NHRA Youth and Education Services®
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NHRA Youth and Education Services®
NHRA is an acronym for National Hot Rod Association. Founded in 1951, the company was originally created as a means of getting hot-rodders off the streets and into a safer environment. Today, the NHRA is the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body and the foremost promoter of drag racing in the world! It entertains millions of racing fans per year, with the fastest and most spectacular form of entertainment on wheels. The NHRA’s premier racing series features 24 national championship events each year.
The NHRA Youth & Education Services (YES) Program was founded in 1989. It is the only full-time education program in motorsports that provides quality programs and activities for schools and youth organizations nationwide. Not only is the YES Program FREE, it focuses on the importance of goals and continued education, while allowing students to learn about and explore various career opportunities. The program will show students how S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is applied to both, real world situations and NHRA Drag Racing, which they will have the opportunity to see live at the track!
2026 NHRA Mission Foods DRAG RACING SERIES YES PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Feb 27- Career Day at Famoso Raceway Bakersfield, CA
March 6- NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, FL
March 20- NHRA Arizona Nationals Phoenix, AZ
April 10- Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals Pomona, CA
April 24- NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC
May 1- NHRA Southern Nationals Adel, GA
May 15- Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Joliet, IL
May 15- NHRA National Open John Scotti Canadian Championship Series, Toronto, ON, Canada
May 29- NHRA Potomac Nationals Mechanicsville, MD
May 29- North West National Open, Mission, BC Canada
June 5- NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
June 12- Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN (Virtual Program)
June 26- Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Norwalk, OH (Virtual Program)
July 17- DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA (Virtual Program)
July 24- Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals Seattle, WA (Virtual Program)
August 21- NHRA Nationals Brainerd, MN (Virtual Program)
Sept. 4- Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN
Sept. 18- NHRA Great Lakes Nationals, Martin, MI
Sept. 25- NHRA Nationals at The Rock Rockingham, NC
OCT. 2- NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, Madison, IL
Oct. 16- Texas NHRA FallNationals, Dallas, TX
Oct. 29- NHRA Nevada Nationals, Las Vegas, NV (Thursday Program)
Nov. 13- In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, Pomona, CA
* Please Note any event listed with a (Virtual Program) notation involves watching the Virtual YES Program Presentation at any point during the school year and receiving a free Friday Race Ticket for the Date of the event to attend in Person. You can find the virtual Program by visiting the Virtual Y.E.S. Program page in the main menu above.
Virtual Y.E.S. Program
This virtual YES Program curriculum will show students how S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is applied to both, real-world situations and NHRA Drag Racing. After completion of this digital program, all participating students are eligible to receive a free ticket to attend an upcoming NHRA National Event in person.
Mid-America Dragway teaches area students through STEM
NHRA Opening Day - Top Fuel Driver Antron Brown
Say YES to Learning by Neil Reid at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Supercharge Your School Fieldtrips (Pomona, California)
NHRA Midwest Nationals return to Gateway Motorsports Park
Tony Schumacher on Fox and Friends (Englishtown, New Jersey)
To gain access to the NHRA Virtual YES Program Supplemental Videos, please enter your email address and the passcode that was given to you upon completion of the Virtual YES Program. This Passcode can be found at either the “Thank You Screen” or in the email that was sent to you called “NHRA Virtual Youth & Education Services Program Certificate of Completion”
If you do not have your passcode or have not yet completed the Virtual Youth & Education Services Program, you can do so by going to nhra.com/virtualyesprogram.
Supplemental Video Library
Cylinder Heads
Making Horsepower
Suspension
Ignition Systems
Weather
NHRA Launch Motorsports Careers
Spark Plugs
Safety Systems
Superchargers
Nitrous Oxide
Modern Day Shop Tour
The Devil is in the Details
The Evolution of Technology in the Automotive Industry
TIRES
FUEL
Downforce & Wings
Details coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does Y.E.S. Program mean? Yes Program stands for Youth and Education Services Program.
How do I sign-up? Educators can click on the SIGN UP tab above and submit the online registration form. Once the educator signs up, he or she will receive an email with a link for student and chaperone registration.
How far in advance do I need to sign-up? You may sign-up all the way until the day of the event. NHRA will also provide iPads on-site, to register last minute additions, bus drivers and chaperones. However, doing the online registration ahead of time will expedite the process.
Who should attend? All students are welcome, including, but not limited to; middle schools, high schools, colleges and tech schools. The science behind drag racing can be applied to multiple subjects: Automotive, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Art/Graphic design, Sports Medicine, Marketing, Business, Hospitality, and etc....
How long is the event? Students must arrive between 9 and 10:30am. The program lasts approximately 90 minutes, and then you have the opportunity to watch Championship Drag Racing and walk through the pits for as long as you like.
What do I need to bring? Nothing is REQUIRED, but we do suggest sunscreen, hats, and earplugs.
How much does the program cost? This is a FREE program; however, NHRA does not provide transportation or lunches.
What food options will there be?: Multiple concession stands will be open for students to purchase lunch. No food is provided by the NHRA. Concessions range from $6 - $12 per item.
Who is racing and when?: Please go to www.nhra.com and click on the event you are attending for that event's specific race schedule. Make sure to click on the box below for the full race schedule that day.
Conduct:: Please conduct yourself and advise your students to behave in a respectful manner to all NHRA staff, security, and event workers. We suggest 1 chaperone per 15 students.
Waiver Forms: Upon signing up, please read ALL of the directions. Every participant must fill out their waiver form online. This is your waiver form and your ticket to enter the YES program.
Full Lesson Plan (link)
Science - Acceleration (link)
Technology - Precision Precisely! (link)
Engineering - Innovation and Safety (link)
Math - Calculate the Win Part 1 (link)
Math - Calculate the Win Part 2 (link)
Language Arts - Let the Race Begin Part 1 (link)
Language Arts - Let the Race Begin Part 2 (link)
Business- Behind the Scenes (link)
Top Fuel Rubber Band Dragster
Great American Dragster Derby Lesson Plan (link)
For more information visit AeroRacers.com
*When purchasing an 8 pack of Nitro Top Fuel Dragsters for classroom use promo code NHRA to save!
NHRA Sports Science
How a Top Fuel Dragster Works
NHRA Opening Day - Top Fuel Driver Antron Brown
Say YES to Learning by Neil Reid at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Supercharge Your School Fieldtrips (Pomona, California)
NHRA Midwest Nationals return to Gateway Motorsports Park
Tony Schumacher on Fox and Friends (Englishtown, New Jersey)
John Baadilla
Director, National Event Marketing Operations
National Hot Rod Association
140 Via Verde, Suite 100
San Dimas, CA 91773
Office: 626-250-2372 (PST)
Email: jbaadilla@nhra.com