The National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC) today announced that Nitro Up North, originally scheduled to take place at Hidden Valley Raceway on August 14-15, will not run in 2026.
While a number of factors have led to the decision, NDRC director Andy Lopez said the decision was made with the long-term sustainability of the sport and its competitors front of mind.
“Competitors have been travelling enormous distances to participate in the Championship this year, and the rising costs experienced by Top Fuel and Doorslammer due to the fuel crisis in the first part of 2026 means they’re no longer able to be a part of the program. This is not about traveling to Darwin; this is about what it costs the teams to run for the entire season, and sadly, with everything that’s happened this year, this hard decision has been made.”
The NDRC remains committed to returning Nitro Up North to the calendar in the future and will continue working closely with venue partners, teams, government stakeholders and the Northern Territory motorsport community on opportunities moving forward.
There is still a range of excellent opportunities for competitors and fans to participate in drag racing in the Northern Territory in 2026.
“The ANDRA Sportsman Series comes to the iconic Desert Nationals in Alice Springs this August followed by the Heavy Hitter racing at Red CentreNATS on the Fathers Day weekend. We also encourage racers and fans to get behind the Hidden Valley Track Championships, supported by Street Machine, in Darwin.”
