The Shapiro Administration is breaking new ground in the motorsports industry, serving as the race entitlement sponsor for the annual NASCAR Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway set for Sunday, July 14.
The 160-lap, 400-mile race will be titled “The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA” and provide national and international exposure to the state and its new tourism brand through NASCAR’s wide audience and global broadcast platforms.
According to MarketCast data, NASCAR ranks first among all major U.S. sports in fan loyalty to sponsors, including those who consider trying, consciously support and recommend sponsors.
“NASCAR Cup Series races are some of the biggest and best sporting events in the world, and nobody does it better than Pennsylvania,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Every year, I love coming to ‘The Tricky Triangle’ to watch some of the best drivers and crews in the world navigate those three turns. Here in the Commonwealth, we have it all – from top tier sports and events, award-winning restaurants, incredible hikes and state parks, and the most important historic sites in the country that tell the story of our shared history. This year, Pennsylvania tourism is taking the driver’s seat at the Pocono Raceway.”
“Having the opportunity to shine a light on tourism in Pennsylvania while helping Governor Shapiro, Secretary Siger and the entire DCED team launch a new brand is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our team,” Pocono Raceway President Ben May said. “Sixty percent of our fans and partners travel to Pennsylvania from out of state so being able to showcase the Pocono Mountains and launch ‘The Great American Getaway’ is something you aren’t often afforded the privilege of doing. We can’t wait to show off the Commonwealth and continue driving tourism for this great state of ours.”
The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA will be televised live on the USA Network, along with live radio broadcasts on SiriusXM and MRN, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. The race also will be broadcast in more than 29 languages across 195 countries through NASCAR’s international television partners.
Tourism is a key priority within the Governor's economic development strategy. A new report unveiled by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office in March shows Pennsylvania’s tourism industry generated $76.7 billion in economic impact, supported 486,871 jobs, contributed $4.7 billion in state and local taxes, and welcomed 192.4 million visitors in 2022. Visitor spending – which supports jobs, income, and business sales – generated $9.6 billion in government revenues. Overnight visitor spending increased by $4.8 billion, with more than 66 million trips resulting in $28 billion in spending.
The NASCAR Cup Series race weekend also is an economic engine for the state with an annual impact of $75 to $100 million.
Last week the Shapiro Administration unveiled Pennsylvania’s new state tourism brand and summer travel marketing campaign to encourage more people to travel across and visit the Commonwealth – Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway.
Pennsylvania is a premier weekend getaway destination within close driving proximity to major hubs along the East Coast, including New York City, Baltimore, and Washington DC. Pennsylvania’s main streets and small towns, world class restaurants and bars, renowned historical sites, thrilling outdoor recreation, and top tier events and sports can be experienced in a single weekend by nearly 72 million people who live within a four-hour drive of thousands of getaways and experiences.
The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA is the featured race of the July 12-14 NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway. The NASCAR Cup Series weekend annually attracts a strong balance of visitors and Pennsylvania residents, with 60 percent coming from out of state. The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series CRC Brakleen 175 will be held Friday, July 12 (5:30 p.m.), and the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 on Saturday, July 13 (3 p.m.). Click HERE for the full weekend schedule.
For tickets and more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.
Dale Earnhardt Jr is only interested in Cup charter under the right circumstances according to Sportsnaut.
It is going to take the right set of circumstances and partners for JR Motorsports to expand into the NASCAR Cup Series someday but Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he is not completely shutting the doors to the idea.
Earnhardt has made it very clear where his previous expansion missteps were made and why nothing has changed on that front. Speaking on his Dale Jr Download podcast on Tuesday, Earnhardt says the buy in price for him to even have a single car on the grid just doesn’t make sense for him and his family.
Earnhardt has expressed regret over not acquiring a charter when the buy-in price was in the single digit millions but that time has long passed. Now, Earnhardt just isn’t willing to spend $30 million for the reasons he was not willing to spend a couple million several years ago.
Family.
“Personally, I would rather do something else with that money for the benefit of my girls,” Earnhardt said of daughters Isla and Nicole. “And so I can take that and … there’s a lot of investments and opportunities, right? … I’m not buying a charter and putting millions of dollars away into something that I can’t then recoup or sell for a profit. …
“Kelley (Earnhardt-Miller, sister) and I have talked about getting into it and we’ve seen some opportunities to do that but it didn’t work out,” Earnhardt said. “We’re still at the table, talking to different teams about maybe partnering or investing.
