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ALEXIS DEJORIA, MADDI GORDON, LEAH PRUETT Battle at Brainerd Nationals

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August 24, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

  • MADDI GORDON reached her second final round as a rookie, defeating Scott Palmer, Tony Stewart, and LEAH PRUETT before running 3.770 at 328.78 against points leader Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel championship round.
  • GORDON demonstrated consistent performance throughout Brainerd weekend, putting up respectable numbers against Kalitta’s dominant Mac Tools dragster which ran 3.743 at 333.74 for the win.
  • ALEXIS DEJORIA competed in Funny Car eliminations, falling to eventual runner-up Jordan Vandergriff who qualified number one and reached his third final round of the 2026 season.
  • LEAH PRUETT advanced to semifinals in Top Fuel before losing to rookie GORDON, showing continued competitiveness as the series heads toward Indianapolis and the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff.

UPCOMING:

  • 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Sept. 2-7, 2026

LINKS TO RACER'S PROFILE PAGES:

MADDI GORDON LEAH PRUETT ALEXIS DEJORIA

funny car, nhra mission foods drag racing series, nhra top fuel

GRRL! summary based upon reporting originally appearing on www.autoweek.com