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Keeping NHRA Fans Up to Date

Follow our coverage through our newly designed news and videos sections. Don't forget to follow our social media posts.

Drag books, drag movies, drag nicknames, and heroes that we’ve lost

In this week's Dragster Insider, we get a first look at a new Funny Car book and the proposed "Big Daddy" Don Garlits movie, take a look at drag racing nicknames, and offer remembrances of a trio of nitro racers who recently left us.
04 Aug 2023
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Dragster Insider
The Western Swing is history, and my bags are unpacked for a couple of weeks, allowing me to play a little catchup. A lot has happened since my last column three weeks ago, so here we go. Steve Reyes’ newest drag racing history book arrived…
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Back-to-back wins extend historic streak for Justin Lamb on Western Swing

Five-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion Justin Lamb won in Seattle and Sonoma to claim the trophy on back-to-back weekends, lengthening a streak that has seen at least one national event win in each season since 2012.
03 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Justin Lamb
Few racers in NHRA competition have been able to string together win after win, year after year, but for five-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion Justin Lamb, it's a streak he's been able to keep alive for 12 years running. Lamb swept in…
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Western Swing Top Fuel recap: Who gained ground and who lost traction

With eight round-wins — including a victory in Seattle and semifinal finishes in Denver and Sonoma — Steve Torrence led the way in Top Fuel over the three-race Western Swing and cut strongly into Justin Ashley’s points lead. Here's a look at how the top players fared. First in a multi-part series.
03 Aug 2023
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Steve Torrence
The three-race Western Swing is the gateway to the home stretch of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season that sets the contenders for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs and a pivotal time for teams trying to…
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Of victory, tenacity, and a long season: Jon Oberhofer, Todd Smith, and Chase Van Sant

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Jon Oberhofer and Todd Smith, the winning Funny Car crew chiefs from Sonoma, as well as rookie Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Chase Van Sant.
03 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
NHRA Insider podcast
Insider podcast
  On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Jon Oberhofer and Todd Smith, the winning Funny Car crew chiefs from the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, as well as rookie Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Chase Van…
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Watch this weekend's Division 1 Lucas Oil Series doubleheader for free on NHRA.tv

NHRA fans can watch the Division 1 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event from Maple Grove Raceway for free starting Friday on NHRA.tv.
03 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
NHRA.tv
NHRA fans can watch the Division 1 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event from Maple Grove Raceway for free starting Friday on NHRA.tv. Presenting sponsors of NHRA.tv Sportsman coverage from Reading are Moser, JEGS, Strange, and Weldon. Fans…
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Behind the Scenes with the winners of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals

Go behind the scenes with the winners of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals as they celebrate their victories with their teams and one another and accept congratulations from their vanquished final-round foes.
02 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Behind the Scenes
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Historic Heartland Motorsports Park set to host its final NHRA national event

Heartland Motorsports Park will host its last and final NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national event on Aug. 11-13. Those lucky enough to get a ticket will see incredible 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph action at the historic racetrack. 
02 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Historic Heartland Motorsports Park
The crushing property tax burden on Shelby Development, owner of Heartland Motorsports Park, has resulted in the track announcing that it will host its last and final NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national event on Aug. 11-13. Those lucky…
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Weekend Rewind: Relive the highlights of the 2023 Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals

The Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals was the third and final event in the historic NHRA Western Swing and provided thrills and upsets for the eager fans at Sonoma Raceway. Enjoy this video recap of the weekend.
01 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Weekend Rewind
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Tickets on sale for historic NHRA Gatornationals to open 2024 NHRA season

The 2024 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season will open at the NHRA Gatornationals at famed Gainesville Raceway, and tickets are now on sale for the event, which will take place March 7-10, 2024.
01 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Gainesville Raceway
After an incredible opening to the season this year, including a massive sellout crowd on Saturday, NHRA officials announced the 2024 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will again open at historic Gainesville Raceway next season, with tickets now…
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Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum hosts a hot rod cruise night, August 2

Bring your hot rod, race car, or custom to show it off, then stay to hang and bench race with the best in Southern California car culture.
01 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Wally Parks NHRA Museum hosts a hot rod cruise August 2, at 4 p.m.
Join us on the hallowed grounds of Pomona's Fairplex for the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum's August Twilight Cruise Night on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023! The Museum hosts Twilight Cruises on the first Wednesday of the month and opens the…
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More than $65,000 raised at Sonoma Raceway in honor of Eric Medlen

