ROCKINGHAM — A week before hosting the season finale, Rockingham Dragway owners Dan VanHorn and Al Gennarelli brought home a souvenir from the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.
The Rock was awarded a trophy this past weekend for 2023 Track of the Year by the National Muscle Car Association at the PRI show in Indianapolis, Indiana.
VanHorn and Gennarelli said in a Facebook post that they were “Absolutely humbled.”
“Extremely proud of our amazing staff, world class sponsors, loving families and loyal friends,” the post continues. “The amount of support we receive is astonishing and without it we would not be able to succeed.”
The two have operated the track for about a year after buying it from former owner Steve Earwood, who had purchased the drag strip in 1992 from the DeWitt family and ran it for three decades.
During that time, they have repaved the track and staging areas, installed concrete barriers at the start line and various other upgrades around the facility.
Click here to read more about the repairs.
Rockingham Dragway has hosted the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals for the past two years and the 16th annual event is scheduled for April 11-14, 2024.
According to the NMCA website, the event is slated to include Xtreme Pro Mods, Xtreme Street Renegades, a HEMI Shootout, the legendary BIGFOOT monster truck and another jet car showdown between Dawn Perdue and Larry Aldrich.
Perdue bested Aldrich in both runs at the All-Star Nationals earlier this year.
Click here to see photos from the 2023 All-Star Nationals.
The Rock will close out the 2023 season this weekend with the Dig or Die Christmas Clash 4, with drivers starting at the back end of the track for no prep racing.
Racing starts again in March with a full schedule through next December with several returning events including the Super Chevy Show, ADRL Dragstock, NHRA Lucas Oil Series, two AHDRA races and two Mopars at the Rock events.
See the dragway’s social media accounts and website for more information.
