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Napa Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals Hits FOX as Football Adjacent Broadcast
Highlights
- Midwest Nationals airs on FOX October 4, adjacent to football game
- Race is third of six playoff events in 2026 NHRA season
- Last year’s football-adjacent broadcast drew NHRA’s highest viewership ever
- Broadcast aims to attract wider audience combining football and motorsports
- NHRA season includes key races through September on FOX network
- World Wide Technology Raceway event highlights NHRA’s 75th anniversary season
The NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals will air on FOX on Sunday, October 4, paired with a FOX football game. The 15th running at World Wide Technology Raceway anchors NHRA’s 75th anniversary push.
This round serves as the third of six NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series playoff events. It extends a six-year strategy of aligning Countdown races with football windows to amplify reach.
FOX airs the Midwest Nationals on October 4 in a football-adjacent window, maximizing casual-viewer crossover.
Last season’s football-adjacent show from Dallas delivered NHRA’s best audience, averaging 2.065 million and peaking at 3.631 million. The model proves effective in prime broadcast slots.
Most markets will carry the NHRA window from 4:30–6:30 p.m. ET, directly after football. Select markets will invert the order, airing NHRA from 2–4 p.m. ET ahead of game coverage.
World Wide Technology Raceway regularly produces quick elapsed times and strong attendance. Track executive Chris Blair frames the broadcast as a platform for the venue, the region, and its fan base.
Last year’s Dallas broadcast averaged 2.065 million viewers, with a 3.631 million peak, the highest in NHRA history.
The broader FOX schedule underpins NHRA’s 2026 campaign. It began with the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, which drew a sellout and robust viewing figures.
Additional FOX-network rounds include New England on June 7, Summit Racing Equipment Nationals on June 28, the Northwest Nationals on July 26, and the U.S. Nationals on September 7.
The Midwest Nationals is the third of six Countdown events, shaping the championship run-in for title contenders.
Strategically, the October slot targets crossover from football’s broad audience. For teams and sponsors, the exposure sharpens value during a decisive phase of the Countdown.
Fans get a St. Louis market showcase and a track renowned for speed. Recent regional features, such as the Midwest Drag Shakedown, and coverage from World Wide Technology Raceway underscore the venue’s prominence.
The objective is clear: convert casual football viewers into engaged NHRA followers, and sustain momentum through the championship stretch of the 75th anniversary season.
Visual Summary
Drag Racing Hits FOX Football Spotlight
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NHRA
75 YEARS
FOX
2.1M
last year’s viewers
last year’s viewers
OCTOBER 4, 2026
NHRA Midwest Nationals
4:30 – 6:30pm ET
Directly after Fox NFL
World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL
Drag racing roars into America’s living rooms with prime exposure,
colliding with football for the highest-stakes broadcast yet.
Huge crowds, record passes, and NHRA’s 75th anniversary guarantee
a day of speed and spectacle for millions.
colliding with football for the highest-stakes broadcast yet.
Huge crowds, record passes, and NHRA’s 75th anniversary guarantee
a day of speed and spectacle for millions.
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
