U.S. 131 Motorsports Park is set to make history in 2026 as it hosts its first-ever NHRA national event, the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals. The race will open the Countdown to the Championship playoffs in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, bringing championship-level competition to one of the Midwest’s most respected drag racing facilities.
Scheduled for September 18–20, 2026, the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals will serve as the 15th race of the season and the first of six playoff events during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. Tickets for the historic weekend go on sale February 1.
“The Fastest Track in Michigan” Takes the National Stage
Known as “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Park has long been a staple of Midwest drag racing. The Martin, Michigan facility regularly attracts racers and fans from Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Kalamazoo.
Operated by the Peterson family for more than two decades, the track has grown into a marquee destination at both the regional and national levels. Hosting an NHRA playoff race in 2026 is a natural next step in that evolution.
A Growing NHRA Schedule
The NHRA Great Lakes Nationals is part of an expanded 2026 NHRA national event schedule, which will include four new national event facilities across 19 markets. Notably, the first two races of the Countdown to the Championship will take place at new Mission Foods Drag Racing Series venues, with U.S. 131 followed by a stop at Rockingham Dragway.
Earlier in the season, NHRA will also visit South Georgia Motorsports Park and Maryland International Raceway for the first time. SGMP is a familiar stop for JEGS, having hosted the JEGS SportsNationals last year, highlighting the continued growth of drag racing at premier facilities across the country.
In addition to the national event, U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will host an NHRA National Open on July 8–9, followed by a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event from July 10–12, giving racers and fans multiple opportunities to experience NHRA competition at the historic venue.
A Must-See NHRA Event
With playoff stakes, a milestone anniversary season, and one of the quickest tracks in the Midwest, the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event in 2026. As drag racing continues to grow at both the national and grassroots levels, JEGS remains proud to be part of the tracks, events, and racers that drive the sport forward.
In 2026, JEGS will field two cars in NHRA Pro Stock competition. The lineup will feature six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. alongside Troy Coughlin Jr., continuing JEGS’ long-standing presence at the top level of professional drag racing.
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