NHRA RETURNS TO MICHIGAN IN STYLE WITH DODGE NHRA GREAT LAKES NATIONALS PRESENTED BY MOPAR TO OPEN PLAYOFFS

MARTIN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in 66 years, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will race in Michigan, making its national event debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park as part of this weekend's inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR.

The highly-anticipated debut at US 131 Motorsports Park is the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, while the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR is the 15th of 20 races during NHRA's 75th anniversary season.

The first-ever NHRA national event at the standout facility poses a major challenge for championship hopefuls, but for Top Fuel contender and racing legend Tony Stewart, this weekend's Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR is an opportunity he's embracing.

"I like things that stir the pot a little bit, and to see us go to a track that nobody's been to yet, and for it to be the first race of the Countdown, it's absolutely the biggest equalizer you can ask for," Stewart said. " I feel comfortable going into a new track. Our guys are in a good spot and our car's in a good spot. It's a great way to start the Countdown and things could get pretty exciting."

Stewart, who won the Top Fuel regular season championship a year ago, enters the playoffs fourth in points, one spot below his wife, Leah Pruett, who is third and chasing her first world title.

Dodge and Mopar remain heavily involved in Tony Stewart Racing with longtime Dodge and Mopar racers Pruett and Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan. To mark the return to Michigan, both Hagan and Pruett will feature the new Dodge Charger Super Bee and Purple Haze color-themed look on their 12,000-horsepower cars. The weekend is also a chance for Pruett to start the playoffs strong and get her second win of 2026.

"It's very exciting to bring the Super Bee and popular Dodge Charger Purple Haze color livery to the inaugural Dodge Great Lakes Nationals," Pruett said. "I have already put the Dodge livery in the winner's circle and it would be so special to add the Purple Haze colors in our trophy case in the first NHRA National race in Michigan in 66 years."

Hagan has the chance to become just the second driver in Funny Car history to win five world championships. He'll start the Countdown to the Championship in the points lead on the strength of three wins in 2026, but the veteran knows there's plenty of work still to be done.

"This race carries a lot of weight. You can't take any of these guys lightly in this class," Hagan said. "Between all of them, it's going to be a dogfight. That's what the fans want and that's what I want. I'm preparing myself mentally for that and we're going to have to be able to adapt."

NHRA qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:15 and 2:45 p.m. ET on Friday and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the 2026 Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR, 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.

"Tour de Michigan:" To Hell and The Track
To mark the return to Michigan, Dodge and the NHRA are staging a "Tour de Michigan" on Thursday, allowing car and truck enthusiasts to cruise together from Dodge headquarters in Auburn Hills to Martin for the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR.

Participants will meet at 7:30 a.m. on the campus of Stellantis North America headquarters before embarking on an unforgettable end-of-summer cruise, with stops including Hell, Michigan and more, all the way to the fastest race ever in Michigan.

For more information, visit www.nhra.com/register-2026-nhra-dodge-tour-de-michigan.

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 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 (NHRA)