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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.

Ford Performance unveils new Mustang Funny Car body

Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson will both utilize the 2019 Ford Mustang Funny Car body while chasing championships in the ultra-competitive Nitro category.
29 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Mustang
Ford Performance unveiled the brand new Ford Mustang Funny Car body both Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson will campaign in 2019. This is the first full update to the Mustang Funny Car body in 10 years and marks a reaffirmed commitment by the brand to…
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Worsham returns to Kalitta Motorsports; Global extends team partnership

Kalitta Motorsports has announced the addition of Del Worsham as a co-crew chief and the return of partner Global Electronic Technology for 2019 season.
29 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
worsham
Kalitta Motorsports has announced the return of two-time NHRA Mello Yello champion Del Worsham as a co-crew chief of the Global Electronic Technology Funny Car driven by Shawn Langdon. Worsham previously served as crew chief with Kalitta Motorsports…
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John Force Racing announces driver and crew chief lineup for 2019

John Force Racing has officially announced its 2019 driver and crew lineups, with Funny Cars driven by John Force and Robert Hight and the Top Fuel dragster of Brittany Force, and a fourth team car, driven by Austin Prock, in contingency.
29 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
John Force Racing
John Force Racing has officially announced its 2019 driver and crew lineups, with Funny Cars driven by John Force and Robert Hight and the Top Fuel dragster of Brittany Force, and a fourth team car, driven by Austin Prock, in contingency for the…
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2019 Pro Stock Preview: Crowded, and competitive, field will battle for title

There will be just 12 races to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship in 2019, and another six for the playoffs, meaning there are no mulligans for racers in Pro Stock.
28 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
The NHRA Pro Stock class, where races are routinely decided by thousandths of a second, has always afforded a near-zero margin for error. That basic tenant figures to be even more accurate in 2019, when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series…
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After tough 2018, three-time Top Fuel champ Brown motivated for 2019 opener

The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season was not one Antron Brown has been accustomed to during his standout career, and the Top Fuel driver has made all the necessary steps to ensure the 2019 season is decidedly different.
28 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Antron Brown
The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season was not one Antron Brown has been accustomed to during his standout career, and the Top Fuel driver has made all the necessary steps to ensure the 2019 season is decidedly different. The three-time…
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How carbon fiber helps make NHRA Drag Racing the fastest sport on Earth

In the quest to be the quickest on Earth, man and machine share a common building block: carbon fiber.
27 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Feature
Carbon Fiber
Stronger, lighter, faster: Those are the principles of speed. Whether you start with 11 or 11,000 horsepower, removing mass makes fast objects accelerate faster. Though the fundamentals of lightweights are simple, how engineers create lightness may…
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Alcohol Dragster racer Lee Callaway moving up to Top Fuel in 2019

After 22 years of racing Top Alcohol, former NHRA Division 4 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Lee Callaway will be making the jump to Top Fuel in 2019.
25 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Lee Callaway
After 22 years of racing Top Alcohol, former NHRA Division 4 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Lee Callaway will be making the jump to Top Fuel in 2019. Callaway has purchased a complete running car from Scott Palmer Racing and will be competing at five…
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NHRA National Dragster kicks off 60th year: First 2019 issue now online

NHRA National Dragster magazine begins its 60th year of publication with a huge Season Preview issue that is online now for NHRA members, and it’s in the mail to homes and shops around the world.
25 Jan 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
News
ND cover
NHRA National Dragster magazine begins its 60th year of publication with a huge Season Preview issue that is online now for NHRA members, and it’s in the mail to homes and shops around the world. The season preview package includes in-depth…
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Finnegan and Chase prepare for epic “Kall Out Kings” battle in Pomona

The stakes will be high when Roadkill’s Mike Finnegan takes on Hoonigan's Jon Chase in a best-of-three throwback classic gasser match race between their '55 Chevys in Pomona.
25 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
News
Kall Out Kings
For nearly a year, Mike Finnegan and Jon Chase have had a difference of opinion and it won’t be settled until they meet mano-a-mano as part of the Kall Out Kings match race held during the upcoming Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by Protect…
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Brittany Force to drive Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster

John Force Racing has announced that Brittany Force, the 2017 Top Fuel World Champion, will be in the driver’s seat of the Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster for the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
25 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Brittany Force
John Force Racing has announced that Brittany Force, the 2017 Top Fuel World Champion, will be in the driver’s seat of the Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster for the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, which kicks off with the Lucas…
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Oberto Snacks’ Cattleman’s Cut brand to sponsor Jim Dunn Racing

