Jack Beckman describes the thrilling sensation of pedaling a nitro Funny Car
The driver of the Infinite Hero Funny Car beat teammate Matt Hagan in a great race at the Virginia NHRA Nationals – but it wasn’t easy.
The term “pedalfest” is standard NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series jargon. It isn’t pretty, makes absolutely no sense outside of the confines of this sport and comes up as a spelling error on Microsoft Word. It also comes with a boatload of…
Top Fuel veteran Terry McMillen believes he’s a win waiting to happen
Terry McMillen sees his recent struggles at the past two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races as a minor roadblock for what he believes will be another productive season and thinks his team is due for its first win of the 2019 season.
Terry McMillen sees his recent struggles at the past two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races as a minor roadblock for what he believes will be another productive season. He also thinks his team is due for its first win of the 2019 season and…
Hector Arana Jr. quietly piecing together a great start to 2019 season
Hector Arana Jr. is still looking for his first win of 2019, but signs are starting to show that it's coming.
Many of the heavier EBR-bodied motorcycles are struggling to find gains in the 60-foot areas, but don’t count the Lucas Oil TV bike ridden by Hector Arana Jr. among them. The rider boasts the best 60-foot time in Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2019, yes,…
Shane Tucker building towards a long Pro Stock future
Australian Pro Stock racer Shane Tucker has gone through fits and starts on way to building program.
Shane Tucker thought he’d be on solid footing at the Virginia NHRA Nationals. His Pro Stock program, which uses Nick Ferri engines, is ambitious. Perhaps that goes without saying. Tucker, an Australian, runs a Dallas-based business, lives in…
John Force: Still waiting on victory No. 150, but he knows it’s coming
John Force knows it’s coming, the next great milestone on a road filled with records; he just wishes win No. 150 would get here, sooner rather than later.
John Force knows it’s coming, the next great milestone on a road filled with records; he just wishes win No. 150 would get here, sooner rather than later.
No, it’s not because he can’t wait to bask in the media spotlight again as the first NHRA…
Atlanta ‘reality check’ gives Terry McMillen Richmond raceday incentive
Terry McMillen may never have a bigger high than winning the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals last season, but a win this weekend at the Virginia NHRA Nationals would taste especially sweet after failing to qualify two weeks ago in Atlanta, his first DNQ in nearly 60 events.
Terry McMillen may never have a bigger high than winning the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals last season, but a win this weekend at the Virginia NHRA Nationals would taste especially sweet after failing to qualify two weeks ago in…
Testing makes perfect for Matt and Angie Smith
Matt Smith Racing found immediate gains at Virginia NHRA Nationals after testing
The Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals did not go well for Matt Smith Racing. The three bikes fielded by the team, ridden by Matt Smith, Angie Smith and Scotty Pollacheck, qualified between eighth and 14th. That’s not typical performance for the…
The education of Terry Haddock continues, giving and getting lessons
Terry Haddock has been racing nitro cars or more than 20 years, but even as he continues to teach new drivers who rent his Top Fuel dragster, he admits he’s still learning, too.
Terry Haddock has been racing nitro cars or more than 20 years, but even as he continues to teach new drivers who rent his Top Fuel dragster, he admits he’s still learning, too.
This year’s “student” is Cameron Ferre, a former Jr. Dragster and…
Clay Millican and team continue to take the strategic approach to Top Fuel battle
After breaking the 11-year-old track record on their first run Friday, Clay Millican and the Parts Plus/Straightline Strategy Group team opted to sit out the evening session, all part of the plan that puts the emphasis on the word "strategy," even if that means passing up a "hero run."
