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Keeping NHRA Fans Up to Date

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WATCH: Route 66 NHRA Nationals Sportsman Highlights

Past national champions Chris Demke and Shane Westerfield each collected their first wins of the 2019 season during the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, leading an all-star list of winners. Watch all of the final rounds from all classes.
12 Jun 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
Chicago
Past national champions Chris Demke and Shane Westerfield each collected their first wins of the 2019 season during the NHRA Route 66 Nationals. Demke won in Top Alcohol Dragster and Westerfield scored in Top Alcohol Funny Car in a race that is…
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Johnny Pluchino prepared for NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock debut at Bristol

Johnny Pluchino is eager to make his quarter-mile debut in the Mountain Motor Pro Stock exhibition at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
12 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Pro Stock
Johnny Pluchino is eager to make his quarter-mile debut in the Mountain Motor Pro Stock exhibition at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.   “This is a really big race for us,” Pluchino said. “There's so many things going into this race. I'm…
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Mountain Motor Pro Stocks return to Bristol for NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

It’s been more than two decades since the loud rumble of mountain motors have shook the grounds at Thunder Valley but they'll be back this weekend at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals as Bristol is the third stop of a four-race NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock exhibition series. 
12 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Pro Stock
It’s been more than two decades since the loud rumble of mountain motors have shook the grounds at Thunder Valley. Born here back in the 1980s, Mountain Motor Pro Stock last raced at Bristol Dragway in 1997 during an IHRA national event. These days…
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Matt Hartford, partners buy Total Seal, but that won't keep him out of his Pro Stocker

NHRA Pro Stock racer Matt Hartford, who for years has served as the face of Total Seal Piston Rings as its vice president and most visible employee, just completed the purchase of the 52-year-old company and assumed the titles of president and CEO -- none of which will affect his racing plans.
12 Jun 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
Matt Hartford
Matt Hartford’s plate just got a little more full. The fulltime Pro Stock racer, who for years has served as the face of Total Seal Piston Rings as its vice president and most visible employee, just completed the purchase of the 52-year-old…
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Ron Capps heads to Bristol looking to win third straight Funny Car title

A stretch of four straight race weekends during June can be a tall order for the drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. For Ron Capps, though, it’s not hard for him to get excited, especially when he knows one of those dates includes a trip to Bristol Dragway.
12 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Ron Capps
A stretch of four straight race weekends during June can be a tall order for the drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. For Ron Capps, though, it’s not hard for him to get excited, especially when he knows one of those dates includes a…
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The Sports Report: Friends helping friends

After Kyle Fickler celebrated the end of a long winless drought in Topeka, he generously reached out to help an old friend.
12 Jun 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
The Sports Report
fickler
Kyle Fickler won his first national event title in Dallas in the Fall of 2003 and when he turned on the win light in the final of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties, he couldn’t help but take a trip down memory lane. “…
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Tricky Tipster: Can anyone stop Steve Torrence, Robert Hight, and Stevie Jackson?

Steve Torrence, Robert Hight, and Pro Mod’s Steve Jackson have been dominant this season which helps explain why they are Tricky Tipster’s Bristol favorites.
11 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
News
Tricky Tipster Bristol
There is parity throughout NHRA’s pro classes, which makes it somewhat difficult to explain how Steve Torrence can win five-straight Top Fuel races, Robert Hight can win four Funny Car races, and Stevie “Fast” Jackson can score three wins in the E3…
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Brittany Force has something special planned for Father’s Day Weekend in Bristol

With her legendary father, 16-time Funny Car world champ John Force, joining her in Thunder Valley, Brittany Force is planning something special for this weekend’s Father’s Day Weekend 19th annual NHRA Thunder Nationals.
11 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Brittany Force
It’s Father’s Day Weekend and there’s no place Brittany Force would rather be than Bristol Dragway for this weekend’s 19th annual NHRA Thunder Nationals. The former Top Fuel world champion has always held the picturesque track in high regard and…
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NHRA powers back to Bristol Dragway on Father’s Day weekend for NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Nothing says Father’s Day weekend quite like 11,000-horsepower in picturesque Thunder Valley, and that’s exactly what the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will provide at the 19th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway on June 14-16.
11 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Bristol
Nothing says Father’s Day weekend quite like 11,000-horsepower in picturesque Thunder Valley, and that’s exactly what the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will provide when its 300-mph nitro-breathing machines roar back to life at the 19th annual…
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Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice. partners with Clay Millican at Bristol event

