NHRA is celebrating its milestone 75th season in 2026 and iconic Bristol Dragway, which is in the process of receiving a brand-new track surface during the off-season, will showcase one of the crown jewel events for the Southern California-based drag racing sanctioning body as host of the fan-favorite Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 12-14, as the legendary quarter-mile dragstrip is set for a full season of high-performance fun in 2026.
The new track surface, which is expected to be completed before the season kicks off in April, is a full replacement of the concrete on the historic facility from the starting line to the eighth-mile mark.
A fan-favorite event in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the 25th edition of the high-horsepower festival of speed will once again entertain huge crowds with 330 mph Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars, as well 200 mph Pro Stocks and Pro Stock Motorcycles and the always wild and unpredictable Pro Modifieds.
Continuing with a great NHRA tradition, every ticket is a pit pass at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, providing guests with unparalleled access to drivers and teams throughout the weekend. Single day tickets start at just $30 and kids (12-under) tickets are free for all three days in the main grandstand areas with a paid adult.
You can get up close and personal with all the top stars of the NHRA, including multi-time champ Antron Brown, two-time Bristol winner Justin Ashley, three-time Bristol winner Doug Kalitta, 2017 Bristol winner Clay Millican, Tony Schumacher, Leah Pruett and NASCAR Hall of Famer turned NHRA racer-owner Tony Stewart in Top Fuel; Austin Prock, eight-time Bristol winner Ron Capps, 2015 Bristol winner and Virginia cattle rancher Matt Hagan, Alexis DeJoria and Bob Tasca III in Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. in Pro Stock; and Gaige Herrera, Matt Smith and Steve Johnson in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
While the NHRA’s incredibly fast race cars and every ticket is a pit pass policy are sure to grab your attention, that event alone isn’t the only reason for a high-performance enthusiast to be super excited about what Bristol Dragway has in store in 2026.
Back for its second year at the Dragway, the Large Cars and Guitars Truck Show, comes to Bristol Dragway May 8-9. The one-of-a-kind event is a big Truck Show that brings together the best in music, food and entertainment during one fun weekend.
In August, the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) will return to historic Bristol Dragway for the PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown, Aug. 6-8. Featuring 12 classes of high-horsepower divisions, including several wheel-standing doorslammer classes, with just about every competition combination covered, the race is one of seven stops in the PDRA’s season-long Million Dollar Tour.
The sport’s next generation of stars (ages 6 to 17) will continue to take center stage at Bristol Dragway in July for one of their biggest events of the season. The region will welcome more than 500 young racers and their families for a week full of racing activities beginning July 10 with the Jr. Dragster Nationals presented by Mike Bos Chassis Craft, and culminating July 13-18 with the NHRA JDRL Eastern Conference Finals.
The BTE World Footbrake Challenge returns for its 20th anniversary on July 1-5, while the BTE Labor Day Footbrake Challenge will be held Sept. 3-6. Racers in both events will duel for the largest payouts in Thunder Valley history. These two races will feature some of the best sportsman and bracket racers in the country.
One of the most popular bracket racing events in the country, the Rad Torque Systems Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries returns to the Thunder Valley schedule for the 17th time, Sept. 29-Oct. 3. The most successful Super Pro racers in the country will converge at Bristol Dragway for the opportunity to win lucrative purses.
The popular Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights, where participants are able to run their registered street cars down the historic Bristol Dragway strip, will be held during seven nights in 2026, including April 18, May 16, May 30, June 27, August 1, August 15 and August 29.
The DER Series, Bristol Dragway’s NHRA Summit Racing Series, where local racers compete for the chance to race on the NHRA national stage, are scheduled for seven big weekends, including April 24-26, May 1-3, May 22-24, June 19-21, July 24-26, Aug. 21-23 and Sept. 25-27.
“Bristol Dragway continues to be one of the busiest drag strips in the nation and this year with an updated track surface the action is expected to be faster than ever,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway. “In June we look forward to crowning our 25th anniversary race winners during a very special Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals as we are proud to be a part of NHRA’s milestone 75th anniversary season. We can’t wait to see all of you at the track enjoying the fun.”
In addition to all of the drag racing action, just across campus at the legendary Bristol Motor Speedway there are also several major events happening in 2026.
A brand-new event is coming to Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway in 2026, the 44th annual Shell SuperRigs, June 25-27. The premier trucking showcase features 20 categories of competition, including Best Chrome, Best Lights and the coveted Best of Show. More than $25,000 in cash and prizes is available to the event’s 12 winners. Those 12 also will earn a spot in the prestigious 2027 Shell Rotella SuperRigs Calendar, a badge of honor within the industry. The event offers interactive exhibits and family-friendly entertainment.
As a reminder, the NASCAR action will be intense all season at Bristol Motor Speedway starting with the Food City 500 weekend April 10-12; and the Bass Pro Shops Night Race NASCAR weekend, Sept. 17-19, which will showcase the NASCAR Chase in all three of NASCAR’s marquee divisions.
The tradition-rich Food City 500 Cup race will be held on Sunday afternoon, April 12; the 300-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race and Bush’s Beans Qualifying will be featured on Saturday, April 11; and the Tennessee Army National Guard 250 Truck Race will be showcased under the lights on Friday, April 10 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
In September, the crown jewel Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, Sept. 19 will be race 3 of 10 in the NASCAR Chase; The Food City 300 on Friday, Sept. 18, will serve as the third of nine Chase races in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series; and in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the popular UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics on Thursday, Sept. 17 will serve as the kick-off for the 7-race Chase. The Bush’s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series race will be contested as part of a thrilling Thursday doubleheader.
To keep up with the latest information on Bristol Dragway and Bristol Motor Speedway and to purchase tickets, please visit the Bristol Motor Speedway website or call 423-BRISTOL.
2026 Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway Schedule
April 10 Tennessee Army National Guard 250 Truck Race (speedway)
April 11 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series 300 & Bush’s Beans Qualifying (speedway)
April 12 Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series (speedway)
April 18 Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights 1
April 24-26 DER Series Race 1
May 1-3 DER Series Race 2
May 8-9 Large Cars and Guitars Truck Show
May 16 Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights 2
May 22-24 DER Series Race 3
May 30 Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights 3
June 12-14 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (NHRA Mission Foods Series)
June 19-21 DER Series Race 4
June 25-27 Shell Super Rigs
June 27 Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights 4
July 1-5 20th anniversary BTE World Footbrake Challenge
July 10-12 Junior Drag Week: Jr. Dragster Nationals presented by Mike Bos Chassis Craft
July 13-18 Junior Drag Week: NHRA JDRL Eastern Conference Finals
July 24-26 DER Series Race 5
Aug. 1 Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights 5
Aug. 6-8 Professional Drag Racers Association Series Thunder Valley Throwdown
Aug. 15 Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights 6
Aug. 21-23 DER Series Race 6
Aug. 29 Summit Racing Equipment Street Fights 7
Sept. 3-6 BTE Labor Day Footbrake Challenge
Sept. 17 UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics Craftsman Truck Chase Race (speedway)
Sept. 17 Bush’s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series (speedway)
Sept. 18 Food City 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase Race (speedway)
Sept. 19 Bass Pro Shops Night Race NASCAR Cup Series Chase Race (speedway)
Sept. 25-27 DER Series Race 7
Sept. 29-Oct. 3 Rad Torque Systems Fall Fling presented by Strange Engineering
