The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series is returning to two tracks that know a thing or two about putting on a drag race. Rockingham Dragway and Norwalk’s Motorsports Park are back on the schedule for 2027, giving the eight-race championship tour two familiar stops that have been missing from the lineup.
Rockingham’s return ends an 11-year absence from the PDRA schedule, while Norwalk comes back after sitting out 2026. Both additions strengthen a championship tour that will visit seven facilities across five states, beginning April 7-10 at GALOT Motorsports Park and concluding Oct. 14-17 at Virginia Motorsports Park.
“It’s cliché to say, ‘this is the best schedule yet,’ but it is hard to argue,” PDRA series director Tyler Crossnoe said. “All of the facilities partnered with the PDRA in 2027 are unique in their own way, operate in a professional manner, and all row the boat in the same direction, which is putting on professional events for the racers and offering a great entertainment experience and value for the fans.”
The PDRA will again offer more than $1 million in guaranteed event payouts and nearly $200,000 in championship prizes. For racers weighing the expense of chasing a championship, an eight-race schedule with established facilities offers a manageable alternative to a longer national tour.
“For racers, I truly feel this schedule is something that a lot of people can commit to and chase a world championship for next season,” Crossnoe said.
Rockingham’s May 13-15 event marks the PDRA’s first appearance at the historic North Carolina facility since 2016. Owners Dan VanHorn and Al Gennarelli have invested heavily in improvements, and bringing the series back adds another major event to a track that has been rebuilding its reputation as a national racing destination.
“PDRA is finally back,” VanHorn said. “We are beyond thrilled that the Franklin family and Tyler Crossnoe have included Rockingham Dragway on their 2027 schedule.”
Rockingham has never needed much of an introduction to the Pro Modified crowd, and VanHorn understands the audience he’s bringing through the gates. Few places have the doorslammer history of The Rock, making the PDRA’s return a natural fit.
“We have a full, diverse schedule each season, but with the addition of the PDRA, 2027 is now at an elite level for us,” VanHorn said. “This is Pro Mod country and we are their biggest fans here at ‘The Rock.’”
Norwalk’s June 3-5 date restores an Ohio stop that Crossnoe believes was missing from the championship picture. The Bader family-operated facility has long been one of drag racing’s premier destinations, and its return gives the PDRA access to an established market of racers and fans.
“PDRA needed a race back in the Ohio market,” Crossnoe said. “There are too many drag racing fans and racers in the area that want this to happen. Norwalk is a cornerstone in all of drag racing.”
Bill Bader Jr., president of Motorsports Park, welcomed the series’ return after a one-year absence. For a facility built around major events and fan entertainment, the PDRA brings another weekend of serious doorslammer racing.
“I’m thrilled to welcome the raw horsepower, fierce competition, and world-class racers of the PDRA back home to Summit Motorsports Park,” Bader said.
The season opens April 7-10 at GALOT before moving to Virginia Motorsports Park, April 22-24, followed by Rockingham and Norwalk. Those four events will complete the first half of the championship before the series takes an extended summer break
Racing resumes July 29-31 at Maryland International Raceway, followed by Bristol Dragway, Aug. 26-28. GALOT gets its second event Sept. 9-11 before Virginia Motorsports Park hosts the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals, Oct. 14-17, which also features the seventh annual Summit Racing PDRA ProStars presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance.
The PDRA will announce additional details surrounding its 2027 program during the Performance Racing Industry Show, Dec. 10-12, in Indianapolis. The organization will also honor its 2026 champions at the Dec. 11 awards banquet at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott.
Crossnoe believes the return of Rockingham and Norwalk strengthens more than the schedule itself. Both tracks bring experienced operators, established racing audiences and the kind of facilities the PDRA wants representing its championship.
“These are two staple facilities in their respective states that we are glad to be partners with,” Crossnoe said. “We are excited to add these two storied and historic facilities back to a top-tier schedule for the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series in 2027.”
