How T.J. Zizzo ended up No. 1 in Top Fuel; it was all about 'weight' and see
He has a 20-year-old chassis and an all-volunteer crew. He’s run just four races over the past two seasons. How the heck did T.J. Zizzo end up in the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Friday?
He has a 20-year-old chassis and an all-volunteer crew. He’s run just four races over the past two seasons. How the heck did T.J. Zizzo end up in the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Friday?
He’s never been a low…
Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Saturday preview: Fast times ahead
Welcome to Day 3 of the 50th annual Amalie motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and the final day of qualifying in the Mello Yello classes. Two sessions are scheduled today, at noon and 3:30 p.m.
Welcome to Day 3 of the 50th annual Amalie motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and the final day of qualifying in the Mello Yello classes. Two sessions are scheduled today, at noon and 3:30 p.m.
With a 10-plus-degree drop in temperature over yesterday…
Three generations of Smiths team up to compete in Funny Car
Paul Smith, who competed in Funny Car at the Gatornationals in 1973 and was the championship runner-up in 1974, is still burning nitro at Gainesville Raceway, tuning Gary Richards’ Funny Car as well as the Smith family flopper, which is driven by son John and wrenched on by his grandkids.
Paul Smith, who competed in Funny Car at the Gatornationals in 1973 and was the championship runner-up in 1974, is still burning nitro at Gainesville Raceway, tuning Gary Richards’ Funny Car as well as the Smith family flopper, which is driven…
Gainesville Top Fuel Friday results: Q2
T.J. Zizzo stunned everyone by powering his Rust-Oleum dragster to the No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Fuel with a sizzling pass of 3.762.
T.J. Zizzo stunned everyone by powering his Rust-Oleum dragster to the No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Fuel with a sizzling pass of 3.762.
Zizzo, a part-time campaigner in the Mello Yello Series, followed his strong 3.872 opening pass Friday with a…
Gainesville Funny Car Friday results: Q2
Six Funny Cars ripped their way into the three-second zone during the late-afternoon session led by Robert Hight, who clocked a 3.928 in the Auto Club Camaro.
Six Funny Cars ripped their way into the three-second zone during the late-afternoon session led by Robert Hight, who clocked a 3.928 in the Auto Club Camaro. Bob Tasca III (3.953), Ron Capps (3.965), Shawn Langdon (3.979), Tommy Johnson Jr. (3.985…
Gainesville Pro Stock Friday results: Q2
Consistent Bo Butner maintains hold on top spot in Pro Stock; banks three more qualifying bonus points
The qualifying bonus points continue to add up for 2017 world champ Bo Butner, who banked three more “little points” after his 6.555 in Friday’s second session held up as the quickest pass of the round. Butner aced his KB Racing teammate, Greg…
Gainesville Pro Stock Motorcycle Friday results: Q2
The first side-by-side 200-mph runs highlight a quick second session of Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying in Gainesville.
Matt Smith reaffirmed his hold on the top spot in Friday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying with a 6.785 elapsed time during the afternoon session, but the real news came from the speed clocks, which registered a record-setting 201.76 mph top-end…
Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Friday photo gallery
There is a lot happening at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on and off the track; here are some of the highlights from Friday.
There is a lot happening at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and here are some of the highlights from Friday.
Most racers, including past Super Gas world champ John Labbous Jr., will go to great lengths to win…
Zizzo surprises with Top Fuel pole; Hight, Butner, Smith also lead Gainesville fields
After the first two rounds of pro qualifying at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, T.J. Zizzo, Robert Hight, Bo Butner, and Matt Smith, hold the top spots.
After the first two rounds of professional qualifying at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, T.J. Zizzo is the surprise low qualifier in Top Fuel. Zizzo is joined at the top of the standings by Robert Hight, Bo Butner, and Matt…
Gainesville Top Fuel Friday results: Q1
World champ Steve Torrence showed the Top Fuel field the way home in the opening qualifying session with a 3.800 on the new and still a little green all-concrete track that will only get better through the weekend.
World champ Steve Torrence showed the Top Fuel field the way home in the opening qualifying session with a 3.800 on the new and still a little green all-concrete track that will only get better through the weekend.
Leah Pritchett was not far…
Variety is the spice of life for Alex Laughlin
Alex Laughlin is up to drive just about anything and he's pulling double-duty this weekend in Pro Stock and the E3 Pro Mod series.
