Stoffer quickly adjusts to life with the WAR team
Karen Stoffer has big expectations for her first season as a member of Jerry Savoie’s White Alligator Suzuki team.
Every year since her debut in 1996, Karen Stoffer has got to the starting line with the comfort that comes with knowing her husbang, Gary, has her back. Gary Stoffer is still Karen’s biggest supporter, and she’s still and integral part of the team…
What drives Mike Salinas?
Mike Salinas didn't ponder long after his breakthrough win in Las Vegas. After a celebratory ice cream, for him it was a simple as, "OK, now that I've proven I can win, let's go win again." He makes no bones about it: He expects success. He's a goal setter and a problem solver, whether it's in his business or his racing.
Three weeks ago in Las Vegas, Mike Salinas realized a dream years in the making when he hoisted the Wally trophy after winning NHRA’s four-wide event in Las Vegas.
Of course he got congratulatory calls and texts from a lot of his racing…
Confidence and experience have Clontz optimistic about year two
Second-year Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Kelly Clontz has become a consistent qualifier on her Steamfitters Union Local 602 Suzuki.
Kelly Clontz ran all 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events last season and she experienced a lot of memorable moments including her first professional round win in Dallas. Armed with a full-year's experience, and a new sponsor, the Steamfitters Union Local…
NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Saturday preview
The second of two four-wide races of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues today with two qualifying sessions at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte, N.C.
NHRA teams faced adversity yesterday after rain and high winds interrputed the opening day of the NGK Spark Plugs Four-Wide Nationals but Mike Salinas, Jack Beckman, and Karen Stoffer managed to adapt to the changes and head into Saturday's final…
Gilbertson gives North Carolina nitro fans a favorite to cheer for
North Carolina fans have learned to love their nitro like they love their NASCAR, and this weekend they have a homestate favorite to cheer for in veteran Bob Gilbertson.
North Carolina fans have learned to love their nitro like they love their NASCAR, and this weekend they have a homestate favorite to cheer for in veteran Bob Gilbertson.
For the last seven years, the Gastonia, N.C., racer, once a tour…
Charlotte Friday Photo Gallery
Photo highlights from the opening day of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Photo highlights from the opening day of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
It was a challenging opening day at the track with rain hitting twice, leading to some yeoman's work by the NHRA Safety Safari…
Salinas, Beckman, and Stoffer take early qualifying leads in Charlotte
Mike Salinas, Jack Beckman, and Karen Stoffer are the early leaders after and abbreviated day of qualifying at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway.
Mike Salinas, Jack Beckman, and Karen Stoffer are the early leaders after and abbreviated day of qualifying at zMax Dragway. Salinas, coming off his first national event win three weeks ago in Las Vegas, set the zMax Dragway track record with a 3.…
Charlotte Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying results: Q1
Karen Stoffer rode Jerry Savoie’s Suzuki to the top spot during Friday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying in Charlotte.
Karen Stoffer rode Jerry Savoie’s Suzuki to the top spot during Friday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying. Stoffer, who joined Savoie’s White Alligator team this season, rode to a 6.864 to take the early lead. Stoffer is riding the same bike that LE…
Charlotte Top Fuel Friday results: Q1
Mike Salinas set a new zMAX Dragway track record, blasting his Scrappers Racing dragster to a 3.687, breaking the 3.689 mark set last year by Brittany Force.
Mike Salinas set a new zMAX Dragway track record, blasting his Scrappers Racing dragster to a 3.687, breaking the 3.689 mark set last year by Brittany Force.
Fresh off of his runner-up two weeks ago in Houston, Antron Brown raced to a 3.725 for…
Charlotte Funny Car Friday results: Q2
Jack Beckman has the lead halfway through Funny Car qualifying after powering his Infinite Hero Dodge to a 3.891 under the lights at zMAX Dragway.
Jack Beckman has the lead halfway through Funny Car qualifying after powering his Infinite Hero Dodge to a 3.891 under the lights at zMAX Dragway.
Points leader Robert Hight had the only other three-second pass, a 3.935 that could have been…
Charlotte Funny Car Friday results: Q1
After what is undoubtedly the combined shortest and weirdest Funny Car qualifying session in history, Dale Creasy Jr. is the low qualifier with a 7.713-second elapsed time.
After what is undoubtedly the combined shortest and weirdest Funny Car qualifying session in history, Dale Creasy Jr. is the low qualifier with a 7.713-second elapsed time.
Only one grouping of three Funny Cars made it off the starting line after…
Smith willing to let his bike do the talking, sometimes
Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Matt Smith believes his win at all costs mentality is perfectly suited for four-wide racing.
Matt Smith is a lot of things but shy isn’t one of them. Whether he’s playing a staging game with the intention of throwing his opponents out of rhythm or publicly calling most of his Pro Stock Motorcycle rivals “hobby racers”, he often boldly goes…
Rookie Austin Prock is not only learning the lessons, he's acing them
It’s his rookie year, and Austin Prock is learning his lessons at a fast clip. Pedalfests. Rivalry races. Going four-wide. And he's crushing it.
It’s his rookie year, and Austin Prock is learning his lessons at a fast clip. Within a matter of days he went from just getting his Top Fuel license to a surprise entrant at the season-opening Winternationals.
His first head-to-head race was…
For Jack Beckman, fast cars are a way of life
From his vintage '68 El Camino to his 330-mph Infinite Hero Dodge Funny Car, Jack Beckman's life is consumed by fast automobiles.
Jack Beckman likes to joke that because he lives 2,000 miles away from the Schumacher Racing headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind., he is able to resist his temptation to spend countless hours at the shop. That doesn’t mean that Beckman isn’t able to…
Four-wide Charlotte surprise: The Return of Spencer Massey
Former NHRA rookie of the year Spencer Massey will make his return to Top Fuel racing at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend after a near-four-year absence, driving Pat Dakin’s Commercial Metal Fabrication dragster.
