NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 1980s was still a time when a guy with a self-funded Funny Car still had a decent shot at winning a national event, though as the decade progressed, that likelihood diminished significantly as quickly as Kenny Bernstein and Dale Armstrong could invent new stuff.

Beginning on Dec. 26, FOX Sports will be broadcasting a series of special half-hour NHRA in 30 shows leading up to the start of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, starting with the MY Journey series. The first show airs Dec. 26.

Richie Crampton has a lot on his plate. Not only is he the driver of one of the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuelers, but he also runs the Lucas Racing chassis shop and fields a wild, alcohol-supercharged '57 Chevy wagon and while he's in his native Australia for Christmas he'll be -- big surprise -- racing some more.

Here's a quick look at a handful of drivers who should trend upward in the standings in 2019, including at least one who will challenge for his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship.

Don Schumacher Racing has announced that longtime partner NAPA Auto Parts has extended its marketing relationship with the team through a multi-year agreement, beginning in 2019.

The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, home of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, has announced the Class of 2019 honorees to the Hall of Fame as well as the recipients of the Founder’s Award and the Patricia Garlits Memorial Award.

Graham Light, NHRA’s senior vice president, racing operations, will retire at the end of the year, leaving behind a 34-year legacy that touched all aspects of NHRA competition. In this interview from NHRA National Dragster magazine, Light talks about this time in the sport and his tenure at NHRA.

B.R.A.K.E.S., the teen safe-driving organization founded by Doug Herbert in the wake of the loss of his sons in a traffic accident, came to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Dec. 16 to teach teens advanced driving skill that will make them statistically safer on the roads.

Krista Baldwin has acquired the Nitro University A/Fuel dragster team for the 2019 season and plans to compete at five races in her ownership debut.

The Silly Season crew chief merry-go-round finally got up to speed this week after days of rumor and speculation.

Bob Tasca III hired former Don Schumacher Racing crew chief to tune alongside Eric Lane on his Ford Motorcraft/QuickLane Mustang Funny Car in 2019. Tasca announced the move in a tweet Monday morning.

The 2018 season was full of exciting moments, but which were the most memorable? NHRA fans took part in a vote and selected the 18 Most Memorable Moments of the season. No. 1: Steve Torrence sweeps the Countdown

Let’s continue our journey through the decades with another batch of images from the Ron Lewis collection. Over the past month or so, I’ve shared photos from his five-decade collection covering the 1960s and ‘70s (Top Fuel and Funny Car) and now we’re on to 1980s Top Fuelers.

NHRA and Gainesville Raceway officials have announced that a new concrete racing surface will be installed at the historic facility prior to the start of the 2019 season and the historic 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

Longtime NHRA Super Stock racer Forrest Pierdolla passed away recently, and he was a hot rodder until the very end.

California natives Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, and Leah Pritchett have assembled items to be auctioned off via Don Schumacher Racing’s eBay page to benefit those affected by the Camp and Woolsey wildfires that consumed large portions of Northern and Southern California last month.

Steve Torrence just swept the Countdown to the Championship -- but does that mean he had the best Top Fuel season since 2008? Let the debate begin.

From the PRI Show, NHRA on FOX commentators Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon reviewed some of 2018’s greatest accomplishments and took a look forward to the 2019 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

NGK Spark Plugs USA, Inc., has extended its relationship with NHRA Top Sportsman drag racer Don O’Neal for his new Camaro entry.

The Torrence Racing team is still celebrating its Mello Yello Top Fuel championship, with the latest festivities being a pizza challenge and a dinner-on-Gary evening at a fancy Indianapolis restaurant.

Veteran Pro Mod racer Steve Matusek will drive a twin-turbo Ford Mustang for Elite Motorsports in 2019, joining Elite’s burgeoning Pro Mod operation that will also feature Erica Enders and Alex Laughlin.

Top Alcohol Funny Car owner and tuner Rick Jackson has announced that 2017 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world champion Shane Westerfield will pilot his Top Alcohol Funny Car for the 2019 season.

Straightline Strategy Group makes key moves ahead of 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, including hiring Jim Oberhofer to work with Paul Lee.

Many Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers have gone on to become crew chiefs, but there aren’t a lot of guys who not only won a championship as a driver and crew chief. Dick LaHaie, whom we lost Wednesday, won the crown as a driver then tuned not just one but two drivers to a combined four Top Fuel championships.

Don Schumacher Racing hosted its annual “This is How We Roll” bowling event to benefit Riley Hospital for Children and Riley Children’s Foundation at Western Bowl in Indianapolis Wednesday night.

Pro Stock racer Shane Tucker will compete full-time in Pro Stock for first time in 2019

Buyers of the new Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 will receive complimentary, one-year memberships in the NHRA for the 2019 season.

Former NHRA Top Fuel championship-winning driver and crew chief Dick LaHaie passed away Dec. 5. He was 76. LaHaie won the championship as a driver in 1987 and tuned both Scott Kalitta and Larry Dixon to world championships in the class.