When the topic of Pomona Raceway, the rumor mill has been working overtime.
News of the Los Angeles County Fairplex’s intention to upgrade the 487-acre facility in Pomona, California, which includes the NHRA-approved Auto Club Raceway, sparked rumors, and even one or two published reports, that it was time to cancel the historic track in Pomona.
Over the weekend at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis, series officials poured cold water on the rumors. On Monday, the series was true to its word, as Pomona retained two spots in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
The NHRA has held the Winternationals event in Pomona since 1961.
The 21-race schedule for 2023 includes race weekends at Pomona, March 30-April 2, and again for the NHRA Finals November 9-12.
Pomona, however, falls from first place on the calendar. That honor goes to Gainesville from March 9-12. The NHRA then travels to Phoenix two weeks later, and then it’s Pomona’s turn.
Off the schedule for next season are Houston Raceway Park, which will close this year, and Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddle.
The Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Callout races will be held in Gainesville and Indianapolis.
The NHRA previously released the dates for the first four events of the 2023 season, including the opener, the 54th Annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway March 9-12. The series also returns to Route 66 Raceway outside Chicago for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance May 19-21.
“We are delighted to release our full schedule for the 2023 season, which will bring incredible racing action to tracks across the country,” said NHRA President Glen Cromwell. “We are proud of everyone involved who worked so hard to get Route 66 Raceway back on our schedule. Starting with what will be an amazing start in Gainesville, there are plenty of exciting times to look forward to next year. We are grateful to our fans, race teams, track partners and sponsors who helped put the 2023 plan into motion.”
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Schedule
March 9-12: 54th Annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Florida. The race will also include the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout.
March 24-26: NHRA’s 38th Annual Arizona Nationals, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Phoenix
March 30 to April 2: 63rd Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com, Pomona Raceway, Pomona, California.
April 14-16: 23rd Annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas
April 28-30: 13th Annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Charlotte
May 19-21: 23rd Annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals Presented by PEAK Performance, Route 66 Raceway, Chicago
June 2-4: 10th Annual NHRA New England Nationals, New England Dragway, Epping, NH
June 9-11: 22nd Annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee.
June 22-25: 17th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
July 14-16: 43rd Annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals, Bandimere Speedway, Denver
July 21-23: 34th Annual Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals, Pacific Raceways, Seattle
July 28-30: 35th Annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California.
August 11-13: 34th Annual Menards NHRA Nationals Presented by PetArmor, Heartland Motorsports Park, Topeka, Kan.
August 17-20: 41st Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota.
August 30-September 4: 69th Annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA US Nationals, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis. The race will also include the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Call.
COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
September 14-17: 38th Annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pennsylvania.
September 22-24: 15th Annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Charlotte.
September 29-October 1: 12th Annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis
October 12-15: 38th Annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, Texas Motorplex, Dallas
October 26-29: 23rd Annual NHRA Nevada Nationals, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas
November 9-12: 58th Annual NHRA Finals, Pomona Raceway, Pomona, California.