On Sept. 5, the National Hot Rod Association – as part of its announcement of its 2023 Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule – said that Virginia Motorsports Park would not be hosting a national event next season.
VMP had the following to say in response to its omission on the schedule:
“Virginia Motorsports Park wants to say Thank You to the racers and teams who attended our three national events since 2018 and showcased their numerous talents to the amazing fans who were in attendance or watched from around the world,” Virginia Motorsports Park said in a press release on Sept. 6. “To the fans, we welcome you to any and all of our other events on the calendar this season as we build our exciting and fun 2023 schedule.”
VMP hosted national NHRA Championship Drag Racing Series events from 1994 to 2000 and 2006 through 2009. Cory McClenathan, John Force, and Warren Johnson have the most wins in their respective categories. Virginia Motorsport Park was put back on the NHRA schedule and hosted events in 2018-19 and 2022.
According to the press release, “The three events that have been hosted at Virginia Motorsports Park since the Franklin family purchased the facility in October of 2017 and after completing many expensive facility investments brought in countless side-by-side races for NHRA’s best racers running on the Camping World Drag Racing series year in and year out. These talented racers reset every track record in the book from previous events in the early 2000s.
“While the performances and the events themselves were top tier and brought a number of new faces to the facility, the events were overly damaging to the health of the facility. The 2022 edition of the Virginia NHRA Nationals completed our contract with the NHRA for hosting a national event.
“Soon after we (Virginia Motorsports Park) began discussing the future of the event internally amongst ownership, management and a number of other parties involved. After hosting three seasons of these events, two with great participation and the last having weather, but did include a contract adjustment, it was apparent that we would not continue unless new terms could be met as it would only be detrimental to the financial needs to continue our growth as a facility.”
Talks ensued with Virginia Motorsports Part and NHRA and positive and negatives were brought up about the future of the national event.
After the discussions, the two parties – Virginia Motorsports Park and NHRA – were unable to agree to terms to continue the Virginia Nationals at this time.
Virginia Motorsports Park continued in its press release to state that event title and presenting sponsorships are extremely hard to come by in this day and age and without outside assistance, Virginia Motorsports Park ownership and staff put everything into making the event successful, but at the end with our resources, it just does not make financial sense to continue.
Virginia Motorsport Park first opened in 1994 and the multipurpose facility is home to a quarter-mile dragstrip, motorcross facility, BMX track, mud pit for mud bogs as well as tractor pull events, and autocross area across the 500-acre complex. The facility features 60 acres of level pit parking and 35 acres of asphalt.
The release also added the following:
“We are already putting our heads together for an exciting and action-packed 2023 schedule at VMP, with a hopeful announcement in December.
“Fans who renewed tickets during the 2022 VMP national event will receive a refund of the payment to where the purchase was made in the next 5 to 7 business days.
“For questions regarding tickets contact the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 1.800.884.6472.”
The release from VMP closed with this:
“Thank you all for your continued support and positive comments of Virginia Motorsports Park, form all of the ownership, management, and staff. Last but not least, we’ll see you at the races!”
