There are multiple types of stories in drag racing. Those you can tell, and those you shouldn’t. Then there are those you tell to win a trophy.

For almost a decade, some of drag racing’s greatest storytellers came together for a good old-fashioned yarn-spinning competition where the first liar almost always took the prize. The scary part about it was that the stories were accurate with some embellishments.

Over the next couple of weeks, we plan to bring you the best of these stories, some in word and some in video. - Editor

If NHRA drivers are anything, they are creatures of habit.

Well, those drivers will have to alter their routines because for the first time in decades and decades and decades the 2023 season will not start in mid-February with the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., but rather the Gatornationals March 9-12 in Gainesville, Fla.

The change-up in the slate has the attention of world champion nitro Funny Car driver Matt Hagan of Tony Stewart Racing.

NHRA officials are pleased to announce today the United States Air Force has been added to the team of partners for the NHRA Youth and Education Services (YES) Program for the upcoming 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

The NHRA YES Program is the only full-time education program in motorsports providing quality educational content and activities for schools and youth organizations nationwide. The YES Program invites students to NHRA national events to see first-hand the career opportunities within the motorsports field, bringing thousands of students to the track each year. In 2023, the YES Program will take place at 15 races during the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

f there’s one aspect championship team owner/driver has mastered in his first year of the dual role is the importance of being flexible and learning how to adapt. But this time, the challenge plays into his hands. 

And it’s nothing more than a change in the NHRA schedule. 

Now, the first four races of the season will be the Gatornationals, the Arizona Nationals (March 24-26) in Phoenix, the Winternationals (March 30-April 2), and the Four-Wide Nationals (March 14-16) in Las Vegas.

Welcome to the Motion Raceworks live stream for Sick Week 2023 Presented By Gear Vendors Overdrive.

Thanks to event sponsors Gear Vendors Overdrive, Motion Raceworks, Summit Racing Equipment, Peak Performance, Isky Racing Cams, Mickey Thompson Tires, TBM Brakes, VP Racing Fuels, Holley NOS, Precision Turbo, SCT, Dodge and Radford Racing School.

Bobby Bode, 20, a fan-favorite nitro Funny Car driver, will be back in the seat of his family-owned ride for the 2023 NHRA season.

“We are going to run the normal ten races,” said team owner Bob Bode, Bobby’s father. “But we’re not starting in Gainesville (Fla.). We’re going to start in Phoenix.”

The Gatornationals are the season-opening race March 9-12 in Gainesville. The Arizona Nationals are the second race on March 24-26 in Phoenix.

Endeavor Streaming and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) announced today a multi-year partnership, leading with the upgrade of NHRA’s OTT platform NHRA.tv. The new service is available for sign-ups.

In addition to enhancing NHRA.tv, the company has enlisted Endeavor Streaming’s direct-to-consumer growth services division. Through close collaboration, Endeavor Streaming will help scale the NHRA business and grow their fan base and digital service revenues. The long-term partnership combines NHRA’s expertise in drag racing with Endeavor Streaming’s expertise across OTT focused marketing, analytics, and predictive modeling.

After making his NHRA driving debut in a Top Alcohol dragster at last year’s NHRA Nevada Nationals, Tony Stewart is ready to compete full-time in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for McPhillips Racing. 

Stewart advanced to the Finals in his first NHRA event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last October, where he finished second to Madison Payne by two-10,000ths of a second. Stewart’s 5.258-second, 271.57 mph run in the Finals came up just one inch short out of 15,840 inches on the quarter-mile long drag strip, which made his desire to return to the seat even stronger.

As far as the Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team sees it, the 2023 season cannot come soon enough. Two weeks ago, the team departed Gainesville chock full of positive energy following a beneficial test session, and now with the approval of the first new Suzuki Hyabusa body in over a decade. 

Not only did the bike perform above and beyond, rookie NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Gaine Hererra and seasoned veteran Eddie Krawiec laid down multiple 200-plus mph runs. 

"This was a great week for our team," said Crew Chief Andrew Hines. "Working with Gaige and Eddie, seeing how well our bikes performed, and now receiving approval from the NHRA, everything is coming together for this season."

Chad Reynolds, who, along with Brian Lohnes, founded the popular Bangshift.com website, plans to return to familiar surroundings in 2023. He will return as the announcer for the Mid-West Drag Racing series this season. Bangshift.com formerly provided the livestream for the popular series. 

“We are extremely happy to have Chad back with us this year,” said series founder Keith Haney. “He’s got a huge personality, and we think the fit with Luke will be amazing. We’ve got several cool announcements to come.”

Reynolds joins Luke Clevenger in the booth, who is in his third full season with the series.