Carson Baker Wins First NHRA Wally at the Texas Fall Nationals

Carson Baker earned his first NHRA Wally on October 18, 2026, winning Right Trailers Outlaw Street at the Texas NHRA FallNationals. Baker defeated Clay Cole in the final, using a .003 reaction time to secure a holeshot victory despite Cole’s quicker elapsed time.

Driving his 2023 Camaro, Baker ran 3.666 seconds at 205.35 mph against Cole’s 3.662 at 213.37 mph. Cole’s .026 reaction time gave Baker a .023-second starting-line advantage, enough to hold off Cole’s quicker pass and reach the finish first.

Earlier in the weekend, Baker had a qualifying pass thrown out for being “too fast.” His 3.659-second run was just .001 second quicker than the category’s 3.660 limit. The restriction was already in place entering the season and related to licensing and chassis certification requirements. With that pass excluded, Baker qualified fifth with his 3.712 at 202.24 mph.

Baker opened eliminations against Chris Rankin, recording a .010 reaction time and a 3.673 at 205.44 mph to advance. In the semifinal, he followed with a .018 reaction time and a 3.680 at 204.91 mph, earning his spot in the final against Cole.

Baker saved his quickest elimination pass and best reaction time for the final. His three winning runs fell within .014 second of one another, pairing consistent performance from the Camaro with the starting-line execution needed to take home the Wally.

Tuned by Jamie Miller and racing as part of Ryan Martin’s Fireball Racing camp, Baker’s Texas victory brought together Miller’s tuning, the crew’s preparation, and his own performance behind the wheel.

The win marks an important step for Baker’s growing Outlaw Street program. After having his quickest qualifying pass excluded, Baker and the team regrouped to earn three round wins and leave Texas with his first NHRA trophy.

Congratulations to Carson Baker, Jamie Miller, and the entire Fireball Racing team on the Right Trailers Outlaw Street victory at the Texas NHRA FallNationals!