Alex Laughlin lives his life by a simple code; if it has wheels, he will drive it. The 2019 season is barely three months old and Laughlin has already raced, and won, with a shifter cart on the high banks of Daytona Int’l Speedway. He also won $50,…
Gainesville Funny Car Friday results: Q1
Three-time Gatornationals Funny Car winner Ron Capps grabbed the early qualifying lead with his NAPA Auto Parts Charger SRT Hellcat with a 4.017 in the opening session.
Three-time Gatornationals Funny Car winner Ron Capps grabbed the early qualifying lead with his NAPA Auto Parts Charger SRT Hellcat with a 4.017.
Behind Capps is another multi-time Gainesville champ, eight-time winner John Force, who clocked a 4.…
Gainesville Pro Stock Motorcycle Friday results: Q1
The first Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying session of the new year didn't look much different from the final session of 2018.
Reigning NHRA Mello Yello champion Matt Smith maintained the torrid pace he set at the end of last season and claimed the early lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.
Smith rode his bright red Denso EBR to a 6.753 to lead a strong field of 23…
Dutchman's Lex Joon's Top Fuel 'American Dream' revs up again at Gatornationals
It’s a long trip from the Netherlands to the United States, but it’s symbolic of the trek that Top Fuel racer Lex Joon and wife Gerda have traveled to participate on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour and the 50th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
It’s a long trip from the Netherlands to the United States, but it’s symbolic of the trek that Top Fuel racer Lex Joon and wife Gerda have traveled to participate on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour and the 50th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA…
Angelle Sampey and the Vance & Hines team: the not-so-odd couple
Once bitter, rivals, Angelle Sampey and the Vance & Hines have found common ground in the battle for Pro Stock Motorcycle superiority.
When it comes to unlikely pairings Angelle Sampey and the Vance & Hines team go about as well as orange juice and toothpaste. At least at first glance. Then again, it’s worth noting that Don Garlits once raced as a teammate to Shirley Muldowney…
Friday Preview: Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Welcome to the long awaited 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the third race of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Two sessions of qualifying in all four Professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle) are scheduled today, beginning at 1:15 p.m. local time.
You can stay up to date by keeping it on NHRA.com all day for round-by-round recaps, features on your favorite drivers, and more. That’s not the only way you can stay in touch with NHRA during the event. If you’re coming out to Gainesville today,…
Billy Torrence, Matt Hagan, and Jeg Coughlin are fastest in Phoenix
Billy Torrence, Matt Hagan, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. had the hot hands on a cool weekend in the desert outside of Phoenix and collected victories at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Billy Torrence, Matt Hagan, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. had the hot hands on a cool weekend in the desert outside of Phoenix and collected victories at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Torrence, the low qualifier, collected his…
Phoenix Top Fuel Sunday results: Final
Billy Torrence collected his second career NHRA Top Fuel trophy and did it from the No. 1 qualifying spot as he did his first, last year in Brainerd. Torrence got the easy win when Leah Pritchett smoked the tires.
Billy Torrence collected his second career NHRA Top Fuel trophy and did it from the No. 1 qualifying spot as he did his first, last year in Brainerd. Torrence got the easy win when Leah Pritchett smoked the tires.
Torrence, father of reigning…
Phoenix Funny Car Sunday results: Final
Matt Hagan scored in Funny Car the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals for the third time in five years, defeating world champ J.R. Todd in the final round for his 30th career win.
Matt Hagan scored in Funny Car the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals for the third time in five years, defeating world champ J.R. Todd in the final round for his 30th career win.
Hagan, who was 0-2 lifetime in final rounds…
Phoenix Pro Stock Sunday results: Final
Racing in his 1,000th round of Pro Stock competition, Jeg Coughlin Jr. collected his 62nd Pro Stock Wally and his 81st victory in his long NHRA career on Matt Hartford’s final-round red-light.
Racing in his 1,000th round of Pro Stock competition, Jeg Coughlin Jr. collected his 62nd Pro Stock Wally and his 81st victory in his long NHRA career on Matt Hartford’s final-round red-light.
Coughlin, who previously won the Magic Dry Organic…
Phoenix Pro Stock Sunday results: Semifinals
It’s been 10 years since Jeg Coughlin Jr. won the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals, and the 2009 winner will have to beat hometown favorite Matt Hartford to get back to the winner’s circle.
