Second-year Nitro Funny Car racer Damon Paton is shaping as an early contender for the unluckiest driver of the 2026 season after a windstorm and torrential rain forced officials to cancel the opening round of the NDRC Nitro Funny Car and Pro Alcohol Championship at Willowbank Raceway on January 25.
Paton, making only his fifth start in the category after graduating from Supercharged Outlaw—had just posted his second win of the day and was in the box seat to take his place in his maiden A-Final when the meeting was called off.
“I was unlucky, but the same goes for the other guys who didn’t get a chance to run the second round and race their way into the finals,” Paton said. “Day one didn’t go to plan, but today went really well. Overall, it was a good weekend. We went within two hundredths of our personal best, and debuting a new car is always a challenge. From here, the rest of the season looks promising.”
Nitro Funny Car.
With just five entries and two qualifying sessions, interest focused on who would top the charts and secure the all-important first-round bye.
Conditions were brutal, with track temperatures peaking at 135°F and humidity hovering near 90 percent, adding another layer of intrigue.
Championship contender Josh Leahy wasted no time asserting himself, opening with a 4.05-second pass at 310 mph despite banging the blower. He backed that up with an impressive 3.98 at 319 mph to claim the top spot.
Second place went to reigning Champion Morice McMillin who came into the season opener with a new tune-up and fuel system and posted a best run of 4.46, 198 mph after dropping a cylinder.
Paton debuted an ex–Del Worsham Toyota Camry wearing a striking black-and-white livery. His weekend began shakily when clutch issues forced him to shut down after the burnout in Q1, but he rebounded in Q2 with a 4.47 at 200 mph, despite dropping a hole and shutting off early to secure third.
Adam Murrihy on the comeback trail after missing last season claimed fourth with a solid 4.49, 233 mph in Q2 after a frustrating start to the weekend that included a Christmas Tree malfunction in round one against McMillin. The Murrihy camp upbeat after forming a ‘strategic alliance’ with John Force Racing, including several visits from crew chief Brett Ehmers to Indianapolis.
Justin Walshe rounded out the field in fifth, entering the season with a singular goal: to score his first sub-four-second run after recording “around a dozen 4.00-flat passes,” according to the owner-driver. A planned early shutoff in Q1 was followed by a close call with the center-line in Q2, prompting the 2024 champion to lift.
Conditions worsened on race day, with track temperatures climbing to 140°F ahead of round one.
Leahy’s solo run came to an early end after the car went up in smoke.
The Paton–Murrihy matchup quickly developed into a pedal-fest as both drivers struggled for traction. Murrihy made a late attempt to get back onto the throttle, but Paton prevailed.
The closest race of the weekend saw Walshe jump out to an early lead over McMillin before both cars lost traction. Walshe dropped a cylinder, allowing McMillin to drive around him for the win, posting a 4.30-second pass – the quickest elapsed time of the weekend. Walshe nonetheless claimed top speed honors at 241 mph.
In what was to be the only run in Rd 2 and the last run of the meeting. Paton drove past Leahy around the 330-foot mark and went on to get his second win of the day.
Pro Alcohol
Reigning Pro Alcohol champion Daniel “Boon” Reed claimed top qualifying honors with a stellar 5.44-second pass at 268 mph on his final attempt, narrowly edging out highly fancied Cheyne Phillips, who recorded a 5.48 at 267 mph in Q2.
Ben Bray, son of Australian drag racing legend Victor Bray, returned to the category for the first time in over a decade and qualified seventh, setting up a round-one showdown with Phillips.
On race day, Reed continued his strong form, laying down the quickest and fastest run of the day – a 5.60 at 262 mph to defeat Victorian Wayne Price, who posted a 5.65 at 239 mph.
The Phillips-Bray matchup proved to be one of the highlights of the weekend. Phillips cut a razor-sharp .01 reaction time and ran 5.56 at 265 mph to hold off Bray, who responded with a .02 light and a 5.64 at 249 mph.
Pro Mod 660
John Ricca topped Pro Mod 660 qualifying with a 3.73-second pass at 202 mph.
