BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 23, 2026) – Antron Brown officially secured his place in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship during qualifying at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals before racing the Matco Tools Eagle Experience team to a second-round finish Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.
Brown, a six-time Brainerd winner across Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, opened qualifying Friday afternoon with a 3.864-second pass at 318.47 mph to move into the provisional No. 9 position. The four-time Top Fuel world champion returned for the second session and powered straight down the racing surface to record a 3.763-second pass at 330.55 mph, moving into the top half of the field.
Saturday’s third qualifying session also served as the opening round of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Brown lined up against Doug Kalitta in a rematch of their semifinal meeting at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals. Brown’s Matco Tools dragster lost traction early, and he shut it off before coasting across the finish line in 5.910 seconds at 114.23 mph, while Kalitta powered to a 3.673 at 332.26 to advance in the specialty race.
Brown closed qualifying with a consistent 3.775-second pass at 325.45 mph and secured the No. 8 starting position based on his Friday-night run.
In Sunday’s opening round, Brown faced Tony Schumacher. Schumacher held a slight starting-line advantage, but Brown powered past him with a 3.776-second run at 330.63 mph to earn the round win and advance to a second-round meeting with Kalitta.
Brown was first off the starting line against Kalitta, gaining a .015-second advantage at the hit. Kalitta pulled ahead by the 330-foot mark and maintained the lead through the finish, winning with a 3.742 at 326.56 mph. Brown followed with a 3.796 at 322.81 mph.
“Well, the good is that we made it to the second round and qualified in the top half, but we definitely want to do better,” said Brown. “We came here wanting to be a little more aggressive and try some things we’ve been wanting to put in the car. We have one more race before the Countdown starts, so the main thing is continuing to get better. We know where we need to be.
“We have to keep our heads down and keep rolling, doing what we do. Indy is anybody’s race. We’ll have five rounds of qualifying, and we’re going to let it rip like a potato chip. I’m getting really excited,” Brown said.
Brown and the Matco Tools team will now turn their attention to the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Sept. 2–7 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The sport’s most prestigious event will serve as the final race of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season before the Countdown to the Championship begins.
Qualified: No. 8 (3.763 E.T. at 330.55 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.776 E.T. at 330.63 MPH defeated Tony Schumacher 4.714 E.T. at 165.01 MPH
E2: 3.796 E.T. at 322.81 MPH defeated by Doug Kalitta 3.742 E.T. at 326.56
Watch Antron Brown’s post-race recap here.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Point Standings (Unofficial):
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 23, 2026) – Angelle Sampey and the Michalek Brothers Racing team continued to make progress with their Hangsterfer’s/FVP/Mission Foods A/Fuel dragster, racing to a semifinal finish at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Sampey opened Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series with a 5.836-second pass at 182.55 mph, placing her No. 11 after the first session. The three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion made a significant improvement during the second round, powering to a 5.415 at 270.10 mph.
In the final qualifying session, Sampey delivered her quickest pass of the weekend, clocking a 5.340 at 267.43 mph to secure the No. 10 starting position.
The opening round of eliminations came later Saturday, with Sampey facing Nick Spiegel. Sampey gained the starting-line advantage, but Spiegel quickly moved ahead before his car went silent near half-track. Sampey drove back around him to earn the win with a 5.409 at 269.73 mph.
In round two, Sampey lined up against John Haley. She was first off the starting line and never trailed, recording a 5.346 at 271.19 mph to defeat Haley’s 5.891 at 197.86 mph and advance to the semifinals.
Sampey’s pursuit of her first Brainerd Wally ended against Melanie Johnson when she left the starting line before the Tree activated, handing the automatic win to Johnson.
“Third round against Melanie, I just went,” said Sampey. “I knew I needed a really good reaction time because she usually cuts a really good light, but I left before the Tree. It’s one of those things that’s going to happen every once in a while. Fortunately, it hasn’t happened a whole bunch, and I hope to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Brainerd bites again.
“We are making strides with my Hangsterfer’s/FVP/Mission Foods A/Fuel dragster. We learned a couple of really good lessons this weekend with our clutch setup and the timing, and my team is feeling really confident going into Indy. I know we have what it takes. I just have to keep my head straight and stop worrying about wanting it so badly because I think that played a part today. I wanted this win more than I have wanted one in a really long time. We’re going to Indy cool as a cucumber, take everything we learned this weekend with us, and we’re going to do well,” Sampey said.
Sampey and the Michalek Brothers Racing team will now prepare for the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Sept. 2–7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Qualified: No. 10 (5.340 at 267.43 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 5.409 E.T. at 269.73 MPH defeated Nick Spiegel 5.417 E.T. at 242.93 MPH
E2: 5.346 E.T. at 271.19 MPH defeated John Haley 5.891 at 197.86 MPH
E3: 5.387 E.T. at 265.86 (red lit) defeated by Melanie Johnson 5.319 at 269.89 MPH
Watch Angelle Sampey’s post-race recap here.
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Brown, a six-time Brainerd winner across Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, opened qualifying Friday afternoon with a 3.864-second pass at 318.47 mph to move into the provisional No. 9 position. The four-time Top Fuel world champion returned for the second session and powered straight down the racing surface to record a 3.763-second pass at 330.55 mph, moving into the top half of the field.
