Inaugural NHRA Nationals at the Rock kicks off with Massive NitroFest in Downtown Rockingham

ROCKINGHAM, NC – September 23, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – With the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series set to make its thrilling debut at Rockingham Dragway this weekend for the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock, the official kickoff for the race is set to be a big one for fans in downtown Rockingham.

Featuring NHRA driver meet-and-greets, a free concert from The Lacs, venders, food trucks, a free Kids Zone and much more, NitroFest takes over downtown Rockingham from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday around Harrington Square in downtown Rockingham.

The driver lineup for NitroFest will be huge, with more than 30 drivers slated to take part in the meet-and-greet and autograph session for fans.

That takes place from 6:30-7:15 p.m. on Thursday, with an incredible lineup that features NHRA world champions like Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, J.R. Todd, Shawn Langdon, Tony Schumacher, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Greg Anderson, Dallas Glenn, Matt Smith, Rickie Smith and Richard Gadson, as well as standouts like Maddi Gordon, Jordan Vandergriff, Justin Ashley, Daniel Wilkerson, Will Smith, Dave Richards, Angie Smith, Shane Tucker, Chad Green, Matt Latino, Cody Anderson, Chase Van Sant, Troy Coughlin Jr., Hunter Green, Josh Hart, Alexis DeJoria and more.

It will be a great opportunity for fans to meet some of the biggest stars on the NHRA tour, all before they put on an incredible show at Rockingham Dragway for the first time, all with the added excitement of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

The night includes a free concert from The Lacs, which starts at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday. NitroFest also features:

• Motorsports and automotive vendors and displays
• Race cars on display
• A free Kids Zone featuring bounce houses, inflatable slides, a rock climbing wall, and face painting
• Food trucks serving a variety of local favorites
• A beer garden hosted by Rockingham Dragway
• A drag racing practice Tree competition
• Family-friendly activities and interactive experiences celebrating the return of nitro-powered racing to The Rock.

NitroFest admission is free, setting the stage for an incredible debut at Rockingham Dragway. Fans will get a full dose of 340-mph, 12,000-horsepower excitement as they to witness the first-ever full national event at the historic facility, all as part of NHRA’s milestone 75th anniversary season.

It is the 16th of 20 races in 2026 and the event will be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The Top Fuel ranks have been dominated throughout 2026 by Kalitta Motorsports teammates Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta, and that continued at the Countdown opener when Langdon again laid waste to the record book. He moved back into the points lead with a win, while others to watch include Tony Stewart and Antron Brown.

Vandergriff, a Funny Car newcomer for John Force Racing, opened the playoffs with a win and will look to keep rolling against a loaded lineup that includes Hagan, Capps, Todd and back-to-back world champ Austin Prock.

Matt Hartford moved into the Pro Stock points lead in Martin as part of a wild Countdown opener. He’ll look to stay on top going against Glenn, Anderson, Greg Stanfield and Erica Enders.

Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Gadson holds a slim lead against John Hall, who opened the postseason with a win. Other standouts like Matt and Angie Smith, Gaige Herrera and Van Sant.

The NHRA Nationals at The Rock will also feature the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the popular JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

On Sunday, race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. They are invited to congratulate the event winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday. Fans also get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction. They can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs and more.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday and the final two rounds on Saturday at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday and eliminations at 3 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Nationals at The Rock, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association 

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