The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) today announced its acquisition of Maple Grove Raceway, marking a significant milestone for the sport of drag racing.

Established in the early 1960s, Maple Grove Raceway has earned national recognition as one of the fastest and most respected drag racing venues in the United States. For generations, it has served as a destination for racers and families, building a legacy rooted in community, competition, and tradition.

Under the leadership of the Koretsky family, Maple Grove has undergone a period of revitalization—pairing modern operational enhancements with the family-focused culture that has defined the racetrack for decades. Their commitment has preserved the track’s heritage while positioning it for long-term growth. The Koretsky family will continue to play an active role throughout the transition and in guiding Maple Grove’s future direction.

“This is a track with deep roots and an even stronger future,” said Darryl Cuttell, Owner of IHRA. “Maple Grove represents what racing should be—competitive, welcoming, and centered around racers and families. Bringing it under the IHRA umbrella is not just a business decision; it’s a commitment to strengthening the sport and investing in its long-term success.”

The Koretsky family emphasized the personal significance of this transition.

“Maple Grove has always been more than a racetrack to our family—it is home, not just for us, but for generations of racers,” the Koretskys said. “Our mission has always been to preserve this facility and ensure it remains a premier racing destination. Seeing Maple Grove join the IHRA family feels like a natural and meaningful next step for the sport.

“Meeting Darryl and Leah from the IHRA was truly eye-opening. Their vision, work ethic, and genuine passion for racers and fans are unmatched. Their innovative, forward-thinking approach is exactly what this sport has been missing. The IHRA shares our values—making racing affordable, fun, and family-centered. This new chapter is about honoring Maple Grove’s legacy while elevating the experience for future generations.”

The Koretsky family looks forward to working closely with the IHRA throughout 2026 and beyond.

With IHRA ownership, Maple Grove Raceway is expected to see continued investment in racer-focused services, fan amenities, youth and grassroots development, safety programs, and infrastructure improvements. This acquisition reinforces IHRA’s broader vision to elevate drag racing at every level while protecting the traditions that have made it a cornerstone of American motorsports.

Additional announcements regarding upcoming events, programming, and future initiatives at Maple Grove Raceway will be released in the coming months.

NHRA Implications

The recent acquisition of Maple Grove Raceway by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) — announced on December 12, 2025, from the previous owners (the Koretsky family) — has several potential implications for NHRA races at the track, but no immediate changes have been confirmed for the near term.

Short-Term Implications (2026 Season)

– The 2026 NHRA national event schedule includes a race at Maple Grove Raceway
– NHRA and track officials have multi-year sanctioning agreements for national events, so the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals (or equivalent Reading Nationals) is expected to continue in 2026 without disruption.
– IHRA leadership has publicly stated they have no ill feelings toward NHRA and aim to grow the sport collaboratively (e.g., referencing past track acquisitions where NHRA events continued). This suggests a cooperative approach rather than immediate conflict.

Longer-Term Implications

– Potential shift in focus: IHRA emphasizes grassroots, bracket, and sportsman racing with a family-friendly, affordable model. They plan investments in racer services, fan amenities, youth programs, safety, and infrastructure at Maple Grove — which could benefit NHRA events indirectly (better facilities) but might prioritize IHRA-sanctioned series more over time.
– Risk of losing NHRA national event status: If IHRA pushes its own professional or divisional series harder, or if negotiations sour, NHRA could eventually relocate the Northeast playoff-opener event (historically a high-attendance, record-setting race at Maple Grove). However, this is speculative—no such indications exist yet.
– Precedent from other tracks: Some IHRA-owned facilities host both sanctioning bodies’ events peacefully, while others lean more toward IHRA. Maple Grove’s strong NHRA history (hosting nationals since 1985, consistent sellouts under recent ownership) makes it a valuable venue, reducing the likelihood of abrupt changes.
– Positive side: New ownership could bring fresh marketing, upgrades, and energy, potentially boosting attendance and the overall experience for NHRA fans and teams.

In summary, no NHRA races are canceled or threatened right now—the 2026 event appears secure, and the change could even enhance the track. More details on programming and initiatives are promised in the coming months. If you’re planning to attend future events, keep an eye on official NHRA and Maple Grove announcements for any updates!

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Earlier this year, Larry Larson put the small-tire world on notice, defeating Lyle Barnett in the final round of the $75,000 King of the South invitational, headlining the Ronnie Buff Memorial weekend at Shadyside Dragway in Shelby, North Carolina.

During the opening day of PRI in Indianapolis, KotS promoter Corey Stamper and Shadyside Dragway co-owner Seth Buff officially extended invitations to both Larson and Barnett for the 2026 edition of the event, taking place May 21-24. 

Both drivers accepted, filling the first two spots in the 64-car, invite-only field of cars competing on 28×10.5 non-w slicks for another $75k.

Larson has only gained momentum since his KotS victory back in May, most recently winning the $40,000 True 10.5 N/T class at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks at Bradenton Motorsports Park. It’s been a dream season for the chassis-builder out of Oak Grove, Missouri, who originally made it into Kots earlier this year as an alternate.

