30/05/2026
SOUTHERN MARLAND LOCAL A FEATURED MOTORIST AT HOT ROD RACE THIS WEEKEND
Kelly Clontz, Pro Stock Motorcyclist and Waldorf native, is thrilled to race on her home track this weekend, May 29th to May 31st, at the 2026 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway.
This is the first time an NHRA national event has been contested in the state of Maryland.
“So, when they told us that, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh’!” said Clontz. “I don’t think people realize how big that is for Southern Maryland and our race team.”
The weekend will feature action in all four pro classes, and the race will be broadcast on FOX, with elimination coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31.
With an NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally on the line and a chance to win the first-ever race at Maryland International Raceway, the event marks one of the early-season highlights during NHRA’s milestone year.
“I guarantee anybody that comes to the national event is going to leave a fan. It’s a whole different level of racing,” said Clontz. “[You] don’t have to know anything about racing to be a fan. It’s just the experience, the smells, the feels, the atmosphere, the people."
To celebrate NHRA’s debut at Maryland International Raceway, Visit St. Mary’s MD, the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development and NHRA have partnered to host a free driver meet and greet on May 28, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at The Barns at New Market (29133 Thompson Corner Rd., Mechanicsville, Md.).
In addition to Clontz, the signing event will feature a host of NHRA points leaders, including Top Fuel leader Shawn Langdon, Funny Car’s J.R. Todd, Pro Stock leader Dallas Glenn, and Pro Stock Motorcycle leader, Richard Gadson. Additionally, NHRA standouts Tony Stewart, Leah Pruett, Matt Hagan, Maddi Gordon, Jordan Vandergriff, Justin Ashley, Gaige Herrera, Austin Prock, Daniel Wilkerson, Angie Smith, Matt Smith, Josh Hart, Will Smith, Clayton Howey, Geno Scali, Lex Joon, Troy Coughlin Jr., Dave Richards, and more, will be available to sign autographs.
Along with a chance for fans to meet their favorite drivers and get autographs, the festive atmosphere and kickoff to the inaugural NHRA weekend will include junior dragsters, live music, food and drink vendors, and a classic car show.
Following Thursday’s meet and greet, things heat up on the track with two rounds of qualifying on Friday, the Mission Challenge bonus race on Saturday – as well as two more rounds of qualifying – and eliminations on Sunday, plus a host of NHRA 75th anniversary events, including:
• An appearance from NHRA legend and three-time Top Fuel world champion Shirley Muldowney and a tribute to Muldowney’s trailblazing history in the sport.
• On Sunday, a free, limited-edition NHRA pennant will be given to the first 4,000 fans in attendance.
“I’ve lived within fifteen minutes of the track my whole life. I sold t-shirts at the souvenir stand [at Maryland International Raceway] when I was nine years old,” said Clontz, “Kinda like a cool full circle moment.”
NHRA President Glen Cromwell joined Maryland International Raceway track owner Royce Miller last year for the landmark announcement that brings the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event to Maryland for the first time this weekend.
“This is a brand-new market for the National Hot Rod Association and Mission Foods, and we know that this is a place with a lot of die-hard drag racers, participants, and race fans. We have seen that Royce and his team know how to pack the house,” Cromwell said. “It's time for the NHRA to venture into new markets, bring our superstars, our athletes, our stakeholders, and our sponsors into markets that we haven't been to, or haven’t been to in a long time. I think [the Potomac Nationals] is going to be a tremendous event.”
MIR will be part of NHRA’s 75th anniversary celebration which also coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States, a topic of prime importance given MIR’s proximity to the Washington, D.C., market.
“Well, I just waited until it was a special year to join [NHRA],” Miller laughed. 'Regardless of the years, we are thrilled to be able to bring the premiere drag racing show to our Maryland fans, and that's what it's all about.”
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 30 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, with eliminations action on Sunday at 3 p.m on FOX.
To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, fans can visit NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more info about NHRA, visit NHRA.com.
About NHRA
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series presented by Hoosier and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
About Visit St. Mary’s MD
Visit St. Mary’s MD is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Maryland’s Original Destination: St. Mary’s County, focusing on attraction development, marketing, and helping tourism partners across the county deliver unique visitor experiences. Visit St. Mary’s MD, established in 2018, is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, governed by a nine-member board and three full-time staff members. We are a team of strategic thinkers, operations gurus and innovative marketers, all passionate about the visitor experience and the success of this county’s tourism economy.
