Iconic Drag Racing Venue Gears up for NHRA Return in 2026

Sonoma Raceway, of Sonoma County, California, has announced that the 38th Annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals will take place from July 17 to 19, 2026, marking a return of the action to the heart of wine country.

The 2026 event is expected to generate a higher turnout, especially given that Sonoma has hosted the NHRA Drag Racing Series for around forty years. Confirming the return of the iconic event next year, Brian Flynn, Executive Vice President & General Manager at Sonoma Raceway, said in a statement:

“The DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals are all about pure speed and unforgettable fan experiences. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back July 17–19.”

Tickets for the 2026 event are already on sale on Sonoma’s official website.

NHRA is celebrating its 75th anniversary next year. To mark the iconic milestone, the sport recently revealed two venues that will make their debut in 2026. South Georgia Motorsports Park, near Valdosta, and Maryland International Raceway, near Washington, D.C., have been added to the calendar for the next year.

South Georgia Motorsports Park will feature the event from May 1-3. Addressing the new partnership, SGMP owner Raul Torres said in a statement:

“Immediately after purchasing SGMP, we had a vision to host an NHRA national event at our facility. Today, that vision is coming to fruition by signing a multi-year agreement to bring back the Southern Nationals to Georgia.

“Our fans, city, county, and state will reap the benefits for many years to come. This is a true testament that dreams do come true with hard work, and our family cannot be more grateful for the opportunity.”

The race at Maryland International Raceway is scheduled for May 29-31. Royce Miller, owner of MIR, said:

“We are thrilled to be hosting an NHRA National event here at Maryland International Raceway, I am excited to showcase the stars of our sport and incredible nitro racing to our dedicated and loyal MIR fans.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series 2026 Season Schedule

March 5-8: Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Florida

March 20-22: Firebird Motorsports Park, Phoenix

April 9-12: In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Pomona, California

April 24-26: zMAX Dragway, Charlotte

May 1-3: South Georgia Motorsports Park, Adel, Georgia

May 14-17: Route 66 Raceway, Chicago

May 29-31: Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville, Maryland

June 5-7: New England Dragway, Epping, New Hampshire

June 12-14: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee

June 25-28: Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio

July 17-19: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California

July 24-26: Pacific Raceways, Seattle

Aug. 20-23: Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota

Sept. 2-7: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis