ROCKINGHAM —The National Hot Rod Association will be welcomed to Richmond County in September with a free downtown street event, NitroFest, ahead of the high-octane races at the Rock.
NitroFest is a collaboration between the city of Rockingham, Richmond County Tourism Development Authority, Rockingham Dragway and the NHRA, scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Sept. 24 in Harrington Square.
Late last year, the NHRA announced that it would be hosting NHRA Nationals at the Rock, the second of six races in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs and part of the sanctioning body’s 75th anniversary celebration.
Rockingham Dragway previously hosted the Winston Invitational from 1989-1998, and returned as a member track in 2015 as the site of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Divisionals. However, this will be the first-ever points event at the legendary quarter-mile dragstrip.
The three-day event, slated for Sept. 25-27, will feature action in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes, as well as racing in the Lucas Oil series and the NHRA’s Pro Mod series.
According to a press release issued Tuesday evening, NHRA Nationals at the Rock “is expected to attract thousands of competitors, crew members and fans from across the country, generating a significant economic impact for Richmond County while showcasing the area's hospitality, attractions and vibrant downtown.”
NHRA drivers Ron Capps and Maddi Gordon visited the track during a media tour in March.
Capps, a three-time Funny Car champ, is currently the points leader in that class.
Gordon, a third-generation racer, is fourth in the Top Fuel class, behind Leah Pruitt (3), Doug Kalitta (2) and Shawn Langdon (1).
Mooresville’s Dallas Glenn leads the Pro Stock class, with Charlotte-based driver Matt Latino — who made an appearance at ThunderFest in April — sitting at sixth; and Richard Gadson holds the top spot in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
Colt Ford is scheduled to headline NitroFest in downtown Rockingham on Sept. 24.
Contributed photo
Like ThunderFest — which has celebrated the return of NASCAR to Rockingham Speedway the past two years — NitroFest will feature autographs and a meet-and-greet with NHRA drivers and a concert headlined by country music performer Colt Ford.
Ford, a professional golfer-turned-songwriter, has released multiple albums in the past 18 years, starting with his debut “Ride Through the Country” in 2008 featuring “Dirt Road Anthem” — which he later re-recorded with Brantley Gilbert.
NitroFest will also feature a variety of “family friendly activities and interactive experiences celebrating the return of nitro-powered racing to the Rock,” including:
“Admission is free, making NitroFest the perfect opportunity for families, race fans and visitors to experience the excitement of NHRA while enjoying an evening of entertainment, food and community fellowship in the heart of downtown Rockingham,” reads a press release.
“Whether you're a lifelong drag racing enthusiast or experiencing NHRA for the first time, NitroFest offers something for everyone.”
