Julie Nataas Making NHRA Funny Car Return At U.S. Nationals

Julie Nataas isn’t retired, she hasn’t given up on racing, and now she’s ready to climb back into a Nitro Funny Car.

Nataas will return to the driver’s seat of the Del Worsham-tuned DC Motorsports GR Supra at the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals, September 4-7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Hedingers Equipment will back Nataas’ Toyota Supra Funny Car for her first NHRA appearance since the Gatornationals in Gainesville in March.

The Norwegian driver has spent the months between races working behind the scenes to secure the funding and partnerships necessary to continue building her Nitro Funny Car career. Now she’ll get another opportunity on drag racing’s biggest stage.

Julie Nataas Returns To Funny Car At Indy

Nataas’ appearance at the U.S. Nationals ends a layoff of nearly six months. Rather than sitting idle during that time, Nataas has been working to put together sponsorship packages that can provide more than a one-race opportunity. Her ultimate goal is to build a program that allows her to compete regularly in Nitro Funny Car.

“I’m really excited to finally be back in the race car,” Nataas said. “It’s been a long few months since Gainesville. I’ve been working hard on finding the right partners and putting together opportunities that make sense not only for one race, but hopefully for building something long term. I’m incredibly grateful to Hedingers Equipment for helping make it possible to get back out there at Indy.”

Nataas will once again have veteran racer and tuner Del Worsham overseeing the DC Motorsports GR Supra. The combination gives her another chance to gain valuable experience in one of drag racing’s most difficult categories while competing at the sport’s biggest event.

Hedingers Equipment Reunites With Nataas

Hedingers Equipment isn’t a new name on Nataas’ list of racing partners.

Her relationship with the Indiana-based company stretches back to her time racing Top Alcohol Dragster for Randy Meyer Racing. Hedingers Equipment has been a longtime supporter of the team and was part of Nataas’ racing career during her championship-winning years in the Sportsman ranks.

That relationship has continued as Nataas has transitioned into professional nitro racing.

“Tim and Becky Hedinger at Hedingers Equipment have been part of my racing career for a long time, going back to my days with Randy Meyer Racing,” Nataas said. “Having people who have watched you grow as a driver and continue to believe in you as you take the next step means a lot. I’m proud to represent them on a Funny Car, especially at the U.S. Nationals.”

Based in Indiana, Hedingers Equipment serves the towing industry with truck sales, parts sales, and service. The family-owned company also has a long history of supporting motorsports and drag racing. Having an Indiana-based partner on the Funny Car makes its return at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park even more fitting.

Hedingers Equipment won’t be the only company supporting Nataas and Worsham at Indianapolis.

Richmond Gears will continue its involvement with the Worsham operation after joining the program for the entire 2026 season. Airmine will also return at the U.S. Nationals to provide the team’s air-quality forecast, while Elliott’s Custom Trailers will provide golf carts for the operation. Those partnerships are particularly important for a driver like Nataas, who is attempting to establish herself in the professional nitro ranks and put together the financial backing required to compete more frequently.

Nataas Is Working Toward A Full-Time Funny Car Future

Getting back into the Funny Car at Indianapolis is an important step, but Nataas doesn’t view the U.S. Nationals as the finish line. The work to secure additional funding and racing opportunities continues.

“I’m still working every day to find the right partners that will allow me to be at the track more,” Nataas said. “I want to race a Funny Car, and the goal is absolutely to put together a program that gets me behind the wheel more consistently.”

That goal makes every opportunity behind the wheel valuable. Seat time is critical when making the transition into a Nitro Funny Car, and the U.S. Nationals will give Nataas another chance to continue learning while competing against the NHRA Funny Car field.

No, Julie Nataas Hasn’t Retired

A six-month absence from the racetrack can generate plenty of questions, especially when you’re a young driver trying to establish yourself in professional drag racing. Nataas has apparently heard just about all of them.

Rather than allowing the speculation to continue, she offered a pretty straightforward explanation for where she’s been since Gainesville.

“I’ve gotten just about every question possible over the last few months, so to clear things up: I’m not retired, I’m not pregnant, and I definitely haven’t given up,” Nataas joked. “I’ve just been working behind the scenes to find the funding to go racing. I’m ready to get back to work.”

Nataas already proved herself during her Top Alcohol Dragster career, and the next challenge is continuing to develop as a Nitro Funny Car driver. The biggest hurdle right now isn’t her desire to race, it’s assembling the partnerships necessary to keep a 12,000-horsepower Funny Car on the track.