ROCKINGHAM — Renovations began last week during the abbreviated off season at Rockingham Dragway in preparation for the NHRA Nationals slated for late September.
Co-owner Dan VanHorn posted the first photos of the work being done on Jan. 5 with the caption reading, in part: “What do you do when you already have the fastest track in the world…You rip it up and make it FASTER — THAT’S WHAT.”
One part of the project involves replacing the first 60 feet of both lanes and improving the drainage, according to VanHorn. They’ve also taken out the guardrails downtrack and replaced them with concrete walls.
The 2026 season cranks up Feb. 6-8 — a month earlier than the past few years — with Ross Drag Warzz.
Other improvements on the checklist before NHRA comes to town include:
VanHorn said those renovations can be made throughout the year.
He and Al Gennarelli bought the track in November 2022 and began making improvements to the track almost immediately.
In the past three years, a number of renovations have been made to the overall facility including the addition of both a bar and stage, a remodel of the third-floor suite of the tower, a new entrance — and the repair of the concrete grandstands.
Funding for the latter project came from the reallocation of $2 million that had initially been set aside for a pedestrian bridge across U.S. 1 connecting the dragway to neighboring Rockingham Speedway, with the dragway receiving $1.7 million.
In addition to hosting the first NHRA points event in the track’s history, the schedule is packed with racing action and car shows until early December.
