NHRA 2026 Season: New Tracks, New Thrills

The NHRA has announced the addition of two new tracks to its 2026 schedule, marking the first expansion in over a dozen years. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the national series will visit Valdosta, Georgia, and Mechanicsville, Maryland, for the first time. The schedule for the upcoming season will consist of 20 races, with events in Georgia and Maryland replacing stops in Las Vegas and North Carolina.

The 2026 NHRA season will kick off at Gainesville Raceway in Florida for the fourth consecutive year, hosting the 57th annual Gatornationals from March 5-8. The season will conclude at Pomona Dragstrip in California, where champions in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle divisions will be crowned on November 12-15.

In addition to the traditional stops, the NHRA will introduce two new venues to the schedule. South Georgia Motorsports Park near Valdosta, Georgia, will host its inaugural event on May 1-3. Maryland International Raceway, located near the nation's capital, will also make its debut on the NHRA circuit, welcoming high-powered dragsters that can reach speeds of 340 mph in seconds.

NHRA President Glen Cromwell expressed excitement for the upcoming season, emphasizing the organization's commitment to evolving the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series while honoring its 75-year legacy. The 2026 season promises to be one of the most thrilling years in NHRA history, with new venues and fresh energy driving the sport forward.