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Champion recap: Steve Torrence caps first Top Fuel title with historic Countdown sweep

How ‘bout them Capco boys? That was a refrain that NHRA fans heard a lot in 2018 from the lips and heart of the eventual Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence over the course of a glorious 11-win season that culminated in an historic six-race sweep of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
29 Dec 2018
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Steve Torrence
How ‘bout them Capco boys? That was a refrain that NHRA fans heard a lot in 2018 from the lips and heart of the eventual Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence over the course of a glorious 11-win season that culminated in an historic six-race sweep of…
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Champion recap: J.R. Todd’s first Funny Car title won’t be his last

J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota Camry team took down an incredible Funny Car class to assert himself as one of the best in the business.
28 Dec 2018
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
J.R. Todd
If there’s a surprise about J.R. Todd’s first championship, it’s that it came in a short-wheelbase car. When the Indiana-born racer first made waves in NHRA Drag Racing, it was inside of a Top Fuel dragster. The 2018 Funny Car champion reached the…
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Champion recap: Tanner Gray left behind an indelible impression

27 Dec 2018
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Tanner Gray
The two youngest NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series champions share a commonality: They owe a lot to their family. Tanner Gray says as much as often as someone will listen. The support of his parents, Shane and Amber, and his grandfather, Jonny,…
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Champion recap: Matt Smith claims dramatic winner-take-all final to clinch third PSM title

Matt Smith’s third NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, much like his first, was won in the most dramatic fashion possible with a winner-take-all final round at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona.
26 Dec 2018
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Matt Smith
Matt Smith’s third NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, much like his first, was won in the most dramatic fashion possible with a winner-take-all final round at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona.…
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Happy Holidays from NHRA

The staff of the NHRA wishes a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to its members, fans, racers, sponsors, member track operators, and everyone else who helps make the world of NHRA Drag Racing a wondrous place.
25 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Christmas
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How Blake Alexander became one of Top Fuel's hottest stars

One thing has stayed consistent for Blake Alexander as he has gone from Funny Car rookie to nearly losing his ride to two-time Top Fuel winner in 2018: Hustle.
24 Dec 2018
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Blake Alexander
This feature originally appeared in Issue 16 of NHRA National Dragster and appears below in its original form.  What you know about Blake…
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Wide Rides 2018

The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season was packed with explosive action and hair-raising moments. Take a look back at some of those wild rides here and get ready for They Walked Away 2018 with hosts Lewis Bloom and Jack Beckman, which begins airing in mid-January on the FOX Sports networks.
24 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
They Walked Away/NHRA in 30 Air Dates (all times Eastern) Air Date Time Network Episode Thu 01/17/2019 07:30 p.m…
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Blake Alexander out at Bob Vandergriff Racing

Two-time winner in 2018 Blake Alexander moving to new team in 2019
23 Dec 2018
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Blake Alexander
Blake Alexander will not race with Bob Vandergriff Racing in 2019. The 30-year-old Top Fuel racer joined the team in 2018 and immediately found success by winning twice in the Pronto Auto Services dragster.  Jordan Vandergriff, Bob…
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1980s Funny Cars

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.
21 Dec 2018
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Funny Car
The 1980s seem so long ago -- much longer than the 30-plus years that have elapsed since then -- especially when it comes to Funny Car racing in the decade, which is the subject of today’s column and the final installment of photos from the Ron…
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MY Journey features to air on special NHRA in 30 shows

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.
20 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
MY Journey
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, beginning with the MY Journey series, which chronicled the ups and downs of the lives…
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MY Journey: The Series

20 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
MY Journey
Throughout the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, the NHRA on FOX team chronicled the lives and racing careers of a number of NHRA's top drivers, who shared their stories of hard work, heartbreak, resiliency, and success.…
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It may be the offseason, but Richie Crampton is staying busy

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.
20 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
NHRA Today™
Richie Crampton
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Behind the Numbers: Five Funny Car drivers who should move up the standings in 2019

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.
20 Dec 2018
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Behind the Numbers
John Force
The Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals are fewer than two months away (company mandated ticket plug here) and teams are wrapping up their crew chief hires (if you haven’t, get a damn move on … please). So, what better way to move time closer to February…
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Don Schumacher Racing, NAPA Auto Parts announce multi-year extension

