The last time they did this, it worked very well.

Kalitta Motorsports and CMR Constructions and Roofing partnered for a theme car driven by Shawn Langdon, and the program delivered a marketing home run. Langdon drove his way to a Top Fuel runner-up finish.

This weekend they're hoping for the same magic, and the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship kicks off at Maple Grove Raceway with Doug Kalitta driving the familiar blue and white CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster.

Reigning NHRA world champion Pro Stock pilot Greg Anderson checked a milestone off his career resume at the U.S. Nationals on Sept. 5.

Anderson, the reigning world champ, captured his 100th NHRA national event win at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

Now, Anderson is aiming for his sixth career Pro Stock world championship to go with the ones he collected in 2003-05, 2010 and 2021.

When the term Chaos is your nickname, you’re likely not the type to sit idle and wait for things to happen.

“Captain Chaos” Kenny Koretsky stepped forward to save the legacy of Maple Grove Raceway and purchased the historic drag strip some five months ago. And ever since, the former drag racer, along with his sons
Kenny Jr. and current Pro Stock driver Kyle have been burning the candle at both ends to ensure Maple Grove Raceway makes a lasting impression when the Camping World Drag Racing Series rolls into town for this weekend’s 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals. 

Reigning NHRA world champion Pro Stock Motorcycle pilot Matt Smith stole the spotlight at the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals Sept. 5.

Initially riding a Suzuki and then switching to his trusty Buell and won the U.S. Nationals for the second time in his career.

However, Smith wasn’t the only rider in his Matt Smith Racing camp turning heads. The other was Jianna Evaristo on her Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing Suzuki.

It has taken a little bit of time but Fernando Cuadra Sr. and sons Fernando Jr. and Cristian are earning respect with their Ford Mustangs. Cuadra Jr. has won eight rounds this season, and Cristian has four round wins.

“From a father’s perspective, I never expect to be that way, but also, they outrun me by far. They went way above me, and they showed me what they were doing is special. Besides that, they are hungry. They want to make it. So, I raise them a little bit of cold, a little bit of hungry and the value of the money.

“So, they work for it. You come and see them. They're working themselves, and they prototype their own deals.. … They are very focused. They are not the Friday night drinking and partying type. They are talking all day long about racing and how to improve and do better.”

I didn’t think there would be a time when I would hate horses or lions. Well... hate is an awful strong word, so let me rephrase, “I strongly dislike horses and lions at this time.”

What I am talking about is the Recaptcha program we had to put on CompetitionPlus.com, forcing you to identify these animals following the severe DDoS attacks we experienced two weeks ago. Now what I will say I hate are individuals who attack one’s livelihood with no regard for what happens to us. For 23 years we've had to work our fingers to the bone to deliver a reputable news agency.

So what is a DDoS attack?

The McGaha family race team has turned heads in NHRA Pro Stock: Chris has eight national-event wins, and his son, Mason, 20, has been to 10 semifinal rounds in just 37 races.

“Like I said, I did those COVID races, so I feel like I got my feet wet here doing all those races,” Mason said about competing in Indy. “Then we ran last year (here), and we ran decent. I mean, it's the ‘Big Go,’ but it didn't really intimidate me much. It takes a lot to rattle me.”

Mason has had some impressive runs in his brief Pro Stock career, but he’s far from satisfied.

The final day of the JEGS Performance Summer Fling presented by Optima Batteries at National Trail Raceway had 312 entries staging up for $30,000 on American Race Cars Saturday.

A full week of beautiful weather continued throughout the day and into the afternoon. Increased round money and special awards would wrap up the third Fling event of the year.

The Fling Team selected Chris Bear as the 2022 Summer Fling MVP to receive the Todd’s Extreme custom-painted Impact Racing helmet and $1,000 bonus for his stellar performance over the course of the event, carrying double entries deep into eliminations during the Thursday 30K and Friday 100K races. Bear also had over five perfect reaction times, proving to be set up “on kill” each day and earning him a spot on the dragster side of the Brodix Best Package Runoff for the SR20 cylinder heads (qualifying with a .002 package).

It is a debate as old as the sport itself.

Who is more responsible for a great run? Is it the driver who has to be methodical in doing everything just right during the burnout, staging, reaction times, wrestling their machine down the track, and then getting it stopped, all in just a few breaths?

Or is the crew chief, who spends hours studying graphs, weather reports, track temperatures and makes sudden, last-second calls on the starting line based on ever-changing track conditions?

If you ask three-time world champion Matt Hagan, he says he knows the answer.