Sep 8, 2026 | Featured, Race Results

Randy Meyer Racing capped off the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals with a strong weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, advancing T.J. Tindle to the Top Alcohol Dragster final round in just his second career start in the class.

Tindle, driving the Hedinger’s Equipment / NGK Spark Plugs & Coils-backed Randy Meyer Racing dragster, qualified ninth in the 16-car field with a 5.365-second pass at 272.06 mph. Teammate Mitch Kalitta qualified 10th with a 5.400 at 263.77 mph, marking Kalitta’s third Top Alcohol Dragster event after earning his first career win just one week earlier at the JEGS SportsNationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

However Kalitta’s weekend came to an early end in the opening round when he faced Brandon Greco. Despite a strong 0.016-second reaction time, the Kalitta Air dragster was up in smoke immediately at the hit, forcing him to lift. Greco went on to the win with a 5.300 at 269.73 mph while Kalitta coasted to a 15.082 at 52.76 mph.

Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals

Tindle, meanwhile, began his U.S. Nationals eliminations with a win over No. 8 qualifier Melanie Johnson. Johnson had the starting-line advantage with a 0.033 reaction time compared to Tindle’s 0.047, but Tindle chased her down by the halfway point of the track and took the win with a 5.273-second pass at 271.19 mph. The run was Tindle’s quickest and fastest pass of the weekend to that point.

In the second round, Tindle faced John Ausherman and delivered another strong performance. Tindle launched with a 0.053 reaction time and posted a 5.181 at 276.52 mph to advance when Ausherman went up in smoke immediately after the hit and was forced to shut the car down. The 5.181 was the quickest pass of the entire weekend for the Top Alcohol Dragster class, and gave Tindle lane choice heading into the semifinals on Monday.

His next opponent was Megan Smith, and Tindle once again rose to the occasion, leaving first with a 0.062 reaction time and powering the Hedinger’s Equipment dragster to a 5.226 at 275.56 mph. Smith encountered trouble shortly after the hit and recorded an 11.788 at 83.52 mph, sending Tindle into his first Top Alcohol Dragster final round.

The U.S. Nationals final round paired Tindle against Richie Crampton, who had advanced through the opposite side of the ladder. Tindle’s dragster began spinning the tires on the top end of the track when the engine had a mechanical failure. Tindle recorded a 6.896-second pass at 132.95 mph, while Crampton took the win with a 5.255 at 272.56 mph.

Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals

Although the final round didn’t produce the result the team was looking for, the weekend marked another significant step in Tindle’s young Top Alcohol Dragster career. After making his class debut at the Baby Gators earlier this year, Tindle has now advanced to a final round in only his second Top Alcohol Dragster start.

The U.S. Nationals also marked the second consecutive event where a Randy Meyer Racing dragster reached the final round. One week earlier, Mitch Kalitta defeated teammate Jennifer Wiens in the Hedinger’s Equipment in an all-Randy Meyer Racing final at Beech Bend Raceway Park to score his first Top Alcohol Dragster victory.

Randy Meyer Racing Reaches U.S. Nationals Final Round with Rookie T.J. Tindle and Hedinger’s Equipment

Sep 8, 2026 | Featured, Race Results

Randy Meyer Racing capped off the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals with a strong weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, advancing T.J. Tindle to the Top Alcohol Dragster final round in just his second career start in the class.

Tindle, driving the Hedinger’s Equipment / NGK Spark Plugs & Coils-backed Randy Meyer Racing dragster, qualified ninth in the 16-car field with a 5.365-second pass at 272.06 mph. Teammate Mitch Kalitta qualified 10th with a 5.400 at 263.77 mph, marking Kalitta’s third Top Alcohol Dragster event after earning his first career win just one week earlier at the JEGS SportsNationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

However Kalitta’s weekend came to an early end in the opening round when he faced Brandon Greco. Despite a strong 0.016-second reaction time, the Kalitta Air dragster was up in smoke immediately at the hit, forcing him to lift. Greco went on to the win with a 5.300 at 269.73 mph while Kalitta coasted to a 15.082 at 52.76 mph.

Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals

Tindle, meanwhile, began his U.S. Nationals eliminations with a win over No. 8 qualifier Melanie Johnson. Johnson had the starting-line advantage with a 0.033 reaction time compared to Tindle’s 0.047, but Tindle chased her down by the halfway point of the track and took the win with a 5.273-second pass at 271.19 mph. The run was Tindle’s quickest and fastest pass of the weekend to that point.

In the second round, Tindle faced John Ausherman and delivered another strong performance. Tindle launched with a 0.053 reaction time and posted a 5.181 at 276.52 mph to advance when Ausherman went up in smoke immediately after the hit and was forced to shut the car down. The 5.181 was the quickest pass of the entire weekend for the Top Alcohol Dragster class, and gave Tindle lane choice heading into the semifinals on Monday.

His next opponent was Megan Smith, and Tindle once again rose to the occasion, leaving first with a 0.062 reaction time and powering the Hedinger’s Equipment dragster to a 5.226 at 275.56 mph. Smith encountered trouble shortly after the hit and recorded an 11.788 at 83.52 mph, sending Tindle into his first Top Alcohol Dragster final round.

The U.S. Nationals final round paired Tindle against Richie Crampton, who had advanced through the opposite side of the ladder. Tindle’s dragster began spinning the tires on the top end of the track when the engine had a mechanical failure. Tindle recorded a 6.896-second pass at 132.95 mph, while Crampton took the win with a 5.255 at 272.56 mph.

Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals

Although the final round didn’t produce the result the team was looking for, the weekend marked another significant step in Tindle’s young Top Alcohol Dragster career. After making his class debut at the Baby Gators earlier this year, Tindle has now advanced to a final round in only his second Top Alcohol Dragster start.

The U.S. Nationals also marked the second consecutive event where a Randy Meyer Racing dragster reached the final round. One week earlier, Mitch Kalitta defeated teammate Jennifer Wiens in the Hedinger’s Equipment in an all-Randy Meyer Racing final at Beech Bend Raceway Park to score his first Top Alcohol Dragster victory.

The Randy Meyer Racing Team now has their eyes set on claiming the NHRA diamond Wally at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by Mopar in Martin, Michigan.