NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

NHRA has announced a series of scheduling and format changes for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car for the 2026 season. These updates not only honor the tradition of these classes but also create more opportunities for race teams of all budgets to compete for national and regional championships, perform in front of larger audiences, and enjoy deeper, more competitive fields at the regional level.

NHRA spent the past several years working closely with its race teams, Sportsman Racing Advisory Council members, and member tracks to identify the best ways to strengthen Top Alcohol racing across the country. This effort has included some of the most passionate and innovative minds in the sport, all committed to continuing the 45-year legacy of Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car with the shared goal of increasing participation and showcasing these classes in front of as many fans as possible.

As a result, in 2026, there will be 24 combined Top Alcohol Dragster/Top Alcohol Funny Car events across the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, with no double-booked events. Events will be distributed across three regions, East, Central, and West, with the Central and North Central regions now combined. Additional highlights include:

• National events will now count toward regional championships
• Updated payout structure for regional championship
• New points structure to include qualifying points
• Updated Gold, Silver, and Bronze card structure, retroactively applied to 2025 
   

For additional details about the program, payouts, points, and more, you can view and/or download this document.