Returning to Alice Springs from September 3-6, 2026, Red CentreNATS 12 presented by LMCT+ is gearing up for its most explosive year yet, announcing a record-breaking prize pool of over $130,000.

The Heavy Hitter Drag Racing program at Alice Springs Inland Dragway will feature more than $50,000 in total prize money and brings a legendary addition for 2026: The Wild Bunch National Titles.

Organisers say fans can expect a massive dose of nostalgia as supercharged, alcohol-burning sedans and classic steel-bodied muscle cars battle it out for a dedicated $30,000 slice of the pie.

For die-hard fans, the Wild Bunch is a living tribute to a golden era of Australian motorsport. Category legends like Victor Bray, Mark Hunt, and Benny Gatt helped shape the sport, and seeing these full-bodied, opening-door beasts roar back onto the 0870 Ford Drag and Burnout Precinct will be a massive draw.

“This is drag racing at its most raw and exciting,” says Event Director Andy Lopez, noting the cars always deliver an unforgettable show.

The dragway will be completely lit up on Saturday night for the Heavy Hitters program, where a unique format pits seven-second to 12-second cars against each other in white-knuckle quarter-mile battles.

While the strip will be the main event for drag fans, there is plenty of action elsewhere. Also turning heads this Father’s Day weekend will be the massive $50,000 Pro Burnout Series purse. With a cool $30,000 cash going straight to the winner – alongside coveted Summernats 39 Qualifier tickets – it now stands as one of the richest burnout events in the country.

The off-road action is also turning up the heat. A new knockout-style Dirt Drags competition boasts a $12,000 prize pool, pitting two-wheel, four-wheel, motorbike, and extreme off-road competitors head-to-head down a purpose-built dirt track.

On top of it all, a $7,500 winner-takes-all reward awaits the event’s coveted Grand Champion.

Off the track, the festival atmosphere continues. Across the four action-packed days, attendees can take in elite Show and Shine displays, motocross demonstrations, legal street cruising, and live entertainment, cementing Red CentreNATS as a complete celebration of automotive culture.

Vehicle entries are open now, with spectator tickets officially dropping in July – for all the info and to enter, visit www.redcentrenats.com.au