NHRA Funny Car’s Chad Green continued to build his championship contender case by closing out with a huge win at the 26th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK at Route 66 Raceway.

On Sunday at Chicago, the Texan slipped past Alexis DeJoria in a thrilling final round duel with a run of 3.945 at 324.75 in his Bond-Coat Ford Mustang. DeJoria, was right with him running a close 3.965 secs at 328.86 mph.

It’s Green’s second win in the first six races of the 2026 campaign, putting the Texan fourth in points and right in the thick of the championship battle.

For eliminations, he was again consistent against a loaded field, defeating Valdosta winner Jordan Vandergriff, Ron Capps and back-to-back world champion Austin Prock to reach the final round.

Green and DeJoria put on a remarkable side-by-side show in the finals, but Green had enough for the slim wire-to-wire victory, joining Capps as the only two-time winners in the class thus far in 2026.

“The whole team aspect of this sport doesn’t get enough recognition. This is 100 percent a team sport, just like football, basketball and any of those other sports,” Green said. “The driver, they get a lot of the fame and glory, but to be honest, what these guys do is just incredible. To go out there and turn on four win lights on a Sunday is so difficult. These guys have to do everything perfectly every round, and we have to go out there and beat the best guys out there doing it. So, I can’t say enough about the team.

“(Alexis) is driving a John Force car, and that was a dang good race. I never saw her during the race. When the win light came on, I thought, ‘Oh, she probably had problems or something,’ but then I looked at the time slip, and man, she was right there with me.”

DeJoria continues to build on her solid season in a class filled with contenders, picking up her second runner-up of the year after round wins against Spencer Hyde, Dave Richards and four-time world champion Matt Hagan.

She’s sixth in points, as Capps and J.R. Todd leave Chicago tied for the points lead, with Hagan nine points behind.

On Saturday at the Chicago race Alexis DeJoria had claimed her first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory of the year in Funny Car, defeating John Force Racing teammate Jordan Vandergriff in the final round of the bonus race.

Vandergriff ran into car issues and had to shut the car off on the starting line, handing the win to DeJoria in the Bandido Premium Tequila Chevrolet SS.

“I’m finally back to a winner’s circle, and that’s good even though it came at the cost of my teammate,” she said. “The win went to a JFR car so that was great.”

NHRA Route 66 Nationals – Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Chad Green – 3.945 secs 324.75 mph (Career win #4)
R/UP: Alexis DeJoria – 3.965 secs 328.86 mph
Low ET: Jack Beckman – 3.913 secs
Top MPH: JR Todd – 334.75 mph
Bump: 4.142
Entries – 17 cars

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler

Photos by David Ostaszewski & Courtesy of NHRA

View more FC racing class photos from this event : HERE (Coming soon!)