The International Hot Rod Association made a number of key announcements on Saturday, detailing its 2026 Outlaw Nitro Series schedule and championship program, along with its big-money specialty events.
The 2026 IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series will feature eight national events and a season-long championship, with titles awarded across all pro and sportsman categories. A total of $9 million in prize money is dedicated to the series. The schedule also includes the Small Tire BRATZ Series as part of the broader professional platform.
A competitive $50,000 will be up for grabs to the winner in Top Fuel and Funny Car at every IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series race, $117,500 in all per class. The 21 total categories being contested will vie for more than $1 million in purse money at each of the eight races. Even sportsman competitors will receive sizable purses, with $5,000 to the winner in Stock, Super Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod, and Hot Rod.
IHRA will award $200,000 apiece to each of its Top Fuel and Funny Car Outlaw Nitro Series season champions, $100,000 in Pro Mod and Mountain Motor Pro Stock, $50,000 in Top Alcohol, Dragster and Funny Car, and $25,000 in Fuel Altered and Outlaw Pro Mod. A total of $1.6 million be awarded in championship points payout at season’s end.
Highlighting the season is the IHRA Triple Crown, a trio of standalone events contested at select legendary tracks, including Maple Grove Raceway (May 22-24), National Trail Raceway (June 18-20), and Memphis (September 10-12). The three races will pay a combined $4,362,000, with a $1 million bonus available per class for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Top Fuel Harley, and Fuel Altered competitors who sweep all three Triple Crown victories. This, on top of $150,000 winner’s prizes in Top Fuel and Funny Car, and $100,000 in Pro Mod.
One of the marquee events of the year, Pro Mod Mania, is scheduled for June 5–7, 2026, at Darana Dragway in Milan, Michigan. The event will offer a $275,000 Pro Mod purse and is expected to draw top-tier teams and high-horsepower competition from across the country.
In total, IHRA will award $13,653,900 in professional drag racing payouts across all classes in 2026. Officials said the structure is designed to support teams through increased purses and meaningful incentives, while maintaining a racer-first model without paid-team contracts.
In a move that will please sportsman racers, IHRA reverted from an earlier decision to contest all professional and sportsman categories on an 1/8-mile race distance, noting that Factory Stock, Super Stock, Stock, Super Rod, Quick Rod, Hot Rod, and HEMI Shootout will race over a 1/4-mile at all events contested at facilities that are 1/4-mile distance.
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