09/11/2026
๐ญ๐ถ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐๐ & ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ ๐ผ-๐๐ฎ๐ป
After a weather plagued season thus far in 2026, in which all of the Funny Car Chaos events have seen some sort of extreme weather variable, at Mo-Kan Dragway, it was extreme heat. Triple digit temperatures welcomed a fleet of over two dozen outlaw funny car teams and packed grandstands to Asbury, Missouri for the 61st Annual Labor Day Weekend Classic on September 4-5th.
Coming into the weekend, Keith Zimmerer looked very likely to mathematically clinch his first Funny Car Chaos series Championship, after coming up just short in 2025. With two rounds of qualifying in the books on Friday night, James Day wheeled T.J. Saye's "Saye It Loud" nitro burner to the top spot with a 3.61 at 216 mph and would lead the all three second Rodak's Custom Roasted Coffee 'A' Field into Saturday's eliminations.
It wasn't meant to be for Day, who won the West Texas Nitro Showdown back in May at Penwell Knights Raceway, as mechanical issue forced the car to be shut-off shortly after firing up for his first round match with Eddyville Raceway Park winner Robbie Massey. Massey and company marched on to their second final round in a row to meet none other than Keith Zimmerer, who'd advanced past John Broussard and Lance Van Hauen to reach the last dance. In doing so, Zimmerer along with tuner Will Hanna and the rest of the "Penny Pincher II" team had clinched the 2026 Funny Car Chaos Championship! Now, it was time to put icing on the cake. In the final, Zimmerer clicked off his quickest pass of the weekend with a 3.68 at 203 to take the stripe over Massey's 3.82 at 185 mph.
The Alkydigger 'B' Field was led by Jim Chase' "Wicked Quick" 1957 Chevy after a 3.95 at 186 secured him the top qualifying position. Chase blasted past Daniel Butherus and Jade Cook to find himself lined up with a fellow 1957 Chevy bodied entry in Justin Malott. Malott and company left 2025 in the dust and have looked strong in 2026, eclipsing the three second zone and winning the 'B' Field earlier this season at Great Lakes Dragaway. Everyone on the property was pumped up about a side by side battle of 1957 Chevys, but back in the pits the "Wicked Quick" team found event ending mechanical damage and were unable to make the call. Malott and the "Must Be Nice" team laid down a strong 3.98 at 185 mph solo lap to claim victory at Mo-Kan, their second win on the season.
Shane Blanton's "Texas Joker" entry qualified number one in the Wulff Pumps 'C' Field with a 4.29, but he like many others fell victim to mechanical issues and was sidelined in the semis. Meanwhile, Jordan Ballew and Daniel Cottrell were clicking off win lights and had advanced to the final round in what was one of the closest races of the entire event. Cottrell was off the line first and posted a 4.36 at 162 to Ballew's close 4.38 at 158 mph as Cottrell and company took an emotional and memorable win in the "Glass Chariot".
Zimmerer has the crown, but there's one more battle left in the 2026 season as the CHAOS Championship Finals double down event presented by Twisted Shifterz is set for Cordova Dragway on September 18-19th!
COMPLETE RESULTS ยท https://funnycarchaos.com/2026-mokan.html
