NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Pro Mod midseason review: After Indy win, can Jackson defend his championship?

Coming off a victory at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals, reigning E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series champ “Stevie Fast” Jackson is now focused on winning his second consecutive championship.
21 Sep 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Steve Jackson
Coming off a victory at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals, reigning E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series champ “Stevie Fast” Jackson is now focused on winning his second consecutive championship. There have been just three races in the E3 Spark…
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Nitro Time Machine: Allen Johnson's frightening Pro Stock crash at the 1999 Gatornationals

During the opening round of competition at the 1999 Gatornationals, Allen Johnson walked away from one of the scariest accidents in the history of the Pro Stock class.
21 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
aj
  To catch all the action of the 2020  Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Sept. 25-27 in person you…
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2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak—Exposed!

Long rumored to be in the works, Dodge gave racers an early look at its 2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak ahead of the 2020 NHRA U.S. Nationals.     
18 Sep 2020
David Kennedy
Feature
2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak—Exposed!
“This is the quickest, fastest and most powerful Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak we’ve ever built,” said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “And, 50 members of the…
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Pro Stock Motorcycle midseason review: Can Pollacheck contend for the title?

Scotty Pollacheck’s win at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals was long overdue. He’s now in a position to win the Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle championship but he’s going to have to hold off a large field of contenders to do it.
18 Sep 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Scotty Pollacheck
With the completion of the recent Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals, Pro Stock Motorcycle riders have run just three events this season and that means there are just five more opportunities for them to earn points this season. Not since the 1976…
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Pro Stock midseason review: Talented newcomers join veterans for epic title fight

Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Jason Line, who have combined to win a dozen Pro Stock world titles, are locked in a battle for the top spot in the factory hot rod class while a fleet of talented rookies prepare to take over the class. Third in a series.
17 Sep 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Erica Enders
With 10 races on the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule for Pro Stock competitors, the recent Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals represents the midway point of the season so it seems like as good a place as any to reflect on what’s…
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Angelle Sampey and the NHRA recognize the contribution our troops make everyday

NHRA's Troops to the Track program, refreshed by Coca-Cola, is the sport's annual military appreciation platform. In 2020, we're finding new ways to honor the service of our military personnel, and today we're recognizing Cpl. Luis Kolb of the Indiana National Guard with the help of Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Angelle Sampey.
16 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Angelle Sampey and the NHRA Troops to the Track
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Funny Car midseason review: It's tight at the top in bruising intra-squad battle

It’s been a Don Schumacher Racing year with DSR cars winning all six events this season and creating a tight top three, led by U.S. Nationals champ Jack Beckman. Here's our look at how they got to the top and what the future may hold for them. Second in a series
16 Sep 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Jack Beckman
With 11 races on the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule, there’s no easily-measurable midseason point, but the recent Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals seems like as good a place as any to reflect on what’s happened and what could…
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Bob Tasca III on what Ford's new Cobra Jet 1400 means to his family

Little did Bob Tasca I know back in 1968 that his grandson, Bob Tasca III would be driving an all-electric Ford Mustang Cobra Jet—one with 1,000 hp more than the original car ever had.
15 Sep 2020
David Kennedy
Feature
Bob Tasca III Ford Cobra Jet 1400 at U.S. Nationals
Read more: How the original 1968 Ford Cobra Jet came to be…
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Top Fuel midseason review: Kalitta still hanging onto his yearlong points lead

Just past the halfway mark in the 2020 season, Doug Kalitta holds a fragile 50-point lead in the Top Fuel points standings. How did he get there? What's happening now? What might happen in the future? First in a series
15 Sep 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Doug Kalitta
With 11 races on the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule, there’s no easily-measurable midseason point, but the recent Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals seems like as good a place as any to reflect on what’s happened and what could…
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Fox Sports' Jamie Little and NHRA's Antron Brown bond over their love of animals

Speed. It's what brings journalists like Jamie Little and drivers like Antron Brown together. Yet it's these two Fox Sports stars' love of animals that allowed them to bond. The pair is working to raise awareness of at-risk animals with the help of Indiana's local Hamilton County Humane Society.
14 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Fox Sports' Jamie Little and NHRA's Antron Brown
Fox Sports' Jamie Little and NHRA's Antron Brown are working to protect the most at-risk animals in…
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John Force on what missing the U.S. Nationals means to a drag racer like him

