CHICAGO, Ill. (May 17, 2026) — Antron Brown advanced to his first final round of the 2026 season Sunday at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK, driving his Matco Tools Eagle Experience Top Fuel dragster to a runner-up finish at Route 66 Raceway. The event also marked Brown’s 550th career NHRA national event entered, as the four-time world champion continued to build momentum in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Brown entered the weekend as the second-winningest active Top Fuel driver at the Chicago facility and battled through a variety of changing track conditions throughout qualifying. In the opening session on Friday, Brown encountered trouble early in the run and coasted to a 4.532-second pass at 173.92 mph. The Matco Tools team rebounded in the second session after making adjustments to the race car, with Brown charging to a strong 3.822 at 319.22 to move into the top half of the qualifying order.
Saturday presented another challenge as weather conditions shifted throughout the day. Brown hazed the tires almost immediately in the third qualifying session, slowing to a 7.078 at 83.80. The team responded in the final session with its quickest pass of the weekend, a 3.756 at 330.55, securing the No. 7 qualifying position and setting up a first-round matchup against Chicago native TJ Zizzo.
Race day brought warm but favorable racing conditions, and Brown capitalized early. In the opening round, Brown powered to a 3.777 at 329.18 to defeat Zizzo’s 3.796 at 329.99. He followed with another strong run in the quarterfinals, clocking a 3.774 at 332.18 to move past Maddi Gordon’s 3.804 at 333.82.
Brown faced Leah Pruett in the semifinals and used a starting line advantage to take control early, posting a 3.809 at 328.38 while Pruett slowed to a 5.810 at 119.90. The victory advanced Brown to his 145th career final round appearance and his first final round of the season. The Top 75 NHRA driver also punched his ticket to compete in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the NHRA Potomac Nationals.
In the championship round against Shawn Langdon, Brown once again left first off the starting line but encountered tire haze down track. Langdon chased him down by half-track to secure the victory, while Brown crossed the finish line with a 4.225 at 206.48.
“It felt good to get back in the groove again, and I’m super proud of my guys because we stayed strong and courageous today, and we never gave up,” Brown said. “We’re looking for some more days to come like this, and we just have to keep our heads down, and we’re going to win.”
“I’m just super proud of where we’re at right now,” Brown continued. “We made some good quality points and probably moved up a few spots. So if we can keep this going, I think we can make a good move and get in that top five, and this is only the start. This Matco Tools Eagle Experience car is ready to do some work. So I know I’m hungry. All these guys are hungry, so we’re ready to eat, but we just have to keep going, keep our heads down, stay very humble, and stay accurate. It’s the name of the game.”
Brown will now turn to the new stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series on May 29-31 with the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Final Top Fuel Point Standings (Unofficial):
JOLIET, Ill. (May 17, 2026) — Veteran drag racing standout Angelle Sampey continued to build momentum in her transition to Top Alcohol Dragster competition this weekend at the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK, driving the Hangsterfers FVP Mission Foods A/Fuel Dragster to a runner-up finish in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Route 66 Raceway.
Making her first appearance at the Joliet facility behind the wheel of a Top Alcohol Dragster, Sampey added another impressive performance to a career résumé that already includes two wins and three runner-up finishes at the Chicago-area event during her legendary Pro Stock Motorcycle career.
Sampey opened qualifying strong on Friday, keeping the car planted from start to finish to move into the provisional No. 1 spot with a 5.203-second pass at 274.39 mph. During the second qualifying session, tire shake forced Sampey to lift early, resulting in a 10.625 at 68.59 mph.
In the final qualifying session, Sampey and the team rebounded with another strong run of 5.273 at 269.19 mph, securing the No. 2 qualifying position heading into eliminations. The qualifying effort paired Sampey against Michalek Brothers Racing teammate Corey Michalek in the opening round Saturday evening.
Michalek gained the starting line advantage with a .024 reaction time to Sampey’s .043, but Sampey’s machine had enough power to drive around her teammate for the victory, posting a 5.281-second pass to Michalek’s 5.475.
On Sunday morning, Sampey faced Melanie Johnson for the first time in her career and turned in another consistent performance, defeating Johnson’s 5.657 with a strong 5.274-second run.
Sampey then advanced to the final round after a stellar semifinal performance against Jon Bradford. Knowing the matchup would likely be decided at the starting line, Sampey delivered a near-perfect .001 reaction time compared to Bradford’s .029. She never trailed down track, crossing the finish line first with a 5.548 at 261.37 mph to Bradford’s 5.691 at 267.69 mph.
In the final round, Sampey matched up against Jamie Noonan. Noonan gained the advantage at the starting line and maintained it throughout the run, defeating Sampey with a 5.353 at 269.03 mph. Sampey finished with a solid 5.404 at 267.80 mph.
“We qualified number two and went all the way to the final, so I’m very proud of that,” said Sampey. “I did get a lucky round in there. I’m not going to deny that. So I was lucky to be in the final. But you know, luck comes to those who are the most prepared, and I feel like we are really prepared.
“We’re headed in the right direction. We have the momentum that we need. I’m just hoping we can keep up this really good qualifying positioning and go rounds on race day, because that’s really what matters is going rounds. What really matters to me, too, is one of those diamond Wallys.”
Sampey and the Hangsterfers FVP Mission Foods team will return to action May 29-31 at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.
