- 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
Jasmine Salinas Announces Plans and Crew Chief for 2026 Top Fuel Season
BROWNSBURG, IN – Top Fuel dragster standout Jasmine Salinas is poised to make a powerful return in 2026. The fan-favorite drag racer 
will compete in a hybrid schedule this season, featuring at least 10 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series as well as select appearances in the IHRA Top Fuel category.
Salinas will kick off her 2026 drag racing season next month at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. True to their name, the Scrappers team is piecing together a schedule that will work on a limited budget as they continue pursuing a long-term sponsor partnership.
After a storybook start to her sophomore season last year, Salinas and her team made the tough decision to sideline the Valley Services/Scrappers Racing Top Fuel dragster until they could secure more funding. Leaving the series while sitting fifth in points was a gut-check moment for Salinas. But the temporary setback did little to dampen her spirits or derail her determination.
Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown sets nine-race schedule for 2026 season, Mark Pawuk Looking for Three-Peat
CLEVELAND, OH – Flexjet, a global leader in private aviation, will continue as the title sponsor of the exciting NHRA Factory Stock 
Showdown class, which will make nine appearances at NHRA national events during the upcoming 2026 season. Two-time world champion Mark Pawuk will be looking to make it three championships in a row when the series kicks off at the historic Gatornationals, March 5-8, 2026. Competitors from across the country will be battling it out on the track in Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet factory hot rods.
Mark Pawuk captured his second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Series world championship in St. Louis , photo credit Auto Imagery
The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will add an extra race for 2026 and will begin its season at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., on March 5-8 before heading to Charlotte, N.C. for the four-wide race on April 24-26. From there, the class will race at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago on May 14-17, followed by races at picturesque Bristol Dragway on June 12-14 and then fan-favorite Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 25-28. Continue reading
ELITE MOTORSPORTS PARTNERS WITH HBOT4HEROES
WYNNEWOOD, OK – Elite Motorsports is proud to announce a partnership with HBOT4Heroes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to 
providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans and first responders suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), post?traumatic stress (PTSD), and other invisible wounds of service.
“HBOT4Heroes is doing life?changing work, and we’re honored to help amplify their mission,” said Richard Freeman, Owner and President of Elite Motorsports. “The NHRA community includes countless veterans and first responders. Supporting an organization that is actively saving lives is something we’re proud to stand behind.”
HBOT4Heroes provides access to HBOT, an evidence?supported therapy that delivers oxygen in a pressurized environment to help stimulate cellular repair, improve blood flow and reduce symptoms associated with TBI and PTSD. HBOT4Heroes’ mission is rooted in a critical and urgent reality: an estimated 44 veterans die by suicide each day — a number far higher than the traditional cited 17-22 per day — and a driving force behind the organization’s work to expand access to care. Continue reading
International Hot Rod Association Acquires Atlanta Dragway in Banks County, Georgia
Fairfield, OH — The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has officially acquired Atlanta Dragway in Banks County, just outside 
Commerce, Georgia, marking an important step in bringing one of the Southeast’s most historic drag racing facilities back to life.
Originally opened in 1976, Atlanta Dragway became a cornerstone of grassroots and national drag racing. Built on land originally graded for an airport, with its first timing tower repurposed from the airport’s control tower, the facility represents the ingenuity and heart of American motorsports. After its closure in 2021, the future of the track remained uncertain until the local community and leaders worked to preserve it for racing. A recent unanimous vote by the Banks County Commission cleared the way for its reopening.
“On behalf of Banks County, I want to welcome IHRA and express our appreciation for their investment in Atlanta Dragway. This facility has long been an important part of our community’s identity and economy. We are encouraged by IHRA’s commitment to revitalizing the property and preserving its legacy for racers and fans alike. Continue reading
NHRA RELEASES FREE 2026 STREAMING SCHEDULE FOR NHRA.TV AND NHRA YOUTUBE PAGE
Complimentary coverage includes action in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series across all seven divisions, special events and more
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA announced today a continued and comprehensive free coverage plan on NHRA.tv and its NHRA YouTube page 
starting this weekend for the 2026 season in the popular Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
For the second consecutive year, NHRA will stream more than 30 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events on either NHRA.tv or the NHRA YouTube page for free during the 2026 campaign, including extensive action from across all seven divisions, special events and more. The full schedule of complimentary races is available now at NHRA.tv, starting with this weekend’s Division 7 double-divisional race at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix.
All 20 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series national events during NHRA’s 75th season in 2026 can also be viewed on NHRA.tv, with the price at $164.99 for the entire season or $24.99 per national event.
The test session at Gainesville Raceway on March 3-4 will also be streamed for free on NHRA.tv, which leads into the legendary season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on March 5-8 at the historic facility.
This weekend’s race in Phoenix gives fans their first glimpse of NHRA racing in 2026, kicking off an action-packed year across the country. The season-long free coverage takes place from February through November, concluding with the Division 7 divisional on Nov. 5-8 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fans will have the chance to watch thrilling action from all seven NHRA divisions in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season, including 12 double divisional events. To watch the select divisional races for free, fans simply need to sign up for a complimentary account on NHRA.tv. Continue reading
DragRaceTV Launches Major Platform Upgrade with Instant Video On Demand, New Roku App, and Expanded Content Library
Worth, FL – Beginning Monday, February 16, 2026, DragRaceTV will roll out a major infrastructure upgrade designed to deliver instant 
Video On Demand access, a redesigned Roku experience, and expanded content availability across platforms.
