The world’s premier eighth-mile organization proudly announces its 2018 schedule. For four years the Professional Drag Racers Association has worked with some of the nation’s top facilities to produce successful events and build a solid reputation of incredible racing, a family-friendly atmosphere and fan and sponsor-centric programming. One of the series’ main focuses is continual improvement. The staff and owners’ forward-thinking mentality has kept the series on an upward swing. Now going into the fifth season, the PDRA is ready to have its best year yet.
On Tuesday evening, during the series’ weekly Facebook series, ‘Live with Lee’, they revealed the 2018 schedule. Just as in 2017, the tour consists of eight stops, beginning in April and ending in October. The series travels up and down the east coast and into the mid-west, with many familiar stops including GALOT Motorsports Park and Virginia Motorsports Park, each with two events. The PDRA East Coast Nationals at GALOT Motorsports Park will be the season opener in 2018, held April 5-7. The track’s second event will be in its familiar slot, September 6-8 with the PDRA Drag Wars. Maryland International Raceway will again be home to the PDRA North-South Shootout, although on a new date, May 3-5. The PDRA Summer Drags comes next on the tour, held May 31-June 2 at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan. Finishing out the first half of the 2018 tour, Virginia Motorsports Park will see its first of two events with the PDRA Firecracker Nationals, June 28-30.
National Trail Raceway is the only new facility on the 2018 tour, beginning the second half of the season with the Super Strip Nationals, July 19-21. After the Drag Wars at the beginning of September, Darlington Dragway will enjoy its new date with the PDRA Fall Nationals, September 27-29. Building on the series’ tradition, the 2018 PDRA World Champions will be crowned at the PDRA World Finals at Virginia Motorsports Park, October 18-20.
“We’re very excited about our 2018 schedule,” stated PDRA’s Bob Harris. “We have several events that will build upon the traditions we’ve established and allow fans to continue gaining trust in our brand. We’re also looking forward to our new stop at National Trail Raceway. That area has a strong racer base. The track has a lot of great history. We put a great deal of thought and preparation into the entire schedule, making it one that our sponsors, racers and fans can be proud of and enjoy.”
2018 PDRA Schedule
East Coast Spring Nationals — GALOT Motorsports Park — Benson, NC — April 5-7
North-South Shootout — Maryland Int’l. Raceway — Budds Creek, MD — May 3-5
Summer Drags — U.S. 131 Motorsports Park — Martin, MI — May 31-June 2
Firecracker Nationals — Virginia Motorsports Park — Petersburg, VA — June 28-30
Super Strip Nationals — National Trail Raceway — Hebron, OH — July 19-21
Drag Wars — GALOT Motorsports Park — Benson, NC — Sept. 6-8
Fall Nationals — Darlington Dragway — Hartsville, SC — Sept. 27-29
World Finals — Virginia Motorsports Park — Petersburg, VA — Oct. 18-20
This story was originally published on August 29, 2017. 
