2026 West Central ET Finals FAQs

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, the Summit ET World Finals, presented by Hoosier, will also be expanding to 16 representatives in Super Pro, Pro ET, Sportsman and ET Motorcycle, meaning the champions in those classes at both West Central ET Finals will advance to Las Vegas for their chance at a world championship. Division 5 will be able to double our representatives and take 8 racers to the Las Vegas Nationals to compete on the biggest stage in bracket racing.

As with any change of this magnitude, we have received questions and wanted to be able to answer some of those directly. Below you will find some of the most asked questions about how this affects the West Central.

Why is the series expanding?

ET Bracket Racing continues to be the largest, participant-driven, motorsport in the world, with tens of thousands of racers competing annually across North America. Research shows that the geography of the division and the distance to an ET Finals directly correlates to attendance. Travel expenses and time away from home/work are the biggest factors when racers decide which events they can participate in over a season. The divisions west of the Mississippi have seen tracks and competitors traveling more than 900 miles (one-way) to reach an ET Finals within the last year. As travel costs continue to rise, being able to shorten that tow, by more than 50% in many cases, creates opportunities for more racers to participate in the ET Finals and allows the series to continue to thrive into the future.

In addition to the reduction in travel, we believe this expansion will ultimately translate to a better experience for West Central ET Racers. Being able to have more room in the pits, complete our Gambler's Races, and shortening the wait times between rounds have all been mentioned as a way to improve the experience by our competitors in recent years.

How do I know which Member Tracks will go to which ET Finals?

The West Central has worked closely with our Member Tracks throughout this process. With the goal of reducing travel, creating similar sized events, and maximizing participation, the structure for 2026 will be: D5 ET FINALS - EAST (Tri-State Raceway)

• Brainerd International Raceway

• Cedar Falls Motorsports Park

• Grove Creek Raceway

• Interstate Raceway

• Rock Falls Raceway

• Thunder Valley Dragways

• Tri-State Raceway

D5 ET FINALS - WEST (SRCA Dragstrip) 

• Bandimere Speedway (when reopened)

• Flying H Dragstrip

• Julesburg Dragstrip

• Kansas International Dragway

• Kearney Raceway Park

• Onawa Dragway

• Pueblo Motorsports Park

• SRCA Dragstrip

• Strugis Dragway

Can I run at both ET Finals?

Yes. While tracks will not be able to send teams to both events, if a racer attends a minimum of two events and earns a spot on the team at two tracks, he/she will be able to compete at both ET Finals events. In the event that a racer wins both ET Finals in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman or ET Motorcycle, the runner-up at the second event would be awarded the spot at the World Finals in Las Vegas and receive the $3,000 travel money.

Will anything be different between the East & West ET Finals?

The goal is to create two, identical events. All payouts, prizes, gate fees, rules and policies will be the same at the East and West events. The same classes, gambler's races, giveaways and raffles will be held at both. The only difference will be that the East event at Tri-State will be scheduled for four days (Sept. 17-20) and the West event at SRCA will be scheduled for three day (Sept. 24-26), as Tri-State does not have lights.

How will you determine the Division Champion in each class?

The winners of each event will be our Division Champions. All will be invited to our Awards Banquet and be presented their Championship 75th Anniversary Wally, jacket and Gold Card.

How are the 16-car fields in Las Vegas determined?

In 2026 there will be 12 ET Finals events held across the country, including two in Canada. The four additional events for this season will be held at Holly Springs Motorsports Park (Div 4 East), SRCA Dragstrip (Div 5 West), RAD Torque Raceway (Div 6/Canada West) and Redding Motorsports Park (Div 7 NorCal). The remaining 4 competitors, in addition to the 12 event champions, will be chosen through a Wildcard for 2026.

Will this continue in future seasons?

Yes. This expansion of the ET Finals and World Finals is meant to be a long-term plan. Thanks to support of Summit Racing Equipment and Hoosier Racing Tire, we have to opportunity to build on this for years to come.

Where can I find detailed event information?

Event flyers and schedules are currently being finalized and we expect those to be available on our website in the coming weeks.

If I have a question that hasn't been answered here, who do I contact?

You can reach out to the Division 5 office at 816-795-8055. You can also send an email to Paige Hamlin, our Division Services Coordinator (phamlin@nhra.com) or Nick Duty, Division Director (nduty@nhra.com) and we are happy to assist.