The road to Summit Pro-Am championship goes through 'The Rock'

Every sport has its hallowed ground, its legendary venue that stands alone above the rest.

From Augusta National to Churchill Downs to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning at any of these venues often times stands above championships and trophies won at other events. And these “premier events” typically earn that reputation thanks to years of incredible competition and an ability to last.

For drag racing, more specifically IHRA championship drag racing, that venue is Rockingham Dragway.

Rockingham, or “The Rock” as it has become known, has withstood the test of time with over 40 years of professional and semi-professional drag racing under three different sanctioning bodies. With legends such as Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudhomme, Don Schumacher, John Force, Connie Kalitta, Bob Glidden, Lee Shepherd, Wayne Gapp, Ronnie Sox and more making passes on the North Carolina quarter-mile over the years it is easy to see why drivers come from all over the country to compete at national and Pro-Am events at the Rockingham strip.

And this weekend will be no different as the Summit Pro-Am Tour invades Rockingham Dragway this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the second race of the Division 9 season.

“Rockingham Dragway has a unique tradition as the track has hosted national events for 40 years. We are one of the very few tracks that have flown the flag of every major drag racing sanctioning body. In fact, we were the second national track ever sanctioned by the IHRA,” said Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood. “I think the tradition is an appeal to all drivers who compete here. This place truly is drag racings Augusta National or Churchill Downs.

“An Ironman from Rockingham Dragway is justly one of our sports most coveted awards.”

Drivers will have an opportunity to take home one of those coveted Ironman trophies this weekend during the second points meet of the year in the Raiders Division at one of the biggest Summit Pro-Ams of the season.

“This is one of our favorite events of the year. My drag racing background is rooted in the sportsman ranks as I assisted my brother Terry a very long time ago when we raced Super Stock,” Earwood said. “He won national events here in 1973 and 1976 so sportsman racing here, particularly Super Stock racing, gives me a lot to look forward to.”

Super Stock will be one of seven IHRA sportsman categories on hand this weekend at “The Rock” plus a full lineup of Junior Dragster competition. And for anyone looking for proof as to what it means to win at Rockingham Dragway, just look at some of the sportsman competitors who have taken home Ironman hardware from the track.

Drivers such as Brett and Brad Nesbitt have had a great history at the track winning together in Top Dragster and Super Rod in 2008 and 2007. Steve Furr has won an unparalleled five straight Summit Pro-Ams at “The Rock” while Steve Corker and Greg Slack have won this event multiple times.

One of the legends at the track, the late Jim Harrington, won at Rockingham eight times including Pro-Am and national events.

“There is no better drag racing than the IHRA. When you get these cars away from the nitro burners they offer as much excitement as anything in racing,” Earwood said.

Already two races into the season the battle for the Raiders championship will only heat up at this weekend's event. Gates will open at 10 a.m. on Friday with a Test N Tune scheduled for Pro-Am racers beginning at noon until 7 p.m. IHRA tech will open at noon and close at 9 p.m.

Saturday the gates and tech will open at 8 a.m. followed by two time trials/qualifying sessions beginning at 9 a.m. On Sunday gates and tech will once again open at 8 a.m. followed immediately by eliminations at 10 a.m.

“We offer a safe track and we are proud of our track preparation that our crews provide. We realize these folks come to race so we offer a full day of testing on Friday and then a gamblers race on Saturday after the completion of time trials and qualifying,” Earwood said. “For the racer who wants to race we offer three days of track time. This is our first major event of the season and this weekend will set the tone for the rest of the year.”

On top of a full weekend of racing the track will also welcome Christian Country Music Association Comedian of the Year Barry McGee who will entertain the racers and fans Friday evening.

“This year, thanks to Renee and Gary Bingham of God Speed Ministries, we will have Barry McGee doing a show for our racers Friday after the test session. Barry offers family entertainment and he is hilarious,” Earwood said. “It should be a great show.”

A little over a month following this weekend’s Summit Pro-Am the IHRA will be back in Rockingham for its third national event of the year the Spring Nitro Jam which will combine the incredible sportsman racing scene with multiple professional racing classes.

Don’t miss out on the fun and a chance to be a part of one of motorsports most prestigious events this weekend at Rockingham Dragway.