- 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
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES SET TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS DURING THRILLING 2026 SEASON
Qualifying action and first round of eliminations to be broadcast free on NHRA YouTube page during milestone year
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary during the 2026 season, and this year also represents a major milestone for 
the NHRA Pro Mod Series.
The exciting series is set to enjoy its 25th anniversary celebration in 2026, racing 11 times across the country with the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
As part of the milestone campaign for NHRA Pro Mod, NHRA announced that it will stream qualifying coverage live and for free on the NHRA YouTube page on Friday and Saturday, as well as the first round of eliminations at all 11 events.
The free streaming coverage on YouTube will include one round of qualifying each day, as well as the opening round of eliminations, which will take place either Saturday evening or Sunday. Full event coverage can be purchased and viewed at www.NHRA.tv.
The fan-favorite category will kick off its 11-race season with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville on March 5-8, before heading to the NHRA Arizona Nationals and returning to Firebird Motorsports Park for the third straight year on March 20-22. Continue reading
DRAG RACE BRACKET BONANZA LAUNCHES ‘MAJOR MOMENTS’ TO LET FANS DECIDE GREATEST MOMENTS IN NHRA HISTORY
Season-long fan voting experience begins today with Top Fuel bracket
DALLAS – Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the free fantasy game built for NHRA fans, is launching an exciting new season-long feature 
for 2026: the Major Moments brackets, a fan-driven celebration of the most iconic events from 75 years of NHRA drag racing. Beginning today, DRBB will roll out seeded brackets featuring the Top 64 major moments in each professional class: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Throughout the 2026 season, fans will vote to determine which moments advance, ultimately narrowing each class down to its ultimate moments. The season will culminate in a final Overall Bracket, where players will crown the single greatest moment in NHRA history, comprised of the top 16 finishers from the four classes fan selected brackets.
The first bracket, Top Fuel, is now open and will remain live through March 6, leading into the historic Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
After each bracket closes, DRBB will publicly release the fan-voted results, giving the NHRA community a chance to see how opinions stack up and fueling debate across the sport. Continue reading
PDI JOINS ELITE MOTORSPORTS
WYNNEWOOD, OK – Elite Motorsports is pleased to announce Performance Diesel Inc. (PDI), a prominent manufacturer of engine parts for 
heavy-duty diesel engines, as a new partner heading into the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season.
“I’ve known Jerad [Wittwer], PDI’s owner, for a while, it was only a matter of time before we got them out here. PDI fits naturally into the heart of this sport,” said Richard Freeman. “With access to our new hospitality, they’ll be right in the middle of the people who run diesel rigs every day, the buyers, the operators, the teams who rely on this equipment to keep their programs moving. That’s the environment where real decisions get made, and it’s exactly where PDI belongs.
“We built PDI on hard work, integrity, and engineering that stands up to real-world demands,” said Jerad Wittwer, owner of PDI. “Elite Motorsports represents that same mindset — preparation, precision, and performance under pressure. We’re proud to stand behind a team that values excellence the way we do.” Continue reading
NHRA RETURNS TO FIREBIRD MOTORSPORTS PARK FOR DUEL IN THE DESERT DURING 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
PHOENIX – The stars of the NHRA are headed back to fan-favorite Firebird Motorsports Park for the 41st annual FMP NHRA Arizona 
Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs on March 20-22, marking the second race of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season during its season-long 75th anniversary celebration.
The “Duel in the Desert,” which has drawn massive crowds for four decades, features a full weekend of action-packed racing at one of the premier facilities on the NHRA circuit. Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will thrill fans with 340-mph runs, as every racer hopes to earn a NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally trophy on raceday.
This year’s annual visit to Phoenix will be one of the biggest yet during NHRA’s milestone year. As part of NHRA’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration, fans can expect multiple highlights at Firebird Motorsports Park, including: Continue reading
Atomizer Racing Injectors Joins World Series of Pro Mod as Associate Sponsor
BRADENTON, FL – Atomizer Fuel Components, producers of high-performance racing injectors, 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 Atomizer Racing Injectors. Taking 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.
“Jack French and the team at Atomizer Racing Injectors represent exactly the kind of forward-thinking, racer-driven companies we want aligned with the World Series of Pro Mod,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and WSOPM promoter. “They’re helping power the baddest door cars on the planet, making an impact in classes like Pro Mod and Pro 10.5, so having them involved with this event just makes sense. We’re excited to welcome Atomizer as an associate sponsor and believe this is the beginning of a partnership that can grow in a big way.” Continue reading
TSR SEASON PREVIEW: LEAH PRUETT RETURNS; MATT HAGAN LOOKS TO CONTINUE MOMENTUM
BROWNSBURG, IN – The two-car team of Tony Stewart Racing is set to kick off the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season. 
Leah Pruett returns to the seat of the Top Fuel dragster after a two-year hiatus, while four-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan is looking to carry over momentum from a second-place finish in 2025.
Both teams were back on the drag strip February 17-20 for NHRA / Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) testing at Gainesville Raceway in Florida, two weeks ahead of NHRA’s 75th Anniversary season-opener.
