NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Photo highlights from Day 1 of the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.

The Sportsman cars of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series were lined up early eager for their first trips down the Virginia Motorsports Park quarter-mile.

Fernando Cuadra Jr. has followed his father into the Pro Stock ranks and made his pro debut in Q1. For more on the new racer, read the story here.

Pro Stock veteran Kenny Delco showed up with a flashy new paint scheme on his Camaro, but his first run was pre-empted after his parachutes came out after the burnout.

Tim Wilkerson unveiled a new paint scheme, his celebrating the 40th business anniversary of his longtime sponsor, Levi, Ray & Shoup.

John Force is sporting Hurculiner livery on his Peak Chevy this weekend and grabbed the No. 2 spot in Q1 with a 3.971 then took over the No. 1 position with a wild 3.89 later in the day.

Matt Hagan also is rocking a new special-edition paint scheme, saluting his father’s car dealerships at Shelor Motor Mile on his Mopar Funny Car.

Still more special-edition cars? You bet. Former Top Fuel world champ Antron Brown is driving a special Matco Tools for the Cause livery to benefit the Fisher House Foundation. Starting May 1, Matco will donate 15% of net sales of Tools for the Cause items to the Fisher House Foundation through the end of 2019.

Jon Shaffer, left, is in his first event as co-crew chief on Bob Tasca III’s Motorcraft Ford Funny Car with incumbent tuner Eric Lane.

Mike Green, who switched places with Shaffer and is now tuning Austin Prock’s Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster for John Force [story].

The SAMTech.edu Factory Stock Showdown cars are back in action this weekend for the third race of their series. David Barton’s Camaro exemplified the new brand of factory hot rods with this wild wheelstand.

After blowing up his new turbocharged engine during eliminations in Atlanta, former Pro Mod world champ Rickie Smith has reverted to his time-tested nitrous setup for this event.