The air is getting heavy with the scent of nitromethane, and if you listen closely, you can almost hear the synchronized thunder of 11,000-horsepower engines. For drag racing fans, the wait is nearly over. If you’ve been searching for when is the next NHRA race, you’re likely feeling that pre-race itch that only a 330-mph blast can scratch.
As a former race strategist and trackside engineer, I can tell you that the lead-up to a race weekend is just as intense as the four seconds on the strip. We are currently staring down the barrel of one of the most exciting stops on the 2026 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour. Between navigating the FOX and FS1 broadcast windows and tracking the latest championship points shuffle, staying informed is the difference between catching the winning run and staring at a blank screen.
When Is the Next NHRA Race?
The next NHRA race is the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals, taking place from May 14 to May 17, 2026. This marquee event is held at the legendary Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.
Quick Answer: The next NHRA race weekend officially kicks off with sportsman qualifying on Thursday, May 14, followed by the nitro categories (Top Fuel and Funny Car) beginning their qualifying sessions on Friday, May 15. The final eliminations—the main event—will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
NHRA Next Race Schedule & Upcoming Events 2026
The 2026 season is a relentless sprint across the United States. Following the Chicago event, the tour heads into the grueling summer “swing” where track temperatures can soar above 130°F, forcing crew chiefs to completely rethink their clutch and fuel maps.
Upcoming 2026 NHRA Race Calendar
| Event | Location | Date | Primary Broadcast |
| Route 66 Nationals | Joliet, IL | May 14–17 | FS1 |
| NHRA New England Nationals | Epping, NH | May 29–31 | FOX / FS1 |
| NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals | Bristol, TN | June 5–7 | FS1 |
| Virginia NHRA Nationals | Richmond, VA | June 19–21 | FS1 |
| Summit Racing Equipment Nationals | Norwalk, OH | June 25–28 | FOX |
Maintaining a next NHRA race schedule is vital for teams because logistics are a nightmare. Moving two 80-foot transporters across three states in five days is a race in itself!
NHRA Race This Weekend: Full Weekend Schedule
If you are planning to attend or watch the NHRA race this weekend, you need to understand the rhythm of a nitro event. It’s a crescendo of power.
- Friday, May 15: Nitro Qualifying Sessions 1 & 2. Typically, the second session happens at dusk. This is when you see the iconic 10-foot “header flames” shooting from the exhaust stacks.
- Saturday, May 16: Nitro Qualifying Sessions 3 & 4. This is the final chance for drivers to “get into the show.” Only the quickest 16 cars in each category make it to Sunday’s eliminations.
- Sunday, May 17: Final Eliminations. This is “Game Day.” It’s a 16-car knockout tournament. Win the round, and you move on; lose, and you’re packing the trailer.
Where Is the Next NHRA Race?
The venue for the next race, Route 66 Raceway, is often called the first “Stadium of Drag Racing.” Built with a majestic grandstand that wraps around the starting line, it creates an acoustic chamber that magnifies the sound of the engines.
For engineers, Chicago is a tricky track. It sits at a relatively low elevation, meaning the air is “thick” with oxygen—great for making power—but the track surface can be finicky. If the track is too hot, the rubber gets greasy, and the tires will “smoke” (lose traction) instantly.
How to Watch the Next NHRA Race Live
Finding where to watch NHRA live can sometimes feel like a treasure hunt due to the split between FOX and FS1.
- FS1 (Fox Sports 1): The majority of qualifying shows and Sunday eliminations air here. For Chicago, FS1 is your primary home.
- FOX Broadcast: Marquee events (like the upcoming New England Nationals) often move to the main FOX network to capture a larger afternoon audience.
- NHRA.tv: For the hardcore fans, this is the subscription service that provides a live, unedited feed of the entire weekend, from the first sportsman car to the final nitro winner.
- FOX Sports App: You can live stream the broadcast by logging in with your cable or satellite provider credentials.
NHRA Results, Highlights & Replay Coverage
If you miss the live action, catching an NHRA race replay today is easier than ever. The NHRA YouTube channel typically uploads “Nitro Highlights” within an hour of the final round.
