On May 29-31, 2026, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will visit the state of Maryland for the first time at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals. In advance of the landmark event, Maryland Int’l Raceway has been a beehive of activity this winter, as crews have worked tirelessly this winter to provide infrastructure upgrades to the facility, that was first opened in 1966, and has since earned a reputation as one of the finest dragstrips in the Eastern U.S.
Perhaps the biggest project currently in progress is the construction of new retaining walls on both sides of the dragstrip as well as the construction of a new sand trap at the end of the shutdown area. Two weeks into the new year, crews are working daily to pour concrete from the starting line to the sand trap.
“Right now, all of the walls are being replaced. We’ve got an existing wall that goes for 125 feet, and the new wall will go to the end of the track, so that’s nearly 3,000 feet on both sides of the track,” said track operator Royce Miller. “The company we’re working with, Paul Rach Construction, has been outstanding. They’ve been working rain or shine. As long as temperature is warm enough to safely pour concrete, they’ve got trucks on the property.
“Yesterday, [Jan. 14] we did almost 1,000 feet of new wall, and I’m really pleased. We poured concrete until 7 p.m. last night, and by the time they finished edging, it was after 9 p.m. They were back on the job by 7:30 this morning. Larry Crispe is helping us with technical support. It’s a big project, but it’s going well.”…