From prestigious NHRA events, to bracket racing, to 1/8 mile shootouts, great drag racing takes place every weekend at strips across the country. Here we have come up with eleven must see events that touch on a little bit of everything from spring to fall.

NHRA Gator Nationals – Gainesville, FL

Kicking off the east coast drag racing season in early spring is the Gator Nationals at Florida’s Gainesville Raceway. Long known as one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit, the event has seen its share of drama and innovation in its 40+ year history.  Big Daddy Don Garlits’ state-of-the-art Swamp Rat XXX ushered in a new era in top fuel dragster when it made its debut at this event in 1986 running over 270 MPH, Kenny Bernsetin clocked the first ever 300 MPH run at the track in 1992, and in the 2000 Gator Nationals, eight of ten national records were set in the professional classes. This stop also marks the first of 16 Pro Stock motorcycle events held each NHRA season.

NHRA Four-Wide Nationals – Concord, NC

While the Charlotte region has always been NASCAR country, over the last several years the zMax Dragway has honed in on the circle track domination of the area. In fact, the Dragway made history in April 2010, becoming the first NHRA national event to ever feature four-wide drag racing. The Four-Wide Nationals is a unique event each spring on the NHRA circuit. The purists aren’t crazy about it, but the fans eat up the spectacle and drama of pitting four cars against one another in a single quarter mile race.

NMCA /NMRA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing – Joliet, IL

In late June for the past five years Chicagoland has played host to both the NMRA Ford Nationals and the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals on the same weekend. The only event of its kind, both organizations converge on Route 66 Raceway – the first true “stadium of drag racing,” for a weekend car show, swap meet and two separate street legal drag racing events. A huge number of cars take part, with the winners of each NMRA and NMCA class doing battle on Sunday evening for organization bragging rights.

U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis, IN

Held every Labor Day weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, IN, the U.S. Nationals is the oldest, largest and richest drag racing event in the world. In fact, it is the longest-running Labor Day motorsports event in the United States. The winners list reads like a who’s who of drag racing royalty, with Bob Glidden, Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme topping the championship charts, with nine, eight and seven wins respectively.

YellowBullet.com Nationals – Rising Sun, MD

Taking place on Labor Day Weekend at NHRA-sanctioned Cecil County Dragway, the YelllowBullet.com Nationals has only had one installment so far, but it’s already left its mark on the drag radial racing world. Close to 400 cars and a huge crowd of spectators turned out for the initial event, making the decision to return a no-brainer. Furthermore the YellowBullet.com online forum provides a sounding board for smack talk between grudge racers and class racers, creating hype and anticipation among competitors well in advance of any rubber actually being laid.

ADRL Dragstock – North Rockingham, NC

The American Drag Racing League may be the newest kid on the drag racing block, but it has quickly established a loyal following. Each September over a hundred Pro Mods (Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous and Extreme 10.5) descend on Rockingham Dragway for what has become the premier stop on the ADRL circuit. New world records have come to be the norm at what amounts to a two day party celebrating the finest in 1/8 mile drag racing.

Shakedown at E-Town – Englishtown, NJ

Sanctioned by the ADRL and held at storied Old Bridge Township Raceway in early October, the Shakedown at E-Town is the quickest and fastest outlaw drag race in the world. The cooler weather in the northeast in the fall has led to some eye poppingly low ETs over the event’s eight year history. Consisting of classes as diverse as Pro Mod, Outlaw 10.5, Heavy Street, Drag Radial and 8.50 Index, among others, the Shakedown sees participants compete heads-up solely on the quarter mile, a variation of the days when both quarter and 1/8 mile passes were part of the program.

Million Dollar Bracket Race Weekend – Various Sites

Now celebrating its 16^th year, over 300 cars attend this event annually. While most bracket races are known for having a “run-what-you-brung” feel, this one attracts a plethora of high class, high dollar vehicles, which makes sense, considering that if 500 cars pay the $2,000 entry fee on Saturday, the winner will pocket $1,000,000. The Million Dollar Race Weekend in 2011 is scheduled for Montgomery Motorsports Park in mid-October. All in all, the total payout is expected to exceed $600,000 over the four day racing schedule.

Outlaw Radial Revolution – Cecil, GA

Each year a fan favorite in drag racing circles, October’s Outlaw Radial Revolution at South Georgia Motorsports Park provides the largest payday in small tire racing, making it one of the largest and most prestigious drag radial events in the country. A hot commodity in drag racing, drag radials provide spectators with an opportunity to watch cars that resemble their street counterparts, albeit with 1,500 to 2,000 horses under the hood.

Orlando World Street Nationals – Orlando, FL

At the end of October, doorslammers from around the country gather at Orlando’s Speed World Dragway for the World Street Nationals. Now in its 19^th year, the event is the longest running “All Heads Up Doorslammer Race,” in the world. The Street Nationals pits challengers against the previous year’s champion in Super Pro Street, Outlaw 10.5, Drag Radial, Heavy Street and two Extreme Import classes. In addition to prize money, bonus cash is up for grabs for a race win, top qualifier and low ET. The track may be near Disney, but there are certainly no Mickey Mouse cars in attendance here.

NHRA Finals – Pomona, CA

For over half a century the name “Pomona” has been synonymous with drag racing. A hotbed of the performance industry, Southern California is simply THE place to be. Every year the NHRA opens and closes its season at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, and both are key events on the tour. It is the Finals, however, where dreams are either fulfilled or shattered. Relocated from Texas to Ontario Motor Speedway in 1974, the event originally known as the World Finals has remained in the area ever since. Plus, with a number of teams based in the region, it is a season ending homecoming event for racers that spend much of their lives on the road.

We know that there are racers and racetracks everywhere. If you’ve got a drag race event you want to add to the list, and/or want to make a comment about one we mentioned here, feel free to add it below. We’re always on the lookout for places to race!