“I wasn’t even invited last year,” said Larson. “They had some people drop out and Corey gave me an invite. I just went down there to see if I could learn something.”  

Barnett, meanwhile, will be looking for a little bit of payback behind the wheel of the Tommy Youmans-owned “Salvage Title” Mustang. After losing to Larson by a miniscule .004 margin of victory in 2025, Barnett is hoping to go one round further in 2026 at what he deems his hometown track.

“Shadyside is home to me,” Barnett said. “I live 35 minutes from the track. I’ve won a bunch of Corey’s Carolina Cash Days in Beer Money, and when King of the South became a reality, I told him no matter what, I wanted in.

“I’ll be honest, when I rolled into the final against Larry, I thought I had him covered,” Barnett continued. “And I did until about 330 ft., and then I watched that Harts Charger just walk away from me. Larry’s a good friend, and if we can manage to stay away from each other in the early rounds at Shadyside, I’d love to see him late in the race and see if we can duplicate that final round – just swap who gets to hold the trophy.”

In addition to the hugely popular Small-Tire invitational, Stamper is adding something new for 2026 – the $10,000 Knight of the South class, featuring a 16-car invitational on even smaller 26×8.5 slicks.  

KotS looks to once again be one of the biggest events of the year in 2026, building off their 2025 edition that sold out Shadyside and forced the fire marshal to close the gates on Saturday due to a record crowd. Track owners Seth and Zach Buff continue to build on their family’s legacy, giving racers a local “outlaw” feel that can’t be found at larger facilities.

“It means so much to us to have this caliber of drivers at our small track,” said Seth Buff. “It’s so surreal for us. During that weekend, I woke up and said, ‘This is unreal.’ It’s an amazing show they put on, and we appreciate them.”

Invitations will continue going out in the coming weeks. Fans can stay up to date on whether their favorite drivers will make the cut by following Spoold Media on social media outlets.

This story was originally published on December 13, 2025.

Aside from two backmarker teams in Haas Factory Team and Rick Ware Racing switching back to Chevrolet from Ford, giving the Bowtie twice as many teams as the Blue Oval after a season in which they were both responsible for fielding six organizations, there wasn’t much action in NASCAR Cup Series silly season this year.

The big change was one that many fans saw coming even before the 2025 season actually started, and it revolved around the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.

Though Daniel Suarez had won a race and qualified for the playoffs in 2024, he was entering a contract year, and his overall performance, specifically relative to teammate Ross Chastain, had left a bit to be desired. Trackhouse Racing development driver Connor Zilisch was rumored to be his replacement.

Amid a dominant season in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports during which he won 10 races, Zilisch was indeed confirmed as Suarez’s replacement, albeit in a renumbered No. 88 Chevrolet.

Connor Zilisch the lone NASCAR Cup Series rookie in 2026

Shane van Gisbergen used the No. 88 in 2025 but is set to use the No. 97 in 2026; the No. 99 is not set to be run by the team.

Suarez landed elsewhere fairly quickly, with Spire Motorsports capitalizing on the opportunity to sign him to replace the struggling Justin Haley behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet.

Haley dropped down to the Truck Series to reunite with Kaulig Racing, the team he was with from 2019 to 2023 across the Xfinity Series and Cup Series, as they prepare to begin their new partnership with Ram Trucks.

Other than that, there were no changes made to the Cup Series driver lineup. It means that in addition to Haley being the only driver to leave the series and Suarez being the only driver to move from Cup team to Cup team from 2025 to 2026, Zilisch is set to be the series’ only new full-time driver in 2026.

It means that he has effectively locked up the Rookie of the Year Award, as long as he simply shows up to the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in a couple of months.

Performance Racing Industry presented 22 manufacturers with a Featured Products Showcase Award during the 2025 PRI Show, recognizing the most innovative and cutting-edge advancements powering the racing industry.  

The Featured Products Showcase is the PRI Show’s premier destination for media, buyers, and professionals to discover the latest innovations driving motorsports. More than 400 products vied for top honors from a panel of 12 judges consisting of track operators, sanctioning body representatives, content creators, and media. Each product was evaluated for its breakthrough engineering, influence, and business potential. These standout products represent the technologies and trends that will revolutionize racing performance in 2026.

In addition to voting for their favorite top products, each judge had an opportunity to present one exhibitor with a Judge’s Pick Award, which represented their favorite product displayed in the entire showcase.