Clay Millican and crew chief Mike Kloeber dropped a lot of jaws Friday when their Parts Plus/Straightline Strategy Group dragster raced to the No. 1 spot in the heat of the day with a 3.749 that not only broke an 11-year-old track record but that…
Deric Kramer knows how to prepare in a hurry
Former part-time racer Deric Kramer ready to return to Pro Stock racing in Richmond
Deric Kramer raced part time his entire career before racing almost full time in 2018. He planned to race a part-time schedule and wound up nearly racing full time. That makes the 2019 season his full-time debut in the NHRA Mello…
Joey Gladstone and Cory Reed's race to 60-foot perfection
Joey Gladstone and Cory Reed are ahead of the curve when it comes to the race to 60-feet in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Joey Gladstone put a new wheelie bar on his EBR-bodied Pro Stock Motorcycle ahead of the first qualifying session at the Virginia NHRA Nationals. The early returns? Not bad. He ran 6.967-seconds to the quarter mile, .002-seconds quicker than…
Two-car Top Fuel outing for Paton Racing is 'a test session gone wild'
Fans may have done a double take when they saw two dragsters roll out of the Paton Racing trailer in the pits this weekend, but there’s a method behind the multi-machine madness.
Fans may have done a double take when they saw two dragsters roll out of the Paton Racing trailer in the pits this weekend, but there’s a method behind the multi-machine madness.
“It’s a test session gone wild,” said a bemused Todd Paton, who…
Mike Green happy to be back in Top Fuel, eager to help rookie Prock succeed
The Virginia NHRA Nationals marks a new chapter in crew chief Mike Green's career as he takes over the tuning duties on Austin Prock's Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster after trading place with Jon Shaffer, who took Green's spot on Bob Tasca III's Funny Car.
Drag racing isn’t like many other professional sports, where “players” are traded like property from team to team to suit a particular need, but a lot of people drew similar comparisons after the between-races personnel swap between Bob Tasca…
Fernando Cuadra Jr. taking first Pro Stock steps in Richmond
Second-generation racer Fernando Cuadra Jr. to take first steps of long Pro Stock journey at Virginia NHRA Nationals
“I’ve never driven in front of this many people before,” said Fernando Cuadra Jr. He flashes a smile, a combination of nervous energy and excitement while standing behind a Chevy Camaro formerly driven by Greg Anderson.
That’s not his…
NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Sportsman Highlights
Julie Nataas becomes 85th woman, first Norwegian winner in NHRA history. Monty Bogan and Drew Skillman come close to double in Charlotte.
There was plenty of history made during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in Charlotte after Julie Nataas won the Top Alcohol Dragster title to become the first Norwegian, and 85th woman, to win an NHRA national event. Super Stock winner Monty…
Andrew Hines hungry for more heading to Virginia NHRA Nationals
Andrew Hines' winless 2018 is a distant memory as he enters the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Andrew Hines advanced to five final rounds during the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, but never managed to break through, posting the first winless season of his incredible career since 2003. It has taken just four races in 2019 to…
'Pro Stock, I Missed You'
NHRA staff announcer Joe Castello, the host of the “WFO Radio NHRA Nitro” podcast, is a huge Pro Stock fan, and for him, this weekend's Virginia NHRA Nationals and the return of Pro Stock couldn't come quick enough.
The 2019 season is in full swing, and we have already enjoyed many positive experiences. I want to focus on something that was new for 2019. For three races in a row, we experienced the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series without Pro Stock, and it…
After first Funny Car win, Shawn Langdon has his confidence back heading to Virginia
Shawn Langdon's much-anticipated victory at Charlotte came in his 30th career start in Funny Car, providing the type of spark only a win can provide and the team is now ready to take advantage of the next opportunity to celebrate in the winner’s circle.
Shawn Langdon has a championship resumé, strong backing from a championship team in Kalitta Motorsports and a talented crew working with him. But when the former Top Fuel world champion was still searching for his first career Funny Car victory, the…
Antron Brown sees golden opportunity to get back to winning ways at Virginia NHRA Nationals
Three-time world champion Antron Brown believes his team is on the verge of something special at the Virginia NHRA Nationals.
After enduring a fair share of struggles over the past two seasons, Antron Brown believes his team is on the verge of something special. Following a number of changes dating back to the start of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the Top…
How Warren Johnson thinks Pro Stock spent "41 days off" preparing for the Virginia NHRA Nationals
Warren Johnson never got 41 days to work in his shop during the Pro Stock season. Here's what The Professor thinks Pro Stock teams have been up to ahead of the Virginia NHRA Nationals.
