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Keeping NHRA Fans Up to Date

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The Year in Photos

The award-winning National Dragster photographers compiled this collection of exciting and emotional moments from the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season.
31 Dec 2022
NHRA National Dragster staff
Gallery
The 2022 season ended with a bang for 16-time world champ John Force when he blew the body off of his Peak Camaro Funny Car at the Auto Club NHRA Finals. (Bob Johnson photo) 30
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Steve Jackson partners with Sindei Frigo’s Artivinco Racing for 2023 and beyond

Two-time NHRA Pro Modified champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson isn’t even out of the cast he’s been wearing since undergoing neck surgery on December 19, 2022. Yet, he’s already running wide open into 2023.
30 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Sidnei Frigo
Two-time NHRA Pro Modified champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson isn’t even out of the cast he’s been wearing since undergoing neck surgery on December 19, 2022. Yet, he’s already running wide open into 2023.   Jackson has confirmed that he has…
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Dazzling performances, career-best season earn Force second Top Fuel crown

30 Dec 2022
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
Brittany Force
No one at John Force Racing ever envisioned it as a five-year plan for Brittany Force to win a second NHRA Top Fuel world championship, but that’s what it ultimately took for someone to finally unseat Steve Torrence after a four-year reign atop the…
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New team ownership, Indy win highlight Capps’ third championship title season

Ron Capps never led the points until when it mattered the most, on the last day of the season, but he nonetheless enjoyed a thrilling and highlight-filled season in his first year as a Funny Car team owner. 
29 Dec 2022
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
Ron Capps
Ron Capps had been to the NHRA U.S. Nationals dozens of times, seeking the most prestigious victory in the sport, but had always walked away empty-handed no matter how he tried to approach the event. This year, in his 27th attempt, he finally…
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Cool facts and curious figures from Matt Smith’s sixth championship

Two bikes, or not two bikes. That is the question and Matt Smith had an answer as he took a unique approach to the Pro Stock Motorcycle class to win his sixth Camping World NHRA championship.
27 Dec 2022
Brian Lohnes, NHRA on FOX announcer
Feature
Matt Smith
As we continue to traipse into the ever more frigid depths of the off-season it’s high time that we look behind the curtain in retrospect at the season of Matt Smith, who won his sixth Pro Stock Motorcycle title. This time Smith straddled two…
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With sixth Pro Stock Motorcycle title, Smith ties the greatest of all time

With a sixth Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, Matt Smith tied the late Dave Schultz and Andrew Hines as the only riders to have ever won as many titles. 
27 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
2022 NHRA world champion
Matt Smith
Matt Smith had some major goals for the 2022 season of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. To begin with, he and wife Angie started the season targeting a No. 1 and No. 2 finish in the Pro Stock Motorcycle points, and they nearly pulled it…
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Most dominant season of Enders' career leads to fifth Pro Stock championship

The list of drivers who have won five or more NHRA Pro Stock championships is short, but it includes some of the best racers the sport has ever produced, including Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Greg Anderson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and now Erica Enders. 
26 Dec 2022
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
Erica Enders
The list of drivers who have won five or more NHRA Pro Stock championships is short, but it includes some of the best racers the sport has ever produced, including Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Greg Anderson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and now Erica Enders.…
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At 18, Dylan Winefsky is taking a nostalgic approach to racing

25 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
Feature
Dylan Winefsky
Nostalgia drag racing is an experience like none other. Attending an NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series event at Firebird Raceway in Boise or meandering through orange groves to suddenly stumble upon Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., is like jumping…
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the NHRA staff

The staff of the NHRA wishes a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the fans, sponsors, race teams, racetracks, and other supporters of the NHRA.
25 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Merry Christmas
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After dominating four-win season, Thorne becomes a force to be reckoned with

It would be a fair assumption that few people outside of the hardcore Pro Mod fans knew Kris Thorne’s name before the 2022 season launched, but after scoring four 2022 wins and the championship, it’s a sure bet that his name won’t soon be forgotten.
24 Dec 2022
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
Kris Thorne
It would be a fair assumption that few people outside of the hardcore Pro Mod fans knew Kris Thorne’s name before the 2022 season launched, but after scoring four wins and outdueling one of the class’ all-time greats to win the world championship…
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Two-time Pro Mod champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson sidelined following neck surgery

Two-time NHRA Pro Modified champion Stevie "Fast" Jackson underwent surgery on Monday, December 19, 2022, to repair damage to his neck following multiple high-speed crashes dating back to 2008. Doctors have said he could be sidelined for up to six months while healing.
23 Dec 2022
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
Steve Jackson
Two-time NHRA Pro Modified champion Stevie "Fast" Jackson underwent surgery on Monday, December 19, 2022, to repair damage to his neck following multiple high-speed crashes dating back to 2008. Doctors have said he could be sidelined for up to six…
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Backstory: What drives Top Fuel's Josh Hart?

