NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Don Prudhomme and Tommy Ivo star in Night of Champions at Wally Parks NHRA Museum

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Tommy Ivo joined Jack Beckman on stage at a special Night of Champions at the Wally Parks NHRA Museum following a great day of qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com.
07 Feb 2020
NHRA National Dragster staff
Feature
Tommy Ivo and Don Prudhomme
The road to becoming a drag racing champion is grueling, lonely, and doesn’t come out without sacrifices.  But it does make for some unforgettable stories.  For nearly 20 years the place to hear those stories, told by the people who…
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It's all about the music when nitro drivers 'tune up' for Friday Prime Time program

NHRA’s Friday night Prime Time qualifying program allows Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers to choose their introduction music and few were better at it last year than J.R. Todd. Here's a look back at last year's best music pickers and their choices.
07 Feb 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
J.R. Todd
When 2018 Mello Yello Funny Car world champ J.R. Todd rolls into Friday night qualifying at this year’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, the driver of the DHL Toyota won’t be defending his Mello Yello title, but he still has a crown to defend: the…
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Behind the scenes at NHRA's annual Media Day: Photoshoots and fun for all

Prior to the start of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals each season, NHRA drivers take part in Media Day, posing for photos and video footage to be used throughout the season. Here’s a look at some fun moments from the photoshoots.
07 Feb 2020
NHRA National Dragster staff
Feature
Leah Pritchett
Prior to the start of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals each season, NHRA drivers take part in Media Day, posing for photos and video footage to be used throughout the season. NHRA on FOX, NHRA National Dragster magazine, NHRA social media, and…
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Pre-season trailer fire has Ron Capps and the NAPA team starting from behind

Every team wants to start the season on fire, but for Ron Capps and the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car team, a trailer fire prior to pre-season testing has them starting from behind in Pomona.
07 Feb 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Ron Capps
Ron Capps and the Rahn Tobler-led Don Schumacher Racing/NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car will start the 2020 season at a bit of a disadvantage after they were forced to skip pre-season testing after a trailer fire heavily damaged their equipment.…
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Blast from the past: 30 years after last run, Mark Maxwell's Camaro is back on track

More than 30 years after it last went down the Pomona track at the 1989 World Finals, Mark Maxwell is finally back behind the wheel of his Camaro Stocker, which had been environmentally bagged for three decades.
07 Feb 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Mark Maxwell
The last time that Mark Maxwell drove his ’67 Camaro Stocker down the quarter-mile in Pomona, way back at the 1989 World Finals, he was a 19-year-old with a mouthful of braces. More than 30 years later, the La Grange, Calif., racer, who…
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Don Prudhomme relives his breakthrough win at the 1965 Winternationals

Fifty-five years ago, at the 1965 Winternationals, NHRA legend Don Prudhomme scored his first of 49 career victories. "The Snake" relives that magic moment with NHRA's Lewis Bloom.
06 Feb 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Don Prudhomme
//hide image on specific article jQuery(document).ready(function ($) { }); Don “the Snake” Prudhomme collected his first NHRA event win and his first of five at the Winternationals, driving Roland Leong’s Hawaiian Top Fueler to victory.…
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Lex Joon geared up for 2020 NHRA Top Fuel season after major upgrades

Former European Top Fuel champ Lex Joon won't be at the season-opening Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, but after a number of major improvements to his team, he's more than ready for the year ahead.
06 Feb 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Lex Joon
  To purchase general-admission or reserved seats for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, call 800-884-NHRA(6472). Tickets also are available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and…
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60th Winternationals flashback: Beadle, Bernstein raise the roof for '81 FC final

One of the craziest moments in Winternationals history came at the 1981 event with a massive pre-final-round pit thrash in the pits of Funny Car star Raymond Beadle, where the roof of Kenny Bernstein's car was transplanted onto Beadle's wounded car.
06 Feb 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Winternationals
It was one of the craziest moments in Winternationals history when at the 1981 event the roof of Raymond Beadle’s famed Blue Max Funny Car blew off at the finish line on a winning semifinal run. In a miraculous thrash known as "the Texas…
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50 Years of Pro Stock salute: A look back at the 1970 NHRA Pro Stock rules

Pro Stock cars have come a long way since their debut at the 1970 Winternationals. Here's a look at the very first Pro Stock rules, as printed in the 1970 NHRA Rulebook.
06 Feb 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Pro Stock
The history of the Pro Stock class is being celebrated by NHRA in 2020 with a 50 Years of Pro Stock salute. The cars have come a long way since their debut at the 1970 Winternationals. Here's a look at the very first Pro Stock rules, as printed in…
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60th Winternationals flashback: Jack Chrisman wins first Top Eliminator title

Jack Chrisman drove the Howard Cams’ twin Chevy-powered “Twin Bears” AA/Dragster to the Top Eliminator win at the first Winternationals, held in 1961 in Pomona.
06 Feb 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Jack Chrisman
Jack Chrisman drove the Howard Cams’ twin Chevy-powered “Twin Bears” AA/Dragster to the first Top Eliminator win at the Winternationals. With a makeshift plywood airfoil on the front of the car, Chrisman defeated Tom McEwen for top honors.…
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California high schoolers will battle in Super Street Camaro at Winternationals

Among the competitors at the 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com is a unique Super Street team with a crew consisting entirely of Central California high school students.
06 Feb 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Super Street
Among the competitors at the 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com is a unique Super Street team with a crew consisting entirely of Central California high school students. Based out of the Santa Maria High…
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60th Winternationals flashback: Muldowney beats Kalitta for 1980 Top Fuel win

Forty years ago at the Winternationals, the Top Fuel final pitted Shirley Muldowney against Connie Kalitta in one of the event's most intriguing matchups. Relive it now in this historic video.
05 Feb 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Shirley Muldowney
The 1980 Winternationals Top Fuel final pitted Shirley Muldowney against Connie Kalitta in one of the event's most intriguing matchups. Together in 1977, with Mulowney driving and Kalitta tuning, they won the Top Fuel world championship. They…
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50 Years of Pro Stock salute: It all started at the 1970 Winternationals

Pro Stock was officially introduced as an NHRA national event eliminator at 1970 Winternationals as the ultimate manufacturer vs. manufacturer battleground, and the first race did not disappoint.
04 Feb 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Bill Jenkins
Pro Stock was officially introduced as an NHRA national event eliminator at 1970 Winternationals as the ultimate manufacturer vs. manufacturer battleground, and the first race did not disappoint. Chevrolet, Plymouth, Dodge, and Ford were all…
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Five things to watch for at the 2020 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona

The 2020 season begins in Pomona with the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals and we've got debuts, returns and reunions to get excited about. 
03 Feb 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Alexis DeJoria
The Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals kicks off the 2020 Mello Yello NHRA Drag Racing season in Pomona at Auto Club Raceway.…
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John Force Racing's third-generation enjoying thrill of Jr. Drag Racing competition

Jacob and Noah Hood, sons of JFR crew chief Danny Hood and former NHRA Funny Car star Ashley Force Hood, along with Autumn Hight, daughter of three-time NHRA Funny Car champ Robert Hight, are regulars in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League competition at Southern California’s Irwindale Raceway.
02 Feb 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Jr. Dragster
The next generation of John Force Racing is already making its presence known in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League. Jacob and Noah Hood, sons of JFR crew chief Danny Hood and former NHRA Funny Car star Ashley Force Hood…
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Brandon Welch putting pieces together ahead of Top Fuel debut

31 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Brandon Welch
Brandon Welch didn't anticipate pedaling his Top Fuel dragster during NHRA testing. But the racer needed to punch through the lights quicker than 4.50-seconds to get a step closer to cross-grade his Funny Car license to Top Fuel.  He got the…
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Antron Brown's fourth title is closer than ever with Brian Corradi back on board

Antron Brown got the band back together at NHRA preseason testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His next win, and championship chase, is on the horizon.
31 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Antron Brown
Antron Brown last won in 2018, a lifetime ago for a three-time world champion and a driver that ranks amongst the greatest of all time.  That figures to change in 2020. Brown teamed back up with Brian Corradi during the offseason and formed…
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See Clay Millican's new Top Fuel dragster at NHRA Testing in Las Vegas

Clay Millican is testing clutch discs and new Goodyear tires at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
30 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Clay Millican
Clay Millican enjoyed a busy but pleasant offseason before beginning preseason testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Parts Plus Top Fuel team spent its offseason rewiring the entire dragster and reorganizing its trailer, a pair of…
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2020 Pro Stock Preview: Why Pro Stock's best days are ahead of it

Fresh faces and unparalleled parity fueled renewed interest in Pro Stock in 2019. That continued as a new decade begins in one of the tightest classes in drag racing.
28 Jan 2020
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Erica Enders
How about if we start with a bit of Pro Stock trivia? Did you know that during the entire decade of the 1980s, just four drivers/teams — Bob Glidden, Frank Iaconio, Warren Johnson, and Reher-Morrison (with Lee Shepherd and later Bruce Allen) — won…
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2020 Funny Car Preview: Surprises await in unpredictable, competitive season

Robert Hight returns as Funny Car champion, but he faces stiff competition in one of the most competitive categories in Mello Yello NHRA Drag Racing.
28 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Robert Hight
Funny Car delivers unpredictability in the predictable way the United States Postal Service shows up with bills and jury summons. Don Prudhomme and John Force ensured it, even when they clobbered opponents when the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds…
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2020 Top Fuel Preview: Is this the best field of all time?

