The 13th annual NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto rolls into New England Dragway in Epping, N.H., June 5-7 – the eighth of 20 races on NHRA’s 75th-anniversary Mission Foods schedule, the second leg of the Eastern Swing that opened last weekend at the inaugural Potomac Nationals, and the centerpiece of New England Dragway’s own 60th-anniversary season. Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock are on the championship clock. The track records that Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, and Greg Anderson rewrote in June 2025 are still standing – for now. This page is the Drag Illustrated hub for storylines, schedule, TV times, records, and coverage as the weekend unfolds.
Jump to: Race Recap · Eliminations · Photo Gallery · Final Qualifying · R1 Pairings · Quick Hits · Storylines · Schedule · DI Coverage
Dallas Glenn took home the only Wally awarded Sunday at Epping, holding off Matt Hartford in the Pro Stock final, 6.543 to 6.550. The Top Fuel final between Shawn Langdon and Leah Pruett and the Funny Car final between Jordan Vandergriff and Jack Beckman were rained out and have been pushed to Friday, June 12 at Bristol Dragway as part of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals weekend. Both finals will be contested before Friday’s regularly scheduled qualifying.
Eliminations – Round by Round
Pro Stock – The Final (Completed)
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Glenn | .002 | 6.543 | 209.39 | WIN |
| Matt Hartford | .021 | 6.550 | 209.92 | Runner-up |
Dallas Glenn nailed a near-perfect .002 light in the RAD Torque Systems KB Titan Camaro and ran 6.543 / 209.39 mph – holding off Matt Hartford‘s quicker-leaving .021 light and a 6.550 / 209.92 by .0267 seconds at the stripe, roughly eight feet. Glenn won the start AND the run. It’s his third win of 2026 and 24th career national event victory. Path to the Wally: Tucker, Enders, Anderson, then Hartford.
Pro Stock – Semifinals (an instant classic)
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Glenn | .011 | 6.556 | 209.49 | WIN |
| Greg Anderson | .039 | 6.548 | 209.30 | Lost (.0206 — holeshot) |
| Matt Hartford | .036 | 6.540 | 209.88 | WIN |
| Greg Stanfield | .028 | 6.555 | 209.39 | Lost (.0077) |
Glenn over Anderson on a holeshot – Anderson ran quicker (6.548 to 6.556) but Glenn’s .011 light against Anderson’s .039 turned a slower car into a winner by .0206. Margin of victory in feet: maybe nine. On the other side, Hartford over Stanfield by .0077 – .015 of an inch under “what just happened?” territory. Stanfield had the better light (.028 to .036); Hartford had the better car (6.540 to 6.555). Two of the closest semifinals of the year, decided by less than a foot combined.
Pro Stock – Quarterfinals
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Stanfield | .029 | 6.570 | 209.82 | WIN |
| Matt Latino | .018 | 6.588 | 209.98 | Lost (.0073) |
| Dallas Glenn | .023 | 6.562 | 209.62 | WIN |
| Erica Enders | .025 | 6.581 | 209.01 | Lost (.0212) |
| Matt Hartford | .019 | 6.587 | 209.56 | WIN |
| Eric Latino | -.080 | 6.562 | 209.95 | Lost (red) |
| Greg Anderson | .035 | 6.546 | 209.75 | WIN |
| Jeg Coughlin Jr. | -.217 | 12.083 | 94.39 | Lost (red — early) |
Two red lights from the Coughlin/Latino quadrants: Jeg Coughlin Jr. went deep red at -.217 – a clear early-leave foul against Anderson – and Eric Latino red-lit at -.080 against Hartford. Glenn handled defending world champion Erica Enders by .0212. Greg Stanfield over Matt Latino by .0073 – the second-closest pair of the round and another reminder that Epping was an instant-classic Sunday for Pro Stock.
