The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series rolls into a brand-new home this weekend for the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Md. — the second of four new events on the 2026 tour and the seventh race of the 75th anniversary season. Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon brings momentum off his Chicago win. Antron Brown is back on the East Coast for a hometown run. Funny Car co-leaders Ron Capps and J.R. Todd headline a class that is producing a different winner almost every weekend. Reigning Pro Stock champ Dallas Glenn leads a stacked Pro Stock field, and Richard Gadson tries to fend off Gaige Herrera and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle. This is your one-stop hub for the storylines, the schedule, the TV times, every Drag Illustrated story filed from MIR, and live qualifying and results as they come in.
Jump to: Storylines · 75th Anniversary · Mission Challenge · Schedule · TV Schedule · National Records · DI Coverage · Track Info
Event Facts
| Event | Inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS |
| Track | Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville, Md. |
| Dates | May 29-31, 2026 |
| Round | 7th of 20 races, 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series |
| Classes | Top Fuel · Funny Car · Pro Stock · Pro Stock Motorcycle · NHRA Lucas Oil Series |
| TV | FS1 (Fri/Sat qualifying) · FOX (Sunday eliminations) |
| Tickets | NHRA.com/tickets · Kids 12 and under free with adult GA |
Storylines to Watch
Top Fuel: Langdon’s lead, Brown’s home race, Kalitta’s title defense
Chicago winner Shawn Langdon arrives in Maryland with the Top Fuel points lead and three wins in 2026. The biggest threat may be the driver he just beat: four-time world champion Antron Brown, who calls the Mid-Atlantic his East Coast home and is the No. 2 seed in this weekend’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge after a runner-up finish at Route 66. Reigning world champion Doug Kalitta, racing legend Tony Stewart, Gainesville winner Josh Hart, Justin Ashley, Leah Pruett, Clay Millican, and rookie Maddi Gordon — fresh off back-to-back 340-mph runs in Valdosta — round out a loaded field. Krista Baldwin continues her Top Fuel return.
Funny Car: Two-way tie at the top, a class that won’t settle
Through six races, Funny Car has produced six different winners. Ron Capps (two wins) and past world champ J.R. Todd are tied for the points lead. Four-time champion Matt Hagan sits third. Chicago winner Chad Green, Valdosta winner Jordan Vandergriff, Route 66 runner-up Alexis DeJoria, Jack Beckman, Spencer Hyde, and Austin Prock all enter Maryland with realistic Wally aspirations. Don’t sleep on independent campaigners “Nitro” Joe Morrison and Chicago firefighter Chris King, either — both are in the field.
Pro Stock: Glenn leads, Hartford pushes, Anderson lurks
Reigning world champion Dallas Glenn rides two wins to the points lead. Matt Hartford matches that win total. Six-time champion Greg Anderson, who has the Pomona Wally and a heartbreak red light in the Chicago final, is still very much in the title hunt. Six-time champion Erica Enders heads to MIR after her first No. 1 qualifier since 2024. Chicago winner Aaron Stanfield, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and T.J. Coughlin round out a class that has been the most predictably stacked in the building since Day 1.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Gadson’s grip, Maryland’s hometown rider
World champion Richard Gadson leads the points. Gaige Herrera, six-time champ Matt Smith, Angie Smith (the Route 66 runner-up and No. 1 qualifier), John Hall, and Jianna Evaristo are all dangerous. Maryland native Kelly Clontz will have the home crowd. Steve Johnson‘s long-running Suzuki program is eager to get the NHRA back to the Mid-Atlantic. Expect the Smith camp to lead the qualifying sheet again — they have been at every event in 2026.
75th Anniversary: Muldowney, the Diamond Wally, a Pennant Giveaway
Sunday’s winners will hoist a special 75th anniversary Diamond Wally — a one-time look reserved for the milestone season. The MIR debut weekend is also part of NHRA’s anniversary tour with:
- An appearance from three-time Top Fuel world champion Shirley Muldowney with a tribute to her trailblazing career.
- A free limited-edition NHRA pennant for the first 4,000 fans in attendance Sunday.
- Antron Brown joins the NHRA Top 75 Driver List, joining Tony Schumacher, Ron Capps, and Greg Anderson on the milestone-season roll.
Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Field
The Saturday-only Top Fuel field is set off the four most recent results: Chicago winner Shawn Langdon draws Gainesville winner Josh Hart on one side of the ladder; Chicago runner-up Antron Brown meets Leah Pruett on the other. Mission Challenge finals run during the final qualifying sessions Saturday — winners get a bye into Sunday’s first round of eliminations and a paycheck on top of it.
