ROCKINGHAM — Dan VanHorn filled in one of the gaps on the 2026 schedule for Rockingham Dragway during a press conference Monday: a race in the NHRA playoffs.
VanHorn — who purchased the track in late 2022 with co-owner Al Gennarelli — made the announcement in conjunction with the NHRA in the remodeled third-floor suite that the Rock will host its first national event Sept. 25-27, 2026.
“This is an exciting moment in Rockingham Dragway’s rich history to host an NHRA national event…,” VanHorn said in a press release. “We could not be more thrilled to host all the stars of the (series)... and provide our amazing fans with a show and event like this.”
The race will be the second of six races in of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs, part of the organization’s 75th anniversary celebration.
The Rock has a long history with the NHRA, hosting the all-star invitational from 1989-1998, and returning as a member track with the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Divisionals since 2015. However, VanHorn said this will be the first time the NHRA has held “a full-blown national event” at the track.
Drivers line up in the staging lanes of Rockingham Dragway during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Divisionals in October 2024.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
The race will include action in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories, as well as racing in the Lucas Oil series and the NHRA’s Pro Mod series, according to the press release.
NHRA President Glen Cromwell said in a press release that it’s “fitting we expand our reach to a historic track like Rockingham Dragway and the area’s passionate racing community.”
Cromwell added that the owners “have shown tremendous dedication in elevating and improving their facility, and we can’t wait to showcase those efforts on a national stage.”
“This also reflects our continued commitment of growing the sport, expanding to new areas and celebrating what has made NHRA so special for 75 years.”
Greg Anderson recalls being at Rockingham in the '90s before becoming a driver.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Greg Anderson, six-time and reigning Pro Stock world champion, said the Rock holds a special place in his heart.
Standing in what is now a suite overlooking the track with tables, chairs and a bar, Anderson recalled when it served as the classroom for the Roy Hill Drag Racing School, which he attended when he was crew chief for driver Warren Johnson in the mid-‘90s.
His first opportunity to drive in a Pro Stock car was during the NHRA Winston Invitational at the Rock in ‘97.
“This place has got a lot of great memories for me,” Anderson said.
Although he hasn’t been able to compete at Rockingham in nearly 30 years, Anderson has been testing at the track.
Anderson said when heard the NHRA was dropping a race at zMAX Dragway, “it was kind of a bummer.”
“And then when you announced this … it’s as good as it could possibly be for me,” Anderson continued. “This is my home away from home … I’m here probably every other week.”
Anderson said a lot of drivers in the class weren’t around for the Winston era — “Just had a lot of history, and they’re going to learn it when they come here.”
“Ya’ll have got to be proud of what you pulled off ‘cause … It’s close to a miracle, what you did.”
VanHorn thanked local and state leaders, the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority and Tourism Director Meghann Lambeth, and the Cole Foundation, as well as the racers, track staff and his and Gennarelli’s families for helping make the announcement possible.
“We would not even be remotely close to this moment without their support,” VanHorn said. “We have great people behind us that come to us and ask us what we need.”
Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump talks about the cooperation and time that went into luring the NHRA back to Rockingham Dragway.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump said the plan to get a national event has been in the works for the past three years, with multiple meetings, track tours and back-and-forth communication.
“When this place is full, we hope to have 15-20,000 people here for a race,” Crump said. “(It’ll be) a heck of a thing to look forward to next September … in Richmond County.”
Crump also credited Lambeth for helping to raise the profile of the track through social media, with photos and video from Terry Clark and Robbie Singletary, as well as track photographer Samantha Caulder (Sam Cook Productions).
“For years, we heard the long list of reasons why an NHRA national event couldn’t — or wouldn’t — happen here,” Lambeth later said in a statement to the RO. “But today, all of that was disqualified.”
Lambeth said the announcement “represents the power of unity, perseverance, and shared vision” of all stakeholders involved.
“It’s proof of what can happen when we work together — when we build, grow, push through the hard times, and celebrate the victories side by side.”
She added that she was proud of the track and the community, as well as “the enormous impact this will make on Richmond County Tourism, our regional tourism partners and our state tourism organization, Visit NC.”
Rockingham Mayor John Hutchinson pointed out how the signs entering Richmond County read “Proud home of Rockingham Dragway.”
“And that’s exactly the way we feel here,” said Hutchinson.
The mayor said the current owners have achieved their goals of having a fast, well-prepped track with high standards.
“Witnessing it first-hand has been fascinating for me,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson also thanked the owners for being good community partners, presenting them with a key to the city.
Rockingham Mayor John Hutchinson, center, presents a key to the city to Rockingham Dragway owners Dan VanHorn, left, and Al Gennarelli.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
“This is a very special day to a lot of people in this community,” said state Rep. Ben Moss, R-Richmond, after recognizing all the work, money and cooperation that has been put into helping the track lure a national event, “and I only see it getting better for us.”
Since buying the track from former owner Steve Earwood, VanHorn and Gennarelli have made multiple improvements to the facility.
One major renovation, which is still ongoing, is the repair of the concrete grandstands. VanHorn thanked Moss and Craven for helping to reallocate funding that had originally been set aside for a pedestrian bridge across U.S. 1 between the dragway and Rockingham Speedway.
“Doing that project has 100 percent enabled this national event next year,” VanHorn said. “The pedestrian bridge would have been nice, but it wouldn’t have changed either business.”
Moss said he thinks the investment is going to “pay great dividends” for the district, which also includes Moore County.
With the national event next year, more improvements are on the horizon, including:
“It’s a little overwhelming … but I’m totally confident this is going to happen,” Van Horn said.
State Sen. Dave Craven talks about the recent economic development announcements in Richmond County.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Sen. Dave Craven, R-Randolph, said the return of NHRA puts Richmond County on the national stage “once again.”
“We keep having great economic development announcements here over the course of the last couple of months,” Craven said. “This is another piece of that puzzle that we’re putting together in our community.
“We are so excited to see what the dividends are going to pay here as it continues to build and we engage more and more people,” Craven continued. “As an economic driver in this region, it will bring folks here, will put people in hotels around the area.”
An economic impact analysis from 2023 shows a national event could bring in more than $18 million. VanHorn said he believes that could be even more now.
“We know what they did across the street,” VanHorn continued, referring to the nearly $40 million estimated impact on Moore and Richmond counties with the return of NASCAR in April, “and we feel like we’re going to do just as well.”
See more photos from the announcement, as well as from other events at Rockingham Dragway on the RO's Facebook page, as well as visitrichmondcounty.com.