The Big Go has always been the race where you measure yourself against the best of the best. Yet the 2020 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S.Nationals was missing one of it's legendary racers—and last year's Funny Car winner. Hear John Force in this Skype interview with Brian Lohnes explain why it's so hard for him to not be racing this year.
14 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
John Force NHRA U.S. Nationals
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Infinite Hero Funny Car team not resting on its U.S. Nationals victory laurels

Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Don Schumacher Racing team are back in the shop hard at work after their Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals win, as the points leaders get ready to take their show on the road for the first time in months.
14 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
DSR
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Scotty Pollacheck's first Pro Stock Motorcycle win was well worth the wait

After 11 final round disappointments, many of them heart-breaking, Scotty Pollacheck revels in his first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory at the Denso NHRA U.S. Nationals
12 Sep 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Scotty Polacheck
Eleven times Scotty Pollacheck staged with a chance to win his first Pro Stock Motorcycle race and all 11 times; he came away empty-handed. Five of those finals came in four-wide events at zMax Dragway and the other six were in conventional two-wide…
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Bob Tasca III on racing the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 at the U.S. Nationals

Ford Mustang Funny Car racer Bob Tasca III Skyped with Brian Lohnes to talk about driving the all-electric Ford Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals
10 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Bob Tasca III on racing the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 at the U.S. Nationals
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Scotty Pollacheck's first victory highlighted Indy weekend for Matt Smith Racing

Matt Smith's Denso EBR didn’t get the Pro Stock Motorcycle win at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals, but one of his bikes, ridden by Scotty Pollacheck, did. Follow the team through their busy eliminations day at The Big Go.
09 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
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Matt Smith
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NHRA Shop Talk: Indy's other big winners

We all know the Pro winners from Indy, but NHRA’s Brian Lohnes and Alan Reinhart talked about the biggest stories from the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals. From world records to first-time winners, the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Nitro Harleys, and Pro Mods all brought the house down.
08 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Shop Talk
We all know the Pro winners from Indy, but NHRA’s Brian Lohnes and Alan Reinhart talked about the biggest stories from the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals. From world records to first-time winners, the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Nitro…
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The semifinal pedalfest that preserved Shawn Langdon's chance to win Indy

If not for his talented and experienced right foot, Shawn Langdon wouldn’t be staring at his third Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals trophy and his Kalitta Motorsports organization would not be basking in the glow of a fourth straight victory at The Big Go.
08 Sep 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Shawn Langdon
  If not for his talented and experienced right foot, Shawn Langdon wouldn’t be staring at his third Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals trophy and his Kalitta Motorsports organization would not be basking in the glow of a fourth straight…
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Two years since his last win, Eddie Krawiec believes enough is enough

The way Eddie Krawiec sees it, enough is enough. It’s been more than two years since his last Pro Stock Motorcycle victory and for someone who has won 47 races and four championships, that’s far too long.
06 Sep 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
eddie
The way Eddie Krawiec sees it, enough is enough. It’s been more than two years since his last Pro Stock Motorcycle victory and for someone who has won 47 races and four championships, that’s far too long. It’s fairly easy to pin down the source of…
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Steve Torrence looking to add to his U.S. Nationals legacy with another win

Even though he entered this year’s Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals as the tour’s most recent winner after his victory a month ago at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals, when it comes to racing in Indy at “The Big Go,” everything changes for Steve Torrence. Everything matters more.
06 Sep 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Steve Torrence
Even though he entered this year’s Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals as the tour’s most recent winner after his victory a month ago at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals, also contested here at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, when it comes to…
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Paul Lee has one of the quickest Funny Cars on the tour; is a win coming soon?

