Surprise announcement that IHRA has acquired NHRA mainstay Maple Grove Raceway triggers scramble to replace playoff opener.
- U.S. 131 Motorsports Park at Martin, Mich., will host its first NHRA national event as the opener to the six-race showdown in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
- Maple Grove Raceway, near Reading, Pa., changed hands, effective Friday, from NHRA sanction to rival IHRA affiliation.
- Return to Michigan for first time since 1960 U.S. Nationals buoys NHRA’s 2026 calendar.
- Koretsky family says move to IHRA satisfies “innovative, forward-thinking approach [that] this sport has been missing.”
The upcoming inaugural Great Lakes Nationals Sept. 18-20 at Martin, Michigan’s US 131 Motorsports Park represents more than a schedule change in the NHRA’s 2026 Countdown to the Championship.
The abrupt change in the NHRA’s 2026 calendar came with the rival International Hot Rod Association’s announcement Friday at the PRI Show at Indianapolis that it has acquired Maple Grove Raceway, marking a significant milestone for the sport of drag racing.
This 15th of 20 races during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season—the first of six playoff races in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series—signifies a major shift in power in the straightline sport. It exposes significant disagreement about management styles between the NHRA and a resurgent IHRA. Maple Grove Raceway, near Reading, Pennsylvania, has been one of the NHRA’s strongest pillars for a national spectrum of events.
From the NHRA’s perspective, it’s a bit of a coup, too. The Great Lakes Nationals will mark the first major NHRA event in Michigan, the center of the US auto manufacturing industry, since the 1960 US Nationals at Detroit Dragway. And it will showcase one of the most updated and family friendly facilities in the country.
The Martin, Michigan, race has become one of four new racetracks on the NHRA schedule for 2026. Maryland International Raceway, South Georgia Motorsports Park, and Rockingham (North Carolina) Dragway already have joined the 20-race lineup.
So despite the IHRA’s rekindled rivalry with the NHRA, the latest move only indicates the overall health of the sport.
But Friday’s news was a blow to the NHRA, which announced this past September that it had a Saturday sellout crowd for the fourth-straight year at its Countdown to the Championship kickoff at Maple Grove Raceway.
Always one of the most popular dragstrips on the national tour, owner Kenny Koretsky and family raised the bar by sinking millions of dollars and tons of energy into customer service at the historic Eastern Pennsylvania venue since they purchased it in 2022.
So the so-called “House of Chaos”—nicknamed for former Pro Stock racer Kenny Koretsky’s reputation as “Captain Chaos”—plunged the NHRA into a bit of chaos for a few days. Unsuccessful repeated attempts to contact the NHRA since Friday produced a prepared statement Monday about the playoff opener’s move to Michigan.
While the NHRA has moved on to its fresh affiliation with US 131 Motorsports Park, the IHRA takes over one of the NHRA’s biggest revenue-streaming facilities.
“This is a track with deep roots and an even stronger future,” IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell said. “Maple Grove represents what racing should be: competitive, welcoming, and centered [on] racers and families. Bringing it under the IHRA umbrella is not just a business decision—it’s a commitment to strengthening the sport and investing in its long-term success.”
The Koretsky family emphasized the personal significance of this transition.
“Maple Grove has always been more than a racetrack to our family—it is home, not just for us, but for generations of racers,” the Koretskys said. “Our mission has always been to preserve this facility and ensure it remains a premier racing destination. Seeing Maple Grove join the IHRA family feels like a natural and meaningful next step for the sport.
“Meeting Darryl and Leah from the IHRA was truly eye-opening. Their vision, work ethic, and genuine passion for racers and fans are unmatched,” they said. “Their innovative, forward-thinking approach is exactly what this sport has been missing. The IHRA shares our values—making racing affordable, fun, and family-centered. This new chapter is about honoring Maple Grove’s legacy while elevating the experience for future generations.”
The Koretsky family said it looks forward to working closely with the IHRA throughout 2026 and beyond.
As for the NHRA’s new focus, President Glen Cromwell said Monday in a statement that the Martin, Michigan, event is “a[n] historic milestone for the facility, and it’s another terrific way to celebrate our 75th anniversary season, bringing the incredible action of NHRA drag racing to the passionate fan base in Michigan.” He said it “will be extremely meaningful during our 75th anniversary season, as it reflects NHRA’s continued commitment to growing the sport and bringing championship-level NHRA racing to outstanding venues. The track’s dedication to its racers and fans, and its enthusiasm as a new NHRA Member Track makes it an excellent addition to the national tour.”
US 131 Motorsports Park will also host a yet-to-be defined NHRA national open July 8-9, leading into a July 10-12 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (sportsman) divisional event.
Category: General Sports
