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Keeping NHRA Fans Up to Date

Follow our coverage through our newly designed news and videos sections. Don't forget to follow our social media posts.

Of missing jackets, missing friends, missing columns, and moving on down the road

The return of the Dragster Insider includes the tale of the missing firesuit, memories of John "Tarzan" Austin and Dal Denton, and moving on from one NHRA home to another.
22 Oct 2021
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Dragster Insider
Hello, Insider nation! Long time no see. Between running six national events in eight weeks, a bunch of travel, my “streamlined” staff, producing the biggest issue in NHRA National Dragster history (244 pages!), and the process of the big…
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Nitro Time Machine: Matt Hagan grabs his first Las Vegas victory

In our latest Nitro Time Machine, we go back just four years to 2017 when Matt Hagan scored his first Funny Car title at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,
21 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Nitro Time Machine
Matt Hagan
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Fan-friendly Pomona climate will welcome NHRA return for Auto Club NHRA Finals

NHRA fans and others planning to attend the Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 11-14, to witness the dramatic crowning of the 2021 NHRA world champions in Pomona will NOT be subject to vaccine verification or proof of negative COVID test due to voluntary capacity limitations imposed by the NHRA.
21 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Auto Club NHRA Finals
NHRA fans and others planning to attend the 2021 season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 11-14, to witness the dramatic crowning of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world champions in Pomona will NOT be subject to vaccine…
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Eleven Camping World Series drivers eligible for 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year

A diverse field of 11 rookie drivers representing the future of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series were announced by NHRA officials as the eligible candidates for the 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. Drivers must compete in a minimum of five events to be eligible.
21 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
NHRA Rookie of the Year
A diverse field of 11 rookie drivers representing the future of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series were announced by NHRA officials as the eligible candidates for the 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. Drivers must compete in a minimum of…
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NHRA Insider podcast: Coming Up On The Long Side of Short

Matt Smith and J.R.Todd join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast to talk about their respective weekends in Bristol at the Thunder Valley Nationals and to chat about the last two races of the season.
21 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
NHRA Insider podcast
NHRA Insider podcast
  Matt Smith and J.R.Todd join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast to talk about their respective weekends in Bristol at the Thunder Valley Nationals and to chat about the last two races of the season. Both men are…
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Down to the wire: A look at Lucas Oil Series sportsman championship battles

There are two national and two divisional events left this season to decide championships in nine NHRA Lucas Oil Series sportsman eliminators.
20 Oct 2021
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
Paul Mitsos
There are two national and two divisional events left this season to decide championships in nine NHRA Lucas Oil Series sportsman eliminators. Let’s take a closer look at who the favorites are, and who are the drivers who can use a late-season rally…
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The Sports Report: Stanfield takes his shot at a fifth championship

It’s been 27 years since Greg Stanfield won the last of his four NHRA Super Stock championships but after winning in Bristol, he’s on the verge of another one.
20 Oct 2021
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
The Sports Report
Greg Stanfield
The last time that Greg Stanfield was crowned an NHRA world champion, there was no World Series due to a baseball player strike, Johnny Carson made his final appearance on The Tonight Show, and the internet was still a mystery to most people. That…
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Chris Bostick on how to prepare a Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle for Thunder Valley

Speed and traction go hand-in-hand, but as Bostick explains, what Pro Stock Motorcycles lack in ride comfort they more than make up for in their ability to launch off of the starting line.
19 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Chris Bostick on how to prepare a Pro Stock Motorcycle Suzuki for Thunder Valley
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Friction science! Learn all about John Force Racing’s track surface strategy

A rare look at the track maps that John Force Racing's Lanny Miglizzi hand draws of every stop on the Camping World Drag Racing circuit.
19 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Friction science! John Force Racing’s track surface strategy
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Watch J.R. Todd take down Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan

See what was [jokingly] referred to as Ron Capps' favorite moment of the 2021 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
19 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Race coverage
Watch J.R. Todd take down Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan
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Tickets are now on sale for 2022 return of NHRA Arizona Nationals