The best run in Funny Car in the three races since the resumption of racing following the pandemic shutdown does not belong to points leader Tommy Johnson Jr. or race winners Matt Hagan or Ron Capps. It belongs instead to Paul Lee and crew chiefs Jim Oberhofer and Donnie Bender, even if in an unofficial capacity.
05 Sep 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Paul Lee
Even after last evening’s first night qualifying session, the best run in Funny Car in the three races since the resumption of racing following the pandemic shutdown does not belong to points leader Tommy Johnson Jr. or race winners Matt Hagan or…
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Justin Ashley, T.J. Zizzo prepare for battle; one will score his first Top Fuel win

Justin Ashley and T.J. Zizzo will square off in the final qualifying session Saturday at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals to run their rain-delayed final round from the Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals. Here’s their thoughts before the big moment which will reward one of them with his first career Top Fuel win.
05 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
TJ Zizzo
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Chris and Mason McGaha prepared to take the next step at Indy

Chris McGaha and his son, Mason, have a plan for Indy, and it involves both of their Harlow Sammons team entries making it to Sunday’s final eliminations in Pro Stock.
05 Sep 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
mcgaha
There are 22 Pro Stock cars trying to qualify for the Denso NHRA U.S. Nationals and if Chris McGaha has his way, both he and son, Mason, will occupy two of the 16 available spots on Sunday morning. At least that’s their plan. So far, in two…
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Nostalgia racer Joey Haas making his 'big show' Top Fuel debut at U.S. Nationals

After connecting first on Facebook, Nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Car racer Joey Haas is making his professional debut at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals in Terry Totten's Top Fueler.
05 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Joey Haas
A lot of people meet online, from old high-school friends reuniting to couples getting together, but it's not often that a team owner finds his driver on social media, but that’s the way that Terry Totten connected with his new shoe, Joey Haas, who…
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Steve Torrence honoring Dom Lagana with Nitro Ninja body panels at Indy

In place of his traditional red and black Capco Contractors paint scheme, Steve Torrence's car is wearing the body panels of the Lagana brothers’ Nitro Ninja dragster, a tribute to Capco crewmember Dom Lagana, who remains hospitalized in Indianapolis.
04 Sep 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Steve Torrence
The sunglasses and face coverings couldn’t hide the tears and the lumps in the throats of those gathered around Steve Torrence’s trailer as his crew unloaded his dragster in the pits of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. In place of his…
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Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan preview delayed Funny Car final to be settled in Indy

Jack Beckman and Matt Hagan joined NHRA's Brian Lohnes via Skype to preview their rain-delayed Funny Car final from the Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals, which will be completed on Saturday of the Denso Spark Plugs U.S. Nationals and will give Don Schumacher its milestone 3250th team win,
04 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Jack Beckman
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Chad Green eager to try to win two Pro Mod races on one weekend in Indy

Chad Green will have the chance to do something unique at this weekend’s prestigious Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals, and that’s win twice in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service.
04 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Chad Green
Chad Green will have the chance to do something unique at this weekend’s prestigious Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, and that’s win twice in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by…
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There might be many Indy events, but there's still only one U.S. Nationals

NHRA has competed at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis three times already this season, but when racers assemble again this weekend, it'll be for the coveted Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals, and it;s a whole different Indy. Just ask past winners J.R. Todd and Tony Schumacher.
02 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
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J.R. Todd
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JEGS Allstars Fast Facts

01 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Now celebrating its 36th year, the JEGS Allstars competition is one of the most highly anticipated events of the season for racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Racers can only qualify for one of the coveted spots on the JEGS Allstars…
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Angelle Sampey revels in long-awaited first Harley-Davidson victory

It took longer than she expected, but three-time world champ Angelle Sampey is hoping her recent Pro Stock Motorcycle victory at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals was a sign of things to come.
28 Aug 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
angelle
“I’ll bet you thought I was dead. I ain’t dead yet.”  The quote sounds very much like something John Force could have uttered but, in fact, it came from Angelle Sampey following her most recent win at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented…
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The Super Stock Dart everyone wants to beat at the Dodge NHRA Hemi Challenge

We go one-on-one with Jimmy Daniels, the man whose SS/AH ’68 Dodge Dart has won the Dodge NHRA Hemi Challenge for the last four years in a row—he’s the one the competition is coming gunning for this year.
28 Aug 2020
David Kennedy
Feature
Jimmy Daniels Hemi Challenge Dart
Where did this ’68 Dodge Dart come from?  We purchased the car from Ray and David Barton, at Ray Barton Race Engines, but prior to that, they got it from a fellow named Tom Parham. Tom…
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