Written by Tracy Renck Wed, 2017-10-25 18:00
Top Fuel racer Mike Salinas has been competing on a limited basis in the NHRA since 2011.
When Salinas made his Top Fuel debut in 2011 at Sonoma, Calif., he was remembered more for the look of his pumpkin-orange, show car-quality Scrappers Racing Top Fuel dragster than for its performance.
by Bobby Bennett Wed, 2017-10-25 08:48
Over the last two decades, the National Hot Rod Associations Mello Yello Drag Racing Series has been in contact with the Department of Homeland Security over the use and availability of nitromethane. This communication was largely due to the fact convicted terrorist Timothy McVeigh used nitromethane purchased at an NHRA event as an ingredient of the bomb which blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, Ok.
Thursday at the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, Ca., the dialogue opened to include the NHRA Heritage Series and its participants and Cacklefest cars.
The reason for the meeting, NHRA's Josh Peterson confirmed, was to reenforce the regulations established with the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series contestants and suppliers.
Written by Tracy Renck, photos by NHRA Tue, 2017-10-24 22:00
The 2017 NHRA season has been a hectic one for the newly-formed Team Liberty Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle team of riders Cory Reed and Angelle Sampey, a three-time NHRA world champ (2000-2002).
Sampey and Reed each competed at the first 10 races of the season, and each qualified for every race. They are riding Victory Magnum motorcycles.
by Bobby Bennett Tue, 2017-10-24 20:43
Nostalgia Top Fuel champion Jim Murphy loves the Starfish story.
The veteran drag racer had just captured his sixth drag racing series championship (five in the Heritage Series and one in AHRA) yet, he couldn't seem to get the fictional, but inspirational tale out of his head.
For those unfamiliar with the story by Loren Eiseley, an elderly man happens upon a young man on the beach partaking in what appeared to be a futile act. The kid was surrounded by thousands of starfish, which has washed ashore and were in imminent danger of drying out in the sun before high tide could rescue them. One at a time, the kid was tossing them in the ocean.
Written by Tracy Renck Tue, 2017-10-24 18:00
After a 3½-month layoff, veteran Top Fuel driver T.J. Zizzo is returning to action at the NHRA Toyota Nationals (Oct. 26-29) at The Strip at Las Vegas Speedway.
“The reason we decided to race at Vegas is because it is tied to SEMA,” Zizzo said. “I do a lot of work for Rust-Oleum. I work with their R&D, I work with their chemists, I work their marketing people, and I work with their sales guys. I work with all facets of Rust-Oleum and because they have a large booth at SEMA, they wanted us to kick that off with racing in Vegas.”
by Bobby Bennett Mon, 2017-10-23 23:10
Brant Inglis knew a long time ago he was born with an old soul. Understand, your typical 17-year old doesn't usually restore a flathead-powered, front-engine dragster, a car likely built before his parents were of driving age.
Inglis turned 26 on October 21, the second day of the 2017 NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion, and to see the smile on his face, there was nowhere else he would have rather been; even if it meant traveling 2,500 miles to participate.
"This is where I belong," Inglis said. Before 2002 I was in a rear engine dragster, I ran Jr. Dragsters. Carbon fiber was all the rage; we got to have this, we’ve got to have a computer. All I wanted to do was put a brake handle in the race car.
Mon, 2017-10-23 23:00
It is with very heavy hearts that we report Brett Henry passed away after a racing accident that occurred Saturday at the California Hot Rod Reunion. NHRA, the NHRA Motorsports Museum, Auto Club Famoso Raceway and the entire racing community extend their deepest condolences and their prayers to the participant’s family and friends. We also ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.
by Bobby Bennett Mon, 2017-10-23 21:20
AA/FC racer Rob Markworth hoped one day his big opportunity would come, and it did. It wasn't quite what he envisioned.
Markworth returned as the driver of the War Horse at the California Hot Rod Reunion, the first official race for the storied race car back in action for the first time at the track where its original driver died following an accident while racing at Auto Club Famoso Raceway on June 28, 2015.
Markworth, once a crewmember on the famed Mustang Funny Car, was given the opportunity to drive earlier this year.
by Bobby Bennett Mon, 2017-10-23 16:22
Matt Bynum, who works his 9-5 as the supercharger and ignition specialist for the DHL Funny Car driven by J.R. Todd, has a second home over in the NHRA's Heritage Series driving the Matthews Motorsports-owned Nitro Nick Camaro AA/FC. Sunday in Bakersfield at the California Hot Rod Hot Rod Reunion, he not only established a new speed record for the class at 263.05 miles per hour, but also drove his way to a runner-up finish, losing a tight race to Bobby Cottrell.
As impressive as Bynum's performances were in the series of yesteryear, he might have something bigger in the land of the here and now.
Recently, Bynum made some laps in the Lucas Oil-sponsored Toyota Funny Car for Del Worsham. He began the licensing process for the Big Show.
by Bobby Bennett Mon, 2017-10-23 11:12
Jim Young admits he lurked in the shadows, perfectly content to let championship combatants Jim Murphy and Mendy Fry snag all the headlines during the California Hot Rod Reunion. In the end, the only headline he wanted was the event championship.
In an anticlimactic final round, Young match raced Adama Sorokin in a guaranteed victory when Murphy was unable to make the semi-final call following a dust-up with the retaining wall in the shutdown area following a semi-final round win.
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