NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It’s already been a banner year for Todd Tutterow, but with a chance for a championship still within reach, the veteran still hopes to accomplish more to end the 2019 campaign beginning at this weekend's AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Karen Stoffer already accomplished one major goal this season qualifying for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Now wants something she hasn’t had since 2015 and that’s a victory at this weekend’s AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Two-time NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car champion Robert Hight joined Lewis Bloom in the Wally Parks NHRA Studio to talk about his long and successful career and to take a look at this year's championship battle.

When Alex Laughlin scored his first career Pro Stock win at the 2016 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, he had just missed out on the Countdown to the Championship by a mere two points. Fast forward three years and he's among the favorites to win not just the race but the championship, too.

Moments after winning the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals last year, Robert Hight was involved in a top-end crash past the finish line that broke his collarbone. He'll take the win this year, minus all of the other drama.

Richie Crampton’s season took a sudden turn with a win at the Countdown opener, and now the Top Fuel veteran is excited to see if he can keep the momentum rolling at this weekend’s AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Tom Elliott has been racing for a long time. He now exists as an elder statesman in a category, Top Dragster, that ranges younger, if for no other reason than its speed.

Tom Bailey becomes the talk of Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week event with a thrilling 5.99-second, 250-mph performance and a convincing win in the Unlimited class.

Mike Kloeber and Clay Millican start the NHRA Countdown to the Championship in sixth place and he wants his Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster to do the talking.

Thanks to her partnership with the White Alligator team, Karen Stoffer is enjoying her best season in years, and she believes she's got a legit shot at the Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle championship.

With six NHRA championships to his credit, including five in Pro Stock, there isn't much that Jeg Coughlin Jr. hasn't seen or done during his long career.

"It's ladies' night and I'm about to do this" -Angelle Sampey

The NHRA Countdown to the Championship blasted off in Reading and NHRA National Dragster photographers Marc Gewertz and Bob Szelag captured the action.

Antron Brown enters the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil in third place, just 30 points behind Steve Torrence as he chases his fourth Top Fuel world championship. The New Jersey native knows how difficult earning that trophy will be, but that doesn't make the ever-optimistic Brown any less confident.

“I think there’s a lot going on mentally for a driver going into the Countdown. There’s really no easy way to go about it, but I do know that being in that number one spot, it’s yours to lose. That’s a tough spot to be in." --Shawn Langdon

Watch the start of Steve Torrence's historic NHRA Countdown to the Championship sweep in highlights from the 2018 Dodge NHRA Nationals.

Andrew Hines and Bo Butner are in similar situations heading into the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, as both have been the points leader in their respective classes for the entire season. Now they just have to keep the mojo going for the next six events.

After arguably the most consistent regular season in his Funny Car career, Tommy Johnson Jr. hopes it translates into more clutch performances in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and possibly his first career world championship.

Since 2013, the Top Fuel winner of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway has gone on to win the season championship, and Mopar driver Leah Pritchett would like to continue that trend.

Andrew Hines enters the countdown as the No. 1 seed with teammate Eddie Krawiec close behind. Can anyone offer a challenge in Pro Stock Motorcycle?

Bo Butner un-retired his way to the No. 1 seed in the Pro Stock playoffs. Can he turn that into another world title?

Robert Hight holds the No. 1 seed in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, but he will face a stacked field of competitors in the Funny Car category entering the Mopar NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.