Weekend Rewind: 2023 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
From first-round upsets to Mike Salinas' blazing 338-mph speed, the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, the penultimate event of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season, had plenty of action and drama. Relive it now in our Weekend Rewind video.
Five things we learned in Brainerd
By any measuring stick, the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd was an extremely competitive and highly entertaining event. Here are five things we learned from NHRA’s annual stop in Minnesota.
RON CAPPS IS THE UNDISPUTED MAYOR OF THE BRAINERD ZOO
While John Force is still the all-time winnngest driver at Brainerd Int’l Raceway with an amazing 11 Funny Car titles, its actually Ron Capps that’s synonymous with the…
As the Countdown to the Championship looms, so does Tim Wilkerson
with the field for the Countdown to the Championship taking shape, the 2023 Camping World NHRA Funny Car title is very much up for grabs, and Tim Wilkerson has every reason to think he’s one of the favorites.
Take a quick look at the history of Tim Wilkerson in the Funny Car class, including 15-straight years of Top 10 finishes and a best of No. 2 in 2004 and suddenly, the notion of him winning the Camping World NHRA Funny Car final isn’t so far-fetched…
Jerry Tucker doesn’t feel like a rookie, but Rookie of the Year voters might see things differently.
Team Elite Pro Stock driver Jerry Tucker scoffs at the notion of becoming NHRA’s next Rookie of the Year award recipient, but the sone cold reality is that he’s the current frontrunner for the prestigious award.
Team Elite Pro Stock driver Jerry Tucker scoffs at the notion of becoming NHRA’s next Rookie of the Year award recipient, but the sone cold reality is that he’s the current frontrunner for the prestigious award.
“I’m 48 years old. That’s too old…
Bob Tasca III hitting stride at ideal time approaching Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
A week after getting a back-to-back win at a track, Funny Car standout Bob Tasca III will try to accomplish that again at this weekend’s 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
A week after getting a back-to-back win at a track, Funny Car standout Bob Tasca III will try to accomplish that again at this weekend’s 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Tasca accomplished the feat…
Five memorable moments from the history of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals has been a mainstay of the NHRA tour since 1982 and has provided fans with scores of thrills, chills, and spills in the decades since. Here's a look at five of the most memorable moments at Brainerd International Raceway.
Return to roots has Greg Anderson excited about Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
For the first time since 2019, five-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson will compete at Brainerd International Raceway, the track where he grew up racing, for this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
After four years away, Pro Stock is back at Brainerd International Raceway for this weekend’s 41st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, which means it’s the first time since 2019 that five-time world champ Greg Anderson will compete at the track where…
Behind the Scenes with the winners of the 2023 Menards NHRA Nationals
Go behind the scenes with the winners of the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor as they celebrate their victories with their teams and one another.
Weekend Rewind: 2023 Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor
The Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor fought the weather all weekend at Heartland Motorsport Parks, but the resulting racing and joyous celebrations more than made up for it.
We review the top speeds from Topeka's House of Speed—2023 edition
Topeka’s House of Speed can handle all of the heat and any of the speeds that NHRA throws at it. Check out the qualifying run recap from the 2023 Menards NHRA Nationals Presented By PetArmor.
Bob Tasca III shared his latest Funny Car win with Ford's top car enthusiasts
The fastest Ford has ever gone is with Bob Tasca III at the wheel of his Ford Mustang Funny Car. This week Tasca shared that glory with all of Ford Motor Company.
From the Ford Flathead V-8-powered-cars that ran on the dry lake beds in the 1940s, to the modern-day 11,000-hp nitromethane-burning Ford Mustang Funny Car, nearly all of Ford's highest horsepower and top speed records have come from racing…
Five things we learned at the Menards NHRA Nationals in Topeka
The 34th annual Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park will forever be burned into memory for all in attendance. For some, it was a resurgence, for others, a time to celebrate history in the best way possible. Here are five takeaways from the event.
The 34th annual Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park will forever be burned into memory for all in attendance. For some, it was a resurgence, for others, a time to celebrate history in the best way possible. Here are five takeaways…
Chris Cunningham on how critical Top Fuel power management is in 2023
Austin Prock's crew chief explains the delicate balance of making power and running up against the best tuners in the sport—without exceeding the capability of the equipment
Tuner Mike Guger focused on bringing Buddy Hull forward in Top Fuel
Success in drag racing requires a well-mixed cocktail. Proper parts and pieces, a capable crew, a strong driver, and an apt and ever-learning crew chief are all required for long-term progress and performance. Buddy Hull assembled all of those things prior to the 2023 season, including tapping veteran tuner Mike Guger as his crew chief.
Success in drag racing requires a well-mixed cocktail. Proper parts and pieces, a capable crew, a strong driver, and an apt and ever-learning crew chief are all required for long-term progress and performance. Buddy Hull assembled all of those…
Pro Stock’s Troy Coughlin Jr. looks to pick up where he left off a month ago
After nearly a month off, the Pro Stock class returns to action this weekend at Heartland Motorsports Park, which marks the perfect location for standout Troy Coughlin Jr., who claimed the most recent Pro Stock victory last month in Denver.
After nearly a month off, the Pro Stock class returns to action this weekend at Heartland Motorsports Park, which marks the perfect location for standout Troy Coughlin Jr.
