- 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
Sam Pack Ford Releases Buddy Hull Edition Mustang
DALLAS – FS Performance and Sam Pack Ford teamed up with Funny Car driver Buddy Hull to create a limited-edition Ford Mustang 
“Buddy Hull” specialty car, inspired by the same grit, attitude, and adrenaline that drive his Nitro Funny Car program. Hull also has a full-size Funny Car on display at the North Dallas dealership.
“This was an amazing opportunity to partner with Sam Pack Ford to design a killer Mustang,” said Hull. “I was able to sit in and give them ideas on the performance levels of the Mustang as well as styling suggestions to make it very personal to my brand. This is a one-of-a-kind Mustang and I can’t wait to hand it over to a lucky customer.”
Buddy Hull Funny Car on display at Sam Pack Ford, photo credit Hull Racing
FS Performance brought Hull’s vision to life with a fully dialed-in build featuring a Roush Stage 2 kit, pushing the car to roughly 800 horsepower. Every part of this car has been touched with intention, from motorsport-styling cues to performance upgrades worthy of the Buddy Hull name. Continue reading
New Mini Million at Indy!
Indianapolis, IN – Folk Promotions is excited to announce the addition of a third event. The Moser Engineering Mini Million is coming to 
Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, August 13-16, 2026.
We’ve been exploring the idea of expanding our schedule, and Indianapolis offers the perfect opportunity. The facility is centrally located, easily accessible from a major international airport, offers plenty of premier parking, and now features a brand-new state of the art tower unveiled in 2025, making it one of the premier venues in the country.
Track Manager Rollie Miller shared that the facility is absolutely thrilled to bring big-money bracket racing back to Indy. Miller added, “We are excited to host the Mini Million and work closely with Folk Promotions to deliver an exceptional racing experience to Indianapolis Raceway Park.” Continue reading
75TH ANNIVERSARY DIAMOND WALLY ONE OF SEVERAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR NHRA’S MILESTONE SEASON IN 2026
Every racer competing at an NHRA event, from national to divisional and Summit E.T. Series will race for a Diamond Wally only available in 2026
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA’s 75th anniversary season is set for 2026 and with the incredible landmark season comes a wave of special, can’t-
miss items and happenings throughout the course of the season.
The sport’s most coveted prize, the Wally trophy, will get an eye-catching makeover just for the anniversary season, making it a desired goal for any NHRA competitor. For the entire year, every racer competing at an NHRA event, from the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series to the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, divisional races, Summit E.T. Series and more, will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race for a diamond Wally.
The special NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally will only be available in 2026 and with the spectacular-looking trophy on the line, it’s a surefire bet for plenty of incredible moments during the landmark year.
It’s hardly the only special item during the 2026 campaign, as NHRA has rolled out several plans for next year, honoring its legends – and a litany of historic, record-breaking moments – throughout the season. Continue reading
Jeff Melnick Celebrates Second PDRA Pro 632 World Championship in Three Years
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – When Jeff Melnick returned to the Red Line Oil PDRA Championship Awards Banquet Stage to accept his 2025 
Pro 632 presented by PTC Converters world championship trophy, he quoted the Meat Loaf song “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.” Teamed up with Alan O’Brien and the Greenbrier Excavating & Paving team, Melnick secured his second Pro 632 world title in the last three seasons on the strength of three wins in five final-round appearances across the seven-race season.
Melnick’s second championship season was much different than his first, but that had nothing to do with his on-track competition. Early in the 2023 season, Melnick was diagnosed with a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He underwent aggressive chemotherapy between races, and while the side effects presented challenges in racing’s extreme conditions, Melnick powered through and won the title. During his championship speech, he broke the news that he was cancer-free and in remission. Without those challenges this season, Melnick could focus completely on the task at hand.
“Just getting to the racetrack was a major hurdle to overcome. It took every ounce, everything I had, to do that,” Melnick said, “and now it’s like, ‘Oh, this is kind of boring.’ I don’t have cancer and nothing’s really going on like that and it’s just a normal year. When you’re used to that kind of chaos, then you go to a normal year, it’s like, ‘Well, this is no big deal.’” Continue reading
NHRA ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH HOLLEY FOR 2026 SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA officials announced an exciting new marketing partnership with Holley, implementing a variety of new programs 
for the upcoming 2026 season.
As part of the partnership, Holley will be involved in several aspects of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, including the Sportsman Racer Appreciation presented by Holley, which will take place at Gainesville Raceway.
The Best Losing Package presented by Holley will be awarded at each national event in the opening round in Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Super Stock and Stock to the car that makes the best mathematical run relative to its index/dial-in and reaction time in a losing effort.
The Holley EFI Never Rest Award will continue to take place in 2026 as well, honoring racers who overcome adversity to compete and perform at NHRA national events across the country. Continue reading
IHRA Statement on Maple Grove Raceway, Sanctioning Responsibility, and Supporting Racers, Fans, and Communities Nationwide
Fairfield, OH — The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) today issued the following statement regarding the future of national-level 
motorsports events at Maple Grove Raceway and the responsibility of sanctioning bodies to support racers, fans, and host communities across all regions of the country.
