Inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park to open Mission Foods Drag Racing Series playoffs during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season

MARTIN, Mich. (Dec. 15, 2025) – NHRA officials announced today that U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will have a Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in 2026, with the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals set to open the 2026 Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

The event will take place Sept. 18-20 at the standout facility in Martin, Mich., serving as the 15th of 20 races during NHRA’s special 75th anniversary season and the first of six playoff races. Tickets go on sale for the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals on Feb. 1.

It marks the first NHRA national event at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, giving NHRA four new national event facilities during the 2026 campaign and further displaying NHRA’s growth during the special milestone season that includes a premier list of national event tracks in 19 markets across the country.

“Hosting an NHRA national event underscores our continued commitment to excellence, safety, and delivering unforgettable motorsports entertainment,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Vice President of Operations Jason Peterson said. “We are honored to welcome the NHRA, its competitors, sponsors and fans, and we look forward to showcasing our facility, our staff and our passionate racing community that makes this region so special.”

The first two races in the Countdown to the Championship will be at two new facilities in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, as the Great Lakes Nationals in Martin, Mich., is followed by a trip to historic Rockingham Dragway for the NHRA Nationals at The Rock. Both U.S. 131 and Rockingham are preceded by first-time stops at South Georgia Motorsports Park on May 1-3 and Maryland International Raceway on May 29-31.

Known as “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Park has maintained its status as one of the Midwest’s premier drag racing facilities for decades, drawing fans from nearby markets in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo. A favorite for both racers and fans alike, the Peterson family has built the track into a marquee destination for more than two decades, making it a prime candidate to host an NHRA national event.

That comes to fruition in 2026, hosting a must-see playoff race during NHRA’s massive 75th anniversary season.

“We are thrilled to welcome U.S. 131 Motorsports Park to the NHRA national event schedule in 2026. It’s a historic milestone for the facility and it’s another terrific way to celebrate our 75th anniversary season, bringing the incredible action of NHRA drag racing to the passionate fan base in Michigan,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said.

“Opening the Countdown to the Championship at U.S. 131 will be extremely meaningful during our 75th anniversary season, as it reflects NHRA’s continued commitment to growing the sport and bringing championship-level NHRA racing to outstanding venues. The track’s dedication to its racers and fans, and its enthusiasm as a new NHRA Member Track makes it an excellent addition to the national tour, and we look forward to launching the Countdown there in 2026.”

U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will also host an NHRA national open on July 8-9, leading into a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event on July 10-12.

For more information on NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

The awards recognize the most innovative products powering the racing industry

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – December 15, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) — 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.

About Performance Racing Industry

Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier motorsports trade show, the PRI Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.

Source: Performance Racing Industry

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JR Motorsports has been linked to a potential move to the NASCAR Cup Series for years. Led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, the organization made its Cup Series debut in the 2025 Daytona 500 with Justin Allgaier, earning a top 10 finish. However, JR Motorsports’ path to a full-time opportunity has taken a hit.

NASCAR has settled with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, making charters “permanent” moving forward. Following the settlement, the value of NASCAR charters may have doubled, as reported by the Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern. This puts the value of a charter possibly around $90 to $100 million.

JR Motorsports previously struggled with the finances to buy a charter, so a full-time opportunity in the Cup Series is very unlikely without some help. The NASCAR organization will likely have to find partners to acquire a charter in the Cup Series. While the long-term acquisition of a charter might be good for business now, the price to buy one has skyrocketed, leaving JR Motorsports with a tough path ahead.

U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will have a Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in 2026, with the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals set to open the 2026 Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

The event will take place Sept. 18-20 at the standout facility in Martin, Mich., serving as the 15th of 20 races during NHRA’s special 75th anniversary season and the first of six playoff races. Tickets go on sale for the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals on Feb. 1.

It marks the first NHRA national event at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, giving NHRA four new national event facilities during the 2026 campaign and further displaying NHRA’s growth during the special milestone season that includes a premier list of national event tracks in 19 markets across the country.

