A New National Event Will Join the National Hot Rod Association Schedule in 2025 – Where Will It Be - Weighing the Options
As part of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) broadcast on FS1 Sunday evening, the announcement was made that the NHRA will work to develop a new national event for the 2025 season.
The NHRA held 22 national events in 2022; last season it fell to 21. In 2024, it will be down to 20 national events, but not all hope should be lost yet.
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Even though the NHRA didn’t specifically name the track or area that is slated to possibly get the event, the odds would lean towards the new Flying H Dragstrip in Odessa, Missouri that is scheduled to open its gates for the first time on April 11th, 2024.
The track has already garnered a lot of attention, since Kansas City International Raceway (KCIR) closed their gates about twelve years ago, and the recent announcement that the Mid-West Drag Racing Series will host a $150,000 to win Pro Mod race at Flying H in September this year.
But drag racing is always open to speculation and rumors, and with that comes other track suggestions for a chance to host a national event on the NHRA trail.
Based on the success at Bradenton Motorsports Park (BMP) for the recent PRO Superstar Shootout in February, as well as the World Series Of Pro Mod just a few weeks ago, more than just a few people believe Florida deserves a chance to have two national events at two different tracks.
The BMP facility has hosted a national event for the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) in the past, and has since make big improvements to host the aforementioned events earlier this year.
Another facility that has been mentioned is South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP), and with the transfer in ownership recently, the facility has taken on a lot of changes.
SGMP hosts the two highly successful Lights Out and No Mercy drag radial-themed events, as well as several specialty events and a NHRA divisional race in April. Georgia residents have been yearning for an event since Atlanta Dragway was closed following the 2021 season.
There is also hope for the replacement track to Bandimere Speedway to get construction underway, so Colorado might see a nation event once again (see our article about the track here), but nothing new has been heard about the next step in that process.
The other suggestion is running a second event at an already successful facility. With the closure of Houston Raceway Park, more than a few have suggested that Texas Motorplex could host a second event, similar to Las Vegas and Charlotte.
Personally, I agree with the oddsmakers and feel it’s just a matter of time until Flying H gets the official nod. But some of the alternatives are interesting to consider as well.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Motion Raceworks, Flying H Dragstrip, Bradenton Motorsports Park and Sick the Magazine.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com