The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorsport sanctioning body in the world.NHRA: World's largest auto racing organization - Official website
The association was founded by Wally Parks in 1951 in California to provide a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing. NHRA's first Nationals was held in 1955, in Great Bend, Kansas. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the national event series which comprises 24 races each year, is the premier series in drag racing that brings together the best drag racers from across North America and the world. The NHRA U.S. Nationals are now held at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Indiana and are officially called the U.S. Nationals. Winners of national events are awarded a trophy statue in honor of founder Wally Parks. The trophy is commonly referred to by its nickname, "The Wally".
History Wally Parks, editor of Hot Rod magazine and a dry lakes racer himself, began the National Hot Rod Association to promote "safety, sportsmanship, and fellowship" among hot rodders. The association gained about 25,000 members in its first year; within six years, it had more than 57,000 members.
Hot Rod magazine and NHRA worked together to convince the general public and especially the police that there was a difference between hot-rodders and reckless street racers, sometimes known as "shot rodders". They encouraged the involvement of adults, such as auto shop teachers and garage owners. The NHRA's efforts to defend the image of the hot-rodder included a series of short films such as The Cool Hot Rod (1953) in which a delinquent teen learns that "a reckless kid in an old junker is not a hot-rodder at all. He's a square."
NHRA initiated the 1954 "Drag Safari", a nationwide tour to encourage organized drag racing with an emphasis on safety. Sponsored by Mobil Oil, the Safari crew would meet with law enforcement and local city officials at each stop to explain their program, involve local car clubs, set up sites, and run drag races. Drag Safari would lead to the 1955 US Nationals for drag racing.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, the NHRA cancelled its 2020 and 2021 editions of the Drag Racing Series at the Virginia Motorsports Park. Regular scheduling resumed in 2022, with the events taking place in May of that year.
Currently, there are two headquarters offices, one in San Dimas, California, and the other in Brownsburg, Indiana at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The Mission Foods Drag Racing Series offices are held in Brownsburg.
The NHRA is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026. A special NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally is only be rewarded to winners in 2026.
Series
NHRA Championship Drag Racing Series
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the top division of the NHRA. It consists of four professional classes: Top Fuel Dragster Funny Car Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle
Champions List of NHRA champions
NHRA Sportsman Drag Racing Series
There are more than a dozen Sportsman Classes. The classes contested at NHRA Divisional races include Snowmobile, Motorcycle Classes, Super Street, Super Gas, Stock Eliminator, Super Stock, Competition Eliminator, Super Comp, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and Top Alcohol Dragster. All classes except Snowmobile and some Sportsman motorcycle classes are regularly contested at NHRA national events.
NHRA promotes mainly the Professional classes at national events; however, the majority of its participants are Sportsman Racers. Sportsman-class racers must be dues-paying members of NHRA before they are allowed to enter and participate in any NHRA event.
Included in these sportsman events are the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Summit Racing Equipment Racing Series and the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League.
The NHRA Sportsman Drag Racing Series originally consisted of seven divisions: Northeast, Southeast, North Central, South Central, West Central, Northwest, and Pacific. Starting in 2012, the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes competed in four regions: East, North Central, Central and West.2012 Lucas Oil schedule released, regional program established for alcohol classes - HRA official website, 12 November 2011
