LEAH PRUETT Takes Top Fuel Runner-Up, MATT HAGAN Reaches Semis at Seattle
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July 27, 2026
GRRL! SUMMARY:
- LEAH PRUETT advanced to the Top Fuel final in her American Rebel Light Dodge dragster, running 3.689 seconds but losing to defending champion Doug Kalitta by mere feet. The runner-up finish marked her third final round of her 2026 comeback season.
- PRUETT defeated Will Smith, defending U.S. Nationals winner Justin Ashley, and 2026 Gatornationals winner Josh Hart during eliminations. She remains third in Top Fuel standings, trailing leader Shawn Langdon by 209 points heading into Brainerd.
- MATT HAGAN reached the Funny Car semifinals with consistent runs separated by only seven thousandths of a second. His Johnson Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT HELLCAT lost to eventual winner J.R. Todd by just 0.0022 seconds, approximately a few feet at the stripe.
- The four-time Funny Car champion sits fifth in standings with minimal separation from second place. Crew chief Mike Knudsen’s setup experiments show promise as TSR prepares for the Countdown to the Championship playoff reset after Indianapolis.
UPCOMING:
- NHRA Brainerd Nationals, Brainerd, Minnesota – August 21-23, 2026. Qualifying Friday 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM CDT, Saturday noon and 2:30 PM. Eliminations Sunday 11:00 AM CDT. FS1 broadcast Sunday 8:30 PM EDT.
LINKS TO RACER'S PROFILE PAGES:
GRRL! summary based upon reporting by Robert S. Miller originally appearing on moparinsiders.com
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