The thrill-meter will be pegged to exhilaration all summer long with the variety of upcoming events scheduled for Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway from May thru September. Whether you consume your horsepower via finely-tuned motor engines or through the unpredictable antics of bucking broncs and nasty bulls, we’ve got you covered. Below is a quick glance at some of the events you will want to save the dates on your adventure calendars for the summer of 2026.
Large Cars & Guitars, May 8-9
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of entertainment at Large Cars & Guitars, where custom big rigs and live music come together for a cause! The event includes a Big Rig Light Show, Convoy for Hope, Speedway Children’s Charities-Bristol live auction, Fireworks Show, and live music. Plus, a Big Rig truck show that features some of the best looking 18-wheelers around. Friday’s concerts begin at 5:30 p.m. and include performances by “Long Haul” Paul Marhoffer, CCR Tribute Band, Ruby Leigh and Elvie Shane. Saturday’s music also starts at 5:30 p.m. and showcases Emi Sunshine, Tony Justice and John Schneider (Bo Duke from the Duke’s of Hazzard TV show). Gates open Friday at Noon and on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 12-14
Tennessee’s premier drag racing event, the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, roars back to Bristol Dragway, June 12-14, offering an adrenaline-fueled weekend of high-speed competition as the national event celebrates its milestone 25th anniversary during the National Hot Rod Association’s 75th Anniversary season celebration. Motorsports enthusiasts will witness the ultimate display of raw power as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series teams push the limits of high performance. All the stars from NHRA including Ron Capps, Tony Stewart, Doug Kalitta, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown, Cruz Pedregon, Clay Millican, Matt Hagan, Erica Enders and Greg Anderson, to name a few, will be on the track racing for more victories. From 12,000-horsepower nitro-burning Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars to precision-tuned Pro Stock cars and the wildly-unpredictable Pro Modified vehicles, the event showcases the pinnacle of straight-line racing. Spectators can expect heart-pounding action, with drivers battling it out on the fabled drag strip and reaching mind-blowing 330 mph speeds that defy imagination.
The Smoky Mountains Rodeo Showdown, July 10-11
A different kind of horsepower is set to invade iconic Bristol Motor Speedway July 10-11 during the Smoky Mountains Rodeo Showdown. Two action-packed nights of thrilling rodeo fun is scheduled as this high-energy event brings together top competitors for a true rodeo experience inside one of the most popular sports and entertainment venues in the country. From heart-pounding Bull Riding to lightning-fast Barrell Racing, plus fan-favorite events like Chute Doggin’, Wild Steer Racing and Mutton Bustin’ there’s something for every age of rodeo enthusiast in the grandstands. Whether you are a lifelong attendee of rodeo events or a first-time fan you don’t want to miss this historic event. Two pre-rodeo concerts, featuring the Pressley Laton Band on July 10th and Aaron Walker on July 11th, will infuse powerful country music performances into the weekend. Spectator gates open each night at 6 p.m. followed by the concert at 6:30 p.m. and then the main event begins each night at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale soon. For more information, please visit bristolrodeo.com.
NHRA Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals, July 10-18
Drag racing’s next generation of stars will come together at historic Bristol Dragway for two weeks of Jr. Dragster competition that includes the July 10-12 Mike Bos Chassis Craft Jr. Dragster Nationals and ultimately leads into the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals, July 13-18. The JDRL Nationals at Thunder Valley have become one of the greatest junior dragster events in the country and provides an annual entry list of 500-plus competitors have multiple opportunities to win and enjoy fellowship and sportsmanship with their peers. Drivers ranging in age from six to 17 will participate in several events throughout the week of racing including Saturday and Sunday’s bracket racing including the Teel Family Memorial Race on Sunday. For more information call 423-BRISTOL.
PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown returns to Bristol Dragway, August 6-8
The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) returns to Bristol Dragway August 6-8 for the PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown. The all-eighth mile series that features some of the world’s fastest doorslammer race cars in Pro Street, Pro Boost, Top Sportsman, Super Street and Pro Nitrous, among others, will make its third appearance on the historic dragstrip that sits in East Tennessee and was opened in the 1960s as Drag City U.S.A.
Bass Pro Shops Night Race NASCAR weekend, September 17-19
As the NASCAR Chase to the Championship heats up, the World’s Fastest Half-Mile becomes the ultimate battleground for all three of NASCAR’s major racing series as they pursue post-season glory. Drivers like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs and defending race winner Christopher Bell will push themselves and their machines to the absolute limit around Bristol’s unique .533-mile high-banked oval that has been called “The Holy Grail of Short Tracks”. The race weekend also features the rising stars of the ARCA Menards Series in the Bush’s Beans 200, the intense UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics in the Craftsman Truck Series and the high-stakes Food City 300 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. The weekend culminates with the crown jewel Bass Pro Shops Night Race, which serves as the third of 10 Chase races in the NASCAR Cup Series this season under the bright lights of Bristol Motor Speedway.
For additional information or to purchase tickets to any of these events, please visit BMStix.com or call 866.415.4158.
