NHRA will award more than $27 million in purse money and payouts during the 2026 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, highlighted by the introduction of the Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund during the organization’s milestone year.
The special fund will distribute $500,000 over the course of the 2026 season and is designed to recognize teams that promote NHRA’s 75th anniversary while honoring the legacy of founder Wally Parks.
“Supporting and rewarding our racers at every level has always been a priority for NHRA. During our milestone 75th anniversary season, we’re excited and proud to take that commitment further,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said.
“The introduction of the Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund is a fitting way to honor Wally and NHRA’s legacy, while directly giving back to the competitors who are currently part of it,” Cromwell said.
NHRA officials said the overall purse represents an increase from 2025 and will be distributed across the organization’s 20-race national event schedule.
The expanded payout structure reflects NHRA’s continued emphasis on supporting teams across all levels of national competition.
The total payout includes event purses for competitors in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at national events.
It also includes the year-end championship purse for the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, which rewards performance across NHRA’s professional categories.
Additional payouts are allocated to the All-Star Callout races in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The All-Star Callout format remains one of NHRA’s premier specialty events, offering head-to-head competition with added financial incentives for top performers.
Funding for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle is also included in the 2026 purse structure.
The #2Fast2Tasty Challenge rewards qualifying performance and Saturday race-day results, adding competitive stakes throughout national event weekends.
NHRA’s payout total also incorporates funding for the regular season championship, a program introduced last season across the four professional categories.
The regular season championship will continue in 2026, providing additional financial rewards for consistency prior to the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Central to the anniversary season payout is the Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund, which will only be available during the 2026 campaign.
The initiative honors Parks, who founded NHRA in 1951 and helped establish organized drag racing nationwide.
Teams will earn eligibility for the appreciation fund by promoting each race during the 2026 season, displaying a 75th anniversary decal on their cars and flying a commemorative anniversary flag on their haulers at events.
NHRA officials said the requirements are intended to create a visible, unified presence throughout the anniversary season while rewarding team participation.
“With a total purse of more than $27 million for 2026, we’re thrilled to award the incredible drivers and teams who compete at the highest level in our sport and deliver an amazing show for NHRA fans across the country,” Cromwell said.
“With programs like the regular-season championship, specialty races and more, we’re excited about what will be a truly remarkable and historic 2026 season,” he said.
The 2026 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule features 20 national events, including 14 races during the regular season prior to the Countdown playoffs.
The schedule maintains NHRA’s national footprint while serving as the foundation for its year-long anniversary celebration.
The season will open March 5-8 with the 57th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
The Gatornationals have long been one of NHRA’s cornerstone events and will serve as the launch point for the organization’s 75th anniversary season.
NHRA officials said additional details regarding the distribution of the Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund will be released closer to the start of the season.
“Supporting and rewarding our racers at every level has always been a priority for NHRA,” Cromwell said.
