Forty years of DIRTcar Summer Nationals history will be celebrated during the 2026 campaign for the famed Hell Tour.
Since its inception in 1986, the DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour has become the heart and soul for Late Model and Modified racing in the Midwest. Seventeen different drivers have been crowned a Late Model champion and thousands of drivers have tested their limits against the Series’ grueling schedule.
In 2026, the tradition continues with the Late Models set to run over 30 races in 34 days across nine different states. The DIRTcar Summit Racing Modified Nationals will race alongside the Late Models for 25 of those events and again crown its Series champion during the Prairie Dirt Classic, July 24-25.
Five tracks return to the schedule – two for the first time in over 30 years – and two will be brand new to the Series.
WHAT’S NEW
Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway (June 18) – The Summer Nationals Late Models’ final stop in Iowa this year will be their first appearance at the 3/8-mile dirt track – located about 15 minutes from the borders of Wisconsin and Illinois. The last premier Super Late Model event at the track was a World of Outlaws Late Model race in 2018, won by Brandon Sheppard.
Camden Speedway (June 29) – Tennessee welcomes the Hell Tour for one stop again in 2026, but this time it’s for a debut at the 3/8-mile Camden Speedway. The event will open Week #4 on the tour with both the Late Models and Modifieds in attendance.
WELCOME BACK
West Liberty Raceway (June 16) – Iowa’s first appearance on the schedule in 2026 brings the Hell Tour back to West Liberty Raceway for the first time in over 30 years. The Series has made two previous stops at the 1/2-mile track – one in 1994, won by Bill Frye, and the other in 1995, won by Rick Aukland. The Summit Modified Nationals will make its debut appearance there.
Poplar Bluff Motorsports Park (June 22) – Week #3 on the Hell Tour opens with the Series’ first time back in Poplar Bluff, MO since 2007. During that visit, Billy Moyer became the inaugural Summer Nationals winner at the 3/8-mile track. It’ll also be another debut track for the Summit Modified Nationals.
Paducah International Raceway (June 26) – The Summer Nationals’ first Kentucky stop in 2026 sees Paducah back on the schedule after a year away. The 3/8-mile dirt track has hosted the tour 18 times since 1996. Tanner English won the last DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Model event there, while Trent Young won the last Summit Modified Nationals race there in 2024.
Windy Hollow Speedway (June 28) – Week #3 starts with a long-awaited return and ends with an even longer-awaited return as Windy Hollow Speedway makes its first appearance back on the Summer Nationals schedule since 1995. In the three previous Summer Nationals stops there, Billy Moyer won the first two events (1993, 1994), while Steve Barnett won the last. The track will also be another new stop for the Summit Modified Nationals.
I-96 Speedway (July 8) – The tour’s first trip back to Michigan in July comes with its first trip back to I-96 Speedway since 2021. The 3/8-mile dirt track has hosted the Summer Nationals nine times since 2005. Devin Moran won the last Late Model race in 2021. The Summit Modified Nationals have raced at the track seven times with Hunt Gossum winning the last visit in 2021.
HELLUVA PAYOUT
Over $150,000 in points fund money will be distributed on a weekly basis to the Late Models — $10,000 to the points champion of each week, plus a check for each driver inside the top-10 in each week’s points. Overall points standings will also be kept, awarding another $10,000 bonus to the 2026 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion, in addition to checks for the top-10 in overall points. A tow money bonus is also in store for each driver who maintains perfect attendance throughout the summer — $500 for every 500 miles traveled.
Summit Modifieds will compete for a slice of the $15,000 points fund, which will be distributed at season’s end to the top-10 in the final championship standings — $5,000 to the champion, $2,500 for runner-up, $2,000 for third place, and so on. View the full championship points fund by clicking here.
Don’t miss a moment of the action next summer — buy a ticket at the gate of a track near you or watch every lap of every race live with a subscription to DIRTVision.
COMBINED TOUR SCHEDULES
Week #1
Tuesday, June 9 | Brownstown Bullring | Brownstown, IL
Wednesday, June 10 | Kankakee County Speedway | Kankakee, IL
Thursday, June 11 | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, IL
Friday, June 12 | Tri-City Speedway | Granite City, IL
Saturday, June 13 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL
Sunday, June 14 | Sycamore Speedway | Maple Park, IL (Late Models only)
Week #2
Monday, June 15 | Wilmot Raceway | Wilmot, WI (Late Models only)
Tuesday, June 16 | West Liberty Raceway | West Liberty, IA (Late Models only)
Wednesday, June 17 | Davenport Speedway | Davenport, IA (Late Models only)
Thursday, June 18 | Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway | Dubuque, IA (Late Models only)
Friday, June 19 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL
Saturday, June 20 | I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park | Pevely, MO
Sunday, June 21 | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, IL
Week #3
Monday, June 22 | Poplar Bluff Motorsports Park | Poplar Bluff, MO
Tuesday, June 23 | Benton Speedway | Benton, MO
Wednesday, June 24 | Quincy Raceways | Quincy, IL
Thursday, June 25 | Springfield Raceway | Springfield, MO (Late Models only)
Friday, June 26 | Paducah International Raceway | Paducah, KY
Saturday, June 27 | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN
Sunday, June 28 | Windy Hollow Speedway | Owensboro, KY
Week #4
Monday, June 29 | Camden Speedway | Camden, TN
Tuesday, June 30 | TBA
Wednesday, July 1 | TBA
Thursday, July 2 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, IL
Friday, July 3 | Red Hill Raceway | Sumner, IL
Saturday, July 4 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL
Sunday, July 5 | Macon Speedway | Macon, IL
Week #5
Monday, July 6 | TBA
Tuesday, July 7 | Montpelier Speedway | Montpelier, IN
Wednesday, July 8 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa, MI
Thursday, July 9 | Butler Motor Speedway | Quincy, MI
Friday, July 10 | Crystal Motor Speedway | Crystal, MI
Saturday, July 11 | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, OH
Sunday, July 12 | Wayne County Speedway | Orrville, OH (Late Model Championship Finale)
36th Annual Prairie Dirt Classic (Modified Championship Finale)
Friday-Saturday, July 24-25 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL
