After weeks of speculation, NHRA officials have confirmed that the fall 2026 Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will not convert to a four-wide format. The event will remain a traditional two-lane race, despite internal discussions to expand it.
Rumors of a four-wide format began circulating earlier this month, suggesting that Las Vegas would mirror the spring four-wide event held annually at Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway. According to NHRA Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Jeffrey Young, the idea was seriously considered before the sanctioning body opted against it.
“Next year will not be a four-wide,” Young said. “It’s going to be a normal event. We checked out Charlotte and wanted to test how it did with ticket sales and made a decision that for next year we’ll go two-wide for Vegas.”
The fall Las Vegas race has long been a fan favorite as one of the final stops in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. The series’ decision to keep it in a traditional format reflects a desire to preserve the race’s established identity while maintaining strong fan turnout in the back half of the season.
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to the lone “TBA” slot remaining on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule. Industry sources told CompetitionPlus.com the new event is likely headed to a historic track in the Carolinas that has been sanctioned by the NHRA, IHRA, and the now-defunct AHRA — a description that fits Rockingham Dragway.
Rockingham, which has undergone extensive renovations under new ownership, is widely considered the leading candidate. When asked about the timeline for an announcement, Young said it could come soon. “I would expect an announcement in the next couple of weeks on that,” he said.
If confirmed, the return of Rockingham would mark the NHRA’s first national event at the North Carolina since the event hosted the Winstoin All-Star event, a non-points paying race last held in the early 1990s..
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