Saturday’s third qualifying session also served as the opening round of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Brown lined up against Doug Kalitta in a rematch of their semifinal meeting at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals. Brown’s Matco Tools dragster lost traction early, and he shut it off before coasting across the finish line in 5.910 seconds at 114.23 mph, while Kalitta powered to a 3.673 at 332.26 to advance in the specialty race.
Brown closed qualifying with a consistent 3.775-second pass at 325.45 mph and secured the No. 8 starting position based on his Friday-night run.
In Sunday’s opening round, Brown faced Tony Schumacher. Schumacher held a slight starting-line advantage, but Brown powered past him with a 3.776-second run at 330.63 mph to earn the round win and advance to a second-round meeting with Kalitta.
Brown was first off the starting line against Kalitta, gaining a .015-second advantage at the hit. Kalitta pulled ahead by the 330-foot mark and maintained the lead through the finish, winning with a 3.742 at 326.56 mph. Brown followed with a 3.796 at 322.81 mph.
“Well, the good is that we made it to the second round and qualified in the top half, but we definitely want to do better,” said Brown. “We came here wanting to be a little more aggressive and try some things we’ve been wanting to put in the car. We have one more race before the Countdown starts, so the main thing is continuing to get better. We know where we need to be.
“We have to keep our heads down and keep rolling, doing what we do. Indy is anybody’s race. We’ll have five rounds of qualifying, and we’re going to let it rip like a potato chip. I’m getting really excited,” Brown said.
Brown and the Matco Tools team will now turn their attention to the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Sept. 2–7 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The sport’s most prestigious event will serve as the final race of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season before the Countdown to the Championship begins.
Qualified: No. 8 (3.763 E.T. at 330.55 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.776 E.T. at 330.63 MPH defeated Tony Schumacher 4.714 E.T. at 165.01 MPH
E2: 3.796 E.T. at 322.81 MPH defeated by Doug Kalitta 3.742 E.T. at 326.56
Watch Antron Brown’s post-race recap here.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Point Standings (Unofficial):
| 1 | Doug Kalitta | 1232 |
| 2 | Shawn Langdon | 1165 |
| 3 | Leah Pruett | 974 |
| 4 | Antron Brown | 808 |
| 5 | Maddi Gordon | 784 |
| 6 | Tony Stewart | 753 |
| 7 | Josh Hart | 705 |
| 8 | Billy Torrence | 655 |
| 9 | Justin Ashley | 609 |
| 10 | Clay Millican | 540 |
Angelle Sampey Shows Progress with Semifinal Finish at NHRA Brainerd Nationals
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 23, 2026) – Angelle Sampey and the Michalek Brothers Racing team continued to make progress with their Hangsterfer’s/FVP/Mission Foods A/Fuel dragster, racing to a semifinal finish at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Sampey opened Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series with a 5.836-second pass at 182.55 mph, placing her No. 11 after the first session. The three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion made a significant improvement during the second round, powering to a 5.415 at 270.10 mph.
In the final qualifying session, Sampey delivered her quickest pass of the weekend, clocking a 5.340 at 267.43 mph to secure the No. 10 starting position.
The opening round of eliminations came later Saturday, with Sampey facing Nick Spiegel. Sampey gained the starting-line advantage, but Spiegel quickly moved ahead before his car went silent near half-track. Sampey drove back around him to earn the win with a 5.409 at 269.73 mph.
In round two, Sampey lined up against John Haley. She was first off the starting line and never trailed, recording a 5.346 at 271.19 mph to defeat Haley’s 5.891 at 197.86 mph and advance to the semifinals.
Sampey’s pursuit of her first Brainerd Wally ended against Melanie Johnson when she left the starting line before the Tree activated, handing the automatic win to Johnson.
“Third round against Melanie, I just went,” said Sampey. “I knew I needed a really good reaction time because she usually cuts a really good light, but I left before the Tree. It’s one of those things that’s going to happen every once in a while. Fortunately, it hasn’t happened a whole bunch, and I hope to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Brainerd bites again.
“We are making strides with my Hangsterfer’s/FVP/Mission Foods A/Fuel dragster. We learned a couple of really good lessons this weekend with our clutch setup and the timing, and my team is feeling really confident going into Indy. I know we have what it takes. I just have to keep my head straight and stop worrying about wanting it so badly because I think that played a part today. I wanted this win more than I have wanted one in a really long time. We’re going to Indy cool as a cucumber, take everything we learned this weekend with us, and we’re going to do well,” Sampey said.
Sampey and the Michalek Brothers Racing team will now prepare for the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Sept. 2–7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Qualified: No. 10 (5.340 at 267.43 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 5.409 E.T. at 269.73 MPH defeated Nick Spiegel 5.417 E.T. at 242.93 MPH
E2: 5.346 E.T. at 271.19 MPH defeated John Haley 5.891 at 197.86 MPH
E3: 5.387 E.T. at 265.86 (red lit) defeated by Melanie Johnson 5.319 at 269.89 MPH
Watch Angelle Sampey’s post-race recap here.
Continue reading...