Schedule
All times Eastern. NHRA Lucas Oil Series qualifying opens the racing each day at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, May 29 – Qualifying Day 1
| Time (ET) | Session |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series qualifying |
| 1:30 p.m. | NHRA Mission Foods Series Q1 (all pro classes) |
| 4:00 p.m. | NHRA Mission Foods Series Q2 (all pro classes) |
Saturday, May 30 – Qualifying Day 2 + Mission Challenge
| Time (ET) | Session |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Lucas Oil qualifying + eliminations |
| 12:30 p.m. | NHRA Mission Foods Series Q3 (all pro classes) |
| 3:00 p.m. | NHRA Mission Foods Series Q4 + Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge finals |
| 5:00 p.m. | Lucas Oil eliminations continue |
Sunday, May 31 – Eliminations
| Time (ET) | Session |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Pre-race ceremonies |
| 11:00 a.m. | NHRA Mission Foods Series eliminations begin |
TV Schedule (FOX/FS1)
| Day | Window (ET) | Network | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 29 | 7:00 p.m. | FS1 | Qualifying coverage |
| Saturday, May 30 | 9:00 p.m. | FS1 | Qualifying coverage |
| Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 p.m. | FOX | Three hours of eliminations / finals |
National Records to Watch
MIR’s NHRA national-event debut means no track records exist for the venue — every pass this weekend will set the bar. National records as they stand entering the weekend:
| Class | National ET Record | National Speed Record |
|---|---|---|
| Top Fuel | 3.623 – Brittany Force (Sept ’19, Reading) | 345.00 – Shawn Langdon (May ’26, Valdosta) |
| Funny Car | 3.793 – Robert Hight (Aug ’17, Brainerd) | 341.68 – Austin Prock (Nov ’24, Pomona) |
| Pro Stock | 6.443 – Greg Anderson (March ’25, Gainesville) | 215.55 – Erica Enders (May ’14, Englishtown) |
| Pro Stock Motorcycle | 6.627 – Gaige Herrera (Oct ’23, Dallas) | 205.04 – Matt Smith (July ’21, Sonoma) |
Drag Illustrated Pre-Race Coverage
Every Drag Illustrated story filed ahead of and during the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals, newest first. This list updates throughout race weekend.
- Pruett Looks to Maintain Consistency, Hagan Aiming for Points Lead at NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS – Tony Stewart Racing’s Top Fuel and Funny Car duo head to Maryland with momentum and points ambitions.
- Steve Johnson Eager to Bring NHRA Drag Racing to Maryland International Raceway – The 200-mph Suzuki veteran on what NHRA’s MIR debut means for the East Coast scene.
- Alexis DeJoria Heats Up Performance as Summer Nears Heading Into Inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals – Off her Route 66 runner-up, DeJoria likes where her Bandero Cafe Funny Car is at heading to MIR.
- “Nitro” Joe Morrison Ready to Race at Potomac Nationals – Independent Funny Car campaigner Joe Morrison previews his Potomac Nationals run.
- Maryland International Raceway’s Royce Miller Discusses Preparation For NHRA Potomac Nationals – MIR’s Royce Miller on what it takes to host the NHRA for the first time.
- Antron Brown Brings Momentum to Inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals Presented by JEGS – The four-time Top Fuel world champion likes his AB Motorsports Matco Tools team’s progress heading into a hometown East Coast race.
- Visit St. Mary’s MD and NHRA Set for Fan Fest Ahead of Maryland International Raceway Debut – Pre-race Fan Fest in St. Mary’s County ahead of NHRA’s MIR debut.
- JEGS Named Presenting Sponsor for NHRA Debut at Maryland International Raceway – JEGS comes on as title presenting sponsor for the inaugural Potomac Nationals.
Track Info & Directions
Maryland International Raceway · 27861 Budds Creek Road · Mechanicsville, Md.
- From the DC area: Beltway I-495 to Exit 7A (Branch Ave) · south 13 miles · left on Rt. 5 S · 3 miles, left at light to stay on Rt. 5 S · 13 miles, right on Rt. 236 · 6 miles to end, left on Rt. 234, MIR on right.
- From the south: I-95 N to Exit 104 (Rt. 301 N) · across the Potomac River Bridge · 5 miles, right on Rt. 234 · 7 miles to MIR in Budds Creek on the right.
Race results sourced from Drag Race Central via CompuLink timing data. Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster.
This story was originally published on May 28, 2026. 
The post 2026 NHRA Potomac Nationals: Schedule, Storylines, Results & Coverage first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