Pro Stock – Round 1
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeg Coughlin Jr. | .028 | 6.565 | 208.10 | WIN |
| Aaron Stanfield | .011 | 6.587 | 209.17 | Lost (.0055) |
| Greg Stanfield | .019 | 6.562 | 208.75 | WIN |
| Cody Anderson | .047 | 7.632 | 133.62 | Lost (1.0982) |
| Matt Hartford | .036 | 6.548 | 210.28 | WIN |
| Deric Kramer | .041 | 6.556 | 209.36 | Lost (.0137) |
| Dallas Glenn | .031 | 6.567 | 209.75 | WIN |
| Shane Tucker | .032 | 6.579 | 210.37 | Lost (.0133) |
| Eric Latino | .072 | 6.572 | 209.75 | WIN |
| Kenny Delco | .054 | 6.633 | 208.04 | Lost (.0433) |
| Matt Latino | .027 | 6.564 | 210.37 | WIN |
| Brandon Miller | .224 | 6.668 | 198.82 | Lost (.3013) |
| Greg Anderson | .069 | 6.546 | 209.36 | WIN (bye) |
| Erica Enders | .036 | 6.556 | 209.36 | WIN |
| Troy Coughlin Jr. | .040 | 6.585 | 208.26 | Lost (.0334) |
Jeg Coughlin Jr. over Aaron Stanfield by .0055 – the closest Pro Stock race of the round. Stanfield had the better light (.011 to .028); Coughlin had the quicker car (6.565 to 6.587). Net: roughly two feet at the finish. Hartford-Kramer (.0137) and Glenn-Tucker (.0133) were both inside .015. Anderson got a bye and posted Round 1’s quickest at 6.546. Brandon Miller‘s .224 light against Matt Latino was the day’s only deer-in-headlights moment in the class.
Top Fuel – Final Postponed to Bristol
Shawn Langdon vs. Leah Pruett for the Wally. Langdon goes for his fourth final round win of 2026 and would push his points lead. Pruett goes for her first final-round appearance of 2026 in the Dodge Power Brokers dragster. The final will run Friday, June 12 at Bristol Dragway before qualifying for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Top Fuel Semifinals
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Langdon | .047 | 3.755 | 336.74 | To final |
| Doug Kalitta | .055 | 3.796 | 284.99 | Lost (.0496) |
| Leah Pruett | .072 | 3.770 | 331.28 | To final |
| Billy Torrence | .042 | 3.826 | 329.50 | Lost (.0267) |
Langdon hammered a 3.755 at 336.74 – quickest of the round – to beat teammate Kalitta by .0496. Pruett went 3.770/331.28 to take out Torrence by .0267 and lock in her first final of 2026.
Top Fuel Quarterfinals
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Langdon | .040 | 3.775 | 332.92 | WIN |
| Clay Millican | .085 | 4.033 | 246.17 | Lost (clicked off) |
| Doug Kalitta | .054 | 3.762 | 330.23 | WIN |
| Antron Brown | .059 | 3.808 | 329.58 | Lost |
| Leah Pruett | .075 | 4.696 | 200.08 | WIN |
| Maddi Gordon | .046 | 5.623 | 191.48 | Lost (smoke battle) |
| Billy Torrence | .036 | 3.861 | 331.04 | WIN |
| Josh Hart | .056 | 3.856 | 332.43 | Lost (.0155 — holeshot loss) |
Torrence over Hart on a holeshot, .0155 margin – Hart ran quicker (3.856 to 3.861) but Torrence’s .036 light beat Hart’s .056 by enough to win by roughly eight feet. Pruett-Gordon turned into a smoke battle the Pruett camp salvaged at 4.696 to advance. Langdon’s 3.775 was the quickest of the round.
Top Fuel Round 1
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Millican | .067 | 4.441 | 265.06 | WIN |
| Justin Ashley | .039 | 5.068 | 156.99 | Lost (smoke) |
| Maddi Gordon | .066 | 3.753 | 337.50 | WIN |
| Tony Stewart | .062 | 4.867 | 156.37 | Lost |
| Doug Kalitta | .065 | 3.747 | 333.16 | WIN |
| Will Smith | .057 | 6.911 | 88.56 | Lost |
| Shawn Langdon | .126 | 6.607 | 90.65 | WIN (bye) |
| Leah Pruett | .078 | 3.776 | 331.45 | WIN |
| Scott Farley | .118 | 8.966 | 76.17 | Lost |
| Josh Hart | .078 | 3.872 | 330.47 | WIN |
| Rit Pustari | .132 | 8.382 | 79.29 | Lost |
| Antron Brown | .049 | 3.828 | 330.31 | WIN |
| Shawn Reed | .108 | 3.817 | 328.78 | Lost (.0481 — holeshot loss) |
| Billy Torrence | .064 | 3.940 | 276.35 | WIN |
| Tony Schumacher | .064 | 4.625 | 169.59 | Lost (identical .064 lights) |
Antron Brown over Shawn Reed on a holeshot, .0481 margin – Reed actually ran .011 quicker (3.817 to 3.828), but Brown’s .049 light vs. Reed’s .108 was decisive. Torrence-Schumacher: identical .064 lights; Torrence won the run when Schumacher shook the tires. Clay Millican upset No. 8 Justin Ashley when Ashley smoked the tires and crossed the centerline. Maddi Gordon ran the round’s quickest at 3.753/337.50 to handle Tony Stewart.
