As a tradition established years ago, CompetitionPlus.com has asked members of the racing community to provide our readers with what they are most thankful for during this holiday season. This year's featured person is NHRA President Glen Cromwell. 

In 2017, NHRA promoted Glen Cromwell to President of the sanctioning body. The Michigan native, a former NHRA division director, represented the first true grassroots promotion into this position since the late Wally Parks, founder of the series held the role. 

Cromwell is considered one of the most personable figures in the role since Parks. He's had his battles along the way, namely a worldwide pandemic, and successfully navigated the major league of drag racing through the tumultuous time. 

In this edition, Cromwell opens up to convey those things he is most thankful for during this holiday season. 

Cruz Pedregon announced a contract extension with longtime sponsor Snap-on Tools at the recently competed In-N-Out NHRA Finals. Almost two weeks later comes another significant announcement. 

Pedregon, a two-time NHRA world champion and 38-time national event winner, confirmed the signing of tuner Jason Bunker as a replacement for John “JC” Collins. The announcement also indicated past championship tuner John Medlen will join Bunker in a consulting role. Most recently the two worked with Paul Lee Racing. 

“I am eager, excited, and motivated for this opportunity, for both myself and the entire team we are putting together here at CPR.” Bunker said. “The competition in Funny Car is incredible right now but we feel we have a solid plan as a team to hit the ground racing in 2024.”

The PDRA’s eight-race 2023 schedule will mark the return of eighth-mile, fast doorslammer racing to Bristol Dragway in over a decade. Additionally, the series, which completed a monumental tenth season, returns to five familiar racetracks throughout the East Coast and Midwest. Along with eight points-earning races, drivers will compete for the opportunity to take part in the fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars. 

“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Simple, right?” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director PDRA. “One of the hardest parts of the entire series is finding the right track partners and facilities to host events that can hold 3-second, 200-plus-MPH runs for Pro Mods, park over 300 85-plus-feet-long motorhomes and stackers, and have the right amenities for fans to enjoy a day or weekend at the races. The concept sounds very simple, but it is one of the hardest things we face each season.

On a limited schedule in 2022, veteran Hector Arana Jr. proved he could still win in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
 
Arana Jr. competed in just seven races and won two of those – Dallas and the Las Vegas fall race.
 
That performance was no fluke.

Matt Smith is ready to come home. And starting in 2024, he plans to return to what he's been able to depend on for six NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championships.

CycleDrag.com and Jack Korpela first broke the story of the Denso-sponsored Smith leaving Suzuki and returning to his all-too-familiar Buell V-twin program.

 
Gaige Herrera had a season for the record books in 2023 in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

Herrera claimed his first world championship in dominating fashion aboard his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

Herrera, in his first season with Vance & Hines and his first full-time season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, captured 11 victories and 14 No. 1 qualifiers. Both are new single-season records in the category.

 The 2023 professional drag racing season concluded on a high note at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip as the Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB) reached its season-ending event. The six-race playoffs showcased action both on and off the track, culminating in two DRBB players claiming victory. 

Nitrostalgic, known as Terry I., and AlkeyAlex, also known as Alex Owens, emerged as the top contenders in the DRBB Overall Series, earning the most points throughout the playoffs. As a reward, they were presented with championship belts signed by the 2023 NHRA world champions Doug Kalitta, Matt Hagan, Erica Enders, and Gaige Herrera. Notably, this year's competition saw the first Canadian and European winners.