“We’re always open to hearing what someone thinks about our idea of a partnership, but none of them have been like, ‘that’s it, that’s a perfect match man.’ That is what we’re looking for.
Former Cup driver, Pennsylvanian Tighe Scott, arrested for involvement in January 6 riot
A retired NASCAR driver and his son were arrested Wednesday and charged along with two other Pennsylvania men for allegedly assaulting police during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Tighe Scott, 75, and his son Jarret Scott, 48, face two felony offenses each as well as a multiple misdemeanor offenses for a series of alleged assaults prosecutors say they engaged in outside the Capitol among the pro-Trump mob.
Charging documents show the FBI confirmed Tighe Scott’s identity in part because a witness told agents he was a retired NASCAR driver.
Scott competed in dirt racing events before moving into the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in the late 1970s and early 1980s. While he recorded no career wins in NASCAR, he had multiple top-10 finishes and made several appearances at the Daytona 500, including a sixth place finish in 1979.
The United States Auto Club (USAC) is set to become the first grassroots racing series to be represented in online wagering.
It started started with USAC Indiana Midget Week on June 4-9, now you can play USAC for real cash! Scan the QR code to sign up now and claim an exclusive USAC bonus. Various sports books will be available based on your state.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to turn your racing passion into real rewards. Scan the QR code or go to www.nxtbets.com/playusac to being playing.
Among the wagering options for USAC events are selecting the driving champions in USAC’s AMSOIL National Sprint Car and NOS Energy Drink National Midget divisions, plus feature winners at each event and even head-to-head competition by wagering on which of two specific opponents will finish higher in a given event.
At the moment, wagering on USAC national events is available in 30 United States. Players can get up to $250 in bonus cash from various sports books available in your state! Indiana is a state that is still pending approval but is expected soon.
If you are age 21+, please refer to the affiliated operators’ T & C. Void where prohibited. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
As reflected in its gambling policy, part XIV of the USAC rulebook, United States Auto Club (USAC) personnel, which includes, but is not limited to, drivers, crew, team members, officials and staff, are strictly prohibited from placing, soliciting or facilitating any wager, whether directly or through a third-party proxy or surrogate on any USAC sanctioned event.
This prohibition applies to all USAC and/or leagues sanctioned by USAC personnel, and includes, but is not limited to wagering on season or event outcomes, statistics, scores, individual performances and any other kinds of legally offered “propositional” wagers.
USAC will adhere to a zero-tolerance gambling policy. USAC and all personnel are obligated to report any violations to the governing body of USAC. In the event this gambling policy is suspected or violated, disciplinary action will occur, including fines, suspension and/or banishment from USAC and any of the leagues it sanctions.
Mike Joy, Fox Sports’ lead NASCAR play-by-play announcer, says he intends to return to the booth next year as the network starts the sport’s new media rights cycle.
Joy has been the voice of Fox’s NASCAR efforts since the network began airing the sport in 2001. But Fox Sports, part of the publicly traded Fox Corp., is making several changes to its coverage for next year as the new seven-year media cycle through 2031 begins. That has raised questions about the future of the network’s NASCAR talent.
Joy’s deal with Fox is said to be up after this year, and it was unclear whether he had signed a contract extension, but his wishes would likely carry some weight with Fox executives given his tenure and prominence.
One of NASCAR’s most engaging personalities and 16-year Cup Series veteran Clint Bowyer will pilot Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway.
Bowyer, who retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) competition following the 2020 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, is currently an analyst for NASCAR on FOX. He is a 10-time NCS race winner who also boasts three NCTS checkered flags.
The 44-year-old will reconnect with crew chief Brian Pattie who guided Bowyer’s NCS efforts from 2012-2015. Pattie led the affable racer to three wins in 2012 and ultimately a runner-up finish in the NCS championship point standings when the potent duo was paired together at Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR).