Funny Car – All-JFR Final Postponed to Bristol
Jordan Vandergriff vs. Jack Beckman – both John Force Racing. Vandergriff became the first No. 1 qualifier to advance through all three rounds Sunday and now goes for the biggest weekend of his Funny Car career: No. 1 qualifier, Mission #2Fast2Tasty win already in hand, and a potential Wally to complete the sweep. Beckman comes in as the quickest of the semifinal round at 3.904. Final will run Friday, June 12 at Bristol.
Funny Car Semifinals
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Vandergriff | .073 | 3.982 | 316.52 | To final |
| J.R. Todd | .058 | 6.964 | 91.12 | Lost (dropped cylinder) |
| Jack Beckman | .078 | 3.904 | 329.75 | To final |
| Ron Capps | .080 | 3.943 | 325.37 | Lost (.0418) |
Beckman’s 3.904 was the quickest Funny Car run of Sunday. Vandergriff cruised past Todd, who dropped a cylinder and limped through at 6.964. Capps lost to Beckman by .0418 after a tight side-by-side.
Funny Car Quarterfinals
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.R. Todd | .068 | 3.975 | 331.53 | WIN |
| Blake Alexander | .061 | 4.109 | 285.53 | Lost (.1273) |
| Jack Beckman | .084 | 3.943 | 324.75 | WIN |
| Matt Hagan | .074 | 4.020 | 323.04 | Lost (.0678) |
| Jordan Vandergriff | .057 | 3.942 | 324.51 | WIN |
| Chad Green | .057 | 3.975 | 322.42 | Lost (.0331 — identical .057 lights) |
| Ron Capps | .070 | 3.938 | 327.11 | WIN |
| Alexis DeJoria | .056 | 3.953 | 328.54 | Lost (.0018 — inches at the stripe) |
Capps over DeJoria by .0018 – the closest race of Sunday in any class. Inches at the stripe. DeJoria left first with the better light (.056 to .070), but Capps had the quicker car (3.938 to 3.953) and made up the deficit by roughly nine inches at 327 mph. NHRA called it “one of the most thrilling side-by-side Funny Car races of the season.” Vandergriff and Green both ran identical .057 lights; Vandergriff took it on ET by .033.
Funny Car Round 1
| Driver | RT | ET | MPH | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Hagan | .052 | 9.501 | 44.74 | WIN |
| Del Worsham | -.171 | 4.460 | 177.00 | Lost (red) |
| J.R. Todd | .086 | 3.919 | 331.45 | WIN |
| Spencer Hyde | .077 | 7.216 | 108.82 | Lost |
| Jack Beckman | .069 | 3.970 | 323.58 | WIN |
| Phil Burkart | .075 | 12.368 | 70.44 | Lost |
| Jordan Vandergriff | .077 | 3.947 | 326.24 | WIN |
| Jeff Arend | .084 | 4.104 | 286.38 | Lost (.1646) |
| Alexis DeJoria | .070 | 3.998 | 326.40 | WIN |
| Cruz Pedregon | .079 | DQ | — | Lost (DQ) |
| Blake Alexander | .099 | 4.188 | 241.84 | WIN |
| Austin Prock | .066 | 4.466 | 286.07 | Lost (lost traction) |
| Ron Capps | .075 | 3.948 | 324.05 | WIN |
| Daniel Wilkerson | .064 | 8.349 | 119.34 | Lost (4.3902) |
| Chad Green | .074 | 3.951 | 319.07 | WIN (bye) |
| Dave Richards | — | broke | — | Did not run |
Blake Alexander upset defending world champion Austin Prock when Prock’s Cornwell Tools Mustang lost traction – Alexander ran 4.188 to advance over Prock’s 4.466. Del Worsham red-lit at -.171 against Hagan, who lost traction himself (9.501) and still advanced. Vandergriff, Beckman, DeJoria all advanced for JFR. Capps put up the round’s quickest of the JFR contingent at 3.948.
Sunday Photo Gallery
Race day at Epping. Photos: Marc Gewertz / NHRA and Auto Imagery / NHRA. Click any image to enlarge.
