04/04/2026
๐ก๐๐ง๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐จ๐ก๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐ช๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ!
The 2026 season marks a historic milestone for drag racing in West Texas as Penwell Knights Raceway celebrates its 60th anniversary season. A highly anticipated special event is on tap to commemorate this occasion as the Funny Car Chaos series will host the West Texas NITRO Showdown!, Friday night and Saturday, May 29th and 30th, presented by Madden Sales & Service and Schufeldt Rig Service.
This invitational CHAOS event will feature 10 of the wildest nitro funny cars in the CHAOS and will qualify the quickest eight cars in a battle for the richest single class payout in Funny Car Chaos history. Over $30,000 will be up for grabs over ten spots and the winner will take home $10,000, the biggest winner's payout in series history.
Since opening in September of 1966, Penwell Knights Raceway has been hosting drag racing events of all kinds with a rich history in the sport. Names like Tom โThe Mongooseโ McEwen, Shirley โCha-Chaโ Muldowney and John โBruteโ Force have all match raced at the facility in years past. More modern names like NHRAโs Alan Bradshaw, Chris McGaha and Chad Green have spent years racing at their home track as well as Street Outlaws like Farmtruck, Dominator, Monza and more.
High octane family fun is the name of the game at Penwell Knights Raceway and owner Gary Gardenhire is ready to enjoy a historic season in Odessa. โWeโve been blessed with a very supportive racing community here in West Texas and we are very thankful for that. Without the support of our racers and marketing partners, this track simply couldnโt operate. Weโve got a full season of exciting events coming up and are very excited about our special anniversary event with Funny Car Chaos in May,โ says Gardenhire.
This is the 8th Annual Funny Car Chaos at Penwell Knights Raceway but this event will be unlike any in previous years. An exclusive field of nitromethane burning flip top floppers will compete for the richest payday in series history. Historic names like โBlue Maxโ are locked in to take on new school ground pounders like โNitro Relapseโ, โBlown Centlessโ, โSaye It Loudโ and more.
Also featured on May 29th and 30th will be Nitro Mikeโs nationally famous flame throwing wheelstander, a spectacular fireworks show both nights, the Twisted Steel Energy Services Small Tire Shootout, OโReilly Auto Parts 6.00 and 7.00 Index Shootouts, Chaseโs Diesel Service Jr. Dragster Shootout and Pleasanton Truck Company West Texas Gangstas category. Also on tap is a one-of-a-kind experience as you, yes you, have the opportunity to ride in a dragster by taking a ride with the Proud American Motorsports ride dragster team.
Every ticket is a pit pass and children twelve years old and under are always free at Penwell Knights Raceway. Make your plans to join us for two days of exhilarating drag racing youโll never forget as PKR celebrates its sixtieth anniversary with the biggest event of the summer. Adult admission is $20 Friday and $30 Saturday with VIP trackside seating upgrades and motorhome camping spots also available. The main event will kick off at 7:30 PM on Friday night and 5 PM on Saturday evening. Come early, shop vendor row, meet the drivers in the pit area and plan on a fun filled weekend of entertainment at West Texasโ best place to drag race, Penwell Knights Raceway!
