Fernando Cuadra Jr., who is in his second season competing in NHRA’s Mello Yello Series class, is out indefinitely after injuring his back Sept. 1.

Fernando Cuadra Sr., Fernando’s father, said his son, who is 24, injured his back when he was moving an engine he was loading up in Boise, Idaho.

For a car that makes minimal sound, the 1400-horsepower all-Electric Mustang Cobra Jet made a significant bang in the drag racing world on Thursday at the NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Mello Yello Series Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III and FoxSports coverage analyst Tony Pedregon prepared for a battle of traditional versus the future with the former driving the electric version.

Prior to Friday's head-to-head competition, the electric car had run as quick in the quarter-mile as 8.27 seconds at 168 miles per hour.

Tony Pedregon is not afraid to do his homework when it comes to undertaking an assignment. The two-time NHRA Funny Car champion turned FOX color commentator listened to every word Jeff Lane explained to him when it came to the inner workings of the Factory Stock/AA Cobra Jet he was about to drive down the quarter-mile at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.

Even though Pedrgon has a fuel Funny Car license, he went through the process of completing the cross-over requirements to license for a special match race he’s scheduled to participate in on Friday against Bob Tasca III, who is driving an all-electric version of the Cobra Jet.

Pedregon drove Bo Butner’s Super Gas Corvette at Beech Bend Raceway in Kentucky, to complete the task.

On the outside, it might look like David Rampy’s return to compete in this weekend’s NHRA U.S. Nationals might look like a measure of second-guessing a decision to retire.

Let the record reflect, Rampy is happily retired from the grind of chasing a series championship, something he’d done since the mid-1980s until retired at the end of 2019.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the JEGS AllStar deal,” Rampy said with his trademark southern drawl and accompanying smile. “I said if I was leading the points and had the opportunity to come here that I was going. So that’s why I’m here.”

Funny Car racer Bob Tasca III remembers the time he first raced a purpose-built, doorslammer drag car. It was 1996, and the third-generation Ford icon was an aspiring drag racer hoping to get his NHRA competition license.

Tasca was behind the wheel of a Ford Probe Pro Stocker at Roy Hill’s Drag Racing school. Thursday at Lucas Oil Raceway Park Tasca returned to the doorslammer world albeit behind the wheel of a car, which at wide-open throttle, doesn’t create as many decibels as his school instructor barking out criticism.

Tasca is racing the Cobra Jet 1400, an all-electric version of the popular Factory Stock Showdown vehicle.

Traditionally, Thursday and Friday hosted sportsman class eliminations at the NHRA U.S. Nationals. However, with a global pandemic rearranging life in general, the Big Go had to do some rearranging itself.

Instead of the regular laddered-style competition, NHRA officials opted for a Chicago-style format to determine class winners. Chicago Style is where competitors run a predetermined number of runs, and then the quickest two come back for the final round. In this case, competitors in Stock and Super Stock will run two sessions and race the third and final for the class (not eliminator) crown.

The importance of class eliminations at NHRA’s most prestigious venue since its inception was not lost on the NHRA when trying to work around a season full of adjustments.

NHRA has announced the remainder of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. In collaboration with all stakeholders, NHRA plans to hold six national events to complete the 2020 season.

The 2020 NHRA season has looked very different due to the global pandemic. NHRA has worked closely with its partner tracks and race teams to construct a schedule that will honor its rich racing history.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, today announced a new title sponsor for the track’s annual NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event. The event will be known as the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil and will be held on October 2-4.

With the elimination of the traditional Countdown to the Championship playoffs, every round of racing is crucial. Race teams will be ready to battle it out for their shot at an NHRA world championship.