The NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock season returns to action at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, MN, August 10 - 21, 2022.  

The MMPSA confirmed that SweetLeaf brand Stevia Water Drops will be the official presenting sponsor for the class for the remaining three NHRA events of 2022. In addition to Brainerd, the large displacement Pro Stockers will race at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis and the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, NC.

As the NHRA’s best drivers prepare for a pivotal Countdown to the Championship showdown at zMAX Dragway Sept. 23-25, officials have announced that the event will have a new name. Betway, a global betting and gaming brand, has signed on as the entitlement sponsor for the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals.

The second race in the NHRA’s Camping World Drag Racing Series’ six-event Countdown to the Championship brings cooler fall temperatures to the lightening-fast drag strip – providing the potential for track-record speeds when nitro-powered Top Fuel and Funny Car machines scorch zMAX Dragway’s pavement in search of a coveted Countdown triumph.

Now that Chris Karamesines has retired, one of his Top Fuel contemporaries gets the honor of the oldest competitor in the class. 

Washington State’s Ron Smith, a retired Boeing employee, has an anniversary to celebrate. He earned his Top Fuel license in 1972, 50 years ago. But he has been drag racing longer than that. He said, “I have been out here, I think 60 years.” 

Smith, who’ll turn 80 years old Oct. 28, did win the Top Fuel open benefit at Bremerton, Wash., to raise money in 1974 for Herm Peterson, who was burned severely in an accident at Southern California’s Orange County International Raceway. 

A lot has gone on at Pacific Raceways since the NHRA was here last there in 2019. So fans have noticed and felt the differences at this Flav-R-Pac Northwest Nationals. Most noticeable are the new garages, which represent Phase I of a technology campus vision that track owner-president Jason Fiorito has orchestrated to keep the legendary racetrack resistant to urban encroachment and tempting offers to sell. 

That has resulted in a few inconveniences for fans, many of whom have complained about changes to their parking habits and the fact that Friday racing offers just one qualifying run rather than the traditional two. The NHRA instituted the latter practice in 2020 – but fans here missed out on a 2020 race and a 2021 event because of pandemic restrictions. 

He and his team have survived a pandemic. They are navigating their way through what appears to be a recession. And, yet the NHRA and its President, Glen Cromwell, continue making moves to guide the NHRA in a positive direction.

Is the NHRA's world perfect? No. And even when Wally Parks was at the helm of the world's largest sanctioning body, there were challenging times.

Recently CompetitionPlus.com's Bobby Bennett caught up with the NHRA's fifth president to discuss the hot-button topics of today's drag racing in regards to the NHRA and its world. 

The return of the Stampede of Speed, a ten-day festival of music, drag racing and amazing fan experiences in advance of the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, was officially announced with the release of the special event schedule on www.stampedeofspeed.com. Hosted once again at the historic Texas Motorplex, the multi-use facility located just 35 minutes from Dallas and Fort Worth, as well as in downtown Waxahachie the Stampede of Speed will feature non-racing activities, concerts, educational and business events for fans from across the country.
 
“Last year we took a leap of faith with the Stampede of Speed and it paid off with thousands of fans coming to Texas Motorplex, Waxahachie and Ellis County for ten days of racing and entertainment,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “Over the next two weeks we will be unveiling new events, a major country concert line-up, fan contests and additional elements making the second annual Stampede of Speed even bigger than last year. Our goal is to welcome visitors to the great state of Texas and introduce them to our facility, the NHRA playoffs and high quality family-friendly events.”

According to letters and statements distributed to track owners and membership, the United States and Australian versions of the International Hot Rod Association have new ownership.

In a letter sent to its sanctioned track owners from Louis F. Partenza, President & Chief Executive Officer of IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE), he confirmed an agreement in principle for the IHRA to be acquired by Larry Jeffers.

Jeffers, known for his successful chassis business, also owns Jeffers Motorsports Park, a facility in Sikeston, Mo., and according to its Facebook Page, is American Hot Rod Association sanctioned.

RAD Torque Systems announced on Saturday before the first qualifying session of the day at the 33rd annual Northwest Nationals that they would be continuing their support of 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year Dallas Glenn through 2024.
 
Before Dallas fired up his RAD Torque Systems / KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro, there was a pause in the action for RAD Torque’s Dan Provost to make the surprise announcement.

Two weeks after Dane Wood reached his first final round in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) racer scored a $15,000 victory at the second annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race Saturday night during Virginia Motorsports Park’s K95 Richmond Night of Fire. The Virginia native recorded a 3.797-second pass at 199.88 MPH in the final round to defeat Ed “The Iron Man” Burnley and his 4.077 at 145.19. 
 
Another Virginia native, Randy Weatherford, picked up the $15,000 win in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive. JR Carr (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition) and Lexi Tanner ($hameless Racing Pro 632) were also victorious in the professional classes.