NHRA marks 75 years with special tickets for Norwalk

INDIANAPOLIS — After a successful debut of NHRA's commemorative tickets for the first five races of its 75th anniversary season, NHRA officials announced the next wave of special tickets for five upcoming races. The commemorative tickets will continue to honor NHRA legends past and present at the sixth through 10th race of the celebratory season, including Chris "The Greek" Karamesines (Chicago), Shirley Muldowney (Maryland), the Tasca Super Stock Cobra Jet (Epping), current star Clay Millican (Bristol) and Jim Head (Norwalk). The collector's items offer another opportunity to celebrate 75 years of NHRA drag racing and the special moments — and drivers — that have filled the past seven-plus decades of NHRA action. To purchase a special 75th anniversary ticket, fans can visit directsouvenir.wwlinc.com/Universal/NHRA. Each commemorative ticket will be available for purchase online all year and will be distinctive to each race during NHRA's milestone 2026 campaign. The special ticket for the Summit Racing NHRA Nationals in Norwalk from June 25-28 will feature the legendary Jim Head. From Columbus, Head won races in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, as well as the U.S. Nationals in both divisions, making him one of just a few in the "Dual-Fuel Club." Head competed from 1980-2011 and remains involved as a team owner and tuner. Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta and his uncle, Connie Kalitta, will also be honored during race weekend in Norwalk. Doug is fifth on the all-time Top Fuel wins list (59) and he has won two season championships, including last year. Connie is the owner of Kalita Motorsports. He won 10 NHRA national events as a driver, and was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1992. In 2001, the 50th Anniversary list of NHRA Top 50 drivers ranked Connie at No. 21. In 2016, Connie also received the NHRA's Lifetime Achievement award. At the events, fans can scan the onsite signs to purchase the commemorative ticket. The souvenir and collector's items will also be available for purchase with a clear display holder. The first five races honored legends Kenny Bernstein (Gainesville and Pomona), Don Prudhomme (Phoenix), current star Matt Hagan (Charlotte) and Don Garlits (Valdosta). The NHRA returns to action next week with the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on April 9-12. The event will host the 1,000th Funny Car race in NHRA history.