Pruett, a 12-time NHRA national event winner, has taken back the seat of her Top Fuel dragster just 15 months after giving birth to her first child, Dominic. For ten races Pruett’s dragster will feature a Dodge livery with their historical Fratzog logo. The Fratzog, uniquely named by one of their designers, was used by Dodge on vehicles between 1962 and 1976. For the remaining races, Pruett’s livery will rotate between Mobil 1, Rinnai, Rush Truck Centers, Rayce Rudeen and American Rebel. Continue reading
Leah Pruett Makes Her Dodge TSR NHRA Top Fuel Return After Two-year Hiatus
Teams Up with Four-time Champ Matt Hagan at Season-opening NHRA Gatornationals
Auburn Hills, MI – After a two-year hiatus, Dodge NHRA Top Fuel standout Leah Pruett is set to make a headline-grabbing return to 
competition, climbing back into her 12,000-horsepower Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) dragster for a highly anticipated season debut at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, March 5–8. Pruett rejoins a powerhouse Dodge TSR lineup anchored by four-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan.
“The 2026 NHRA season gives Dodge and Tony Stewart Racing another chance to show what happens when pure competitive drive and Dodge muscle hit the drag strip,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “We welcome Leah Pruett back home to her Tony Stewart Racing Top Fuel dragster and four-time NHRA champ Matt Hagan back for his 19th year behind the wheel of a Dodge Funny Car. Both Leah and Matt, as well as team owner Tony Stewart, embody the attitude the Dodge brand stands for, and together they make this season one that will push our limits in all the right ways.”
Pruett, a 12-time NHRA Top Fuel national event winner, shocked the motorsports world in 2023 when she walked away from the TSR Top Fuel car that nearly took her to the 2023 world championship to start a family with husband Tony Stewart. Stewart, a NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC series champion and motorsports Hall of Famer, continued the TSR team’s Top Fuel success by winning two NHRA events (Las Vegas and Joliet). as well as the 2025 NHRA Top Fuel regular-season title. Continue reading
Hull Racing Adds Crew Chief Matt Bynum and Focuses on Strong Start in Gainesville
DALLAS – Team owner and Funny Car driver Buddy Hull is building his newly formed Hull Racing team on a foundation of performance, 
safety and strong relationships. The past two months have seen a flurry of activity in Hull’s race shop located just south of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex by long-time crew chief Mike Guger and new addition veteran crew chief Matt Bynum. With two Funny Cars in the shop the tandem has been meticulously going over every part and piece of the operation preparing for their season debut at the historic Gatornationals, March 5-8, 2026. Hull is excited about the beginning of a new era in his career.
“I have been a team owner and a team driver but this new endeavor, Hull Racing, has me so excited for my future,” said Hull. “This is a family-owned team with my wife Madi and my son Maverick. We are building a program that I am very proud of. Having Matt join Mike to tune this Funny Car gives me a lot of confidence for the long term. Matt has a background like mine, and I am really looking forward to working with him and seeing the success he and Mike can have with this team.”
Bynum joins Hull Racing after years working on nitro Funny Cars with several top-level teams including Blake Alexander, Del Worsham and Alexis DeJoria. Bynum also has extensive success in the nostalgia Funny Car ranks. Continue reading
FENDT EXTENDS MULTI YEAR PARTNERSHIP AS OFFICIAL TRACTOR OF NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
Leading ag machinery manufacturer also renews sponsorship of Top Alcohol Dragster driver Anthony Troyer
DULUTH, GA – Fendt®, a leading provider of advanced agricultural machinery and smart farming solutions, today announced a renewed, 
two-year partnership with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The company will continue serving as the official NHRA tractor, expanding its visibility across fan engagement and track operations.
“Fendt’s ongoing NHRA commitment reflects the continued growth and strength of this partnership and our shared values of performance, precision and reliability,” said Tim Millwood, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for AGCO. “The NHRA community includes thousands of farmers, ranchers and rural business owners who depend on our equipment every day. The partnership allows us to better engage with them about how Fendt’s machines and technology can make them more profitable and productive and gives more visibility to the brand’s growing presence in North America.”
The agreement includes the use of the Fendt 314 Vario®, a versatile tractor renowned for its compact design and robust performance, at all NHRA national events. It will support track preparation through the NHRA Safety Safari, a critical component of event performance and racer safety. Fendt will also appear with six major midway displays during the 2026 season, offering fans immersive equipment showcases, interactive experiences and opportunities to connect with local dealers and the Fendt brand. Continue reading
DOUG FOLEY TRANSITIONS TO TEAM OWNER ROLE; GARY PRITCHETT NAMED 2026 TOP FUEL DRIVER
MOORESVILLE, NC – Doug Foley Racing announced today that Doug Foley will transition from driving duties to a full-time team owner role 
beginning with the 2026 season. Gary Pritchett has been named driver of the team’s Top Fuel dragster.
“We are going to do a driver swap in 2026,” Foley said. “I am going to get out of the seat. And I just felt like we could be better all the way around and I kind of wanted to focus more on just taking the team to another level, and so I decided to get out of the seat.”
Gary Pritchett will take over Top Fuel driving duties for Doug Foley in 2026. Foley, a veteran Top Fuel competitor and multi-time IHRA event winner, said the move allows him to focus on strengthening the organization both competitively and commercially.
“I just didn’t feel like our team was at the level it could be, and that’s my goal to fix that,” Foley said. Continue reading
