NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

News, notes, quotes, and photos from the opening day of the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. Updated throughout the day.

Chasing history has been nothing new for Gaige Herrera the past two seasons, but the reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion has a chance to add another incredible mark at this weekend’s PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals.

NHRA Rookie of the Year Award candidate Sienna Wildgust has been added to the Elite Motorsports team roster. Wildgust will make her debut with the Elite Motorsports team at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, July 19-21. 

NHRA’s Professional racing teams will face a grueling crucible as the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series returns to Virginia Motorsports Park where, for the first time, three qualifying sessions will be held on Saturday of the two-day event.

The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ returns to Virginia Motorsports Park as part of this weekend’s PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals, and the stakes are as massive as the huge car count heading to Richmond.

Bo Butner will make a return to the 500-inch Pro Stock category driving the yellow Corral Boots/Cuadra/Columbia Impex entry while also continuing his pursuit of the first Mountain Motor Pro Stock championship at this weekend’s PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals.

Ron Capps vs. John Force, "Beer Wars" between Kenny Bernstein and Larry Dixon, and more highlighted the action at the 2000 national event at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Winning is, for most, the point of the game. An easy win, though, seldom seems to have the same sense of reward that comes with winning an intense, honest battle. Pro Stock points leader Dallas Glenn believes the challenge itself is where much of the reward can be found.

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, Jiana Evaristo joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about the recent Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and Tony Pedregon joins to talk about what will be a sweltering weekend at the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals. 

Austin Prock was in a Top Fuel dragster two years ago at Virginia Motorsports Park, but at this weekend’s PlayNHRA Virginia NHRA Nationals, he’ll be looking for his third Funny Car win of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

The last time Brittany Force was at Virginia Motorsports Park, she was obliterating track records en route to a victory in 2022 and, ultimately, her second world championship, and she hopes to recreate some of that magic this year.

Virginia Motorsports Park was the scene of a lot of early drama at the 1997 NHRA Virginia Nationals, with wheelstands, pedalfests, and a barn-burning Funny Car fire spicing up the opening rounds.

There are times when the size and scope of the NHRA Drag Racing universe can escape us until we find ourselves in the middle of something truly special. Such was the case last weekend.

On the heels of a successful rollout in Bristol, the PlayNHRA initiative will continue this week at the PlayNHRA Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. Once again, NHRA fans will have the opportunity to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for the ninth of 20 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events.

Beech Bend Raceway Park came alive over Father’s Day weekend with the roaring engines and thrilling races of the 2024 Wally Parks Nostalgia Nationals.

After a successful return in Chicago, Geno Scali, the 2003 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, plans to compete in the final seven events of the season aboard a Vance & Hines prepared Suzuki.

Ahead of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season resuming at the PlayNHRA Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Doug Kalitta threw a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Washington Nationals vs. Detroit Tigers game.

The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will open March 6-9 with the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway. Tickets will go on sale on Aug. 19.

Learning to ride a 200-plus-mph Pro Stock Motorcycle is a daunting task, but it's one that Jianna Evaristo embraced as she made her 2019 debut aboard a Matt Smith Racing (MSR) Suzuki. Five years in, the Scrappers Racing rider is proving she's up for a new challenge – and expeditiously adapting – as she transitions to an MSR V-Twin Buell.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns this week to Virginia Motorsports Park for a unique two-day event format where, for the first time in NHRA history, all Professional categories will take part in three qualifying sessions on Saturday of the PlayNHRA Virginia NHRA Nationals. 

With three Professional qualifying sessions on Saturday and final eliminations on Sunday, the PlayNHRA Virginia NHRA Nationals has a lot of teams looking forward to the unique format, including Top Fuel's Josh Hart.

The Dodge brand has announced a partnership extension with the Tony Stewart Racing nitro organization to continue fielding two nitro-burning entries (Top Fuel and Funny Car) in the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series.

PlayNHRA, a new initiative that provides fans opportunities to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events, has been named the title sponsor for the upcoming Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Monty Bogan, Larry Leazer, and Cody Phillips led the list of winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Serie, Southeast Division was in action this weekend at GALOT Motorsports Park.

Gage Wilson collected his fourth NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Conference Finals Wally to lead the list of winners at the NHRA Right Trailers Western Conference Finals presented by CAPCO Contractors at Texas Motorplex.

His grandfather, Tom, raced Funny Cars in the 1970s. His father, Jimmy, is a three-time world championship-winning Funny Car crew chief. So, it only makes sense that Funny Car rookie Austin Prock has taken so quickly to his new class.

Prescott Dean and Madison Gordon led the list of Race 2 winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series West Central Division was in action this weekend with a doubleheader event at Flying H Dragstrip.

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits is a legend in the drag racing world and even though he long ago hung up his famous black racing helmet, the 92-year-old icon still has plenty to talk about.

Brian Lohnes is joined by Funny Car ace J.R. Todd and Top Fuel handler Clay Millican on this episode of the NHRA Insider to talk about the challenges, triumphs, and heartaches of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

The June 2024 issue of NHRA National Dragster, packed with racing coverage from coast to coast and in-depth feature stories, is now online in digital format and in the mail in its traditional print format to NHRA Members around the world.