Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitches Shootouts Crown 2026 Champions at World Wide Technology Raceway
The 2026 NHRA North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season came to a memorable close at World Wide Technology Raceway as the annual Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitches Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Shootouts delivered an exciting showcase of the Division's premier sportsman racers.
Featuring the top eight qualified competitors in both VP Racing Fuels Top Dragster and Top Sportsman, the specialty event rewarded season-long excellence and offered competitors one final opportunity to compete for NHRA's prestigious 75th Anniversary Diamond Wally trophies.
The unique chip-draw format once again added an element of unpredictability to the competition, creating compelling matchups throughout the day and ensuring every round carried championship-level pressure.
Prevo Captures Top Dragster Shootout Crown
The Top Dragster field featured an impressive group of competitors including Jim Prevo, Karma Hopper, Al Peavler, JB Strassweg, Terry Smith, Darian Boesch, Dennis Brown, and Frank Carpinelli.
When the final round arrived, it was Jim Prevo and Karma Hopper who remained standing.
Prevo delivered a near-perfect performance off the starting line, posting an exceptional .001 reaction time and driving to a 6.111-second pass at 219.69 mph to secure the victory and the coveted Diamond Wally trophy. Hopper turned in a strong performance of her own with a 6.055-second run at 239.36 mph to earn the runner-up finish.
The victory capped an impressive run through a talented field and added another memorable chapter to the season-ending Shootout tradition.
Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitches Top Dragster Shootout Results:
Winner: Jim Prevo, Mundelein, IL
Runner-Up: Karma Hopper, Walton, KY
Brinegar Claims Top Sportsman Diamond Wally
The Equal-i-zer Top Sportsman Shootout featured another highly competitive field as eight of the Division's top racers battled for season-ending honors.
After advancing through the field, Badeye Brinegar and Rick Sojka earned spots in the championship round.
Brinegar proved up to the challenge, posting a winning 6.518-second run at 211.96 mph to claim the Shootout title and Diamond Wally trophy. Sojka finished as the runner-up after recording a 6.463-second pass at 203.19 mph in the final-round matchup.
The victory was a fitting reward for Brinegar, who successfully navigated a talented field to earn one of the most prestigious specialty-event victories of the season.
Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitches Top Sportsman Shootout Results
Winner: Badeye Brinegar, Middletown, OH
Runner-Up: Rick Sojka, North Aurora, IL
A Showcase for the Division's Best
The Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitches Shootouts have quickly become one of the marquee specialty events within the North Central Division, highlighting the top-performing Top Dragster and Top Sportsman competitors from throughout the season.
The North Central Division extends its appreciation to Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitches, American RV of Evansville, JB Strassweg, and Torrie Strassweg for their continued support of the program. Their commitment has helped elevate the Shootouts into a highly anticipated annual tradition and a fitting season-ending showcase for the Division's standout racers.
With another successful year in the books, the 2026 edition once again demonstrated why the Equal-i-zer Shootouts remain a highlight of the North Central Division schedule.
The tradition will continue in 2027, as the Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitches Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Shootouts return to the season-ending NHRA North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Doubleheader at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. The season finale will once again provide the Division's top qualifiers an opportunity to compete for Shootout titles, bonus awards, and the chance to add their name to the prestigious list of Equal-i-zer Shootout champions.
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