NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It wasn’t so long ago that Jeff Diehl’s idea of a meeting was sitting on his surfboard with some friends waiting for some tasty waves to roll in, but the privateer Funny Car driver/owner finds himself now networking for sponsorships to keep his nitro hot rod running.

Since partnering last year with Kevin Moore, owner of SpeedTech Motorsports, Diehl and wife Leeza have been more proactive in looking for partners and now that they have a three-second machine, they’re looking for more.

The team has been busy throughout the off-season promoting their groundbreaking collaboration, showcasing it at a series of high-profile events, including exotic car gatherings, track day experiences, and SoCal Speed Shop events, focused not only on increasing their visibility but also on laying a strong foundation for the upcoming season. 

“I’d always been against doing that [stuff], you know, shake hands and stand there all day, but it's a new road for me,” said Diehl. “We’ve got some people pretty interested right now, so it's all good.”

Moore owns a number of businesses in Northern California, including an exotic car brokership and is getting into high-end show-car building business and is launching a ride-and-drive experience that will allow Everyday Joes to drive exotic cars around racetracks like Sonoma Raceway and Laguna Seca.

“We’ve got Kevin’s exotic car business up and running, and he's got a lot of people bringing in some really high-end cars including these crazy Formula cars and stuff and the shop’s almost done,” said Diehl. “Having Kevin as a partner has allowed us to buy more and better parts, and you can see how well the car has been running the last year.”

Moore has already embarked on the licensing process for a Top Fuel dragster last fall in Las Vegas in Scott Palmer’s car is set to finalize the process by early 2025. This proactive move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the competitive readiness and operational synergy between the two racing powerhouses. 

“I’m excited to be part of the JDR family,” said Moore. “Our joint efforts and the momentum we’re building through these events and licensing initiatives are setting the stage for a dynamic and competitive 2025 season. The collaboration with JDR Racing represents a significant step forward for SpeedTech Motorsports.”