Visit St. Mary’s MD and NHRA set for Fan Fest ahead of Maryland International Raceway Debut

MECHANICSVILLE, MD – May 22, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – To celebrate NHRA’s thrilling debut at Maryland International Raceway for next weekend’s inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, Visit St. Mary’s MD, the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development and NHRA have partnered together for a driver meet and greet featuring a huge lineup of NHRA stars.

The free, can’t-miss event will take place on Thursday, May 28 from 5-7 p.m. at The Barns at New Market (29133 Thompson Corner Rd., Mechanicsville, Md.). Driver autographs are slated from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and includes a host of NHRA standouts, including four of the points leaders in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

Fans can meet and get autographs from Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon, Funny Car’s J.R. Todd, who is tied for the points lead, Pro Stock points leader Dallas Glenn and Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Richard Gadson, as well as NHRA standouts Tony Stewart, Leah Pruett, Southern Maryland native Kelly Clontz, Matt Hagan, Maddi Gordon, Jordan Vandergriff, Justin Ashley, Austin Prock, Justin Ashley, Daniel Wilkerson, Angie Smith, Matt Smith, Josh Hart, Will Smith, Clayton Howey, Lex Joon, Troy Coughlin Jr., Dave Richards and more.

Along with a chance for fans to meet their favorite drivers and get autographs, the festive atmosphere and kickoff to the inaugural NHRA weekend will also include junior dragsters, live music, food and drink vendors, a classic car show and more. For fans traveling to St. Mary’s County for the race, they can visit www.visitstmarysmd.com for planning resources, including lodging options, area attractions, and local retail and restaurant options.

Following Thursday’s meet and greet, things heat up on the track with 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, plus a host of NHRA 75th anniversary events, including:

• An appearance from NHRA legend and three-time Top Fuel world champion Shirley Muldowney and a tribute to Muldowney’s trailblazing history in the sport.
• On Sunday, a free, limited-edition NHRA pennant will be given to the first 4,000 fans in attendance.

The 2026 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS features action in all four pro classes and the race will be broadcast on FOX, with elimination coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. With an NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally on the line and a chance to win the first-ever race at Maryland International Raceway, the event marks one of the early-season highlights during NHRA’s milestone year.

Past Top Fuel world champion Langdon has been on a tear, winning back-to-back races against a loaded field that includes reigning world champ Doug Kalitta, Hart, Stewart, Pruett, Gordon, Clay Millican, Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher.

The Funny Car class continues to be ultra-competitive, with Todd and Ron Capps leading the way. Other standouts include Hagan, Vandergriff, Chad Green, Jack Beckman, Alexis DeJoria and Prock.

Reigning Pro Stock champ Glenn is the points leader, but it’s a tight field with Greg Anderson, Matt Hartford, Erica Enders and Aaron Stanfield close behind.

Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson leads the way in the two-wheeled category, followed closely by M. Smith, Herrera, A. Smith and John Hall.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 30 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, with eliminations action on Sunday at 3 p.m on FOX.

To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, fans can visit NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more info about NHRA, visit NHRA.com.

About JEGS

About JEGS High Performance

Founded in 1960 by drag racing champion Jeg Coughlin Sr., JEGS Performance has grown into one of the most recognized and trusted names in the automotive aftermarket industry. JEGS serves racers, builders, restorers, and automotive enthusiasts across the country through an extensive catalog and e-commerce platform featuring more than 2 million products from over 900 trusted brands. From drag racing and street performance to off-road, truck, restoration, and garage equipment, JEGS provides solutions for nearly every type of automotive project and passion. The company’s long-standing commitment to performance, innovation, and automotive culture has helped make JEGS a go-to destination for generations of car enthusiasts and racers. For more information visit www.jegs.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 and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series presented by Hoosier 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, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association 

####