Every once in a while, a strong rumor has merit. For months, talk had swirled through the pits that Rockingham Dragway would return to big-league drag racing — and now it’s official.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is coming to “The Rock.” In 2026, Rockingham Dragway will host a full NHRA national event for the first time in its 54-year history, marking a milestone moment for both the North Carolina facility and NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
The NHRA Nationals at The Rock will take place Sept. 25-27, serving as the 16th of 20 national events on the schedule and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Fans will see 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro Stock cars and Pro Stock Motorcycles compete at the iconic quarter-mile strip.
The announcement came Monday during a press conference at the track, where six-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson and Rockingham Dragway co-owner Dan VanHorn joined local officials, including Senator Dave Craven, Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump, and Representative Ben Moss.
Rockingham Dragway has a unique place in drag racing history, having been sanctioned at different points by all three major series — NHRA, AHRA, and IHRA. The track first came to life as an AHRA facility before becoming a flagship for the fledgling IHRA in 1971. In 1989, Rockingham transitioned to NHRA to host the non-points Winston Invitational, a popular all-star event that ran through 1998. The facility then returned to IHRA’s national event tour in 1999 before later rejoining NHRA as part of its Member Track Network.
“This is an exciting moment in Rockingham Dragway’s rich history to host an NHRA national event during their 75th anniversary season,” VanHorn said. “We could not be more thrilled to host all the stars of the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and provide our amazing fans with a show and event like this. This is enormous for this facility and all of Richmond County, and we’re thankful for everyone who has supported us and helped make an event like this happen.”
Rockingham Dragway rejoined the NHRA Member Track Network in 2015 and has since hosted annual divisional races. VanHorn and business partner Al Gennarelli purchased the property in 2022 and immediately began restoring the track’s infrastructure and image.
The ownership team has invested heavily in renovations, including new racing and pit-area surfaces, upgraded bathrooms and concessions, modernized timing and announcing systems, and updated scoreboards and signage. Those efforts, paired with local partnerships, positioned Rockingham as a candidate for a full national event.
“There’s been a lot of work and resources put into this facility, and we’re proud of what has been accomplished in such a short time,” VanHorn said. “As we continue to move forward with new projects and improvements, we’re extremely excited about what the future holds. Richmond County Tourism, the City of Rockingham and the State of North Carolina have played a critical part in this process, and it’s amazing to have such great partners who believed in our vision to host an NHRA national event.”
In preparation for the 2026 event, further upgrades are underway. Plans include completing grandstand renovations, adding more paved pit areas, enhancing the fence lines, and expanding fan-access amenities. VanHorn said the goal is to make Rockingham one of the most modern yet nostalgic stops on the NHRA tour.
The NHRA Nationals at The Rock will also include competition from the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, giving fans a full weekend of professional and sportsman racing.
For NHRA, the addition of Rockingham continues a broader initiative to expand into key regions and historic venues. The 2026 season will also feature new national events at South Georgia Motorsports Park and Maryland International Raceway.
“As we celebrate NHRA’s 75th anniversary in 2026, it’s fitting we expand our reach to a historic track like Rockingham Dragway and the area’s passionate racing community,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “We’ve been thrilled to work with Dan and Al, and the entire team at Rockingham Dragway to bring an NHRA national event to the facility.”
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Cromwell added that the new event will strengthen NHRA’s footprint in the Southeast, drawing fans from Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville, and beyond. It also brings championship-level drag racing back to North Carolina, where the series last hosted a national event in 2008 at Concord’s zMAX Dragway.
For Rockingham, the return of NHRA national racing is a validation of years of effort and a promise fulfilled to its loyal fan base. The track once served as a cornerstone for IHRA and other major series before reemerging as a modernized venue ready for the sport’s top stage.
“This is about more than just racing,” VanHorn said. “It’s about honoring the legacy of this place while building something for the next generation of fans and racers. We’re proud that Rockingham is once again part of drag racing history.”
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