NHRA Teams Are Already Making Big Moves For 2026

The 2025 NHRA silly season kicked off early before the first Countdown event at Maple Grove Raceway. Usually, the silly season will include a few tool boxes being moved between race shops in Brownsburg, Indiana; however, so far this year, it’s been much bigger. Let’s take a look at what was announced, what was said at Maple Grove, and what could be coming in the next few weeks.

Elite Motorsports Buys a Top Fuel Team

In 2024, Richard Freeman generated a whole lot of buzz when he talked about putting together a Top Fuel team and the plan to put six-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders in the driver’s seat. At the time, it was presented as something that would happen well in the future with no set date, but that seems to have changed in a big way.

Josh Hart listed his Top Fuel operation for sale, and a few hours later, Elite Motorsports announced that it was buying it. This marked Elite’s first venture outside of the Pro Stock class in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Then, less than a week later, Freeman announced that Tony Stewart would be driving the dragster that he had just purchased.

“Having Tony as our driver, adding another Top Fuel entry, we’re taking care of the sport and opening up possibilities, that’s why we’ll have Erica and Aaron get licensed in the car as well. First things first though, we need to get the program funded, but letting everyone know our intentions, that will help,” said Freeman. “Tony is a great driver, we all know he can drive anything. He’s great for drag racing, not just as a team owner, but behind the wheel. We’re excited that through our marketing alliance with Tony Stewart Racing we’re creating an opportunity for Tony to keep a Top Fuel seat and a chance to race alongside his wife, Leah [Pruett].”

This wasn’t the only silly season news involving Elite Motorsports in the past week….

Elite Motorsports and Tony Stewart Racing Form Alliance

Out of left field, Richard Freeman and Tony Stewart dropped the bomb that their racing teams would be forming an alliance. This asset partnership of both teams will give partners opportunities within every class in which these organizations are involved. Everything from Pro Stock to Top Fuel will be on the table, something not seen since the days of Don Schumacher Racing.

“Our partnership with Elite Motorsports and Richard Freeman and his group is unique,” said TSR team owner Tony Stewart. “It’s taking all of our assets that we have with TSR and Elite Motorsports with the Pro Stock, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Competition Eliminator, and Pro Mod teams and creating a situation where we have a lot to offer partners and potential partners down the road. We will be pooling our assets together and working together to try to fund these race cars. This is a unique strategy that Richard came up with, but I really buy into the concept of it, and I think it’s already beneficial in the short amount of time that we’ve already started working together. We see the benefits of this, and it can continue to make both of our organizations bigger and stronger down the road. I’m excited to work with Richard and his group. Richard and I have a great friendship, and I think that’s what great partnerships start out as. He has a great organization with great people, and I feel like putting our two teams with our great people together is just going to make for a very strong alliance and a partnership that will be beneficial to both organizations.”

This alliance comes on the heels of the announcement that Stewart’s wife, Leah Pruett, will be taking over the driving duties in the TSR Top Fuel dragster once again in 2026. That means that Tony and his wife will be driving for different teams in 2026 that live under the same roof.

Brittany Force Stepping Away In 2026

Brittany Force shocked everyone by announcing at Maple Grove that she’ll be taking a break from racing to start a family in 2026. Force already has two NHRA Top Fuel world titles of her own and is currently in the hunt for number three this season. With David Grubnic and John Collins calling the shots on her dragster, Force has reset numerous track records and currently has the overall NHRA speed record at 343.51 mph. Needless to say, this isn’t a team full of scrubs, and whoever takes over the driving duties will be a championship contender in 2026.

“After dedicating the last 13 years of my life to the NHRA and to John Force Racing, I have made the difficult and bittersweet decision to step out of the seat of my Top Fuel Dragster at the end of the season to try to start a family with my husband Bobby,” said Brittany Force. “I’m thankful for such an amazing career and all the opportunities that came with it. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, including the NHRA, the fans, and all my sponsors, past and present. Thanks to Monster Energy, HendrickCars.com, Chevrolet, Cornwell Tools, PEAK, and Graham Rahal Performance for helping me compete at the highest level in the sport.”

John Force Racing always plays its cards close to the chest, so there hasn’t been any word on who will take Brittany’s seat. During the announcement, Brittany didn’t completely close the door on her racing career, so there’s a chance we’ll see her back in a car in the future. There are several high-profile drivers that could fill the dragster seat at JFR, and it will be interesting to see who gets selected for the job.

Josh Hart Isn’t Done Yet…

Josh Hart is a busy man. He’s got a growing family, and his business, Burnyzz Speed Shop, is set to expand in the near future. Hart made the tough choice to sell his Top Fuel operation as an owner, but he never said anything about not driving anymore.

During the NHRA Reading Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Hart talked about how he’s focused on finishing 2025 strong, but he also said he plans to keep on racing with R+L Carriers as a sponsor in the future. Hart mentioned that his plans for 2026 should be finalized before the NHRA Nevada Nationals, and he’ll make an announcement at that event, where he’ll be in 2026.