For the sixteenth year in a row on Thursday, September 10th, the event will kick off with a racing program dubbed the ‘Prelude to the Johnny’. Late Models will compete in a $2,092 to win program which will begin and 7pm along with full racing programs for the WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds and WISSOTA Street Stocks. This event will serve as the 2026 NLRA Championship and will be the final point night for the ’26 NLRA season, which will allow the tour champion to be crowned at River Cities just like the last fifteen seasons.