- Ron Capps to Start Race Day from the Pole Position at NHRA Season Opener
- BROWN WINS RIGHT TRAILERS TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD AT GAINESVILLE
- SELLOUT CROWD TO OPEN NHRA'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON IN GAINESVILLE
- JONATHAN ALLEGRUCCI RUNS TO GATORNATIONALS NO. 1 QUALIFIER
- NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES POWERED BY FUELTECH TO OPEN 2026 SEASON IN GAINESVILLE
- Ron Capps Leads Funny Car Field with Provisional Pole at Season-Opening NHRA Gatornationals
- HART GRABS GATORS PROVISIONAL NO. 1 QUALIFIER
Todd Lesenko Joins Jim Dunn Racing
Canadian Returns to Funny Car in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
Long Beach, CA – Jim Dunn Racing has announced that Todd Lesenko will pilot the team’s Funny Car for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods 
Drag Racing Series season.
A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Lesenko competed in the NHRA Funny Car class in 2012 for Jim Dunn Racing, so 2026 marks a homecoming for Lesenko and the iconic racing team.
Lesenko ran a full season of 23 races in 2012 and he was the only rookie to qualify at every national event. He made his professional debut in 2011, running the final three events of the season. From 2009 to 2011, Lesenko owned and drove the Jolly Rogers Nitro Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster. In 2010, he placed fifth in points in the 2010 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series in Nitro Funny Car.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to spend a year of racing with my friends and race family,” said Lesenko. “I look forward to great results and to have a full year of vigorous competition. I’m honored to get to represent so many great partners on the track. We’re ready to get to Gainesville for the first event of the season.” Continue reading
Nationwide and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Up to Tackle Teen Distracted Driving
NASCAR Hall of Famer highlights Nationwide’s Focused Driving Rewards as an easy way to curb phone use, prevent accidents and earn rewards
Columbus, OH – January is Teen Driving Awareness month and Nationwide is partnering with one of motorsports’ most recognizable names, 
Dale Earnhardt Jr., on a new multimedia campaign designed to deliver a simple message to teen drivers: put the phone down when you’re driving.
For parents, the day their teen starts driving is equally exciting and nerve-wracking. The latest survey from Nationwide confirms those fears: only 4 in 10 parents rate their teen’s driving as “very good” or “excellent,” and distracted driving ranks among their top concerns (42%).
“As a parent, I know how important it is to set the right example behind the wheel,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “This partnership with Nationwide is about giving families practical tools to build safer habits and rewarding them for doing the right thing.”
Filmed on a driving course near Charlotte, NC, that was designed by the free national pro-active teen driver safety program B.R.A.K.E.S., the multimedia campaign features a parent-and-teen duo learning safe driving techniques with professional instructors and encouragement from Dale Jr. The family also got firsthand experience with Nationwide’s Focused Driving Rewards® program, which helps drivers earn points for distraction-free driving and redeem them for gift cards.
IHRA ANNOUNCES THE LEASING AND OPERATIONS OF THE PULASKI COUNTY MOTORSPORTS PARK, FORMERLY THE MOTOR MILE SPEEDWAY
Historic Virginia facility to serve as official launch site for IHRA’s new Stock Car Series and a renewed calendar of community-centered events
FAIRFIELD, OH – The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) today announced it has entered into a lease agreement for the Pulaski 
County Motorsports Park, the landmark venue long known to racers and fans as the Motor Mile Speedway, marking a major step in IHRA’s mission to revive grassroots motorsports and reinvest in legendary community tracks.
“This track is part of the racing fabric of Virginia — and the kind of place where generations of families have made memories,” said Darryl Cuttell, Owner of IHRA. “Leasing Pulaski County Motorsports Park allows us to put racing back where it belongs: in the community, accessible to local teams, and exciting for fans.”
First opened in 1952 as a dirt oval, the facility evolved into one of the region’s most recognizable racing destinations. The oval was later paved and developed into a 0.416-mile asphalt track, and the complex expanded over time to include a drag racing venue, helping establish Pulaski County as a true motorsport’s hub.
Under IHRA’s lease, Pulaski County Motorsports Park will once again become a year-round heartbeat for competitive racing, special events, and community engagement — with immediate focus on restoring a consistent schedule that brings fans back through the gates and supports the local economy. Continue reading
AMALIE MOTOR OIL RETURNS AS TITLE SPONSOR FOR NHRA GATORNATIONALS TO OPEN 75TH NHRA SEASON
GAINESVILLE, FL – NHRA announced today that Amalie Motor Oil will continue as the title sponsor of this year’s 57th annual NHRA 
Gatornationals to open NHRA’s historic 75th anniversary season.
The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will take place March 5-8 at legendary Gainesville Raceway, opening the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season for the fourth consecutive year. It remains one of the biggest events in motorsports, as all the top stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will look to win the famed race during NHRA’s landmark 75th season.
Amalie Motor Oil has been a longtime title sponsor of the iconic event, continuing a standout partnership with NHRA during the highly-anticipated 2026 event and kickoff to the NHRA’s 75th campaign. Continue reading
U.S. Street Nationals Set to Ignite Bradenton as Winter Series, Radial Outlaws Seasons Collide
BRADENTON, FL – The 2026 eighth-mile doorslammer season is set to begin this weekend as Bradenton Motorsports Park hosts the U.S. 
Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, Jan. 22-25. It’s the second of three races in the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, a Pro Mod championship series paying out more than $300,000 in total purses and bonuses. The U.S. Street Nationals is also the season opener for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series, adding drag radial racing’s best to a show that also includes True 10.5, Lil Gangstas, and more.