“For me, it’s the tie between working with (Brian) Pattie and the good old days,” said Bowyer. “Putting the band back together, so to speak, and having some fun. Nashville is a cool racetrack that has meant a lot to me over the years. Separate from that, it’s about the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. That’s a really fun series. It’s a fun vehicle to drive. There’s a lot of drag and you can drive them hard and get away with it. You can really hustle a truck. This race should be right in my wheelhouse.”
Bowyer made his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 1.33-mile oval in 2004 tallied nine total starts from 2004 – 2008. The Emporia, Kan., native has one win over those nine starts and parlayed those efforts into an uber-impressive 2.8 average finish on NASCAR’s junior circuit.
“Nashville means a lot to me. Fate is the only thing that I can attribute to this opportunity coming about,” Bowyer added. “My career in NASCAR happened because of Nashville. My first race win in NASCAR was at Nashville. It takes me back to my first ARCA race in 2003. I’ve always raced well there. Not to put pressure on myself, but I have. I’ve never finished outside the top five at Nashville Superspeedway, and I think I’ve got close to a second-place average finish. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything but what’s important is the opportunity to get back together and work with Brian Pattie. I had so much fun racing with him during the MWR days. We about won a championship together.”
In 14 NCTS starts from 2006 – 2016, Bowyer recorded two pole positions, three wins, nine top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. While he hasn’t competed in a NASCAR sanctioned event since dropping the window net for the final time in November 2020, Bowyer made three Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) starts last season and while winless, was a threat for the win in each outing.
“I’ll have one run on a set of tires to knock the rust off and then I’ll have to go qualify,” said Bowyer. “It’s going to be a pretty important lap to start up front and have a shot at winning. It has been so long, so I’ll have to get reacquainted with the track a little bit. I feel like I can get the fundamentals back pretty quickly. I ran those SRX races last year and I was pretty quick right off that bat. I actually surprised myself. I had a ton of fun and was competitive.
After 11 races, the No. 7 team sits fifth in the 2024 NCTS owner point standings after earning two wins and compiling five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Kyle Busch earned the team’s first victory of 2024 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and led a race-high 112 laps in Busch’s most recent triumph in Texas. Last weekend, Connor Mosack started seventh and finished eighth at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Given their history and past success, it’s no wonder Pattie is looking forward to the reunion.
“Clint and I had a lot of success winning races and coming close to a Cup Series championship, so it’ll be a lot of fun to work with him again,” said Pattie. “We’ve been trying to get him in one of our trucks since early last year, so I’m excited to see it finally come together and I’m confident that we can go out and compete for the win.”
The Rackley Roofing 200 from Nashville Superspeedway will be televised live on FS2 Friday, June 28, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 13th of 23 NCTS races on the 2024 schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
“Having Clint Bowyer drive our No. 7 at Nashville Superspeedway just demonstrates how committed Spire Motorsports is to having a true all-star lineup in that truck,” said Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt. “Clint is part of an exclusive club of drivers who have won in the Truck Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series. When you see his track record at Nashville, it almost makes you shake your head. It’s pretty incredible. He’s a great personality and, as Brian (Pattie) well knows, he’s a lot of fun. We’re grateful to have him and we think he gives us a great shot at winning the race.
Beginning recently on NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports and NASCAR Studios bring fans the latest edition of the three-time Sports Emmy-Award-winning short-form documentary series “Beyond the Wheel.”
The first film, titled “One Team, One Dream: 40 Years of Hendrick Motorsports,” depicts how the organization’s culture has led to its numerous wins and championships. It premieres today during NASCAR Race Hub on FS1 at 6 p.m. ET.
The following documentaries comprise the ninth season of “Beyond the Wheel:”
One Team, One Dream: 40 Years of Hendrick Motorsports – "One Team, One Dream: 40 Years of Hendrick Motorsports" tells the story of NASCAR's most successful race team in their 40th anniversary season. The wins and championships are well known, but this film digs deeper to gain an understanding of how Rick Hendrick's leadership and the team members' dedication built an unrivaled culture of excellence and perseverance. Structured around the team's 40th anniversary at the April 2024 race at Martinsville Speedway, the film focuses on Hendrick's leadership philosophy, empowering talented people to give their best effort. Featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes access with Jeff Gordon at Martinsville, and brand-new interviews with Hendrick, Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, and more, "One Team, One Dream" is a celebration of where Hendrick Motorsports has been and where it’s headed in the next 40 years.
