West Central Division News

NHRA officials, alongside representatives from Summit Racing Equipment and Hoosier, have announced a unique opportunity for NHRA members across North America to earn a trip to the Summit Racing E.T. World Championship at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by racing at their home tracks this summer, as well as an impressive $30,000 Hoosier Prize Pool bonus fund across the E.T. Finals and World Championship in Las Vegas. The 16th and final spots in each of the four categorie

The National Hot Rod Association Competition and Technical Services Departments are pleased to announce a series of rule and policy amendments for Top Dragster and Top Sportsman competition, taking effect for the 2027 season. Developed in collaboration with the Sportsman Racing Advisory Council (SRAC), the changes are intended to strengthen participation and enhance competition within the categories nationwide. Working closely with representatives from all seven divisions, th

As part of the NHRA Heritage Series event, July 3rd & 4th at SRCA Dragstrip, Stock/Super Stock and Top Dragster/Top Sportsman racers will have the chance to earn grade points and an NHRA 75th Anniversary Wally in two classes. In addition to Heritage Top Fuel and Funny Car exhibitions, the return to the site of the first NHRA Nationals will also feature several Nostalgia classes along with a Stock/Super Stock Combo and Top Combo. Both categories will earn NHRA grade points an

Following the completion of Qualifying and some early rounds of eliminations, the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Tri-State Raceway was postponed until September 11th-14th, due to rain. Following a great first two days to start of the West Central's LODRS season, near constant rain through the morning and early afternoon on Sunday forced the postponement of the remainder of the event. LO51 will be completed during the final LODRS event back at Tri-State Raceway in Sept

Coming off another great event in 2025, Julesburg Drag Strip set to host D5's biggest Jr Dragster event The West Central JDRL Summit ET Finals will be returning to Julesburg Drag Strip, June 26th-28th, 2026. Open to all Jr. Dragster Racers from across the division, the three-day event will feature Warm-Up races, Big Money Races, and the Main Event with NHRA Wallys and Division Championships on the line! Friday will feature Test n Tune, followed by three Warm-Up events. Entr

The West Central returns to Great Bend and SRCA Dragstrip for the Inaugural Great American Hot Rod Classic Home of the First NHRA Nationals. Racers will be permitted to stay on-site between the GAHRC and the LODRS Classes NHRA Heritage Top Fuel Rocky Mountain Nostalgia NSS/AFX *RMNDR information can be found at: https://rmnostalgia.net/ Vintage Drag Racing Association (No Box ET) -Gasser -Flathead & Inline -Nostalgic Eliminator -Hot Rod (Pre-1974) *All VDRA classes are open

The NHRA West Central Division is excited to announce a brand-new specialty race for Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors at Tri-State Raceway — the inaugural Stock/Super Stock Super Combo Shootout. Set to debut during the upcoming LODRS event, this exciting new program will spotlight one of the most important skills in sportsman drag racing: reaction time. During Qualifying Session #2, Stock and Super Stock competitors will have the opportunity to enter the Shootout for

THUNDER ROAD RACEWAY SET TO JOIN NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK STURGIS, S.D. (May 7, 2026) – NHRA officials are excited to announce that newly-reopened Thunder Road Raceway has joined the NHRA Member Track Network in NHRA’s West Central Division (Division 5) Located in Sturgis, S.D, Thunder Road Raceway is preparing for an exciting new chapter as the historic facility, which closed in 2023, has reopened under new ownership and management, bringing 1/8-mile drag racing back to the

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The NHRA West Central Division is set to launch the 2026 season in a big way as racers head to Tri-State Raceway for two consecutive weekends, with the 75th Anniversary Wally on the line in Stock/Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street at the National Open Memorial Day Weekend, and in all classes at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Divisional. As part of the NHRA’s 75th Anniversary celebration, the West Central Division will proudly award the first 75th Anniversa

