Daily Driver

The NERD OUT continues as we head into the final three events of the 2026 NHRA Lucas Oil season, and this time I’m breaking down two very different championship battles: Top Sportsman and Super Gas.Top Sportsman is about as wide open as it gets, with nearly a dozen racers still mathematically in contention and Lance Abbott emerging as the favorite. Meanwhile, in Super Gas, Jordan Pratt remains in the driver’s seat, but Bo Butner, Kris Whitfield, and several others still have opportunities to shake things up.With Las Vegas on deck and championship opportunities running out, I’m digging into the points, the contenders, and what it will take to come out on top.

The NERD OUT continues as the 2026 NHRA Lucas Oil season heads into its final three events, and the championship picture is coming down to the wire.This time, I’m diving into three key categories: Competition Eliminator, Super Comp, and Stock Eliminator. From Jeff Taylor’s pursuit of Joe Carnasciale to Trey Vetter’s historic season and the challengers looking to take down Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., there’s still plenty on the line.With Las Vegas up next, I’m breaking down the points, the remaining championship scenarios, and why some of the current leaders could play just as big a role in deciding who wins as the drivers chasing them.

Just when we thought we had the Top Dragster championship picture figured out… Brad Plourd changed EVERYTHING.After two wins at Rockingham, Plourd has jumped from 58th to fourth in the national standings and is now just two round wins away from taking the points lead.In today's NERD OUT, I'm breaking down Plourd's incredible late-season surge, the four drivers still in the hunt, and how the final races in Las Vegas and Pomona could shake up the World Championship chase. Can Plourd pull off one of the biggest late-season comebacks we've seen?

Two categories. Two very different championship battles. And it could all come down to Pomona.In Comp Eliminator, Joe Carnasciale still leads the standings, but five-time World Champion Jeff Taylor isn't going away quietly. With three events remaining, Taylor still has a path to another title and one big win could change everything.Meanwhile, Top Sportsman is WIDE open. Lance Abbott looks like the favorite, but with a crowded field of contenders and plenty of points still available, anything can happen.In this NERD OUT, I'm breaking down the championship math, the drivers still in the hunt, and what it will take to come out on top as the 2026 season winds down.

Two drivers. Tied for the points lead. And a World Championship that could come down to the final race.After a wild weekend in Dallas, JB Strassweg and J.R. Baxter sit tied atop the Top Dragster standings but their paths to get there couldn't have been more different.From Strassweg's devastating engine fire and borrowed race car to Baxter's JEGS Allstars victory and clutch semifinal finish, I'm breaking down the drama, the tiebreaker advantage, and the contenders still in the hunt.With Las Vegas and Pomona remaining, can Strassweg find a way to reclaim the lead, or will Baxter hold on for the World Championship?