From a strategic standpoint, we watch these replays to see “lane choice.” In the final rounds, the driver with the quicker time in the previous round gets to pick which lane they want. In Chicago, the left lane often has a slight advantage in “60-foot” traction, which can be the difference between a win and a loss.
NHRA Points Standings & Championship Battle
Every round win in Chicago adds 20 points to a driver’s total. As we look at the NHRA points standings 2026, the pressure is mounting to secure a spot in the “Countdown to the Championship”—the six-race playoff that begins in September.
Currently, the Top Fuel category is a dogfight. Veteran drivers are being challenged by “rookies” who have mastered the art of the reaction time. In drag racing, a lead of 0.010 seconds at the starting line is nearly impossible to overcome if both cars run the same elapsed time (ET).
NHRA Top Fuel, Funny Car & Pro Stock Explained
When you tune in to the next NHRA live race, you’ll see three primary professional categories:
Top Fuel Dragsters
The “Kings of Speed.” These are 25-foot-long, needle-shaped machines. They are the fastest accelerating vehicles on the planet, reaching 330 mph in less than 3.7 seconds.
Funny Cars
Similar engines to Top Fuel, but with a shorter wheelbase and a carbon-fiber body that resembles a production car. Because the engine is in front of the driver, they are notoriously difficult to steer and prone to spectacular “engine sneezes.”
Pro Stock
Known as “factory hot rods,” these cars look like something you’d see in a showroom but feature highly sophisticated, naturally aspirated engines. This is a “driver’s class” where shifting gears at exactly the right RPM is the only way to win.
Why NHRA Cars Are the Fastest in the World
The physics of a nitro launch are violent. When the driver hits the throttle, the engine consumes nitromethane—a fuel that carries its own oxygen.
To understand why NHRA is so fast, you have to look at the tires. They don’t just spin; they “wrinkle”. The sidewalls collapse to create a massive footprint, and as the car accelerates, the centrifugal force causes the tire to grow in diameter, effectively changing the gear ratio while the car is moving.
NHRA Explained for Beginners
If you’re new to the sport, the most important thing to watch is the Christmas Tree. This is the light tower between the two lanes.
- Pre-Stage/Stage: The top small yellow lights. They show the driver is positioned at the starting line.
- The Yellows: Three large amber lights that flash in sequence (or all at once in “Pro” timing).
- The Green: The signal to go.
- The Red: If a driver leaves before the green, they “red light” and are disqualified.
Best NHRA Moments & Historic Races
The NHRA is built on a foundation of legends. From “Big Daddy” Don Garlits inventing the rear-engine dragster to John Force winning 16 championships, the history is rich.
One of the best moments to revisit is the first time a car broke the 300-mph barrier in 1992 (Kenny Bernstein). Today, we are pushing toward 340 mph. Every time you ask when is the next NHRA race, you are essentially asking when the next piece of history will be written.
FAQ Section
When is the next NHRA race?
The next race is the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, IL, from May 14–17, 2026.
What channel is the next NHRA race on?
Most of the Chicago weekend coverage will be on FS1, with the final eliminations airing Sunday afternoon.
Can I stream NHRA races live?
Yes, via NHRA.tv or the FOX Sports App.
What time do NHRA eliminations start?
Eliminations usually start at 11:00 AM local time on Sunday, but the television broadcast often begins later in the afternoon (check local FS1 listings).
How does NHRA qualifying work?
Drivers get four attempts over Friday and Saturday. Their single quickest “Elapsed Time” (ET) determines their position on the 16-car Sunday ladder.
What is the fastest NHRA speed ever recorded?
In the 1,000-foot era, speeds have topped 339 mph in Top Fuel.
Final Strategy Note
As we prepare for the Chicago event, keep your eye on the “60-foot times” during Friday’s qualifying. That first 60 feet tells us everything about how the crew chiefs are reading the track. If the cars are “hooking up” early, we are in for a record-breaking weekend.
Turn up the volume, grab your earplugs, and get ready—the next NHRA race is almost here!
Meta Title: When Is the Next NHRA Race? 2026 Schedule, TV Times & Streaming
Meta Description: Find out when the next NHRA race is! Get the full 2026 Route 66 Nationals schedule, start times, and TV channels for FOX and FS1. Stay updated on every 11,000-hp launch and live nitro event.