It’s been 10 years since Jeg Coughlin Jr. won the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals, and the 2009 winner will have to beat hometown favorite Matt Hartford to get back to the winner’s circle.
Coughlin’s yellow and black Camaro…
Phoenix Funny Car Sunday results: Semifinals
Matt Hagan is on pace to continue his every-other-year dominance of Funny Car as the 2015 and 2017 event champ raced into the final round, where he will face world champ J.R. Todd.
Matt Hagan is on pace to continue his every-other-year dominance of Funny Car as the 2015 and 2017 event champ raced into the final round, where he will face world champ J.R. Todd.
Hagan, whose Dickie Venables-tuned Sandvik Coromant Dodge Charger…
Phoenix Top Fuel Sunday results: Semifinals
Leah Pritchett will be gunning for her third Top Fuel win in the last four years at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals when she takes on low qualifier Billy Torrence in the final round.
Leah Pritchett will be gunning for her third Top Fuel win in the last four years at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals when she takes on low qualifier Billy Torrence in the final round.
Pritchett’s good-looking Mopar SRT/…
Phoenix Sunday photo gallery
Sights and scenes from the final day of the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park outside of Phoenix.
Antron Brown, a three-time winner in Phoenix, has his fair share of fans, big and small, in Arizona.
Rookie Jordan Vandergriff, left, defeated former world champ Brittany Force for his first…
Phoenix Pro Stock Sunday results: E2
Hometown favorite Matt Hartford used a holeshot and a narrow .001-second margin of victory to advance his Sealed Power Camaro to the semifinals, where he will face Deric Kramer.
Hometown favorite Matt Hartford used a holeshot and a narrow .001-second margin of victory against Rodger Brogdon, 6.569 to 6.538, to advance his Sealed Power Camaro to the semifinals, where he will face Deric Kramer.
Kramer, a two-time winner…
Phoenix Funny Car Sunday results: E2
After dodging a tire-smoking bullet in round one, reigning world champ J.R. Todd is wasting no time making good use of that reprieve, powering the DHL Toyota into the semifinals, where he will face Winternationals champ Robert Hight.
After dodging a tire-smoking bullet in round one, reigning world champ J.R. Todd is wasting no time making good use of that reprieve, powering the DHL Toyota to a 3.961 to defeat Tommy Johnson Jr., who exploded the supercharger for the second…
Phoenix Top Fuel Sunday results: E2
Low qualifier Billy Torrence, whose last No. 1 start ended up with him in the winner’s circle in Brainerd last year, is halfway to repeating that feat after defeating Mike Salinas in round two with a strong-but-fiery 3.687 pass.
Low qualifier Billy Torrence, whose last No. 1 start ended up with him in the winner’s circle in Brainerd last year, is halfway to repeating that feat after defeating Mike Salinas in round two with a strong-but-fiery 3.687 pass.
Rookie Jordan…
Phoenix Pro Stock Sunday results: E1
Jeg Coughlin Jr. won for the 45th time in 100 career matchups with rival Greg Anderson, Erica Enders advanced on a holeshot, and Alex Laughlin was quicker than all of them as the first round of Pro Stock eliminated revved up the action in Phoenix.
Jeg Coughlin Jr. won for the 45th time in 100 career matchups with rival Greg Anderson and was impressive with a near-perfect .001 reaction time. Erica Enders also was quick at the Tree defeated higher qualifier Kenny Delco on a holeshot, 6.577 to 6…
Johnson rides out wild explosion and still gets first-round win in Phoenix
Tommy Johnson Jr., celebrating 30 years of nitro competition at this event, scored what is probably his wildest victory in round one of the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals, winning the round despite a broken axle that led to a car-damaging explosion.
Tommy Johnson Jr., celebrating 30 years of nitro competition at this event, scored what is probably his wildest victory in round one of the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals, winning the round despite a car-damaging explosion.…
Phoenix Funny Car Sunday results: E1
Low qualifier Robert Hight showed no signs of relenting, bettering his pole-sitting 3.867 with a 3.862 to highlight a wild opening round of Funny Car at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Low qualifier Robert Hight showed no signs of relenting in round one, bettering his pole-sitting 3.867 with a 3.862 on a solo pass after opponent Jeff Diehl had engine problems after firing, exacerbating problems that the independent team had during…