More than $65,000 was raised Thursday through a charity karting event at the Sonoma Raceway Karting Center, donations, and an animated live auction for the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities honoring the late Eric Medlen.
01 Aug 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Speedway Children’s Charities
On a night filled with stories, memories, and highlights about the late Eric Medlen, more than $65,000 was raised Thursday through a charity karting event at the Sonoma Raceway Karting Center, donations, and an animated live auction for the Sonoma…
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Seven Sportsman champs crowned in Lucas Oil Series action at Sonoma Nationals

Seven champions were crowned in NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, including Kenny Snow, who scored his first career win in Super Street.
31 Jul 2023
NHRA National Dragster staff
News
Sonoma Nationals
Seven champions were crowned in NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway. One week after winning in Seattle, Justin Lamb scored again in Sonoma when he drove to the Super Stock…
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Five things we learned at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals

The annual NHRA Western Swing ended on a high note with the successful completion of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at picturesque Sonoma Raceway. Here are five things we learned at the event.
31 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
Five things we learned at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals
FUNNY CAR, WHERE EVERYONE CAN (AND DOES) WIN So far this season, there have been seven different Funny Car winners at NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events, including seven different winners in the last eight events. That’s called…
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Midland to headline Sunday night at Motorplex Stars Over Texas Music Festival

Award-winning and wildly popular country trio Midland has been announced as the Sunday night headliner of the Stars Over Texas Music Festival at Texas Motorplex and the Stampede of Speed on Oct. 7-8.
31 Jul 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Midland
Award-winning and wildly popular country trio Midland has been announced as the Sunday night headliner of the Stars Over Texas Music Festival at Texas Motorplex and the Stampede of Speed on Oct. 7-8. In addition to Midland, Sunday will feature a…
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How Sweep it is: Gaige Herrera completes history making Western Swing sweep while Ashley and Todd also score in Sonoma

Gaige Herrera becomes the ninth driver to sweep the Western Swing while Justin Ashley and J.R. Todd secure nitro wins at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
30 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Sonoma
A Western Swing sweep of the three NHRA national events in Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma is a rare feat that compares historically to a perfect game in baseball or a hole-in-one on the PGA tour. It’s just not something that fans can expect to see on…
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Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sunday photo gallery

The final day of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals was just as thrilling as the first two as winners were crowned in Camping World pro and Lucas Oil Sportsman categories. Once again, our photographers were there to capture all of the color and excitement.
30 Jul 2023
NHRA National Dragster staff
Gallery
Hector Arana Jr. 46
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Sunday News and Notes from the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals

News, notes, quotes, photos, and video from the final day of eliminations at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.
30 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Paul Lee
The first pair of Top Fuel dragsters set the tone for a very entertaining round of nitro racing as Justin Ashley made a dramatic improvement over his qualifying effort with a 3.707 in the Phillips Connect dragster to beat Doug…
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Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sunday preview

Champions in three Camping World NHRA series pro categories and seven Lucas Oil Sportsman categories will be crowned on Sunday during the final day of competition at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at picturesque Sonoma Raceway.
30 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Sonoma
Champions in three Camping World NHRA series pro categories and seven Lucas Oil Sportsman categories will be crowned on Sunday during the final day of competition at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at picturesque Sonoma Raceway. The event is the…
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Prock, Tasca, and Herrera lead qualifying for Denso Sonoma Nationals

Austin Prock, Bob Tasca III, and Gaige Herrera will lead their respective pro classes into Sunday's final eliminations at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.
29 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Bob Tasca III
When Austin Prock, Alexis DeJoria, and Gaige Herrera finished Friday’s under-the-lights qualifying session in Sonoma as the leaders in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively, they had every reason to feel confident that those…
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Torrence and Todd score victories in Mission 2Fast2Tasty Challenge

