Here’s Your Chance To Be A Part Of The 2026 Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout

It’s time to go racing. After a three-year hiatus, the incredible Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout, presented by Summit Racing, is back! We’re changing things up for the fourth edition of this epic challenge, so every team will need to bring its A-game for a shot at the $10,000 prize in front of millions of viewers.

Here’s the basic breakdown of the $10K Drag Shootout Presented by Summit Racing. Teams will gather at Big 3 Racing in West Salem, Ohio (where the builds will take place), to put together a nitrous, small-tire combination. Each four-person team is given a $7,000 Summit Racing gift card and can spend up to $3,000 of its own money on parts. Every part will be tracked. Every purchase is reviewed. If you’re digging through used parts, you’d better be able to justify what you paid, because the tech team will be paying attention. There’s no room for creative accounting here. There will be opportunities to win extra parts and budget during the builds, thanks to fun challenges presented to the teams. 

After six days of building, the teams will hit the track at Darana Dragway 42, right across from Big 3 Racing, where the vehicles will be built, to see who has the quickest car. Each team will get to keep the car they built once the competition is over.

You can apply to be a part of the Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout Presented By Summit Racing BY CLICKING THIS LINK RIGHT HERE.

Teams will need to be at Big 3 Racing by September 27th. The teams will have from September 28th until October 3rd to get their vehicle built. On October 4th, teams will be able to strap their vehicles down to the dyno for some last-minute tuning and setup. Race day will be October 5th, and the final day of filming will be on October 6th.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FORM FOR THE $10K DRAG SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY SUMMIT RACING

To make things even more interesting, Big 3 Racing will field a team of its own. However, there’s no such thing as a home-field advantage in the $10K Drag Shootout Presented by Summit Racing. Every team must deal with the same tight timeline, limited budget, and unforeseen problems that make this competition so challenging.

This year introduces a few twists. First, each team will bring its own rolling chassis as the foundation for the build. The roller must be all steel, all glass with a factory frame – no tube chassis or back-halfs. A VIN is required along with proper safety equipment for the e.t. (See the competition overview here.) The focus is on vehicles with patina, history, and plenty of character. Leave the titanium-filled, full tube-chassis, wannabe Pro Mods at home, the $10K Drag Shootout Presented by Summit Racing is all about real cars and trucks.

The second curveball is that all teams must use nitrous as a power adder, and the engine block will be supplied by presenting sponsor Summit Racing Equipment. The type of SPC block each team receives will remain a surprise until after team selection, so teams must be prepared to build just about anything. The same goes for the carb and EFI, which will be decided after teams are selected as well (but before the builds start). Two Edelbrock carbs and two Holley EFI systems will be up for grabs. This should get interesting!

Here is a general overview of the $10K Drag Shootout Presented by Summit Racing:

• Each team brings its own roller.
• Each team receives a Summit Racing $7,000 gift card
• Each team brings $3,000 in cash to buy used parts.
• Each team has a $10,000 total build budget (including the gift card)
• All parts purchases will be closely evaluated by the tech team. 
• Nitrous only.
• Spec fuel will be used.
• There will be weight minimums (announced in the final rulebook).
• All parts used must come from the $10K budget or the approved sponsor list.
• 6 days to build, 1 day to dyno, then race day (8 days total).
• Surprise challenges may hit during the build.
• Teams keep their car at the end.

Teams

• Maximum: 4 team members.
• The driver must be one of the 4 team members.
• One tuner may be added for dyno tuning and race day only (cannot help in the build).
• Crew must work inside the build rules and schedule.

The Race

• Racing is 1/8 mile.
• Teams can make up to 8 passes (max 1 per hour, track/weather permitting).
• When we call lanes, you run — miss the call, lose the pass.
• The winner is decided by the fastest pass of the day.

Applications will be accepted for the $10K Drag Shootout Presented by Summit Racing from May 1, 2026, until June 22, 2026. The first two teams will be selected by the $10K Drag Shootout staff, and the third team will be selected by a vote of the Horsepower Wars fans from June 26 to July 6.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FORM FOR THE $10K DRAG SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY SUMMIT RACING

To recap the basics: each four-person team must bring a car, tools, and $3,000. Teams are responsible for their own travel and lodging from September 26 through October 5. Competitors should be ready to build a nitrous-fed engine using a mystery block from Summit Racing Equipment, along with either a carb or EFI system. And remember, leave the Pro Mod at home and bring a unique rolling chassis to transform into the ultimate budget race car.

Don’t forget to CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FORM FOR THE $10K DRAG SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY SUMMIT RACING