Rachel Meyer-Curl made a strong statement in her return to full-time competition this weekend, driving the Hedinger’s Equipment / NGK Spark Plugs & Ignition Coils Top Alcohol Dragster as the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series kicks off its 2026 season at Darana Motorsports Park in Benson, NC.
With 13 competitive dragsters on the property battling for just eight qualifying spots, Meyer and the Randy Meyer Racing team delivered when it counted. After a clean and consistent qualifying effort, Meyer secured the No. 5 position with a smooth 3.53-second pass at 223 mph in the eighth mile during the second qualifying session.
Rolling into eliminations, Meyer faced Tom Fox Jr. in the opening round. In a side-by-side matchup, Meyer got the win with a strong 3.50-second run, edging out Fox’s 3.53 to advance to the semifinals.
In the second round, Meyer continued to show consistency behind the wheel, running a 3.52 at 228 mph. Despite the solid performance, she came up just short in a close race against Jamie Noonan, who posted a 3.49 in a tight, side-by-side finish.
The semifinal result marks an impressive return for Meyer in her first race back to a full-time schedule in IHRA competition, showing both speed and consistency against a competitive field.
“With 13 cars on the property, I’m proud of our team for making it down to the final four,” said Meyer. “We stuck the tire second round and it slowed us down, but the next race is only a few weekends away and hopefully we can come away with a win. I can’t thank my family, crew, sponsors, and IHRA enough for the opportunity.”
The team will look to build on this momentum as they head to the next IHRA event in Richmond, continuing Meyer’s pursuit of success in her return season.