The most important weekend in drag racing is almost here. The 61st annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals takes place November 12–15, 2026, at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California. This is the final race of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. World champions will be crowned. Records may fall. And the sport’s biggest names will leave everything on the strip in pursuit of glory.
This is not just a race. It is the culmination of an entire season’s worth of effort, strategy, and speed. Additionally, 2026 marks NHRA’s 75th anniversary, making this finale one of the most historically significant events the sport has ever hosted.
Venue and Location: In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
The race takes place at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, located at 1801 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. The facility sits at an elevation of 1,100 feet and has a seating capacity of 40,000 spectators. It is one of the few dragstrips in the United States operated directly by the NHRA.
Pomona has been the spiritual home of NHRA racing since 1953, when the organization held its very first Southern California Championships on the grounds. The track opened officially in 1961 and has hosted countless landmark moments in drag racing history. Therefore, returning here to close out the season every year carries enormous meaning for fans and competitors alike.
The facility is easy to reach from across Southern California. Nearby freeways connect Pomona to Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and San Diego. Ample parking is available on site, and local hotels fill up quickly during race weekend.
Race Schedule: November 12–15, 2026
The event runs across four days, with qualifying taking center stage on Thursday and Friday before Sunday’s championship-deciding eliminations.
| Day | Date | Activity |
| Thursday | November 12 | Opening day, fan activities, first qualifying session |
| Friday | November 13 | Second qualifying session, pit access, special events |
| Saturday | November 14 | Third and fourth qualifying sessions, 75th anniversary celebrations |
| Sunday | November 15 | Final eliminations — champions crowned in all four professional categories |
Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors all participate across the weekend. Each category runs a pair of qualifying sessions on multiple days before Sunday’s elimination rounds determine the season champion.
The Sunday eliminations are the main event. This is when the pressure reaches its peak, lap times count for everything, and one race weekend decides who lifts the championship trophy at the end of a grueling 20-race season.
Tickets: How to Get In and What to Expect
Tickets for the 2026 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals are available at NHRA.com/tickets. Several ticket options cover different days and seating areas.
One of the best features of this event is that every ticket is also a pit pass. That means every fan, regardless of where they sit, gets access to the pits. You can walk through the team areas, watch crews work on race cars, and meet your favorite drivers up close. This level of access is almost unheard of at other major motorsport events in the United States.
Additionally, children 12 and under are admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. This makes the event an affordable and memorable outing for families.
| Ticket Type | Access Included |
| General Admission | Grandstands + pit access |
| Reserved Grandstand | Assigned seating + pit access |
| Premium Hospitality | Premium viewing areas + pit access + exclusive experiences |
| Season Ticket Renewal | Early access + same seat guarantee |
Tickets sell quickly as the event approaches. Therefore, purchasing in advance is strongly recommended, especially for reserved seating and premium packages.
Drivers to Watch in Each Category
The Countdown to the Championship playoff format reset the points standings before the final races of the season. Here is a look at the key names heading into Pomona.
Top Fuel
The Top Fuel championship fight has been dominated this season by a small group of elite drivers. Austin Prock holds the points lead entering the Countdown, but he faces fierce pressure from veterans Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown, and Shawn Langdon. Kalitta has the most wins by any Top Fuel driver in Pomona history, with seven victories at this track. That familiarity with the strip could be a decisive advantage in November.
Leah Pruett has also delivered a strong comeback season, and dark horses like Josh Hart and Maddi Gordon have shown genuine pace throughout the year.
Funny Car
Funny Car has been the most competitive class of the 2026 season. Matt Hagan leads the Countdown standings after back-to-back event wins. He is a four-time world champion with eight victories at Pomona, which is the most at this facility among active Funny Car drivers.
Ron Capps and Austin Prock are both within striking distance. Capps collected three event wins during the regular season. However, Hagan’s late-season form makes him the driver to beat heading into the Finals.
Pro Stock
Greg Anderson is doing what he has done so many times before: quietly applying pressure at exactly the right time of year. Anderson has 17 Pro Stock wins at Pomona, tying him for the all-time record at this track.