Warren Johnson never took a vacation while campaigning Pro Stock full time on the NHRA circuit, and while the veteran tuner and racer is not retired, he’s also not racing at the Virginia NHRA Nationals. There are 17 Pro Stock cars entered for the…
Pro Stock teams ready to run at Virginia NHRA Nationals
Pro Stock got 41 days off in the middle of its season. Naturally, the teams went to work.
Jason Line didn't take off for Aruba in the 41 days between the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and the Virginia NHRA Nationals. Elite Performance owner Richard Freeman didn’t take a trip to Walt Disney World, nor to any other sunny…
Alex Laughlin ready to get back in his Pro Stock Camaro at Virginia NHRA Nationals
Pro Stock competition returns at the Virginia NHRA Nationals and Alex Laughlin is ready to hop back in his Havoline Chevy Camaro at Virginia Motorsports Park.
After a three-race break, count Alex Laughlin as one of many who are thrilled to have Pro Stock return to NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series action. Laughlin is off to the best start in the class in his promising career, sitting second in points…
Cory Reed and Joey Gladstone set to take Pro Stock Motorcycle world by storm
Cory Reed and Joey Gladstone became best friends. Now, the Pro Stock Motorcycle riders are teammates and want to become winners together.
“I like beer. Do you like beer?”
Not all friendships start so easily. It might be unfair to say Joey Gladstone and Cory Reed became friends so quickly if Gladstone didn’t say so himself. Even so, the Pro Stock Motorcycle riders didn’t become best…
Bob Tasca promising big changes heading to highly-anticipated Virginia event
Bob Tasca III is currently 10th in a loaded Funny Car class, which is an improvement from this point in the 2018, but Tasca is far from satisfied. That means major moves on the car and with personnel following a second-round loss in Atlanta.
When Bob Tasca thinks back to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ return to Virginia Motorsports Park in 2018, there is nothing but good memories for the Funny Car veteran. Promising big changes to his car and within his team ahead of this year…
Defending Pro Mod world champ Janis embraces pressure heading to Atlanta
Mike Janis isn’t afraid to admit he felt the pressure of being the defending E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service world champion entering the 2019 season, but he carries plenty of momentum into this weekend’s Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
Mike Janis isn’t afraid to admit he felt the pressure of being the defending E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service world champion entering the 2019 season. But Janis has reveled in that spotlight, carrying…
Motorcycle standout Hector Arana Jr. in a good place approaching Atlanta
A new approach and a calmer demeanor has already paid dividends for Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and he hopes there are considerable long-term benefits that come from it.
A new approach and a calmer demeanor has already paid dividends for Hector Arana Jr. during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. The Pro Stock Motorcycle standout hopes there are considerable long-term benefits that come from it, but…
Funny Car veteran Ron Capps eyes hot stretch heading to Atlanta
Despite an up-and-down 2019 season, Funny Car veteran Ron Capps remains confident something big is going to happen soon for his team, and possibly at this weekend’s 39th annual Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
After qualifying second and advancing to his first semifinal of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season in Houston, Ron Capps felt a hot streak might be coming. Barely squeezing into the qualifying field in Charlotte changed those plans…
Greg Anderson knows importance of performing well at Four-Wide Nationals
When Ken Black first formed KB Racing in 2001, one of the things he stressed to Greg Anderson was the importance of performing well at his home track, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
When Ken Black first formed KB Racing in 2001, one of the things he stressed to Greg Anderson was the importance of performing well at his home track, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The four-time world champion has responded in impressive…
A beginner's guide to the NHRA Summit Jr. Drag Racing League
How to get your kid started in the sport that launched the careers of J.R. Todd, Erica Enders, and more.
Your child wants to race a Jr. Dragster — now what? Starting out in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League can seem daunting at first, but with careful planning and some help, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. While your first inclination…
Kenny Delco has demonstrated remarkable staying power in Pro Stock
When it comes to Pro Stock racing, Delco personifies the old adage, “Been there, done that.” He doesn’t need to reminisce about the so-called “good old days” of Pro Stock, because he lived through a large chunk of it and is still going.
Kenny Delco has beaten late great 10-time champion Bob Glidden twice. He has also racked up wins against a few other world champs like Warren Johnson, Jim Yates, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and even Tanner Gray. How about prominent…