- Mike Stavrinos Blasts to Provisional No. 1 in Pro Mod with Stunning 5.688 at Gainesville
- HART, CAPPS, C. COUGHLIN & A. SMITH START 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT GAINESVILLE
- Cody Coughlin Edges out Hartford for the Pprovisional No. 1 spot During Round 2 of Pro Stock
- Capps Tops Funny Car Qualifying after Round 2 at the Gator Nationals
- Josh Hart Provisional #1 in Top Fuel Qualifying after Round 2 at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
- XTREME RACEWAY PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK IN DIVISION 4
- Monster Energy Joins Maddi Gordon, Ron Capps Motorsports for Multi-Year NHRA Partnership
HOOSIER RACING TIRE NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF NHRA SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT SERIES AS PROGRAM EXPANDS IN 2026
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA announced today that Hoosier Racing Tire has been named the presenting sponsor of the NHRA Summit Racing 
Equipment Series, the world’s largest motorsports program when it comes to racer participation, as part of an impressive expansion for the 2026 season.
The popular program, which has been expanded by 50 percent, will now include 12 E.T. Finals in 2026 across the United States and Canada, as well as an increase to 16 racers in each category and doubling the number of racers who will be competing at the world championship in Las Vegas.
It shows the notable growth in the NHRA Summit Racing Series presented by Hoosier over the past several seasons. In 2024, an Eastern Canada E.T. Finals took place for the first time, while last year, winners in the Eastern Canada Division advanced to compete for a world championship in Las Vegas. Now, four additional E.T. Finals have been added, including new events in Northern Mississippi (Holly Springs), Western Kansas (SRCA Dragstrip), Northern California (Redding Motorsports Park) and Western Canada (RAD Torque Raceway). Continue reading
Derek Menholt Charges to Provisional No. 1 Spot at World Series of Pro Mod
BRADENTON, FL – Montana native Derek Menholt’s success in the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service 
continued Thursday night when he raced to the provisional No. 1 spot in Pro Mod at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil. Behind the wheel of his Harts Charger-boosted ’19 Corvette, Menholt recorded a 3.568-second pass at 211.66 mph down the Bradenton Motorsports Park eighth mile to lead a list of 64 drivers attempting to break into the 32-car field.
Thursday’s on-track action also included two qualifying sessions in Pro 10.5, as well as a shakedown session for True 10.5 and Lil Gangstas. Jerry Morgano is the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Pro 10.5 with a 3.829 at 203.98.
Menholt, who was the runner-up at the most recent Winter Series race, the U.S. Street Nationals, tested extensively at Bradenton between races with his Scott Tidwell Racing teammates. Those efforts paid off when he came out strong in the first qualifying session at WSOPM, as Menholt posted a 3.579 at 207.46 to qualify No. 2. In the final pair of the second session, he improved to a 3.568 at 211.66 to take the No. 1 spot. Continue reading
CECIL COUNTY DRAGWAY SET TO HOST TESTO NHRA CHESAPEAKE SPORTSNATIONALS FOR FIRST TIME IN 2026
RISING SUN, MD – For the first time, Cecil County Dragway will host a prestigious SPORTSnationals race in 2026, as the Testo NHRA 
Chesapeake SPORTSnationals is set for May 23-24, bringing the standout event for drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series to the NHRA Division 1 track as part of a thrilling doubleheader event over Memorial Day weekend.
The historic weekend will open with a divisional race on May 21-22, leading into the Testo NHRA Chesapeake SPORTSnationals, and will host hundreds of sportsman racers from every NHRA division. Racing will take place across eight categories and big prize money and contingency payouts will be on the line at the prestigious SPORTSnationals event.
It will also mark the fourth SPORTSnationals event to take place in 2026, along with the JEGS SPORTSnationals (May 22-24 at Beech Bend Raceway), the Laris Cajun SPORTSnationals (March 27-29 at Belle Rose) and the Canadian SPORTSnationals (June 11-12 at Mission Raceway Park).
