Walk the floor with CompetitionPlus.com Director of Photography Roger Richards and Bill Swanson as they bring you the sights of the 2017 Performance Racing Industry held in indianapolis. Tune in multiple times daily as we recap the show in photos.

Lucas Oil Products announced that the organization is renewing its longstanding sponsor partnership with NHRA. This multi-year agreement includes Lucas Oil’s recent decision to sign on as the title sponsor for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series opener, the 58th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com.

Most notably, Lucas Oil sponsors NHRA’s premier sportsman series, the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. More than 30,000 sportsman drivers compete in the series each year at venues across the nation. Additionally, this agreement includes Lucas Oil’s designation as the “Official Oil of NHRA.”

Drag Illustrated magazine announced during a press conference the members of its third annual ’30 Under 30’ list. Made up of honorees from every corner of the drag racing community, the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list seeks to shine a light on 30 of drag racing’s youngest, brightest stars. The 2017 DI 30 Under 30 list and its members will be featured in Drag Illustrated’s upcoming 30 Under 30 Issue.

“We’re always eager to take on the challenge of identifying 30 young drivers, crew members, fabricators, promoters and drag racing industry insiders through our 30 Under 30 list,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated Editor-in-Chief. “There are so many young people dedicating their free time to going drag racing in some form. The 30 Under 30 list is our way of showing our appreciation for the efforts and achievements of our 30 honorees, but also inspiring the next generation.”

Ever since Lizzy Musi made her debut in the Professional Drag Racing Association in 2014 in the Pro Nitrous class she has been on a meteoric rise to stardom.

Now, that star that is Musi has a primary sponsor for 2018 as Edelbrock will be backing her in her racing endeavors in the PDRA and NHRA.

Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) successfully raised more than $35,000 for Riley Children’s Foundation during their annual ‘This is How We Roll’ bowling event presented by USA Compression at Western Bowl in Indianapolis on December 6.

With 100-percent of the event’s proceeds benefitting Riley Children’s Foundation, DSR exceeded its fundraising goal of $30,000 and surpassed last year’s contribution of nearly $23,000. The 2017 ‘This is How We Roll’ event resulted in a year-to-date contribution of $108,902 to Riley Children’s Foundation.

Byron Dragway officials have announced the 24th Annual World Power Wheel Standing Championships will return October 6-7, 2018.  The trademark event event features a wide variety of drag racing action that culminates with two rounds of the wheel standing competition on Sunday afternoon.

The two day event features qualifying and eliminations on Saturday with final eliminations on Sunday and concludes with two rounds of the wheel stand competition on Sunday afternoon.  Additional drag racing action includes Top Dog Shootout, Top Sportsman, Midwest Index Shootout, and more.

Kids these days…

They don’t work hard. They are entitled. They don’t know anything.

But is it true? It all depends on who you ask.

With every generation there exists a lack of understanding, a void of compassion on either side of the generational divide. “It’s not how it used to be,” you will often hear. “Ah, the good old days.”

But some want to bridge that gap, bringing likeminded individuals from across the aisle together all in the name of their mutual passion. In this case, the sport of drag racing.

Kalitta Motorsports has confirmed Richie Crampton will return to the team and run for the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship in the Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster. 

“It is an absolute honor to get the opportunity to race for Connie Kalitta in 2018,” said Crampton. “I cannot thank Connie, Jim O and the entire Kalitta organization for giving me a shot this year and helping to turn this into a full season in 2018. This is something I had always wanted, but never thought was possible. It is pretty amazing to be a driver for Connie Kalitta and I am forever grateful.”
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Despite having less than 80 career starts, Crampton has accomplished much in his time behind the wheel. The 2014 NHRA Auto Club Road to the Future honoree has seven wins including a U.S. Nationals trophy. The native Australian’s late season addition to Kalitta Motorsports as the driver of the SealMaster Toyota Top Fuel Dragster was seamless as Crampton scored a final round appearance in just his second race with the team in Charlotte. The Australian-born Crampton now resides in Indianapolis with his wife, Stephanie, and daughter, Emma, with a son on the way in early 2018. 

Late on the afternoon of Dec. 4, NHRA announced a historic decision regarding the Pro Stock class.

NHRA is going to allow Pro Stock racers to run any currently approved engine combination in any currently approved body, regardless of the manufacturer, during the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.