Leah Pritchett enjoying get-healthy weekend in Bristol
It has not been the season Leah Pritchett dreamed of. Is this the start of something better?
Leah Pritchett made it down the track in three of her four qualifying runs at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals with an average pass of 3.824-seconds on those successful hits. That’s not world-beating (one of those successful passes was a 3.896, in…
Clay Millican happy with progress but not satisfied entering NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Clay Millican knows there's still plenty of work to do as he chases first won of 2019 at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Testing did not set expectations high for the Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster team. Clay Millican, driving a Your Car Your Data-bannered dragster at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals this weekend, remained optimistic. He felt reasonable for doing so.…
Bob Tasca III thinks his next win is around the corner
Hiring Jon Schaffer is already paying dividends for Bob Tasca III and the Ford Motorcraft Funny Car team
Bob Tasca III is one of the most fiercely competitive people in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing. He recently brought Jon Schaffer on board to join crew chief Eric Lane, replacing Mike Green just eight races into his tenure on the Ford Motorcraft Funny…
Audrey Worm taking ownership of Top Fuel future
Audrey Worm joins up with Strustmasters ahead of NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals with an eye on becoming latest Top Fuel owner.
Audrey Worm made her bid for the Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award in 2018 by competing in nine events. She came up short of that goal, as Bill Litton took home Rookie of the Year honors, but Worm and company gained a wealth…
Vincent Nobile racing with his dad in Mountain Motor Pro Stock in Bristol
Former Pro Stock racer is throwing it back with a bit of a role reversal at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Vincent Nobile is not racing Pro Stock this year. The Mitsos family decided to focus on the SAMTech.edu Factory Stock Showdown and that meant Nobile was out of a ride. That didn’t cost him his livelihood by any means; the affable New Yorker compared…
Todd Tutterow lost the most consistent car in Pro Mod. Can he bounce back?
A crash in Topeka cost Todd Tutterow his 1968 Camaro. Will it cost him a shot at the 2019 title?
Todd Tutterow side-swiped Steven Whiteley during eliminations at the Menard’s NHRA Heartland Nationals in his 1968 Camaro. The driver of the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod machine got out of the groove early in his run and, at that point, the run…
Who (or what) will it take to end Steve Torrence's win streak at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals?
Billy Torrence is taking Father’s Day off – so who can stop Steve Torrence in Bristol?
Billy Torrence looked the part on Sunday at the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties. He qualified in the No. 2 position, right behind his son, and left on defending Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence. Billy did everything in…
Pro Mod veteran Steve Matusek after one more career first at Bristol Dragway
Veteran Steve Matusek has put together a number of career firsts at Bristol Dragway, site of this weekend’s E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service race as part of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, and a first career win would be a most welcome addition.
Veteran Steve Matusek has put together a number of career firsts at Bristol Dragway, which is the site of this weekend’s E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service race as part of the 19th annual NHRA Thunder Valley…
Ron Capps heads to Bristol looking to win third straight Funny Car title
A stretch of four straight race weekends during June can be a tall order for the drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. For Ron Capps, though, it’s not hard for him to get excited, especially when he knows one of those dates includes a trip to Bristol Dragway.
A stretch of four straight race weekends during June can be a tall order for the drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. For Ron Capps, though, it’s not hard for him to get excited, especially when he knows one of those dates includes a…
Brittany Force has something special planned for Father’s Day Weekend in Bristol
With her legendary father, 16-time Funny Car world champ John Force, joining her in Thunder Valley, Brittany Force is planning something special for this weekend’s Father’s Day Weekend 19th annual NHRA Thunder Nationals.
It’s Father’s Day Weekend and there’s no place Brittany Force would rather be than Bristol Dragway for this weekend’s 19th annual NHRA Thunder Nationals. The former Top Fuel world champion has always held the picturesque track in high regard and…
Who’s next? Jack Beckman figures it might as well be him
There have been six different Funny Car winners in the first nine races of the season and Jack Beckman wants to be seventh.
The first nine races of the 2019 season have produced six different Funny Car winners including Schumacher Racing drivers Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, and most recently, Tommy Johnson Jr. Nothing is a given in drag racing, particularly in nitro racing,…
Cruz Pedregon has made up ground in 2019
Yes, things are moving in the right direction for Cruz Pedregon
Cruz Pedregon fired Aaron Brooks. He brought on Tommy DeLago shortly thereafter in 2018 but did not bring the veteran tuner back on board for the 2019 season. That decision, mostly through back channels and mealy-mouthed criticism, has been…
Scott Palmer happy to represent Evel Knievel, but he's no daredevil
Scott Palmer and his Magic Dry Top Fuel team have been the talk of the pits in Topeka with their special edition paint scheme honoring the local Evel Knievel Museum.
Like most kids growing up in the 1970s, Scott Palmer grew up idolizing motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel so when he had a chance to visit the Evel Knievel Museum in last year’s Heartland Nationals, it se the stage for the one-race sponsorship…
The maturation of Austin Prock continues in Topeka
Ten races into his NHRA Top Fuel career, rookie of the Year favorite Austin Prock appears primed for a breakout performance.
During Friday’s second nitro qualifying session in Topeka, Austin Prock opened Top Fuel qualifying with a solid 3.783 that was quick enough to earn a qualifying bonus point and finished the day as the third-best run behind Steve and Billy Torrence.…
On warm summer days, Jack Wyatt becomes a formidible foe
When it comes to upset wins in Funny Car, Jack Wyatt has been there before and he is ready, willing, and able to do so again in Topeka.
He doesn’t make many appearances at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, but Jack Wyatt has been burning nitro since 1987 which puts him in the same league as fellow veterans John Force, Pat Dakin, Chris Karamesines, and Hall of Fame team…
Richie Crampton sees better days ahead for DHL team
Recent success has Richie Crampton thinking his second Top Fuel win of the season isn't going to be too far away.