Josh Hart wasn't treading lightly when he made his NHRA Top Fuel debut two years ago, and his intensity certainly didn't wane over his sophomore season. When the events of Hart's pre-nitro life are brought into perspective, his assertive stance makes a lot of sense. 
23 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
Feature
Josh Hart
Josh Hart wasn't treading lightly when he made his NHRA Top Fuel debut two years ago, and his intensity certainly didn't wane over his sophomore season. In 2022 — his first full schedule as a nitro pilot and team owner — Hart finished in the top 10…
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A method to the madness: looking back at John Force’s 2022 season

John Force enjoyed another successful season in 2022 with a win in Charlotte and runner-up finishes in Sonoma and Topeka on his way to a No. 5 finish. Courtesy of Brian Lohnes, here's a closer look at how he did it.
22 Dec 2022
Brian Lohnes, NHRA on FOX announcer
Feature
John Force
One of the most fascinating things about the sport of drag racing is that the cars are so powerful, the acceleration so off the charts, that wily racers with experience can sometimes kind of make the numbers lie in their favor. John Force had a…
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Severance returns to championship form in competitive Top Alcohol Dragster class

In 2002, Joey Severance reclaimed his position as King of the Hill and earned the fifth NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster championship of his career in a category that is displaying increasing parity.
22 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
2022 NHRA world champion
Joey Severance
Not long ago, Joey Severance put forth a dominant performance that resulted in four consecutive championships; but from 2019 to 2021, the driver of the J&A Services supercharged Top Alcohol Dragster found himself displaced from the top spot.…
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Gordon overcomes midseason crash to win a second Alcohol Funny Car title

Think about being a prizefighter who gets knocked down in the middle rounds of the fight but gets back up and keeps punching and wins the bout. That’s Doug Gordon, your 2022 Top Alcohol Funny Car champion, who recovered from a nasty midseason crash to win the title.
21 Dec 2022
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
Doug Gordon
Think about being a prizefighter who gets knocked down in the middle rounds of the fight but gets back up and keeps punching and wins the bout. Or a hockey player, bruised and battered and sent to the locker room in the second period only to…
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After KB Titan merger, Greg Anderson sees greatness ahead with powerful reinforcements

Greg Anderson wasn't able to defend his 2021 Pro Stock championship but that doesn't mean his 2022 season wasn't a success, and he's even more optimistic about his future.
21 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
Feature
Greg Anderson
The 2022 Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series did not go as planned for this year's incoming Pro Stock champion. For Greg Anderson, who earned his fifth world title in 2021, this year was essentially a tale of two seasons – the first half was an…
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Barton makes strong comeback to claim Constant Aviation Factory Stock title

Frustrated by his runner-up finish in the 2021 Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, David Barton delivered an all-star performance in 2022 that included three wins and a season championship and a robust total of 712 points.
21 Dec 2022
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
David Barton
Frustrated by his runner-up finish in the 2021 Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, David Barton went into the 2022 season determined to have a better outcome, and he delivered an all-star performance that included three wins and a season…
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Reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso joins KB Titan Racing

Heading into the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso will be one of four drivers racing under the KB Titan Racing banner behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro in Pro Stock.
20 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Camrie Caruso
Heading into the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso will be one of four drivers racing under the KB Titan Racing banner behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro in Pro Stock. The move was…
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Powerhouse teams KB Racing, Titan Racing merge to become KB Titan Racing

Following the retirement of founder Ken Black, KB Racing has announced a merger with Titan Racing, to form a team that will now be known as KB Titan Racing. They are expected to field multiple Pro Stock entries during the 2023 Camping World NHRA Drag Racing season.
19 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Greg Anderson
Ken Black had big dreams when he formed KB Racing in 2002, and two decades later, his dreams were more than recognized with 176 total victories and nine world championships in the ultra-competitive NHRA Pro Stock category. At the conclusion of 2022…
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NHRA, JEGS partner on long-term extension; JEGS Allstars to take place in Dallas

JEGS will continue as a partner of NHRA as part of a multi-year extension, including the continuation of the longtime JEGS Allstars and JEGS SPORTSnationals. The JEGS Allstars will move to Texas Motorplex in October as part of the Texas NHRA FallNationals.
19 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News, Series Program Info
Jegs
JEGS, an industry-leading DTC, e-commerce retailer and distributor of high-performance automotive aftermarket parts and accessories, will continue as a partner of NHRA as part of a multi-year extension. The long-term partnership includes the…
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Flexjet named title sponsor of NHRA Factory Stock Showdown; schedule expands to 10 events

