The 2026 IHRA Triple Crown opens at Darana Raceway in Hebron, Ohio on June 19-20. Five classes – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod, Pro Stock, Mountain Motor Pro Stock – are each eligible for a $1 million bonus if a single competitor wins all three races on the Triple Crown calendar. Top Fuel and Funny Car go at 1,000 feet. Pro Mod, Pro Stock and Mountain Motor Pro Stock at the eighth-mile. Pre-race Street Party at Buckeye Lake Village Thursday June 18. Live broadcast on Speed Sport. Adult tickets $30 online (gate $40); kids 12 and under free. Gates Friday 8 a.m.; racing 10 a.m. Refresh through Sunday for live coverage powered by Larry Jeffers Race Cars.
The IHRA Triple Crown lands in Hebron, Ohio on June 19-20, opening the three-race series at Darana Raceway with five professional categories on the championship clock and a $1 million bonus riding on every one of them. Win all three Triple Crown races in your class and the seven-figure check is yours. Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod, Pro Stock, and Mountain Motor Pro Stock are all part of the program.
The 15-car Top Fuel field is anchored by names that read like a Funny Car-era class reunion: Mike Salinas, Scott Palmer, Spencer Massey, Lex Joon, Krista Baldwin, Jasmine Salinas, Shawn Reed and Bernie Plourd among them. The 15-car Funny Car field counts Del Worsham, Dale Creasy Jr., Jon Capps and Paul Lee in the lineup. Nitro Harley brings 18 deep. Top Fuel Motorcycle features Larry “Spiderman” McBride. The Hemi Shootout, Outlaw Pro Mod, Nitro Harley, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car and Nostalgia Pro Stock round out a card that turns Darana into a full nitro showcase. Hub powered by Larry Jeffers Race Cars. Refresh through Sunday.
The Stakes – $1 Million Triple Crown
The IHRA Triple Crown bonus is structured per class: win all three Triple Crown events on the calendar in your class and the $1 million bonus is paid on top of event purses. That offer is live in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Modified, Pro Stock, and Mountain Motor Pro Stock. Hebron is Race 1 of 3.
| Class | Distance | $1M Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| Top Fuel | 1,000 ft | YES |
| Funny Car | 1,000 ft | YES |
| Pro Modified | 1/8 mile | YES |
| Pro Stock | 1/8 mile | YES |
| Mountain Motor Pro Stock | 1/8 mile | YES |
| Outlaw Pro Mod | 1/8 mile | – |
| Top Fuel Motorcycle | 1/8 mile | – |
| Nitro Harley | 1/8 mile | – |
| Fuel Altered | 1/8 mile | – |
| Top Alcohol Dragster | 1/4 mile | – |
| Top Alcohol Funny Car | 1/4 mile | – |
| Hemi Shootout | 1/4 mile | – |
| Nostalgia Pro Stock | Exhibition | – |
Storylines
Meyer Sisters Make Their IHRA Triple Crown Debut
Megan Meyer arrives at Hebron in the GUNK dragster, with sister Rachel Meyer in the Hedinger’s Equipment ride – the family’s Dynamic Duo program lining up against a 15-car Top Fuel field. Their entry adds the kind of women-driven Top Fuel narrative the sport has not had at full strength since the Pruett-Force-Smith eras of the 2010s. Megan brings a championship-winning Top Alcohol Dragster pedigree forward; Rachel brings the next-generation rookie energy. Both ride for a family operation that has racked up multiple national-event Top Alcohol wins. They land in a field stacked with Mike Salinas, Spencer Massey, Lex Joon and Scott Palmer, so the show-up storyline starts immediately on Friday.
Spiderman in Top Fuel Bike
Larry “Spiderman” McBride headlines the Top Fuel Motorcycle field – the most decorated nitro Harley/TFM rider in the sport’s history. He pulls into Darana against Bob Malloy, Gerald Hunt, Jaska Salakari, Jason Pridemore, Micah Fenwick, Mitch Brown and Richard Deys for an 8-bike sprint at the eighth-mile.
The Nitro Harley Field is 18 Deep
Eighteen Nitro Harleys is the headline number that does not get said enough. Benny Stevens, Billy Jackson, Bob Malloy, Buddy Johnson, Cameron Gunter, Chris Smith, GT Tonglet, Jay Turner, Jimmy McMillan, John Toth, Jordan Peterson, Michael Balch, Rebel Glover, Rickey House, Ryan Peery, Spence Aguar, Tim Kerrigan, Tracy Kile. That is a fan-day Nitro Harley card.
A 15-Car Funny Car Field With Worsham, Creasy and Capps
The Funny Car entry shows up 15-strong, headlined by 2-time NHRA world champ Del Worsham, Alky FC mainstay Dale Creasy Jr., NHRA veteran Jon Capps, and PEAK Antifreeze’s Paul Lee. Add Alex Barker, Bobby Bode, Dan Hix, Dave Gallegos, Jack Wyatt, Jeff Diehl, Jody Austin, Joe Morrison, John Smith, Joseph Haas and Terrence Haddock and you get a card built for the type of side-by-side Funny Car racing fans came up on – body off, nitro on, fire-bottles-mandatory level of intensity.
Wheelstander Fire Truck. Yes, Really.
The crowd-favorite wheelstanding fire truck is on the entertainment card. Family-friendly, photo-friendly, and almost certainly the only place this weekend you can watch nitro Top Fuel cars run next to fire-pulling exhibitions on the same property. Tickets are $30 online for adults; kids 12 and under are free. Friday afternoon starting 3 p.m. is a $40-carload special.
