51 Legends of The Pacific Division!

The start of the 2026 season is already building excitement as tires finally hit the track at Gainesville Raceway, signaling the opening of a historic year for the National Hot Rod Association. The 2026 season marks the 75th Anniversary of the NHRA, and the celebration begins with the first National Event of the season in Gainesville this weekend.  

Adding to that excitement, NHRA is proud to announce a brand-new marketing partnership with Quarter-Max, a highly respected manufacturer and distributor of high-performance parts and custom race car builds. This partnership will play a key role in honoring the individuals who helped build and shape the foundation of drag racing through the “51 Legends of the Divisions” recognition program.  

Why 51? The number celebrates 1951, the founding year of the NHRA.  

As NHRA celebrates 75 years of drag racing history, the partnership with Quarter-Max will help spotlight the racers, track operators, innovators, and those who shaped the sport within each NHRA division. The 51 Legends of the Divisions program will recognize individuals whose impact helped grow the sport across North America.  

Thanks to Quarter-Max, each of the 51 Legends nominated and voted upon by their peers will be honored and receive a special-edition 75th Anniversary Medallion.

Beginning April 9, 2026, NHRA will open nominations for the 51 Legends of the Divisions on each NHRA Division website. The drag racing community will have the opportunity to nominate individuals who have made a lasting impact on their division. 

During the summer, committees from each division will review the nominations and narrow the list of candidates. A final ballot will then be posted for community voting, where the Top 51 Legends will be determined. 

Following the U.S. Nationals, each division will begin announcing the honorees leading up to PRI, where the Top 5 Legends from each division will be officially revealed. Stay tuned to the NHRA Division pages for more details.