NHRA has announced that Flexjet, a global leader in subscription-based private aviation, has been named the title sponsor of the exciting Factory Stock Showdown class for the upcoming 2023 season.
19 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Dave Davies
NHRA has announced that Flexjet, a global leader in subscription-based private aviation, has been named the title sponsor of the exciting Factory Stock Showdown class for the upcoming 2023 season. The fan-favorite Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown…
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From crew chief to driver, Priddy shows off championship form for Comp title

As a longtime crewmember for the Mountain View Performance team, Ryan Priddy had enjoyed success as a bracket, Top Sportsman, and Factory Stock racer, all of which provided the necessary experience to fuel his drive to the 2022 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Comp world title.
19 Dec 2022
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
Ryan Priddy
As a longtime crewmember for the Mountain View Performance team, Ryan Priddy certainly knows his way around a race car, but prior to this season, he hadn’t had many opportunities to showcase his skills as a driver, at least on a national stage.…
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D’Agnolo takes on the best of the best to win Super Stock championship

The old adage “In order to be the champ, you’ve got to beat the champ” is one of the most over-used clichés in sports, but it just happens to perfectly describe Pete D’Agnolo’s 2022 season and his drive to the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Super Stock world championship. 
18 Dec 2022
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
2022 NHRA world champion
Pete D’Agnolo
The old adage “In order to be the champ, you’ve got to beat the champ” is one of the most over-used clichés in sports, but it just happens to perfectly describe Pete D’Agnolo’s 2022 season and his drive to the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Super…
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Midseason victory launches Stock championship charge for Hidalgo

It took nearly two decades, but Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. was finally able to check a mighty goal off his to-do list when he earned the 2022 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Stock eliminator world title. 
16 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
2022 NHRA world champion
Jimmy Hidalgo Jr.
It took nearly two decades, but Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. was finally able to check a mighty goal off his to-do list when he earned the 2022 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Stock eliminator world title.  “I just love the challenge and the mental…
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Relentless red: The cold, hard numbers behind Erica Enders’ fifth world title

Erica Enders won her fifth Camping World NHRA Pro Stock title thanks to a dominant performance but just how dominant was she? NHRA's Brian Lohnes takes a closer look at the numbers from 2022.
16 Dec 2022
Brian Lohnes, NHRA on FOX announcer
Feature
Erica Enders
In the world of NHRA Camping World Drag Racing there’s honestly just one overriding statistic that matters; the points count at the end of the season. That’s the true measuring stick of success and failure in this sport. It is also a number that…
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A Little Christmas Miracle

16 Dec 2022
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
A Little Christmas Miracle
  Now that all the drama has died down and the worry beads have mostly been put away, I'd like to share my little Christmas miracle with you. Over the last 15 years in this column, I've had the honor of eulogizing a lot of drag racers…
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Super Comp title rounds out an overall exceptional year of racing for Glenn

Jim Glenn wasn’t planning to run a full schedule in NHRA Super Comp competition, but after some early success, he wisely reconfigured his take on the season and, ultimately, earned his first NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Super Comp championship. 
16 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
2022 NHRA world champion
Jim Glenn
Jim Glenn wasn’t planning to run a full schedule in NHRA Super Comp competition, but after winning the season-opening Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals and then securing a runner-up at the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix one week later, plans changed…
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Ron Capps names Tom Buckingham as new assistant crew chief

Three-time and reigning world champion Ron Capps Motorsports has promoted car chief Tom Buckingham to assistant crew chief on the NAPA Toyota Supra Funny Car.
15 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Tom Buckingham
When longtime crew chief John Medlen announced his retirement toward the end of the 2022 NHRA Camping World Series season, the Ron Capps Motorsports team knew they were left with big shoes to fill. For the past six years, Medlen had worked side-by-…
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Pulling the Chutes on 2022

On this season-ending episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes reviews the hot news from the PRI Show, takes a retrospective look over the year that was, teases some interesting stuff that is in the news pipeline, and looks forward to the 2023 season. 
15 Dec 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
NHRA Insider podcast
Insider podcast
  On this season-ending episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes reviews the hot news from the PRI Show, takes a retrospective look over the year that was, teases some interesting stuff that is in the news pipeline, and…
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Implausible scenario transforms into victory for Super Gas champion Locke

It was a longshot, but it was one that Bob Locke had to take. In the end, it paid off, and as he stood in the shadows awaiting the bright lights of the winner’s circle at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, the only thing sparkling more than Locke’s glistening new set of trophies was a gigantic, insuppressible grin. 
15 Dec 2022
Kelly Wade
2022 NHRA world champion
Bob Locke
It was a longshot, but it was one that Whiteland, Ind., Super Gas racer Bob Locke had to take. In the end, it paid off, and as he stood in the shadows awaiting the bright lights of the winner’s circle at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, the only thing…
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