HOT ROD Drag Week 2026

With record-breaking entries and unforgettable action, last year’s Drag Week redefined excellence. This year, the schedule celebrates Route 66’s centennial, kicking off and wrapping up at the historic Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, from September 13-18, visiting fan-favorite stops along the legendary Route 66.

The world’s toughest competition to find the ultimate street-legal drag car, HOT ROD Drag Week puts competitors through a grueling test over five days of action-packed drag racing, requiring racers to drive their vehicles on a specified route from city to city, approximately 1,000 miles, while securing the quickest possible elapsed time across the five days. During the competition, drivers provide photographic evidence to prove they have adhered to the prescribed route. Some of the nation’s top racers participate in Drag Week each year, and it’s not uncommon for competitors to band together to help each other get through the week.