The NHRA is proud to announce that nominations are now officially open for the “51 Legends of the Divisions” program, presented by Quarter-Max Racing, as part of the organization’s 75th Anniversary celebration in 2026. This special initiative honors the racers, track operators, and innovators who have made a lasting impact on the sport of drag racing at the divisional level. Rooted in NHRA’s founding year of 1951, each of the seven divisions will recognize 51 individuals wh

The NHRA West Central Division (Division 5) has officially released its 2026 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (LODRS) schedule , setting the stage for another competitive and exciting season across the Midwest. With four premier events on the calendar, racers will have multiple opportunities to compete for strong payouts, divisional points, and coveted NHRA 75th Anniversary Wally trophies. 2026 Schedule: May 29 – Tri-State Raceway (Earlville, IA) July 9 – S.R.C.A. Dragstrip (Gr

The start of the 2026 season is already building excitement as tires finally hit the track at Gainesville Raceway, signaling the opening of a historic year for the National Hot Rod Association. The 2026 season marks the 75th Anniversary of the NHRA, and the celebration begins with the first National Event of the season in Gainesville this weekend. Adding to that excitement, NHRA is proud to announce a brand-new marketing partnership with Quarter-Max, a highly respected man

With the recent announcement of the expansion of the Summit ET Finals, presented by Hoosier Racing Tire, we have some exciting changes coming to the West Central in 2026. Returning to the roots of the ET Finals, Division 5 will host two identical events this year. September 17th - 20th, we will be at Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa and the following weekend, September 24th - 26th, we will be in Great Bend, Kansas at SRCA Dragstrip. In addition to adding a second event,

As we begin the 75th anniversary season of the National Hot Rod Association here in the West Central Division, we do so with pride, momentum, and tremendous opportunity ahead in 2026. The future of NHRA, the West Central, and the sport of drag racing is strong. The D5 team and our Member Tracks are dedicated to leading with passion, strength, and commitment to all our racers while providing the best experience in drag racing. And now, more than ever, drag racing is about the

The NHRA Summit Racing Equipment E.T. Series is getting even bigger in 2026! NHRA has officially announced that Hoosier Racing Tire has been named the presenting sponsor, and this expansion brings huge opportunities for NHRA member racers. With the 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟐 𝐄.𝐓. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 across the United States, racers will have more chances to compete closer to home and advance to the NHRA Summit Racing Series presented by Hoosier World Championship, set for Oct. 2

Here is the full lineup of NHRA Chassis Certification Seminars, and this is your chance to get your car certified and race-ready for the season! APRIL 18 (Appointment Needed) • Julesburg Dragstrip, Oldest Track in the Country — 📞 (979) 520-5034 • Tri-State Raceway — 📞 (563) 923-3724 • Pueblo Motorsports Park — 📞 (719) 209-6970 APRIL 24–25 (Appointment Needed) • Rock Falls Raceway — 📞 (715) 875-4233 APRIL 25 (Appointment Needed) • Onawa Dragway — 📞 (712) 420-3648 APRIL

During the 2025 season, Michael Chitty was on a mission. Not only did he represent the West Central Division as the JEGS Allstars representative, but he also traveled the country in pursuit of a bigger goal—capturing the Circus Motorsports Top Sportsman Championship for West Central Division 5. Chitty set the tone early in the season with a commanding victory at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at No Problem Raceway. He followed that performance with a runner-up finish

Defending Fineline Graphics/Madcap Racing Engines Top Dragster Champion Trevor Larson entered the 2025 season on a clear mission: defend his 2024 title—and if possible, add to it. By season’s end, Larson had done exactly that, capturing not one but two West Central Division 5 championships. Along with successfully defending his Fineline Graphics Madcap Racing Engines Top Dragster title, Larson added the 2025 Super Gas Championship to an already impressive résumé. Larson’s Su

The celebration begins Friday night as the 2025 West Central Division 5 Champions Weekend officially kicks off with the Laris Motorsports Insurance Happy Hour & Practice Tree Race at the Overland Park Marriott Hotel. This fun, laid-back evening is designed to bring racers, families, and friends together before a weekend dedicated to honoring the very best in the West Central Division. The event is proudly supported by Laris Motorsports Insurance , whose continued commitment