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Brown entered the weekend as the second-winningest active Top Fuel driver at the Chicago facility and battled through a variety of changing track conditions throughout qualifying. In the opening session on Friday, Brown encountered trouble early in the run and coasted to a 4.532-second pass at 173.92 mph. The Matco Tools team rebounded in the second session after making adjustments to the race car, with Brown charging to a strong 3.822 at 319.22 to move into the top half of the qualifying order.
Saturday presented another challenge as weather conditions shifted throughout the day. Brown hazed the tires almost immediately in the third qualifying session, slowing to a 7.078 at 83.80. The team responded in the final session with its quickest pass of the weekend, a 3.756 at 330.55, securing the No. 7 qualifying position and setting up a first-round matchup against Chicago native TJ Zizzo.
Race day brought warm but favorable racing conditions, and Brown capitalized early. In the opening round, Brown powered to a 3.777 at 329.18 to defeat Zizzo’s 3.796 at 329.99. He followed with another strong run in the quarterfinals, clocking a 3.774 at 332.18 to move past Maddi Gordon’s 3.804 at 333.82.
Brown faced Leah Pruett in the semifinals and used a starting line advantage to take control early, posting a 3.809 at 328.38 while Pruett slowed to a 5.810 at 119.90. The victory advanced Brown to his 145th career final round appearance and his first final round of the season. The Top 75 NHRA driver also punched his ticket to compete in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the NHRA Potomac Nationals.
In the championship round against Shawn Langdon, Brown once again left first off the starting line but encountered tire haze down track. Langdon chased him down by half-track to secure the victory, while Brown crossed the finish line with a 4.225 at 206.48.
“It felt good to get back in the groove again, and I’m super proud of my guys because we stayed strong and courageous today, and we never gave up,” Brown said. “We’re looking for some more days to come like this, and we just have to keep our heads down, and we’re going to win.”
“I’m just super proud of where we’re at right now,” Brown continued. “We made some good quality points and probably moved up a few spots. So if we can keep this going, I think we can make a good move and get in that top five, and this is only the start. This Matco Tools Eagle Experience car is ready to do some work. So I know I’m hungry. All these guys are hungry, so we’re ready to eat, but we just have to keep going, keep our heads down, stay very humble, and stay accurate. It’s the name of the game.”
Brown will now turn to the new stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series on May 29-31 with the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Final Top Fuel Point Standings (Unofficial):
| 1 | Shawn Langdon | 594 |
| 2 | Doug Kalitta | 540 |
| 3 | Leah Pruett | 429 |
| 4 | Tony Stewart | 388 |
| 5 | Josh Hart | 376 |
| 6 | Maddi Gordon | 358 |
| 7 | Antron Brown | 313 |
| 8 | Justin Ashley | 311 |
| 9 | Billy Torrence | 282 |
| 10 | Clay Millican | 252 |
Angelle Sampey Advances to Final Round at Route 66 Nationals
JOLIET, Ill. (May 17, 2026) — Veteran drag racing standout Angelle Sampey continued to build momentum in her transition to Top Alcohol Dragster competition this weekend at the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK, driving the Hangsterfers FVP Mission Foods A/Fuel Dragster to a runner-up finish in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Route 66 Raceway.
Making her first appearance at the Joliet facility behind the wheel of a Top Alcohol Dragster, Sampey added another impressive performance to a career résumé that already includes two wins and three runner-up finishes at the Chicago-area event during her legendary Pro Stock Motorcycle career.
Sampey opened qualifying strong on Friday, keeping the car planted from start to finish to move into the provisional No. 1 spot with a 5.203-second pass at 274.39 mph. During the second qualifying session, tire shake forced Sampey to lift early, resulting in a 10.625 at 68.59 mph.
In the final qualifying session, Sampey and the team rebounded with another strong run of 5.273 at 269.19 mph, securing the No. 2 qualifying position heading into eliminations. The qualifying effort paired Sampey against Michalek Brothers Racing teammate Corey Michalek in the opening round Saturday evening.
Michalek gained the starting line advantage with a .024 reaction time to Sampey’s .043, but Sampey’s machine had enough power to drive around her teammate for the victory, posting a 5.281-second pass to Michalek’s 5.475.
On Sunday morning, Sampey faced Melanie Johnson for the first time in her career and turned in another consistent performance, defeating Johnson’s 5.657 with a strong 5.274-second run.
Sampey then advanced to the final round after a stellar semifinal performance against Jon Bradford. Knowing the matchup would likely be decided at the starting line, Sampey delivered a near-perfect .001 reaction time compared to Bradford’s .029. She never trailed down track, crossing the finish line first with a 5.548 at 261.37 mph to Bradford’s 5.691 at 267.69 mph.
In the final round, Sampey matched up against Jamie Noonan. Noonan gained the advantage at the starting line and maintained it throughout the run, defeating Sampey with a 5.353 at 269.03 mph. Sampey finished with a solid 5.404 at 267.80 mph.
“We qualified number two and went all the way to the final, so I’m very proud of that,” said Sampey. “I did get a lucky round in there. I’m not going to deny that. So I was lucky to be in the final. But you know, luck comes to those who are the most prepared, and I feel like we are really prepared.
“We’re headed in the right direction. We have the momentum that we need. I’m just hoping we can keep up this really good qualifying positioning and go rounds on race day, because that’s really what matters is going rounds. What really matters to me, too, is one of those diamond Wallys.”
Sampey and the Hangsterfers FVP Mission Foods team will return to action May 29-31 at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.
Continue reading...
