Santa Ana, CA – It’s never too early to start planning for next season. Heading into the home stretch of the current campaign, the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals series is proud to present its 2025 event schedule, which includes six stops at iconic tracks across the country.

“As one of the longest-running motorsports event series in the world, NMRA’s proud to roll out the schedule for its 27th season,” said Steve Wolcott, Co-Founder of NMRA. “With a foundation of heads-up, index, and street-car racing, NMRA continues to innovate with its action-packed Thrill Festivals that keep the action wide open throughout each event weekend.”

Once again NMRA launches its season at Gainesville Raceway with the legendary Spring Break Shootout in February. Picking back up in April, NMRA joins forces with its sister series at Rockingham Dragway for the All-Star Nationals. NMRA and NMCA team up again in May at World Wide Technology Raceway for the Race For The Rings. NMRA returns in June to Summit Motorsports Park for the Ford Homecoming. As the summer heats up, NMRA and NMCA combine at US 131 Motorsports Park in July at the hugely popular Power Festival. The season wraps up with the Blue Oval event of the year, the NMRA World Finals + Holley Ford Fest, at Beech Bend Raceway in September. Continue reading →

Martin, MI – The TorqStorm Superchargers NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by Nitto Tire & Saturday Thrill Festival promised all-out racing, action, and activities as far as the eye could see, and by all accounts, it delivered.

The event held July 19-21, 2024 at US 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan, saw racers with gumption as well as grace under pressure giving it their all to arrive in the winner’s circle. They have proven, time after time, that they will put in the work that it takes to push to the winner’s circle despite the caliber of competition, and that is inspiring.

It is also appreciated by all of the fans who come to the events, including this one in the Great Lakes State, which also spotlighted Jurassic Attack Monster Truck car crushes, FMX Freestyle Motocross stunt shows, Tom Bailey’s Drag & Drive Invitational, TV personality Clarence Barnes and the Win Free Stuff NMRA/NMCA Fan Experience, UPR Products Car Show and a manufacturers’ midway.

While we are recapping the fifth event on the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals tour, a separate race wrap covers this fourth event on the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals tour. Continue reading →

Norwalk, OH – Months of planning went into preparation for the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming presented by Anderson Composites & Saturday TransTec Thrill Festival, June 7-9, 2024 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Organizers wanted the event to be exciting and evocative for everyone involved, from racers to race fans, and that is why the fourth stop on the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals tour featured drag racing plus the Larsen Motorsports flame-throwing Jet Cars, BIGFOOT Monster Truck Car Crushes, FMX Stunt Shows, the NMRA Fan Experience with giveaways and the UPR Products Car Show.

The well-attended gathering also offered the Circle D Specialties True Street, TREMEC All-Female True Street, BMR Suspension S650 Mustang Stampede, Paul’s High Performance Godzilla Invasion presented by Willis Performance, TREMEC Stick Shift Shootout and Mickey Thompson King of the Street.

“We set the bar high for this event, and we wanted it to have something for everyone to enjoy,” said Steve Wolcott, president and CEO of Holley NMRA Ford Nationals. “We were thrilled to see racers and race fans having a great time, whether they have been to our events before or were attending for the first time. There really was a family-style festival feel to the event, and we appreciate people of all ages coming out to join us.” Continue reading →

Rockingham, NC – Despite the challenges of rain early in the event schedule, the sun shined on the racetrack when it counted and the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals series campaign powered on at Rockingham Dragway with the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Presented by Sipple’s Speed & Performance and Top of the Rock Thrill Festival Presented by Innovation Performance Technologies, which delivered fast Fords and plenty of fun for all those in attendance.

“NMRA is celebrating Mustang’s 60th birthday all season long, but with our second event rolling into Rockingham just days before its birthday, a celebration was in order,” Steve Wolcott, President and CEO of NMRA, said. “We felt the power of Ford’s pony car throughout the weekend, and it was rewarding seeing so many smiling fans in the stands.”

NMRA celebrated the Mustang’s 60th birthday with special Mustang Day celebrations both on and off the racetrack, as the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show offered a Mustang-only grouping and the huge Circle D Specialties True Street class included a Mustang Day classification as well. Continue reading →

Norwalk, OH – Ford surprised and delighted the automotive world by creating an all-new pushrod engine for its Super Duty trucks. Known as the Godzilla 7.3-liter V8, this powerplant stampeded into popularity as a performance engine swap. Celebrating and cultivating this growing scene, NMRA is hosting the inaugural Paul’s High Performance Godzilla Invasion presented by Willis Performance during the Mickey Thompson NMRA Ford Homecoming at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, from June 6-9.

The centerpiece of this special celebration is the first ever drag racing class dedicated to Godzilla-powered vehicles. Run on bracket race format, the Godzilla Invasion class is open to vehicles powered by factory-installed or swapped 7.3-liter engines, non-Ford vehicles with Godzilla swapped engines are permitted and encouraged! The class champion will invade NMRA’s Winner’s Circle on Saturday to collect an NMRA Victor award, cash and prizes.

