Mon, 08 Dec 2025, 21:51 PM Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series Announces Schedule for 2026

Courtesy of Drag Illustrated on behalf of the PDRA

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - The Red Line Synthetic Oil Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) announced today its seven-race 2026 schedule, coming off another successful campaign through the 2025 calendar year. The series will return to four familiar racetracks from last season along with a return to Darlington Dragway in South Carolina, which serves as the season opener for the first time.

"Coming out of the World Finals, we knew some changes were imminent," said Tyler Crossnoe, series director. "Change is inevitable in life - whether it is in personal, business, or your hobbies - in time, change occurs. We have decided to make a few shifts in our schedule for 2026 to adapt to the ever-changing motorsports scope in hopes to see more teams be able to compete for a full season championship.

"In 2026, our goal is to put racers in a better position to chase a full season championship with the PDRA," Crossnoe continued. "We understand the costs of the sport are not cheap and after weeks of back-and-forth discussions internally, we settled on only doing seven races this season to allow for better spacing in between events and for the hopes of an extremely competitive season."

The 2026 Red Line Oil PDRA season will kick off at Darlington Dragway in Hartsville, South Carolina, on March 25-28 - a return to a facility that has seen numerous PDRA races throughout the years will now serve as the kickoff event on tour next season. Darana Motorsports Park - Benson, NC will serve as the second stop on schedule on April 16-18 - a popular and familiar stop for the PDRA faithful will see their first of two stops in mid-April. Virginia Motorsports Park will play host to the third race on tour on Memorial Day weekend, May 21-23. Maryland International Raceway will serve as the fourth race on tour as in years past on June 25-27.

After taking the month of July off for a summer break of sorts, the series will return to action at Bristol Dragway on August 6-8, returning to Thunder Valley with more exciting news to come later about this event. Darana Motorsports Park - Benson, NC will see its second event of the season on August 27-29, which will set the stage for the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals.

The PDRA will yet again start the World Finals with the Summit Racing ProStars all-star race on Thursday afternoon to highlight the top eight points earners in the free entry shootout that pays over $65,000 out to the classes in contention and starts the World Finals weekend off with a bang. September 17-20 will mark the final race on the 2026 calendar, and this race will be held at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Virginia, which has become a customary finishing point for the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series.

"I am excited to get going again in 2026! The racer's support is by far the inspiration for this series to continue growing," said Tommy Franklin, series owner. "We continue to have the best-in-class racers, and the on-track performance shows that to be true race after race. I cannot wait for the BEST racing in the world to continue to prove itself over and over!"

PDRA officials will be on hand during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, December 11-13, in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with the crowning of the series champions during the Red Line Oil PDRA Night of Champions on Friday, December 12 at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott.

 
2026 PDRA Schedule
March 25-28 - Darlington Dragway - Hartsville, SC
April 16-18 - Darana Motorsports Park (NC) - Benson, NC 
May 21-23 - Virginia Motorsports Park - Dinwiddie, VA
June 25-27 - Maryland International Raceway - Mechanicsville, MD
August 6-8 - Bristol Dragway - Bristol, TN
August 27-29 - Darana Motorsports Park (NC) - Benson, NC
September 17-20 - Virginia Motorsports Park - Dinwiddie, VA

Drag News: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 11- March Meet and Famoso Dragstrip Etched in American Hot Rod History
Feb 05- Famed March Meet Set for Historic 68th Installment March 5-8
Feb 05- Red Line Oil Named Presenting Sponsor of World Series of Pro Mod
Feb 05- $25,000 Wild Card Shootout Added to World Series of Pro Mod
Jan 26- Stevie ‘Fast’ Jackson Wheels ‘Shadow 3.0’ to $75,000 U.S. Street Nationals Pro Mod Victory
Jan 25- Side-By-Side 3.50-Second Races Highlight First Round of Pro Mod Eliminations at U.S. Street Nationals
Jan 24- Jimmy Taylor Stays No. 1 as U.S. Street Nationals Records First All-3.50-Second 32-Car Pro Mod Field
Jan 23- Jimmy Taylor Edges Out Jason Harris for Thursday Provisional No. 1 Spot at U.S. Street Nationals
Jan 22- U.S. Street Nationals Set to Ignite Bradenton as Winter Series, Radial Outlaws Seasons Collide
Jan 20- Richard Freeman Weighs In On Elite Motorsports Million Ahead of U.S. Street Nationals