- Derek Menholt Claims Dramatic Victory in Pro Mod Season Opener at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
- Pruett Takes TSR Dodge Top Fuel Dragster to Quarterfinals in NHRA Return, Hagan Posts Impressive Runs with TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car
- Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan Deliver Strong Showings in TSR Dodge Return at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
- HART WINS, DEJORIA RUNNER-UP IN JFR DEBUT
- Chad Green Captures Back-to-Back Wins at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in CGM Bond-Coat Ford Mustang
- Todd Lesenko and Jim Dunn Racing Kick Off 2026 Season at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals with Solid Progress in Funny Car Return
- Final Round Drama: Josh Hart Claims First Top Fuel Title
KALITTA MOTORSPORTS, MAC TOOLS CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
YPSILANTI, MI – One of the longest-running partnerships in sports marketing history is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026 as Mac 
Tools continues its decades-long Kalitta Motorsports partnership. The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing season begins March 6-8 at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Doug Kalitta will once again pilot the red and white Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster, but the 2026 livery features a 25th anniversary logo along with additional, more subtle recognition of the silver anniversary. Team Kalitta’s Mac Tools primary partnership spans more than two decades in a relationship that feels and functions more like a friendship. Mac Tools is a significant part of the long-term success Kalitta Motorsports enjoys in NHRA Drag Racing.
“Our partnership with Kalitta Motorsports continues to strengthen the Mac Tools brand while also advancing the sport of drag racing and inspiring future generations of automotive professionals,” said Phil Cox, president of Mac Tools. “For over 25 years, Kalitta Motorsports has represented Mac Tools with distinction, and we are thrilled to continue this legacy, especially following Doug’s second NHRA Top Fuel championship win last year. We look forward to what lies ahead for the entire Kalitta Motorsports organization. Continue reading
March Meet Provides Fan Access with Time Machine Atmosphere
BAKERSFIELD, CA – The iconic baseball movie Field of Dreams famously said, “If you build it, they will come…” and Famoso Dragstrip is 
living by that mantra every season with the famed Good Vibrations March Meet. The 68th installment will take place March 5-8, 2026, with four days of racing, car shows, swap meets and drag racing legends on the property. Known as the proving ground for speed and legendary performances Famoso Dragstrip is recognized around the world. The opportunity for old fans to relive distant memories and for new fans to be exposed to the high horsepower history and visual artistry of drag racing is what event promoter Blake Bower believes in.
“When I go just about anywhere in the country or even round the world, when I say I am involved with the Good Vibrations March Meet and Famoso Dragstrip people always have a story or have heard something about this place,” said Bowser. “Our goal every year is to honor our history but also try and encourage new fans to come see something really cool that is more than racing and car culture. So many people are on their phones all the time but when they come here peoples’ heads are on a swivel because there is so much to see and do.”
The car show is a spectacular display of cars, trucks and race cars from Pre-72 to modern day. Participants can show off their prized vehicles for a $40 (one day) to $150 (four day) entry fee. Pre-72 models can roll into the car show for free for the full event or one day. The eye candy that will be on display will wow everyone from the first-time visitors to the car culture expert. Continue reading
NHRA AND FOX SPORTS ANNOUNCE TV SCHEDULE FOR NHRA’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS – Coming off a standout season that included the most-watched race in NHRA history, NHRA officials and FOX Sports 
released the television schedule for the upcoming 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, a year that also celebrates NHRA’s 75th anniversary.
All 20 races, along with the NHRA All-Star Callout events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the GETTRX NHRA All-Star Callout races in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, will be broadcast on either FOX or FS1, as well as the FOX One app, during the milestone 2026 campaign.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opens March 5-8 with the 57th annual Amalie NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway. The race includes the Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout, which will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 7 on FS1. Continue reading
ProCharger Joins World Series of Pro Mod as Associate Sponsor
BRADENTON, FL – ProCharger, manufacturers of high-performance centrifugal superchargers, will serve as an associate sponsor of the 
upcoming Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil, race officials announced today. With more than 70 drivers competing for the $150,000 winner-take-all prize, the World Series of Pro Mod is the ultimate proving ground for eighth-mile Pro Modified racers, including those relying on ProCharger superchargers for power. Set to take place Feb 26-28 at Bradenton Motorsports Park, it’s the final race of the three-race 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service.