Die-Cast Mania – "Die-Cast Mania" is a behind-the-scenes look at the world of die-cast collectible NASCAR race cars. Go inside the process of designing and creating these unique pieces of memorabilia, the history of how die-casts became the must-have item for fans, and the lengths collectors will go to build their collections. The film takes viewers back to the early 1990s to meet Fred Wagenhals, the man who convinced Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace to turn toy cars into high-end collectibles, sending the souvenir market into the stratosphere. “Die-Cast Mania” also goes behind the scenes at Lionel Racing, the team behind today's ultra-detailed models that sell out at every track. Die-cast cars are unlike any other sports memorabilia and "Die-Cast Mania" celebrates that passion.
Steve Park: Destined – "Steve Park: Destined" tells the story of Steve Park, a modified driver handpicked by Dale Earnhardt as one of the next big stars in Cup racing. Park proved him right, earning multiple wins and a devoted fan base. He also helped Dale Earnhardt Incorporated navigate Earnhardt's death by winning the very next race. But Park's career was derailed by a freak accident crash and a series of concussions. He worked hard to return to racing, but still carried the stigma of injury. With insight from Park's friends, teammates, and fans, as well as through an emotional interview with the man himself, "Steve Park: Destined" is a story of what might have been... and coming to terms with what comes next.
“One Team, One Dream: 40 Years of Hendrick Motorsports” premieres Wednesday, May 29, followed by “Die-Cast Mania” Wednesday, June 5 and “Steve Park: Destined” Thursday, June 6. All will air at 6 p.m. ET on FS1’s NASCAR Race Hub simultaneously live streaming on the FOX Sports App.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco celebrates a 10th anniversary at New Egypt Speedway on Tuesday, June 18.
The ‘Dirty Jersey’ goes green for the 10th time in its history for a $6,000-to-win feature event for the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds.
The 2024 ‘Dirty Jersey’ is a BD Motorsports Media LLC promotion.
The ‘Dirty Jersey’ history pre-dates the origins of STSS, with the first event taking place in 2013.
Hellertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach won the inaugural event in ’13, and Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard won his first of three ‘Dirty Jersey’ titles in ’14.
In 2015, the ‘Dirty Jersey’ was first sanctioned by the STSS, with Wurtsboro, N.Y.’s Danny Creeden claiming the victory for his second career STSS victory.
Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. thwarted his father Billy Pauch Sr. for his first career STSS triumph.
In 2017, the event switched to the five-eighths-mile oval – Bridgeport Speedway – for the fifth running of the event. Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt reigned supreme in that event, during his dominant years on the South Jersey oval.
Following a year off in 2018, the event returned to its home in 2019, and a home track guy – David Van Horn – claimed his second career STSS triumph.
Another year off was taken in ’20 due to COVID-19 restrictions, before Walden, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego won a classic battle over Mike Mahaney and Max McLaughlin.
Matt Sheppard returned to the winner’s circle in each of the last two ‘Dirty Jersey’ events at New Egypt Speedway in the eighth and ninth events.
Anthony Perrego sits just seven markers behind Williamson in the South Region chase while Matt Sheppard is 53-points behind in the Overall Championship currently.
The STSS Crate 602 Sportsman join the Modifieds for Round No. 4 of the Belmont’s Garage South Region.
Upper Makefield, Pa.’s Joe Toth leads the South Region standings by 37 points over Ethan Bill while Michael White sits 57 points behind.
For the June 18 event, pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. with grandstand gates unlocking at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps are slated for 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 7:15 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $30 for Adults, $25 for Seniors (ages 65 and above), $20 for Teens (ages 12-15) and Kids 11 and under are FREE.
Pit admission is $45.
A rain date of Wednesday, June 19 is in place.
A complete information sheet can be found online: https://www.shorttracksuperseries.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=944967
New Egypt Speedway is located at 720 County Road 539 New Egypt, NJ 08533. Learn more online at www.newegyptspeedway.net or call 609.758.1900.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has announced that he will donate $1 million to charities across the United States to celebrate reaching the one million follower mark on Instagram. The Dale Jr. Foundation has identified a charity located in each of the top-10 cities where Earnhardt’s Instagram followers reside, with each organization receiving $100,000.
