NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

RACING UPDATE:

[3:00 p.m. ET] We are racing at U.S. 131!

Saturday preview: Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by Mopar

With cool air, a razor-tuned racing surface, and two professional qualifying sessions planned, teams are preparing to deliver a memorable Saturday at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR.
19 Sep 2026
David Kennedy
News
Satruday preview: Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by Mopar

The fans are rolling into U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and packing the facility with the unmistakable passion that makes drag racing fans stand apart.

Nitro engines have already roared to life in the pits, sending their thunder across the grounds and signaling that race day is drawing closer. Top Fuel dragsters are in the staging lanes as the Ram truck-equipped NHRA Simpson Safety Safari puts the finishing touches on the racing surface.

After battling Saturday morning's weather, NHRA officials are targeting a 3 p.m. ET start and planning to complete the third and fourth professional qualifying sessions. Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle teams will each have two opportunities to race their way into Sunday’s eliminations and improve their starting positions.

With every qualifying pass carrying added significance, the teams are prepared to reward the fans who filled the facility and remained ready for racing throughout the day.

The planned program begins with Q3 for the four NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series categories, followed by sportsman eliminations. The professional teams are then scheduled to return for Q4 and their final chance to establish Sunday’s starting fields.

The fans are here. The cars are ready. The track is nearly complete.

Now, NHRA’s quickest and fastest drivers are preparing to put on a show in Michigan.

 

SCHEDULE

OrderCategorySession/Round
1Top FuelQualifying Session 3
2Funny CarQualifying Session 3
3Pro StockQualifying Session 3
4Pro Stock MotorcycleQualifying Session 3
5Top Alcohol DragsterRound 2
6Top SportsmanRound 3
7Top FuelQualifying Session 4
8Funny CarQualifying Session 4
9Pro StockQualifying Session 4
10Pro Stock MotorcycleQualifying Session 4
11Top Alcohol DragsterRound 3
12Top Alcohol Funny CarRound 3
13Top SportsmanRound 4
14Top Alcohol DragsterFinal
15Top Alcohol Funny CarFinal
16Top SportsmanFinal

SATURDAY, Sept. 19 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series qualifying and eliminations at 3:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 20 Pre-race ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 10:30 a.m. TELEVISION: Sunday, Sept.20, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 12:00 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 20, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise three hours of finals coverage at 2:00 p.m. 

ET NATIONAL RECORDS

Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading, Pa.; 345.00 mph by Shawm Langdon, May ’26, Valdosta, Ga. Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd, Minn.; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona, Calif. Pro Stock – 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March. ‘25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown, N.J. Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. ‘23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July ’21, Sonoma, Calif. 

TICKETS: 

For tickets available online and NHRA.com

Television: 

SUNDAY, September 20 FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 12:00 p.m. (ET).

SUNDAY, September 20 FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 2:00 p.m. (ET).