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Keeping NHRA Fans Up to Date

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Paton Racing, driver Reed part ways, but both will compete in 2019

Paton Racing and driver Shawn Reed have amicably parted company and will not be racing together in 2019, though both parties plan on competing in Top Fuel this season.
07 Jan 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
Shawn Reed
Paton Racing and driver Shawn Reed have amicably parted company and will not be racing together in 2019, though both parties plan on competing in Top Fuel this season. “Shawn explained that he wanted to pursue other opportunities and I support…
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Steamfitters Local 602 partners with Kelly Clontz Racing for 2019 season

Kelly Clontz and crew chief and husband Chris will banner Steamfitters Local 602 as the primary sponsor on their Pro Stock Motorcycle as they head into their sophomore year of racing a full schedule in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
07 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Kelly Clontz
Kelly Clontz and crew chief and husband Chris will banner Steamfitters Local 602 as the primary sponsor on their Pro Stock Motorcycle as they head into their sophomore year of racing a full schedule in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.…
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Husen to take over tuning duties for Salinas' Scrappers Racing Top Fuel team

World championship crew chief Brian Husen will take over the tuning duties on Mike Salinas’ Scrappers Racing Top Fueler in 2019 with Alan Johnson continuing his role with the team as tuning advisor.
06 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Mike Salinas
World championship crew chief Brian Husen will take over the tuning duties on Mike Salinas’ Scrappers Racing Top Fueler in 2019 with Alan Johnson continuing his role with the team as tuning advisor. Husen and Johnson, whose partnership goes back…
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New all-concrete racing surface being poured at Gainesville Raceway

Construction continues at Gainesville Raceway ahead of this year’s blockbuster 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals with the pouring of concrete that will provide what historically has been one of the best racetracks in the country with an all-concrete racing surface that will only enhance its reputation.
04 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Gainesville
Construction continues at Gainesville Raceway ahead of this year’s blockbuster 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals with the pouring of concrete that will provide what historically has been one of the best racetracks in the country with…
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Steve Torrence's Capco Contractors team returns to work for new year

2018 Top Fuel world champion crew chief Bobby Lagana and the Capco Contractor team returned to work in earnest to kick off the new year. Indy Bureau Chief John Kernan got the scoop on what the champs are up to.
04 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
NHRA Today™
Steve Torrence
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Pro Stock Motorcycle shocker: Angelle Sampey joins Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team

An alliance few thought possible is now a reality as three-time world champion Angelle Sampey agreed to a four-race trial with the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team.
04 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
angelle
Three-time world champion Angelle Sampey will join the Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle for the opening four rounds of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series as a showcase rider, competing alongside team…
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NHRA Jr. Dragster conference finals return to Bristol Dragway, Osage Tulsa Raceway Park in 2019

The two premier events for the NHRA Summit Jr. Drag Racing League, the wildly popular series for young NHRA racers will return to familiar surroundings for the 2019 season.
03 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Bristol
The two premier events for the NHRA Summit Jr. Drag Racing League, the wildly popular series for young NHRA racers will return to familiar surroundings for the 2019 season. The Western Conference Finals will take place at Osage Tulsa Raceway…
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NHRA in 30 episodes to air on FOX networks in January and February

Throughout January and early February, NHRA will be featured on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 in a series of original NHRA in 30 shows including MY Journey, They Walked Away, and more.
02 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
MY Journey
Throughout January and early February, NHRA will be featured on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 in a series of original NHRA in 30 shows including MY Journey, They Walked Away, and more. NHRA in 30 Air Dates (all times Eastern…
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Dodge, Lego partner on new Speed Champions building set featuring Chargers

Dodge and The Lego Group have announced a partnership pairing that includes a new Lego Speed Champions building set that features the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T and a commercial featuring NHRA Top Fuel star Leah Pritchett.
02 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Leah Pritchett
Dodge and The Lego Group have announced a partnership pairing the two iconic brands through a new multimedia marketing campaign that includes a new Lego Speed Champions building set that features the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the 1970…
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Scott Palmer to drive Magic Dry Top Fuel dragster in 2019

Tommy Thompson Motorsports has extended its contract with Top Fuel driver Scott Palmer, who will fly the colors of Thompson's Magic Dry product line in 2019.
02 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Scott Palmer
Scott Palmer will no longer sport CatSpot Kitty Litter as the primary sponsor on his Top Fuel dragster, but the Missouri native will continue to drive for friend and main funder Tommy Thompson under his Magic Dry flag in 2019, a sponsor that should…
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Milestones and firsts to look forward to during the 2019 season

The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season launches in just about a month at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, and there are a lot of milestones and firsts that could be reached this season. Here’s a look at nine possible/probable moments to look forward to.
02 Jan 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
2019
The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season launches in just about a month at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, and there are a lot of milestones and firsts that could be reached this season. Here’s a look at nine possible/…
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Happy New Year 2019

The staff of the NHRA wishes a Happy New Year to its members, fans, racers, sponsors, member track operators, and everyone else who helps make the world of NHRA Drag Racing a wondrous place.
01 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
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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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