Virginia NHRA Nationals
Visit the Virginia NHRA Nationals to see who takes home the Wally Trophy. Watch it all from your RV at the trackside campground with front row seats.
Event information
If you enjoy drag racing and like soaking up the sun, you’ll want to experience the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Dinwiddie, Virginia. More than 100 drivers will flock to the track to compete for the Wally Trophy, breaking the 330-mile per hour mark in most cases. Surrounded by 23,000 fans in the seats along the dragstrip, the racers will burn rubber on the quarter-mile track.
Top honors in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Super Stock, Top Dragster, and many more will be decided on Sunday after a weekend of revving motors and screaming fans. During your weekend fun, you can enjoy RV camping trackside where you can watch the race from your rig or choose a VIP Hospitality Tower package. You can also add a Nitro Zone VIP Experience that lets you beat the lines and escape the crowds with catered meals and exclusive meet and greets.
But don’t worry. Even if you don’t get to do the Nitro Zone, every ticket is a pit pass at the NHRA Nationals so you can visit the pits and watch the drivers prepare for the race. Kids under 12 get in for free with a paid adult. Don’t forget to visit Manufacturers Midway and Nitro Alley to check out the merchandise, interactive displays, and great food.
Tickets
There are several ticket packages you can choose from for the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. From single general admission tickets for about $50 to the full package with trackside camping for around $1,200. Each ticket is a pit pass, so you don’t have to pay extra to get the extras. In past years, kids under 12 have been allowed free entry.
Explore Virginia NHRA Nationals RV Rentals
Transportation
Driving
Only a half-hour from Richmond in the middle of the state, Virginia Motorsports Park is easy to find right off I-85 from the 1-95 corridor. From the south, you can look to take exit 53 and from the north, take exit 63A. If you are coming from the east, watch out for the Hampton Road Bridge Tunnel on US-60/I-64. The clearance is only 13 feet, three inches high, which is too low for many RVs.
Parking areas
You don’t have to worry about parking your rig at all if you are camping at the Virginia Motorsports Park. In fact, you can just sit at your RV and watch the races trackside if you are lucky enough to get one of the front two rows. If you are coming from elsewhere, the park has tons of free parking available for spectators. ADA parking is available at the Main Office Parking Lot.
Public Transportation
Dinwiddie County has a few options for you as far as public transportation goes. The Dinwiddie Express runs during the week and will take you to the track from anywhere in the county. The Dinwiddie Express can be combined with a Greyhound bus to get you further into downtown if that is your target. Of course, there are always mobile apps or taxi services, as well.
Where to stay
Onsite
Virginia Motorsports Park provides 130 motorhome and RV spaces located on the north side of the drag strip. The first row has 39 spots with 50-amp electric and water hookups, and the second row has 39 spots with 30-amp electric and water hookups. The remaining 52 sites do not have any hookups. Open fires are not allowed, but you can use a BBQ pit or camp stove.
Nearby
If you cannot stay at the track, there is a campground right across the street with over 200 large pull-through sites with electric, free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, fishing, boating, playgrounds, and much more. You’ll find another half-dozen campgrounds within 20 miles of the track as well with varying amenities from glamping to primitive.
Getting around
Guests are allowed to use wheeled and powered vehicles such as golf carts, scooters, pit bikes, carts, bikes, and skates. However, you must be at least 16 years old, and you cannot ride in front of or near the car show area, grandstand, or the Hot Rod Grill. When heading to your seats for the race, it is best to leave your rides locked up at the campsite. Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome.
What to pack
Clothing
Summer attire for the daytime and maybe a light jacket at night is what most people are wearing at the Virginia NHRA Nationals. The high temps can get into the 90s while the lows may dip down into the 50s. Bring a hat to protect your head from the sun and comfy shoes for walking, too.
Gear
All race venues are different, and this one is more lenient than most. At least when it comes to bringing in the beverages. You are allowed to bring a 12-inch cooler, and yes, you can fill it with beer. No glass bottles, though. You can also bring water, food, and other yummies as long as they fit in the cooler. Oh yeah, you can also bring a backpack, so go ahead and put some stuff in there, too. Just don’t bring any weapons, fireworks, or any other no-no’s because they will be checked.
Health & Safety
Be sure to pack your sunglasses and sunscreen to protect your eyes and skin from the golden rays because it's often bright and sunny in Virginia in late May. You’ll also need the bug spray to repel those little Virginia critters that come out after dark. It's always a good idea to have a first aid kit with you whenever you go anywhere.
Where to eat
Cooking
If you get a spot in one of the first two rows, you can cook inside the RV from your own stove. Or use a BBQ pit or camp stove and cook outdoors while you enjoy the sunshine and warm weather. Of course, if you are staying at a different campground, you may have different accommodations, so make sure you bring whatever you may need, or you’ll find yourself heading to the local grocery store.
Restaurants
Take the family out to dinner in downtown Dinwiddie while you are visiting the Virginia NHRA Nationals. Just a few miles from the track, you can find quite a few nice restaurants serving all kinds of food from BBQ to burritos, tacos to turkey legs, and cod to corndogs. Pizza, fried chicken, café food, and Asian cuisine are also available within a 20-minute drive.
Vendors
The Hot Rod Grill serves some excellent food and drinks all weekend long. Locate the grill as well as other vendors behind the grandstands to the west of the track. Be prepared to be wowed by the delicious burgers, nachos, hot dogs, and other hot foods, as well as plenty of cold beverages like beer and soft drinks.
Safety
Security
Virginia Motorsports Park takes the security of its visitors seriously and provides excellent security all over the park. This includes 24-hour security service at the campgrounds. No fighting, weapons, or drugs are allowed, and violators will be asked to leave. Check the rules and regulations online for a complete list of what you can and cannot do at the races.
Weather
May is an excellent time to be in Dinwiddie for the Virginia NHRA Nationals. The average high temps in late May range from the low 80s to low 90s, often with plenty of sun. The low temperatures can reach mid to low 50s but are typically about 57 to 60 degrees. However, it is best to check the weather forecast before packing and heading to Virginia.
Medical
There are several medical facilities within a 10-mile radius of the track. The closest one is 5.6 miles away down Boydton Plank Road, which turns into US-1. In addition, the park has an emergency medical staff complete with a nurse and paramedics. If you need medical assistance, contact one of the staff, or call 911.