The rising star claimed the most recent Pro Stock victory last month…
Five memorable moments from the history of Heartland Motorsports Park
The NHRA has been holding national events at Heartland Motorsport Park since 1989, and the heroics and histrionics that have taken place could fill a book. Here's a look at just five of the memorable moments at the vaunted Kansas facility.
Coming off successful Western Swing, Torrence's Capco boys ready for more
With a win in Seattle and a pair of victories in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, Steve Torrence and the Capco team enter the final stretch of the regular season with renewed confidence and enthusiasm.
Steady improvement has Funny Car’s Chad Green excited for Topeka event
With each passing race, things seem to get better and better for Funny Car’s Chad Green, who made his first career final-round appearance at the most recent race in Sonoma.
With each passing race, things seem to get better and better for Funny Car’s Chad Green, who made his first career final-round appearance at the most recent race in Sonoma.
Heading into this weekend’s Menards NHRA Nationals presented by…
Confident Grubnic expects Force team to turn the corner in the very near future
Defending Top Fuel champion Brittany Force hasn’t been to a final round this season and has a win-loss record hovering around the .500 mark, but her veteran tuner David Grubnic isn’t sweating it. He’s confident that the best is still to come.
David Grubnic knows how it looks. His driver, defending NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel champion Brittany Force, hasn’t been to a final round this season and has a win-loss record hovering around the .500 mark, but the veteran tuner…
Thirty years later, Jim Epler’s drive to 300 remains among Heartland’s highlights
Thirty years ago at Heartland Motorsports Park, Jim Epler became the first Funny Car driver to exceed 300 mph. Epler, now the Executive Vice-President of Phillips Connect, looks back on his historic achievement.
Like so many others in the industry, Jim Epler will mourn the loss of another racing venue this week when Heartland Motorsports Park plays host to professional drag racing for the last time with the 33rd renewal of the Menard’s NHRA Nationals…
Antron Brown looks to replicate last year's success at Heartland Motorsports Park
A year ago — and in his first season as a team owner — Heartland Motorsports Park was the place for a major moment for Top Fuel star Antron Brown. The three-time world champion hopes to continue that success at this year's event.
A year ago — and in his first season as a team owner — Heartland Motorsports Park was the place for a major moment for Top Fuel star Antron Brown. The three-time world champion won his first race as a team owner, setting the stage for Brown’s big…
Joe Maynard, Tony Schumacher reflect on the year past and the season ahead
On the one-year anniversary of the forming of JCM Racing, team patriarch Joe Maynard and his primary driver, eight-time NHRA Top Fuel world champ Tony Schumacher, discuss the past year and what lies ahead for all three of the Maynard-affiliated teams.
A year ago, Joe and Cathi Maynard fulfilled a long dream of becoming NHRA team owners by assuming control of the team of eight-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher, going from sponsoring partner of the then Don Schumacher-led team to…
Western Swing Pro Stock Motorcycle recap: Sweeps and swoons on two wheels
It’s Gaige Herrera’s world, and we’re all just living in it. The Pro Stock Motorcycle sophomore became the ninth racer to sweep the Western Swing, the first to do it on two wheels, and dominated action. Here's a look at how the top riders fared. Final in a three-part series.
The three-race Western Swing is the gateway to the home stretch of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season that sets the contenders for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs and a pivotal time for teams trying to…
Western Swing Funny Car recap: Hits, misses, and movement in the middle
With a full-house win/runner-up/semifinal trio of finishes, J.R. Todd was the Funny Car star of the Western Swing, even if he did not gain a massive position improvement. Here's a look at how the top Funny Car players fared. Second in a multi-part series.
The three-race Western Swing is the gateway to the home stretch of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season that sets the contenders for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs and a pivotal time for teams trying to…
Back-to-back wins extend historic streak for Justin Lamb on Western Swing
Five-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion Justin Lamb won in Seattle and Sonoma to claim the trophy on back-to-back weekends, lengthening a streak that has seen at least one national event win in each season since 2012.
Few racers in NHRA competition have been able to string together win after win, year after year, but for five-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion Justin Lamb, it's a streak he's been able to keep alive for 12 years running. Lamb swept in…
Western Swing Top Fuel recap: Who gained ground and who lost traction
With eight round-wins — including a victory in Seattle and semifinal finishes in Denver and Sonoma — Steve Torrence led the way in Top Fuel over the three-race Western Swing and cut strongly into Justin Ashley’s points lead. Here's a look at how the top players fared. First in a multi-part series.
The three-race Western Swing is the gateway to the home stretch of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season that sets the contenders for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs and a pivotal time for teams trying to…
Behind the Scenes with the winners of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals
Go behind the scenes with the winners of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals as they celebrate their victories with their teams and one another and accept congratulations from their vanquished final-round foes.
Weekend Rewind: Relive the highlights of the 2023 Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals
The Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals was the third and final event in the historic NHRA Western Swing and provided thrills and upsets for the eager fans at Sonoma Raceway. Enjoy this video recap of the weekend.
Spirited rivalries aside, Alex Laughlin would prefer to let his performance do the talking
Alex Laughlin’s feud with J.R. Todd has been the talk of the drag racing world the last two weeks, but what Laughlin really wants is more on-track success.
When he feels as though he’s been disrespected, Alex Laughlin isn’t afraid to return fire, which helps explain his ongoing rivalry with Kalitta Motorsports driver J.R. Todd. The battle between the two drivers has been chronicled extensively on both…