“Hosting an NHRA national event underscores our continued commitment to excellence, safety, and delivering unforgettable motorsports entertainment,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Vice President of Operations Jason Peterson said. “We are honored to welcome the NHRA, its competitors, sponsors and fans, and we look forward to showcasing our facility, our staff and our passionate racing community that makes this region so special.”

The first two races in the Countdown to the Championship will be at two new facilities in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, as the Great Lakes Nationals in Martin, Mich., is followed by a trip to historic Rockingham Dragway for the NHRA Nationals at The Rock. Both U.S. 131 and Rockingham are preceded by first-time stops at South Georgia Motorsports Park on May 1-3 and Maryland International Raceway on May 29-31.

Known as “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Park has maintained its status as one of the Midwest’s premier drag racing facilities for decades, drawing fans from nearby markets in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo. A favorite for both racers and fans alike, the Peterson family has built the track into a marquee destination for more than two decades, making it a prime candidate to host an NHRA national event.

That comes to fruition in 2026, hosting a must-see playoff race during NHRA’s massive 75th anniversary season.

“We are thrilled to welcome U.S. 131 Motorsports Park to the NHRA national event schedule in 2026. It’s a historic milestone for the facility and it’s another terrific way to celebrate our 75th anniversary season, bringing the incredible action of NHRA drag racing to the passionate fan base in Michigan,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said.

“Opening the Countdown to the Championship at U.S. 131 will be extremely meaningful during our 75th anniversary season, as it reflects NHRA’s continued commitment to growing the sport and bringing championship-level NHRA racing to outstanding venues. The track’s dedication to its racers and fans, and its enthusiasm as a new NHRA Member Track makes it an excellent addition to the national tour, and we look forward to launching the Countdown there in 2026.”

U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will also host an NHRA national open on July 8-9, leading into a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event on July 10-12.

Hendrick Motorsports is among the teams positively impacted after NASCAR and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports reached a settlement. Following the trial, NASCAR teams were granted “permanent” charters, ending the “seven-year agreements” that put them on a running clock.

This was one of the biggest moments in NASCAR history, as the sport’s long-term future received a boost. After the news, Hendrick Motorsports revealed a statement from owner Rick Hendrick supporting the decision to end the lawsuit.

“Millions of loyal NASCAR fans and thousands of hardworking people rely on our industry, and today’s resolution allows all of us to focus on what truly matters – the future of our sport,” Rick Hendrick said in a statement. “For more than 40 years, NASCAR racing has been my passion. I believe deeply in what we can accomplish when we work together. This moment presents an important opportunity to strengthen our relationships and recommit ourselves to building a collaborative and prosperous future for all stakeholders. I’m incredibly optimistic about what’s ahead. When our industry is united, there’s no limit to how far we can go or how much we can grow the sport we love.”

Vasser Sullivan Championship Racing announced today that SealMaster will continue its long-standing partnership with the team through the 2026 season, further strengthening a relationship that spans nearly a decade across multiple major motorsports platforms.

SealMaster first partnered with Vasser Sullivan during the 2018 IndyCar season and expanded its support to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022.

For the upcoming 2026 season, SealMaster will be featured on both Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 entries, the No. 14 GTD PRO car and the No. 12 GTD car. Both machines will showcase the iconic SealMaster branding when they hit the track for the first time in January at the ROAR Before the 24 at the famed Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Vasser Sullivan Team Principals Jimmy Vasser & James ‘Sulli’ Sullivan:

“SealMaster has been at the nucleus of our success throughout the years. They are industry leaders without question, and it is an honor to represent the SealMaster brand and franchisees across the country as we chase another championship in 2026.”

Jason Hedlesky, SealMaster Director of Franchise Development:

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Vasser Sullivan again in 2026.  We pride ourselves in maintaining the world’s pavement as well as long-term partnerships. The relationship with Vasser Sullivan is no exception.”