Kalitta Wins Top Fuel at Las Vegas Nationals
Doug Kalitta took the Top Fuel title at the 2026 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, beating Leah Pruett in the final.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Motorsports
Doug Kalitta won the Top Fuel final at the 2026 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals over Leah Pruett. Kalitta posted a 3.658-second elapsed time at 338.60 mph, while Pruett recorded 5.751 seconds at 124.89 mph.
Why it matters
The result extends the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, which runs 20 events. Las Vegas fans following the series saw a Top Fuel final decided by a wide margin in elapsed time and speed.
Kalitta's final pass was 2.093 seconds quicker than Pruett's, with a speed gap of 213.71 mph. Pro Stock winner Dallas Glenn ran 6.587 seconds at 206.26 mph in his final.
The players
Doug Kalitta
Doug Kalitta is an American drag racer who competes in the NHRA Top Fuel category and is part of a well-known racing family.
Leah Pruett
Leah Pruett is an American drag racer known for competing in NHRA Top Fuel and for being one of the category's notable women drivers.
NHRA
The National Hot Rod Association is the sanctioning body that governs professional drag racing in the United States, including the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
The details
Kalitta defeated Shawn Langdon in the semifinals, while Pruett beat Antron Brown. Among the early exits, Tony Schumacher recorded an 11.729-second run in the first round and Ron Capps advanced past Austin Prock in Funny Car. Dallas Glenn took the Pro Stock final over Troy Coughlin Jr.
Timeline
Results from the 2026 Las Vegas Nationals were published on November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The Las Vegas Nationals is one of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, so Kalitta's win adds to the points race in Top Fuel. Pruett's run to the final keeps her in contention among the category's top drivers.
Kalitta's win moves him up the Top Fuel standings for fantasy and points-league players tracking the series. Pruett's final appearance is a useful signal for drivers weighing Top Fuel picks in upcoming events.
The takeaway
Consistent final-round speed matters as much as qualifying form in Top Fuel, and Kalitta's pass illustrates how small elapsed-time gaps decide the title.
What happens next
The Pro Stock Motorcycle final between Gadson and Herrera is to be completed at Pomona.
Further reading
Explore more Motorsports coverage from Las Vegas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Competition Plus.
