ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS RESULTS

Route 66 Raceway

LEAH PRUETT
Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster

Unofficial Points Standing:
3rd
12-time NHRA National Event Winner
Finished 2023 runner-up in championship points
Finished runner-up up at the 2026 NHRA Arizona Nationals
Has finished quarterfinals or better all season
No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA Winternationals

Qualifying
No. 6
3.756 seconds at 335.15 mph
Q1: 4.691 at 159.61
Q2: 3.756 at 335.15
Q3: 3.758 at 325.92
Q4: 5.051 at 140.28

Race Results:
E1: 3.739 at 326.16 def. Clay Millican 3.868 at 272.61
E2: 4.201 at 205.16 def. Will Smith, shut off
Semis: 5.810 at 119.90 lost to Antron Brown 3.809 at 328.38

“I think another strong start for the team. Qualifying on the bottom half of the field, gaining lane choice first round. We’re working on a package for later in the season, and we’re slow rolling it out, and we don’t know how big that hill is, as we’re climbing it. That’s why we see maybe sometimes our attrition rate going down the track isn’t as strong as it had been before. We’re working on power level’s in different places, and I say that, because it lent its hand to our finishing of today.

We all know I’ve been working on my lights and a lot of different capacities and there are many things that I’ve had to change to be consistent. Having a feel for the car, knowing when it’s smoking the tires in different spots, has made me very sensitive. Knowing that we had the right lane going for the semis, I should never have questioned our capabilities of getting down the track, but I was extra sensitive. One of the new ways that I brace myself in the car on a load standpoint, is different, and basically, I had the sensation that we were smoking the tires, and I peddled it. That broke the throttle cable, and I couldn’t complete the run. So that semifinal finish is 100% on me, when I felt that high drive shaft, I thought I was catching it quick. And I think many drivers that have been in a situation of, ‘Is it gonna make it? Is it not?,’ And I thought it wasn’t going to make it, so I peddled it.

“Hate to find new ways to lose, but we had a great points weekend and a tortilla tussle [#2Fast2Tasty Challenge] for next race. Always difficult to look the guys in the eyes on a loss like that, but things to stand on are, we are making strong runs, and we’re figuring out with our new package: how to address it at different parts of the track, but it’s all part of the plan. Sometimes there’s hiccups in the plan, that’s why robots don’t drive these cars.”

MATT HAGAN
Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car

Unofficial Points Standing:
3rd
Four-time world champion (2023, 2020, 2014, 2011)
Finished 2025 season runner-up in the championship points standings
Coming off a win at the Winternationals, NHRA’s 1000th Funny Car race
14 season streak with at least one win
Has four wins at Route 66 Raceway: 2010, 2013, 2014, 2024

Qualifying:
No. 9
3.964 seconds at 330.55 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 2
Q1: 3.964 at 330.55
Q2: 5.021 at 151.95
Q3: 5.449 at 133.30
Q4: 3.999 at 325.77

Race Results:
E1: 3.950 at 326.40 def. Blake Alexander 4.562 at 187.83
E2: 4.026 at 324.75 def. Jack Beckman 12.291 at 61.86
Semis: 4.061 at 315.71 lost to Alexis Dejoria 4.006 at 326.56

“We struggle a little bit in qualifying, knocking the tires off two of the qualifying rounds. But one thing I’ll say about Mike [Knudsen] is he adapts well. I was kind of patting him on the back about the adaptability, coming out here first round, and not knocking the tires off and going down the racetrack. Unfortunately, in the semifinals, it just had a hole out down there. I also didn’t have a great light, if I’d had a .70 light, we’d win that round. So combination of everything, and a .90 light is, I guess it’s okay, but it’s not cutting it, you know what I mean?

“That being said, still having fun driving. I mean, that Dodge Funny Car was sucking me hard inside, and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I got enough real estate to kind of keep it there, but we’re gonna try it.’ you get over there kind of close to the cones and your butt draws up a little bit, ‘did I hit it or did I not?’ At the end of the day, that’s why they’re fun to drive, you know? The guys did really good as far as adapting to the situation, the racetrack. Anytime we go some rounds, it’s always great. I think at least we kept close to the top of the points and we just have to keep that positive momentum and that thought process moving forward. We got a good group and Mike’s had 15 years under Dickie [Venables] (former crew chief), but he’s still learning. I think he’s doing a tremendous job and Phil [Shuler] and Alex [Conaway], they all work great together. So I’m excited every day to show up. Obviously we want to put this Dodge in the winners circle, but there’s a lot more racing to do.”