Former NHRA rookie of the year Spencer Massey will make his return to Top Fuel racing at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend after a near-four-year absence, driving Pat Dakin’s Commercial Metal Fabrication dragster.
Massey,…
Andrew Hines shares his secret for four-wide success
When it comes to four-wide Pro Stock Motorcycle racing, Andrew Hines is nearly in a class by himself with three wins in four finals.
When you have a Pro Stock Motorcycle that can run 6.72, you probably don’t need much of an edge but Andrew Hines believes the four-wide format affords himself a significant advantage over most of his competitors. It’s hard to argue with Hines’…
Bode's back, and well-stocked and prepared for Funny Car battle
After running a pair of career-best passes at the season finale in Pomona last November, Bob Bode couldn’t wait to get back on the track this season. He had no idea it would be late April before that happened.
After running a pair of career-best passes at the season finale in Pomona last November, Bob Bode couldn’t wait to get back on the track this season. He had no idea it would be late April before that happened.
“We always go to Pomona [for the…
NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Friday preview
The second of two four-wide races of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season kicks off today with two qualifying sessions at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte, N.C.
The second of two four-wide races of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season kicks off today with two qualifying sessions at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte, N.C.
Just three weeks ago, the teams duked it out four-wide at The Strip…
Brittany Force and Robert Hight pull off JFR nitro sweep in Houston
Brittany Force and teammate Robert Hight shared the winner's circle for the third time in their careers following a pair of convincing nitro wins at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals in Houston.
Brittany Force and teammate Robert Hight shared the winner's circle for the third time in their careers following a pair of convincing nitro wins at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals in Houston.
Force captured her ninth career win and…
Today's Top Fuel undercard, Austin Prock vs. Jordan Vandergriff,
Rookie Top Fuel drivers Jordan Vandergriff and Austin Prock are set to square off for the first time today and the loser might never hear the end of it.
Barring a miraculous tie, there can only be one winner of the Auto Club Road to the Future award which makes today’s first-round Top Fuel battle between rookies Austin Prock and Jordan Vandergriff one of the day’s marquee match-up. Both freshman…
Forever willing to experiment, Head believes he's on the right track
In four decades of nitro racing, Jim Head's philosophy hasn't changed. In his never-ending quest to build a better mousetrap, he's going to do things his way
Jim Head is many things, but a quitter isn’t one of them. A nitro racer since the early 1980s, he’s paid his dues a thousand times over, so while he and driver Jonnie Lindberg have struggled so far this year, he’s not about to abandon ship.
“I’ll…
Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Sunday Preview
Eliminations are set to kick off at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals with Brittany and John Force as the top qualifiers in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively.
Welcome to race day at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals where the champions of the fifth race of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season will be crowned.
The NHRA raced set the stage for a final day packed with Top Fuel,…
Force family stays on top, but the Houston fields get a lot closer
Brittany and John Force earn a pair of green hats as the top qualifiers at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals in Houston,
Brittany Force's track record 3.661 from Friday night held up for the top spot in Top Fuel while father, John's 3.888 also survived an onslaught in the Funny Car class. However, that doesn't mean there weren't a lot of great runs on Saturday in…
Hey Houston, say hello to the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class
Mountain Motor Pro Stock teams enjoy a successful exhibition during the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals.
They look a bit like traditional NHRA Pro Stock cars and there is also a bit of a resemblance to some of the cars in the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod series. There’s a good reason for that because the Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars that participated in a…
Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Saturday Preview
Welcome to day two of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil Houston Raceway Park, where two rounds of qualifying today will set the professional fields for Sunday's final eliminations.
Welcome to Day 2 of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park where final qualifying today will set the fields for Sunday's final eliminations.
Yesterday, a pair of impressive runs by…
Cruz Pedregon: “I didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to be a crew chief”
Cruz Pedregon embraces his dual roles as the driver and tuner of the Snap-on Dodge Funny Car.
Cruz Pedregon is crystal clear about one thing; he became the crew chief of his Snap-on tools Dodge this year out of economic necessity. Budgets being what they are, he’s realized that even when there is A level talent available, which is rare, he…
Force family sweeps Friday qualifying in Houston
Brittany Force sets both ends of the Houston Raceway Park track record while father, John leads tough Funny Car field.
Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel driver Brittany Force led both of Friday's nitro sessions in Houston including a track record 3.661, 332.18 run under the lights on Friday night. In her first season with David Grubnic as crew chief, Force has already…
For Bob Tasca III, winning is a family tradition
Getting a handle on some early-season chassis woes, Bob Tasca III is more convinced than ever that his first win of the season is just around the corner.
Last weekend at the NMCA event at Atlanta Dragway, Carl Tasca, the uncle of NHRA Funny Car racer Bob Tasca III, won his first race when he drove his Cobra Jet Mustang to a victory the Factory Supercar class, which mirrors NHRA’s own SAM Tech.edu…
Accountability is key for David Grubnic
When he looks at the Advance Auto Parts team and driver Brittany Force, crew chief David Grubnic sees nothing but potential.
When it comes to the performance of the Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster, crew chief David Grubnic has little to apologize for, but the affable Aussie is big on accountability so he’s willing to take the heat for the fact that his driver,…
Houston Top Fuel Friday results: Q2
Brittany Force rocks Houston with a track record 3.661, 332.18 to dominate Friday's Top Fuel qualifying in Houston.
By the time she ran in the final pair under the lights on Friday at Houston Raceway Park, Brittany Force had been bumped from the No. 1 spot to No. 7 but she quickly regained the pole with a stunning 3.661, 332.18 to claim both ends of the track…