Inside Meguiar's Drag Festival 2026

As the engines fell silent and the loudspeakers stopped broadcasting live commentary, a very unfamiliar phenomenon settled over Mantorp Park: silence. The spectators quickly began to leave the grandstands. After all, patience is hardly the most valued virtue in a world of roaring engines, flames, and tire smoke. It was just a brief shower but it caused quite a bit of disruption to Saturday's racing schedule. Those who, however, showed patience and a touch of optimism, waiting out the uncertainty, were rewarded with a spectacular finale at the end of the day.

Each year, Nordic enthusiasts of Drag Racing head to Mantorp Park to feel the shaking ground and hear the noise of the fastest accelerating vehicles on the planet. Sweden’s Most Legendary Drag Racing Festival – this is how the organizers like to call Meguiar’s Drag Festival. My short experience with this discipline doesn’t allow me to challenge this statement: I first came here a few years ago and attended every edition since.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Meguiar's Drag Festival. The variety of cars, teams and attractions is truly impressive. From well-organized teams with full professional backing to enthusiastic amateurs, from cutting-edge technology to machines preserving the spirit of drag racing's early days, and from the deafening noise of the strip to the slower rhythm of the paddock, there's something fascinating around every corner of the venue.

Cars lining up for the start offer a unique opportunity to see the drivers and their teams together. Some remain intensely focused, while others chat and laugh as if nothing extraordinary were about to happen. That friendly and open atmosphere is shared by teams of every kind: from those chasing world-class speed records to those who are simply here for the experience and to keep the spirit of vintage drag racing alive.

Speaking of the later ones, I regret that I didn’t spend a bit more time on the exhibition devoted to the 20thanniversary of the Scandinavian Vintage Dragrace Association. Maybe, thanks to it I would have a better understanding of the fine differences between the classes and history of the sport. Their motto is “Attitude Before Speed” and it tells a lot about the spirit of those racing in the vintage categories.

While I'm on the subject of things I wish I'd had more time to explore, I also have to mention the classic car display that complements the main event every year. Hundreds of fascinating vehicles were on display between the paddock and the strip. Unsurprisingly, most had crossed the Atlantic from the other side of the pond, and, equally unsurprisingly, a dedicated section was reserved for hot rods. The vehicle that truly stole my heart, however, came from a very different corner of the automotive world: a beautifully unrestored DKW Schnellaster. I found myself standing there for several minutes, simply admiring its charm.

But now, let’s leave the classics and move to those fighting at the highest speeds – the Top Fuel Dragsters. Unfortunately, this year, the line-up was much shorter than previously – only three drivers lined up to compete in drag racing's premier class and all of them should be already familiar to the readers of this page. RF Racing fielded reigning European drag racing champion Susanne Callin alongside Ida Zetterström, while Dennis Nilsson represented Autoart Motorsport.

While Susanne and Dennis have been familiar faces at virtually every major European drag racing event in recent years, Ida Zetterström is better remembered by those who have followed the sport a little longer. After winning multiple titles in Europe, she took her career to the birthplace of drag racing – the United States. For Meguiar's Drag Festival, however, she returned home for a special guest appearance. The weekend carried plenty of emotion for her. She was back at the track she considers home, reunited with her former team and behind the wheel of a car she knows inside out.

So why was it worth staying at the track during the rain I mentioned at the beginning? To witness a spectacular duel between two outstanding female drivers. Beneath a dark, overcast sky, the flames erupting from the exhausts of those two 11,000-horsepower monsters created an unforgettable spectacle.

Although drag racing is usually all about posting the quickest elapsed time, Meguiar's Drag Festival follows a rather unusual format. Susanne Callin recorded the fastest run, but it was Ida Zetterström who claimed overall victory thanks to her greater consistency throughout the weekend.

For me, no visit to a drag racing event would be complete without stopping by the Slick Tricks Racing team. I've watched this spectacle several times now, yet it never fails to amaze me. As soon as Susanne Callin's dragster returns from a run, the mechanics spring into action. In less than twenty minutes, the engine and clutch are completely stripped down, and only half an hour later, what is essentially a brand-new engine is ready for another pass. The pace of the work and the team's flawless coordination are remarkable – there's a lot to learn just by watching them.

What makes it even more impressive is that none of this happens behind closed garage doors. The entire rebuild takes place in full view of the spectators, turning the paddock into a show of its own. After every Top Fuel run, it's well worth heading over to the team's pit area: you'll witness a performance that rivals the one you just saw on the strip.

Every year, Meguiar's Drag Festival earns a place on my calendar. It offers something completely different from most of the events I cover, and that's precisely what makes it so refreshing. It provides a unique perspective on motorsport, revealing its variety and complexity.

Beyond the spectacle of raw power on the strip, it's a place where you can admire interesting engineering solutions and meet the passionate people who make the sport possible. Best of all, everything is within arm's reach – there are no unnecessary barriers or security guards keeping fans away from the stars. It was a pleasure to be back at Mantorp Park and there's no reason to be upset that this year's Meguiar's Drag Festival is already over – the next drag racing event is just around the corner. See you at Tierp Arena for the next round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship!