Back-to-back champ Enders ready to blaze another new path
No NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series driver had a better run in the last two years than Houston native Erica Enders. Not Antron Brown, not Tony Schumacher, not Matt Hagan, not even the legendary John Force. Enders, who now lives in New…
Practice Tree racing
Who says you need a dragstrip to have a drag race? Or even a car for that matter. Today, many racers have found a way to fulfill their need for competition and socialize with friends by attending organized practice Tree events. Practice Tree races…
2016 predictions
The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is nearly upon us. With one weekend remaining before the NHRA Nitro Spring Training test session at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix followed by the Circle K NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, it…
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season with their families and friends. I know I did! My dad and I spent Christmas with my Uncle Jon O, Aunt Kim, and my cousins Jessica and Julia. Some of you may not know this, but Jon O is an amazing…
NHRA’s 50th anniversary Funny Car celebration kicks off at Circle K NHRA Winternationals
NHRA will officially kick off its 50th anniversary Funny Car celebration at the tradition-rich Circle K NHRA Winternationals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 11-14. A wide variety of classic nostalgia Funny Cars will be on display in…
Back-up run certification no longer required for NHRA national records
NHRA’s competition committee has announced that the longstanding 1-percent back-up policy to certify national record performances in the NHRA Mello Yello Series, J&A Service Pro Mod Series, and Lucas Oil Series Alcohol categories will no…
Winningest Winternationals drivers
Everyone knows that the start of a drag race is one of the most important parts of a winning recipe, but that also applies to the season as well. There’s nothing quite like a win at the season-opening Winternationals to jump-start a season.…
Laughlin to pilot 2016 Gas Monkey Garage Camaro
Second-year Pro Stock racer Alex Laughlin will return to the wheel of the Gas Monkey Garage Chevrolet Camaro in 2016 as Laughlin Motorsports and Gas Monkey Garage have announced a partnership for the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series…
On-track testing begins for next generation of NHRA Pro Stock cars
Shane Gray KB Racing Allen Johnson V. Gaines The era of fuel-injected NHRA…
Early Funny Car History 101
As one Insider reader tweeted to me last week after my column about working to create a list of the top 20 Funny Cars, “Can open, worms everywhere.” Yes, indeed, we did open a whole can of worms with the notion that I – or anyone…
Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis to construct permanent Top Eliminator Club pavilion
Officials gathered Jan. 21 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the official groundbreaking ceremony for the multipurpose motorsports facility’s new TEC Pavilion. From left are Eric Pagels, W.A. Lynch; Joel Brame, Kruse…
NHRA Factory Stock Showdown returns for 2016
The extreme racing of the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown is returning for the 2016 season with four appearances on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series including a new stop at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. This season will mark the…
Tony Pedregon
After a successful career that spanned more than two decades and produced two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championships, 43 wins, and more, Tony Pedregon will step away from driving in 2016, joining the NHRA on FOX broadcast…
NHRA shifts gears into a new era with 2016 season-opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will venture boldly into a brand new era when the tradition-rich Circle K NHRA Winternationals gets underway Feb. 11-14, at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Celebrating its 56th running, the iconic…
Your winter homework assignment
A full season of racing can be long and arduous, even for the most die-hard Sportsman racer, and few could blame any individual who elects to devote the winter months to relaxing, watching football, or whittling down a long-overdue list of “…
Ready to break out
With top stars dominating the win column in 2015, the logjam of talent going for their first wins during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has us poised to see some new blood in the winner’s circle. Pro Stock’s Chris…
Five feats yet to be accomplished
With more than 60 years of competition, you would think that we had seen it all when it comes to accomplishments in NHRA Drag Racing, but here’s a quick list of some items yet to be accomplished, ranked in order of possibility. 200-…
JEGS SPORTSnationals set for May 27-29 return to Beech Bend Raceway Park
The much anticipated return of the JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals to Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29 is taking shape as the official event schedule has been announced. This year’s event is expected to…
Top 20 Funny Cars: Let the debate begin
As I noted here last Friday and as was announced earlier this week on NHRA.com, NHRA will be celebrating the Funny Car class throughout the 2016 season. Using the 1966…
Accomplished industry executive Brad Gerber named NHRA vice president of sales, chief development officer
Brad Gerber, a skilled sales executive with vast experience in the world of automotive publishing and digital media, has been named NHRA vice president of sales and chief development officer. Gerber will lead NHRA’s sales and business…
Danny Ongais
Throughout the 2016 season, NHRA will celebrate 50 years of the Funny Car, which, after running throughout the 1966 season, made its official debut as an NHRA eliminator at that year’s season finale. One of the early stars in the class was…
First look: Pro Stock champ Erica Enders' new Dart
Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders' striking new '16 Dodge Dart was unveiled Wednesday, a month before she begins her pursuit of a third consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series title. Like her championship-winning cars from 2014…
NHRA to celebrate 50 years of Funny Car in 2016
In 1966, a brand-new class of competition emerged in NHRA when hot rodding enthusiasts of the era were trying to squeeze more performance out of their gassers, super stocks, and muscle cars. With a larger motor, stretched frame, and bigger rear…
NAPA Auto Parts extends marketing relationship with DSR, Capps in multiyear deal
Don Schumacher Racing and NAPA Auto Parts have announced a multiyear extension to their marketing partnership that began in 2008 with Ron Capps driving the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car. The team will be led by crew chief Rahn Tobler…
Kalitta Motorsports, Todd to represent SealMaster for the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello season
Kalitta Motorsports and SealMaster have announced a major expansion of their partnership. SealMaster will become the primary sponsor of the Top Fuel dragster driven by J.R. Todd for the entire NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. SealMaster…
That Escalated Quickly
It’s been more than a decade since the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman classes became a part of the NHRA Sportsman racing landscape, and it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the two fast bracket classes have become a huge success.…
Aerospace Components extends as presenting sponsor of NHRA Excellence in Engineering Award through 2017
Aerospace Components, a leader in manufacturing high-performance drag racing products, has extended its agreement as the presenting sponsor of the NHRA Excellence in Engineering Award at select NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events through the…
Teflon Shawn
Prior to the past 12 months, adversity isn’t something that had characterized the racing career of Shawn Langdon. His rocket-ship ride to the top of the drag racing food chain has included championships at every level, from the NHRA Summit…
Bold new NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series logo unveiled for 2016 season
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series logo is getting a bold new makeover in 2016. In coordination with Mello Yello’s recent unveiling of a modern logo design and packaging, NHRA and Mello Yello have constructed a new primary mark for the…
David Parks, son of NHRA founder, dies
David Parks, the youngest son of NHRA founder Wally Parks, passed away suddenly Jan. 8 at his home in Corona Del Mar, Calif. He was 63. Parks was a member of the Lakers car club of the Southern California Timing Association and held many records…