Champions Year Top Alcohol Dragster 1981 Brian Raymer 1982 Don Woosley 1983 Darrell Gwynn 1984 Bill Walsh 1985 Bill Walsh 1986 Bill Walsh 1987 Denny Lucas 1988 Mike Troxel 1989 Tom Conway 1990 Blaine Johnson 1991 Blaine Johnson 1992 Blaine Johnson 1993 Blaine Johnson 1994 Tom Conway 1995 Jay Payne 1996 Bobby Taylor 1997 Rick Santos 1998 Rick Santos 1999 Rick Santos 2000 Rick Santos 2001 Rick Santos 2002 Arthur Gallant 2003 Alan Bradshaw 2004 Mitch Myers 2005 Steve Torrence 2006 Bill Reichert 2007 Bill Reichert 2008 Bill Reichert 2009 Bill Reichert 2010 Bill Reichert 2011 Duane Shields 2012 Jim Whiteley 2013 Jim Whiteley 2014 Chris Demke 2015 Joey Severance 2016 Joey Severance 2017 Joey Severance 2018 Joey Severance 2019 Megan Meyer 2020 Megan Meyer 2021 Rachel Meyer 2022 Joey Severance 2023 Julie Nataas 2024 Shawn Cowie 2025 Shawn Cowie Year Top Alcohol Funny Car 1981 Frank Manzo 1982 Bob Gottschalk 1983 Fred Mandoline 1984 Brad Anderson 1985 Brad Anderson 1986 Frank Manzo 1987 Pat Austin 1988 Pat Austin 1989 Brad Anderson 1990 Pat Austin 1991 Pat Austin 1992 Bob Newberry 1993 Randy Anderson 1994 Randy Anderson 1995 Joe Pendland 1996 Tony Bartone 1997 Frank Manzo 1998 Frank Manzo 1999 Frank Manzo 2000 Frank Manzo 2001 Frank Manzo 2002 Frank Manzo 2003 Frank Manzo 2004 Cy Chesterman 2005 Bob Newberry 2006 Frank Manzo 2007 Frank Manzo 2008 Frank Manzo 2009 Frank Manzo 2010 Frank Manzo 2011 Frank Manzo 2012 Frank Manzo 2013 Frank Manzo 2014 Steve Harker 2015 Jonnie Lindberg 2016 Jonnie Lindberg 2017 Shane Westerfield 2018 Sean Bellemeur 2019 Sean Bellemeur 2020 Doug Gordon 2021 Sean Bellemeur 2022 Doug Gordon 2023 Doug Gordon 2024 Sean Bellemeur Year Comp Eliminator 1981 Jeff Cunningham 1982 Norwin Palmer 1983 Coleman Roddy 1984 Coleman Roddy 1985 Bill Maropulos 1986 Vinny Barone 1987 Bill Maropulos 1988 Garley Daniels 1989 Bob Kaiser 1990 David Rampy 1991 David Nickens 1992 Steve Johns 1993 Bill Maropulos 1994 Jeff Krug 1995 Sal Biondo 1996 Bo Nickens 1997 Andy Manna Jr. 1998 Bob Andrews 1999 Andy Manna Jr. 2000 Jerry Arnold 2001 Don Stratton 2002 Mike Saye 2003 Dean Carter 2004 Dean Carter 2005 Jeff Taylor 2006 Bo Butner 2007 Frank Aragona Jr. 2008 Dan Fletcher 2009 Bruno Massel 2010 Al Ackerman 2011 Lou Ficco 2012 Bruno Massel 2013 Alan Ellis 2014 David Rampy 2015 Craig Bourgeois 2016 Doug Doll Jr. 2017 David Rampy 2018 Frank Aragona Jr. 2019 Frank Aragona Jr. 2020 Craig Bourgeois 2021 Bruno Massel 2022 Ryan Priddy Year Super-Stock 1981 Charlie Taylor 1982 Keith Lynch 1983 Keith Lynch 1984 Chuck Gallagher 1985 Dave Boertman 1986 Delmer Wood 1987 Jim Boburka 1988 Jeff Taylor 1989 Jim Boburka 1990 Greg Stanfield 1991 Jeff Taylor 1992 Greg Stanfield 1993 Greg Stanfield 1994 Greg Stanfield 1995 Mike Saye 1996 Peter Biondo 1997 Jimmy DeFrank 1998 Dan Fletcher 1999 Jimmy DeFrank 2000 Peter Biondo 2001 Dan Fletcher 2002 Anthony Bertozzi 2003 Peter Biondo 2004 Larry Stewart 2005 Hugh Meeks 2006 Peter Biondo 2007 Darren Smith 2008 Ricky Decker 2009 Jimmy DeFrank 2010 Ryan McClanahan 2011 Jackie Alley 2012 Jimmy DeFrank 2013 Byron Worner 2014 Peter Biondo 2015 Justin Lamb 2016 Jimmy DeFrank 2017 Justin Lamb 2018 Justin Lamb 2019 Vic Penrod 2020 Bryan Worner 2021 Greg Stanfield 2022 Peter D`Agnolo Year Stock 1981 Jeff Taylor 1982 Tex Miller 1983 Jim Hughes 1984 Alan Peters 1985 Tim Ekstrand 1986 Al Corda 1987 Jim Waldo 1988 Sammy Pizzolato 1989 Jim Hughes 1990 Don Keen 1991 John Calvert 1992 Chad Guilford 1993 Jason Line 1994 Harvey Emmons III 1995 Chuck Rayburn 1996 Scotty Richardson 1997 Al Corda 1998 Jeff Hefler 1999 Don Little 2000 Edmond Richardson 2001 Kevin Helms 2002 Kevin Helms 2003 Kevin Helms 2004 Lee Zane 2005 Peter Biondo 2006 Randy Wilkes 2007 Michael Iacono 2008 Lee Zane 2009 Edmond Richardson 2010 Brad Burton 2011 Joseph Santangelo 2012 Brad Burton 2013 Justin Lamb 2014 Austin Williams 2015 Kevin Helms 2016 Jeff Strickland 2017 Justin Lamb 2018 Brian McClanahan 2019 Allison Doll 2020 Jody Lang 2021 Jerry Emmons 2022 Jimmy Hidalgo Jr
Sportsman racers with multiple championships
Sportsman racers who have won multiple world championships, with the date of their most recent championship.
Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) 5: Rick Santos (2001), Bill Reichert (2010), Joey Severance (2022) 4: Blaine Johnson (1993) 3: Bill Walsh (1986) 2: Jim Whiteley (2013), Megan Meyer (2020), Shawn Cowie (2025) Alcohol Funny Car (AFC) 17: Frank Manzo (2013) 4: Pat Austin (1991) 3: Brad Anderson (1989), Sean Bellemeur (2021), Doug Gordon (2023) 2: Randy Anderson (1994), Bob Newberry (2005), Jonnie Lindberg (2016) Competition Eliminator (CE) 3: Bill Maropulos (1987), David Rampy (2017), Frank Aragona Jr. (2019), Bruno Massel (2021) 2: Coleman Roddy (1984), Andy Manna Jr (1999), Dean Carter (2004) Super Stock (SS) 5: Peter Biondo (2014) 4: Jimmy DeFrank (2012), Greg Stanfield (2021) 3: Justin Lamb (2018) 2: Keith Lynch (1983), Jim Boburka (1989), Jeff Taylor (1991), Dan Fletcher (2001) Stock 4: Kevin Helms (2015) 2: Jim Hughes (1989), Al Corda (1997), Lee Zane (2008), Edmond Richardson (2009), Brad Burton (2012), Justin Lamb (2017)
National records +ClassDateTrackDriverElapsed Time (seconds)Top FuelSeptember 13, 2019Maple Grove RacewayBrittany Force3.623Funny CarAugust 18, 2017Brainerd International RacewayRobert Hight3.793Pro StockMarch 14, 2022Gainesville RacewayErica Enders6.450Pro Stock MotorcycleOctober 14, 2023Texas MotorplexGaige Herrera6.627Pro ModifiedMarch 14, 2021Gainesville RacewayJose Gonzalez5.621Top Alcohol DragsterSeptember 6, 2020Indianapolis Raceway ParkMegan Meyer5.090Top Alcohol Funny CarMarch 17, 2019Gainesville RacewaySean Bellemeur5.352 NOTE: Top Fuel and Funny Car records are measured in the 1,000 foot (304.8 meter) increment
National Dragster The NHRA's official publication is National Dragster, founded in 1960 by Wally Parks, who was also its first editor. Distributed to NHRA members as a membership benefit since its first issue, it began as a weekly newsprint newspaper and is now published monthly.
Venues NHRA has over 100 member tracks across the United States. It currently leases In N Out Pomona Dragstrip, Gainesville Raceway, and Lucas Oil Raceway. It previously owned National Trail Raceway and Atlanta Dragway.
Safety The NHRA mandates numerous safety devices and procedures in all competition events.
A five-point safety harness is required for all vehicles. It holds the driver securely in the seat and is equipped with a quick-release latch which can be released in less than a second should the driver need to leave the car due to fire or explosions.
Fire suits are required for all drivers in the alcohol and nitromethane fuel classes and the faster gasoline classes. These suits are full body coveralls and made with seven layers of Nomex fabric, which makes them resistant to fire. The required suit includes Nomex gloves, foot socks, and head sock.
Another NASCAR transplant, which was brought into use after the death of Fireball Roberts, was the fuel cell. This bladder is placed into the fuel tanks of non-nitromethane-fueled vehicles to prevent fuel leaks and explosions.
Third is the use of the HANS device. This device limits the movement of the head and neck in the event of an impact.
Fourth is the titanium shield that must be placed behind the head of all Dragsters and Funny Cars down to the Alcohol ranks. This is to prevent any debris from entering the cockpit and becoming a missile hazard to the driver after the death of Top Fuel racer Darrell Russell.