NHRA RELEASES NATIONAL EVENT CATEGORY SCHEDULE FOR
2026, PURSE INCREASES FOR LODRS CLASSES
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 11, 2025) – Heading into its 75th anniversary season, NHRA has announced the full category schedule for all racing classes that will compete in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series national events during the highly anticipated celebratory 2026 campaign.
Along with the full category schedule, NHRA also announced purse increase payouts of nearly 15 percent at national events for racers in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as a 33 percent increase for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car regional championship purses in each region. NHRA also released new logos for the seven NHRA divisions.
The 2026 season opens with the 57th annual NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway on March 5-8, starting what will be the 75th season of racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will race at all 20 events, while Pro Stock Motorcycle will appear at 15 national events in 2025.
Racing in the highly-competitive Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories will take place at 13 races, including NHRA’s national event debut at Maryland International Raceway.
Competition Eliminator will compete at 15 events, while Super Stock, Stock and Super Gas will all race at 19 national events, including South Georgia Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway, as each track will host its first NHRA national event in 2026.
Super Street will be part of seven national events (Pomona 1, Charlotte, Epping, Norwalk, Seattle, Brainerd and Dallas), with Top Dragster racing at 16 national events in 2026. Top Sportsman will take part in 16 events as well.
In the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, all four professional categories will race in all six events in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Callout races for all four classes will return next year as well, with the NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout taking place in Gainesville and the NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout thrilling fans in Indy. The GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout will again happen in Norwalk, with the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout taking place in Sonoma. The Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge will return in 2026, taking place at 13 regular-season events.
The Super Stock/Stock Class Racing schedule will include races at Gainesville Raceway on March 13, No Problem Raceway on March 27, Firebird Raceway on May 16, Beech Bend Raceway Park on May 22, Brainerd International Raceway on Aug. 14, Indianapolis, Famoso Dragstrip on Sept. 26 and Maple Grove Raceway on Oct. 23.
The full category schedule at national events is shown below. To view the 2026 schedule and for more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
Brad Waddle from Salina, Kansas USA (Comp Number: 383) 2026 - Category: PS-MOUNTAIN, Type: UN, Class: Mtn Motor Pro Stock, Div: 5 "Innovators West" Owned by Brad Waddle from Salina, Kansas USA 2022 Ford Mustang by Jerry Haas | Powered by a 828 cubic inch Ford by Jon Kaase with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Dean Lembke from Clarks Grove, Minnesota USA (Comp Number: 595) 1980 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 5 "Ambition" Owned by Hugh Munro from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA '80 Plymouth Arrow by Hugh Munro | Powered by a 484 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi by Hugh Munro with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Richard Hutchins from St. Petersburg, Florida USA 1964 - Category: GASSER, Type: SN, Class: B/G, Div: 2 Owned by Richard Hutchins from St. Petersburg, Florida USA '41 Studebaker Coupe by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 13.800 at Spruce Creek Airport […]
Dean Lembke from Clarks Grove, Minnesota USA (Comp Number: 595) 1984 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 5 "Ambition" Owned by Hugh Munro from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA '83 Chevrolet Corvette by Bruce Nilsen | Powered by a 484 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi by Hugh Munro with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Todd Chase from Pine Glen, New Brunswick Canada (Comp Number: N150) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 1 "Todd Chase" Owned by Todd Chase from Pine Glen, New Brunswick Canada 2016 Dragster by Maddox | Powered by a 615 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.881 at NHRA […]
Kelsea Hinkle from Danville, Kentucky USA (Comp Number: 344K) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 2 "HTL Technologies" Owned by James Hinkle from Danville, Kentucky USA 2011 Dragster by Miller | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.688 at NHRA Gainesville FL 3/7/26 | […]
Robert Houston from Newland, North Carolina USA (Comp Number: 2008) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 2 "Houston Transportation" Owned by Robert Houston from Newland, North Carolina USA 2023 Dragster by Race Tech | Powered by a 650 cubic inch Chevrolet by PAR Racing Engines with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Jessica Eastburn from Newark, Delaware USA (Comp Number: 147) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 1 "Hoopes Fire Prevention" Owned by Eastburn Racing from Newark, Delaware USA 2011 Dragster by Undercover | Powered by a 540 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.469 at NHRA D2 Orlando FL […]
Donna Patterson from Lorette, Manitoba Canada (Comp Number: 529) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 5 "DMP Awnings" Owned by Donna Patterson from Lorette, Manitoba Canada 2015 Dragster by American | Powered by a 540 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.117 at NHRA D2 Orlando FL 2/28/26 […]
Doug Forbes from Douglas, New Brunswick Canada (Comp Number: 1124) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 1 "Nu Air" Owned by Doug Forbes from Douglas, New Brunswick Canada 2003 Dragster by Miller | Powered by a 532 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.445 at NHRA D2 Gainesville […]