In addition to drag racing action, the Godzilla Invasion also includes a car show for Godzilla-powered machines with all sorts of special awards. Godzilla projects welcome as well! Friday heats up with the Willis Performance Godzilla Happy Hour complete with cold beer, Godzilla performance parts give-aways, and access to manufacturers showcasing their wares.

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Gainesville, FL – The 30th Annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout and Saturday Thrill Festival was an extraordinary extravaganza with excitement in every corner from February 22-25, 2024 at Gainesville Raceway in Florida. The Holley NMRA Ford Nationals event attracted record-breaking attendance and offered outstanding action for all ages. Setting it in motion was a Cars, Coffee, and Cruise at National Parts Depot, and it spooled up with the CJ Pony Parts Ford Drift Invitational, RTR Pro Drifters Vaughn Gittin Jr., and Chelsea DeNofa, the world’s largest BIGFOOT monster truck, Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragsters, FMX Freestyle Motocross stunts, TV personality and DJ Clarence Barnes, UPR Products All-Ford Car Show and more.

This was the first time the historic Gainesville Raceway hosted an NMRA event at its big and beautiful facility. It served as a perfect setting for the drag racing, festival, and the start of a season-long celebration of 60 years of the Mustang.

“Our whole team was enthusiastic coming into this event at Gainesville Raceway. When we saw how excited our racers and race fans were, too, it just added to the adrenaline and set the tone for the weekend,” said Steve Wolcott, president and CEO of NMRA and NMCA. “The fan experience was exceptional, and there was so much for them to see and do. It was a great show, and we look forward to building upon this.”

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Santa Ana, CA – Hot on the heels of its successful 25th Anniversary season, the NMRA Ford Nationals series is slated for another exciting run of events in 2024, which kicks off at a historic new track and runs through to its storied World Finals. Along the way, NMRA plans a host of special features celebrating the 60th birthday of the Ford Mustang.

“This year we celebrated a major milestone for NMRA, but just like our racers, we aren’t ready to slow down or rest on our laurels,” said Steve Wolcott, President and CEO of NMRA. “We couldn’t be more excited to launch the 2024 season at legendary Gainesville Raceway and keep our pedal to the floor until the Ford event of the year in Bowling Green.”

The NMRA Ford Nationals kicks off at historic Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, in late February with the storied NMRA Spring Break Shootout, which is one of three standalone events highlighting Mustang’s 60th birthday. The following month, NMRA racers join forces with their NMCA counterparts in mid-April at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, North Carolina, for the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals. In early May, NMRA rejoins NMCA for the Race for the Rings at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. Returning to Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, in early June, the NMRA Ford Homecoming will emphasize Mustang’s milestone with special features and celebrities. In mid-July, NMRA and NMCA turn up the heat at the NMRA/NMCA Power Festival held at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan. As is tradition, NMRA will close out its season in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at Beech Bend Raceway with the epic NMRA World Finals + Intergalactic Ford Festival.

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Bowling Green, KY – Overcoming a drenched start, the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals Series’ 25th Anniversary season came to a rousing conclusion at scenic Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, during the Whipple Superchargers NMRA World Finals + Holley Intergalactic Ford Festival. Season champions and individual race winners were crowned in a multitude of classes as the six-race season ended on a high note.

The headlining VP Racing Madditives Renegade class featured a heated championship battle between title contenders Terry Wilson and Martin Connelley who traded punches until the semifinals where Connelley of Salyersville, Kentucky, prevailed. To win the title, Connelley still needed to win the final, which he did with a 4.64 after opponent Keith Cioborowski spun the tires in his ’14 Mustang. Connelley provisionally won the championship by a scant 35 points over Wilson.

Samantha Moore of Brighton, Michigan, long ago locked up the final championship in Whatever It Takes Transmission Parts Limited Street but went out early via a surprising red-light start. That opened the door for Stacy Roby of St. Marys, Ohio, to win the race. Roby wheeled his 2014 Mustang to a 9.65 to best the quicker 9.37 of Jay Misener of Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

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Martin, MI – The 2023 NMRA Holley Drag Racing Series entered the homestretch with the successful completion of the TorqStorm Billet Superchargers NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by Paul’s High Performance at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Mich. The event was highlighted by huge fields and intense points battles with numerous championships on the line. The NMRA series has now completed five of six scheduled events this season.

In addition to the on-track action, the event featured something for everyone including the UPR Products Car Show, and an appearance by BIGFOOT, the original 4×4 monster truck.

Martin Connelley, and Terry Wilson the top two drivers in the popular VP Racing Madditives Renegade class, met to decide the title and the two veterans put on a show with a great side-by-side race. Connolly was nearly perfect off the starting line and drove to a 4.450 at 155.71 mph on the eighth-mile track to barely edge Wilson, who was slightly quicker with a 4.537 at 155.33 mph. Since the Martin event is a combo race featuring drivers from both the NMRA and NMCA Series, the Renegade class is combined with Xtreme Street, with 26 cars appearing for the first round of eliminations. Connelley was extremely consistent throughout eliminations with five runs between 4.608 and 4.540 during eliminations.

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