2024 PRI Show recap: Three days of major NHRA announcements and plans
The 2024 PRI Show in Indianapolis provided three days packed with major announcements of interest and importance to NHRA racers, fans, and sponsors.
Among the biggest and most exciting news was the announcement of a a special two-day exhibition showcase race, a new event featuring big-name NHRA stars racing at an NHRA member track. The first showcase event, the Peach State NHRA Showcase of Champions, will take place Oct. 24-25, 2025, at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga.
NHRA and NAPA officials announced a long-term partnership, which is set to begin with the 2025 season in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. For the first time ever, NAPA will team up with NHRA as an official partner, becoming the Official Auto Parts Store of NHRA as part of an exciting multiyear agreement. As part of the partnership, NAPA will also become a presenting sponsor of the NHRA Youth and Education Services (YES) program.
NHRA also publicly unveiled plans for its 75th Anniversary celebration during the 2026 season with several initiatives set to take place in 2025, starting at the season-kickoff NHRA Gatornationals on March 6-9 at Gainesville Raceway.
NHRA and FOX Sports announced the 2025 NHRA on FOX television schedule for the upcoming NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, which includes eight broadcasts on the FOX broadcast network.
There was even more big news for the upcoming 2025 season as NHRA and zMAX Dragway officials announced the first four-wide playoff race at the revamped NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, Sept. 19-21, 2025, at zMAX Dragway. It will be the first time in NHRA history that there will be four-wide racing in the Countdown to the Championship.
NHRA also released category schedules for Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle and the GETTRX NHRA All-Star Callouts, as well as the Specialty Class schedules for the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, Holley EFI NHRA Factory X, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle.
NHRA also announced the 11-race schedule for the 2025 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, which will also include a Wally Parks Nostalgia Nationals event and the California Hot Rod Reunion. Concurrently, the 2025 Legends Nitro Series schedule was announced, featuring six races in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series and four NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events, including, for the first time, the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.
NHRA and Right Trailers announced the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Conference Finals schedule, with the Western Conference Finals returning to Texas Motorplex on June 13-15 and the Right Trailers NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals July 17-19 at Bristol Dragway.
NHRA officials also announced that Lucas Oil Products has signed a long-term extension to continue as the naming rights sponsor of Indianapolis Raceway Park.
As part of a multiyear partnership, NHRA also announced that Red Line Oil has been named the presenting sponsor of the annual NHRA Crew of the Year award.
NHRA officials also announced that PJH Trackbite has been named the Official Traction Compound of NHRA, beginning during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season as part of a long-term partnership.
The 2nd annual NHRA National Dragster All-Star Team was unveiled over the weekend with a live global audience watching the coronations on the NHRA stage.
Throughout the show’s three-day run, the NHRA stage was host to a large collection of interviews with racers, sponsors, and track operators talking about their 2025 plans. You can go back and rewatch them all or fast forward to your favorites.