12/10/2025
US 13 Dragway
2026 Season will be “Something Old and Something New” at the U.S.13 Dragway
Delmar, DE
The anticipation for the 2026 season is gaining incredible momentum since the gates closed in 2025. “We have been working hard to develop new events, make additions to our existing programs and creating a family friendly facility,” states Mark Cathell, of SDM Promotions.
“In 2026, we hope to bring more family friendly events to the Dragway as we begin our fifth year of operating the Dragway.” With IHRA acquiring WDRA, we look forward to all that IHRA will bring to sportsman racing across the country!
We have made the decision to return to being an IHRA sanctioned track in 2026. MIR made a sanctioning move to NHRA. They, along with Maple Grove and other NHRA tracks that surround us, give an opportunity for racers in our area to possibly participate and attend two World Championships!
Over the winter months, we will be installing a playground area for children to enjoy while attending the race weekends. In addition, for all of our animal loving families, we will be constructing a dog park in the south field for families to give their fur babies room to stretch out and run.
The 2026 year will begin with a new event, March Madness Truck and Car Show featuring all types of trucks and cars, burnout contest and more!
Our 2026 race season will open with the always popular 4th Annual 1st State No Prep Season Opener on March 28. In addition, as we have done each year, Poppy and Binkley will close the year with the 5th Annual 1st No Prep Season Closer, November 14.
The exciting and never disappointing races held by Bad Mouf Crew has several events in store for the 302 Nation’s Grudge scene in 2026. Along with their three signature series events April 3-4 “Da Season Kick-Off”, August 7-8 “Summertime Jam” and “Volume 3 Cell Break GrudgeFest” with a NEW date, October 9-10, 2026, BMC will also be a major part of promoting and bringing back our Friday Night Fights. These monthly designated nights will feature test and tune, shoot-outs, grudge racing, music and more! We will be extending the operating hours with gates opening at 5pm and track action 6pm until 11:30 pm with all racing action completed by 12 midnight.
Big Money Bracket Races are back with the return of the 6th Annual Coastal Clash, April 10-12, Top bulb racers will compete for $10K both Saturday and Sunday. Bottom bulb and Footbrake racers will look to capture the $3,500 winners share. Jr. Dragsters will compete for $750 each day and a chance to score one of those one-of-a-kind trophies. This year we will kick off our 2026 points season for Top, Mod and Jr Dragster during the Coastal Clash. This gives our locals more incentive to run for a chance at the IHRA World Finals.
The home track’s 4th Annual HillBilly Bracket Bash returns June 19-21 featuring “Twin 10K” Top Bulb, “Double Days $3500” No Box and “Slick Twin $750’s” for our Jr Dragsters. This race is one packed with a lot of fun, food and some drag racing to go with it!
New for this year will be a first of its kind! At any given time, you can find an “All Door Car” event across the country. Well, we like to be innovative and be the first to host an “All Dragster Event,” the 1st Annual “Pipe Rack Nationals” is coming to Delaware. Friday night will feature a $5K, 64 Dragster Shootout, with Saturday and Sunday paying $10K to win. This event will be held the weekend of July 24-26. In addition, we will offer Jr Dragster racers $500 to win both days. You need to add the “Pipe Rack Nationals” to your racing calendar if you own a dragster or roadster.
In May, another first for the 302 Bike Nation! “Two Wheel Massacre 2026” features an all-bike weekend. Bracket racing, Index racing and Grudge action will fill the weekend of May 1-3. We are going to add Food and Music to the venue making it one for the record books! Friday will host a $5K “64 Bike Shootout” and $10K Main Event bracket race on Saturday to see who has the best bracket racing bike in the Mid-Atlantic region!
Jr. Dragsters, we are coming back with our 2nd annual Mid-Atlantic Jr. Dragster Nationals, due to a scheduling conflict we have moved it to September 25-27. This year will feature a Main Event paying some lucky driver $5K on Saturday.
But that’s not all...
Make plans now families to come to our Inaugural “Summer Kick-Off Jr Dragster Nationals.” What better way to kick-off the summer vacation with a chance at $5K on Saturday! Team Shootout, Index, Age Out and Parents Race will highlight the event. More information coming of the event. Save these dates! (May 22-24 and September 25-27).
The 63rd Anniversary, William and Juanita Cathell Memorial, Chevy Show Shine and Drags will happen August 21-23. This weekend high lights the Pro Stick Gear Jammers, bracket racing and Sundays always popular Chevy Car Show, hosted by OC Cruzers Car Club.
August 28-30 will bring back one of the most popular races held at the U.S.13 Dragway. The return of Jerry Ketterman’s Super Bad 8, pairing the fastest Door Cars and Dragsters with a final round Bad to the Bone run off for all the bragging rights! In 2025, Jerry passed his necklace of pacifiers over to Mike Larkin to continue this great tradition.
The weekend of September 12-13 features bracket racing and a little more! Ford enthusiasts get geared up for their 18th Annual Fast Fords Sunday, Steve Drummond Memorial on Sunday, September 13. All types of Blue Ovals will be on display in our show car area. Car Show hosted by Cheswold Connection.
Our bracket season will close on the weekend of October 31 and November 1. This event features Halloween Trailer or Treat, Costume Contests, Golf Cart Decorating Contest and Pit Vehicle race on Friday, October 30. Oh yeah, two big days of bracket racing to end the bracket portion of our schedule.
As you can see, we have a lot packed into one year. Special dates to remember, we will be closed the weekends of July 4th and Labor Day.
IHRA Bracket Finals, will tentatively be held at Darana Motorsports Park (formally Galot) October 1-4, 2026. The IHRA World Finals location will be announced soon.
Submitted By: Mark Cathell