Attitude is everything. Just ask Richie Crampton. A positive and upbeat guy by nature, Crampton rarely has a bad day, and that’s especially true anytime he’s at the racetrack. While he’ll readily admit that he’s frustrated by the recent struggles of…
Kramer family expands with COPO Factory Stock and sportsman effort
Chicago Pro Stock champ Deric Kramer has the week off but his father and sister are having a blast in Topeka with their COPO Camaro entries.
A week ago, Deric Kramer won his third NHRA Pro Stock race when he drove his American Ethanol Camaro to a final round win over Erica Enders in Chicago. With no Pro Stock class in Topeka, Kramer and his Wally trophy returned to Denver for a well-…
Rickie Smith back in turbo car; evaluating future Pro Mod options
Three-time NHRA E3 Pro Mod series champion "Trickie Rickie" Smith will race his turbocharged Bahrain1 Mustang at this weekend's Menard's NHRA Heartland Nationals.
The game of musical cars continues for three-time NHRA Pro Mod champ Rickie Smith, who is once again racing his turbocharged Bahrain1 Mustang in this weeks’ Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties. In Richmond, the most recent stop on…
Confidence soaring, Tommy Johnson Jr. rides the wave after Chicago win
Tommy Johnson Jr. ended a long winless drought last weekend at Route 66 Raceway. Now he knows the challenge is to keep that momentum going throughout the summer.
Inspired by the success of Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps, who put together back-to-back wins in Atlanta and Richmond, Tommy Johnson Jr. is hoping that his win at last weekend’s Route 66 Nationals in Chicago was the start of something…
Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta motivated by team’s success heading to Topeka
Doug Kalitta got the ball rolling for the Kalitta Motorsports team by winning the first race of the 2019. Since then, everyone on the four-car team has won a race, which makes him proud heading to this weekend’s Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties.
Doug Kalitta got the ball rolling for the Kalitta Motorsports team by winning the first race of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Since then, everyone on the four-car team has won a race, which makes the Top Fuel veteran proud…
Part-timer Freeman making Pro Stock look easy
Elite team owner Richard Freeman brought a new Pro Stock Mustang to Chicago and delivered a top-five qualifying performance
Prior to Saturday’s fourth and final Pro Stock qualifying session, Richard Freeman glanced at the sunsetting behind the tower at Route 66 Raceway and said to no one in particular, “If I make a good run, I should go about 6.59.” Moments…
Thirty years after his debut, Hector Arana Sr. is still going strong
During his career, Lucas Oil EBR rider Hector Arana Sr. has seen and done it all in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
Hector Arana Sr. is making his 315th start in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class this weekend and only Steve Johnson (432) has made more appearances in the two-wheel class. Arana can vividly recall the early days of his career in the late 1980s when he…
Paul Lee is back with a great program around him
Paul Lee's McLeod Funny Car team is back, comfortable and ready to start winning
You wouldn’t be able to blame Paul Lee if he’s just happy to be here. Not because he’s back doing what he loves after suffering a massive heart attack, though, sure, that too. The McLeod Funny Car made its debut at the Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals…
Scott Palmer finding balance as he chases first Top Fuel win
Top Fuel racer remains aggressive, but thinks he’s found balance in approach
Scott Palmer started the season ripping the first 60 feet of the track to shreds. His Goodyears came back to the pits begging for relief because of how aggressively the racer ran his Magic Dry Organic Absorbent Top Fueler. Those times (around an .…
Bob Bode knows why he crossed the centerline – and he’s ready to rebound
Longtime Funny Car racer Bob Bode is frustrated, but also motivated, to get back into the field at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
Bob Bode ran .892 to the 60-foot mark. He knew he was on a good pass, even if he didn’t know he the number yet. Then he felt the car shove him to the right. The veteran Funny Car racer grabbed the steering wheel with all his might and wrenched it to…
Hartford making the most of modified Pro Stock schedule
For Matt Hartford, an 18-race Pro Stock schedule represents his best chance to compete for a world championship and he's not about to waste it.
The way Matt Hartford sees it, the modified 18-race schedule for Pro Stock this year is the gift that keeps on giving. He doesn’t have the time or the budget to compete in 24 events, but a shortened calendar presents a unique opportunity to finally…
Cameron Ferre undeterred by tough road
Southern California Auto Club Road to the Future candidate Cameron Ferre taking the hard road
Cameron Ferre applies a large decal to Terry Haddock’s Funny Car, the bright Joliet sun making the process difficult – evidenced by a junked sticker resting on top of the black body. Ferre won’t drive this car; he pilots the Top Fuel dragster that…
Matt Smith’s four-bike assault part of a bigger plan
Matt Smith Racing has brought four Pro Stock Motorcycles to Chicago with the addition of crewman/rider Michael Ray.
On most weekends, reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith has his hands full running three bikes, but it was easy for him to defend his decision to add a fourth entry to this weekend’s NHRA Route 66 Nationals. In addition to his own Denso…
Shawn Reed ready to seize his moment
Former boat champion Shawn Reed talks taking down Steve Torrence and adjusting to quick car
Shawn Reed started driving Top Fuel in 2015. His equipment was never bad, but he wasn’t leading Tricky Tipster selections or putting his Hughes Oilfield dragster on the pole on a weekly basis. The Washington native and former drag boat champion is…
Sampey anxious to deliver results for Vance & Hines team
Six races into her first season with the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team, Angelle Sampey believes she's ready to get her first win
The NHRA Route 66 Nationals will mark the 244th race for three-time world champion Angelle Sampey but just her sixth with the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team. From the first time she first rode the team’s Street Rod V-twin during pre-season…