BIR Partners with Kwik Trip to Power 2026 Season

Brainerd International Raceway
2 days ago
3 min read

New partnership connects a trusted Midwest brand with BIR’s signature summer events, including the iconic Muscle Car Series

Brainerd, MN — Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) today announced a new partnership with Kwik Trip, bringing one of the Midwest’s most recognizable and trusted brands into the heart of the BIR event experience for the 2026 season.

The partnership aligns two family-owned organizations with deep roots in the region and a shared focus on delivering consistent, high-quality experiences to their customers — whether that’s at the pump, in the store, or at 300 mph down the drag strip.

Kwik Trip, which operates more than 900 locations across the Midwest and employs over 36,000 team members, has built its reputation on clean stores, strong customer service, and a unique focus on fresh food offerings that go well beyond traditional convenience retail.

That commitment to consistency and customer experience will carry directly into one of BIR’s most recognizable programs, the BIR Muscle Car Series — a cornerstone of the raceway’s summer schedule and one of the longest-running drag racing traditions in the region.

Headlined by a full summer run of holiday weekends, the Muscle Car Series launches with the Street Car Showdown over Memorial Day, is marked by the 40th anniversary of Show ’n Go on the Fourth of July, and closes out the season with the Muscle Car Shootout on Labor Day weekend. Together, these events blend high-horsepower competition with a full weekend experience built around family fun, the BIR camping experience, and nonstop racing you can feel in your chest. Whether it’s a full weekend at the track or an afternoon stop as part of a trip to the Brainerd Lakes Area, the Muscle Car Series has become a staple for generations of racers and fans, delivering the kind of loud, fast, and unforgettable moments that define BIR.

The partnership also comes as Kwik Trip continues its expansion in the Brainerd Lakes Area, including the opening of its Baxter location in late 2025. The 24-hour facility, located just off Highway 371, offers full fuel service, fresh food options, and a continued commitment to clean, safe, and reliable service for local customers and travelers alike.

“Kwik Trip is a trusted brand across the Midwest,” said Sara Walker, General Manager of Brainerd International Raceway. “Bringing that into BIR strengthens the overall experience for our fans and racers.”

As part of the agreement, Kwik Trip will have a presence across key BIR events and programming throughout the 2026 season, with a strong focus on the Muscle Car Series and other major summer race weekends. The collaboration will center on enhancing the fan and racer experience while creating meaningful connections between the brand and the communities that support both organizations.

The partnership reflects BIR’s continued effort to align with regional brands that not only support motorsports, but also serve the same communities that fill the grandstands, camp at the track, and return year after year for BIR’s biggest events.

About Brainerd International Raceway

Brainerd International Raceway (BIR), located in Brainerd, Minnesota, is one of the Midwest’s premier multi-discipline motorsports facilities. For more than 50 years, BIR has hosted national and regional competition across drag racing, road racing, drifting, autocross, and performance driving programs. Home to the NHRA Nationals and a full season of grassroots and professional events, the facility features a 3.1-mile road course, a championship drag strip, and dedicated drift and performance training infrastructure.

As a family-owned destination venue, BIR continues to evolve its programming and facilities while honoring its racing heritage — investing in new disciplines, expanding participation opportunities, and creating motorsports experiences that connect generations of fans, racers, and automotive enthusiasts across the Midwest.

About Kwik Trip Beverages

Kwik Trip is a family-owned convenience store chain serving communities across the Midwest, with more than 900 locations and over 36,000 employees. Known for its clean stores, friendly service, and strong commitment to quality, Kwik Trip offers a wide range of products including fresh food, prepared meals, bakery items, and fuel options.

With a vertically integrated approach that includes in-house bakeries, kitchens, and dairy production, Kwik Trip focuses on delivering fresh, high-quality products at a strong value while maintaining a consistent and reliable customer experience across every location.