NHRA Announces Launch Of Landmark 75th Anniversary Campaign For 2026 Season

Story By: NHRA – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Set to celebrate its landmark 75th season in 2026, NHRA officials revealed a series of special plans today to kick off the campaign for the historic year in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

NHRA revealed a special 75th anniversary logo for the 2026 season to launch the campaign, as NHRA looks to celebrate 75 years of incredible racing, founder Wally Parks and the incredible legends that have played a huge role in NHRA’s illustrious history.

The buildup to the landmark 75th season in 2026 will take place throughout the 2025 campaign with several initiatives set to take place this year, starting at the season-kickoff NHRA Gatornationals on March 6-9 at Gainesville Raceway.

Some of the items introduced today at the 75th anniversary campaign launch include:

• 75TH ANNIVERSARY RINGS: NHRA also revealed special 75th anniversary replica rings that will be given to fans who renew their tickets for the 2026 race throughout the upcoming season. These rings will be a replica of the 75th anniversary rings given to the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world champions in 2026.
• COMMEMORATIVE TICKETS: Each fan can purchase a special commemorative ticket for 2026 events to celebrate the landmark 75th season.
• SPECIAL 2026 WALLY TROPHY: The NHRA will introduce a new and unique Wally trophy that will be given to all race winners during the 2026 season. The 75th anniversary Wally will only be given out during the 2026 year.
• WALLY PARKS DOCUMENTARY: A comprehensive and first-time full-length documentary on iconic NHRA Founder Wally Parks will be released during the 2026 season.
• TOP 75 DRIVER LIST: Much like the Top 50 NHRA Driver List that was released during the 50th anniversary season in 2001, the NHRA will release its Top 75 Driver List during the 2026 season. The Top 75 Drivers list will also be released in book form.
• 75TH ANNIVERSARY COFFEE TABLE BOOK: A high-quality hardcover coffee table book will be released in alignment with the 75th anniversary as a must-have for any fan, detailing the incredible history of the NHRA, from its humble beginnings to its current status.

“The 75th anniversary of NHRA drag racing marks a landmark moment in our sport’s history and we’re excited to kick off the campaign for that historic season in 2026 throughout our upcoming 2025 season,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “From a special logo and 75th anniversary rings, we’re thrilled to introduce several initiatives already for that celebratory season in 2026 and we will have many more to announce throughout 2025 in this exciting year-long buildup. NHRA has an incredible history – as well as a bright future – and we look forward to celebrating that with our fans, race teams, member track and partners.”

Additional announcements and initiatives for the 75th anniversary season in 2026 will be released throughout the 2025 campaign. NHRA legends will also be included in the year-long celebration that year, with appearances and special celebrations to be announced in the coming weeks and months.

NAPA NAMED OFFICIAL AUTO PARTS STORE OF NHRA IN FIRST-TIME PARTNERSHIP

For the first time ever, NAPA will team up with NHRA as an official partner, becoming the “Official Auto Parts Store of NHRA” as part of an exciting multi-year agreement.

NHRA and NAPA officials announced the long-term partnership today, which is set to begin with the 2025 season in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

NAPA has a long and storied history in NHRA drag racing. Since 2008, NAPA has been the primary sponsor on the 11,000-horsepower Funny Car of three-time world champion Ron Capps. This partnership with Capps, the standout driver, 76-time event winner and 152-time finalist will continue, as NAPA looks to strengthen an already impressive footprint in the NHRA drag racing.

As part of the partnership, NAPA will also become a presenting sponsor of the NHRA Youth and Education Services (YES) program. The NHRA YES Program is the only full-time education initiative in motorsports, offering quality educational content and activities for schools and youth organizations nationwide. It invites students to NHRA national events to see firsthand the career opportunities within the motorsports field.

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with NHRA and become the ‘Official Auto Parts Store of NHRA.’ This multi-year agreement underscores our commitment to the sport and our dedication to supporting the next generation of automotive enthusiasts and professionals through the NHRA YES Program,” said Emily Schneider, Senior Director of Marketing at NAPA Auto Parts. “We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with Ron Capps and the entire NHRA community, and we are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring.”