The national education and advocacy campaign Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice. will be a major sponsor of the Clay Millican-driven Top Fuel dragster for the upcoming NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., June 14–16.
11 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Clay Millican
The national education and advocacy campaign Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice. will be a major sponsor of the Clay Millican-driven Top Fuel dragster for the upcoming NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., June 14–16. The campaign is a co-…
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NHRA Power Rankings: Is Billy Torrence going to make the Countdown to the Championship?

Billy Torrence is making things very uncomfortable for the Top Fuel class
11 Jun 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Power Rankings
Steve and Billy Torrence
Billy Torrence won the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals. It was a great story. That win, his second career win and second…
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Fast Five: Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals

NHRA's Lewis Bloom and Amanda Busick count down their top five highlights from the 2019 Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties.
10 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Fast Five
Fast Five
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E3 Spark Plugs extends multi-year sponsorship agreement with NHRA

E3 Spark Plugs recently extended its partnership with NHRA as the Official Spark Plug and Official Ignition Products of NHRA. 
10 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
E3 Spark Plugs
E3 Spark Plugs recently extended its partnership with NHRA as the Official Spark Plug and Official Ignition Products of NHRA.  E3 Spark Plugs has been involved with NHRA racing across all platforms including the sponsorship of the E3 Spark…
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Steve Jackson extends points lead in E3 Pro Mod Series after Topeka victory

Incoming points leader Steve Jackson drove his Bahrain1 Camaro to a second win of the season to extend his lead in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Series.
09 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Race coverage
PRO MOD
 Stevie “Fast” Jackson claimed his second victory of the season at Heartland Motorsports Park in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service on Sunday, winning the 31st annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals…
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Stephen Bell gets back on the winning track in SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock Showdown

Stephen Bell prevails over teammate Arthur Kohn in an COPO Camaro final round in the SAM Tech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown in Topeka.
09 Jun 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
factory stock
Stephen Bell picked up his first win in more than a year when he defeated Arthur Kohn in the final round of the SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock Showdown in Topeka. Bell, the winner of the 2018 season opener in Gainesville, drove to low elapsed time of…
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Cowie, Bellemuer take alcohol-class wins to lead Topeka winner's list

Shawn Cowie and Sean Bellemeur scored respective wins in the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes to lead the list of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champions at the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties.​​​​​​​
09 Jun 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Shawn Cowie
Shawn Cowie and Sean Bellemeur scored respective wins in the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes to lead the list of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champions at the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties.…
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Torrence nails down fifth-straight Top Fuel win; Hight scores Funny Car win No. 49

Steve Torrence defeats his father, Billy, to earn fifth-straight Top Fuel title while Robert Hight claims career win No. 49 in Funny Car to tie Don "the Snake" Prudhomme.
09 Jun 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Topeka
When Steve Torrence won six-straight races to close out his 2018 championship season, some predicted the feat might never be duplicated. As it turns out, it might be duplicated next weekend in Bristol after the reigning Mello Yello champion won his…
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Topeka Top Fuel results: Final

Steve Torrence wins fifth-straight Top Fuel title in Topeka after historic father-son final.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
torrence
Racing his father, Billy, for the first time in a final round, Steve Torrence ran his win streak to five-straight races at the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties. Steve gave up a hundredth of a second to his father at the start,…
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Topeka Funny Car results: Final

Robert Hight wins fourth event of 2019; ties Don "the Snake" Prudhomme with 49th career victory.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
Hight2
Robert Hight continued to assert his dominance over the Funny Car field by winning his fourth race of the year at the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties. Hight drove his Auto Club Camaro to a 3.895 at 330.88 to beat Jack Beckman,…
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Topeka Funny Car results: Semifinals

