NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will visit historic Bristol Dragway this weekend for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the ninth of 20 events scheduled this season.

This week, the PlayNHRA Favorites include teammates Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel, Ron Capps and Matt Hagan in Funny Car, Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock, along with Angie Smith and Gaige Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The event will be part of the PlayNHRA initiative, where drag racing fans will once again have the opportunity to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for this event. Betting markets feature Professional classes, where fans can wager on event winners, low elapsed time of the event, head-to-head matchups, and season champions.

Below are the opening odds as provided by Alt Sports Data.

(Note: In American sports betting, odds are typically expressed with a plus (+) or minus (–) symbol followed by a number. For example, +200 signifies the amount a bettor could win if wagering $100. If the bet works out, the player will receive a total payout of $300; $200 profit + $100 initial stake.)

TOP FUEL

The Kalitta team has practically owned the Top Fuel class this season, so it’s little surprise that Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta are favored by the oddsmakers with an opening price of +600, which means a $10 wager on either driver would return $70.00 should either of them win the event.

Gainesville winner Josh Hart is just a fraction behind at +700, followed by Justin Ashley, NHRA Rookie of the Year favorite Maddi Gordon, and Leah Pruett, all also at +800.

Tony Stewart, the 2025 regular-season champ, is +900, while Antron Brown is +1000, and Billy Torrence is priced at +1200, along with Clay Millican.

Shawn Reed leads the long-shot group at +1500, followed by Will Smith (+1700), Jasmine Salinas (+1900), eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher (+2200), and Keith Murt (+5000).
 

FUNNY CAR

As usual, the Funny Car field is wide open with the top eight drivers in the class priced at 10-1 or shorter. The field is led by Matt Hagan and Ron Capps, who have each visited the winner’s circle this season. The two former champs are each priced at +500, and they both have a successful history at Bristol Dragway.

Maryland winner Austin Prock has moved up to +600 along with Chad Green, winner of the Gainesville and Chicago events. J.R. Todd opens at +700, while John Force Racing teammates Jordan Vandergriff (+800), Jack Beckman (+900), and Alexis DeJoria (+1000) round out the list of favorites.

Further down the order, it gets interesting with Daniel Wilkerson at +1200, Spencer Hyde at +1400, and Cruz Pedregon at +2000. Long shots include John Smith, Jon Capps, and Jeff Arend at +7500.

PRO STOCK

Much like the Kalitta team in Top Fuel, KB Titan racers Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn remain big favorites with the oddsmakers in Pro Stock. Glenn and Anderson, who have combined for seven world titles, are once again listed as big favorites, with Glenn at +300 and Anderson just a shade behind at +330.

Gainesville and Charlotte winner Matt Hartford is holding steady in third at +700, while Matt Latino has shown a lot of promise and is listed at +900.

Elite drivers Aaron Stanfield, Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Greg Stanfield are also midpack with odds between +1100 and +1200.

In terms of long shots, Pro Stock always delivers with several interesting prospects, including Kenny Delco (+1500), Cody Anderson (+1500), Troy Coughlin Jr. (+1500), Eric Latino (+2200), Stephen Bell (+3500), and Shane Tucker (+4000).
 

 PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

The landscape of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class has changed a bit because six-time world champion Matt Smith is currently sidelined after undergoing a medical procedure. Smith’s wife, Angie, won the most recent event in Maryland, and she has assumed the favorite’s role at +350, just ahead of two-time world champion Gaige Herrera, who sits at +400. Also priced at +400 is Matt Smith’s replacement, Joey Gladstone, who won three events as recently as 2022.

Reigning world champion Richard Gadston is also listed among the favorites at +500, and he is the defending Bristol Dragway champion.

Further down the order, Brayden Davis sits at +1000, John Hall is at +1200, Chase Van Sant is +1400, Ryan Oehler is +1600, and Jianna Evaristo is +1800.

In terms of long shots, Steve Johnson, Kelly Clontz, Mark Ingwersen, Chris Bostick, Geno Scali, and Wes Wells are each priced between +2700 and +5000.

Opening odds provided by Alt Sports Data (Odds are subject to change).

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