The last time Steve Johnson won a fan-vote, virtual reality championship, it nearly happened in real life. 

Johnson, the energetic Pro Stock Motorcycle rider from Birmingham, Alabama, is now a two-time people's drag racing champion, having won the Virtual Reality Hot Rod Association series title once again. 

So if this is a harbinger of things to come, how does Johnson plan to top a season where he came within a couple of rounds of scoring what was envisioned as an unattainable dream?

"Well, to get a sponsor, ride better, and create better results including the more wins, number ones, possibly a championship, but the root of all evil is process," Johnson explained. "Get through the process."

Antron Brown got a hearty laugh from his Pep Boys All-Star Top Fuel Call-Out rivals during Tuesday’s Zoom call with NHRA Toyota-sponsored qualifiers for the specialty race this Saturday at Gainesville Raceway.

Saying he was eager to ace out the others for the $80,000 winner’s share of the purse, he said cheekily, “I’m going to be walking around, popping some holes in some Goodyear tires.”

Justin Ashley spoke so seriously, about “no margin for error” and that call-outs won’t be personal but rather “strictly business.” But he lightened up and said, “Antron got me excited, talking about all these zeroes on that check. He got me thinking about breaking out some scissors and a knife myself and going around and popping those Goodyears.”

That prompted top seed Steve Torrence to declare, “If I come up with a flat tire, I’m lookin’ for you cats.”

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Doug Gordon has experienced quite a bit of success in recent years. In 2020, he captured the world championship title and last year, he came in a close second to Sean Bellemeur. He and his father Mike have built a solid reputation in the sport as fierce competitors, and now the next generation is ready to follow in their footsteps. At ages 17 and 16, respectively, Maddi and Macie Gordon are like sponges, soaking up every bit of knowledge their racing roots have to offer them. 

“We’ve always had a passion for drag racing,” said Macie. “Now that we are older we have more opportunities to do something with it.”

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster driver Jackie Fricke will don a new sponsor at the upcoming Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Burnyzz, a full service auto shop for new and classic cars, is sponsoring the fan favorite driver at this iconic event which will serve as the first national event of the season for Fricke and her team.

It’s safe to say that Alex Laughlin is a car guy inside and out. When he’s not going 330-mph on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series racetracks, he takes pride in his passion for cars on the road as well. Recently, the car enthusiast purchased a 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo, and as fate would have it, his passion turned into business yet again. Laughlin adds Woodside Credit to his list of on and off-track supporters. 

“I’m excited to be bringing Woodside Credit on for 2022 and to introduce NHRA Drag Racing as a new addition,” said the former US Nationals Champion. “It’s a wild story how this came about, too. I was window shopping a 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo that seemed to be priced right. Though the ‘right price’ was still something a little out of my budget, I started considering financing options. Banks won’t typically mess with the classics or vehicles of this nature, so I was referred to Woodside Credit as a financing possibility.” 

Round two of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship at Sunset Strip Dragway Mildura, March 12 -13, will be a watershed moment for Australian drag racing, according to leading team owner and driver Phil Lamattina.

The category will race outside an Australian capital city for the first time in over 30 years. 

​Import racing star and industry veteran, Lisa Kubo, will join the McLeod Racing family as the Director of Sport Compact Sales. For over 27 years, Kubo has lived and breathed the sport compact lifestyle so it only made sense to bring her on board with McLeod Racing.

Kubo, the first sport compact FWD driver to break into the seven-second zone, has an immense background in the sport compact world. As a professional drag racer of 12 years, Kubo brings a world of knowledge and connections to help grow and strengthen the McLeod Tuner Series line. And to be part of her journey as she re-emerges on to the scene, McLeod sees the opportunity to grow with race teams and engineers to bring the best products on the market.

After two NHRA Camping World Series national events; the Winternationals in Pomona, CA, and the Arizona Nationals in Phoenix; there have been two notable names missing from the Pro Stock qualifying field. 

Driver of the KD Racing/Artisan Coffee No.2 car, Val Smeland has decided to take some time away from driving duties to attend to some personal matters. Driver and owner of the team’s No.1 car, Kenny Delco, had rotator cuff surgery in the off season which has sidelined him for a couple of months. 

Local star Daniel Gregorini has defeated 11-time national Doorslammer champ John Zappia to claim victory at the 51st annual Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex, Western Australia, March 5-6.

The event is the most prestigious on the local calendar.

There was a moment when the 64th annual Bakersfield March Meet would be a survival of the fittest endeavor. In the end, Brett Williamson (Top Fuel), Bobby Cottrell (Funny Car), and Dan Hix (Fuel Altered) put on a clinic. 

Williamson knew he was in for a wild weekend, following his first qualifying attempt where he made a challenging run to the finish line under power. The rain had started to work its way in for the day, and under the threat of a downpour, Williamson made it to the finish line under power, the only one to do so.