It will be JFR vs. DSR in the Funny Car final when points leader Robert Hight takes on Jack Beckman in the Topeka Funny Car final.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
hight
It will be JFR vs. DSR in the Funny Car final when points leader Robert Hight takes on Jack Beckman in the Topeka Funny Car final. Hight, who already has three wins in five finals this year, drove his Auto Club Camaro to a dominant 3.900, 330.63…
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Topeka Top Fuel results: Semifinals

The Topeka Top Fuel final will feature a pair of Capco Contractors dragsters as Billy Torrence is set to face his son, Steve.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
btorrence
The Topeka Top Fuel final will feature a pair of Capco Contractors dragsters as Billy Torrence is set to face his son, Steve. Billy, who already has a win this year in Phoenix, drove to a 3.796 to beat rookie Austin Prock, who smoked the tires.…
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Topeka Sunday Photo Gallery

Photo highlights from the final day of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
priddy
Sunday's pre-race festivities included a lively discussion between Antron Brown and Scott Palmer, whose round one meeting was deemed the Marquee Matchup in Top Fuel. The popular track walk was led by Top Fuel racer…
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Topeka Funny Car results: E2

Wide open battle in Funny Car after four winners in the second round of eliminations in Topeka each ran between 3.92 and 3.95-seconds.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
beckman
The parity that currently exists in the Funny Car class was on display in the second round in Topeka where each of the four winners ran within three-hundredth of one another. Robert Hight was quickest with a 3.921 in his win over reigning Mello…
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Topeka Top Fuel results: E2

Steve Torrence runs his win streak to 17 rounds; Austin Prock heads to semifinals for the first time.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
prock
With a bye run in round two of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals, all Steve Torrence  had to do was stage his Capco dragster in order to run his unbeaten streak to 17-straight rounds. For good measure, Torrence made the quickest pass of the…
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WATCH: Pro Mod drivers walk away from round one incidents in Topeka

Pro Mod racers Jeremy Ray, Steven Whiteley, and Todd Tutterow were involved in on-track incidents during the first round of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
tutterow
Pro Mod racer Jeremy Ray of Lugoff, S.C. was involved in an on-track incident during the first round of eliminations at the Menard’s NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties. Ray’s ’63 Corvette skidded and rolled into the guard wall. Ray exited…
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Topeka Funny Car results: E1

Low E.T. of the race changed hands four times during an action packed first round of Funny Car eliminations.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
Tasca
Low E.T. of the race changed hands four times during an action packed first round of Funny Car eliminations. Low qualifier J.R. Todd opened with a 3.906 on his bye run and was quickly bettered  by John Force with a 3.904 in his win over Dale…
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Topeka Top Fuel results: E1

Brittany Force throws down a 3.690 to set low E.T. of the event and Doug Kalitta goes 3.737 as Top Fuel class shows huge performance improvement in round one.
09 Jun 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
kalitta
As predicted, elapsed times in Top Fuel plummeted after cool weather moved into Heartland Motorsports Park overnight. Brittany Force picked up nearly two tenths from her qualifying best with a 3.690 in her win against Clay Millican, who was well…
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Who’s next? Jack Beckman figures it might as well be him

There have been six different Funny Car winners in the first nine races of the season and Jack Beckman wants to be seventh.
09 Jun 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
beckman
The first nine races of the 2019 season have produced six different Funny Car winners including Schumacher Racing drivers Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, and most recently, Tommy Johnson Jr. Nothing is a given in drag racing, particularly in nitro racing,…
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Cruz Pedregon has made up ground in 2019

Yes, things are moving in the right direction for Cruz Pedregon
09 Jun 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Cruz Pedregon
Cruz Pedregon fired Aaron Brooks. He brought on Tommy DeLago shortly thereafter in 2018 but did not bring the veteran tuner back on board for the 2019 season. That decision, mostly through back channels and mealy-mouthed criticism, has been…
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Scott Palmer happy to represent Evel Knievel, but he's no daredevil

Scott Palmer and his Magic Dry Top Fuel team have been the talk of the pits in Topeka with their special edition paint scheme honoring the local Evel Knievel Museum.
09 Jun 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
palmer
Like most kids growing up in the 1970s, Scott Palmer grew up idolizing motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel so when he had a chance to visit the Evel Knievel Museum in last year’s Heartland Nationals, it se the stage for the one-race sponsorship…
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