“The folks at ProCharger are no strangers to the Winter Series and the World Series of Pro Mod, but having them jump on board as an associate sponsor is special,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and Winter Series promoter. “The Winter Series is many things for many people, but it’s evolved into a platform where the industry’s engine builders, chassis builders, power adders, and other manufacturers can battle it out and put their products to the test. Our drivers and teams are showing what these products can do in the most competitive eighth-mile Pro Mod fields of all time. We’re thrilled that ProCharger sees the value in that and wanted to be a bigger part of the World Series of Pro Mod.” Continue reading
KEY PARTNERS CONTINUE SUPPORT OF ELITE MOTORSPORTS IN 2026
WYNNEWOOD, OK – As Elite Motorsports continues to solidify its standing as the largest professional team in the Mission Foods NHRA 
Drag Racing Series, the organization has stayed dedicated to maintaining and building relationships with its longtime partners.
Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, the very best in custom cars, trucks and crate engines, Melling Performance Parts, a top manufacturer of the newest cutting edge performance parts, CTech Manufacturing, a leader in premium aluminum carts cabinets and drawers, Outlaw Light Beer, the fastest growing domestic light beer in the U.S., and Competition Trailers, a manufacturer of custom specialty trailers, have renewed their partnerships with the team, continuing their role as significant contributors through the 2026 season.
“There’s been a lot of expansion at Elite Motorsports, we’re growing, it’s a good thing. The best part is that our already amazing partners are choosing to grow with us,” said Richard Freeman, owner and President of Elite Motorsports. “We have some of the best partners who happen to have some of the best people in this sport. JHG, Melling, CTech, they’re all either family businesses, or know how to treat their employees and partners like family, just like Elite. Having them onboard isn’t great just because they are quality brands with exceptional products, but because they get it and they want to be part of what we’re doing.” Continue reading
75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION KICKOFF AT AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS FEATURES GARLITS’ SWAMP RAT ALLEY
GAINESVILLE, FL – To start the 75th anniversary celebration, NHRA will open the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season in 
grand style at famed Gainesville Raceway for the 57th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on March 5-8.
NHRA will pay homage to some of its legendary names during the milestone year, starting in Gainesville with appearances from icons like Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, Don Prudhomme, Shirley Muldowney, Darrell Gwynn and drag racing pioneer “Big Daddy” Don Garlits at the famed venue. Along with that, Garlits’ popular “Swamp Rat Alley” will return for the weekend, featuring a trio of historic Garlits cars (Swamp Rat 1-B, Swamp Rat 8 and Swamp Rat 28A).
Each played a big role in NHRA’s 75 years, including these memorable highlights:
- Swamp Rat 1-B:
- Swamp Rat 1-B set a new speed record of 182.54 mph in Houston on June 10, 1959. Garlits had a massive fire in the car just 10 days later, but it was repaired and continued to set speed marks.
- Top speed: 204.54 mph
- Low elapsed time: 8.23-seconds
- Swamp Rat 8:
- This legendary dragster debuted at Bakersfield in one of the largest Top Fuel fields in history (120 entries). After some initial struggle, the car impressed during the 1965 season, posting big numbers after Garlits made some tuning adjustments.
- Top Speed: 208.32 mph
- Low elapsed time: 7.55
- Swamp Rat 28 A:
- Built as a lightweight, high-gear-only Top Fuel car, Garlits never found much success with it. He saved all the parts and pieces from the original car and recreated it, with a running model now at the Motorsports Hall of Fame in Daytona Beach.
- Top Speed: 255.54 mph
- Low elapsed time: 5.92
WALLY PARKS 75TH ANNIVERSARY APPRECIATION FUND PART OF $27 MILLION OVERALL PURSE FOR NHRA RACERS DURING MILESTONE YEAR
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA announced the introduction of the Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund for 2026’s milestone season, a 
special initiative that will pay out $500,000 over the course of the celebratory year and recognize teams in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series who continue to carry forward Parks’ illustrious legacy.
