Take a look at this, Street Outlaws Season Finale Delivers SHOCKING Upsets!

Ryan Martin, Murder Nova, Scott Taylor, Paige Coughlin, and some of the fastest doorslammer racers in America gathered at Texas Motorplex for a dramatic NHRA Outlaw Street showdown. But when eliminations ended, Carson Baker was the driver celebrating a spectacular victory.

The 2026 NHRA Texas FallNationals brought an exciting conclusion to the Right Trailers Outlaw Street racing schedule, with familiar Street Outlaws competitors battling against a talented field of high-horsepower doorslammer racers.

Held October 14–18 at Texas Motorplex, the event featured an eight-car qualified field, impressive 200-mph eighth-mile performances, surprising first-round eliminations, and a dramatic final decided by reaction time.

Fans following Ryan Martin, Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington, Scott Taylor, and Paige Coughlin had plenty to talk about as some of the biggest names failed to survive the opening round.

And when the final pair crossed the finish line, Carson Baker had captured the NHRA Outlaw Street victory despite running a slightly slower elapsed time than his opponent.

Scott Taylor Dominates Qualifying as Street Outlaws Stars Enter the Battle

Qualifying immediately demonstrated how competitive the field had become.

Scott Taylor, driving his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, secured the No. 1 qualifying position with a blistering 3.667-second pass at 206.79 mph.

However, Clay Cole was right behind him, recording a 3.669-second run at an impressive 214.03 mph.

Kyle Canion claimed third, followed by Chris Rankin and Carson Baker.

The final qualifying order included several familiar names from the Street Outlaws racing community.

Chevy Reeves and Bobby Ducote also attempted to qualify but finished outside the eight-car field.

With only thousandths of a second separating several competitors, eliminations promised to be extremely close.

Ryan Martin Eliminated in a Double Red-Light Race Against Kyle Canion

One of the biggest surprises came during the opening round when Ryan Martin lined up against Kyle Canion.

Martin, a longtime Street Outlaws star and winner of the inaugural NHRA Right Trailers Outlaw Street event at Charlotte earlier in 2026, entered the race with plenty of experience and a proven combination.

However, the matchup ended in an unusual fashion.

Both drivers left the starting line before the green light.

Canion recorded a reaction time of -0.003 seconds, while Martin left even earlier with a -0.008.

Under NHRA rules, when both drivers red-light, the competitor with the smaller foul receives the victory.

That meant Canion advanced despite both cars leaving too early.

Martin recorded a 3.739-second pass at 212.60 mph, while Canion ran 3.666 seconds at 205.81 mph.

It was a disappointing end to the weekend for one of the category’s most recognizable drivers.

Murder Nova Falls to Clay Cole in Opening-Round Showdown

Another major matchup featured Shawn Ellington, better known as Murder Nova, taking on Clay Cole.

Ellington had qualified seventh with a 3.741-second pass in his 1969 Chevrolet Nova.

Cole, meanwhile, entered eliminations as the second-fastest qualifier.

When the lights turned green, both drivers delivered identical 0.015-second reaction times.

That meant the race would be decided entirely by performance down the track.

Cole delivered an outstanding 3.660-second pass at 214.49 mph, while Ellington recorded 3.715 seconds at 204.31 mph.

With identical starting-line reactions, Cole’s quicker pass secured the victory and ended Murder Nova’s FallNationals campaign in the first round.

Paige Coughlin Stuns No. 1 Qualifier Scott Taylor

Perhaps the biggest first-round upset involved Paige Coughlin and Scott Taylor.

Taylor had been the fastest qualifier, making him one of the leading contenders for the event victory.

But Coughlin, who entered eliminations from the eighth qualifying position, delivered an excellent performance.

Taylor actually reacted quicker, posting a 0.020-second reaction time compared with Coughlin’s 0.029.

However, Coughlin’s Camaro had enough performance to overcome that advantage.

She recorded a 3.696-second pass at 202.63 mph, narrowly defeating Taylor’s 3.705 at 202.16 mph.

The margin was extremely close, and Coughlin’s victory eliminated the No. 1 qualifier immediately.

The upset was another example of how unpredictable NHRA Outlaw Street competition can become when the difference between winning and losing is measured in thousandths of a second.

Carson Baker and Clay Cole Advance Through Dramatic Semifinals

With Scott Taylor, Ryan Martin, and Murder Nova already eliminated, the remaining competitors faced another round of intense racing.

Paige Coughlin lined up against Carson Baker, hoping to continue her impressive run after defeating the No. 1 qualifier.

Coughlin actually produced the quicker elapsed time, recording a 3.664-second pass compared with Baker’s 3.680.

However, Baker delivered a significantly better reaction time.

Baker’s 0.018-second reaction gave him enough of a starting-line advantage to hold off Coughlin, who reacted in 0.037 seconds.

The result was a narrow holeshot victory for Baker.

On the other side of the ladder, Clay Cole faced Kyle Canion.

Canion recorded a quicker 3.660-second elapsed time, but Cole’s superior reaction time allowed him to take another holeshot victory.

Cole advanced with a 3.665-second pass at 214.19 mph, setting up a final-round showdown against Carson Baker.

Carson Baker Wins the NHRA Outlaw Street Final With an Incredible Reaction Time

The championship race at Texas Motorplex delivered an outstanding example of how important reaction time can be in heads-up drag racing.

Clay Cole entered the final as one of the fastest competitors of the weekend.

But Carson Baker had other plans.

When the Christmas Tree turned green, Baker delivered an almost perfect 0.003-second reaction time.

Cole responded with a respectable 0.026-second light, but the difference at the starting line would prove decisive.

Baker crossed the finish line first and secured his first NHRA Wally trophy, completing a remarkable performance at the Texas FallNationals.

A Dramatic Finish for the Street Outlaws Stars at NHRA

The Texas FallNationals showed just how competitive the NHRA Right Trailers Outlaw Street category has become.

Scott Taylor arrived as the top qualifier but fell in the opening round. Ryan Martin was eliminated in a double red-light race, while Murder Nova lost a competitive matchup against Clay Cole.

Paige Coughlin delivered one of the biggest upsets of the event, only to lose a close semifinal race on a holeshot.

And Carson Baker, who qualified fifth, defeated Chris Rankin, Paige Coughlin, and Clay Cole to claim the event victory.

The weekend demonstrated that raw horsepower and low elapsed times aren’t always enough to win.

Reaction times, consistency, and the ability to perform under pressure can make the difference between an early elimination and a trip to the winner’s circle.

NHRA Outlaw Street Continues to Showcase Elite Doorslammer Racing

The introduction of Right Trailers Outlaw Street to NHRA competition has created another major stage for racers familiar to Street Outlaws fans.

Ryan Martin made history earlier in 2026 by winning the inaugural category event at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte.

Scott Taylor also enjoyed considerable success during the season, becoming the category’s first repeat winner with victories at Brainerd and Indianapolis.

At Texas Motorplex, however, Carson Baker demonstrated that the established names could be beaten.

His victory provided a fitting conclusion to a competitive weekend filled with close finishes and unexpected results.

For fans of Street Outlaws, NHRA drag racing, and high-horsepower doorslammer competition, the Texas FallNationals offered a reminder that every thousandth of a second matters.