NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

News, notes, and photos from the opening day of the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

And, we’re off.

Christmas came early for NHRA racers and fans as the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals kicked off on Wednesday morning at historic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The first pair of Stock Eliminator entries rolled into the water box a few minutes before 8 a.m., kicking off a six-day marathon that will result in 17 eliminator winners being crowned by the time the event concludes on Monday evening.

Technically, the world’s biggest and most prestigious drag race began a few days ago when anxious sportsman racers began “stacking” outside the gates and along the adjacent roads. Parking for nearly 900 rigs began on Sunday and continued throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday and well into Wednesday.

Tuesday’s activities also included the fourth annual NHRA Racer Appreciation dinner held in the Top Eliminator Club building.  The event hosted the huge contingent of NHRA Sportsman racers present in Indy and included a generous assortment of goody bags and door prizes including some notable items from event sponsor Cornwell Quality Tools.

Wednesday's opening schedule includes multiple rounds of qualifying in Super Stock and Stock, time trials for Super Comp and Super Gas, and the opening round of qualifying for the very popular Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge.

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To most racers, all of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is hallowed ground but the Class Racer's Winner's circle, located at the top end of the IRP quarter-mile, hold a special place in the hearts of NHRA Super Stock and Stock racers, who will run in their traditional class eliminations on Thursday. In this video, National Dragster's Kayla Zadel explains why.

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The 2026 season marks the 75th anniversary of the National Hot Rod Association and the entire season has been highlighted with an assortment of tributes, special events, and other features to commemorate the historic milestone. Perhaps the most recognizable element to the 75th anniversary is the special edition “diamond Wally” trophy that is awarded to winners at every event.

Most racers are well award that winning any NHRA event is special, but a U.S. Nationals win, particularly a significant anniversary race, is on another level. In addition to the 17 eliminator winners that will be crowned by Monday, Thursday’s Class Eliminations will also award perhaps as many as 100 Class Wallys to racers in Super Stock and Stock.

As most know, the Wally trophy has been awarded to NHRA winners in all classes since its introduction in the 1969 season. This year's 75th anniversary trophies deviate from the norm with the addition of a black pedestal, diamond crystal base, and a chrome figure. The backside also features an inlay recognizing the 75th anniversary of the world's largest drag racing sanctioning body as well as late NHRA founder Wally Parks.  

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A total of 147 Stock Eliminator cars made runs during Wednesday morning’s opening qualifying session which is the first step towards setting the 128-car field that will ultimately compete for the title.

Retired Air Force Sergeant Fred Elsass is the leader in the clubhouse after Q1. Elsass, of North Canton, Ohio, drives a ’72 Ford Maverick in the U/SA class and with a 14.85-second index, it is one of the slowest cars in the category. However, Elsass was able to run 13.361, which is 1.489-second under the index, so he’s the qualifying leader by nearly three tenths.

Under NHRA rules, Elsass will also be subject to a horsepower adjustment at the conclusion of the event because any run 1.20-seconds or more under the index triggers an adjustment as part of NHRA’s Automatic Horsepower Factoring System (AFHS).

While the temperature at Indy is unseasonably warm, a total of 24  cars ran a second or more under their respective indexes while the 128 car bump is currently a -.749-second run by Sean Gaffney’s AA/S ’69 Camaro.

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In 2002, Tom Stalba experienced the unique thrill of a U.S. Nationals victory. Now, the multi-time Division 1 champ has returned to Indianapolis with his eyes on a second title, and perhaps a double-up with his son, Paul. 

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There are few well-known NHRA pros that are pulling double duty this weekend, racing in two categories in order to double their chances at Indy glory. The most notable drivers are Top Fuel racers Billy Torrence and Shawn Langdon, who are also competing in Super Comp. Both drivers are very familiar with the 8.90 category and both legitimately have the potential to go the distance in either (or both) classes.

Chris Vang, who went to the Pro Stock final at the most recent event in Brainerd, is also pulling double duty with an entry in Super Comp. Vang has already shown his versatility with NHRA national event wins in Stock and the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class.

Former crew member Gary Pritchett, who has spent time this season in a Top Fuel dragster, is not competing as a pro this week, but he is double entered with cars in Stock and Super Comp.

Finally, there is Mason McGaha, who made his Pro Stock debut at this event six years ago. McGaha will continue to pursue his first Pro Stock title at Indy, but he will also be racing in Comp Eliminator with a second Harlow Sammons Camaro in the B/Altered category.

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For some racers, the NHRA Tech Barn can be a daunting place, but for most it represents a chance to validate the hard work and effort that goes into a U.S. Nationals victory, a Class win, or a record-setting performance. National Dragster's Kayla Zadel talked with NHRA National Tech Director Lonnie Grim to discuss the long and storied history of the NHRA Tech Barn, and its role in the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals. 

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Not to be outdone, the opening round of Super Stock qualifying had 144 entries also vying for 128 available spots. Arizona’s Mike Johnstone is the leader after Q1 with a run of 9.137 on the 10.20 index, which is 1.063-second under the index. Johnston is followed by Tom Ferruggia, Jeff Dona, Jim Whalen, Jeff Myers, Chelsea Tindle, Avery McLawhorn, and Patrick Glade, the son of longtime Top Alcohol crew member John Glade. Just seven cars were able to run one second or more under the index.

The current bump spot is just .151-second under the index,  a run by Minnesota’s Paul Anderson in his four-speed Camaro.

The Super Stock field is loaded with talent, including 15 former or current world champions among the 128 qualifiers.

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Given the hot weather, not much changed in the second round of Stock qualifying as Fred Elsass remained in the top spot while Gary Emmons is on the 128-car bump at .784-seconds under the index.

More than 20 drivers will need to qualify on Thursday, including Jeff Cheney, who won Super Comp at the recent NHRA Brainerd Nationals and past national event winner Darren Poole Adams.

In Super Stock, Anderson remained in the top spot after the second run of the day, although the bump spot moved considerably to a -.422 under run by Terry Nolan.

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The opening round of qualifying for the Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge did not disappoint as a fleet of vintage Dodge and Plymouth factory race cars put on a tremendous show with sky-high wheelstands. 
With one run in the books, the entire field is chasing four-time Pro Stock champ Jason Line, who drove to an 8.451-second run.

Line has plenty of company in four-time Hemi Challenge champ Stephen Comella (8.468), Eric Bell (8.478), James Daniels (8.552), Eldon Baum (8.560), and Charlie Westcott Jr., who ran 8.585 in his return to the event with his legendary War Fish Barracuda.