As part of the program, which brings thousands of students to the track each year, NAPA will look to showcase how S.T.E.M. education is applied in career in the automotive area, focusing on attracting a new generation of technicians to America’s largest network of parts and care, with nearly 6,000 Auto Parts stores and over 16,000 Auto Care centers across the country.

Along with prominent track signage and displays at each of the 20 NHRA national events, NAPA’s Carlyle Tools brand will be on display in the midway at 15 races during the 2025 campaign. The season begins March 6-9 with the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway.

“It’s an exciting time for everyone at NHRA to announce this first-ever partnership with NAPA,” NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said. “They’ve been tremendous partners with Ron and his Funny Car team for so many years and it’s a huge thrill to now add them as the ‘Official Auto Parts Store of NHRA.’ They have continually showcased an incredible passion and commitment to motorsports, and we look forward continuing to grow this relationship and seeing the impact they can also have as part of our YES Program.”

PEACH STATE NHRA SHOWCASE OF SPEED AT SOUTH GEORGIA MOTORPSORTS PARK

NHRA officials have announced the creation of a special two-day exhibition showcase race, a new event featuring big-name NHRA stars racing at an NHRA Member Track.

The first showcase event, the Peach State NHRA Showcase of Speed, will take place Oct. 24-25, 2025, at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga.

The exciting two-day exhibition showcase, which will take place on Friday and Saturday, will feature two drivers each from the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, as well as four competitors in both Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, giving fans at SGMP the unique opportunity to see 330-mph, 11,000-horsepower nitro cars up close, as well as some of the biggest names and world champions in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

Tickets for the first-ever Peach State NHRA Showcase of Speed are on sale now, and fans can purchase single-day or two-day tickets, as well as VIP options that offer an exclusive experience, and camping. The exhibition showcase is set to bring the feel of a national event to an NHRA Member Track, offering all the thrills and excitement of side-by-side 330-mph nitro action.

“We have been working behind the scenes for a couple of months now as we collaborated with NHRA on all the details for this amazing event. Our community and the state of Georgia deserve an event of this caliber,” SGMP Owner Raul Torres said. “We will be surprised if tickets do not sell out as we are limiting the ticket sales to make sure our guests get the best possible experience at Peach State NHRA Showcase of Speed. We are bringing all the big names in the industry and this will be a weekend to remember for a long time. Our family cannot be prouder of our team that has helped us elevate SGMP to the next level. Now it is our fans’ turn to enjoy themselves at one of the elite events in the Southeast.”

Participants in the debut event will be released in the coming weeks and fans can expect major NHRA stars, current champions and longtime standouts to take part in the event. More details about the two-day event, including run of show, additional classes and special attractions will also be announced soon.

Located just outside of Valdosta, South Georgia Motorsports has been a standout NHRA Member Track for years, drawing strong participation locally and a great fan turnout, and making the facility an ideal choice to host the first-ever Peach State NHRA Showcase of Speed.

The event is a non-points earning exhibition, created for the sake of bringing elements of a national event to an NHRA Member Track, showcasing both the facility for future possibilities as well as the chance for local fans to experience the incredible thrills, sights and sounds of NHRA championship drag racing, major names and 330-plus mph racing. It’s also part of NHRA’s initiative to continue its expansion and bring nitro racing, as well as Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle competition, to new race markets.

“This is a tremendous new event that we’re thrilled to present to our race teams, fans and sponsors for the 2025 season, and it’s exciting to have South Georgia Motorsports Park as our host for the first-ever Peach State NHRA Showcase of Speed,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “It’s a fantastic facility and I think our fans in that area will really look forward to the chance to see this type of racing from our professional categories at the track. It’s an incredible way to showcase our nitro racing in markets that don’t currently have it and it also gives us a chance to grow and possibly create new opportunities for the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series in the future.”