Just before the first session of qualifying at the NHRA Virginia Nationals, veteran nitro Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson will seize the opportunity to reveal something he's kept a lid on for months. There at Virginia Motorsports Park before qualifying for the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, Wilkerson and his team will remove the cover from his brand new 2019 Ford Mustang Funny Car.
 
The striking Mustang, newly designed by Ford Performance engineers and capable of speeds in excess of 320 mph, is adorned with a sleek paint job beneath a colorful wrap celebrating the 40th anniversary of Wilkerson's primary sponsor, Levi, Ray and Shoup.

John Force and his PEAK Chevy Camaro Funny Car will be debuting special Herculiner branding at this year’s Virginia Nationals. Herculiner, a product of PEAK, is a do-it-yourself truck bed liner that provides a tough, durable, skid-resistant protective coating five times thicker than other roll-ons. With more than 101 uses, it’s easy to use and can be applied to multiple surfaces, including metal, concrete, wood, and more. Herculiner also prevents rust and is resistant to gasoline, oil, solvents, and chemicals.

A score of nitro superstars will be in action this weekend at Orlando Speed World Dragway. And these superstars have made plenty of thunder on the NHRA tour.

However, these racers are not in fire-breathing Funny Cars or Dragsters.

Registration for the 2019 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show is now open at prishow.com. With links to Indianapolis-area hotel rooms at exclusive discounted rates as well as a sign-up page for PRI’s expanded educational program, the online application makes it easy and convenient for motorsports professionals to prepare for the Three Biggest Business Days in Racing, December 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.  
 
By registering early, buyers and exhibitors will receive their credentials before the Show — beginning in October — allowing them to bypass lines at the registration desk and save time on site. Journalists covering the PRI Show will be able to pick up their credentials on site in the PRI Trade Show Media Center. Located in the Convention Center’s Green Hall, the Media Center is available exclusively to credentialed media and offers Wi-Fi, printer access, and work tables, among other amenities.

There was a time when DNQs were not that uncommon for veteran Top Fuel driver/team owner Terry McMillen.

That time has long passed.

However, it reared its ugly head for McMillen at the Arby’s Southern Nationals in Atlanta May 3-5 when he didn’t make the 16-car show.

NHRA officials announced the 24-race 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule, which will again feature intense racing action at tracks across the country. Millions of fans will experience sensory overload at its best with side-by-side racing action where victories may be determined by mere thousandths of a second. Competition schedules for individual categories will be released this summer.
 
Throughout the season, NHRA will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pro Stock Car. Fans will experience special treats and features along the tour to commemorate this important category and honor its history.

For six weeks, the 500-inch Pro Stock cars have remained idle.

One of NHRA's new wave superstars is ready to bring back the high winding factory hot rods.

"People are definitely excited to see the class back out there, and we're excited to be back out there," Pro Stock racer Alex Laughlin, second place in the championship points behind Bo Butner, said. "I've never been this high in points, but it's so tight in this class. Bo (Butner) is way out there (as the points leader), but the position we're in now, we're trying to race for a championship, the pressure is on, to say the least. There's no room for mistakes, and we have to be on our game. The Countdown (to the Championship) will be here quicker than you think."

Don't say Bob Tasca III didn't tell you so.

The cryptic crew chief carousel tuning rumor on CompetitionPlus.com has been revealed today as John Schaffer, who recently departed John Force Racing will join Bob Tasca Racing as a co-crew chief starting at this weekend's NHRA Virginia Nationals.

In return, Mike Green is headed to JFR, and is expected to tune Top Fuel rookie Austin Prock.

The “unloading party” in Gilbert, Ariz., is over, and the “work party” is underway for Top Fuel Jim Maroney.

The longtime nostalgia Funny Car and fuel altered racer has launched his own Top Fuel team, building on his five-race rookie season driving Terry Haddock’s dragster and his brief partnership this year with aspiring Top Fuel racer Kim Davidson.