The rumor became a reality today as NHRA announced the return of Virginia Motorsports Park to the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Championship Drag Racing Series. The event fills the first of two TBA events on the schedule.
The Virginia NHRA Nationals outside of Richmond, Va., will be held June 21-24, 2004. Tickets will go on sale for the event on November 13, 2023 first for existing customers, and on December 18, 2023 for those new customers.
The Virginia NHRA Nationals will feature all four NHRA professional categories, namely Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Additionally, specialty series such as the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and Top Fuel Motorcycle will also be included.
“It’s exciting to see the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series return to Virginia Motorsports Park in 2024,” Tommy Franklin, VMP President and Owner said. “We want to give our fans the best possible experience at our track, and hosting the world’s quickest and fastest motorsport at our facility makes for a truly memorable weekend. We’re thrilled to host all four pro categories at VMP as we continue to make this facility a premier destination for racers and fans, and we can’t wait to have a fantastic event.”
The NHRA last raced at Virginia Motorsports Park in 2022, with notable wins by Brittany Force in Top Fuel, Robert Hight in Funny Car, and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Force and Smith subsequently went on to secure world titles that year. The event witnessed an exceptional performance by Force, who shattered the track record with a run of 3.654 seconds, reaching a track-best speed of 335.82 mph. Matt Hagan also set track records with a remarkable run of 3.853 seconds and an identical speed of 335.82 mph. Angie Smith achieved a track record in Pro Stock Motorcycle, completing her run in 6.756 seconds at 201.37 mph. Larry “Spiderman” McBride impressed fans by setting the fastest motorcycle pass in drag racing history with a blistering speed of 268.38 mph.
The upcoming race in Virginia in 2024 will mark the return of Pro Stock to the facility, after its last appearance in 2019. NHRA has frequented Virginia Motorsports Park in recent years, with races held in 2018, 2019, and 2022. The facility has undergone continuous enhancements, making it a favorite among both racers and fans. Notable winners at the track include Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) in 2018 and 2019, John Force (Funny Car) with four wins, the latest being in 2000, and Bo Butner (Pro Stock) claiming victory in 2019. Among active riders, M. Smith is the sole Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor with a win at the track.
The 2024 event will also feature the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, an exclusive bonus event that provides competitive racing on Saturday, offering a bonus purse and championship points. With qualifying on Friday, final qualifying and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, and eliminations on Sunday, fans can anticipate a thrilling and power-packed weekend filled with the sensational experience of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph action in 2024.
NHRA President Glen Cromwell expressed his excitement about the addition of Virginia Motorsports Park to the 2024 schedule.
“We’re thrilled to add a great track like Virginia Motorsports Park to our 2024 schedule,” Cromwell said. “The Franklin family and their team are some of the most dedicated in our sport, and they’ve worked incredibly hard to make VMP a standout facility. Our teams love racing there, it’s an area full of passionate racing fans, and we’re all looking forward to putting on a terrific show for them next June.”
