INDIANAPOLIS — NHRA is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary during the 2026 season, and this year also represents a major milestone for the NHRA Pro Mod Series.
The exciting series is set to enjoy its 25th anniversary celebration in 2026, racing 11 times across the country with the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
As part of the milestone campaign for NHRA Pro Mod, NHRA announced that it will stream qualifying coverage live and for free on the NHRA YouTube page on Friday and Saturday, as well as the first round of eliminations at all 11 events.
The fan-favorite category will kick off its 11-race season with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville on March 5-8, before heading to the NHRA Arizona Nationals and returning to Firebird Motorsports Park for the third straight year on March 20-22.
“NHRA Pro Mod being streamed live on YouTube isn’t just exposure — it’s proof of our evolution,” NHRA Pro Mod driver and Team Shelton Motorsports Owner Stan Shelton said. We’re a self-managed class with a clear identity, and this growth reflects the power of that model within the NHRA. We’re excited to celebrate the 25th year of Pro Mod in NHRA and we’re looking forward to a great season.”
Last season was a representation of just how stacked NHRA Pro Mod is with talent, with the championship again coming down to the wire. Five different drivers won a race, but J.R. Gray enjoyed a spectacular season, winning four times, including the finale in Las Vegas, to claim his first NHRA Pro Mod championship.
Still, the championship came down to a winner-take-all final round against Billy Banaka, with Gray taking the victory and the championship to close out another remarkable season in the category.
Featuring the world’s fastest doorslammer race cars, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series has continued to offer something unique and exciting for every drag racing fan. The class continues to grow in popularity and is highlighted by historic muscle cars and a variety of late-model American muscle cars, as well as several different power adders.
For 24 years, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series has also featured standout drivers and legendary names in the doorslammer ranks, including past world champions like Rickie Smith, Von Smith, Khalid Al Balooshi, Mike Janis, Troy Coughlin Sr., Mike Castellana, Stevie “Fast” Jackson, Jordan Lazic, Kris Thorne, Jose Gonzalez and many others.
NHRA Pro Mod became an official national championship category in 2010, after serving as an exhibition or regional class. Now, it gets to celebrate its 25th year of competition in NHRA during a banner 2026, ensuring all fans get an opportunity to watch the incredible action all year.
“The 2026 season is a milestone moment for NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, which continues to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable categories in drag racing,” NHRA Senior Vice President Evan Jonat said. “We’re proud to celebrate this anniversary across all 11 events this year and offer fans free coverage on the NHRA YouTube page. With a bigger spotlight, it’s a great opportunity for these talented drivers to showcase their skills and what makes this class so enjoyable to watch.”
2026 NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Season Schedule
March 5-8 Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla.
March 20-22 Firebird Motorsports Park, Chandler, Ariz.
April 24-26 zMAX Dragway, Concord, N.C.
May 1-May 3 South Georgia Motorsports Park, Adel, Ga.
May 14-17 Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.
June 12-14 Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
June 25-28 Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
Sept. 2-7 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis
Sept. 25-27 Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, N.C.
Oct. 2-4 World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.
Oct. 29-Nov. 1 The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas
