If there’s something Josh Hart has learned early in his drag racing career, it is to be prepared for the unexpected. His biggest test could be at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals next month, where he is the defending Pep Boys All-Star Callout champion. 

But, the test for him will not be defending his title. It will instead be whether or not he gets in the show. 

Hart experienced one of his worst seasons on record, but the tide started to turn late in the season. However, for the R+L Carriers-sponsored driver, the early shortcomings had him come up short in the point standings of the special race-within-a-race.

This is certainly unchartered territory for Dave Richards.

After racing part-time for 10 years, Dave Richards and Paul Richards Racing will be running the full 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season for the first time in the Versatran/BlueBird nitro Funny Car.

His first stop with a full-time operation is competing at the inaugural $1.3 million PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park, which began Thursday and concluded Saturday night.

The nitro pit area is a community where crew guys will come and go. But more often than not, those working relationships turn into longtime friendships. 

That’s precisely what happened with Jim Oberhofer and Nicky Boninfante, who worked together back in the day at Kalitta Motorsports on Scott Kalitta’s Top Fuel dragster back in his championship years. Then, they went their separate ways to pursue other opportunities. 

They are back together this year as the Clay Millican Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster tuners. 

Paul Lee, a key figure at Wharton Automotive Group, Inc (WAG), has successfully acquired the highly regarded sport compact single-disc clutch line from Competition Clutch Inc. 

The acquisition of Competition Clutch, a leading brand in the sport compact clutch and flywheel market, represents a significant step in the Wharton Automotive Group’s ongoing expansion within the high-performance automotive driveline sector. Competition Clutch will now operate out of McLeod Racing’s manufacturing facility in Anaheim, CA as part of the deal.

Competition Clutch has been integral to the sport compact industry since its inception. Offering a diverse range of products, from stock replacements to full race twin and triple disc clutches, 

Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage (JHG) and J&A Service will serve as the presenting sponsors of the 2024 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM). The event is scheduled for March 1-3 at Bradenton Motorsports Park and will feature over 60 top Pro Modified teams vying for a $100,000 winner-take-all prize.

This news comes on the heels of the successful inaugural SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout, which was presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage at Bradenton. With its impressive collection of over 200 cars, ranging from classic hot rods to cutting-edge supercars, JHG is making its WSOPM debut as the co-presenting sponsor. Additionally, JHG will partner with Elite Motorsports and compete for a $25,000 prize in the second annual Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational.

Drag Illustrated founder and editorial director, Wes Buck, expressed his enthusiasm for JHG’s involvement.

Pro Stock driver Eric Latino owns GESi, a leading producer of catalytic converters for OEM, aftermarket, and performance applications. 

Latino, now a co-owner of the KB Titan brand, has managed to marry his business into drag racing. He has been in the emissions industry for now 25 years. 

The former Pro Modified driver, who is now trying his hand at NHRA Pro Stock, is working on making drag racing engines more environmentally friendly since he sees a day coming when leaded fuels wind down in drag racing. 

The more things change in the sport of drag racing, the more they have remained the same for star Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley.

Ashley has been a legitimate contender for an NHRA Top Fuel championship, and that’s his goal in 2024 as he returns to the same team with all pieces intact.

Northern California mechanical contractor, Lescure Mechanical Services, will continue their longstanding partnership with Jim Dunn Racing during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. As the primary sponsor for the entire season, Lescure Mechanical Services will back the team led by Hall of Fame team owner Jim Dunn and new driver Buddy Hull in NHRA competition.

Team manager Jon Dunn is excited about the team's direction heading into the 2024 season. 

"We have represented Lescure Mechanical Services for many years, but we are thrilled to have them on board for the full 2024 season,"  We have a new driver with Buddy Hull, and the excitement level has never been higher for this team. Dunn said. "We have several specialty Funny Car designs coming out this season as well, but we really want to keep Lescure Mechanical Services front and center."

Check out the latest episode of the CompetitionPlus Power Hour presented by Weldon Pumps. Richard Freeman drops by the show to discuss the recently completed PRO Superstar Shootout, Pro Stock and the state of drag racing. It's a very enlightening conversation with the team owner credited with the revitalization of Pro Stock in NHRA. The POWER HOUR is hosted by the Monday Morning Racer Lee Craft