MECHANICSVILLE — The inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS concluded Sunday at Maryland International Raceway with a historic weekend of drag racing that drew a large crowd to Southern Maryland and featured strong performances from several top drivers.
Austin Prock earned his first Funny Car win of the 2026 season, defeating Jack Beckman in the final round at the facility located at 27861 Budds Creek Road in Mechanicsville. Prock drove the PPG Ford Mustang to a 3.956-second pass at 324.20 mph to beat Beckman’s 3.971 at 323.50.
Shawn Langdon continued his dominant season in Top Fuel, winning his third consecutive race by edging teammate Doug Kalitta in one of the closest finals in recent memory. Langdon ran 3.762 at 334.90 mph to defeat Kalitta’s 3.766 at 334.24 mph, winning by just .0002 seconds.
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson defeated points leader Dallas Glenn for his second win of the year. Anderson ran 6.472 at 212.46 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Angie Smith won Pro Stock Motorcycle, defeating Ryan Oehler in the final for her fourth career victory and the 200th win by a woman in NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series history.
The event marked the first time an NHRA national event has been held at Maryland International Raceway, bringing national attention and a significant economic boost to St. Mary’s County and the broader Southern Maryland region. Hundreds of local fans, families and racing enthusiasts packed the facility to watch the action.
Hughesville native Kelly Clontz, competing in Pro Stock Motorcycle on her Steamfitters UA Local 602/ArchKey Solutions Suzuki, made her home-track debut at the national level. Clontz, who grew up at MIR selling t-shirts at the souvenir stand, advanced through early rounds before falling in the quarterfinals. She expressed excitement about the event’s impact on the local community and the opportunity to race in front of family and friends.
The weekend also featured the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, where Prock, Langdon, Aaron Stanfield and Angie Smith claimed victories. Langdon, Beckman, Greg Stanfield and Smith earned No. 1 qualifying positions.
The race was the seventh of 20 in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Eliminations began at 11 a.m. Sunday with qualifying coverage on FS1 and final rounds on FOX.
MIR owner Royce Miller and track officials worked closely with NHRA to bring the national series to Southern Maryland. The event highlighted the track’s long history of supporting local racing while introducing the region to the high-speed spectacle of professional drag racing.
Southern Maryland residents from Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties turned out in strong numbers, filling grandstands and vendor areas. Local businesses reported increased activity throughout the weekend as fans traveled to Mechanicsville for the three-day event.
The NHRA Potomac Nationals also included 75th anniversary celebrations, including an appearance by three-time Top Fuel world champion Shirley Muldowney. The first 4,000 fans on Sunday received a free limited-edition NHRA pennant.
With the success of the inaugural event, MIR and NHRA officials expressed optimism about future national events in Southern Maryland. The facility has long been a hub for regional drag racing and now adds a national stop to its calendar.
The series continues June 5-7 with the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
Southern Maryland racing fans can follow future MIR events and NHRA updates through the track’s website. The debut of the Potomac Nationals marks a significant milestone for motorsports in the region, bringing high-level competition and economic activity to St. Mary’s County and surrounding areas.
