There’s a storm brewing ahead of the NHRA’s Holley Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Ky., the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the 1981 NHRA Cajun Nationals when the Funny car teams unanimously boycotted for a purse increase. 

This time is different, kinda-sorta. 

According to the All American Fuel Dragsters Association, the group representing the class, the problem is not with the purse offered. 

Cameron Ferré is back in the driver’s seat of the Paton Racing Top Fuel Dragster.

Ferré will be driving for the family-owned operation at the NHRA Circle K Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at Zmax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.

After some sponsor issues to start the year, the team postponed its 2022 NHRA Top Fuel debut with Ferré.

Competition Eliminator is all about strategy. No one understands that better than current NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Comp Eliminator points leader Greg Kamplain. The Brownsburg, Ind. resident and his wife Judy approach everything with a strategic eye. Hence the reason that he’s competing primarily in Division 4 this year instead of his native Division 3. 

“Are you familiar with the deal that Rodger Brogdon is doing?” he asked at the beginning of our recent chat after he won the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston. Yes, all of us at Competition Plus are quite familiar with the Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund, started by Brogdon and featuring a host of additional sponsors this year. 

With four different winners over four different events in Division 4, it’s pretty impossible to FORget what’s at stake. (See what I did there?)

Had the letter from the NHRA not been posted on social media, there might not have been a story to write. 

The letter, sent to the team by NHRA Glen Gray on Saturday evening, informed them of their need to correct their intake manifold, the same one they were running last weekend in Houston. The timing couldn't have been worse following the shutdown snafu between driver Camrie Caruso and Erica Enders.

“The NHRA Pro Stock rules committee has met and has voted not to accept your request to continue to use the Titan Engines Pro Stock intake manifold,” the letter read. “Please let this letter serve as [the] NHRA official rejection of your request. The NHRA Pro Stock rules committee did, however, vote to allow you to continue to use the intake manifold in question until June 1, 2022. At any NHRA event occurring after June 1, 2022, you must use an intake manifold that meets NHRA rules as defined in the NHRA Pro Stock electronic fuel injection requirements found on nhraracer.com.”

Plans for Palm Beach International Raceway to go out in a blaze of glory didn’t include Don Garlits’ electric dragster going up in flames.

Yet that’s what happened Saturday at the 58-year-old facility’s scheduled final event. A malfunction of some battery cells caused a fire that Garlits said will set back the development of his 'Swamp Rat 38' dragster “probably a couple of months, at least.”

It’s the latest disappointment with the project for Garlits, a 17-time national champion in Top Fuel competition. He fell short in his bid to become the first racer to crack the 200-mph barrier with an electric car when Steve Huff beat him to it in May 2020. Now Garlits’ dragster, which he recently revamped to try to top Huff’s mark, is sidelined while he ponders his next move.

Buddy Hull doesn’t make haphazard moves. His steps are deliberate and thoughtful. Maybe some don’t understand why the Top Fuel newcomer competed in the season opener at Pomona, then sat out the next three events and is returning now with his sharp-looking, newly wrapped VertexRoofers.com Dragster.

It’s because he has a carefully crafted plan. And things aren’t always what they appear to be. 

Take, for example, Hull’s Friday qualifying pass. He didn’t reach the finish line under full power. But that was exactly what he had planned to do, even though it left him outside the field of 16, along with Cam Ferré. That was a planned shutoff, mentor and tuner (and Funny Car owner-driver-crew chief) Tim Wilkerson said. Hull knew he had two more chances Saturday to qualify and favorable weather conditions to help. 

On April 16, Houston Raceway Park held its last NHRA national event – it was a race for the ages.

And one nitro Funny Car driver Bobby Bode will never forget.

Bode advanced to his first final round before losing a nailbiter to Matt Hagan when he had a fiery explosion right before the finish line when the body of his Funny Car blew off.

​From the creative genius of Les Mayhew comes this video feature featuring one man's efforts to keep Competition Eliminator in the forefront of drag racing minds. Rodger Brogdon has been the driving force behind the Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund in NHRA's Div. 4. In this feature, Brogdon discusses what made him fall in love with the class, and what efforts he's taking to make Comp Eliminator the best class on the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The exciting Pro Street class has competed at Throwdown in different variations for years. However, in 2022, the class becomes part of the MWDRS at both Throwdowns with the possibility of being added to others in 2022 and 2023.

Dave Pierce of Tulsa’s iconic Dave’s Claremore RV had a vision and desire to compete again himself after stepping out of the seat of the family-owned and campaigned Purple Gorilla Nitrous Pro Mod several years ago. The Pro Street class has seen the track in Tulsa for years, with a few tweaks.

Every racer eventually finds a race track that for whatever reason they have consistent success throughout their career. This weekend Josh Hart is hoping zMax Dragway outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, will become that track for the second year Top Fuel racer. The team will be racing under the TechNet banner for the first time this season. They will be riding with the two-time Top Fuel winner at the Richmond national event as well. Hart’s relationship with TechNet extends well behind the pit area of his race team.

“I am excited to be running the TechNet Top Fuel dragster this weekend in Charlotte and for the next couple of races,” said Hart, who owns and operates Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala, Florida. “They are an amazing partner for us at the track and at Burnyzz. We are proud to be a part of the TechNet family because they do things the way I do things which is offering only the best service and exceptional care.”