Defending Winternationals Winner Rick Ware Racing Returns to NHRA Crown Jewel

The 66th running of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals kicks off this weekend in Pomona, California.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:39pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, vibrant colors depicting the explosive action of a Top Fuel drag race, with the cars and track broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes.The iconic Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, is set to showcase the raw power and precision of Top Fuel drag racing in a cubist visual interpretation.Chandler Today

The 66th running of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, one of NHRA's crown jewel events, gets underway this Friday in Pomona, California. Rick Ware Racing, the defending winner of last year's Winternationals, will be looking to repeat their success with drivers Clay Millican and Tony Schumacher. The event features two days of qualifying before Sunday's eliminations.

Why it matters

The Winternationals is one of the most prestigious events on the NHRA calendar, alongside the Gatornationals and the U.S. Nationals. Rick Ware Racing's victory last year was a major accomplishment, and the team will be aiming to defend their title against a highly competitive Top Fuel field.

The details

Rick Ware Racing's Top Fuel driver Clay Millican won the 2025 Winternationals with an impressive .038-second reaction time, holding off Tony Stewart despite his engine exploding at the finish line. Millican's RWR teammate, Tony Schumacher, is a two-time Winternationals winner, having won the event in 2004 and 2008. Schumacher joined RWR for the final seven races of 2025 and is looking to add an 89th career NHRA victory to his resume.

  • The 66th running of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals gets underway this Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • Qualifying sessions will take place on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. PDT, and on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. PDT.
  • Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, April 13, 2026, beginning at 11 a.m. PDT.

The players

Rick Ware Racing

A motorsports team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, among other racing series.

Clay Millican

The driver of the No. 51 Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster for Rick Ware Racing, and the defending winner of the 2025 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals.

Tony Schumacher

A two-time winner of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, in 2004 and 2008, and the driver of the No. 15 American Communications Construction Top Fuel dragster for Rick Ware Racing.

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What they’re saying

“It was a big deal to win the Winternationals because it is so iconic and so much a part of drag racing history. People who don't follow drag racing all that closely, you say 'Winternationals,' they still know what you're talking about.”

— Clay Millican, Driver, No. 51 Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster

“You show up and you bring your best. You don't want to sneak up at the end and be like, 'Hey, here I am.' You want to show them from the beginning that you're a team to be reckoned with because if they're not counting on you being good, they tune their cars differently.”

— Tony Schumacher, Driver, No. 15 American Communications Construction Top Fuel dragster

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