Scorching Day Four Challenges Drag Weekers, Dunphy Remains on Track For Record Average
The fourth day of Hot Rod Drag Week 2026 brought the field to World Wide Technology Raceway just outside St. Louis, and with temperatures climbing to around 95 degrees, it was easily the hottest day of the event so far.
The quickest cars were given the first opportunity to make their passes in the relatively cooler morning air, but temperatures climbed rapidly. The slick-tire cars generally managed the conditions, while the heat proved particularly difficult for cars relying on radial tires, with several normally consistent combinations struggling to put the power down.
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Ned Dunphy continues to lead the overall competition, running a 6.080 on Thursday to bring his four-day average to 6.051 seconds. With one day remaining, Dunphy's shot at a five-second average is still technically alive, but he will need a 5.845 or quicker on Friday to achieve the goal.
Bryant Goldstone would have entered St. Louis in second place, but his Drag Week came to an end during Wednesday night's drive when his Corvette dropped a valve. That opened the door for Nick Cryer, who moved into second overall with his LS-powered hot rod.
Cryer ran a 6.817, his quickest pass of the week so far, bringing his average to 6.855 seconds.
Shaun Skipper also moved up the overall standings, taking third with a 7.006-second average and passing Les Smith. Smith struggled with the radial tire in Thursday's heat, managing just a 7.474. His average has fallen to 7.035, although he still holds the lead in Ultimate Iron heading into the final day.
The Pro Street battle also changed on Thursday. Nick Rinehart battled the track conditions before putting down a 7.541, the number he needed to move into the class lead. Glenn Hunter trails Rinehart heading into the final day.
Australia's Mike Ward has taken over the Modified lead after running a 7.554, moving his average to 7.648 seconds. Michael Manuel sits second with a 7.787-second average after being one of the many high-powered radial cars that struggled to find enough traction in the extreme heat.
Kevin Schweizer assumed the lead in Super Street Big Block Power Adder with an 8.096, bringing his average to 7.991 seconds. He leapfrogged Cal Hayward, who had been making a string of mid-seven-second passes earlier in the week but could only manage a 9.795 in the St. Louis heat.
The Super Street Small Block Power Adder battle remains close, with Kenneth Selner and Tony Karamitsos heading into the final day with 7.876 and 7.998 averages, respectively.
Michael Remines continues to dominate All Motor Big Block with an 8.624-second average, while Joseph O'Cone leads All Motor Small Block with a 9.555 average over Joshua Norris' 9.687.
One of the standout runs of the day came from Randy Belehar in Street Race Big Block Power Adder. Belehar laid down a stunning 8.501, improving his average to 8.562 seconds and giving himself a sizeable lead in the class heading into Friday.
Street Race Small Block Power Adder saw another shake-up. Josh Lapins ran an 8.549 to bring his average to 8.522, while Andrew Slade moved into second with an 8.528 average after an 8.510 on Thursday. Jason Rousseau slipped to third following an 8.628, leaving him with an 8.549 average.
The Street Race Small Block NA battle is also extremely close. Jeff Sias leads with a 9.030-second average, while David Hembree sits just behind at 9.061.
The final drive of the week was a 255 mile road trip that spent much of the day on Route 66, with checkpoints including Motorheads Bar and Grill and the Atlanta Giants Museum.
After four days of racing and a week of weather that has ranged from rainouts to brutal heat, the Drag Week field now has just one day remaining.
The survivors will make their way back toward Route 66 Raceway for the final day of competition, where the remaining class championships—and the overall Drag Week title—will be decided.
