The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series broke new ground at South Georgia Motorsports Park, as the longtime hub of outlaw and radial racing welcomed its first NHRA national event with the NHRA Southern Nationals. For decades, the Valdosta facility has been synonymous with some of the most iconic radial races in the sport, and that same energy carried over as the NHRA’s professional categories – along with the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series presented by Elite Motorsports and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series – took center stage.
Even with heavy rain disrupting Saturday’s schedule, the event delivered a weekend that felt equal parts historic and inevitable. Fans who stuck it out were rewarded with a headline-making performance from Shawn Langdon, who recorded the first 345-mph run in NHRA history before racing to the Top Fuel victory on Sunday. In Funny Car, rookie Jordan Vandergriff broke through for his first career win, while Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) added to their résumés with wins of their own. The weekend also delivered a full-circle moment in Pro Mod, where Jason Collins picked up his first NHRA victory at the same track where he once made waves in Pro 275 competition.
Captured through the lens of Drag Illustrated contributing photographer and past DI 30 Under 30 honoree Kaitlyn Ward, this gallery reflects both the scale of the moment and the personality of a facility finally hosting the sport’s biggest stage. From record-setting speed to breakthrough wins, the images document a weekend that bridged eras – where radial roots met NHRA history in real time.
This story was originally published on May 4, 2026. 
