On May 14, 2026, Doug Kruse from Rockford, Illinois, won the $10,000 warm-up race at the Autoland Door Car Challenge held at Byron Dragway. In a competitive final round, Kruse, driving his late brother Ken’s Chevrolet Camaro, achieved an impressive .029 reaction time and finished with a 6.539 elapsed time against his 6.49 dial-in. His opponent, Nick Engler from Becker, Minnesota, a reigning NHRA West Central Division Champion, finished as the runner-up, clocking a .048 reaction time and a 6.181 elapsed time on his 6.15 dial-in.

This event highlighted the personal connections in door car bracket racing, with both competitors driving cars with deep family ties. Kruse’s Camaro was a tribute to his late brother, while Engler’s Dodge R/T has been in his family since 1969, initially owned by his grandfather.

The weekend includes additional racing activities: a $15,000 race on Friday, a main event with a $50,000 prize on Saturday, and a closing $15,000 finale on Sunday. The Autoland Door Car Challenge, running from May 14-17, 2026, at Byron Dragway, showcases the unique blend of competitive spirit and heartfelt stories inherent in door car racing.



Source: dragchamp.com