Longtime NHRA Crew Member Gary Pritchett Gets Seat of Doug Foley's Dragster

Foley to transition to full-time team owner role, aims to elevate team's performance

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Doug Foley, a seasoned Top Fuel driver, announced that he will yield his seat to veteran crewman Gary Pritchett and transition to a full-time team-owner role, effective immediately. Foley said he wants to focus on strengthening the organization both competitively and commercially, and believes the move will help the team reach a higher level of performance.

Why it matters

This driver swap marks a significant change for Doug Foley Racing, as the team looks to elevate its competitiveness in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pritchett, a former Top Alcohol Dragster competitor and longtime Top Fuel crew member, is eager to seize the opportunity, reuniting with crew chief Doug Kuch who helped him obtain his Top Fuel license in 2015.

The details

Foley, who has a handful of IHRA victories and has been a longtime co-owner with the late Tim Lewis, said the move allows him to focus on strengthening the organization both competitively and commercially. Doug Foley Racing will compete in a combination of NHRA and IHRA events in 2026, providing opportunities for growth while maintaining a competitive presence across both sanctioning bodies.

  • Doug Foley announced the driver swap on February 19, 2026, just 15 days before the start of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
  • Pritchett's relationship with crew chief Doug Kuch dates back to 2015, when Kuch helped Pritchett obtain his Top Fuel license in Charlotte.

The players

Doug Foley

A seasoned Top Fuel driver with a handful of IHRA victories and a longtime co-owner with the late Tim Lewis.

Gary Pritchett

A former Top Alcohol Dragster competitor and longtime Top Fuel crew member with the Torrence Racing team.

Doug Kuch

The crew chief who guided Pritchett through his Top Fuel licensing procedure in 2015.

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What they’re saying

“We are going to do a driver swap in 2026. I am going to get out of the seat. I just felt like we could be better all the way around, and I kind of wanted to focus more on just taking the team to another level. So, I decided to get out of the seat. I just didn't feel like our team was at the level it could be, and that's my goal to fix that.”

— Doug Foley (autoweek.com)

“I feel like all the stars are kind of aligning and [am] really excited for the opportunity. It feels like I got the opportunity I've been waiting on my whole life.”

— Gary Pritchett (autoweek.com)

“Doug Kuch actually got me my Top Fuel license back in 2015, in Charlotte. The relationship is 'coming full circle.'”

— Gary Pritchett (autoweek.com)

What’s next

Doug Foley Racing will compete in a combination of NHRA and IHRA events in 2026, providing opportunities for growth while maintaining a competitive presence across both sanctioning bodies.

The takeaway

This driver swap represents a strategic move by Doug Foley to focus on strengthening his racing organization, both competitively and commercially. By transitioning to a full-time team owner role, Foley aims to elevate the team's performance and provide veteran crew member Gary Pritchett with the opportunity he has been waiting for his entire career.