ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — The NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection is headed to “The Rock.”
NHRA and Rockingham Dragway introduced Monday the historic observe will host a full NHRA nationwide occasion for the primary time in observe historical past as a part of NHRA’s seventy fifth anniversary celebration in 2026.
The NHRA Nationals at The Rock will happen Sept. 25-27 at Rockingham Dragway, serving because the sixteenth of 20 races within the seventy fifth anniversary season and the second of six races within the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
As a part of a particular press convention on the observe on Monday, reigning and six-time Professional Inventory world champion Greg Anderson and Rockingham Dragway co-owner Dan VanHorn helped make the thrilling announcement to native Richmond County officers, together with Senator Dave Craven, Rockingham Metropolis Supervisor Monty Crump and Home of Consultant’s Ben Moss, bringing 12,000-horsepower High Gas and Humorous Automobile nitro machines, in addition to Professional Inventory vehicles and Professional Inventory Bike, to the observe.
NHRA beforehand held an all-star invitational from 1989-1998 at Rockingham Dragway, however subsequent yr’s playoff race will mark the primary full nationwide occasion on the facility, which was initially in-built 1971.
“That is an thrilling second in Rockingham Dragway’s wealthy historical past to host an NHRA nationwide occasion throughout their seventy fifth anniversary season,” VanHorn stated. “We couldn’t be extra thrilled to host all the celebrities of the Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection and supply our wonderful followers with a present and occasion like this. That is monumental for this facility and all of Richmond County, and we’re grateful for everybody who has supported us and helped make an occasion like this occur.”
Rockingham Dragway returned to the NHRA Member Observe Community in 2015, internet hosting annual divisional races, and VanHorn and Al Gennarelli bought the ability in 2022.
Since then, they’ve made important upgrades and renovations to the ability, working intently with Richmond County Tourism, the Metropolis of Rockingham and the State of North Carolina.
The enhancements helped breathe new life into the ability, renovating the historic observe with new racing and pit-area surfaces, timing and asserting programs, upgraded bogs and concessions, new scoreboards and gear, up to date signage and far more.
Heading into the NHRA nationwide occasion in 2026, the observe is planning extra updates as effectively, together with ending renovations to the trademark grandstands, the addition of recent asphalt pits, up to date scoreboard and grandstand fence places, and extra.
“There’s been a number of work and assets put into this facility, and we’re pleased with what has been achieved in such a short while,” VanHorn stated. “As we proceed to maneuver ahead with new tasks and enhancements, we’re extraordinarily enthusiastic about what the long run holds. Richmond County Tourism, the Metropolis of Rockingham and the State of North Carolina have performed a important half on this course of, and it’s wonderful to have such nice companions who believed in our imaginative and prescient to host an NHRA nationwide occasion.”
The race will function playoff motion in all 4 skilled classes within the NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Collection (High Gas, Humorous Automobile, Professional Inventory and Professional Inventory Bike), in addition to a full slate of racing within the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Collection and the favored NHRA Professional Mod Drag Racing Collection.
The addition of Rockingham Dragway will give the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Collection three new locations throughout the upcoming 2026 season, because the observe joins South Georgia Motorsports Park and Maryland Worldwide Raceway as new stops throughout NHRA’s highly-anticipated seventy fifth anniversary celebration.
Whereas it marks an thrilling second for NHRA and in Rockingham Dragway’s spectacular historical past, it additionally represents an added alternative for NHRA to succeed in followers in new markets in Richmond County, Raleigh, Durham and Fayetteville.
“As we have a good time NHRA’s seventy fifth anniversary in 2026, it’s becoming we increase our attain to a historic observe like Rockingham Dragway and the world’s passionate racing group,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell stated. “We’ve been thrilled to work with Dan and Al, and the whole workforce at Rockingham Dragway to deliver an NHRA nationwide occasion to the ability.
“They’ve proven great dedication in elevating and enhancing their facility, and we will’t wait to showcase these efforts on a nationwide stage. This additionally displays our continued dedication of rising the game, increasing to new areas and celebrating what has made NHRA so particular for 75 years.”