Final Qualifying – After Saturday
Top Fuel – Langdon claws back on the last pair
Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon locks down the No. 1 qualifier at 3.709 / 334.98 mph in the Kalitta Air dragster – his second straight No. 1 and the fourth of his 2026 season. Leah Pruett holds No. 2 at 3.712 and Josh Hart No. 3 at 3.724 (with the round’s top speed at 337.92). Teammate Doug Kalitta climbed to No. 4 at 3.734 – and beat Langdon in the final of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge for his third Challenge win of the season. Langdon draws the bye in Round 1.
The great thing about this team is that if Doug wins, we win. If I win, we win. We have two really good race cars and we’re all pulling in the same direction.– Shawn Langdon
| Pos | Driver | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shawn Langdon | 3.709 | 334.98 |
| 2 | Leah Pruett | 3.712 | 335.73 |
| 3 | Josh Hart | 3.724 | 337.92 |
| 4 | Doug Kalitta | 3.734 | 335.82 |
| 5 | Shawn Reed | 3.745 | 331.61 |
| 6 | Billy Torrence | 3.768 | 332.26 |
| 7 | Tony Stewart | 3.771 | 333.49 |
| 8 | Justin Ashley | 3.780 | 309.77 |
| 9 | Clay Millican | 3.806 | 333.82 |
| 10 | Maddi Gordon | 3.808 | 330.55 |
| 11 | Tony Schumacher | 3.820 | 332.18 |
| 12 | Antron Brown | 3.822 | 324.20 |
| 13 | Will Smith | 3.848 | 326.48 |
| 14 | Rit Pustari | 9.189 | 71.97 |
| 15 | Scott Farley | — | — (broke) |
Funny Car – Vandergriff snatches No. 1 on the last run; JFR sweeps top three
Funny Car rookie Jordan Vandergriff waited until the last run of Q4 and threw down a 3.913 at 323.58 in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to snatch the No. 1 qualifier from teammate Alexis DeJoria. It’s his first career No. 1 and his second Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the year. John Force Racing locks the top three: Vandergriff, Jack Beckman at 3.921, and DeJoria at 3.929. J.R. Todd jumped to No. 4 at 3.940. Defending world champion Austin Prock at No. 5. Chad Green in the bproauto livery at his sponsor’s race is No. 8, and points leader Ron Capps is in at No. 6 at 3.945 – up from No. 13 after Q2.
Pos Driver ET MPH 1 Jordan Vandergriff 3.913 323.58 2 Jack Beckman 3.921 327.35 3 Alexis DeJoria 3.929 312.42 4 J.R. Todd 3.940 329.91 5 Austin Prock 3.942 326.95 6 Ron Capps 3.945 328.22 7 Matt Hagan 3.954 328.46 8 Chad Green 3.971 318.77 9 Dave Richards 3.974 331.53 10 Del Worsham 3.986 326.87 11 Daniel Wilkerson 3.988 320.20 12 Blake Alexander 3.999 319.14 13 Spencer Hyde 4.001 319.75 14 Cruz Pedregon 4.008 316.97 15 Phil Burkart 4.075 311.05 16 Jeff Arend 4.152 264.18
Pro Stock – Greg Anderson opens with No. 1
Greg Anderson locks in the Pro Stock No. 1 at 6.508 / 210.67 mph in the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet – his fifth No. 1 of 2026 and 145th of his career. He also took the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, beating Troy Coughlin Jr. in the final. Brothers Matt Latino (No. 2) and Eric Latino (No. 3) sandwich Anderson’s longtime rival Erica Enders in the top four. KB Titan Racing points leader Dallas Glenn sits No. 5. Spots 2 through 8 are separated by .017 seconds – Enders, Glenn, Hartford, both Stanfields all jammed in the .53s. Anderson draws the bye in Round 1.
