NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Race day at Brainerd International Raceway builds toward the opening ceremonies from the very first rays of dawn.

It begins when the transporters open and crews roll their race cars into the morning light. It begins with the metallic rhythm of tools in the pits, the smell of racing fuel in the air and the first sharp crack of an engine coming to life.

By breakfast, the peaceful Minnesota countryside has been transformed. Big-block engines thunder throughout the pits, sending shock waves across the facility and plumes of unmistakable exhaust into a cloudless sky. Crew chiefs make their final adjustments, drivers prepare for battle and fans gather along the ropes to experience the raw power from only a few feet away.

The show has already begun.

The weather is nearly perfect, and the crowd is ignited. Fans flow out of the legendary Brainerd Zoo campground and into the pits, midway and grandstands, bringing with them the energy that makes this one of the most distinctive stops on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour.

That unmistakable combination of racing, community and tradition is also at the center of Brainerd International Raceway’s next chapter.

Since the Copham family purchased the track in 2006, owner Kristi Copham has remained committed to the facility’s long-term growth. Her vision is built around preserving the loyalty, knowledge and experience of BIR’s long-standing staff while adding new talent capable of strengthening operations, elevating programming and expanding the raceway’s reach across multiple motorsports disciplines.

Many staff members have worked at Brainerd for years, and some for decades. Together, they form the core of what is known inside the facility as the “BIR family.” That foundation has helped create the atmosphere fans experience each race weekend.

Before eliminations began, the focus shifted to the starting line for NHRA’s pre-race ceremonies. The SealMaster Track Walk and driver introductions brought the stars of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock before the Brainerd crowd. The national anthem, first-responder recognition and ceremonial moments steadily built toward the command everyone had been waiting to hear.

For NHRA fans and racers, the scene represented everything BIR has become and everything it can still be: a place where generations of racers and fans gather, where tradition remains alive and where the next chapter is already beginning.