Cattleman’s Cut, a popular jerky brand in the Oberto Snacks portfolio, will take the reins of primary sponsorship on the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car for the 2019 NHRA season. Jim Campbell returns for the third season as driver.
24 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Jim Dunn Racing
Cattleman’s Cut, a popular jerky brand in the Oberto Snacks portfolio, will take the reins of primary sponsorship on the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car for the 2019 NHRA season. Beginning at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Cattleman’s Cut…
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Dodge//SRT and Mopar announce multiyear partnership extension with DSR

Dodge//SRT and Mopar will continue their partnership with Don Schumacher Racing with the announcement of a new multiyear sponsorship agreement to kick-off the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. 
24 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Matt Hagan
Dodge//SRT and Mopar will continue their partnership with Don Schumacher Racing with the announcement of a new multiyear sponsorship agreement to kick-off the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.  The relationship began during…
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Mountain Motor Pro Stock to compete at four NHRA national events in 2019

NHRA officials have announced that Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars will compete in exhibitions at four national events during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. 
24 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Pro Stock
NHRA officials have announced that Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars will compete in exhibitions at four national events during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.  This exciting category will be featured at the following events…
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Early testing update: Factory Stockers flying in Florida

Ford and Chevy racers in the SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock Showdown recently tested new engine combinations and the results were shocking.
24 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
fss1
Earlier this week, several of the leading contenders in the School of Automotive Machinist and Technology Factory Stock Showdown gathered for a private test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park in central Florida and National Dragster’s…
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Courtney Force steps away from driving duties but will remain involved in sport

13-time event champion Courtney Force will step away from Funny Car racing, remain involved in NHRA Drag Racing by maintaining off-track partnerships. 
24 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Courtney Force
Courtney Force will step away from Funny Car racing, effective immediately, she announced Wednesday. The 13-time race winner will remain involved in NHRA Drag Racing both through supporting her teammates and off-track partnerships but will no longer…
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Blake Alexander returns to Funny Car in partnership with Tim Wilkerson

Blake Alexander has purchased a Funny Car team and will begin 12-race campaign at Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals.
23 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Blake Alexander
Two-time Top Fuel winner Blake Alexander will return to the nitro category he began his career in. Alexander purchased Brian Stewart’s Funny Car operation and, in a partnership with flopper veteran Tim Wilkerson, will attend 12 races in 2019 as a…
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NHRA on FOX team wins Davey awards for Women of Power, Fire in the Desert campaigns

With the success of its powerful “Women of Power” campaign, the NHRA on FOX team recently received two Davey Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts.
23 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
With the success of its powerful “Women of Power” campaign, the NHRA on FOX team recently received two Davey Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media,…
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Hagan to appear on Jimmy Houston Outdoors show

Last October, two-time NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car champ Matt Hagan, an avid fisherman, hunter, farmer and all-around outdoorsman, spent the day fishing with popular TV personality Jimmy Houston for an episode for his TV show, Jimmy Houston Outdoors that will air this week.
22 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Matt Hagan
Following the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals last October, avid fisherman, hunter, farmer and all-around outdoorsman Matt Hagan trekked north to Sulphur, Okla., to spend the day fishing with popular TV personality Jimmy Houston. The two filmed an…
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Five things we want to learn at NHRA preseason testing in Phoenix

Nitro testing begins Jan. 30 in Phoenix, giving us the opportunity to learn something about the 2019 season for the first time. Here’s what we want to find out.
22 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Clay Millican
Steve Torrence, J.R. Todd, Tanner Gray, and Matt Smith all held Wallys the last time we saw NHRA Drag Racing live and in person. The upcoming test session at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix will not be open to the public, but the staff…
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Ryan Oehler gears up for 2019 season with Over Kill Motorsports as sponsor

2019 Rookie of the Year candidate ready for run at the Countdown to the Championship in competitive Pro Stock Motorcycle category
21 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Ryan Oehler
Ryan Oehler knows where he needs to improve in 2019. The 34-year-old Illinois native placed last in average 60-foot time last season, giving the rider/crew chief/team owner something to shoot for during the offseason. With a new sponsor on the side…
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Five Minutes with Cruz Pedregon: What's on the mind of the former Funny Car champ

