Andrew Giermak

NHRA drag racing is returning to Virginia Motorsports Park this weekend after a five-year absence.

The NHRA Xplod Compact Racing Series is making its second of 11 nationwide stops in Dinwiddie Saturday and Sunday where drivers will be taking on a renovated track in hopes of shattering national records and working toward the year-end NHRA Sport Compact World Finals in Pomona, California in October.

By the time the series winds up at Pomona, $2.5 million in purse money will have been won.

Returning Modified NHRA world champion Justin Humphreys said, &uot;I love the track.

As a matter-of-fact, the time I raced here I won.

It s top-notch and has been shut down for awhile to improve it.&uot;

Springfield, Va. native, Norris Prayoonto, who finished last season with two runner-up finished in the Honda Tuning All Motor category, said, &uot;I want to finish number one or two in the points at the end of this year,&uot; said Prayoonto.

&uot;I look forward to racing in Virginia.

It’s a good track, and I have a lot of friends and fans who come out to watch me race.&uot;

In addition to five championship classes, four heads-up sportsman classes and two E.T. brackets, which make up the quickest side-by-side sport compact racing in the world, NHRA fans will also be able to participate in activities in the pits and around the Park.

The NHRA Xplod Stylefest will be open on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then televised on ESPN2 on May 14 and May 18, gives fans a first-hand look at the NHRA Tuner Car Show, Q Power NHRA Dyno Challenge and the NHRA Sound Challenge.

The action on the track will be televised on ESPN2 on May 7 and then again on May 18, along with a review of the event at the Virginia Motorsports Park on ESPN2’s Inside Drag Racing on May 14.

Virginia Motorsports Park is located off of I-85 (Exit 53 from I-85 N and Exit 63A from I-85 S) just south of Richmond in Dinwiddie.

One-day tickets are $20 adult, $10 child (6-13) and free for kids under six.

Two-day tickets for $30 adult are available.

For more ticket information, call (804) 862-3174 or go to www.virginiamotorsportspk.com.