NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Three-time NHRA world champion Luke Bogacki will set his sights on the Top Dragster category in 2026, piloting a Moser Engineering-backed American Race Cars dragster with additional partnership from Advanced Product Design and Watts Auto Diesel Service.

“To be honest, the term ‘Top Dragster’ might be a little strong, at least in the traditional sense” joked Bogacki. “We’re going to go fast -- faster than I’ve ever been before -- but we’re really just building a fast bracket car that can compete on the slower end of T/D.”

The powerplant for this venture will come from APD: a 648-cid engine featuring the Ohio-based manufacturer’s latest 16.5* cylinder head design, intake manifold, shaft rockers, and fuel system. Bogacki hopes to post E.T.’s in the 6.8-second range.

“To be honest, our main focus in ‘26 is going to be the NHRA Division 3 Super Quick Series,” Bogacki explained. “Jessica and I have always been intrigued by the Super Quick stuff, and with the addition of Jr. Dragster classes to the series this season, we’ve got the unique opportunity to race as a family: all four of us competing at the same events. That’s really the motivation behind this project. We’ll run most of the Lucas Oil Division 3 events as well, but we’re really looking at this as more of a test season in Top Dragster, with an eye on pursuing that category with more vigor in ‘27.”

With the addition of the new Top Dragster entry, the Bogacki family will campaign a trio of Moser Engineering-backed hot rods in NHRA competition: Jessica will wheel her Super Comp dragster, and Luke will compete in the Super Street category in his signature Vega as well. While Bogacki says he doesn’t intend to make a national title pursuit in 2026, he did mention that the team does plan to attend a full schedule of Division 3 Lucas Oil Events, which could allow him to add to a trophy case that already includes nine division championships across four separate classes and four different divisions.

Bogacki’s latest ride is a 2012 American Dragster that belongs to good friend Carl Watts.

“Carl’s a longtime friend who has been battling some issues after multiple knee surgeries - he says he can get in and out of his Super Gas car, but the dragster is a struggle. I told him my plans to buy another dragster, and he basically said ‘Don’t buy one - come get mine!’ That was pretty hard to pass up: it’s a great car that’s been well taken care of, and I’m very familiar with the American Race Cars design. I haven’t had a car owner in a long time, but Carl’s so easy going that he just kinda handed me the keys and said ‘have fun.’

“It’s at our shop now, we’re stripping it down. I’m making some updates, putting it on a diet, things like that. It’s a really good car as is, and we’re going to make it even better before the season gets underway.”

In addition to Moser Engineering, APD, and Watts Auto Diesel, the new machine will feature quality components from Wiseco, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Accelerated Graphics, Fuel Factory, Mickey Thompson Tires, BTE, Milodon, and numerous manufacturers that the Bogacki Motorsports team has relied on for decades. To keep up with the build, follow Luke Bogacki Motorsports on Facebook.