Tickets are now on sale for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ return to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in 2022 for the NHRA Arizona Nationals on Feb. 25-27.
19 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Arizona Nationals
Tickets are now on sale for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ return to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in 2022 for the NHRA Arizona Nationals on Feb. 25-27. After not racing at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park this year, the NHRA will…
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Fields set for Summit Racing Series National Championship in Las Vegas

The top Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and Super Pro Motorcycle racers from NHRA’s seven geographical divisions will journey to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to vie for national titles in the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship.
19 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Summit Racing Series
The top Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and Super Pro Motorcycle racers from NHRA’s seven geographical divisions will journey to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to vie for national titles in the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship.…
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Five things we learned at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

It’s hard to top the reverberations of 11,000-horsepower echoing through the mountains at Bristol Dragway and it was music to everyone’s ears to have it back at last weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
18 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Feature
Bristol
It’s hard to top the reverberations of 11,000-horsepower echoing through the mountains at Bristol Dragway and it was music to everyone’s ears to have it back at last weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Thunder Valley lived up to its name as…
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Jose Gonzalez clinches NHRA Pro Mod world title in Bristol

Jose Gonzalez earned his first career E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service world championship on Sunday at Bristol Dragway as part of this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
17 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Race coverage
G
Jose Gonzalez clinched his first career E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service world championship on Sunday at Bristol Dragway as part of this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The event was the 10th of…
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Alexis DeJoria caps off magical weekend in Bristol with first win since 2017

On a terrific weekend for DeJoria, she finished the job against J.R. Todd on Sunday, going 3.921-seconds at 327.66 mph to win the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and get her first victory since 2017.
17 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
DeJoria
Bristol Dragway was already one of Alexis DeJoria’s favorite places to race. After a thrilling weekend in Thunder Valley, capped off by her first win since 2017 on Sunday, her love for the facility certainly grew even more. On a truly…
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Home away from home: Mike Salinas wins second straight race at Bristol

Salinas won the most recent event at the track in 2019 and is now a back-to-back winner in Thunder Valley, ousting Steve Torrence in the final round of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Sunday.
17 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
Salinas
Even after a year away, Bristol Dragway continues to treat Mike Salinas very well. Salinas won the most recent event at the track in 2019 and is now a back-to-back winner in Thunder Valley, ousting Steve Torrence in the final round of the NHRA…
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Angelle Sampey tops Karen Stoffer in Pro Stock Motorcycle thriller at Bristol

In an all-female final round at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Sampey used a .010 reaction time against Karen Stoffer, winning on a holeshot on her Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki with a pass of 6.773-seconds at 196.85 mph.
17 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
Angelle
With her second win in the Countdown to the Championship, Angelle Sampey proved on Sunday at Bristol Dragway that she’s right in the thick of the championship conversation in Pro Stock Motorcycle. In an all-female final round at the NHRA Thunder…
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NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Sunday photo gallery

The NHRA National Dragster photographers were all over Bristol Dragway on raceday Sunday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, capturing the action on and off the track at the fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship.
17 Oct 2021
NHRA National Dragster staff
Gallery
Mike Salinas 48
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Fan-favorite Scotty Cannon named Legend of Thunder Valley inductee

Scotty Cannon became the 20th member of the prestigious Legends of Thunder Valley when he was inducted today during pre-race ceremonies at the 20th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
17 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Scotty Cannon
Scotty Cannon, one of the winningest Pro Mod racers in Bristol Dragway history, became the 20th member of the prestigious Legends of Thunder Valley when he was inducted today during pre-race ceremonies at the 20th annual NHRA Thunder Valley…
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NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Sunday News and Notes

