
When it comes to winning races, Stephen Bell has a fair amount of experience with seven victories in the Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class, but as he has learned, Pro Stock is a whole different animal. Bell raced in just 10 events last season as a member of the Elite team, and he reached the quarterfinals once. Reportedly, he’s on for a full season this time, and the Elite team has also worked hard to close the gap between themselves and the KB Titan team. Once again, Pro Stock is an absolute mine field with too many competitive teams to count, but as the only saying goes, “Anyone who qualifies can win.” That rings true here.

Clayton Howey

A West Coast bracket racer, Clayton Howey is cut from the same mold that gives us Karen Stoffer, Craig Treble, and Gaige Herrera. As a rider, he’s comparably talented next to any of those three riders, and this year, he’s riding a Vance & Hines-powered Suzuki leased from Chris and Kelly Clontz, so he also appears to have a bike that is capable of going the distance. Howey provided a glimpse of his potential when he defeated six-time world champion Matt Smith in Gainesville and reached the semifinals. That wasn’t an accident, and it wasn’t a one-time occurrence. If he runs all the races this season, he’s going to rack up some round-wins.

Chris Vang
Chris Vang already has NHRA wins in Stock and Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and so far, he’s looked right at home in the driver’s seat of a 500-inch Pro Stock car. In fact, for a guy who has competed in just a handful of events, he has probably exceeded expectations. Here’s where we’re faced with the same dilemma of a partial schedule that not only limits opportunities for victories but also valuable seat time and tuning data. Last year in St. Louis, Vang scored a holeshot win over Cory Reed and then slapped a .005 light on Matt Latino in the quarterfinals, which should provide a glimpse of his potential as a driver.

Jason Rupert

Who says the days of independent, low-buck, single-car nitro teams are over? If that’s the case, certainly no one has told Jason Rupert and his team who benefit from the vast tuning experience of Hall of Famer Rahn Tobler. At this point, winning a race might be a bit of a stretch, especially because their schedule is generally limited to a handful of West Coast events, but this is also a three-second car that no one wants to see in the other lane on race day.

Marc Ingwersen
On the plus side, this is a bike that often runs in the 6.8s with a best of 6.773 and has made three semifinal appearances in the last few years. The question that remains is, is that enough? Honestly, it’s going to take a bit more performance to run with the class leaders, but that’s not to say we’re not going to see an upset here or there. Case in point, Marc Ingwersen beat Matt Smith last year in St. Louis and also scored a four-wide win against Chase Van Sant and Gaige Herrera.

Chris Bostick
In 94 career races, Chris Bostick has a runner-up finish and a pair of semifinals, so once again, when opportunity knocks, he has been there to answer, but those chances so far have been few and far between. Still, he beat John Hall twice last season, so that merits a bit of respect. He also qualified in the top half of the field just twice in 14 races, so that often means a very tough draw in the first or second rounds.

Todd Lesenko
So, what sort of expectations should we place on a driver who has been out of the seat for more than a decade and has returned to a team that had some of the worst luck imaginable last season? We can only look at this season where the Jim Dunn team missed the field at the first two events in Gainesville and Phoenix. Are they capable of better performances? Almost certainly. It has been a while, but “Big Jim” Dunn has won a few races in his career, including the biggest one of them all, the NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Travis Shumake
Stop us if you've heard this before, but the grade here is incomplete simply because Travis Schumake has only raced in a handful of events. If we're grading on the basis of heart and desire, he'd be at or near the top of the list, but the reality is this is a competitive operation that still lacks the funding to run with the top dogs in the class. 

Bobby Bode
If things had gone just a little bit differently in the 2022 Houston final, Bobby Bode wouldn't be on this list. If you recall, he was ahead of Matt Hagan in the final round when nitro did what nitro does and his hopes faded in a ball of fire. If nothing else, that race proved that Bode has the skills to be a competitive Funny Car driver, and should he land a ride with a competitive team, or he makes more events with his family's entry, he's going to be a handful. 

Dylan Winefsky
Crawl before you walk and walk before you run. Dylan Winefsky is part of a very promising group of up-and-coming young professionals, and so far, he's looked right at home in a nitro Funny Car, albeit in just a few brief appearances. While the Nitro Moose team is not yet competitive against the full-time teams, there is plenty of time and plenty of hope for the future.