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The Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals is where drag racing greatness is put on display once a year for the world to see, and where the National Hot Rod Association gets to serve its racers.

This spirit of service and greatness is at the heart of why the NHRA is committed to serving its racers who have come to the Big Go. Just as Dr. King emphasized, greatness comes from serving others, and the NHRA is here to serve those who make this sport possible.

Launched as a grassroots effort in 2023, the Sportsman Racer Appreciation Dinner has grown exponentially in its second iteration. It also served as the inaugural event for the 70th anniversary of the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals.

The Top Eliminator Club (TEC) at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park was packed on Tuesday night, with sportsman racers from across the country and around the world in attendance. The dinner featured door prizes and raffles for more than $80,000 worth of drag racing merchandise and equipment from NHRA partners.

Since 1951, Wally Parks' mission has been to gather sportsman racers together and provide them with a safe and sustainable place to test themselves against the best of the best. The 2024 U.S. Nationals promises to once again fulfill that destiny, but before the competition began, the NHRA's executives, staff, and supporters wanted to host a dinner to bring everyone together and share the vision and belief that is the National Hot Rod Association.

As guests arrived, they were warmly greeted by NHRA employees who directed racers, their families, and crew to collect door prizes provided by NHRA partners. After that, racers made their way through lines for food with drinks provided by and ice cream provided by before returning to the Top Eliminator Club to sit with their fellow competitors.

NHRA racers and their guests enjoyed sitting at round tables in a packed house while Brian Lohnes from NHRA on FOX welcomed everyone to the U.S. Nationals. He also thanked everyone for giving the NHRA the opportunity to show its gratitude for the people, the performance, and the passion that is NHRA drag racing.

Without further ado, Brian Lohnes began reading off raffle ticket numbers and awarding prizes. Prizes were provided by: AiPower, ARP, ATI Performance Parts, AutoRod Corporation, Callies, Cordova Coolers, Cornwell Tools, CP Carrillo, Edelbrock, Fire Department Coffee, Frank Hawleys Drag Racing School, FTI Performance, H Sportgear, HANS, Harland Sharp, Holland Bar Stool Co, Hoosier Tire, J.W. Performance Transmission Inc, Jesel Inc, Johny Rockstar Clothing, Laris Motorsports Insurance, Legends NitroMall, Lucas Oil, Mark Williams, Moser Engineering, MSD, OHIO CRANKSHAFT, Old World Industries, Precision Shaft Technologies, Portatree Timing Systems Inc, Race Quip, Racing Electronics, Right Trailers Inc, Sander Engineering, Simpson, , Summit Racing, T&D Machine Products, and the Aeromotive Group

The grand prize, a $12,000 Cornwell toolbox,  went to Anne Toews , who is currently in Indiana racing her 1969 Camaro convertible.

On behalf of the NHRA, we would like to thank all the racers who attended the dinner, and everyone coming to the U.S. Nationals. We wish you the best of luck this week, and it was an honor to serve you and be in the presence of so much excellence and so many champions. We all felt like we won Indy already.