Pos Driver ET MPH 1 Greg Anderson 6.508 210.67 2 Matt Latino 6.525 210.77 3 Eric Latino 6.534 210.57 4 Erica Enders 6.534 209.72 5 Dallas Glenn 6.537 210.28 6 Matt Hartford 6.539 210.34 7 Greg Stanfield 6.540 210.47 8 Aaron Stanfield 6.542 208.49 9 Jeg Coughlin Jr. 6.546 210.14 10 Cody Anderson 6.551 209.79 11 Deric Kramer 6.551 209.56 12 Shane Tucker 6.557 211.76 13 Troy Coughlin Jr. 6.583 208.33 14 Kenny Delco 6.605 208.01 15 Brandon Miller 6.621 209.36
Sunday Round 1 Pairings
Top Fuel – Round 1
| Lane Choice | Challenger |
|---|---|
| No. 1. Shawn Langdon (3.709) | BYE. — (—) |
| No. 2. Leah Pruett (3.712) | No. 15. Scott Farley (broke) |
| No. 3. Josh Hart (3.724) | No. 14. Rit Pustari (9.189) |
| No. 4. Doug Kalitta (3.734) | No. 13. Will Smith (3.848) |
| No. 5. Shawn Reed (3.745) | No. 12. Antron Brown (3.822) |
| No. 6. Billy Torrence (3.768) | No. 11. Tony Schumacher (3.820) |
| No. 7. Tony Stewart (3.771) | No. 10. Maddi Gordon (3.808) |
| No. 8. Justin Ashley (3.780) | No. 9. Clay Millican (3.806) |
Funny Car – Round 1
| Lane Choice | Challenger |
|---|---|
| No. 1. Jordan Vandergriff (3.913) | No. 16. Jeff Arend (4.152) |
| No. 2. Jack Beckman (3.921) | No. 15. Phil Burkart (4.075) |
| No. 3. Alexis DeJoria (3.929) | No. 14. Cruz Pedregon (4.008) |
| No. 4. J.R. Todd (3.940) | No. 13. Spencer Hyde (4.001) |
| No. 5. Austin Prock (3.942) | No. 12. Blake Alexander (3.999) |
| No. 6. Ron Capps (3.945) | No. 11. Daniel Wilkerson (3.988) |
| No. 7. Matt Hagan (3.954) | No. 10. Del Worsham (3.986) |
| No. 8. Chad Green (3.971) | No. 9. Dave Richards (3.974) |
Pro Stock – Round 1
| Lane Choice | Challenger |
|---|---|
| No. 1. Greg Anderson (6.508) | BYE. — (—) |
| No. 2. Matt Latino (6.525) | No. 15. Brandon Miller (6.621) |
| No. 3. Eric Latino (6.534) | No. 14. Kenny Delco (6.605) |
| No. 4. Erica Enders (6.534) | No. 13. Troy Coughlin Jr. (6.583) |
| No. 5. Dallas Glenn (6.537) | No. 12. Shane Tucker (6.557) |
| No. 6. Matt Hartford (6.539) | No. 11. Deric Kramer (6.551) |
| No. 7. Greg Stanfield (6.540) | No. 10. Cody Anderson (6.551) |
| No. 8. Aaron Stanfield (6.542) | No. 9. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (6.546) |
Quick Hits from the Pits
Three Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge winners Saturday. Doug Kalitta outran teammate Shawn Langdon in the Top Fuel final – Kalitta’s third Challenge win of 2026, and the fifth out of six this season between him and Langdon. Jordan Vandergriff took the Funny Car Challenge over Ron Capps – his second of the year. Greg Anderson beat Troy Coughlin Jr. in Pro Stock after Greg Stanfield went red in Round 1.
“The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is a great deal for the fans. It’s a great idea, and Shawn and I have both been fortunate enough to win a few of them. The Mission race adds something extra. It raises the intensity and gives you another opportunity to practice under real race conditions.”
– Doug Kalitta
Elite Motorsports put five cars in the 15-car Pro Stock field at Epping, and the gap to KB Titan tightened all weekend. Erica Enders leads the Elite contingent at No. 4 (6.534) – .026 off Anderson’s pole. Greg Stanfield follows at No. 7 (6.540), Aaron Stanfield No. 8 (6.542), Jeg Coughlin Jr. No. 9 (6.546), and Troy Coughlin Jr. No. 13 (6.583). KB Titan still owns the top spot – Anderson No. 1, Glenn No. 5, Cody Anderson No. 10 – but the spread is razor-thin. Spots 1 through 9 are separated by just .038 seconds. NHRA’s own Friday news read had Greg Stanfield “positioned himself as the leading Elite Motorsports contender” – and the Saturday recap noted Elite “made notable gains after difficult opening runs.”
The Sunday matchup math: Anderson’s side of the ladder has Glenn, Greg Stanfield, and Aaron Stanfield – three potential Elite/KB Titan crossovers before the final. Enders runs the other side with Hartford, the Latinos, and Jeg Coughlin Jr.
NHRA announced a Saturday sellout at New England Dragway – the second straight Saturday sellout of the 2026 season after Maryland International Raceway last weekend, and the fifth overall sellout day of NHRA’s 75th-anniversary year.
