Last Updated on August 17, 2026 1:25 pm
A look at the most Interesting Drag Racing Stories over the Weekend that may get buried in the News Cycle. The DRN Weekly Roundup is Presented by DragRacing.News.
NHRA Division 1 LODRS & SPORTSNationals @ Cecil County (DRN Coverage)
Mike Daniele Top Sportsman Clean Sweep of the Weekend at Cecil
Mike Daniele put on an absolute clinic in the Top Sportsman class at Cecil County. Daniele mowed through the field during the Division 1 portion of the event before turning on the Final Round Win Light over Kevin Edmonds. This was a huge run in the D1 Top Sportsman championship chase as Daniele’s 2nd win of the season now puts him in 6 Round lead over Ron Riegel. The X Factor in the championship chase is Brandon Miller, who only has 4 Claims (1 Clean remaining). Brandon could make a big move down the stretch run. On Saturday, Daniele continued his momentum by sweeping the weekend in TS with the SportsNationals victory. Mike faced off with National Championship contender Jeff Brooks in the Final Round. Brooks had the better RT 025 to 033, but put it 005 Under (6.325 on 6.33 Dial) to Daniele’s Winning Dead 2 Lap (6.842 on 6.84 Dial). Mike’s victory propels him to 6th Place in National Points with only 1 National Event claim (2 Clean) putting him in great position for a title run. It will be fun to see if Daniele can keep up the momentum next weekend in Epping.
Joe Carnasicale – Fifth Competition Eliminator Division 1 Win of the Season
Joe Carnasciale’s Dream Season continued in Maryland with the Competition Eliminator win during the D1 LODRS portion of the Event. The pivotal round for Joe was in the semi-finals as Steve Szupka turned it 020 Red allowing Joe to advance clean to the Final Round. Advancing clean on Index to the Final put even more pressure on final round opponent William Pine, who went Red by 013. This gives Carnasicale a Perfect 5 Wins on the Divisional Side of things. The only way he can improve is to win a 5 Round Division race, so he will likely have to travel to make that happen. On the National side of things, he has a Win, Runner-Up and Round 2 Loss currently. A perfect season is within reach as Joe has Two National Event claims remaining. Joe did finally show he is Human during the SportsNationals portion of the Event as Pine got payback in E1. William had the Better RT 029 to 083 and earned the Holeshot win 58 Under to 59 Under.
Edmonds Family Makes the Long Haul Pay Off
The Edmonds Family made their mark on NHRA Division 1 with a successful trip to Maryland from their home in Louisiana. The Father-Son team nearly doubled with both Kevin (Top Sportsman) and son Kade (Super Street) earning Runner-Up Finishes during the D1 Race on Friday. That just motived Kade even more and he was able to score the Wally in Super Gas during the SportsNationals race on Saturday. This was Kade’s second Super Gas Win of the season as he also won at the South Georgia Division 2 Race, and he now moves into the Top 10 with an outside shot at the National Title.
NHRA LODRS Division 5 Double Header @ Brainerd (DRN Coverage)
Holden Laris Makes a Big Move in the Top Dragster National Championship Chase
Holden Laris of Laris Motorsports Insurance definitely gave us something to write about with his performance at the Division 5 Brainerd Double Header. Holden was on an absolute heater Friday during Race 1 averaging 012 RT in the early rounds before turning it 006 Red in the Final Round against JR Baxter. Laris kept up the momentum during Race 2 Eliminations on Sunday with a string of solid laps, including an E3 victory over his Dad (Ross). This led to a great final round, where Robbie Gear threw down a great 004 and Dead 9 (6.789 on 6.78 Dial) to defeat Holden’s game 014 RT + 007 Breakout (6.133 on 6.14 Dial). Holden’s pair of Runner-Up’s put him up to 4 Divisional 2nd Place Finishes and 5 Total on the season. But despite the Runner-Ups, he is in a good position in the National Points race with 2 more National Event claims remaining. Holden is entered for the Brainerd Nationals next weekend, so we will see if he can keep up the momentum & advance his 515 Point Total.
