NHRA’s Mission Foods Drag Racing Series ends its 75th anniversary season with an invitation-only Awards Ceremony at Pechanga Resort Casino on Monday, November 16, 2026, in Southern California.

The event follows the Pomona finale and caps the Countdown to the Championship, recognising title winners and key contributors across NHRA’s four professional categories.

Pechanga hosts for the fifth consecutive year and serves as Official Resort Casino of Pomona Dragstrip, underlining a partnership rooted in venue capability and sustained engagement with NHRA fans.

The competitive context is set by the 60th In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, November 12–15 at Pomona, where titles conclude in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Formalities are tightly scheduled: cocktail reception 5 p.m., dinner 6 p.m., awards from 7 p.m., followed by an official after-party for teams, partners, and series stakeholders.

Earlier, the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champions are recognised from 3–5 p.m., aligning grassroots achievement with the Mission Foods professional spotlight inside the same venue.

Honours include 2026 world champions across all four classes, NHRA Rookie of the Year, a Lifetime Achievement recipient, and the Red Line Oil NHRA Crew of the Year awards.

Pechanga will run targeted fan promotions during Pomona week, aiming to extend the race-day audience into on-site hospitality while reinforcing NHRA’s regional footprint.

Pechanga Development Corporation president Sean Vasquez highlights NHRA-driven tourism and overnight stays as meaningful local economic contributors, reinforcing the venue’s strategic value to both series and community.

The resort lies about 60 miles south of Pomona, offering 1,100-plus rooms, diverse dining, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, and gaming with 3,500-plus slots and table games.

Accolades include recognition as California’s top casino and Best U.S. Casino, strengthening Pechanga’s credentials as a stage for NHRA’s end-of-season showcase.

This season’s narrative intensity carries into Pomona, with title hopes shaped by Countdown form from contenders such as Ron Capps and rising winners like Spencer Hyde in recent stops.

Post-event coverage will include photos and interviews, while attention quickly pivots to 2027 preparations and anticipated gains, notably within Funny Car’s packed field.

Visual Summary

Honoring:
  ★ Rookie of the Year
  ★ Lifetime Achievement
  ★ Crew of the Year 🛠️
  ...and Lucas Oil champions!
  

Nicholas Rivera

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.