This is where it all came down. From August 21 to 23, 2026, Maryland International Raceway hosted the finale of the 2026 NOPI Drag Racing Association Championship Series. After Virginia and South Georgia, the points chase ended at MIR, and the 2026 NDRA champions were decided.
For anyone who remembers NOPI's glory days, a championship weekend at MIR hit different. For the new generation, it was a first look at what an NDRA title fight feels like. NOPI is back, and the finale proved it.
The Racing: Final Weekend Highlights
The MIR weekend featured drag racing for heads-up and Pro Dial classes, with qualifying rounds on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. Official NDRA points from the Maryland round show who closed the season strongest.
XFWD
XFWD went into the finale with the closest title race in the series. Wilson Tavarez led, but Andrew Fernandez, Chris Sellars and Bradley Dillon were all within striking distance.
At MIR, Andre Scott scored 82 points, the most in the class that weekend. Dennis Nevarez added 48, and Fernandez scored 47. Tavarez put up 43 points, enough to protect his lead and close out the season on top.
XWORLD
XWORLD delivered one of the best duels of the finale. David Vicuna scored 108 points at MIR, and Adriana Noonen was right behind him with 107. Noonen's steady season held, and she finished as XWORLD champion with 321 points, the highest season total in any class.
The Index Classes
In 11.50 Index, Joey Torres scored 84 points at MIR, the most in the class that weekend, to seal his title. Eric Piano led 9.50 Index for the weekend with 47 points, while Jonathan Rios scored 24 and held on to the championship. In 10.50 Index, Daniel Calderon topped the weekend with 45 points and wrapped up his title.
Championship Decided: Your 2026 NDRA Champions
When the final points were added up, five classes had their 2026 champions:
XFWD: Wilson Tavarez, 237 points
XWORLD: Adriana Noonen, 321 points
9.50 Index: Jonathan Rios, 153 points
10.50 Index: Daniel Calderon, 234 points
11.50 Index: Joey Torres, 238 points
Tavarez won the XFWD title by 39 points over Fernandez, while Rios held off Piano by 16 points in 9.50 Index. Calderon finished 40 points clear of Michelle Santos in 10.50 Index, and Torres won 11.50 Index by 47 points over Salvador Espoda.
The XFWD battle for second was just as close. Andrew Fernandez finished the season with 198 points and Chris Sellars with 196, just two points apart. Bradley Dillon was fourth with 174. That is how tight the front-wheel drive field was in 2026.
In XAWD vs XRWD, Abel Ochou led the standings after South Georgia with 216 points. Final results for that class from Maryland had not been posted at the time of writing, so the 2026 title there is still to be confirmed.
Every one of these titles took a full season. Competitors had to attend all three championship events to be eligible, and several of the champions built their leads early. Torres led 11.50 Index from Virginia onward. Noonen took over XWORLD at South Georgia, and Calderon moved to the front of 10.50 Index at the same event. Tavarez led XFWD after every round.
Congratulations to every champion, and to every racer who chased points across all three events. Running a full season takes time, money and commitment, and the whole series is built on the people who show up.
Graphic: NOPI Motorsports – Maryland International Raceway Car Show Winners (NOPI Media Library)
Beyond the Strip
The finale was a full NOPI weekend, open to all makes and models. Drifting ran all three days, with ride-alongs available, vendors filled the grounds, and the car show gave every kind of build a shot at a trophy.
Car Show Winners
Shawn Scandell took Best of Show with a 1989 Nissan Fairlady Z. Ron Saunders won Best Engine with a 1993 Supra, and Chuck Farcham won Best Paint with a 2018 Honda Civic Type R.
Chris P took Best Modern Muscle with a Buick Grand National, and Red Diaz won Best Lifted with a Ford Bronco. From a classic Z to a late-model Type R, the MIR show lineup was From Nostalgia to New Era in one place.
A Season Worth Remembering
Three events, six classes and a title race that went down to the final weekend. The 2026 NDRA Championship Series did exactly what NOPI fans hoped it would. It brought heads-up import drag racing back with real stakes and real rivalries.
Looking Ahead
With the 2026 champions crowned, the focus turns to next season. New racers will chase the same titles, and this year's champions will have targets on their backs.
Thank you to every racer, crew member, show car owner, drifter and fan who made the finale count. NOPI is back, car culture lives on, and the next chapter is already being written.
Photo Credits
Maryland International Raceway Car Show Winners graphic – NOPI Motorsports (NOPI Media Library: nopi-mir-car-show-winners.jpg)