The 2023 NHRA slate began strong for former nitro Funny Car world champion Robert Hight.

Hight, who pilots an entry for John Force Racing, won two of the first five races of the season.

However, the last seven races have not been great for Hight as he lost in the second round five times and first round once. His best run in that stretch was a run to the semifinals in Bristol, Tenn.

The Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor heated up on Friday as Steve Torrence, Robert Hight, and Greg Anderson took the provisional No. 1 qualifying spots in their respective classes. Torrence dominated the Top Fuel category, Hight shined in the Funny Car division, and Anderson led the way in Pro Stock at the Heartland Motorsports Park.

As the four-time Top Fuel world champion, Torrence showcased his skill with the only run in the 3.70s, securing the provisional top spot. Torrence completed a thrilling side-by-side run with points leader Justin Ashley, finishing with an impressive pass of 3.764 seconds at a speed of 326.24 mph in his Capco Contractors/Toyota dragster. Currently placed second in points, Torrence is eyeing his first No. 1 qualifier this season and 35th in his career, while also closing in on championship form.

A year ago, Joey Gladstone had a career-best campaign in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

Gladstone, piloting a Suzuki for Reed Motorsports, won three races, and finished second in the points standings just 82 points behind world champion Matt Smith. His three wins in Sonoma, Topeka and Reading, Pa., were the first of his PSM career, which began in 2017.

Gladstone also had an impressive 31-12 elimination-round record in 2022.

This is the kind of deal you get when you put a good 'ol country boy who loves hunting and fishing behind the wheel of an 11,000 horsepower, nitro-burning Funny Car.

Matt Hagan, self-proclaimed as one of those hunting and fishing country boys from Christiansburg, Va., will carry major backing at this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals Presented by PetArmor from American Rebel, in a multi-year deal featuring its safes on his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car. 

The American Rebel logo will be prominently displayed on the hood and side panels of Hagan's Funny Car, showcasing the brand's commitment to safety and protection. In addition, American Rebel will continue as the primary sponsor for Hagan at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, to be held from September 29 to October 1 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Bill Sr. would have been proud of his boy. 

The  46th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire captivated audiences with a spectacular production on August 5, 2023, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. 

Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park, wished his father could have seen the way his team put together what many describe as drag racing presentation to the next level.

Motorsports marketing executive Brian Bohlander, known for his brand-building expertise, has recently expanded his racing accomplishments by becoming a licensed NHRA driver. With more than three decades of racing experience and a vast knowledge of motorsports marketing, Bohlander has distinguished himself in the industry. As the Director of Marketing for Old World Industries and the Chair-Elect of SEMA’s Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), Bohlander has executed various successful marketing programs in global motorsports.

Unlike many motorsport executives, Bohlander has a unique perspective on both on-track and off-track aspects as a competitive driver. From kart racing to off-road buggies, he has participated in various racing disciplines. Recently, Bohlander became a licensed NHRA driver, adding to his ever-expanding list of racing accomplishments.

Two-time NHRA Pro Modified champion Stevie "Fast" Jackson knows a thing or two about high-stakes drag racing. The stakes couldn't have been any higher than they were last Tuesday when the iconic doorslammer drag racer made his first runs since undergoing neck surgery last December to repair injuries sustained while racing decades earlier. 

Jackson knew the first time he nailed the throttle in the Camaro on loan from his Artivnco team owner Sidnei Frigo; he would learn whether the surgery worked. 

"I don't want to use the term scared. I was apprehensive about it was going to make my neck feel," Jackson admitted. "I asked myself, 'Is this going to be good for my neck?" 

It will likely generate the most publicity of any Top Alcohol divisional winner, but that’s what one gets when Tony Stewart wins.

After qualifying No. 2 at the Maple Grove Raceway NHRA Eastern divisional event, Stewart went on to beat Mike Hepp, Dan Page, and teammate Matt Cummings in the final round. Stewart’s third victory of the season propelled him into the national Top Alcohol Dragster points lead. He also leads the North Central Region points standings. 

“The weekend was a polar opposite compared to what happened last race in Columbus (Ohio). The whole team made a conscious decision to try and be on the other side of it. Even though we made it to the Finals, we felt like we were a little too aggressive in Columbus, and it bit us. We came into Reading with a plan to make sure we made a solid lap in the first round of qualifying, and we could press from there. We kept it in a good, safe zone. 

Darlington Dragway is set to return to the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) in 2024, according to an announcement made on Saturday. The renowned quarter-mile drag strip, which Harold Brasington and Woodrow Hall initially constructed under the guidance of IHRA founder Larry Carrier, has a rich history as a prominent fixture on the IHRA schedule since its establishment in 1976.

Throughout the years, Darlington Dragway has played host to numerous IHRA national events, IHRA Sportsman Spectaculars, and the IHRA Division 9 (Raiders) Summit Team Finals. Recognizing its significance, the track was chosen for the IHRA Hall of Fame class in 2022.