BAYTOWN, Texas — The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is set to make its final appearance at Houston Raceway Park, closing out a long and illustrious history at the track with the NHRA Spring Nationals, running April 22-24.Â
The final NHRA national event in Houston is the fifth race of the season, and it also marks the 35th annual running of the NHRA SpringNationals.Â
The facility is already approaching sell-out status for the weekend, with fans eager to be a part of the final race at a track that has annually been one of the largest sporting events in Southeast Texas.Â
“It looks like our final NHRA race will be one for the record books,” said Seth Angel, Houston Raceway Park’s general manager. “We’ve already sold out of all the full event packages for both the Nitro Club and the Top Eliminator Club and single-day passes for both of those areas are becoming pretty scarce. Tickets in the remainder of the grandstands are selling quickly so we’re recommending any interested fans jump on HoustonRaceway.com as soon as possible to get their tickets. We don’t want anyone to miss out.”
Renowned for its sea-level location and reputation as one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit, Houston Raceway Park hosted its first national event in 1988. It has been home to several memorable moments and record-breaking performances over the years, including the first four-second pass in NHRA history, John Force’s 100th win and many more.
All the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will look to close out the facility with a memorable win.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) were the victors last year in Houston.
Texan Torrence claimed his first win in Houston a year ago, proving he’s had success at every track on the NHRA tour. The four-time defending world champ is after his first victory of the season, but Torrence has been consistent thus far and holds the points lead heading into Houston.
Right behind him is a star-studded list of competitors, including Las Vegas winner and two-time Houston winner Brittany Force, Tony Schumacher and Doug Kalitta, who each have a trio of Houston victories.
Justin Ashley, Mike Salinas, Antron Brown and Clay Millican and 2017 Houston winner Leah Pruett are also top contenders.Â
Nobody has ruled Houston Raceway Park quite like Funny Car’s John Force, who has a NHRA-best of seven wins at the facility. The last came in 2002, which also marked Force’s 100th career win. He’ll try to add an eighth to close out his time in Houston.
It would be the first win of the season for Force, who will face off with a talent-filled class that features Las Vegas winner and defending world champ Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Hight, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd, Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders will try to close out Houston Raceway Park with a win at her hometown track. It’s been a special place for Enders, as the four-time world champ started her illustrious career at the facility. She’ll look for her third Pro Stock win in Houston.
Enders is on a roll coming off her win in Las Vegas, and will race against the likes of points leader and previous Houston winner Aaron Stanfield, defending world champ Greg Anderson, Dallas Glenn, Kyle Koretsky and Mason McGaha.
Pro Stock Motorcycle returns to action in Houston, fresh off a record-breaking performance in Gainesville. Karen Stoffer won there in the season opener, making the quickest run in class history and becoming the first rider to reach the 6.60s.
She’ll look to keep the momentum going in Houston, where she already has a pair of wins, against a marquee lineup that also includes four-time winner Angelle Sampey, Eddie Krawiec, defending world champ Matt Smith, Gainesville runner-up Angie Smith, Joey Gladstone, Jerry Savoie and Steve Johnson.
The event also will include competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which features some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the NHRA Summit Racing Series.Â