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Funny Car Chaos Set to Kick Off 2026 with Back-to-Back 32-Car Showcases

Keith Zimmerer finished second in FCC points last year - photo by Tom Brown

In its ninth season of competition, the Funny Car Chaos Championship Drag Racing Series is gearing up for two huge outlaw funny car shows to kick off the 2026 season. With thirty-two plus teams from across the country pre-entered for both Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park, March 26-28 and the Texas Motorplex, April 9-11, this is the first time in series history that the magical 32-car fields will be contested back-to-back to open a season.

Most had thought numbers like this would never be seen again in modern drag racing after being commonplace decades ago, but the Chaos has proven time and time again that funny cars are standing the test of time as a fan favorite. The Chaos race format continues to successfully appeal to all teams, who get in where they fit in, without having to strain their budgets beyond their limits.

Flip top floppers of all kinds from across the United States are preparing for two-lane combat in the first and second of seven points races on tour this year. In 2025, the FCC action was rained out not once, but twice at Tulsa Raceway Park. The series has yet to actually contest a burnout at the facility. Racers and fans alike are amped for the long-awaited debut of FCC in the state of Oklahoma.

Two weeks later, the one and only Funny Car Chaos Classic takes over the historic Texas Motorplex in a ‘Chaos double-down’ weekend also featuring the DMP Awnings Nitro Chaos series. This sixth annual edition of the unrivaled event will be jam packed with action which will also include the Dirty South Gassers and Texas Drag Racing Association.

“It seems like we are in a state of the wild wild west in drag racing right now,” says series owner Chris Graves. “We are very thankful for the continued support of our Chaos racers and despite all the things going on in the drag racing world and in our great country itself, seeing 32-plus funny cars pre-entered for our first two events of 2026 is nothing short of awesome!”

2025 FCC Rookie of the Year Brian Lewis – photo by Holloway Sanders

Nebraska’s Justin Herbst will come into the event as the defending series champion and will look to continue his strong performances in the Wulff Pumps ‘C’ Field to kick off his title defense. Last season’s second place points finisher Keith Zimmerer of Texas has posted very strong numbers in pre-season testing and looks to be a top contender in the Rodak’s Coffee ‘A’ Field competition. 2025 Rookie of the Year Brian Lewis has his eyes on the prize and former series Champion Kirk Williams will certainly be one to keep an eye on. A wild mix of nitro burning, blown alcohol, new school and old school funny cars will be ready to strut their stuff in Oklahoma and Texas.

All the cars have names, all the drivers have autograph cards, there’s no red tape or scheduled autograph sessions at the Chaos. The drivers are eager to meet and interact with the fans and kiddos all day long. The back up girls and ready to do their thing out on the track. The CHAOS delivers a one-of-a-kind family friendly drag racing experience with only one rule, having fun! Tickets are on sale now at www.tulsaracewaypark.com and www.texasmotorplex.com. For those unable to attend in person, the event at Tulsa Raceway Park will be live streaming on the FCC YouTube channel and the Texas Motorplex event will be streamed through www.FloRacing.com.

Funny Car Chaos will ride this early season momentum into the highly anticipated series debut at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio on May 21-23 in another ‘Chaos double-down’ including the Nitro Chaos series. From there stops are scheduled at Great Lakes Dragaway, Byron Dragway and Mo-Kan Dragway before the Chaos crowns its champions in September at Cordova Dragway. Exhibition events are also slated for Penwell Knights Raceway and Eddyville Raceway Park this season. Get caught up with all the action, schedules and more at www.funnycarchaos.com.

This story was originally published on March 16, 2026. Drag Illustrated

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