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.
19 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Ron Capps
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.   “We’ve enjoyed an 11-year partnership with NAPA and are…
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International Drag Racing Hall of Fame announces its Class of 2019 honorees

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.
18 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Hall of Fame
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. This select group includes a trio of top regional Top Fuel teams which contributed to the growth…
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NHRA National Dragster Interview: Graham Light, a lifetime of service to drag racing

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.
18 Dec 2018
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
Graham Light
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.  The Edmonton, Alta., native got his start in…
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B.R.A.K.E.S. program teaches teen safe-driving skills at Pomona racetrack

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.
17 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
BRAKES
B.R.A.K.E.S., the teen safe-driving program 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…
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Krista Baldwin acquires Nitro University A/Fuel Dragster team

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.
17 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Krista Baldwin
Krista Baldwin has acquired the Nitro University A/Fuel dragster team for the 2019 season. Baldwin has been the driver for the team since 2016. She plans to compete at five races in her ownership debut. Former owner Anthony Dicero has accepted a…
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Elite Motorsports, Modern Racing add tuner Tecklenburg

17 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Elite Motorsports and Modern Racing have announced the addition of record-setting tuner and engine management expert Shane Tecklenburg to the braintrust led by Modern Racing’s Justin Elkes. Tecklenburg will supply the team’s three turbocharged…
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Joe Barlam rejoins Bob Vandergriff Racing, spurring moves at Don Schumacher Racing

The Silly Season crew chief merry-go-round finally got up to speed this week after days of rumor and speculation.
17 Dec 2018
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
Joe Barlam
The Silly Season crew chief merry-go-round finally got up to speed this week after days of rumor and speculation. Joe Barlam, who with Todd Okuhara had tuned Leah Pritchett’s Don Schumacher Racing dragster to a record-setting, race-winning machine,…
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Bob Tasca III hires Mike Green as co-crew chief

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.
17 Dec 2018
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Bob Tasca III
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. …
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Most Memorable Moments of 2018: No. 1

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
14 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Memorable Moments
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, which will be revealed in reverse order through the end of the year. …
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Top Fuelers of the 1980s

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.
14 Dec 2018
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Top Fuel
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…
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Gainesville Raceway to get new racing surface prior to historic 50th Gatornationals

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.
12 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Gainesville
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. Construction…
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Forrest's last gift

Longtime NHRA Super Stock racer Forrest Pierdolla passed away recently, and he was a hot rodder until the very end.
12 Dec 2018
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
The Sports Report
forrest1
On Tuesday, Nov. 27, longtime NHRA Super Stock racer Forrest Pierdolla lost his long battle with cancer. The NHRA class racing community is a close-knit group, especially in the South Central Division where the Texas-based Pierdolla was one of…
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California natives Beckman, Capps, and Pritchett raise funds for wildfire victims

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.
11 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
DSR
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 November’s…
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Behind the Numbers: Ranking the 10 best Top Fuel seasons in the Countdown era

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.
11 Dec 2018
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Behind the Numbers
Steve Torrence
Steve Torrence swept the 2018 Countdown to the Championship en route to his first Top Fuel title. He became the first to win all six playoff races, which, in addition to sports media's affinity for recency bias, led to some predictable hyperbole…
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Lohnes, Pedregon preview big stories, potential trends for 2019 season

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.
10 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Brian Lohnes, Tony Pedregon preview 2019 season
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. Earlier this year, FOX Sports and NHRA…
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NGK renews support for Top Sportsman racer O’Neal’s new supercharged Camaro

NGK Spark Plugs USA, Inc., has extended its relationship with NHRA Top Sportsman drag racer Don O’Neal for his new Camaro entry.
10 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
NGK
NGK Spark Plugs USA, Inc., has extended its relationship with NHRA Top Sportsman drag racer Don O’Neal. O’Neal has used NGK racing spark plugs in his 1999 Monte Carlo for the past five years and now O’Neal will look to use NTK engine sensors in a…
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Torrence team continues to celebrate Top Fuel championship

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.
10 Dec 2018
Posted by NHRA.com staff
NHRA Today™
Steve Torrence
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