The 2025 competition is coming to
four prestigious Mid-Atlantic
racetracks: Budds Creek, MD –
Numidia, PA - Reading, PA – Rising
Sun, MD

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 23, 2025) — The
race to determine the title of
“Fastest Street Car in America”
returns as HOT ROD Drag Week 2025
prepares to race through four cities
Sunday, Sept. 14 through Friday,
Sept. 19. The 2025 HOT ROD Drag Week
will be hosted at the Maryland
International Raceway and will also
hit Numedia Dragway in Numedia, PA,
Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, PA,
and Cecil County Dragway in Rising
Sun, MD. Registration for this
highly-anticipated annual event
opens on Saturday, February 22nd at
9 am EST.
The world’s toughest competition to
find the ultimate street-legal drag
car, HOT ROD Drag Week puts
competitors through a grueling test
over five days of action-packed drag
racing, requiring racers to drive
their vehicles on a specified route
from city to city, approximately
1,000 miles, while securing the
quickest possible elapsed time
across the five days. During the
competition, drivers provide
photographic evidence to prove they
have followed the required route.
Some of the nation’s top racers
participate in Drag Week each year,
and it's not uncommon for
competitors to band together to help
each other get through the week.
“HOT ROD Drag Week continues to get
bigger, faster, and louder every
year, ” said Mike Galimi, HOT ROD
network director. “On the heels of a
wildly successful 2024 tour we are
so excited to head to the East Coast
for our five-day torture test.”
HOT ROD DRAG WEEK 2025 SCHEDULE
(Daily end times as stated or until
complete)
● Tech Inspection, Registration,
Test ‘N’ Tune – Sunday, Sept. 14
Maryland International Raceway (Budds
Creek, Maryland) 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
local time for registration, tech
inspection, and test ’n’ tune (tech
open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., test ‘n’
tune begins at 12 p.m.)
●
Day 1 Racing – Monday, Sept. 15
Maryland International Raceway (Budds
Creek, Maryland)
●
Day 2 Racing – Tuesday, Sept. 16
Numedia Dragway (Numedia,
Pennsylvania)
●
Day 3 Racing – Wednesday, Sept. 17
Maple Grove Raceway (Reading,
Pennsylvania)
●
Day 4 Racing – Thursday, Sept. 18
Cecil County Dragway (Rising Sun,
Maryland)
● Day 5 Racing (Finals) – Friday,
Sept. 19 Maryland International
Raceway (Budds Creek, Maryland)
DRAG PACK TICKET PROGRAM
Drag Week super fans can purchase a
Drag Pack ticket that includes entry
for one car, one driver, and one
passenger for all HOT ROD Drag Week
venues (Monday, Sept. 15 through
Friday, Sept. 19). Drag Pack ticket
holders will get to park in the pits
or premier areas, have suite access
and lunch at one venue (TBD) during
the week, and receive one gift item
per vehicle. *Children 12 and under
can enter with their families for
free.
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Spectator tickets will be available
at each track ($20). Children 12 and
under are free with a paid adult.
CONNECT
Follow HOT ROD Drag Week 2025 on X,
Facebook, and Instagram using #hotroddragweek.
For those who can’t make it in
person, the 5-day event will be
livestreamed on MotorTrend’s YouTube
Channel and at motortrend.com/events/hot-rod-drag-week.
Learn more about Drag Week™ at
motortrend.com/events/hot-rod-drag-week.
###
About HOT ROD
HOT ROD has been the most recognized
brand in the world of
high-performance cars since the
iconic American magazine was founded
in 1948. Today, the authoritative
HOT ROD media footprint includes the
HOT ROD Network, consisting of
digital, print, and social media. It
also offers live events with
market-leading HOT ROD Power Tour,
HOT ROD Power Tour West, and HOT ROD
Drag Week experiences. The world
leader, HOT ROD brings readers
content that simply cannot be seen
anywhere else–the most amazing cars,
the first scoop relating to
happenings and product offerings in
the world of performance.
About Motortrend Group
MotorTrend Group, which was recently
acquired by Hearst Magazines, is
dedicated to introducing, inspiring
and intensifying people’s passions
for the motoring world. Comprised of
iconic brands including MOTORTREND,
HOT ROD, ROADKILL, and more,
MotorTrend Group entertains and
informs both auto enthusiasts and
car shoppers, with a monthly
audience over 30 million including
two million premium members in
addition to over 70 million social
followers. Featuring world-class
automotive entertainment across
iconic events, the largest
automotive social network, over
seven decades of print and digital
editorial content and cutting-edge
resources for new car shoppers,
MotorTrend embodies every corner of
car culture. From electric vehicles
to timeless classic customs,
MotorTrend Group brings the latest
motoring trends to fans of all
generations.
About Hearst Magazines
Hearst Magazines, the world’s
largest lifestyle publisher, has a
portfolio of more than 30 powerful
brands in the U.S. that inspire and
entertain audiences across all media
platforms. Hearst Magazines’ print
and digital assets reach 141 million
readers and site visitors each month
— 55% of all adults in the U.S., 53%
of all Millennials and 50% of all
Gen Z adults over the age of 18
(Source: 2024 Comscore
Multi-Platform© MRI-Simmons -
09/24/S24). The company publishes
more than 200 magazine editions and
175 websites around the world. |