Wheeler Clinches The Championship in Cordova!
The final chapter of the 2026 DMP Awnings NITRO CHAOS Championship Tour brought the series to historic Cordova Dragway on September 25-26th where the Funny Car Chaos series shared the stage for two days of outlaw drag racing action in an event presented by Twisted Shifterz and 360-Steel. This event, like many others on the 2026 CHAOS tour, fell victim to mother nature and was postponed one week as the original date was plagued with rain in Illinois.
Sixteen outlaw fuel burners were set to earn their respective positions in two qualifying rounds on Friday night. Defending series Champions team “Mass Chaos” and John Umluaf Jr dropped jaws with an incredible 3.47 blast at 215 mph to take the top spot in the RBS Superchargers ‘A’ Field. Dave Gallegos’ “Nitro Clown” fuel altered nabbed the top qualifying position in the CP-Carrillo ‘B’ Field as the ladders were set for Saturday’s eliminations.
In a season that just seemed to be plagued with obstacles, from mother nature to the price of diesel, the curve balls weren’t done being thrown yet. One hour before the first round was set to kick off on Saturday, the timing system computer failed. After two hours of repair attempts, track officials notified CHAOS staff that this was a terminal issue and racing would likely have to be stopped for the weekend, but NOT at the CHAOS!
The CHAOS staff held an immediate drivers meeting and announced the plan to flag start the eliminations in a truly chaotic decision. After determining the process to make this approach as fair as possible, details were being announced and racers were fired up for this unique decision which would go down in the history books as another CHAOS first.
As the drivers meeting was nearing completion, Cordova Dragway staff rushed to the meeting to inform everyone the timing system had been suddenly repaired. Despite the racers excitement for a flag start finish to the season, the race moved forward in traditional fashion and cars were immediately called to the lanes for first round of eliminations.
The opening round of RBS Superchargers ‘A’ Field competition was intense, starting off with a surprising victory by Levi Kennen over top qualifier John Umlauf Jr, who’s fuel altered suddenly shut-off after the burnout. Next up was a big one for top points runner Garry Wheeler Jr up against Dave Hirata. Wheeler had struggled during qualifying, but laid one down when it mattered most with a 3.65 winning effort to keep his points lead intact. Andy Fangman made his best pass of the weekend in what would be his last pass in the crowd favorite nitro pro mod, losing to Paul Miller. Fangman had announced his car would be put up for sale at the conclusion of this event. In the final pair, all hell broke loose in a terrifying two car incident between Dave Hill and Colin Thomas. Hill’s car was making a move to the centerline and a quick pedal job sent the car spinning out of control and into the wall, launching the body high into the air. Thomas had a front row seat and was doing all he could to steer clear, but eventually got tangled up in the spinning funny car chassis of Hill. Thankfully, both drivers were able to walk away under their own power and suffered no injuries, but both cars are completely destroyed.
With first round loses from Dave Hill and Brian Kohlmann, and Colin Thomas unable to continue racing after the crash, Garry Wheeler Jr clinched his second DMP Awnings NITRO CHAOS Championship for car owner Jon Brook and the entire “Grand Prix Racing” team from Oklahoma. Congratulations!
Wheeler and company marched their way to the final to meet Paul Miller, but the final final round of the season was unable to be completed due to details we’ll disclose in the coverage of the CP-Carrillo ‘B’ Field.
Brian Kohlmann and his wild fuel burning street coupe team simply had to win to keep their title hopes alive, but came up short in first round in a close race against Jeff Krug. Krug then fell victim to Dave Gallegos who met up with surprise finalist Kevin Lennon. In the final, Gallegos’ fuel altered appeared to get into its own oil and the car was sent wildly sliding out of control and on its side. Finally, it came to rest and word was confirmed that Gallegos was unharmed, but his racecar had been destroyed. Lennon was able to stay out of harms way and score his first career Nitro Chaos event win at a track he got his license at three decades before.
After all the parts were cleaned up, drivers given the all clear by medical staff and the dust literally had settled, the 2026 season was a wrap. For some, great excitement and accomplishment was celebrated while for others, mangled racecars and emotions were loaded in the trailer in hopes of better days ahead.
