2026 E.T. BRACKET SERIES DETAILS
FRIDAY NIGHT TEST-N-TUNE SCHEDULE (Select Dates)
Gates Open: 4 PM
On-Track Session: 5PM-9:30PM
Friday Night Camping: 5PM-10PM
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Pit Gate Opens at 8:00 AM EDT
Time Trials Begin at 10:00 AM EDT
Eliminations Immediately Follow
*There will only be ONE time trial run on Sundays.
We are excited to bring back test-and-tunes to select 2026 E.T. Bracket Series Race Weekends. Camping will be included as well for participants who run in the Test-and-Tune sessions.
Gates open for E.T. Bracket Series Test-and-Tune sessions at 4pm. On-Track Running will be from 5-9:30pm. E.T. Bracket Series Test-N-Tunes are $35 for racers and $20 for spectators!
2026 E.T. Bracket Series Test-and-Tune Dates
- April 10th
- May 29th
- July 17th
- October 9th
NEW FOR 2026: For the first time ever, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park will be conducting Dial for Dollars 50/50 races at our E.T. Bracket Series Friday Night Test-N-Tune sessions in 2026! These $20 entry fee races will allow participants run one to run closest to their dial with that evening prize pot being split 50/50! 50% of each races prize pot will go to the winner of that evenings Dial for Dollars race while the remaining 50% of the prize pot will go towards an E.T. Bracket Final Team Travel fund that will be evenly distributed to all Lucas Oil IRP E.T. Finals or JDRL Eastern Conference Championship participants to be used towards travel to each event!
Entries for each Dial for Dollars 50/50 race will be available for purchase day of at the track!
- Jr. Wally Race – May 16th
- NHRA.TV Wally Race – June 13th
- Jr’s. Non-Points Races – July 18-19
- Oakley Motorsports Super Quick Races – April 11-12, June 13-14, & October 23-25
- King of the Track – October 11th
CAR & DRIVER COST
Super Pro – $80; Buy Back – $40
Indy Beach Properties Pro ET – $65; Buy Back – $35
Allgaier Sportsman – $55; Buy Back – $30
Millennium Trailers Super Pro Bike – $50; Buy Back – $25
Dearry Automotive Junior Dragster – $35; Buy Back – $20
Indy Beach Properties Junior Street – $35; Buy Back – $20 Test-N-Tune – $35
E.T. Bracket Finals Travel Fund Dial for Dollars 50/50 Race – $20
CREW AND SPECTATOR COST
Friday Night Camping – $20
Crew – $20
Spectator – $20
Kids 12 & Under FREE
FUEL PRICES
98 – TBA
110 – TBA
112 – TBA
116 – TBA
All racers who would like to receive their payouts for the 2026 racing season should complete our 2026 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Payout Form. To fill out this year’s form, please click here.
*PLEASE NOTE* – If you have filled out our 2025 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Payout Form and your address and name has changed the same, you do not need to fill out the form in 2026. Any questions about racer payouts should be directed to lucasoilraceway@nhra.com.
2026 E.T. BRACKET SERIES EVENT PAYOUTS & PRIZES
2026 E.T. BRACKET SERIES SEASON POINTS PAYOUTS & PRIZES
DRAG RACING 101
What is a Bracket Race?
A bracket drag race is a straight-line acceleration contest between two cars, usually starting at different times, from a standing start over a specified distance, usually a quarter-mile or an eighth-mile. Racers line up in front of a countdown device called a Christmas Tree. When they leave the starting line, timers record how long it takes them to reach the finish line. This is called elapsed time, or ET for short. Top speed is also recorded.
Getting Started
The best way to get your feet wet is to go to a “test and tune” session (most tracks have them weekly). For a small fee, you can practice your starting line procedure, learn how the car reacts to tuning changes, and make passes down the track without the pressure of racing against someone. You should also take time to watch how other racers do things, and most importantly, ask questions. Most racers will be happy to give you pointers on improving your technique.
Competing
When you’re ready to race against other people, you can compete in your track’s weekly series. Your car will be put in a category, or class, based on the elapsed time of your car. Top speed is not a factor in bracket racing. You will need to determine how quick you think your car will be. This is called the dial-in. When you are matched up with another car, the dial-ins are compared, and the slower car is given a head start equal to the difference between the two. To win, you want to run as close to your dial-in as possible without going faster, or “breaking out.”
Click here for the Full “Drag Racing 101” Brochure by Summit Racing Equipment