News and notes from final eliminations in Bristol at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Notes, quotes, photos, videos, and more!
17 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
Sunday
UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY Spencer Massey impressed in a first round upset of Leah Pruett to open eliminations on Sunday in Top Fuel, but it wasn't all positives for the veteran. After going 3.745 at 328.46 to beat Pruett, who went up in smoke…
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NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Sunday Preview

There’s a chill in the air at Bristol Dragway, but that’s not the only thing as Thunder Valley prepares to host eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals for the first time ever in October.
17 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
Sunday
There’s a chill in the air at Bristol Dragway, but that’s not the only thing as Thunder Valley prepares to host eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals for the first time ever in October. It’s also the first time the NHRA Camping World…
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NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Saturday photo gallery

The NHRA National Dragster photographers were all over Bristol Dragway on Saturday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, capturing the action on and off the track at the fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship.
16 Oct 2021
NHRA National Dragster staff
Gallery
Bristol Dragway 50
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S. Torrence, DeJoria, Pollacheck qualify No. 1 at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Track records went by the wayside on Saturday at Bristol Dragway, as Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car) and Scotty Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all finished No. 1 to close out qualifying at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
16 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
Bristol Saturday
Track records went by the wayside on Saturday at Bristol Dragway, as Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car) and Scotty Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all finished No. 1 to close out qualifying on Saturday at the NHRA Thunder Valley…
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Back in the title hunt, Cruz Pedregon enjoying the extra work it brings

Cruz Pedregon is right in the thick of things in the Funny Car Countdown to the Championship. He entered this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in third and 113 points back of leader Matt Hagan with three races remaining.
16 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Feature
Cruz
Cruz Pedregon has discovered his team has gone through parachutes and tires at a more frequent pace compared to recent seasons. It’s one of the more unique ways the Funny Car veteran can gauge the success his team has enjoyed in 2021 and he’s not…
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Chris Bostick continues recent run of success with strong start in Bristol

16 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Feature
Bostick
Since debuting a new sponsor at Indy, it’s been nothing but positives for Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Chris Bostick, who took another exciting step forward on Friday at Bristol Dragway. In his first career run at Thunder Valley, Bostick qualified…
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Angie Smith out rest of Thunder Valley Nationals after maintenance accident

Denso Auto Parts Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie Smith will sit out the rest of the 20th NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals after an accident Friday night while doing motor maintenance on her Buell.
16 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Smith
Denso Auto Parts Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie Smith will sit out the rest of the 20th NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals after an accident Friday night while doing motor maintenance on her Buell.   “I was changing valve springs on the motor,…
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NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Saturday Preview

It was a thunderous return to Bristol Dragway, capped off by the quickest run in track history, and now we’ll get to see what teams will do for an encore to close out qualifying at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
16 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
Bristol Saturday
It was a thunderous return to Bristol Dragway, capped off by the quickest run in track history, and now we’ll get to see what teams will do for an encore to close out qualifying at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. After more than two years away…
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Carter, Rizzoli, Stein lead Pacific Division Lucas Oil winners at Tucson Dragway

Kevin Carter, Kyle Rizzoli, and Jerry Stein led the list of winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Pacific Division was in action at Tucson Dragway.
15 Oct 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Division 7
The following are Saturday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division event at Tucson Dragway: COMPETITION ELIMINATOR Kevin Carter, Peroria, Ariz., '10 dragster, A/ND, broke  was…
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NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Friday photo gallery

The NHRA National Dragster photographers were all over Bristol Dragway on the opening day of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, capturing the action on and off the track at the fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship.
15 Oct 2021
NHRA National Dragster staff
Gallery
Brittany Force 40
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B. Force, Wilkerson, M. Smith lead Friday field at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Brittany Force set the track record under the lights in Top Fuel on Friday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) joined her as provisional No. 1 qualifiers at Bristol Dragway.
15 Oct 2021
Josh Hachat
Race coverage
Force
The NHRA’s first appearance at Bristol Dragway since 2019 ended in impressive fashion, as Brittany Force set the track record under the lights in Top Fuel on Friday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro…
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