“Excitement for the U.S. Street Nationals is at an all-time high,” said Victor Alvarez, track owner and promoter, Bradenton Motorsports Park. “For weeks now, we’ve had teams from all over the country coming here to test and get ready for this weekend’s race. We had an incredible, record-setting Pro Mod field to kick off the Winter Series at the Snowbirds. The field should be even quicker this weekend based on the times we’ve been seeing in testing. We have huge payouts across the board in all of our classes, plus it’s the kick-off for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws season. BMP is the place to be this weekend.” Continue reading
Richard Freeman Weighs In On Elite Motorsports Million Ahead of U.S. Street Nationals
BRADENTON, FL – The chase for the Elite Motorsports Million is officially on. With a commanding victory at the Snowbird Outlaw 
Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, the opening race of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, Jason Harris became the lone driver still eligible for the million-dollar bonus offered by Elite Motorsports to any racer capable of sweeping all three Winter Series events.
The Elite Motorsports Million, announced prior to the 2025-26 DI Winter Series held at Bradenton Motorsports Park, awards a $1,000,000 prize to any driver who can accomplish the nearly unthinkable feat of winning all three races against one of the deepest and most competitive fields in professional drag racing.
Following Harris’ dominant performance at the series-opening Snowbirds, Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman acknowledged both the magnitude of the achievement so far – and the mountain still ahead. Continue reading
Jon Schaffer Named Crew Chief for Paul Lee’s Nitro Funny Car Team in NHRA Mission Foods Series
Brownsburg, IN — Paul Lee Racing is proud to announce that veteran tuner Jon Schaffer has been named Crew Chief for the team’s Nitro 
Funny Car entry in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Schaffer will lead the team alongside longtime consultant John Medlen and Assistant Crew Chief Seth Randall, forming a highly experienced and collaborative performance group for the upcoming season.
Schaffer brings years of top-level nitro Funny Car experience to the team and will play a key role in continuing the momentum built during a standout 2025 campaign. Lee finished the season sixth in the NHRA Funny Car points standings, marking a career-best result, and captured his first career Funny Car victory at the Phoenix NHRA event.
“We’re building on something special from last year,” says team owner and driver Paul Lee. “The momentum we created in 2025 gives us a strong foundation, and bringing Jon Schaffer on board is a fresh start that raises the bar for our entire program. Jon’s talent, experience, and approach fit perfectly with what John Medlen, Seth Randall, and our team are building. I’m excited about where this can take us.” Continue reading
MIDDLE GEORGIA SPORTS PARK SET TO JOIN NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK
JEFFERSONVILLE, GA – NHRA officials are excited to announce that Middle Georgia Sports Park has joined the NHRA Member Track 
Network in NHRA’s Southeast Division (Division 2).
Located in Jeffersonville, Ga., Middle Georgia Sports Park is a standout 1/8-mile dragstrip with a strong contingent of local racers.
Boasting a full schedule, Middle Georgia Sports Park has been a popular destination for both fans and racers, with the 2026 race schedule slated to begin in early February and run through the end of November with a wide array of events.
“It’s an honor to become an NHRA-sanctioned race track and join the NHRA family,” Middle Georgia Sports Park Owner Trent Mallard said. “We thank Cody (Savage, NHRA Southeast Division Director) for the help in expanding our bracket program. We are excited for the future for our racers and fans.” Continue reading
JOHN FORCE RACING RENEWS APPAREL PARTNERSHIP WITH MARWIN SPORTS USA
Premier sports apparel company has supplied the 24-time NHRA championship organization since 2020
BROWNSBURG, IN – John Force Racing and Marwin Sports USA have renewed their partnership for the premium sports apparel provider 
to supply shirts, pants, and outerwear for the race team members of the 24-time NHRA championship organization and shop employees at Force American Made.
Marwin Sports is a premium performance apparel brand specializing in high-technical, motorsport-focused apparel. Marwin combines cutting-edge design, seamless technology, and eco-friendly materials to create durable, stylish products for motorsport teams, organizations, and corporate clients
The continuing partnership, which began in 2020, will outfit the race crews of 2012 NHRA Funny Car Champion Jack Beckman (PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS Funny Car), Jordan Vandergriff (Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car), Alexis DeJoria (Bandero Premium Tequlia Chevrolet SS Funny Car) and Josh Hart (Burnyzz Speed Shop Top Fuel Dragster). Continue reading
New Time and Updated Format for Competition Plus Power Hour
SPARTANBURG, SC – CompetitionPlus.com has been a leader in online motorsports journalism for over 25 years. Through web stories, 
commentaries, longform videos and podcasts the media organization founded by Bobby Bennett has been the go-to resource for drag racing fans around the world. For 2026 the wildly popular Power Hour show hosted by Lee Craft and Dujunnea Bland will move to a 5:30 p.m. ET time slot starting this Tuesday, January 13, offering live commentary and guest interviews weekly throughout the season.
“Power Hour is a staple for drag racing interviews and news and we wanted to move to an even better time slot,” said Bobby Bennett, CompetitionPlus.com Founder. “Lee and Dujunnea bring great perspectives and opinions for all forms of drag racing.”
Craft, who operates the Monday Morning Racer media outlet, has been directly in the sport of drag racing as media since 2019. Over that time he has been involved with social media for Top Fuel teams, pit reporting for racing series, race announcing, camera operating, streaming, and marketing efforts with a variety of brands and series. Continue reading
