NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES SET TO CROWN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 26, 2023) – It’s a huge weekend for the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the world’s largest motorsports program when it comes to racer participation, as 40 of the nation’s top drivers will compete for a NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship as part of this weekend’s NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Competitors in the NHRA Summit Racing Series, a list that includes more than 75,000 drivers at NHRA member tracks across North America, race in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Motorcycle and Street Legal EV categories, hoping to end up with a win this weekend in Las Vegas.
The “Road to Vegas” saw standout racers picking up event wins and divisional titles, but with more than $140,000 set to be paid out to the 40 competitors attending the finals, plus contingency bonuses, a national championship Wally trophy, a championship jacket, and more, this weekend is huge on every level for the title hopefuls.
“It was another tremendous season in the NHRA Summit Series and we’re thrilled to see a great conclusion in Las Vegas as we crown national champions,” NHRA Sportsman Racing Manager Sara Walker said. “We’ve enjoyed great growth in the series and there are so many talented drivers competing this weekend. It’s exciting to put the spotlight on them in Las Vegas and we can’t wait to see who will come out on top as a NHRA Summit Racing Series National Champion.”
In 2023, the series continued to boast incredible participation and it finishes with a must-see national championship in Las Vegas. It’s also a diverse group of drivers competing in many types of vehicles, including dragsters, roadsters, sedans, coupes, motorcycles, and electric cars.
On the line is ultimate bragging rights, trophies and the impressive purse. Each divisional champion racing in Las Vegas received a Wally trophy, jacket, and purse, along with $3,000 bonus money to attend the national championship in Las Vegas. The race weekend opens with a welcome dinner and competitors are also introduced onstage during the official pre-race ceremonies at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, putting the racers in front of the fans before running for a championship.
“The NHRA Summit Series so unique and appealing because anybody can go out and compete. That entry-level foundation of our sportsman programs is so important to the growth of our sport, so it’s great to reward these talented drivers with a big weekend in Las Vegas,” Walker said. “Our EV class, which was introduced last year, continues to grow and our traditional classes are enjoying great support as well. You really see the passion from all these drivers and it’s also very exciting to see support from partners like Summit Racing Equipment to help this series thrive.”
Megan Smith from Anderson, South Carolina USA (Comp Number: 250) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 2 "Hartman Enterprises" Owned by Virgil Hartman from Anderson, South Carolina USA 1997 Dragster by Murf McKinney | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.211 at NHRA Gainesville FL […]
Melanie Johnson from Ventura, California USA (Comp Number: 7196) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 7 "AJPE/NGK" Owned by Rich McPhillips from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania USA 2009 Dragster by Hadman | Powered by a 439 cubic inch AJPE Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.236 at NHRA D2 Gainesville FL 3/14/26 | […]
Anthony Troyer from Lehigh Acres, Florida USA (Comp Number: 200) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 2 "Fendt/Troyer Brothers/NGK" Owned by Rich McPhillips from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania USA 2023 Dragster by Indy Speed Shop | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.183 at NHRA Gainesville […]
Richard Bourke from Old Tappan, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 1482) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "Richard Bourke" Owned by Richard Bourke from Old Tappan, New Jersey USA 2002 Dragster by Heads Up | Powered by a 421 cubic inch TFX Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.248 at […]
Jackie Fricke from Flemington, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 1212) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "Finke Equipment" Owned by Kevin, Joe & Steve Cantrell & John Finke from Wilmington, Delaware USA 2019 Dragster by Copeland | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE Hemi by CRP with direct drive 1/4 […]
Jamie Noonan from Spartansburg, South Carolina USA (Comp Number: 2422) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 2 "Noonan Race Emgineering" Owned by Robin Samsel from Marion, Indiana USA 2019 Dragster by Indy Speed Shop | Powered by a 471 cubic inch NRE with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.195 at NHRA Budds […]
Angelle Sampey from Mathews, Louisiana USA (Comp Number: 491) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 4 "Hangsterfer\'s Lubricants/FVP Powertrain" Owned by Michalek Bros/Antron Brown Motorsports from New York City, New York USA 2010 Dragster by Spitzer | Powered by a 433 cubic inch AJPE Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Joey Severance Jr. from Spanaway, Washington USA (Comp Number: 613) 2026 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 6 "J&A Service/Noonan" Owned by Joey Severance from Spanaway, Washington USA 2013 Dragster by Brad Hadman | Powered by a 466 cubic inch Noonan Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.182 at NHRA […]
John Ausherman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 2610) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "Larry Cleary Racing" Owned by Larry Cleary from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA 2010 Dragster by DSR | Powered by a 439 cubic inch TFX Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.408 at NHRA Concord NC 4/26/26 […]
Matthew Cummings from Pompano Beach, Florida USA (Comp Number: 2380) 2026 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 2 "Gunk/Ina Towing Network" Owned by Randy Meyer from Spring Hill, Kansas USA 2016 Dragster by Chase Copeland | Powered by a 421 cubic inch BAE Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.232 at NHRA […]