“We’re absolutely fired up to host the Testo NHRA Chesapeake SPORTSnationals at Cecil County Dragway for the first time,” Cecil County Dragway Owner Jim Halsey said. “This one’s for the racers and fans who’ve supported us for 25-plus years, and we’re looking forward to packing the place with racers and fans while showcasing the talent of our staff and a second-to-none racing surface. This place is BUILT to race.” Continue reading
DRAG RACE BRACKET BONANZA BUILDS ON PEAK PERFORMANCE IN 2026
DALLAS – Last year PEAK ramped up their already strong fan engagement presence by joining Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the free 
bracket game for drag racing fans, as title sponsor for the Route 66 Nationals and World Finals editions of the game as well as sponsor of the race recap email distributed to thousands of players throughout the DRBB season. In 2026 PEAK will continue DRBB sponsorship of the Chicago NHRA national event presented by PEAK and add DRBB sponsorship of the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals. In addition to the PEAK Performance email sponsorship PEAK will be providing 30 PEAK Top Fuel dragster die-casts as additional prizes for top finishers in the DRBB regular season.
“The support and engagement DRBB received last year from PEAK and the #PeakSquad was fantastic for our players,” said DRBB creator Elon Werner. “They had complete ownership of the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago on and off the track and the PEAK Performance post-race emails were our most impactful digital program for our thousands of players. Expanding the program to include Dallas as well as offering additional prizes for regular season player success will only make playing Drag Race Bracket Bonanza more fun for our players. PEAK will continue to be able to communicate with new and established fans through DRBB.”
PEAK has offered prize packs to the top five overall finishers from the Chicago race the past two seasons and that program will be expanding to include the Texas Fall Nationals. The #PEAKSquad league is one of the most active in the DRBB player universe. Through coordinated social media posts that include participation from John Force Racing driver Jack Beckman as well as other PEAK social media influencers the engagement with drag racing fans is next level. Continue reading
Maddi Gordon Earns Top Fuel License, Reflects on First Runs Ahead of Pro NHRA Debut
GAINESVILLE, FL – After making her first-ever runs in a 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster last week during the PRO preseason test 
session at Gainesville Raceway, rookie driver Maddi Gordon has officially completed her Top Fuel licensing process, clearing the way for her professional NHRA debut with Ron Capps Motorsports at the upcoming 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opener.
The third-generation racer and former Top Alcohol Funny Car standout completed the licensing process while gaining valuable on-track experience aboard a 330-mph, nitromethane-burning machine. With four days of testing behind her, Gordon shared her thoughts on the transition to the sport’s quickest class and what she’s learned so far as her Rookie of the Year campaign begins aboard the Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster next weekend at the NHRA Gatornationals. The team is led by crew chiefs Rob Flynn and Troy Fasching, with Chuck Grospitch serving as car chief.
Congratulations on earning your Top Fuel license. Who signed off on it?
Maddi Gordon: Thank you, No. 100 TF! Brittany Force, Clay Millican, Shawn Langdon, and of course Ron Capps. Shawn was up there every single run, giving me advice so that was really cool. On our final licensing pass, we ran a 3.834 at 318.09; that was my first time going over 300 miles per hour. Continue reading
Summit Racing Equipment Returns as Plaque Sponsor for Drag Race Bracket Bonanza
DALLAS, TX – Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the fan-favorite free bracket game played by NHRA fans, is excited to announce Summit 
Racing Equipment will return as the plaque sponsor for all 20 national events in the 2026 season. Awarded to the overall, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle top finishers and signed by the event winners the DRBB plaques have become one of the most prized pieces of drag race memorabilia each season. DRBB will also award Summit Racing Equipment gift certificates to winners for each national event, as well as The Majors Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, the U.S. Nationals and the Overall Season Series. Additionally, DRBB will conduct random drawings and social media giveaways for other players throughout the season to receive gift certificates. Altogether, DRBB and Summit Racing Equipment will reward over 100 players with gift certificates throughout the 2026 season.
“Summit Racing Equipment was one of the first sponsors to support Drag Race Bracket Bonanza and seeing this program continue and grow is awesome,” said Elon Werner, Drag Race Bracket Bonanza creator. “The enthusiasm the thousands of players as well as all the NHRA drivers have shown for DRBB is very cool. Summit Racing Equipment is more than race car parts and I am so happy fans will get the chance to shop with one of the coolest companies supporting racers on and off the track.”
