Normally we have the crappy duty of reporting on when a drag strip closes, changes ownership, gets in trouble with local government, or runs afoul of their customers…not today. We’re here with happy news and some cool photographic evidence that shows the length and breadth of the work going on at Epping, New Hampshire’s New England Dragway. The facility is preparing for its first ever NHRA National event which has been dubbed the, “UniSelect New England Nationals”. The event is coming June 20-23.

Despite a winter that didn’t release its icy grip until far later than normal and a spring season that has been better suited to hydroplane racing, the crews and contractors have been getting it done in Epping. The NHRA specified several things that needed to be in place for the race to happen in 2013. Paving, replacement of the track safety walls with NHRA specified components, relocation of the scoreboards at the finish line, and a major expansion of spectator parking/other open land, were on the top of the list. Land clearing was in progress last year before the winter and the final work on that front is being done now, paving is the major job that is being completed as we speak and we’re not talking about a driveway project here, this is serious business! The entirety of the staging lanes were cut out, ground up, and ditched as well as a large portion of the area behind the starting line. In the pits, huge swaths…like acres…were graded, leveled, and covered in blacktop. People who have not visited the track in years will be floored when they see the place for the first time (again) during the NHRA event. Also, the element that really must be appreciated is that the track is still running its normal four day a week schedule while all the work is going on!

Interestingly, NHRA allowed a few things to be done in stepped increments, like the addition of a new timing tower. New England Dragway’s old school control tower will stand for at least this year (rumor has it that it may be retained as the media center after the new building is constructed) and the track will be allowed to expand seating capacity in the coming years as well. If our understanding is correct, supplemental bleachers will be brought it to beef up the track’s current capacity which is rumored to be around 10,000.

Because it seems so often we’re blinded by the bad news, here’s some photo evidence of just how cool and substantial the work and investment New England Dragway has committed itself to, is. Turning this track into an NHRA national event facility was the dream of many men over the near 50-year history of the track, but this current group will lay claim to be the ones who actually saw it through.

If you are a hot rodder in New England and you have not been by your local strip in a while, we suggest getting there soon or you’re going to think you showed up to the wrong track!

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE WORK AND IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY IN EPPING, NH!