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Archive – AND THE CHAMPIONS ARE…

Pete Ward . July 05, 2026 . Drag Racer
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Once Again, the Auto Club Finals Provided Hollywood-quality Drama

NHRA’s final hurrah of each season is always filled with drama—down to the wire world championships in many classes at times on the line—but this year, Nitro Funny Car drowned out all other competing storylines.

Antron Brown earned his second T/F world championship at the Vegas race just prior to Pomona. He racked up a category-best seven season victories and seven No. 1 qualifying positions, including three “playoff” wins.
Erica Enders had a record-setting season, scoring nine victories in 11 final round appearances and six No. 1 qualifying positions to claim her second consecutive Pro Stock world championship. Like Brown, she claimed the series crown at Las Vegas.
Troy Coughlin claimed his second Pro Mod world championship at the series’ final race held at The Strip. He took the crown by winning the quarter-final match and his closest challenger lost in the same round. Mike Janis, who held the points lead coming into the event, was upset in the opening round of eliminations.
Andrew Hines claimed his second consecutive and fifth overall world championship in Pro Stock Bike when his closest rival, Bayou alligator wrangler Jerry Savoie, lost in the second round. Hines is the youngest driver in NHRA history to win five world championships.
IJoey Severance, like his dad, is a winner. This year he took it all, scoring five national events, including Indy, on the road to claim his first TAD world crown.
There are very few who can claim to be a true world champion, but Sweden’s Jonnie Lindberg may do so. The European Alky F/C champ became the first non- American to win the NHRA TAFC Championship. He won two national events on his way to the Pomona Finals where he claimed the crown over event winner John Lombardo Jr. by two points.
Craig Bourgeois had a stout year. He scored six divisional wins and three national event victories on the way to claiming his Comp Eliminator world championship.
Kevin Helms is no stranger to putting cars in the winner circle, and in 2015 he was back to dominating, claiming four event wins in five final round appearances to earn him his fourth NHRA Stock Eliminator world championship.
Justin Lamb faltered early but in late summer caught fire. He claimed the Super Stock championship over season-long leader Drew Skillman at the fall Vegas divisional race.
IKevin Brannon hoisted his first Super Comp world championship Wally the weekend prior to Pomona at the Vegas division race. It goes nicely with his 2014 IHRA world champ trophy.
IEarlier this year NHRA announced the formation of the national championship title for both Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. Jeffrey Barker has earned himself a national title and a little bit of history. The veteran Southeast Division driver captured the inaugural NHRA Top Sportsman championship.

IJacob Elrod was another one of those late bloomers. He took the Super Gas lead with season-ending national event and division wins and was crowned prior to Pomona.

 

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