SPENCER HYDE RACES TO QUARTERFINALS AT SOUTHERN NATIONALS
By: Head Racing
VALDOSTA, GA. (May 3, 2026) — Today at the inaugural NHRA national event at beautiful South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia, 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car raced to a quarterfinal finish at the Southern Nationals. Coming into race day as the No. 9 qualifier Hyde, who is solidly in the Funny Car top ten in points, knew he would need quick times to have a long race day. Through three rounds of qualifying Hyde made two solid passes and one throw away run during a rain delayed qualifying session yesterday that saw race cars in the left lane struggle to get down the track.
“Everyone has to deal with the same racetrack but last night the left lane was a real challenge for a lot of the racecars,” said Hyde, runner-up earlier this season at the Arizona Nationals. “Our first two qualifying runs were solid but yesterday wasn’t super productive to get us ready for today. I felt good coming into the first round, but we knew we would need to try and hold onto lane choice.”
photo credit Innovative Creation Experts
In the opening round racing against the two-time reigning Funny Car champion Austin Prock, Hyde led the race from start to finish. He took a commanding lead with a strong .049 second reaction time and his Ford Mustang Funny Car was glued to the middle of the groove as he cruised to victory with a winning time of 3.978 seconds to Prock’s 4.101 second pass.
“The first round is always nerve-wracking and seeing that win light was big,” said Hyde. “That run felt really good. I got off the line first and this Mustang Funny Car went right down the middle of the track. We were in the left lane, and Jim was able to make it work which was pretty impressive.”
In the quarterfinal round it was a battle two of the rising stars in the Funny Car class with Hyde taking on Funny Car newcomer Jordan Vandergriff. It was a serious No. 9 versus No. 3 qualifier match up but Hyde was hopeful another win light was in his future. Vandergriff had lane choice and Hyde was once again back in the problematic left lane. This round the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car was not as fortunate coming off the starting line and overpowered the racetrack. Hyde had to watch as Vandergriff, who would go on to win the race, pulled away for the victory.
“The track was heating up, and the conditions were just getting tricky for everyone,” said Hyde. “This is a new racetrack and while the crowds and staff were awesome everyone had to figure out the track. This weekend was a solid weekend for our team. We made some good runs, and we turned on a win light. We’ll take some time and get ready for Chicago in a couple weeks.”
Hyde was pulling double duty at the Southern Nationals also racing the Pro Mod class. He drew Pro Mod standout Lyle Barnett in the first round. He was giving up lane choice but felt confident going into the opening session. Barnett grabbed a slight starting line advance but Hyde’s respectable .032 reaction time had his Team Shelton Motorsports Mustang right with Barnett. Hyde had to give his race car a quick pedal in the left lane while Barnett was on a smooth pass beside him. It was Barnett getting the win at the strip with a winning 5.991 second pass in front of Hyde’s 6.089 second run.
“Any time I can get behind the wheel of a Pro Mod car I am ready to do that,” said Hyde, winner of the 2023 World Series of Pro Mod. “It helps keep you in race mode when you are constantly getting time on the track. I want to thank Team Shelton Motorsports for the chance. Lyle is a tough customer, and we knew we would have our hands full against him.”
Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car will be back in competition in two weeks at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK on May 14-17 at Route 66 Raceway. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, May 15 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, May 16. For tickets or more information on the Route 66 Nationals visit nhra.com.
Qualifying Results – Funny Car
Q1: 3.963 sec, 322.42 mph; Qual. 5
Q2: 3.982 sec, 315.86 mph; Qual. 9
Q3: 8.988 sec, 59.82 mph; Qual. 9
Bonus Points: 0
Qualifying Results – Pro Mod
Q1: 5.754 sec, 253.23 mph; Qual. 9
Q2: 9.738 sec, 106.20 mph; Qual. 11
Q3: 10.216 sec, 111.93 mph; Qual. 14
Bonus Points: 0
Race Results
First Round – Funny Car
Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (.049), 3.978 sec, 322.81 mph def. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Ford Mustang Dark Horse, (.078), 4.101 sec, 319.82 mph
Second Round – Funny Car
Jordan Vandergriff, Atlanta, Ga., Cornwell Tools Funny Car, (.083), 3.956 sec, 332.34 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (.080), 12.015 sec, 63.76 mph
First Round – Pro Mod
Lyle Barnett, Robbins, N.C., Billy Banaka Racing, (.026), 5.991 sec, 234.94 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Team Shelton Motorsports, (.032), 6.089 sec, 249.39 mph
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Funny Car
- J.R. Todd 411
- Ron Capps 409
- Matt Hagan 386
- Jordan Vandergriff 383
- Chad Green 340
- Alexis DeJoria 297
- Spencer Hyde 275
- Jack Beckman 245
- Dan Wilkerson 202
- Dave Richards 171
