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Ron Capps NAPA Funny Car 2025

Where History Runs Fast... and Summer Traditions Run Deep

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NHRA BRAINERD NATIONALS
AUGUST 20-23, 2026
This is a weekend built around nitro power, late-summer nights, and a fan experience you won’t find anywhere else on the NHRA tour.

More fun at BIR!   Find your fun at BIR!

  • Nitro at Full Volume – Top Fuel and Funny Car at 330+ mph, plus Pro Stock, and Sportsman eliminations all weekend long.

  •  Real Fan Access – Every ticket is a pit pass. Get up close in the pits, watch teams work, and catch autographs and photos throughout the day.

  • All-Day Atmosphere – Nitro Alley midway, vendors, merch, food, and a true “race weekend as a destination” vibe.


Brainerd is the kind of place where the weekend can turn on one run... and sometimes the history books turn with it.

Want to see where all of this happens? Check out the facility map and seating options below.

Why Brainerd Is Different

Brainerd isn’t just a race weekend. It’s a summer tradition with roots that run deep.
Fans don’t just attend... they return. Families plan their year around it. Kids grow up inside the gates and come back as adults with kids of their own.

 

Brainerd’s late-summer conditions and northern air have helped produce record-setting performances for decades.  The track continues to push the limits, with the Top Fuel speed record reset in August 2025 when Brittany Force recorded a blistering 341.25 mph pass.


That same August 2025 event also saw the Pro Stock elapsed-time record reset, as Greg Anderson stopped the clocks at 6.521 seconds.


Off track, Brainerd delivers something rare on the NHRA tour: real community.

The Legendary BIR Experience

Everyone’s heard the stories... but you have to experience it for yourself, because nothing compares.

From the first pass of the day to the last round of eliminations, Brainerd has its own energy.

 

And if you really want the full Brainerd experience, The Zoo Campground is unlike anything else on the NHRA tour. With 170 reserved, full-service sites and additional camping across the property, it’s the perfect home base for a weekend that’s part race, part reunion, part controlled chaos.

 

Prefer quieter evenings? Reserved and restricted family camping areas offer early noise and traffic rules for a more relaxed stay.

Whether you’re here for the party, the racing, or somewhere in between, there’s a camping option that fits your style.

Make It a Mega Week (Aug 12–24)

Want to turn Nationals into an even bigger Brainerd experience? Add on a full week of ground-pounding action with the
NHRA Lucas Oil Divisional Doubleheader as the pregame to Nationals.

  •  Arrive early, pick your spot – Get set up a week ahead of time and be ready when the big show rolls in.

  •  Set up once, stay put – With Mega Week passes and camping (Aug 12–24), you can settle in and live inside the gates for nearly two full weeks of NHRA action.

  •  See the full ecosystem – Grassroots Sportsman intensity, then the headline nitro weekend... all in one trip.


Come early. Stay late. Make Brainerd home.

Mega Week is built for fans who want more than a weekend—
return campers, long-haulers, and anyone who wants to truly live at Brainerd.

Plan Your Trip

This weekend moves fast... and so do the best options. Use the quick links below to map out your trip, lock in your seats, and decide how deep you want to go on the full Brainerd experience.

Pro tip: If you want the full BIR vibe, make a plan that includes camping. If you want the full BIR week, roll in early with Mega Week and claim your spot ahead of Nationals.

  • Lodging / Camping: Reserve your campsite early. Full-service reserved sites are limited but additional camping options are available.

  • Tickets & Upgrades: Choose single-day or multi-day tickets, then level up with seating and camping packages.

  • Arrival Planning: Peak sessions draw the biggest crowds—plan ahead for parking and gate entry times.

Trip Planning Quick Links

CALL US

BIR FRONT OFFICE

218-824-7223

866-444-4455

 

EMAIL US

General Questions: tickets@brainerdraceway.com

Drag Strip & Tech Questions:

phil@brainerdraceway.com

Drift & Road Course Questions:

michael@brainerdraceway.com

MAIN OFFICE

Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm

5523 Birchdale Rd

Brainerd, MN 56401

Events

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© 2026 Brainerd International Raceway

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