Reigning champion Dallas Glenn is not giving up the title without a fight. Glenn has been among the most consistent Pro Stock performers all season. Matt Hartford, who won three events earlier in the year, remains a legitimate threat.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
The two-wheel category features its own intense title battle. Matt Smith has six wins at the Pomona Finals, the most of any rider in Pro Stock Motorcycle history at this event. Gaige Herrera stormed back to form mid-season and enters Pomona as a strong contender. Richard Gadson, the 2025 world champion, is also in the Countdown mix.
NHRA’s 75th Anniversary Celebration at Pomona
The 2026 Finals carry extra significance beyond the championship itself. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the NHRA. Pomona is where so much of that history happened, which makes it the natural venue for the celebration.
A special lineup of racing legends has been confirmed for the event. Tony Schumacher, Tommy Ivo, Sean Bellemeur, Terry Vance, and Del Worsham are all set to appear. Additionally, a special tribute to “The Run” — Schumacher’s record-setting Top Fuel pass in Pomona in 2006 — will take place during the weekend.
Fans can expect displays of legendary race cars, special edition merchandise, and ceremonial moments that honor nearly eight decades of motorsport history. It is a rare chance to experience the past and present of drag racing on the same weekend.
Fan Experiences Beyond the Track
Attending the NHRA Finals is about far more than watching cars travel a quarter mile in under four seconds. The event offers an immersive experience that appeals to fans of all ages.
- Nitro Alley Stage: Live entertainment and artist performances throughout the weekend
- Autograph sessions: Direct access to drivers and crew members
- Display vehicles and heritage cars: A rolling museum of NHRA history
- Interactive fan zones: Activities for younger fans and families
- Team merchandise stands: Official gear from every major NHRA team
The pit access included with every ticket is genuinely special. Few sporting events in the world allow fans to walk this close to the athletes and machinery that define their sport.
What Makes Pomona the Perfect Season Finale
Pomona is not simply a track on the calendar. It is the place where the NHRA was born and where champions have been made across six decades of competition. The grandstands hold 40,000 fans. The atmosphere on Sunday eliminates day is unlike anything else in motorsport. Cars run at over 300 miles per hour. The noise shakes the ground. And by the end of the afternoon, four new world champions have been crowned.
For 2026, all of that happens against the backdrop of the organization’s 75th anniversary. That combination of sporting drama and historical celebration makes this year’s event truly once in a generation.
Conclusion
The In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most memorable events in the sport’s long history. Running November 12–15, 2026, at Pomona Dragstrip, it serves as the final chapter of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. Championship titles in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle are all up for grabs. Star drivers including Austin Prock, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith headline a field full of legitimate contenders. Every ticket includes pit access. Kids 12 and under get in free. And the weekend doubles as a celebration of everything the NHRA has achieved across three quarters of a century. Get your tickets early, plan your trip, and prepare for four days of unforgettable drag racing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals 2026?
The event runs from November 12 to 15, 2026, at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, located at 1801 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, California. Sunday, November 15 is the championship elimination day when world champions are crowned.
How do I buy tickets for the NHRA Finals 2026?
Tickets are available at NHRA.com/tickets. Options include general admission, reserved grandstand seats, and premium hospitality packages. All tickets include pit access. Children 12 and under are admitted free in the general admission area with a paying adult.
What racing categories compete at the NHRA Finals?
The four professional categories are Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. All four hold qualifying sessions Thursday through Saturday, with final elimination rounds on Sunday determining each category’s world champion.
What is the NHRA Countdown to the Championship?
The Countdown is NHRA’s playoff format. After the first 15 races of the season, the top 10 drivers in each professional category have their points reset and enter a five-race playoff stretch. The Finals at Pomona is the final race of this playoff, where the last points are awarded and champions are determined.
Why is the 2026 NHRA Finals especially significant?
Two reasons make 2026 stand out. First, it is the 61st edition of the Pomona Finals, one of the sport’s most historic events. Second, 2026 marks the NHRA’s 75th anniversary. The weekend includes special tributes, appearances by racing legends, and celebrations honoring the organization’s history.
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