In all, more than $27 million in purse and payouts will be awarded to teams during the 20-race schedule for 2026’s 75th anniversary season.
The multi-million dollar payout, which is also an increase from 2025, includes the event purse for drivers in the Mission Foods and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on the national event tour, as well as the year-end championship purse for the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, payouts for the All-Star Callout races in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in the four professional categories and other incentive programs.
It also includes payouts for the regular season championship, which was introduced last season in the four professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) and will continue in 2026. Continue reading
March Meet and Famoso Dragstrip Etched in American Hot Rod History
BAKERSFIELD, CA – When Famoso Dragstrip opened in 1954 the converted POSO airstrip was a place for hot rodders to flex their tuning 
skills and for racers to establish bragging rights. No one knew five years later that the track nicknamed “The Patch” would start one of the of most storied races in drag racing and motorsports history. In 1959 the first Smokers March Meet was contested and over the next nearly 70 years every significant racer or crew chief in drag racing history etched their name into the history books at Famoso Dragstrip. The track has held true to ¼ mile drag racing and burning nitro. When the use of nitro was banned in 1957 due to safety concerns regarding extreme engine explosions and high speeds, Famoso Dragstrip continued to push the envelope of speed and performance ignoring the ban which ended in 1964.
In 1962 at 20 years old Don “The Snake” Prudhomme won the March Meet launching his career as one of the most significant drag racers of all-time. The multi-time Funny Car world champion built a Hall of Fame career over the next four decades but the early days at Famoso Dragstrip were pivotal to the success of his career.
“The first time I was there, it was in 1959 and then in 1962 I was driving a fuel car for Zeuschel and Fuller and won the race,” said Prudhomme. “That was a big deal and people got to know me. You have to remember NHRA was not running nitro back then, so everybody wanted to run Nitro and you had to go to Bakersfield.” Continue reading
NHRA SUMMIT RACING JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE RELEASES 2026 SCHEDULE
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA announced the season schedule for the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, featuring a host of special 
events in 2026 as Summit Racing Equipment returns as the title sponsor of the popular racing league for youth ages 5-17.
Now in its 34th year entering the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League provides an impressive platform for young racers to perform at a high level and will feature eight-car shootouts that take place at eight different NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series national events, as well as the popular Right Trailers NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals at the Texas Motorplex on June 12-13 and the Right Trailers NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals on July 16-18 at Bristol Dragway. The Jr. Drag Racing League will also compete in the divisional finals across the seven NHRA divisions.
The eight-car shootouts debuted four years ago and the eight races will take place at NHRA national events across all seven divisions, including both stops at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. As part of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, winners of the shootout will receive a diamond 75th anniversary Wally.
“NHRA is excited to incorporate the Summit Racing Equipment Jr. Drag Racing league into its 75th anniversary in 2026,” NHRA Sportsman Manager Jason Galvin said. “For as much as this season will be about celebrating where we’ve come from, it is equally important to set the tone for the next 75 years and beyond. The stars of the Jr. Drag Racing league will continue to push the sport to higher levels well into the future. Continue reading
Red Line Oil Named Presenting Sponsor of World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Red Line Oil, producers of high-performance motor oil and lubricants, has been named the presenting sponsor of the 
Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, race officials announced today. Set for Feb. 26-28 at Bradenton Motorsports Park, the $150,000-to-win Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil serves as the grand finale for the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service following the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals and the U.S. Street Nationals.
“Red Line Oil has proven time and time again that they’re deeply invested in Pro Modified racing, and we’re excited to elevate that partnership with Red Line stepping in as the presenting sponsor of the World Series of Pro Mod,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and series promoter. “We’re intentional about aligning with partners who share our vision for where this series and the sport are headed, and Red Line absolutely fits that mold. Their commitment goes far beyond branding. They support racers at every level, and their products are trusted by the top engine builders and teams in drag racing worldwide.” Continue reading