PRI Featured Products Showcase Top Product Award Winners

• AFCO Performance Group — New Elite Wireless Load Sticks from Longacre
• Antigravity Batteries — Antigravity Batteries Re-Start Sodium Battery
• ARP — BMW B58 ARP2000 Crank Pulley Bolt Kit
• DYME PSI — DYME Hose and Fittings
• EPIC Racewear — Custom Trailer Curtains
• Flagtronics by Ballenger Motorsports — Flagtronics FT200 / FT-RD / FT-AIO)
• FuelTech ECU — FT700 VCU
• GZERO Additive — GZERO Additive 43 Series 3D Printer
• Harts Turbo — 136mm Hartscharger
• Hoosier Racing Tire — TrackAttack Pro
• HP Race Brands — HPT F5 Dual Entry Turbine Housing
• INTERCOMP — Classic Weigh XBT Scales
• Katech Engineering — Katech TrackFlow LS7 & LS3 Billet High-Capacity Scavenge Oil Pump | KAT-A7936
• King Engine Bearings — King Racing Top Fuel Connecting Rod Bearings Set For Chrysler V8 Big Block 361CI 383CI – CR 806TFC
• Modern Driveline — 94-04 Mustang Stealth In-Dash Hydraulic Clutch Master Cylinder Kit
• MOTEC — MoTeC STW195 Steering Wheel
• NecksGen — NecksGen REVX
• ProCharger Superchargers — LS Air-to-Water intercooled Intake Manifold
• Racing Electronics — RE4000 Bluetooth Racing Scanner
• Redhorse Performance — RHP-HCM-888-2 Portable Crimp Machine Kit
• Sonic Tools USA — Mobile Track Kit
• SRI — Ocean Lagoon

Judge’s Pick Award Winners

• AFCO Performance Group — New Elite Wireless Load Sticks from Longacre
• CSM Performance — Precision Hub Stands–Motorsports
• Flagtronics by Ballenger Motorsports — Flagtronics SB-100 LED Signboards
• FuelTech ECU — FT700 VCU
• HP Race Brands — HPT F5 Dual Entry Turbine Housing
• King Engine Bearings — King Racing Top Fuel Connecting Rod Bearings Set For Chrysler V8 Big Block 361CI 383CI – CR 806TFC
• Lifeline Fire & Safety Systems — Lifeline Zero Formula Car Cockpit
  System (selected by two judges)
• Modern Driveline — 94-04 Mustang Stealth In-Dash Hydraulic Clutch Master Cylinder Kit
• ProCharger Superchargers — LS Air-to-Water intercooled Intake Manifol
• ProCharger Superchargers — F-4X-140-1
• Race Winning Brands — Chevrolet Gen V LT Billet CCW Crankshaft

The 2025 PRI Show is taking place Dec. 11-13 in Indianapolis with more than 1,060 exhibitors confirmed, including 161 first-time participants. This overwhelming response underscores the industry’s deep commitment to PRI as the central hub for connecting, innovating, and driving business forward. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.

This story was originally published on December 13, 2025.

NASCAR’s long-promised evolution toward a louder, faster and more demanding Cup Series continues to brew behind the scenes, with the latest developments taking place under a Trackhouse Racing tent at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Connor Zilisch, one of the sport’s most highly anticipated young talents, ran an offseason test on Friday that served as both a personal milestone and a glimpse into NASCAR’s 2026 future. Zilisch shared the day on social media, captioning it “First day of school,” a fitting description as he prepares for his first full-time Cup Series season.

Zilisch’s neon yellow No. 88 sat on an all-blackout Chevrolet, stripped of sponsors and branding save for the manufacturer logo and a small Zilisch mark on the fender. The test marked Zilisch’s transition from the Xfinity Series, where he delivered a historic season in 2025 that fell just short of a championship, into NASCAR’s top division.

The North Wilkesboro test centered on NASCAR’s plan to increase horsepower to 750 for select tracks in 2026, a response to years of criticism from drivers, teams, and fans who felt the Next Gen era muted driver skill and throttle control.

Officials have already run limited tests, including a July session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with three drivers, but the results were mixed.

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Veteran crew chief Tommy Baldwin said afterward the added power did not move the needle the way many expected, calling it surprising given how long horsepower increases had been touted as the solution. Baldwin still maintained that New Hampshire was the correct venue to evaluate the change, even if the outcome was disappointing.

The Cup Series once pushed close to 900 horsepower during the Gen-6 era before dropping to 750 in 2015, then plunging to 550 in 2019 in an effort to tighten racing. The introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022 increased output to 670 horsepower, but many drivers argued that it was still not enough.

Calls for more power came from stars like Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Ryan Preece, who floated numbers closer to 900 or even 1000 horsepower as the proper fix. NASCAR’s 750-horsepower plan represents a compromise, just like its settlement with 23XIRacing and Front Row Motorsports after nine days in court.

NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell confirmed that 750 horsepower will be used at a wide range of tracks in 2026. Those venues include road courses like Circuit of The Americas, Watkins Glen, Sonoma, and the Charlotte Roval, as well as short tracks and intermediates such as Martinsville, Bristol, Darlington, Dover, Richmond, Iowa, Gateway, Nashville, and North Wilkesboro.

Officials are also working closely with Goodyear to improve tire falloff, another long-standing demand from drivers, as higher speeds place greater emphasis on managing wear and grip.