Written by Anthony Caruso lll Wed, 2020-09-23 08:00
Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car owner Jay Blake has had a lot of free time lately. His team has been sidelined due to the coronavirus pandemic and being without a primary sponsor.
During his free time, he recently made a bench for the New England Dragway Hall of Fame in Epping, New Hampshire. Blake -- who is blind following an accident -- did the majority of the work on his own.
by Bobby Bennett Tue, 2020-09-22 14:00
Consider noted drag racing historian and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Bret Kepner as one of those paying attention to the brewing controversy surrounding the NHRA's Factory Stock Showdown and the decision by the leading Ford Cobra Jet racers to skip the most prestigious drag race in the world - the NHRA U.S. Nationals.
For Kepner, the connection is far more than historical. It's personal.
Kepner, along with then ADRL President Tim McAmis, was behind the creation of the ADRL SuperCar Showdown Series in 2012, a style of racing added to the NHRA's curriculum later that same year as the Factory Stock Showdown, a race-within-a-race at the NHRA's U.S. Nationals.
by Bobby Bennett Mon, 2020-09-21 19:01
The 2020 pandemic season is the gift that keeps on giving.
In the latest blow to major league drag racing, NHRA series sponsor Coca-Cola has opted not to continue their sponsorship, which was to run through 2023. It is uncertain if this withdrawal affects the 2020 points fund purse.
“Recently, Coca-Cola had a change of heart, and told us they would walk away from their agreement to sponsor our professional series -- not at the end of 2023, as promised in their agreement, but now, after being with us since 2002,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell. “We’re deeply disappointed that they’ve taken this position.
“NHRA has always treated our sponsors as part of our family. Family sticks together when times get tough. But it seems The Coca-Cola Company is using the pandemic as an opportunity to break their promise. We can’t let that stand. We owe it to everyone who makes the NHRA so excellent – all our employees, teams, tracks, fans, partners and sponsors – to hold Coca-Cola to its promises.”
Written by Anthony Caruso lll, photos by Dave Kommel, courtesy of Ron Capps Mon, 2020-09-21 19:00
In today’s society due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have to wear a mask in an attempt to stop the virus. NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car pilot Ron Capps was inspired by a picture to make a vintage drag racing mask.
He used a picture from the late Tom McEwen’s racing career as the inspiration for the mask. At first, they were just going to be for his family and close friends.
Written by Anthony Caruso lll Mon, 2020-09-21 18:59
On his way to winning Sunday at Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddie, Virginia, “Stevie Fast” Jackson broke his Radial vs.The World record that he set on Friday night at the Shakedown Nationals XVIII. The reigning NHRA Pro Mod Champion went 3.520 at 212.46 mph in the second qualifying session.
Jackson then went 3.505 at 213.67 mph to get the win over David Reese in the semifinals of the RvW eliminations Sunday morning. Reese went 3.522 at 214.55 mph in the losing effort.
Mon, 2020-09-21 06:52
It’s been almost a half century since Florida native “Big Daddy” Don Garlits revolutionized drag racing by perfecting the rear engine design that today is employed universally by racers like two-time reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence, one of the favorites in this week’s pandemic-delayed 51st annual Amalie Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Now, more than 34 years after he beat the late Dick LaHaie to win for the fourth and final time on his home track, Garlits is in a position to hoist another of the NHRA’s iconic Wally trophies thanks to Torrence and his Capco Contractors race team.
With a nod to history and the man who in 1991 was voted the No. 1 racer in the NHRA’s first 50 years, Torrence will compete this week in a dragster that bears an uncanny resemblance to the car Garlits designated “Swamp Rat 14” upon its debut in 1971, a design so successful that by 1973 it had rendered the front-engine dragster all but obsolete.
Written by Thomas Pope Sun, 2020-09-20 18:00
Larry Dixon, a three-time Top Fuel champion, hasn’t competed in the sport’s top division in NHRA competition since 2017.
That could soon change.
by Bobby Bennett, Photos by Roger Richards Sun, 2020-09-20 17:50
A worldwide pandemic has crippled the drag racing world. Fortunately, for Quain Stott and his popular Southeast Gassers Association, they live in another world; a world dominated by pure period-correct racing supported by race fans clamoring for life in a simpler era.
Race fans at Kil-Kare Dragway in Xenia, Ohio, know a thing or five about good 'ole days considering the track has been in existence for six decades.
Written by Tracy Renck, photo by NHRA Sun, 2020-09-20 08:00
Veteran Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor Jimmy Underdahl was back racing at the recent Denso U.S. Nationals.
Underdahl was piloting a Suzuki for the Underdahl-Stoffer Racing team. He qualified No. 14 with a 6.955-second at 194.74 mph. He lost in round one to Matt Smith when he had troubles on the starting line.
Written by Anthony Caruso lll Sat, 2020-09-19 19:05
“Stevie Fast” Jackson showed why he has the nickname Friday night as he set the Radial vs. The World record at the Shakedown Nationals XVIII presented by FuelTech at Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddie, Virginia.
The reigning NHRA Pro Mod Champion went 3.520 at 212.46 mph to set the new mark.
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