GLENDORA, Calif. (May 9, 2012) -- NHRA announced today Thunder Road Raceway Park in Louisiana and Florida’s Showtime Dragstrip as the newest additions to the NHRA Member Track network. Thunder Road will be a part of the NHRA South Central Division and Showtime will join the NHRA Southeast Division.
“It is a pleasure to have these two facilities come on board as part of the NHRA Member Track network,” said Josh Peterson, NHRA vice president, racing administration. "Tim Pafford at Thunder Road Raceway Park is a true supporter of NHRA Drag Racing and we also look forward to working with Robert Yoho and his staff at Showtime Dragway. We have a large number of racers in both of these areas and are thankful to these tracks for electing to offer NHRA Drag Racing.”
As NHRA sanctioned tracks, the two facilities will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. Additionally, the tracks have the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events including the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge.
“I’ve raced with NHRA all my life and have managed an NHRA track for 19 years (U.S. 19 Dragway). We’re so excited to be a part of NHRA,” said Pafford, Thunder Road Raceway Park General Manager. “There is so much potential for this facility and we believe in selling ‘fun.’”
Thunder Road Raceway Park is located in the northwest corner of Louisiana in the town of Gilliam and close to the Texas and Arkansas border.
“We’re looking to make some changes to the facility and to bring families back out to the track, and motorsports back to the community,” said Yoho of Showtime Dragstrip.” I’ve been involved in motorsports, and around this facility, since the ’70s and can’t wait to get things moving and get cars back out on the track.”
Showtime Dragstrip, formerly known as Sunshine Dragstrip, is located in Clearwater, Fla., which is near the Tampa/St. Petersburg metropolitan area.