Thunder Road Raceway Park in Gilliam, La., and Showtime Dragstrip in Clearwater, Fla., are the newest additions to the NHRA Member Track network. Thunder Road will be a part of the NHRA South Central Division and Showtime a part of the NHRA Southeast Division.

“It is a pleasure to have these two facilities come onboard as part of the NHRA Member Track network,” said Josh Peterson, NHRA vice president-racing administration. “Tim Pafford is a true supporter of NHRA Drag Racing, and we look forward to working with Robert Yoho and his staff at Showtime Dragway [formerly Sunshine Dragstrip]. We have a large number of racers in both of these areas and are thankful to these tracks for continuing to offer NHRA Drag Racing to them.”

As NHRA-sanctioned tracks, the two facilities will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the Jr. Drag Racing League, and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA program. Additionally, the tracks have the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events, including the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge.

“I’ve raced with NHRA all my life and have managed an NHRA track for 19 years [U.S. 19 Dragway]. We’re so excited to be a part of NHRA,” said Thunder Road Raceway Park General Manager Pafford. “There is so much potential for this facility, and we believe in selling fun.” Thunder Road Raceway Park is in the northwest corner of Louisiana and close to the Texas and Arkansas borders.

“We’re looking to make some changes to the facility and to bring families back out to the track and motorsports back to the community,” said Yoho, of Showtime Dragstrip. "I’ve been involved in motorsports and around this facility since the ‘70s and can’t wait to get things moving and get cars back out on the track.” Showtime Dragstrip is near the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., metropolitan area.