“This is an exciting time for The Dale Jr. Foundation,” said Earnhardt Jr. “None of this would be possible without the support from the fans and followers. To have the opportunity to give back in this way is truly special, and it’s all due to the tremendous support of the foundation.”
The selected charities fall into the foundation’s five areas of giving: empowerment, education, wellness, hunger, hope. The list of organizations includes Regional Food Bank of NE Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.), Fletcher Place Community Center (Indianapolis), Armer Foundation for Kids (Phoenix), Kids Meals, Inc. (Houston), Nashville Angels (Nashville, Tenn.), New York Common Pantry (New York), Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus, Ohio), Heart of Los Angeles (Los Angeles), Hope of Mooresville (Mooresville, N.C.), and Classroom Central (Charlotte, N.C.).
“This is only possible because of the generous donations and hard work of so many people,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, vice president of The Dale Jr. Foundation. “Dale is using his platform and the foundation to make an impact across the nation and I am extremely proud to see these donations go to so many worthwhile causes.”
Earnhardt Jr. eclipsed the one million follower mark on Thursday, May 23, making him the third NASCAR personality to achieve such a prestigious milestone. The legendary stock car driver and 15-time most popular driver initially launched his Instagram account in October 2015.
ABOUT THE DALE JR. FOUNDATION:
The Dale Jr. Foundation is a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals with a focus on youth, the resources to improve their confidence and education, and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals, having raised more than $11 million since its inception. The Dale Jr. Foundation has made a monumental impact in the local community since its beginning. Dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals, with a focus on youth, the resources to achieve extraordinary goals, TDJF has contributed to more than 300 charities nationally and locally, including The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Blessings in a Backpack, Children’s Hope Alliance, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, FeedNC, and Mooresville Christian Mission. For more information, visitwww.thedalejrfoundation.org.
The 2024 PA Sprint Car Speedweek is set to be the most lucrative in the series' history. Thanks to growing sponsorship, including returning presenting sponsor Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, the ten-race series now guarantees a minimum winner’s prize of $10,000. This year’s lineup features eight $10,000-to-win events, the prestigious Mitch Smith Memorial at Williams Grove on July 5 offering $20,000 to the victor, and the highly anticipated 25th annual Kevin Gobrecht Memorial at Lincoln Speedway on June 29, boasting an impressive $25,000 winner’s share. The Kevin Gobrecht Memorial isn't just the highest-paying race to win to date; it also boasts the largest single-race purse in Speedweek history, totaling $55,650.
In addition to the outstanding race day payoffs, C&D Rigging has returned as a sponsor to boost the point series payoff to $30,000 to be paid to fifteen drivers. First through fifth in the final point standings will collect $6,000, $3,000, $2,700, $2,500, and $2,200 respectively. The big increase is the bonus for the next ten drivers in the point standings who compete in every Speedweek event. Those bonus payoffs will range from $1,800 to $1,000. All events must be completed for the total of $30,000 to be paid. A total of over $353,500 will be awarded throughout the week, including $30,000 from the point fund, $323,500 in total purses, and additional contingency prizes each night.
The Long Hollow Cattle Company will once again sponsor the B-Main for the third consecutive year. Owner Matt Balliet will post a minimum payoff of $300-$200-$150-$100-$100 to the first non-qualifiers.
Selinsgrove Ford will sponsor the $5,000 “Ten for Ten” bonus. Todd Benner, Selinsgrove Ford president, will present a $5,000 Bonus to a driver with a top 10 feature finish in every Speedweek event. A minimum of 7 events must be completed for the bonus. If multiple drivers have all top ten finishes, the highest point finisher receives the $5,000 bonus. If no driver records all top ten finishes, the driver with most top ten finishes receives $1,000. In the event of a tie for most top ten finishes, the highest driver in final points will receive the $1,000 bonus. Drivers must compete in all events to qualify for the bonus. The 2022 Speedweek champion Brent Marks captured the award on his way to the title and last year’s Speedweek champion, Anthony Macri, took home $4,000 in the bonus even with multiple rainouts.
