IHRA Triple Crown
National Trail Raceway
Darana Raceway – Hebron, OH
June 19-21, 2026
National Trail Raceway served as the stage for Top Fuel Motorcycle racing this weekend, with eight bikes squaring off at the IHRA Triple Crown Race 1.
Winner: Mitch Brown
Runner-up: Bob Malloy
#1 Qualifier: Larry McBride
Qualifying
Larry McBride set the tone early, locking up the top spot after two rounds of qualifying with a 3.8538 at 207.85 mph, the only rider in the field to crack the 3.8s and the only one over 200 mph. Mitch Brown qualified second (3.9581/191.65) and Gerald Hunt rounded out the top three at 3.9838/191.98. The bottom of the order saw Richard Deys and Jaska Salakari struggling well off the pace, running 6- and 7-second numbers that left them clinging to the final qualifying spots.
Eliminations
Round one of eliminations kicked off, and it was a rough one. Bob Malloy edged out Micah Fenwick in a double-red-light affair (-.1601 to -.1719), Gerald Hunt handled Jason Pridemore, and Mitch Brown took care of Richard Deys. McBride got past Jaska Salakari and posted the round’s low ET (3.8298) and top speed (210.97 mph) to put him through to round two, but the win came at a cost. After crossing the finish line, McBride’s chute failed to deploy. His hand came off the handlebar, and the wind pulled him off the motorcycle, sending his machine tumbling through the sandtrap. McBride advanced on the scoreboard but was unable to continue.
With McBride out, round two saw Brown eliminate Hunt with a clean 3.9415 at 195.48 to reach the final. Malloy advanced on the other side after McBride couldn’t make the call, setting up a Brown-Malloy final.
In the final Mitch Brown closed out the event with a 3.9403 at 195.99 to take the Top Fuel Motorcycle win. This event was a strong showing for Brown, who qualified second and stayed consistent all day while the competition ran into trouble.
The IHRA Outlaw Nitro series now heads to Milan-Darana Dragway July 9-11 for the next event.
About International Hot Rod Association
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is one of the world’s premier drag racing sanctioning bodies, dedicated to delivering competitive, fair, and exciting motorsports experiences for racers, teams, and fans around the globe. With a strong foundation in grassroots and professional drag racing, IHRA sanctions events across multiple classes and disciplines, supporting racers at every level of the sport. With a racer-first approach, IHRA focuses on safety, innovation, and strong partnerships with racers, tracks, and communities. Learn more at www.IHRA.com