Following IHRA’s recent acquisition of Maple Grove Raceway, IHRA leadership engaged the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) with the intent of maintaining continuity for racers, teams, fans, and the facility. While the existing NHRA contract did not permit assumption upon closing, NHRA received a standard notice related to due diligence during the acquisition process. That notice was followed by direct communication from IHRA leadership expressing a clear desire to continue hosting the event and to work collaboratively toward a path forward. Ultimately, a collaborative solution was not pursued.
“At its core, a sanctioning body exists to serve racers, fans, and the tracks that give them a place to compete,” said Darryl Cuttell, Owner of the IHRA. “That responsibility extends to supporting Sportsman racers in every region of the country, not just select markets. Events at facilities like Maple Grove Raceway consistently deliver sold-out attendance and meaningful economic impact for the surrounding community. While collaboration was not achieved in this instance, IHRA remains committed to acting in the best interests of racers, fans, and host communities nationwide.” Continue reading
NHRA TO KICK OFF 2026 COUNTDOWN TO CHAMPIONSHIP WITH DEBUT AT U.S. 131 MOTORSPORTS PARK
Inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park to open Mission Foods Drag Racing Series playoffs during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season
MARTIN, MI – NHRA officials announced today that U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will have a Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in 2026, 
with the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals set to open the 2026 Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
The event will take place Sept. 18-20 at the standout facility in Martin, Mich., serving as the 15th of 20 races during NHRA’s special 75th anniversary season and the first of six playoff races. Tickets go on sale for the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals on Feb. 1.
It marks the first NHRA national event at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, giving NHRA four new national event facilities during the 2026 campaign and further displaying NHRA’s growth during the special milestone season that includes a premier list of national event tracks in 19 markets across the country.
“Hosting an NHRA national event underscores our continued commitment to excellence, safety, and delivering unforgettable motorsports entertainment,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Vice President of Operations Jason Peterson said. “We are honored to welcome the NHRA, its competitors, sponsors and fans, and we look forward to showcasing our facility, our staff and our passionate racing community that makes this region so special.” Continue reading
GREENFIELD DRAGWAY JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK IN NORTHEAST DIVISION
GREENFIELD, NS – NHRA officials have announced the addition of Greenfield Dragway in Greenfield, Nova Scotia to the NHRA Member 
Track Network as part of the NHRA’s Northeast Division (Division 1).
Greenfield Dragway sees race vehicles of all styles on the scenic track. From hotrods to motorcycles and snowmobiles, Canadian grassroots racers have always been eager to visit Greenfield Dragway.
“We at Greenfield Dragway are grateful and excited for the opportunity to join the family of NHRA member tracks,” said the Greenfield Dragway Board of Directors. “We are looking forward to extending the immediate benefits of membership to our racers and anxiously look ahead to the possibilities that may come down the road for our great little track here in mainland Nova Scotia. Here’s to a long and prosperous partnership.” Continue reading
FACTORY MOTOR PARTS NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF FMP NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY NGK SPARK PLUGS
PHOENIX – NHRA announced today that Factory Motor Parts (FMP), a leading global distributor of premium automotive parts, solutions 
and services, has been named the title sponsor of the upcoming NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park as part of an exciting multi-year partnership.
Celebrating its 41st year in 2026, the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs will take place March 20-22 as the second of 20 races during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. The annual “Duel in the Desert” remains one of the most popular stops on the NHRA tour, repeatedly drawing sellout crowds as part of the thrilling annual race weekend.
The 2025 race saw sellout crowds on both Saturday and Sunday, as Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Paul Lee (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) raced to wins at the historic facility.
“FMP is proud to deepen our partnership with NHRA and bring our name to such an iconic event in Phoenix,” said Andy Gorski, Vice President of Marketing at FMP. “The Arizona Nationals embody the passion, performance and competitive spirit that drive our business, and we’re excited to help elevate the fan and racer experience during this milestone season.” Continue reading
KUHNLE MOTORSPORTS PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK IN NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION
THOMPSON, OH – NHRA officials are pleased to welcome Kuhnle Motorsports Park to the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the 
NHRA’s North Central Division (Division 3).
Originally opened in 1958, the historic quarter-mile facility has been a staple in Northeast Ohio motorsports for more than six decades. Known by many longtime racers as one of the region’s most tradition-rich dragstrips, Kuhnle Motorsports Park continues to evolve while staying true to its grassroots racing foundation.
The track was purchased in 2021 by brothers Tom and Kim Kuhnle. The Kuhnle family invested heavily in revitalizing the venue and expanding its offerings. Today, Kuhnle Motorsports Park hosts an eclectic mix of events ranging from nostalgia gasser races to the fan-favorite heavy-duty semi-truck racing, which has become one of the facility’s signature attractions.
“NHRA offers valuable benefits to racers as well as race programs that are exciting for both participants and spectators. This makes them a great fit for our commitment to our racing community and our vision for the future,” said Tom Kuhnle. Continue reading
