NHRA Countdown: Hagan, Stanfield, Gadson lead into Texas

The 2026 NHRA Countdown has entered its final stretch. With the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, only three races remain to crown the champions of North American drag racing. In three of the four professional classes a leader has emerged: Matt Hagan in Funny Car, Greg Stanfield in Pro Stock and Richard Gadson in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

A tight schedule to Pomona

According to the 2026 season schedule, the Texas FallNationals runs from 14 to 18 October at Texas Motorplex (Ennis, Texas) and is shown on FS1. Next come the Las Vegas Nationals from 29 October to 1 November at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, then the NHRA Finals from 12 to 15 November at Pomona, California, which close the season.

Funny Car: Hagan ahead, Prock lurking

In Funny Car, Matt Hagan leads the Countdown. Behind him:

• Jordan Vandergriff, 2nd, 72 points back;
• Austin Prock, 3rd, 106 points back, two-time and defending champion;
• Jack Beckman, 4th, 123 points back;
• J.R. Todd, 5th, 132 points back;
• Ron Capps, 6th, 162 points back.

Pro Stock: Elite Motorsports' grip

Pro Stock is where one team's dominance is clearest: an Elite Motorsports car has won every Countdown race so far. Troy Coughlin Jr. won at Martin (Michigan), ending a 41-race winless streak for the JEGS team; Greg Stanfield won at Rockingham (North Carolina); his son Aaron Stanfield won at St. Louis. Greg Stanfield now leads the standings, ahead of:

• Dallas Glenn, 71 points back;
• Matt Hartford, 81 points back;
• Greg Anderson, 109 points back;
• Troy Coughlin Jr., 124 points back, Stanfield's teammate.

Texas Motorplex is also home ground for Erica Enders, six-time Pro Stock world champion, who has three wins there; the source does not give her current standing.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: Gadson and Herrera

On two wheels, Richard Gadson leads, with Gaige Herrera just 32 points back. John Hall is 3rd, 105 points back, and Matt Smith 4th, 113 points back.

Top Fuel

In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta have dominated the Countdown, according to Dragzine, which publishes no points gaps. Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett are fighting for second in the standings, and Will Smith is fifth.

Key takeaway

With three events to run, gaps of 32 points in Pro Stock Motorcycle or 71 points in Pro Stock can still be settled in a few passes. The Texas FallNationals is the first of the last three stops: follow it on karrazmotorsport.com.