NHRA Set for Thrilling Debut at South Georgia Motorsports Park with NHRA Southern Nationals

ADEL, GA – April 2, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – As NHRA continues its monumental 75th anniversary celebration throughout the 2026 season, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is set to make its thrilling debut at popular South Georgia Motorsports Park for the 41st annual NHRA Southern Nationals on May 1-3.

For the first time, the biggest names in the NHRA will appear at South Georgia Motorsports, set to wow fans with unforgettable 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph nitro-powered action in Top Fuel and Funny Car, as the historic Southern Nationals returns at a can’t-miss new location during NHRA’s milestone campaign.

Winners in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be the first to win the highly coveted NHRA 75th anniversary diamond Wally at SGMP, making it a must-see event for every fan.

From two rounds of qualifying on Friday, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race on Saturday – as well as two more rounds of qualifying – and eliminations on Sunday, it’s a jam-packed weekend at SGMP, bringing back the Southern Nationals name to the NHRA circuit. It’s the first of four visits to new facilities for NHRA in 2026 and this one will feature a host of 75th anniversary events, including:

• An appearance from NHRA legend and three-time Top Fuel world champion “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, as well as NHRA legend Darryl Gwynn.
• A celebration of Garlits’ historic career and his passion for innovation, engineering and advancing the sport of drag racing.
• On Friday, a free, limited-edition NHRA pennant will be given to the first 3,500 fans in attendance.
• A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and 75th anniversary stage in Nitro Alley.

The festivities kick off from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 with a “Rev & Rally” race weekend preparty and fanfest from Visit Valdosta at the Rainwater Conference Center. Fans can meet a host of their favorite NHRA drivers, enjoy live music, enter a free raffle with prizes including a pair of tickets to the NHRA Southern Nationals and much more.

The 2026 NHRA Southern Nationals will see action from all four NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series classes and coverage of the event will be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 3.

The Top Fuel class will bring its high speeds and impressive performance to South Georgia. The 2026 season is off to a great start with stars like Josh Hart of John Force Racing and former world champion Shawn Langdon of Kalitta Motorsports snagging early wins this season. Others to watch include reigning world champion Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown, Tony Stewart, Leah Pruett and rookie sensation Maddi Gordon.

The Funny Car season kicked off with Chad Green winning for the second straight year in Gainesville, while three-time world champion Ron Capps won in Phoenix. Reigning two-time world champ Austin Prock has faced early challenges 2026, while past title winners include Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Cruz Pedregon and J.R. Todd, who will look to make their mark at the new facility.

Reigning Pro Stock world champ Dallas Glenn earned his first race win of the season in Phoenix. He and KB Titan Racing teammate, six-time world champion Greg Anderson battled throughout 2025, but it was Glenn who won out for his first title. Matt Hartford won in Gainesville to open 2026, while Elite Motorsports, led by six-time champion Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin, will look to put on a show at SGMP.

Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Richard Gadson won his first world title last season over Vance & Hines teammate and two-time champ Gaige Herrera. Six-time champ Matt Smith and his teammates, Angie Smith, John Hall and Jianna Evaristo, will look to challenge the Vance & Hines team, as will Steve Johnson, Chase Van Sant and Clayton Howey.

The NHRA Southern Nationals will also feature the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and the Summit Racing Equipment Jr. Drag Racing League Shootout.

All weekend, fans will be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits. The stage hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, autograph sessions and much more. Race fans at South Georgia Motorsports Park can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. They are also invited to congratulate the event winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, May 1 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 2 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 3. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday and 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, with eliminations action to follow at 7 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Southern Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association 

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