Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals Presented by Mopar

WILD ENGINE EXPLOSION FOR HUNTER GREEN’S CGM BOND-COAT DODGE HELLCAT IN LAST WEEKEND’S NHRA GREAT LAKES NATIONALS DRAG RACES BUT HE IS OKAY

Young Texas Funny Car racer had no idea the engine was about to explode Monday

• Hunter Green, the young Texas Funny Car driver, experienced a wild engine explosion Monday in the rain-delayed Dodge NHRA Great Lake Nationals Monday but he walked away.
• Green, the Midland, Tex., racer, is in his second season of driving a 12,000-horsepower, nitro-burning Funny Car but this was his first engine explosion during an NHRA series race.
• Green, who teams up with his father, Chad, in a two-car operation, hit the wall after the explosion but he was able to slow the race car and walk away from the wild ride.
• Chad Green, driving the CGM bproauto Ford Mustang Funny Car, lost traction in the first round of eliminations Monday after the cool, damp track conditions in the Michigan race.

Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals Presented by Mopar

MARTIN, Mich. (Sept. 13, 2026) – It was a wild ride for young Funny Car driver Hunter Green Monday in the first round of eliminations at the rain-delayed inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals drag races at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

The Midland, Tex., racer, in his second season in the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series driving a nitro-burning Funny Car, looked to be on a stellar run in the opening round of action Monday against veteran Alexis DeJoria. But, at halftrack, a sudden engine explosion occurred in front of Green’s steering column which resulted in a large fire and breaking apart the carbon fiber Dodge//SRT Hellcat body.

The explosion also caused the steering of Green’s 12,000-horsepower machine to lock up and made the car impossible to steer, forcing the car into the retaining wall. Green was able to walk away from the mishap, but the race car will need massive repairs for future NHRA Mission national events.

“I was on a very good run, and we had a good chance for the win,” said Green. “But the explosion was so unexpected with no warning. It was just large ‘boom’ and I was trying to drive the car, but the steering was locked up. Then I was as hard on the brakes as possible. We got everything slowed down, but the car was damaged pretty badly. I have been driving a Funny Car now for a year and a half, but that is the first ‘big one’ for me.”

“It looks like we will have to make new repairs to the chassis as well as a new body and engine parts. We will miss the Rockingham race this weekend. But the car and the parts should be ready to go for the last three races at Dallas, Las Vegas and Pomona. I’m ready to get back in the race car.”

Green’s father, Chad, a two-time 2026 NHRA Funny Car national event winner, was in the battle of the “Countdown for the NHRA Championship” in the Funny Car category with his CGM bproauto Ford Mustang Monday. However, the cooler track conditions hurt Green’s chance when his car smoked the rear tires in first round action against three-time world champion Ron Capps.

The next event on the NHRA Mission national campaign is this weekend (Sept. 25–27) in the NHRA Nationals at the Rock in Rockingham, N.C., with qualifying rounds at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday. Saturday’s qualifying rounds are scheduled for noon and 2:30 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations are set for Sunday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. EDT. The final eliminations will be shown on the Fox Sports 1 network at 3 p.m. EDT.

For more information on NHRA, visit NHRA.com.