Joe Santangelo Mounting a Championship Run in Two Classes
Joe Santangelo continued his run at another National Championship with a strong Sunday in Brainerd. Joe bypassed the closer to home Division 1 race to head to the Division 5 Double Header in Minnesota, where he had success last season with a D5 Super Stock victory. Race 1 of the Double Header was rough for Joe in both classes, but he didn’t let that phase him during Sunday’s Race 2 Eliminations. Joe was on a roll in Super Stock cruising through the field on the way to the Final Round, including a 9 Total Lap (007 + Dead 2) in E4. But in the Final, Santangelo would push the tree a little too hard letting go 010 Red. Joe was also in a good rhythm in Stock Eliminator, where he also put it 9 Total (008 + Dead 1) to defeat Jamey Picht in E4. But in round 5, he would come out on the wrong side of a Double Breakout decision to eventual Runner-Up Jordin Jurgens. These finishes put him in position to mount a charge in at the National Title in both classes. Joe is entered in both Super Stock and Stock for the Brainerd Nationals next week.
Mini Million @ Indianapolis Raceway Park (DRN Coverage)
Cory Gulitti Cashes in For $60K at the Mini Million
Mother Nature certainly made the Inaugural Mini Million @ Indianapolis challenging, but one racer who didn’t let it affect his focus was Texas racer Cory Gulitti. Cory, piloting the Family RAD Torque Systems Dragster was locked in with a dial of 4.34 throughout most of Eliminations. Gulitti’s E4 victory gave him some great momentum as he defeated Donovan Williams in an close Double Breakout decision. Cory would dial down in the Semi-Final round against No Box winner Austin Tewell. Gulitti had a big starting line edge 009 to 038 and put it 1 Above (4.327 on 4.31 Dial). This set up a big final round between Cory and Florida’s Jon Siegel. This one was decided at the tree as Jon let go 004 Red. Cory let go 017 and lifted immediately as soon as he saw Siegel’s Red. Gulitti collected the Winners Share of the $60K Main Event to finish off the grueling Michigan/Indiana tour over recent weeks.
No Box Racers Getting the Job Done at the Mini Million
No Box domination was a thing during the Mini Million with a couple names making repeat Final Round appearances. Indiana racer Cody Alumbaugh had an incredible Day during the Thursday Warmup race taking the No Box victory defeating the always tough Brandon Schmall in the Final. Cody had Both of his Entries still in competition at the Round of 15 Cars left before losing his Final Entry in the Quarter-Finals. Cody also made it to the Sunday No Box Final before the rains washed out competition. Brandon Schmall, who we wrote about last week with his No Box efforts at Earlville, Iowa again had a great weekend in Indy. Schmall made it to the Thursday No Box Final before turning it 007 Red. He then made the Friday/Saturday $60K No Box Final to face off with Austin Tewell. Tewell threw down a Perfect RT and 1 Above Lap to take the Victory. But still another solid weekend for Schmall and his Fox Body Mustang.
No Box Bonanza @ Norwalk (DRN Coverage)
Nick Bowman Continues Hot Streak at No Box Bonanza
Nick Bowman is no stranger to the Winners Circle, but he’s really been on a roll at No Box Bonanza the past couple season. Bowman had a strong performance during the 2025 NBB Event, scoring a pair of $25K Runner-Up Finishes and earning the Weekend Points Champion award. He started off this year’s No Box Bonanza right where he left off, and drove it straight to the Thursday Shootout Winners Circle after an excellent Final Round with Charlie Lockhart. Nick was better in RT 021 to 031 and put it Dead 5 (6.555 on 6.55 Dial) to take the $7500 Victory.
Numidia 150
Steve Sisko Cashes in for $30K in Pennsylvania
Steve Sisko cracked em for $30K at Pennsylvania’s Numidia Dragway. Sisko, a former $1.1 Million Winner, piloted his trademark Cavalier Hatchback to the victory over Wes Siegel’s First Gen Camaro in a great Final Round. Wes had the better RT 012 to 017, but broke out 001 (6.029 on 6.03 Dial) to Sisko’s winning Dead 9 Lap (6.009 on 6.00 Dial). Another big check heading back to New Jersey for Sisko and Team.