A victory a week ago in Seattle for Steve Torrence in Top Fuel and a runner-up for Funny Car’s J.R. Todd proved to be the gift that keeps on giving as each earned wins in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, held on Saturday in Sonoma, where he was joined in victory by J.R Todd in Funny Car.
29 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Mission
A victory a week ago in Seattle for Steve Torrence in Top Fuel and a runner-up for Funny Car’s J.R. Todd proved to be the gift that keeps on giving as each earned wins in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, held on Saturday in Sonoma. Torrence…
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Herrera wins the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Callout at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals

Gaige Herrera has already won almost everything this year, so why not win the inaugural NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar Callout? Herrera did just that after he rode his Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki to another dominating win.
29 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Gaige Herrera
Gaige Herrera has already won almost everything this year, so why not win the inaugural NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar Callout? Herrera did just that after he rode his Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki to another dominating win. This time,…
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Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Saturday photo gallery

Saturday was a beautiful day at Sonoma Raceway and National Dragster's photographers captured all the color and excitement of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals in our Saturday gallery.
29 Jul 2023
NHRA National Dragster staff
Gallery
Josh Hart 47
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Spirited rivalries aside, Alex Laughlin would prefer to let his performance do the talking

Alex Laughlin’s feud with J.R. Todd has been the talk of the drag racing world the last two weeks, but what Laughlin really wants is more on-track success.
29 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Alex Laughlin
When he feels as though he’s been disrespected, Alex Laughlin isn’t afraid to return fire, which helps explain his ongoing rivalry with Kalitta Motorsports driver J.R. Todd. The battle between the two drivers has been chronicled extensively on both…
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Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Saturday preview

Saturday is going to be a busy day at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals as the jam packed scheduled includes final qualifying for Camping World series pros, the start of eliminations for the Lucas Oil Series sportsman competitors as well as the Misison #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar Callout.
29 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Sonoma
Saturday is going to be a busy day at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals as the jam packed scheduled includes final qualifying for Camping World series pros, the start of eliminations for the Lucas Oil Series sportsman competitors as well as the…
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Prock, DeJoria, and Herrera lead Denso Sonoma Nationals Friday qualifying fields

Austin Prock (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the low qualifiers after the opening day of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, the final stop of the three-race Western Swing.
28 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Austin Prock
The Top Fuel cars stole the show on Friday night in front of a packed house at Sonoma Raceway with wing-high header flames and a host of 3.7-second and 330-mph runs. The magic 300-mph eighth-mile barrier wasn’t eclipsed, as many had predicted, but…
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Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Friday photo gallery

There was plenty of action on Friday at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals and our award winning photographers managed to capture all of it in our Friday gallery.
28 Jul 2023
NHRA National Dragster staff
Gallery
Full house on a Friday 46
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Battle lines drawn as NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout takes shape

Rivalries were both renewed and created on Friday at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals as the top eight riders in Pro Stock Motorcycle finalized the pairings for Saturday’s NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout in Sonoma.
28 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
Callout
Rivalries were both renewed and created on Friday at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals as the top eight riders in Pro Stock Motorcycle finalized the pairings for Saturday’s NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout in Sonoma. Gaige Herrera, the…
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NHRA looks to add Kansas City market as part of national event schedule in 2024 at new Flying H Dragstrip

Final event at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka set to take place during Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor on Aug. 11-13.
28 Jul 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Flying H Dragstrip
NHRA officials announced on Friday that the new Flying H Dragstrip in the Kansas City area will be part of the upcoming NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national event schedule in 2024. NHRA officials and Heartland Motorsports Park also…
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Familiar setting has Funny Car champ Ron Capps thinking big in Sonoma

With this weekend’s Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway closing out the famed three-race Western Swing for the first time since 2009, back-to-back Funny Car world champion Ron Capps is ready to put on a show at a track he has always considered special.
28 Jul 2023
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Ron Capps
With this weekend’s 35th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway closing out the famed three-race Western Swing for the first time since 2009, back-to-back Funny Car world champion Ron Capps is ready to put on a show at a track he has…
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Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals Friday preview

California’s Napa Valley wine country will be the site of this week’s NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event as the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals takes center stage at Sonoma Raceway. The event is the final event in the annual Western Swing that includes stops in Denver and Seattle.
28 Jul 2023
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
Sonoma
California’s Napa Valley wine country will be the site of this week’s NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event as the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals takes center stage at Sonoma Raceway. The event is the final event in the annual Western Swing that…
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