Weekend Schedule
Wednesday, June 17
· 12:00 p.m. Parking begins
· 3:00 p.m. Registration opens
· 6:00 p.m. Registration closes
· 8:00 p.m. Parking ends
Thursday, June 18 – Test Day + Street Party
· 8:00 a.m. Parking begins
· 9:00 a.m. Registration opens
· 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Testing (Triple Crown competitors, $500/car fee)
· 5:00 p.m. Registration closes
· 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. IHRA Triple Crown Street Party – Buckeye Lake Village
· 7:00 p.m. Autograph Session (mandatory for promoter bonus)
· 8:00 p.m. Parking closes
Friday, June 19 – Qualifying Day
· 7:00 a.m. Racer Gates open
· 8:00 a.m. Fan Gates open
· 10:00 a.m. Racing begins (Q-1 across all classes)
· 4:30 p.m. Funny Car Q-1, then Top Fuel Q-1, then Q-2 for the supporting classes
· 6:00 p.m. Racer Appreciation Dinner
· 7:00 p.m. Funny Car Q-2, then Top Fuel Q-2
· 10:00 p.m. Track Secure
Saturday, June 20 – Race Day
· 7:00 a.m. Racer Gates open
· 8:00 a.m. Fan Gates / Chapel Service
· 10:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies, R-1 in all supporting classes
· 2:00 p.m. Funny Car R-1, Top Fuel R-1, Pro Stock R-2, Pro Mod R-3, plus supporting R-2 across the card
· 5:30 p.m. Funny Car R-2, Top Fuel R-2, Pro Stock R-3, Pro Mod R-4 (final), and supporting class finals
· 7:00 p.m. Funny Car FINAL, then Top Fuel FINAL
Driver Entry Lists
Top Fuel – 15 Cars
| Driver |
|---|
| Bernie Plourd |
| Chuck Loftin |
| Gary Pritchett |
| Jake Sanders |
| Jasmine Salinas |
| Krista Baldwin |
| Kyle Satenstein |
| Kyle Wurtzel |
| Lee Callaway |
| Lex Joon |
| Mike Salinas |
| Scott Palmer |
| Shawn Reed |
| Spencer Massey |
| Tripp Tatum |
Funny Car – 15 Cars
| Driver |
|---|
| Alex Barker |
| Bobby Bode |
| Dale Creasy |
| Dan Hix |
| Dave Gallegos |
| Del Worsham |
| Jack Wyatt |
| Jeff Diehl |
| Jody Austin |
| Joe Morrison |
| John Smith |
| Jon Capps |
| Joseph Haas |
| Paul Lee |
| Terrence Haddock |
Nitro Harley – 18 Riders
| Rider |
|---|
| Benny Stevens |
| Billy Jackson |
| Bob Malloy |
| Buddy Johnson |
| Cameron Gunter |
| Chris Smith |
| GT Tonglet |
| Jay Turner |
| Jimmy McMillan |
| John Toth |
| Jordan Peterson |
| Michael Balch |
| Rebel Glover |
| Rickey House |
| Ryan Peery |
| Spence Aguar |
| Tim Kerrigan |
| Tracy Kile |
Top Fuel Motorcycle – 8 Riders
| Rider |
|---|
| Bob Malloy |
| Gerald Hunt |
| Jaska Salakari |
| Jason Pridemore |
| Larry “Spiderman” McBride |
| Micah Fenwick |
| Mitch Brown |
| Richard Deys |
Street Party – Buckeye Lake Village, Thursday June 18
Free event Thursday June 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the DORA District at Buckeye Lake Village. Driver meet-and-greets, vehicle showcases, autograph sessions, photos with the Triple Crown trophies, live music, vendors and official IHRA merch.
Locations: Buckeye Lake Village parking lot, Boat Yard, Buckeye Lake Brewery, Escape to Buckeye Lake parking lot, Margarita’s, Barrel Bar, Coffee Shack, Roadhouse Cycles parking lot.
Public parking: Buckeye Lake State Park, Our Lady Catholic Church, Boat Yard, Buckeye Lake Brewery, North Shore Bait & Tackle Shop.
More info: BuckeyeLakeVillage.com
Coverage Powered By Larry Jeffers Race Cars
Tickets & How to Watch
Online: $30 (advance) – IHRA.com/events
Gate (adult daily): $40
Kids 12 and under: Free
Veterans & Active Military: Free + one guest 50% off
Friday Night $40 carload special starting 3 p.m.
Camping spaces available: 740-928-5706
Speed Sport carries the live IHRA Triple Crown broadcast from Darana Raceway. Track-side fans tune Tower Radio 88.5 FM for round-by-round audio.
By the Numbers
2026 IHRA Triple Crown – Race 1 Hebron
Track Info – Darana Raceway
Darana Raceway (formerly National Trail Raceway)
2650 National Rd SW
Hebron, OH 43025
Hebron sits just east of Columbus on US-40. The facility is one of the longest-tenured drag strips in the Midwest and now operates under Darana Raceway branding. Tower Radio: 88.5 FM. Camping available – 740-928-5706.
Drag Illustrated Coverage Hub
Drag Illustrated’s 2026 IHRA Triple Crown coverage rolls live from Hebron Wednesday through Sunday. Round-by-round qualifying results, eliminations, photo galleries, storylines and winner’s circle coverage refresh on this page. Powered by Larry Jeffers Race Cars.
This is a live event hub – refresh through Sunday for updates. Tag @DragIllustrated with your trackside photos.
This story was originally published on June 17, 2026. 
The post 2026 IHRA Triple Crown at Darana Raceway, Hebron: Schedule, Drivers, Storylines & Live Coverage first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