Cruz Pedregon answers why switch to Dodge after years with Toyota, why he's going to tune his own Funny Car and who he thinks (or at least wants) to win the NFL conference championship games this weekend.
20 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Cruz Pedregon
Cruz Pedregon won a race but failed to make the Countdown to the Championship in 2018. The former Funny Car world champion is taking over tuning duties in 2019 after going through two crew chiefs last season. He’s also switching to Dodge after…
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Behind the Visor: How Erica Enders went from Jr. Drag Racer to Pro Stock champ

Erica Enders got her start in the Summit Jr. Drag Racing League and now battles for world championships year after year. Here's how she got where she is, in her own words.
20 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
Feature
Erica Enders
Erica Enders began racing in the Jr. Drag Racing League at the age of 8, but she has been involved in NHRA Drag Racing her entire life thanks to her father, Greg. Enders received her first national event victory at her home track in Baytown,…
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Inside a Pro Stock Motorcycle engine

Senior editor Kevin McKenna takes you inside a Pro Stock Motorcycle engine with this technical breakdown.
19 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Competitors in Pro Stock Motorcycle have a choice of two drastically different powerplants, both of which are capable of 6.7-second performances at speeds approaching 200 mph. Here is a detailed look at both the Suzuki inline four-cylinder engine…
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Behind the Visor: How Angelle Sampey joined the Vance & Hines Harley Davidson team

Angelle Sampey shocked the NHRA Drag Racing world when she joined the Vance & Hines Harley Davidson Pro Stock Motorcycle team. Here's the story, in her own words, as told to NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna.
19 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
Angelle Sampey
It’s not April 1. Hell hasn’t frozen over, and pigs still can’t fly yet when it comes to unlikely occurrences. The recent announcement that…
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Top Fuel racer Worm will interact with fans through text-messaging program

2018 Auto Club Road to the Future nominee Audrey Worm of Audrey Worm Racing will return to the driver’s seat of the Leverich family Top Fuel dragster for the 2019 season and will promote her team and sponsors through a unique text-messaging program.
18 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Audrey Worm
2018 Auto Club Road to the Future nominee Audrey Worm of Audrey Worm Racing will return to the driver’s seat of the Leverich family Top Fuel dragster for the 2019 season and will promote her team and sponsors through a unique text-messaging program…
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Shane Tucker gears up for first full Pro Stock season

Australian Shane Tucker is convinced that he’s finally got all the pieces in place for a championship run
18 Jan 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Feature
tucker1
Five years after first dipping his toes in the shark infested waters of the NHRA Pro Stock, Shane Tucker believes its finally time to jump headfirst into the deep end so he’s launched an ambitious plan for 2019 that includes all 18 races that…
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Remembering Frank Rupert

Former Top Fuel and Funny Car racer Frank Rupert passed away Friday, Jan. 4, due to complications after going into cardiac arrest. In this special Insider column, Brad Littlefield shares the history of the respected nitro veteran.
18 Jan 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Frank Rupert
The last few years have born witness to a sad trend for us hardcore fans with the passings of many drivers who we grew up watching and admiring. Last year we lost legend Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen and fan favorites like Jimmy King, versatile…
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Shawn Reed and Josh Hart join Bob Vandergriff Racing

The veteran and the rookie join Jordan Vandergriff to create three-racer team at Bob Vandergriff Racing.
17 Jan 2019
Jacob Sundstrom, NHRA National Dragster Associate Editor
News
Reed Hart
Two new drivers joined Jordan Vandergriff at Bob Vandergriff Racing Thursday. Shawn Reed, who spent the first part of his Top Fuel career racing with Todd Paton, and Top Alcohol Dragster veteran Josh Hart, will fill the void left by Blake Alexander…
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2019 Mello Yello season set to roar to life at Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals Feb. 7-10

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ annual iconic opener, the tradition-rich 59th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com, will kick off another thrilling NHRA season, Feb. 7-10 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
16 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Pomona
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ annual iconic opener, the tradition-rich 59th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com, will kick off another thrilling NHRA season, Feb. 7-10 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona…
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Houston Raceway Park rebranded through multi-year relationship with Pennzoil

Houston Raceway Park, home of the NHRA SpringNationals, has signed a new multi-year relationship that changes the name of the 30-year-old facility to Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil.
14 Jan 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Houston
Houston Raceway Park, home of the NHRA SpringNationals, has signed a new multi-year relationship that changes the name of the 30-year-old facility to Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil. "Today’s announcement with Pennzoil marks…
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