2026 NHRA National Event Schedule

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

That was a big surprise to me as I would have thought the new IHRA would have done everything to lock that place up.

It's been a while since I've been there, but it was the only track I ever worked at where the fast cars had to turn around in the shut down area and drive back towards the starting line to get to the return road. Maybe it's changed, but I don't remember the land making it easy to extend the return road and build a cutoff to it.

Still, a very good venue with incredible air. Also the craziest dew I've ever experienced for night sessions.

As for the open date, considering it's right there with St Louis, wonder if the new track in western Missouri is going to slot in there.

The open date wouldn't work for Flying H as it's only 200 miles from WW Raceway, so you're drawing from the same demographic / area 2 weeks straight, it's what kind of kills E-Town when they added NED, the Candian crowd stopped coming down to Etown and went to NED instead which took away about 20% of the crowd out of the mix. I also heard Flying H still needs to do a lot of work to make it NE ready as the Divisional and Bracket finals were a big mess with logistics and parking. I would think going from Maple Grove to STL your going to see a VMP, Charlotte, No Problem Raceway get that date as it's logistical for the teams traveling

Also have to remember we're in August - the race is in May so MIR has 9 months to get things in order for a National and Royce does a great job and wouldn't put it past him to have plans laid out already on fixing things, they hold one of the largest Import Events in the USA there with World Cup with over 600+ cars so the place has room for the cars but I think you'll see a lower class NE there, like maybe no PSB & Alky, only one of the Top classes and maybe like a quota of like 50-55 for sportsman....just my throughts

[63corvette]

I believe the Electric Daisy Circus or EDC big event at Las Vegas in the spring killed the spring race. We were there this spring for both the National and Double Division races and the EDC setup was going on. It was a rumor going around the last couple of years that the EDC event paid the track much more than the two NHRA events. It was also a rumor EDC wanted a multi year contract for the event.
EDC rents the entire complex not just the Drag Track.
It is amazing how much setup there is for the EDC event and how big it is.
Just my take on why the spring event at LAs Vegas no longer exists.
Rick Cates
Canyon TX

[GTS340]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

I believe the Electric Daisy Circus or EDC big event at Las Vegas in the spring killed the spring race. We were there this spring for both the National and Double Division races and the EDC setup was going on. It was a rumor going around the last couple of years that the EDC event paid the track much more than the two NHRA events. It was also a rumor EDC wanted a multi year contract for the event.
EDC rents the entire complex not just the Drag Track.
It is amazing how much setup there is for the EDC event and how big it is.
Just my take on why the spring event at LAs Vegas no longer exists.
Rick Cates
Canyon TX

LVMS threw away their 4 wide entertainment. Not to smart!

Paul H

[SuperStock fan]

Originally Posted by GTS340

LVMS threw away their 4 wide entertainment. Not to smart!

Paul H

I'm sorry the Las Vegas spring race isn't on the schedule but I'm glad they there's one less circus race in the series. Drag racing is 2 cars only!

[Carl Battis]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

I believe the Electric Daisy Circus or EDC big event at Las Vegas in the spring killed the spring race. We were there this spring for both the National and Double Division races and the EDC setup was going on. It was a rumor going around the last couple of years that the EDC event paid the track much more than the two NHRA events. It was also a rumor EDC wanted a multi year contract for the event.
EDC rents the entire complex not just the Drag Track.
It is amazing how much setup there is for the EDC event and how big it is.
Just my take on why the spring event at LAs Vegas no longer exists.
Rick Cates
Canyon TX

I had to look up EDC to see what you were talking about. I found out that their 2026 dates are already sold out, but you can sign up for their waiting list. There does not seem to be any conflict with the dates for scheduling, but I am betting that the LVMS has decided to focus on the high yield, low hassle event.

NHRA leadership (oxymoron) should be circling the wagons right now to formulate a cogent strategy to defend one of their premier facilities which hosts 4-5 events each year. The clock is ticking. Am I the only one who noticed all of the empty seats in the stands this weekend at Indy?

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by Carl Battis

I had to look up EDC to see what you were talking about. I found out that their 2026 dates are already sold out, but you can sign up for their waiting list. There does not seem to be any conflict with the dates for scheduling, but I am betting that the LVMS has decided to focus on the high yield, low hassle event.

NHRA leadership (oxymoron) should be circling the wagons right now to formulate a cogent strategy to defend one of their premier facilities which hosts 4-5 events each year. The clock is ticking. Am I the only one who noticed all of the empty seats in the stands this weekend at Indy?

We have been to all the LVMS National and Division events since the EDC events started at LVMS.
The issue with scheduling is it takes 3 to 4 weeks to setup and 10 to 15 days to tear down and clean up the total mess it leaves at the facility. You would not believe the mess the EDC events leaves unless you witness it. We showed up at LVMS for the fall event I believe in 2023 10 days after the end of the EDC event and the drag track and pit areas looked like a war zone. Pit parking was delayed by one day for cleanup and the day late racers parked still had to clean their pit spaces of trash and spikes and lots of nails used to hold the roll out artificial turf EDC puts down.
Several racers had nails in slicks that year.
I believe it is all about the money EDC pays versus what they make from the NHRA events.
It is just a shame such a great facility is not utilized more by NHRA plus the west coast racers just lost another event in Division 7.
Just my take.
Rick Cates
Canyon TX

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

...I would think going from Maple Grove to STL your going to see a VMP, Charlotte, No Problem Raceway get that date as it's logistical for the teams traveling

You make a lot of sense. I was thinking of the distance between St Louis and Flying H being a good thing for racers, fuel cost, etc. and hadn't thought of it from each track's perspective.

But as much as I like No Problem - it's one of my top tracks for enjoying working at - I don't see any way they could handle a national without a massive rework.

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

You make a lot of sense. I was thinking of the distance between St Louis and Flying H being a good thing for racers, fuel cost, etc. and hadn't thought of it from each track's perspective.

But as much as I like No Problem - it's one of my top tracks for enjoying working at - I don't see any way they could handle a national without a massive rework.

I was just trying to think of tracks along the way of MG to STL that don't host NHRA Nationals that might want to grab the date and are possibly capable of doing it, it might be a think where they're waiting to see if VMP is painted Neon Green for 2026 or not