“New England Dragway fans are known for being one of the best on the NHRA circuit, and we couldn’t agree more. To see a sold-out Saturday crowd during our 60th season and NHRA’s 75th anniversary is truly special.”
– Paul Lorenti, New England Dragway President
Three drivers, three lobster-chair shots Friday night. Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) all claimed the No. 1 Clawifier Award presented by NAPA for their Q2 sessions – the Epping signature trophy from Brian Lohnes and the Brooks Trap Mill crew up in Thomaston, Maine.
The Funny Car No. 1 was on track to be Alexis DeJoria‘s first since 2021 Bristol – until Jordan Vandergriff threw down a 3.913 at 323.58 in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS on the last run of Q4 to steal it. It’s the eight-races-in rookie’s first career No. 1 qualifier and his second Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. John Force Racing locks the top three (Vandergriff, Jack Beckman, DeJoria) – the first time the camp has swept the top three Funny Car spots.
“Right when I crossed the finish line and the parachutes hit, I thought, ‘God, that felt quick.’ To get the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win and the No. 1 qualifier in the same day is unbelievable. I never thought I was going to get one of these No. 1 qualifier hats, but now I’ve got one. Right now, we’re the best three Funny Cars on the property. Jack Beckman has helped me a lot with driving and Alexis DeJoria has helped me with handling the emotions. Having teammates like that is huge.”
– Jordan Vandergriff
Scott Farley‘s Top Fuel dragster erupted in a spectacular explosion on the starting line Friday night – a flash that lit the facility and a payoff fans weren’t necessarily expecting on their qualifying ticket. Header flames, a little earlier than billed.
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte traded the State House for the starting line Friday at Epping, taking an up-close look at NHRA competition with NHRA President Glen Cromwell, Bob Tasca III, and Austin Prock. Brian Lohnes noted on the broadcast that three previous New Hampshire governors hailed from Epping itself.
Greg Anderson locks in his 5th No. 1 qualifier of 2026 and 145th of his career with a 6.508 / 210.67 mph – his 75th-anniversary diamond Wally one win closer. He also took down Troy Coughlin Jr. in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final. He entered the weekend 11 points back of KB Titan teammate Dallas Glenn and just stacked bonus points all day.
“I did not do a great job as a driver, but I think I did a good job with the shifting. The racecar bailed me out today. You can’t win without some good luck. It doesn’t matter how good your car runs or how well you drive – you have to have some fortunate breaks. Sometimes you win by your driving, sometimes you win by horsepower. Today, horsepower got the job done.”
– Greg Anderson
“We won Friday and we won lobster, so that’s about as good as you can possibly ask for today. We checked all the boxes and brought them all home.”
– Greg Anderson
Seven things to know going into qualifying – the tech, the trash talk, the Tasca turnaround, and the lobster trophy. Source material: Life’s a Drag with Elon and Abby Werner, WFO Radio with Joe Castello, and the NHRA Insider with Brian Lohnes.
The Kalitta Motorsports cars of Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and J.R. Todd (Funny Car) are running the new Max Papis Innovations B-Fly steering wheel – and the cars are going arrow-straight. Brian Lohnes called it on the air at Potomac, Langdon confirmed it has been on his car all year, and Todd has been running it in the Funny Car for more than a season. Top Fuel and Funny Car have basically always used butterfly-style wheels. Not anymore.
Shawn Langdon beat teammate Doug Kalitta by two ten-thousandths of a second – about one inch at 330 mph – in the Potomac Top Fuel final. Second-closest Top Fuel finish in NHRA history. Three straight wins for Langdon now, something not done in Top Fuel since Steve Torrence in 2021. Four in a row sets up Sunday at Epping.
Greg Anderson is openly framing the Maryland → Epping → Bristol stretch as the new Western Swing – and he sees exactly one driver across all three categories built to sweep it.
Tuner Dickie Venables has five Funny Car wins at Epping. Four with Matt Hagan – three of them in a row – and last year’s trophy with J.R. Todd. Brian Lohnes’ read: the 2026 Todd car is even better than the 2025 version. Hard to bet against the master of the racetrack.
Greg Anderson is on a one-man campaign to make Epping the new Pro Stock cathedral now that Englishtown is gone. The East Coast fan base, in Anderson’s telling, knows the class better than any other region of the country – and they don’t leave the grandstands after the nitro runs.
The Prock-led Tasca Racing Funny Car program was supposed to take a half-season to find its footing after the move from John Force Racing. It took seven races. Jimmy Prock told Joe Castello he had pegged a “race six to race nine” internal timeline for the first win. Maryland was race seven.
The Number One Claw-fire is back at Epping. Brooks Trap Mill of Thomaston, Maine is supplying lobster trap rocking chairs for Sunday’s Top Fuel and Funny Car winners, plus a lobster dinner certificate for Friday night’s No. 1 Qualifiers. Larry the Lobster has been retired – and Brian Lohnes is running a “name the stunt lobster” contest on his Facebook page. Winner gets a broadcast shout-out Friday night.
Storylines Heading Into the Weekend
Greg Anderson chases No. 4 at his Epping happy place – Dallas Glenn keeps the seat warm
Nobody on the active Pro Stock roster owns New England Dragway like Greg Anderson. He has three wins here, holds both ends of the track record (6.469 seconds set in June 2025; 214.72 mph from 2015), and rolls into Epping off career win No. 114 at the Potomac Nationals last weekend – the winningest driver in Pro Stock history adding another to the ledger. The HendrickCars.com Chevrolet is locked in. The complication: Anderson’s KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn is the current Pro Stock points leader. Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, and Greg Stanfield are all credible threats. Anderson is chasing back-to-back wins to open the swing, a fourth Wally on a track he has carved up for two decades, and a 75th-anniversary diamond Wally on top of it.
Shawn Langdon goes for four in a row – and reigning champ Kalitta is right behind him
Shawn Langdon is on the kind of run that defines a Top Fuel season. Three straight wins. The Potomac final by 0.0002 seconds over teammate Doug Kalitta. The 345.00-mph national speed record at Valdosta in May. Now he’s after a fourth in a row at a track where his Kalitta Air teammate owns the ET record (3.646, June ’25). The defending New England winner, Brittany Force, brings the speed-record car (her 341.42 mph from June ’25). Tony Stewart – the 2025 Epping runner-up – is back. Justin Ashley is on the league-of-his-own form line that DI featured last month. Leah Pruett, Antron Brown, Josh Hart, and Clay Millican round out the firepower. If anyone is going to break Langdon’s streak, this is the weekend to do it.
Chad Green, bproauto, and the chance to become 2026’s first three-time Funny Car winner
Approaching 100 career Funny Car starts, Chad Green is having the best season of his career – Gainesville and Chicago winner, sitting third in a loaded Funny Car points race, and rolling into Epping with a brand-new bproauto livery on the Chad Green Motorsports Ford Mustang at his sponsor’s race. Green and reigning Funny Car points leader Ron Capps both have two wins on the year. A New England trophy makes Green the first three-time winner in the category in 2026.
The new bproauto livery looks so good on the track and we are ready to hit the New England Nationals with the blue, orange and white colors. The brand fits perfectly with the NHRA fanbase and our goal is put the CGM bproauto machine in the winner’s circle.– Chad Green
Hagan goes for No. 5 at his most prolific stop – and the whole Funny Car field is loaded
Matt Hagan has four wins at New England Dragway – more than any other active Funny Car driver – and rolls into the weekend with momentum after a deep run at Potomac. The Tony Stewart Racing Dodge has been on the short list every Sunday this season. Leah Pruett is right alongside him as the TSR camp looks to make Epping a two-car celebration. The rest of the field reads like a championship roster: defending Epping winner J.R. Todd (second in points), back-to-back world champion Austin Prock (fresh off his first Funny Car win in Tasca Racing colors at Potomac), Georgia winner Jordan Vandergriff, Jack Beckman, and Alexis DeJoria. Sunday will not be quiet.
Eighth of 20 – the standings start to harden
Epping is the eighth race of NHRA’s 20-race 75th-anniversary season. The Countdown cut isn’t here yet, but the math is starting to lean on every team that hasn’t strung wins together. Top Fuel has been a Langdon-Prock-Brown stretch with Kalitta and Ashley breathing down the leader’s neck; Funny Car has spread wins across multiple camps with Capps, Green, and Prock all in the mix; Pro Stock keeps coming back to KB Titan Racing. Watch the points reports after Sunday – this is the weekend the leaderboards start telling the second half of the season’s story.
