U.S. Street Nationals: The Season Ignites in Bradenton
This weekend, the scent of burning rubber and race fuel is going to hang heavy over Florida as the 2026 eighth-mile doorslammer season roars to life. We’re talking about the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission at the legendary Bradenton Motorsports Park, running from January 22nd through the 25th.
This is the second stop of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service. We are looking at a Pro Mod championship series with purses and bonuses totaling over $300,000. But wait, there’s more. It’s also the season opener for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series. So, whether you like your tires big or small, Bradenton is the only place to be this weekend.
Why the Hype is Real for the U.S. Street Nationals
You can feel the energy in the air. Victor Alvarez, the man running the show at Bradenton, says excitement is at an “all-time high,” and he’s not just blowing smoke. Teams from every corner of the country have been camped out in Florida for weeks, testing their setups and trying to find that perfect tune.
Remember the Snowbirds? We saw a record-setting Pro Mod field there. Based on what folks are seeing in testing this week, the field for the U.S. Street Nationals is going to be even quicker. Alvarez promised huge payouts across the board, and he delivered. From the headliners to the sportsman classes, everyone is gunning for a piece of the pie.
U.S. Street Nationals Hunt for the Million
Here is where the drama gets good. When the Winter Series kicked off at the Snowbirds in December, Jason Harris came out swinging. The PDRA world champ piloted his “Party Time” ’69 Camaro to the No. 1 qualifying spot and took home the $50,000 win.
Now, Harris is the only driver left in the running for the Jerry Bickel Race Cars Clean Sweep Challenge. If he qualifies No. 1 here at the U.S. Street Nationals and at the World Series of Pro Mod, plus wins all three events, he walks away with an unprecedented $1 million bonus. That’s life-changing money.
But Drag Illustrated founder Wes Buck put it best: “He has a whole pack of killers coming after him.” We saw 15 cars running in the 3.50s at the last race. The competition this weekend is going to be absolutely cutthroat.
Keep an eye on Brazil’s Sidnei Frigo, who is currently second in points, and Kevin Rivenbark, sitting in fourth. The reigning champ, Ken Quartuccio, is stepping back for business reasons, leaving the door wide open for someone new to climb the ladder.
Classes and Cash: What’s at Stake
It’s not just about the Pro Mods. The payout list for this weekend is enough to make your eyes water.
- Outlaw Pro Mod: Winner-takes-all, $75,000.
- True 10.5: $40,000 to win, and yes, the clocks are on for this one.
- Lil Gangstas: $20,000 to win.
- Pro 275: $15,000 to win.
- X275: $10,000 to win.
We’ve also got Limited Drag Radial, Ultra Street, Pro 10.5, 4.60 Bike, and the Index classes all fighting for serious cash. It’s a buffet of horsepower, and nobody is leaving hungry for action.
Get Your Tickets or Tune In
If you can make it to the track, do it. There is nothing like the sound of these engines in person. General admission is $35 for Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and $40 for Saturday. If you’re bringing the family, active military and kids 12 and under get in free, which is a classy move by the track. Can’t make the trip to Florida?
We get it, life happens. You can still catch every second of the action on the official livestream over at FloRacing. Qualifying starts Thursday morning and runs through Friday. Saturday is when things get real with the start of eliminations, and Sunday, we crown our champions. It’s going to be fast, it’s going to be loud, and it’s going to be memorable. Let’s go racing.