Lelands.com will offer bonus money for heat race action with the “Knockout Bonus”. There will be a $500 Bonus each night if the heat race starter with the fastest time (usually the fourth-place starter) can win the heat race thereby “knocking out” all other drivers in that heat race from the feature redraw. If more than one driver accomplishes the knockout, the $500 will be divided equally.
New this year, the York County Racing Club is offering a $100 bonus for the first non-qualifier that is a dues paying member to the Club.
2024 PA SPEEDWEEK SCHEDULE
Friday, June 28- Williams Grove $10,000 to Win
Saturday, June 29 – Lincoln $25,000 to Win
Sunday, June 30 – BAPS $10,000 to Win
Monday, July 1 – Lincoln $10,000 to Win
Tuesday, July 2 – Grandview $10,000 to Win
Wednesday, July 3 – Port Royal $10,000 to Win
Thursday, July 4 – Hagerstown $10,000 to Win
Friday, July 5 – Williams Grove $20,000 to Win
Saturday, July 6 – Port Royal $10,000 to Win
Sunday, July 7 – Selinsgrove $10,000 to Win
After a year away from Virginia Motorsports Park, NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series teams are eager to return to the standout facility for a unique two-day event format featuring three qualifying rounds on Saturday for the upcoming Virginia NHRA Nationals on June 22-23.
For the first time in NHRA history, all professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) will take part in three qualifying sessions on Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday at the ninth of 20 races during the 2024 season.
As part of a loaded two days, fans will get the chance to see 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph nitro machines in action three times on Saturday, as well as the thrilling Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge for the first time. The specialty race brings competitive racing to Saturday qualifying to Richmond – as well as a bonus purse and bonus points – and will take part during the final two qualifying sessions on Saturday before all the NHRA stars look to win on Sunday on one of the top track surfaces on the NHRA tour.
The 2022 Virginia NHRA Nationals saw Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) take home titles. This year, the event will again be broadcast on FS1, with shows on Saturday and Sunday.
Force, a two-time Top Fuel world champion, claimed the Virginia NHRA Nationals back in 2022, obliterating track records in the process. While she is still seeking her first win of the 2024 season, she’ll be ready to hit the track and take on the other competitors in the class including points leader Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon, reigning champion Doug Kalitta and former champs Steve Torrence and Antron Brown. Fans at VMP can also watch racing legend Tony Stewart make his Richmond Top Fuel debut.
Austin Prock took over Funny Car driving duties for Hight at the start of the 2024 season and has enjoyed instant success, picking up an event win from Phoenix and four No. 1 qualifiers so far this season. He’ll look to keep rolling along in an absolutely loaded field that features Virginia native and points leader Matt Hagan, 16-time world champion John Force, Gainesville winner J.R. Todd, Bob Tasca III, three-time world champion Ron Capps, Alexis DeJoria, Daniel Wilkerson and Paul Lee.
Returning to Virginia in 2024 is the Pro Stock category, which is led by points leader Dallas Glenn. He won the most recent race in Chicago, but there’s a host of standout competitors, including reigning and six-time world champion Erica Enders, five-time champs Greg Anderson and Jeg Coughlin Jr. as well as standouts like Aaron Stanfield, Cristian Cuadra, Troy Coughlin Jr., Matt Hartford, Jerry Tucker and Deric Kramer.
Former Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Smith will be seeking another win from Virginia Motorsports Park. In 2022, he took down Steve Johnson to take home the Wally. Last year saw the reign of current champion Gaige Herrera. He won 11 races last year and is undefeated so far this season, with three race wins to his credit. Others to watch include Chase Van Sant, Angie Smith, Hector Arana Jr. and Richard Gadson.
Back again in Richmond will be the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+. The fan-favorite class will take to the track in their doorslamming hot rods and will be joined by top competitors in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series and Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock, providing non-stop entertainment all weekend long in Richmond.
Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Virginia Motorsports Park can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.
As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Richmond. This opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features three rounds of action on Saturday, June 22 at 11:00 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET, with eliminations beginning at 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 23.
Television coverage begins Saturday with a qualifying recap at 1 p.m. ET then with a second show on Sunday at 1 p.m. Finals coverage starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday on FS1.
To purchase tickets to the Virginia NHRA Nationals on June 22-23 at Virginia Motorsports Park, visit https://nhra.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, including the full 2024 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.