The Top Fuel Class of 2020 excels in every area, making it the best to hit the drag strip in years.
28 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Steve Torrence
Things will only get tougher for Steve Torrence in 2020. The Texan won his second championship in 2019, narrowly keeping Doug Kalitta from lifting the Top Fuel trophy at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, culminating a three-year stretch of unprecedented…
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How fast can Ryan Oehler get to the top of Pro Stock Motorcycle?

Oehler will arrive in Gainesville aiming for his first win, a 200-mph run and his first championship.
27 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Ryan Oehler
Ryan Oehler never stops moving, the tiger shark of both Pro Stock Motorcycle racing and suburban Illinois heating and cooling. He can’t afford to; such is the competitive nature of the two industries that make him a (relatively) known quantity in…
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For the Tasca Racing Funny Car team, practice makes perfect in the pit area, too

Not all of the work being done in shops across the country has to do with going fast on the dragstrip. At Bob Tasca Racing, crew chief Jon Schaffer is emphasizing that speed and attention to detail are just as important in the pits between rounds.
25 Jan 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Bob Tasca
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Two-time Heritage Series Top Fuel champ Mendy Fry ready to burn nitro in Pomona

Two-time NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Top Fuel champion Mendy Fry will be one of the drivers showcased in exhibition passes at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. Fry talks about the great opportunity and walks fans through the components of her dragster.
24 Jan 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Mendy Fry
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, call 800-884-NHRA(6472). Tickets also are available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are…
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Bo Butner ready to defend Winternationals Pro Stock title for second straight year

Former NHRA Pro Stock champion Bo Butner, winner of the last two Winternationals, is revved up and ready for a Pomona three-peat. He joined NHRA's Lewis Bloom via Skype to talk about the season ahead, which celebrates 50 years of Pro Stock.
17 Jan 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Bo Butner
//hide image on specific article jQuery(document).ready(function ($) { }); To purchase general-admission or reserved seats for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, call 800-884-NHRA(6472). Tickets also are available online at …
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What Jason Line means to Pro Stock 50 wins and 17 seasons later

The Pro Stock legend means so much more to the category than his trophy case.
15 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Jason Line
Jason Line chose drag racing when he joined K.B. Racing more than a decade ago. The former NASCAR champion left the engine shop of Joe Gibbs Racing to link up with Greg Anderson, forming a two-headed monster out of Charlotte that went on to dominate…
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Jordan Vandergriff and team working hard for an encore to great rookie season

Jordan Vandergriff was one of the great success stories of 2019 as the rookie Top Fuel driver scored a number of round wins and a runner-up in his first season in the class. NHRA’s John Kernan takes a look at Vandergriff’s season and the road ahead.
14 Jan 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Jordan Vandergriff
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Possibilities and probabilities: Milestones and firsts within reach in 2020

The 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season launches in just about a month at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, and there are a lot of milestones and firsts that could be reached this season. Here’s a look at some possible/probable moments to look forward to.
08 Jan 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Predictions
The 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season launches in just about a month at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, and there are a lot of milestones and firsts that could be reached this season. Here’s a look at some possible/…
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Steve Torrence goes back-to-back in Top Fuel to close decade in dominant fashion

Steve Torrence enjoyed another incredible season and capped the 2010s with back-to-back Top Fuel world championships.
05 Jan 2020
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Steve Torrence
Steve Torrence’s 2019 Top Fuel championship season didn’t end the way he hoped it would — with the fans cheering for him as he raised the championship trophy for the second straight year; quite the opposite actually transpired — but pretty much…
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Robert Hight earns third Funny Car championship to close incredible decade

03 Jan 2020
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Robert Hight
Robert Hight looked unbeatable to start the 2019 season. He won two of the first three races and claimed pole at all three. The Jimmy Prock-tuned Auto Club Chevy Camaro boasted 330 of a possible 390 points and 10 of 12 possible round-wins. A first-…
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