Schedule
| Day | Session | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 5 | NHRA Lucas Oil Series qualifying | 9:30 a.m. |
| Friday, June 5 | NHRA Mission Foods qualifying (Q1) | 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, June 5 | NHRA Mission Foods qualifying (Q2) | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 6 | NHRA Lucas Oil Series eliminations | 9:30 a.m. & 5:15 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 6 | NHRA Mission Foods qualifying (Q3) | 12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 6 | NHRA Mission Foods qualifying (Q4) | 3:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 7 | NHRA Mission Foods eliminations | 11:00 a.m. |
Television
| Day | Network | Coverage | Window (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 5 | FS1 | Qualifying (1.5 hrs) | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 7 | FS1 | Qualifying (1 hr) | 12:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 7 | FOX | Finals (3 hrs) | 3:00 p.m. |
Track & National Records
New England Dragway Track Records
| Class | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|
| Top Fuel | 3.646 – Doug Kalitta (June ’25) | 341.42 – Brittany Force (June ’25) |
| Funny Car | 3.822 – Robert Hight (June ’17) | 336.74 – Robert Hight (June ’17) |
| Pro Stock | 6.469 – Greg Anderson (June ’25) | 214.72 – Greg Anderson (June ’15) |
NHRA National Records
| Class | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|
| Top Fuel | 3.623 – Brittany Force, Sept. ’19, Reading, Pa. | 345.00 – Shawn Langdon, May ’26, Valdosta, Ga. |
| Funny Car | 3.793 – Robert Hight, Aug. ’17, Brainerd | 341.68 – Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona, Calif. |
| Pro Stock | 6.443 – Greg Anderson, March ’25, Gainesville | 215.55 – Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown, N.J. |
2025 Event Winners & Active Win Leaders
| Class | 2025 Winner | 2025 Mission #2Fast2Tasty | Most Active Wins at Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Fuel | Brittany Force | Doug Kalitta | Tony Schumacher (2) |
| Funny Car | J.R. Todd | Jack Beckman | Matt Hagan (4) |
| Pro Stock | Greg Anderson | Matt Hartford | Greg Anderson (3) |
Fan Experience & 75th/60th Anniversary
This weekend doubles as a milestone for NHRA (75th anniversary season) and New England Dragway (60th anniversary year). The Sunday winners take home 75th-anniversary diamond Wallys. Other highlights on tap:
- Friday flag giveaway – the first 3,000 fans through the gates receive a free limited-edition NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto flag honoring both anniversaries.
- Tasca Cobra Jet feature with Funny Car team owner Bob Tasca III on display.
- NHRA Lucas Oil Series sportsman racing and popular snowmobile categories on the schedule alongside the pro card.
- SealMaster Track Walk and pre-race ceremonies Sunday introducing every driver chasing a Wally.
- Pit pass access, Nitro Alley, and the Manufacturers Midway open to fans all weekend.
Drag Illustrated Coverage
Drag Illustrated stories with New England Nationals context – from Eastern Swing pre-race reads to Potomac form lines that carry into Epping. This list grows as the weekend progresses.
- Pruett, Hagan Ready for Second Stop of NHRA “Eastern Swing” at New England Dragway – Tony Stewart Racing rolls into Epping with Hagan chasing a fifth New England win and Pruett looking to build on a strong Potomac.
- Funny Car’s Chad Green Focused on More Success at NHRA New England Nationals Presented by bproauto – Green debuts his new bproauto livery at his sponsor’s race; a Sunday win makes him 2026’s first three-time Funny Car winner.
- The Wes Buck Show, Ep. 427: Austin Prock & Angie Smith – Prock fresh off his first Funny Car win in Tasca colors at Potomac; Smith on the 200th NHRA Mission Foods victory by a woman.
- Prock, Langdon, G. Anderson, and A. Smith Win Inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals – The form lines coming out of Potomac. Three of the four winners headline the Epping field.
- Greg Anderson Takes HendrickCars.com Chevrolet to 114th Win of His Career at NHRA Potomac Nationals – Anderson on the win that set up his Epping return as the man to beat in Pro Stock.
- “Unconscious”: Justin Ashley is in a League of His Own – The DI feature on the Top Fuel driver who has emerged as one of the most consistent forces in nitro.
Track Info
New England Dragway, Epping, N.H., is on Route 101 off Exit 8, an hour north of Boston and 20 minutes from Manchester. From I-95, take Exit 2 in New Hampshire west on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn right. From I-93, take Exit 7 east on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn left. From I-495, take Exit 51-B to Route 125 north, east on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn left.
Tickets: Available online at NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Schedule, TV windows, and records sourced from the official NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto fact sheet and NHRA event press materials. Story will be updated through Sunday’s FOX finals window.
This story was originally published on June 4, 2026. 
