Work is racing along at famed Rockingham Dragway in advance of the track’s first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event, the NHRA Nationals at The Rock, set for Sept. 25–27. The latest improvements include new concrete starting-line pads to prepare for the onslaught of 12,000 horsepower in the track’s pivotal event during the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
For track co-owner Dan VanHorn, the path to Rockingham Dragway’s first NHRA national event still feels surreal, but before Top Fuelers and Funny Cars thunder down the historic track, the most critical work has been happening right at the starting line.
VanHorn says the decision to redo the launch area was made before Rockingham ever secured a national event. The first 800 feet of concrete is only three years old, but drainage issues beneath the surface created inconsistent conditions between lanes. Water migrating under the concrete — especially in the right lane — made it difficult for rubber to properly adhere, resulting in a left lane that hooked up well and a right lane that demanded constant attention.
“That just wasn’t acceptable,” VanHorn said. “We wanted both lanes to be consistent and equal.”
Crews recently began tearing up the first 100 feet of both lanes to correct the problem at its source. Extensive trenching has been installed down both lanes, carrying water away from under the racing surface and out toward the sides of the track. The goal is a modernized drainage system that eliminates moisture buildup and delivers a starting line capable of handling NHRA’s most powerful machines.
The starting-line project is just the first visible step in a broader transformation of Rockingham Dragway, but VanHorn considers it foundational. For a grassroots, history-rich facility preparing to welcome the NHRA’s premier series, getting the first 100 feet right isn’t just symbolic, it’s essential.
“With everything else we’re doing,” he said, “this is where it all starts.”
Alongside the starting line, Rockingham Dragway has invested heavily in its trademark left-lane grandstands and long-term safety upgrades.
The original concrete grandstands date back more than 50 years and were in need of major repairs and renovations and received state funding to ensure modern, structurally sound seating for fans while preserving the track’s historic, grassroots feel.
Looking ahead, additional facility improvements are underway. Scoreboards are being moved further from the guardwalls per NHRA safety mandates, while walls themselves are being raised to proper height in some areas and added in areas previously bordered by guardrails. A sand trap and barriers are being added beyond the last turnoff for improved safety, and a new turnoff just past the quarter-mile will provide safe access for emergency crews and aborted runs.
Other planned projects include additional asphalt work in the pits and bathroom renovations, all aimed at bringing Rockingham up to national event standards while keeping its historic character intact.
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