Gold Rush Nationals Drag Race

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

Friends! Please help us find the following people:

Jim Brenton
Rick Nadon
Carl Antoine
Brianna Julien
Wayne Burke

We have cheques for you, please send us your mailing addresses!

08/19/2026

🏁 THE HEART BEHIND THE GOLD RUSH NATIONALS — OUR VOLUNTEERS 🏁

Events like the GOLD RUSH NATIONALS simply aren’t possible without volunteers. Behind every race, every ticket sold, every car sent down the track and every successful weekend is an incredible group of people giving their time to make it happen. ❤️

To the familiar faces who come back year after year — working the start line, the burnout box, ticket booth, parking, T-shirt sales, registration and everywhere else we need you — thank you. Your continued commitment to this event means more than we can say.

To our new volunteers who joined us this year — we hope you enjoyed being part of the Gold Rush experience, and we really hope we’ll see you back next year! 🤟

To everyone who showed up for setup and teardown — a HUGE shoutout to you. 💪 Those are long, physical days before the excitement begins and after everyone else has gone home. Your help is invaluable.

And to our committee members — so much of what you do happens behind the scenes and is never seen by the public. The meetings, phone calls, planning, problem-solving, organizing, late nights and countless volunteer hours in the months leading up to the races and throughout the entire weekend… THANK YOU. 🏁

These volunteers are essential to keeping the sport of drag racing alive in our community. But the impact goes far beyond the racetrack.

Every person who gives their time to the Gold Rush Nationals is also contributing directly to Chapleau’s economic growth and tourism. This event brings drivers, crews, families and spectators into our community — people who stay here, eat here, shop here, fuel up here and discover what Chapleau has to offer.

You aren’t just volunteering at a race.

You are helping build an event that brings people to Chapleau, supports our local economy, showcases our community and helps keep the sport we love alive in Northern Ontario. ❤️🏁

To every single person who gave us an hour, a day, a weekend or countless hours throughout the year:

This event happens because of you.

From the entire Gold Rush Nationals Committee — THANK YOU. 🏁❤️

08/19/2026

🏁 A VERY SPECIAL SHOUTOUT! 🏁

A huge THANK YOU to Bill Harling and Mister Transmission of North Bay & Sudbury, Mister Transmission of Sault Ste. Marie, as well as Brian & Chantal from Frank’s Transmission, who generously sponsored the FIRST PLACE PRIZE for our Junior Dragster class! 🏆

Supporting our Junior Dragsters means supporting the next generation of racers, and we are incredibly grateful to have businesses and individuals who recognize how important it is to encourage these young drivers. ❤️🏁

And a big shoutout to Iron Moose for sponsoring our Best Reaction Time bonuses! ⚡🏆 Those little extras make race weekend that much more exciting for our drivers!

Thank you for being part of the Gold Rush family and for helping us keep drag racing alive and growing in Northern Ontario! 🏁❤️

We appreciate you more than you know!

08/18/2026

🏁 THEY BACKED THE GOLD RUSH — AND WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM.🏁

What an incredible weekend.

The 2026 𝐺𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑅𝑢𝑠ℎ 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑠 was more than a drag race. It was a weekend that brought drivers, crews, families, visitors and our community together and none of it happens without the businesses and organizations that believed in this event and stepped up to support it.

To every sponsor listed below: THANK YOU.

Your contributions helped us bring the Gold Rush Nationals to life from the racing and prize money to the entertainment, attractions, facilities and countless details behind the scenes.

🥇 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑
⭐ Discovery Silver

💎 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐌 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐒
⭐ Bignucolo Group of Companies
⭐ Township of Chapleau

💎 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐌 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
⭐ Chapleau Tourism Development Fund

🥇 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐒
⭐ BioPower / Vantage Link
⭐ Timmins Mechanical Services (TMS)

🥈 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐒
⭐ Collins Home Hardware
⭐ Martin’s Trailers & Accessories
⭐ Villeneuve Construction
⭐ Albert Guillemette who sponsored the volunteers!!!

08/16/2026

🏁 WHAT AN AMAZING WEEKEND! 🏁

We are overwhelmed by the incredible support shown at the 2026 Gold Rush Nationals! ❤️

To our drivers, crews, spectators, volunteers, sponsors, vendors and supporters — thank you for showing us just how much love there is for the sport of drag racing. 🏎️💨

An event like this simply doesn’t happen without the passion, dedication and support of so many people, and we are incredibly grateful to every single person who helped make this weekend one to remember.

Whether you raced down the track, cheered from the sidelines, volunteered your time, sponsored the event, or simply came out to experience it — YOU were part of making the Gold Rush Nationals happen. 🏁

And we’re not done yet!

🏆 Official winners announcement coming soon!
❤️ A special sponsor recognition post is also on the way!

For now, from all of us at the Gold Rush Nationals…

THANK YOU for an unforgettable weekend! 🤟🏻🏁

08/16/2026

ATTENTION IN THE PITS

You can pick up your cheques at the gate, if you haven’t already done so!

08/16/2026

🚨 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TODAY! 🚨

What an incredible weekend at the Gold Rush Nationals! 🏁❤️

Now comes the not-so-glamorous part… RAKE DOWN! 😅💪

We’re looking for some extra hands TODAY to help us take everything down, clean up and get the airport back in shape.

If you can spare even an hour or two, we would be incredibly grateful. Many hands make light work! 🙌

📍 Chapleau Airport
📅 TODAY – Sunday, August 16

Come on out, lend a hand and help us wrap up an amazing Gold Rush weekend! 🏁

Please share & tag anyone who might be able to help! ❤️