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.
Written by Anthony Caruso lll, photo by Richard Brady Sat, 2020-09-19 19:00
Top Fuel Dragster pilot Jim Maroney is selling his complete operation. Due to a downturn with his business, American Flowtech, he is being forced to sell the team.
The business has been impacted due to the restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic.
Written by Tracy Renck, photo by Mike Burghardt Sat, 2020-09-19 19:00
Cory Reed, who runs Reed Motorsports, had been in a staple competitor in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks from 2016 until most of the 2019 season.
However, Reed sat out the final six races of the 2019 season and was a no-show at the first two PSM races in 2020 – Indy 1 and Indy 3. Then, there he was at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals Sept. 3-6 in Indianapolis, making his season debut. Reed was riding an Erik Buell Racing Gen 2 (EBR) motorcycle.
Written by Tracy Renck, photos by Mike Burghardt, NHRA Fri, 2020-09-18 14:00
With five races left in the COVID-19 pandemic-sabotaged NHRA Mello Yello Series season, Ron Capps knows his team needs to make a move.
Capps, the 2016 nitro Funny Car world champion, is fifth in the points standings, 141 points behind Jack Beckman, his Don Schumacher Racing teammate. Capps pilots the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
Thu, 2020-09-17 19:22
The National Hot Rod Association and FOX Sports have announced a multi-year extension of their agreement to telecast all NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series competitions across FOX, FS1 and FS2 well into this decade. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“FOX is thrilled to extend our relationship with the NHRA as we enhance our coverage for drag racing fans,” said Mark Silverman, President, National Networks, FOX Sports. “The NHRA on FOX has achieved record audiences for the sport, and we look forward to working with the NHRA to continue to expand the audience and grow the sport beyond the middle of this decade.”
by Larry Crum Wed, 2020-09-16 11:40
Bob Bode knows all too well the ups-and-downs of life behind the wheel of a nitro machine.
He has seen the highest of highs, with his one-and-only win coming at Brainerd way back in 2010. And he has seen the lowest of lows, with incidents like what happened to him Friday night in Indianapolis.
During the first round of qualifying on Friday, Bode blew a hole in the block of his Funny Car, creating a unique set of circumstances that created a flash fire inside the cockpit. While Bode emerged uninjured, it was a spectacular sight to witness under the lights during the only night session of the season.
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