The NHRA's Southwest Division 4 kicked off its season at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La., under chamber of commerce weather for the weekend, and with car counts and performances equally impressive.

Brad Brewer annihilated the B/Altered index to lead first-day qualifying with a 6.898, at -.762 under. He was nearly a tenth quicker than No. 2 Rick Brown, whose truck was -.640 under the B/Truck Automatic standard. Sportsman veteran Jeff Taylor holds down the third spot with a 6.972, -.638 under the index. Currently, there are 26 entries on the qualifying list.

As the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition in Division 4 kicks off this weekend in Belle Rose, La., all eyes will be on the Competition Eliminator category as racers begin vying for a piece of the coveted RoofTec Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund. 

Ashton and Mignon Hudson, and their daughters Bliss and Ella, have been the driving force behind many initiatives that have helped this program pick up steam. The Hudson family works tirelessly alongside the project’s architect, Rodger Brogdon of RoofTec, to advance the fund in all directions. Their passion for the Competition Eliminator category is evident in everything they do as they remain focused on the ultimate goal - to drive interest and participation in the category. After all, as they see it, the Competition Eliminator category is incredibly exciting, and these special competitions have done a lot to increase the intensity for racers and fans alike. This year, the team plans to give more love to the real heroes of the RoofTec Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund, the sponsors. 

 
There’s one thing about NHRA Pro Stock standout Matt Hartford – he’s direct and to the point.

That definitely was the case when CompetitionPlus.com asked him about his goals for the 2023 Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

“Same thing as 2022, except tried to finish higher in the points,” Hartford said. 

Hartford finished sixth in the 2022 points standings, highlighted by his win in Denver and his runner-up effort at the Charlotte, N.C., fall race.

Why mess with what's working? And for the Muscle Milk and Shields Racing team, Madison Payne driving their Top Alcohol Dragster is definitely working. Today, the team has announced she will return to the team for another season as their driver. 

There’s a simple way employees of Tasca Automotive Group can see where they stand with the company, according to its vice-president, Bob Tasca III.

“I can tell you the No. 1 service advisor in my company, No. 1 salesperson, No. 1 technician, No. 1 service manager, No. 1 general manager,” he said. “I can tell you the last-place ones. The truth be told, if you are at the bottom of the pile in our company, you have a lot of pressure on you to either improve or leave.”

And similarly, he said, that’s the same manner in which “racing flushes people out.”

Getting an opportunity to compete and succeed in NHRA drag racing is not easy.

However, NHRA team owners Joe and Cathi Maynard are now trying to help that process along for drivers.

On Feb. 22, the Maynards announced the launch of the JCM Racing Driver Development program.

No stranger to NHRA Drag Racing, Powerbuilt Tools of southern California is joining Jim Dunn Racing as an associate sponsor for the full 2023 season.  The tool manufacturer has worked with NHRA competitor, Alex Laughlin, the past several years and is excited about his jump to the Funny Car class with the historic team.  Powerbuilt Tools will be an associate sponsor of the Jim Dunn Racing team all season, with logos on the car and crew members utilizing their products in their pit area.

Lyle Barnett doesn't care what role he plays behind the wheel of a race car as long as he's got one. Last season, the iconic small-tire, grudge racer who turned big show NHRA superstar is still awaiting a definitive role for 2023.

Barnett drove with Elite Performance and Justin Elks last season, but when the NHRA rules felt out of favor for the turbo combination, it essentially ended the team's bid to compete for a championship.

With Barnett sharp on the tree, the team captured three NHRA event wins, including an NHRA U.S. Nationals victory.

We love fast hot rods and there's a lot to love about this one.

Check out the new hot rod built for ProLine Racing and reigning MWDRS Pro Mod Champion Dustin Nesloney. This brand new RJ-built Chevy Camaro is set to debut next week at the 2023 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod in Bradenton, Florida.

Rodger Brogdon is devoted to the NHRA’s Competition Eliminator class – and wants others to feel the love, too.

That’s why he’s bringing back his RoofTec D4 Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund in 2023.

He said the sportsman-level category is, “to me, the most interesting class in drag racing, by far, because the combinations are so diverse. So many different people out here trying to run some of the craziest car engine combinations you’ve ever heard of – [like] a Subaru engine in a dragster with a head off, a damn Hemi on it. I mean, it don’t get much more creative than this class. I just like the creativity of the class. I like the idea of just about any crazy combination you can come up with. If you can think of it, there’s probably a class you can run it in.