Shawn Reed and Ida Zetterström Teams Up For NHRA This Year

Shawn Reed and Ida Zetterström are shaking up the 2026 NHRA season with a partnership that keeps a competitive car on track while solving a major logistical puzzle. Shawn Reed Racing announced Tuesday that the team will contest the full Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, but with a twist: the seat time will be split between team owner Reed and European sensation Zetterström. It is a calculated move that allows Reed to balance his surging business commitments without parking a dragster that just came off a career-best season.

The decision stems from Reed’s need to dedicate more time to his Washington-based company, Reed Trucking & Excavating. After scoring his first NHRA Top Fuel victory at Reading and winning the PRO Shootout in 2025, Reed wanted to push forward and have a big 2026 season. “I don’t want to lose the momentum my guys have built, and it was important to me that we continue to run a full season,” Reed explained. He found the perfect solution in Zetterström, the former FIA European champion who became a free agent after Joe Maynard stepped back from team ownership at JCM Racing.

For Zetterström, this opportunity is an important lifeline to stay visible in the American market. While her ultimate goal is a full-time ride in a second car, filling in for Reed allows her to compete in a proven vehicle. The car will be maintained by the same core group, led by crew chief Rob Wendland and assistant Ryan Elliott, ensuring consistency regardless of who is in the cockpit. Reed will kick things off at the season-opening Gatornationals in March, where he will also battle in the Top Fuel All-Star Callout.

This arrangement is a win-win for two drivers hungry to win but constrained by different realities—one by time, the other by funding. It keeps the team relevant and the sponsors happy. With Shawn Reed and Ida Zetterström sharing the workload, this single-car entry might just be double trouble for the rest of the Top Fuel field in 2026.