Inside BIR

Event: Ken Niesen Memorial Honoring Jill Gilgosch, 64 Car Shootout @ BIR ET Bracket Racing Series Races #7 & #8 Date: July 17th-19th 2026 Location: Brainerd International Raceway The Ken Niesen Memorial 64-Car Shootout Returns to BIR in Honor of Jill Gilgosch Some races are about more than win lights and payouts. They’re about the people who built the traditions, friendships, and memories that make Brainerd International Raceway feel like home. Brainerd International Raceway

After the inaugural Octane Autofest, Brainerd International Raceway owner Kristi Copham reflects on the vision behind the event, thanks the fans, racers, partners, volunteers and staff who made it possible, addresses lessons learned, and looks ahead to the NHRA Brainerd Nationals and Octane Autofest 2.0. Read her full message to the BIR community.

Nearly 15,000 attendees from 41 states and five countries traveled to Brainerd International Raceway June 4-7 for the inaugural Octane Autofest Motorsports Festival, a new motorsports and automotive lifestyle festival that blended drifting, performance driving, automotive culture, camping, live entertainment, and hands-on participation opportunities into a single weekend experience.

More than 300 racers battled June 19-21 at Brainerd International Raceway during Summit ET Bracket Series Races #5 & #6. Following Friday’s rainout, perfect weather set the stage for exciting racing, the prestigious NHRA King of the Track competition, and Brad Harder’s remarkable triple-win weekend as racers continued their chase for 2026 championships and Team BIR ET Finals positions.

The NHRA Summit ET Bracket Series returned to Brainerd International Raceway June 12-14 for Races #3 and #4 of the 2026 season. Racers were greeted with cool temperatures and strong winds throughout much of the weekend, but despite the challenging conditions, racers put on a great show while posting strong car counts and exciting racing action.

Scag Power Equipment, a division of Metalcraft of Mayville, has become a Preferred Partner of Brainerd International Raceway. Fans attending races this season will see the popular “Cat’s Eye Gold” colored equipment in use throughout the facility as it is being used for upkeep on and around the dragstrip, road course, and drifting competition areas.

Event: BIR ET Bracket Racing Series Races #3 & #4 Date: June 12th-14th 2026 Location: Brainerd International Raceway BIR Bracket Series Races #3 & #4 NHRA 75th Anniversary Challenge, Summit Racing Equipment JDRL Challenge, & MCR Barrett Pet Foods Paul Bunyan Classic. The chase for the 2026 Brainerd International Raceway championships continues the weekend of June 12-14, and there's a lot more on the line than just points! Friday kicks off with Test & Tune along with Jackpot

Event: BIR Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series 17th Annual Street Car Showdown Date: May 22-24, 2026 Location: Brainerd International Raceway Next Race: 40th Annual Show N Go July 3-5 2026 Photo Credit: Eagle Eye Photography The 2026 Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series officially kicked off this past weekend with the 17th Annual Street Car Showdown at Brainerd International Raceway, and despite weather challenges throughout the first half of the weekend, Sunday came together to deliver an ou

Event: BIR ET Bracket Racing Series Races #1 & #2 Date: May 8-10, 2026 Location: Brainerd International Raceway Next Race: Races #3 & #4, June 12–14, 2026 Photo Credit: Eagle Eye Photography The BIR ET Bracket Racing Series kicked of the 2026 season this past weekend with Friday’s Test n Tune & Jackpots races and Races #1 & 2 on Saturday & Sunday. The weather was cold & windy but the on-track action sizzled with .000 lights and dead on runs aplenty. In Race #1 the Final in

A new multi-discipline motorsports festival blends drifting, driving, music, and camping into a full weekend experience Brainerd, MN — With just 30 days until gates open, Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) is set to launch Octane Autofest June 5–7, 2026—now in collaboration with CboysTV, one of the fastest-growing automotive and lifestyle channels in the country. The Minnesota-based group, known for turning everyday ideas into high-energy automotive content, will bring its