This upgrade marks a significant step forward in how fans watch live no-prep, grudge, big money, and outlaw racing.
Instant Video On Demand After Every Event
With increased backend infrastructure and expanded programming capacity, DragRaceTV will now make event recordings available almost immediately after live streams end.
In many cases, fans will see replays appear with the event date as the temporary title. These recordings are published quickly to minimize downtime and ensure fans can jump right back into the action.
Behind the scenes, DragRaceTV’s new AI-powered processing system will automatically refine those recordings. The system reduces dead time between rounds, removes unnecessary downtime, and focuses on what viewers came to see: the racing. Continue reading
DHL, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS SIGN MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION
YPSILANTI, MI – Two iconic brands that partner on multiple levels in multiple businesses, DHL and Kalitta Motorsports, signed a multi-year 
contract extension for J.R. Todd’s DHL GR Supra Funny Car, the team announced today. The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 6-8 at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
What started some two decades ago as an agreement to sponsor race cars is now a multi-faceted relationship that enjoys success on and off the racetrack including charitable efforts, business-to-business networking and track-side experiences for DHL customers.
In addition to winning NHRA Funny Car championships with Todd (2018) and Del Worsham (2015), DHL and Team Kalitta partner in the fight against food insecurity. Through “The Race to End Hunger,” DHL, Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air combine forces each season to raise funds equivalent to at least one million meals through Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States. Continue reading
1,000TH FUNNY CAR RACE COMING TO LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS IN POMONA
POMONA, CA – In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip will again make history this spring during NHRA’s milestone 75th season, as the Lucas 
Oil NHRA Winternationals will play host to the 1,000th Funny Car race in NHRA history on April 9-12 on the hallowed grounds at Pomona.
Funny Car made its first-ever appearance at the 1966 World Finals in Tulsa, with Eddie Schartman picking up the victory. NHRA’s milestone year in 2026 will begin with the 998th Funny Car race at the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, with the historic moment coming two races later in Pomona.
The 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph Funny Cars have made history for 60 years, but only one driver will lay claim to being the winner of the 1,000th Funny Car race in NHRA history. Last year, Shawn Langdon took the honors at the 1,000th Top Fuel race, while a host of standouts will have their shot in Pomona to etch their own place in history. Continue reading
$25,000, Inaugural Championship On The Line For Pro 10.5 at WSOPM
BRADENTON, FL – Pro 10.5 racers will have more on the line than ever when the class returns to the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro 
Mod presented by Red Line Oil, Feb. 26–28 at Bradenton Motorsports Park, where a lucrative $25,000 winner’s purse headlines the Pro 10.5 Challenge. In addition to racing for one of the richest payouts in class history, competitors will also decide the inaugural DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service Pro 10.5 champion, with the champion earning a $5,000 bonus and a massive custom baseball bat from Victus Sports as a one-of-a-kind trophy.
“This is a big moment for Pro 10.5,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and Winter Series promoter. “We’ve watched the class bring incredible energy and car counts to the World Series of Pro Mod the last two years, so bringing them into the full three-race Winter Series for the 2025/2026 season felt like the natural next step. Rewarding the drivers who’ve supported the series by adding a championship element takes it to the next level. Big thanks to Tom Kasper, Kasper Performance Edge, and everyone at Victus Sports for helping to make it all possible.”
Ohio’s Bill Lutz raced to the $10,000 Pro 10.5 victory at the Winter Series opener, the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, when he defeated Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox in the final round. Outlaw 10.5 veterans Jerry Morgano and Nick Agostino faced off in the Pro 10.5 final round at the second race, the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, with Morgano edging out Agostino for the $10,000 prize. Continue reading
Oberhofer Brothers Together Again at Rick Ware Racing
Jim and Jon Oberhofer To Serve as Crew Chiefs for Top Fuel Drivers Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican in 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Nicky Boninfante Named Co-Crew Chief of Both Top Fuel Dragsters
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2026) – For as long as they have been brothers, Jim and Jon Oberhofer have been involved in drag racing. 
Since attending races with their father, Dave, the Oberhofer Brothers have been nearly inseparable, working with their dad on the Top Fuel dragsters he was a part of and eventually carving their own drag racing paths, most prominently with Kalitta Motorsports.
In 2026, Jim and Jon Oberhofer are together again, this time at Rick Ware Racing (RWR) where the duo will serve as the crew chiefs for Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican, respectively, in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Joining them as co-crew chief for both entries will be another NHRA veteran, Nicky Boninfante.
“When you look at what Jim and Jon have accomplished in this sport, it’s remarkable. Championships, U.S. Nationals wins, decades of experience at the highest level, but what really stands out to me is that they’ve grown up in this business together. There’s built-in trust and understanding that isn’t manufactured. Pair that with Nicky’s experience and success, and you’ve got three guys who have seen every scenario drag racing can throw at you,” said team owner Rick Ware. Continue reading
