THE 2026 INTERVIEW ISSUE
THE 2026 INTERVIEW ISSUE
On The Right Track
First-time NHRA national event track owners talk opportunity and challenges
By Nate Van Wagnen Photographs by Tara Bowker, Van Abernethy, Darrel Jackson Jr. and Jeff Kline
As the NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary this season, fans can expect to see plenty of familiar and even nostalgic elements – the return of legends, the celebration of the people and moments that made NHRA history, and even official uniforms that harken back to the“ glory days” of the sport.
But the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour will also see some new scenery as an unprecedented four new venues join the national event tour. It’ s the first time a new track has joined the lineup since the inaugural New England Nationals at Epping, New Hampshire’ s New England Dragway in 2013. And excluding the formative years of the NHRA professional series, it’ s the first time four new venues join the tour in one season.
Two of these new tracks are owned and operated by longtime track operators with extensive experience outside of hosting NHRA national events, while the other two are led by comparatively green owners. In the days leading into the 2026 season, Drag IllustrateD spoke with these new NHRA national event track owners to get their perspectives on all the things that come with hosting an NHRA national event for the first time.
Raul Torres is the first of these four owners on the schedule, as his South Georgia Motorsports Park will host the NHRA Southern Nationals May 1-3. Located in Adel,
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