During the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, the Drag Race Bracket Bonanza website and fan emails will include Summit Racing Equipment branding, logos and weblinks. The top three finishers in the overall standings for the race will receive gift certificates totaling $150, $50 and $50, respectively. And the top three finishers in each class will also receive gift certificates totaling $50, $25, and $25, respectively. Continue reading
Buddy Hull to Debut FS Mustang Funny Car at Gatornationals
DALLAS – Hull Racing led by team owner and driver Buddy Hull will start the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at the historic 
Gatornationals with new sponsor and marketing partner FS Performance and Sam Pack Ford on their 12,000-horspowered Funny Car. The design will mirror the 2025 high performance Mustang GT Premium that the dealership designed at the end of the year. The limited-edition Ford Mustang “Buddy Hull” specialty car is inspired by the same grit, attitude and adrenaline that drives his Nitro Funny Car program. Over the off-season Hull Racing led by crew chiefs Mike Guger and Matt Bynum have been preparing for the season opener.
“We are taking the opportunity to work with Sam Pack Ford and FS Performance to the next level,” said Hull. “It is one thing to have a car on display, but when you can put that car on the racetrack at the Gatornationals in front of the whole world of drag racing that will be so cool. I was able to be a part of the Mustang GT Premium design process and give them ideas on the performance levels of the Mustang as well as styling suggestions to make it very personal to my brand. I have been doing the same thing with Mike (Guger), Matt (Bynum) and the team on the big show Funny Car.” Continue reading
RIGHT TRAILERS RETURNS AS TITLE SPONSOR OF TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT AT AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, FL – The NHRA announced today Right Trailers will continue as the title sponsor of the upcoming big-money NHRA Top 
Fuel All-Star Callout.
The Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place Saturday, March 7, as part of the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway, kicking off NHRA’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration.
Eight top drivers in the Top Fuel category will face off in a unique one-day specialty event, with reigning world champ and defending Callout winner Doug Kalitta as the No. 1 seed.
A longtime supporter of NHRA drag racing, Right Trailers continues to be involved in the sport at several levels. They sponsor both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals in the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League and Right Trailers is also the title sponsor of the NHRA’s Top Dragster and Top Sportsman categories. This season, they will return as the Callout sponsor in the 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph Top Fuel specialty race that offers a big purse, bragging rights and a special trophy during one of the most historic races on the NHRA schedule. Continue reading
IHRA Surpasses 110 Sanctioned Tracks, Becoming Global Leader in Drag Racing Facility Sanctioning
Fairfield, OH — We have officially reached 111 sanctioned drag racing facilities worldwide, marking the largest sanctioned track base in IHRA 
history and establishing IHRA as the global leader in drag racing facility sanctioning.
This milestone represents a 70 percent increase over last season and the most significant year-over-year growth our organization has ever recorded. Since December alone, 58 new tracks have chosen to join the IHRA family. This total does not include facilities recently acquired by IHRA.
The last time IHRA sanctioned 100 tracks was in 2012. Today, our sanctioned facilities span six countries, reflecting renewed global confidence in our leadership and long-term vision.
“This milestone is not just about numbers. It is about belief,” said Darryl Cuttell, IHRA Owner. “This growth represents track owners around the world who believe in what we are building and where we are taking the sport. The foundation of drag racing has always been the weekly racer and the independent facility. Their vote of confidence speaks volumes.” Continue reading
World Series of Pro Mod Set to Crown Seventh Winner, Winter Series Champions in High-Stakes Bradenton Finale
BRADENTON, FL – On Saturday night, the seventh winner of the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil will be 
crowned as the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service wraps up at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The Pro Mod winner will walk away with $150,000 and a spot on the cover of the Drag Illustrated WSOPM Issue. The WSOPM weekend will also feature side-by-side action in True 10.5, Pro 10.5, Lil Gangstas, and a handful of supporting categories.
As the DI Winter Series finale, WSOPM is also where series champions will be crowned in Pro Mod, Pro 10.5, and the Strange Engineering Lil Gangstas Championship Series presented by Melling Performance following the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks in December and the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission in January.
“All roads lead to Bradenton Motorsports Park,” said Victor Alvarez, BMP track owner. “The baddest boys and girls in the world are getting ready for war this week. The last two Winter Series races have raised the bar for the quickest 32-car Pro Mod fields in history, and I’m confident that mark will be reset again this weekend. We’ve had teams testing here ever since the U.S. Street Nationals to prepare for WSOPM. We’ve heard from fans who are coming in from outside the U.S. to be a part of this event. It’s going to be another can’t-miss show at BMP.” Continue reading
