VIRGINIA NHRA NATIONALS TO FEATURE THREE QUALIFYING SESSIONS ON SATURDAY IN SHIFT TO TWO-DAY EVENT
DINWIDDIE, Va. (April 2, 2024) – NHRA officials announced today a schedule change for the upcoming Virginia NHRA Nationals, as all three qualifying sessions in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will now take place on Saturday, June 22, leading into eliminations the following day at Virginia Motorsports Park.
The two-day NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event will feature three qualifying sessions on the same day in the professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) for the first time, giving fans an unbelievable day of action and excitement heading into Sunday eliminations at the ninth of 20 races during the 2024 season. Official times for Saturday’s three qualifying sessions and Sunday’s first round of eliminations will be released next week.
NHRA worked closely with the race teams to help offer a new experience for the fans at the Virginia event.
Racing action in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring some of the sport’s top drivers, will begin on Friday, June 21.
This year’s Virginia NHRA Nationals marks the first NHRA race at the standout facility since 2022, as fans at Virginia Motorsports Park, regarded as one of the quickest and fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit, will also see the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge for the first time during the last two qualifying sessions on Saturday. The Challenge is a unique bonus event that brings competitive racing to Saturday and offers a bonus purse and bonus championship points.
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won during NHRA’s last appearance at Virginia Motorsports Park, capping off a record-setting weekend at the facility and giving fans a glimpse at what could happen in 2024. Racing on one of the smoothest surfaces on the NHRA tour, Force shattered the track record with a run of 3.654-seconds at a track-best 335.82 mph.
Reigning Funny Car world champion and Virginia native Matt Hagan of Tony Stewart Racing set both ends of the track record with an impressive blast of 3.853, also going 335.82, while Angie Smith broke track records in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.756 at 201.37. Larry “Spiderman” McBride also captivated fans in Virginia in 2022 at his home track in Top Fuel Motorcycle, going 268.38 mph and making the fastest motorcycle pass in drag racing history.
Fans will also get a chance to see Pro Stock and defending world champion Erica Enders at VMP for the first time since 2019, as well as racing legend Tony Stewart, who is making his Top Fuel debut in 2024.
Along with action in all four NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series categories, fans can also enjoy racing in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle, providing two days of non-stop entertainment.
To purchase tickets to the Virginia NHRA Nationals, visit www.nhra.com/tickets. For more information about the NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, visit www.nhra.com.
Per Bergstrom from Sweden 2012 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PE, Class: A/D, Div: 9 Owned by Per Bergstrom from Sweden Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.904 at Scandinavian Internationals 2012 | 1/4 Mile MPH: 161.61 at Scandinavian Internationals 2012 […]
Per Bergstrom from Sweden 2009 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PE, Class: A/D, Div: 9 Owned by Per Bergstrom from Sweden Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.027 at Veidec Festival 2009 | 1/4 Mile MPH: 183.03 at Veidec Festival 2009 […]
Bjorn Bergstrom from Sweden 1984 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CE, Class: TA/FC, Div: 9 "Expert" Owned by Mick Sundin from Sweden '81 Dodge Challenger by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Donovan Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.880 at Pitea, Sweden 1984 | 1/4 Mile MPH: […]
John Livingston from Nashville, Tennessee USA 1965 - Category: AFUELFC, Type: FN, Class: Match Race, Div: 2 "Tennessee Thunder II" Owned by John Livingston from Nashville, Tennessee USA 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 396 cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 11.210 at Bristol […]
Scott Hintz from Odessa, Texas USA (Comp Number: 428) 2013 - Category: PS-MOUNTAIN, Type: UN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 4 "Hintz Racing" Owned by Kurt Hintz from Odessa, Texas USA '09 Ford Mustang by Jerry Haas | Powered by a 814 cubic inch Ford with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown […]
Bob Davis from San Bernardino, California USA 1955 - Category: GASALT, Type: , Class: A/MR, Div: 7 "Herbert & Davis" Owned by Bob Davis from San Bernardino, California USA Roadster by Bob Davis & Herbert | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Mercury Flathead with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | 1/4 […]
Jerry Eckman from Ventura, California USA (Comp Number: 775) 1989 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 7 "Pennzoil" Owned by Bill Orndorff from Ventura, California USA '89 Pontiac Trans Am by Willie Rells | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet by Jerry Eckman with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
George Gilmore from Denton, Texas USA (Comp Number: 83) 1957 - Category: GASSER, Type: , Class: A/G, Div: 4 "Gilmore Engine Service" Owned by George Gilmore from Denton, Texas USA '37 Willys by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 331 cubic inch Chrysler with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | […]
Dick Vest from Dayton, Ohio USA 1960 - Category: GASDRAG, Type: MN, Class: A/GD, Div: 3 "Dick Vest" Owned by Dick Vest from Dayton, Ohio USA Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 301 cubic inch Chevrolet with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 9.870 at Muncie Dragway IN 9/27/60 | 1/4 Mile […]
Matt Leonard from Salt Lake City, Utah USA (Comp Number: 789) 2026 - Category: FUELALT, Type: AN, Class: AA/FA, Div: 7 "Nitro Rat" Owned by from USA 2007 32 Austin Bantam by Matt Leonard | Powered by a 443 cubic inch Hemi by Matt Leonard with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 6.004 at March Meet […]