It was a trying year for the CHAOS, but with the support of our amazing racers, fans and marketing partners we can close the chapter on 2026 and look forward to bigger and better things and lots of nitromethane fumes in 2027. Stay tuned for next year’s schedule and we’ll see you…at the CHAOS!
Sixteen outlaw fuel burners were set to earn their respective positions in two qualifying rounds on Friday night. Defending series Champions team “Mass Chaos” and John Umluaf Jr dropped jaws with an incredible 3.47 blast at 215 mph to take the top spot in the RBS Superchargers ‘A’ Field. Dave Gallegos’ “Nitro Clown” fuel altered nabbed the top qualifying position in the CP-Carrillo ‘B’ Field as the ladders were set for Saturday’s eliminations.
In a season that just seemed to be plagued with obstacles, from mother nature to the price of diesel, the curve balls weren’t done being thrown yet. One hour before the first round was set to kick off on Saturday, the timing system computer failed. After two hours of repair attempts, track officials notified CHAOS staff that this was a terminal issue and racing would likely have to be stopped for the weekend, but NOT at the CHAOS!
The CHAOS staff held an immediate drivers meeting and announced the plan to flag start the eliminations in a truly chaotic decision. After determining the process to make this approach as fair as possible, details were being announced and racers were fired up for this unique decision which would go down in the history books as another CHAOS first.
As the drivers meeting was nearing completion, Cordova Dragway staff rushed to the meeting to inform everyone the timing system had been suddenly repaired. Despite the racers excitement for a flag start finish to the season, the race moved forward in traditional fashion and cars were immediately called to the lanes for first round of eliminations.
The opening round of RBS Superchargers ‘A’ Field competition was intense, starting off with a surprising victory by Levi Kennen over top qualifier John Umlauf Jr, who’s fuel altered suddenly shut-off after the burnout. Next up was a big one for top points runner Garry Wheeler Jr up against Dave Hirata. Wheeler had struggled during qualifying, but laid one down when it mattered most with a 3.65 winning effort to keep his points lead intact. Andy Fangman made his best pass of the weekend in what would be his last pass in the crowd favorite nitro pro mod, losing to Paul Miller. Fangman had announced his car would be put up for sale at the conclusion of this event. In the final pair, all hell broke loose in a terrifying two car incident between Dave Hill and Colin Thomas. Hill’s car was making a move to the centerline and a quick pedal job sent the car spinning out of control and into the wall, launching the body high into the air. Thomas had a front row seat and was doing all he could to steer clear, but eventually got tangled up in the spinning funny car chassis of Hill. Thankfully, both drivers were able to walk away under their own power and suffered no injuries, but both cars are completely destroyed.
With first round loses from Dave Hill and Brian Kohlmann, and Colin Thomas unable to continue racing after the crash, Garry Wheeler Jr clinched his second DMP Awnings NITRO CHAOS Championship for car owner Jon Brook and the entire “Grand Prix Racing” team from Oklahoma. Congratulations!
Wheeler and company marched their way to the final to meet Paul Miller, but the final final round of the season was unable to be completed due to details we’ll disclose in the coverage of the CP-Carrillo ‘B’ Field.
Brian Kohlmann and his wild fuel burning street coupe team simply had to win to keep their title hopes alive, but came up short in first round in a close race against Jeff Krug. Krug then fell victim to Dave Gallegos who met up with surprise finalist Kevin Lennon. In the final, Gallegos’ fuel altered appeared to get into its own oil and the car was sent wildly sliding out of control and on its side. Finally, it came to rest and word was confirmed that Gallegos was unharmed, but his racecar had been destroyed. Lennon was able to stay out of harms way and score his first career Nitro Chaos event win at a track he got his license at three decades before.
After all the parts were cleaned up, drivers given the all clear by medical staff and the dust literally had settled, the 2026 season was a wrap. For some, great excitement and accomplishment was celebrated while for others, mangled racecars and emotions were loaded in the trailer in hopes of better days ahead.
It was a trying year for the CHAOS, but with the support of our amazing racers, fans and marketing partners we can close the chapter on 2026 and look forward to bigger and better things and lots of nitromethane fumes in 2027. Stay tuned for next year’s schedule and we’ll see you…at the CHAOS!
EVENT PHOTO GALLERY
FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER
McKinney Motorsports 'A' Field Results
CP Carrillo 'B' Field Results
