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2026 Sportsman Appreciation Dinner kicks off Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals

NHRA and its racing partners celebrated the Sportsman racers, crews, and families who make the world’s biggest drag race the Big Go.
01 Sep 2026
David Kennedy
Feature

For the fourth consecutive year, the NHRA Sportsman Appreciation Dinner brought racers, crews, families, and industry partners together ahead of the opening day of the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Held in the Top Eliminator Club, the dinner served as the kickoff to the Big Go and celebrated the dedication and accomplishments of the hundreds of Sportsman competitors who traveled to Indianapolis to compete on drag racing’s biggest stage.

The evening included dinner, goodie bags, and a wide range of door prizes supplied by many of NHRA’s racing partners. Laris Motorsports Insurance once again provided the event’s bar, helping create a relaxed atmosphere where racers could reconnect before the intensity of qualifying and eliminations began.

More than a race, the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals is an annual gathering of the drag racing community. The Sportsman Appreciation Dinner has quickly become an important part of that tradition, offering NHRA and its partners an opportunity to recognize the racers whose commitment, competition, and passion form the foundation of the sport.

“This event is one of the most important events of the year for the NHRA and its many Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Sportsman racers,” said NHRA Sportsman Manager, and the host of the evening, Jason Galvin. “It’s a way to say thank you at our biggest event, with more Sportsman racers in attendance than at any other national event all season."

“It’s also a way for the companies that support NHRA and its racers to give back and celebrate as we head into the most important week of racing this season. We were proud to welcome competitors from our Lucas Oil categories, along with their crews and families, and recognize everything they contribute to NHRA Drag Racing,” he said.

 

Generations of Sportsman racers have built NHRA’s history, and many of the competitors gathered in Indianapolis arrived hoping to add their names to the prestigious list of U.S. Nationals champions.

 

The evening carried additional significance as NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2026. Generations of Sportsman racers have built NHRA’s history, and many of the competitors gathered in Indianapolis arrived hoping to add their names to the prestigious list of U.S. Nationals champions.

Qualifying and time trials begin Wednesday morning, marking the start of six days of competition at the world’s largest and most prestigious drag race.

NHRA extends its appreciation to every racer, crewmember, family member, and racing partner who participated in the annual Sportsman Appreciation Dinner. Before the first pair rolled into the water box, the gathering offered a fitting reminder that the people of Sportsman racing are what make the Big Go truly special.