Mark your calendars for the Wasting Fuel Promotions Inaugural Mid Summer Coal Rush Twenties coming up on July 24-26, 2026 at I-57 Dragstrip.
BENTON, IL- Back for the second time this year is Wasting Fuel Promotions with their Inaugural Mid Summer Coal Rush Twenties, presented by VP Racing Fuels, set for July 24-26, 2026 at I-57 Dragstrip. Following the success of the inaugural Memorial Day Coal Rush Twenties, Jesse Fritts and Adam Jakupcak are looking forward to bringing more big-money bracket racing to Illinois with their second event.
Friday will kick off the weekend with a $5,000 warm-up race, while both Saturday and Sunday will feature twin $20,000-to-win main events. Each day will also include No Box bonuses, and Junior Dragster racers will compete for $1,000-to-win on all three days.
Saturday night will bring the party with the Laris Motorsports Insurance Racer Appreciation Dinner and the Nitro Funny Car exhibition runs!
Get more details below.
Friday $5K
Friday will kick off the event with a $5,000-to-win warm-up race! The runner-up will earn $1,000. semi-finalists will claim $300, quarter-finalists will pocket $200 and the eighths will pick up $100. There will be a $100 re-entry round if needed and the single day entry fee will be $150. The No Box bonus will be $500.
Saturday & Sunday Twin $20Ks
FuelTech Saturday and FAB Machining Sunday will both feature a $20,000-to-win main event with $5,00 going to the runner-up, $1,000 to semi-finalists, and $500 to quarter-finalists. $100 round money will begin with round 3 winners.
No Box Bonus: The No Box Bonus will be $1,000 each day! No Box will run separate down to one and then the winner will join into the main event. If there are over 15 cars in No Box the pay will increase to $2,000 per day and $500 going to the No Box runner-up.
Junior Dragster $1Ks
Fuel Tech Junior Dragsters will race on Friday through Sunday for $1,000-to-win each day! The runner-up will earn $200 and the semi-finalists will take home $50. It will only be 16 entries per race and the entire weekend entry is $300. There will also be a $20 re-entry round. See link below to get pre-entered! There are still Junior Dragster entries available.
Pre-entry Information
The weekend single-entry price is $575, or you can take advantage of the weekend double-entry option for $1,050. Pre-entry opened on June 1st, with $100 due at registration and the remaining balance due at the gate.
Here is the pre-registration link: https://www.wastingfuelpromotions.com/event-details/mid-summer-coal-rush-twenties
There is a 300-entry cap, along with a 32-entry cap for No Box. Doubles are also allowed!
Event Extras
Saturday night will feature Nitro Funny Cars lighting up the track at 6:30pm and again at 9:30pm. Spectators not already on the property will be $25 and kids under 12 will be FREE! There will also be a Saturday night Racers Appreciation dinner thanks to Laris Motorsports Insurance for racers and crew members.
There will also be round sponsors where the best losing package of each round will win a prize thanks to Abruzzi Transmissions & Convertors, Go Dead On, Wired Designs LLC, Honey Creek Collision, SRT Signature Racing, Going Bracket Racing, and Mickey Thompson Tire & Wheels.
Port-A-Tree will also give a $50 gift certificate towards a practice tree to the worst winning reaction time each day. Larry Hodge Racing Tire & Wheels will give $100 towards a new set of tires to the best burnout of the weekend during eliminations. FAB Machining will do a drawing from every weekend entry tech card to win one Racetech Carbon Tray and scoop. Willenborg’s Reconditioning will award the Best Appearing Car a Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating Service.
Schedule
Thursday
- Track Operated TNT
Friday
- Gates open at 7:30AM
- Time Trials at 8:30AM with Eliminations to Follow
- Junior Time Trial after re-entry
Saturday
- Gates open at 7:30AM
- 8:30AM New Entry Time Trials
- Junior Time Trial after Box Re-Entry
- Nitro Cars: 6:30PM & 9:30PM
Sunday
- Gates open at 7:30AM
- 8:30AM New Entry Time Trials
- Junior Time Trial after Box Re-Entry
Crew: $40 Full Weekend or $15 a day on Friday or Sunday or $25 on Saturday. One FREE crew per racer.
Contact Jesse Fritts at 217-294-3246 or Adam Jakupcak at 815-822-2493 if you have any questions about the Wasting Fuel Promotions Inaugural Mid Summer Coal Rush Twenties, presented by VP Racing Fuels.
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