NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It’s not at all uncommon for most kids to get their driver’s license at age 18. Unless of course that license happens to be an NHRA Competition License for the nitro Funny Car class. Then, it’s a very rare occurrence. Not since Billy Meyer came along in the mid-1970s has the Funny Car class featured a teenage driver but Bobby Bode changed that this weekend when he made his professional debut at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Springnationals presented by Pennzoil.

After a frantic day of qualifying at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Springnationals presented by Pennzoil, Steve Torrence, Jack Beckman, Alex Laughlin, and Matt Smith will head into Sunday’s final eliminations as the top-seeded drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Doug Engels (Comp), Cody Lane (Super Stock), Mark Stewart (Stock), Bryan LaFlam (Top Sportsman),  John Richardson (Top Dragster), and Mike Patterson (SPortsman Motorcycle) were the qualifying leaders Saturday at the JEGS SPORTSnationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Alex Laughlin (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) earned the top qualifying spots on Saturday for the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park.

Saturday from the 33rd annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Springnationals presented by Pennzoil, as brought to you through the lens of National Dragster photographer Marc Gewertz.

Ask Andrew Hines if he believes he’s still a contender for the 2020 Camping World Pro Stock Motorcycle title and watch his eyes roll. As much as anyone, Hines knows that championships are never over until they are officially over. That’s a lesson he learned last year at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona when he lost in round one on a rare red-light, and then somehow managed to win the title after each of the leading contenders fell by the wayside.

After the second round of qualifying its David Barton (Chevy), Mark Pawuk (Dodge), and John Cerbone (Chevy) leading the pack at the 2020 SAM Tech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented By Pennzoil

One might forgive Pro Stock racer Bo Butner and crew chief Dave Connolly if they’re both a little bleary-eyed on Saturday at Houston Raceway Park. The two KB Racing teammates arrived in Houston about 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning following an early flight from Alabama, where they were both competing in the Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag Race held yesterday at Montgomery Motorsports Park.

As the Camping World NHRA tour heads Southward (slightly) to Houston Raceway Park, Tricky Tipster is sticking with Dallas winner Steve Torrence in Top Fuel and he'll share the top billing with Dallas winner Jack Beckman, and points leaders Erica Enders, Matt Smith, and Steve Jackson.

Six months after originally scheduled, the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Springnationals presented by Pennzoil will take place at Houston Raceway Raceway Park with Camping World NHRA Drag Racing series champions crowned in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Jr. Dragster graduate Bobby Bode, son of veteran Funny Car driver Bob Bode, will make his Funny Car debut at this weekend's Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil. Bode checked in via Skype with NHRA's Brian Lohnes to talk about his road to the nitro cockpit.

Watch a field of Super Comp cars run T2 at the 2020 Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals

With their win last weekend in Dallas, the Jack Beckman-driven Infinite Hero Funny Car team are just four points out of the lead and ready to meet the challenge at this weekend's Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals, according to crew chief Dean Antonelli.

Joey Severance, Steve Gasparrelli, and Glen Treadwell led the list of winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' Pacific Division was in action at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Toyota has extended its agreement to serve as the Official Car of the NHRA. In continuation of its long-standing partnership with NHRA, Toyota will have a season-long presence at NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events and will be featured prominently in NHRA’s television broadcasts.

Three first-year NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series drivers -- Justin Ashley, Kyle Koretsky, and Mason McGaha -- have been announced by NHRA officials as the eligible candidates for the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year award.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock points leader Erica Enders joined NHRA's Brian Lohnes via Skype to talk about her big win in Dallas, the points battle, and this weekend's event in her Houston hometown.

After a career quickest run last weekend, rookie of the year frontrunner Justin Ashley is eager to head south to Houston for the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil this weekend. 

NHRA National Dragster Editor Phil Burgess and NHRA on FOX color commentator Tony Pedregon join Brian Lohnes to talk about a wide range of topics from the event in Dallas, the upcoming race in Houston, and the passing of crew chief Eric Lane. 

Don Campanello only won one NHRA national event in his Pro Stock career, but it was a big one as he bagged the title at the 1986 edition of the Gatornationals, defeating Butch Leal in the final. Step into the NHRA Nitro Time Machine to relive that victory.

Eric Lane, crew chief on Cruz Pedregon’s Snap-on Tools Funny Car and a veteran mechanic of the NHRA nitro pits, was struck and killed by a car while walking back from a restaurant Oct. 19 near Mineral Wells, Texas.

Third-generation driver Krista Baldwin recently upgraded her NHRA license from Top Alcohol Dragster top Top Fuel. Now, she joins NHRA's Brian Lohnes via Skype to discuss the licensing process, her career as a Social Media manager, and her future racing plans.

Steve Torrence scored his fourth win of the 2020 season in Top Fuel, beating father Billy in front of his home-state fans at the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals to expand his points lead heading into the final two events of the season,

Don Schumacher Racing’s 12th straight win was assured when both Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman reached the final round, and Beckman closed the gap on his points-leading teammate by winning the final round. 

Matt Hartford stopped points leader Erica Enders in the semifinals and defending event champ Greg Anderson ion the final round to take home the Pro Stock Wally at the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals.

Jerry Savoie continued his love affair with Texas Motorplex, scoring the Pro Stock Motorcycle title at the AAA Texas FallNationals for the third time in the last six years, defeating first-time finalist Joey Gladstone for the title.

Brandon Snider capped off an impressive weekend at Texas Motorplex, winning for the first time in his career in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service.

If not for a narrow loss to Chris Holbrook at the first event of the season, Aaron Stanfield might well be undefeated in the SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock Showdown in 2020.