Until 2021 Andy Lopes was best known in Australian motorsport circles as the promoter of the Summernats, a four-day celebration of Aussie custom car culture held in Canberra, the nation’s capital that attracts over 100,000 spectators.

Today, as head of the National Drag Racing Championship series, he is arguably the most powerful man in Australian drag racing.

Launched in May 2023, the NDRC incorporates separate championships for Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car and an expanded National Sportsman series for 2023-2024.

Geoff Turk admitted he once had a fleeting interest in movie-making. But even the guy whose then-future stepdaughter Erin once said, “You’re either a pathological liar, or you’ve had a hell of a life,” couldn’t have generated a script that produced the drama that played out in his life over the last few months.

When the Factory Stock Showdown frontrunner turned Factory X pioneer suddenly forgot how to send a text on his cell phone, he knew something was terribly wrong.

“I’d go to text and I asked my wife [Jena], ‘Hey, do you text with your thumb? Did they change the Apple keyboard?” Turk inquired frantically. “Because I can’t text, “I’m writing texts. I look at it; I got gibberish. And I’m trying to fix it and I got gibberish. Something’s wrong with the keyboard on the phone.”

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle star Matt Smith has fond memories of almost every NHRA-sanctioned track he’s competed on since joining the class two decades ago.

And, Bandimere Speedway, the site of the upcoming final Mile-High Nationals on July 14-16 outside of Denver in Morrison, Colo., is no different.

Smith, who has won 36 career Pro Stock Motorcycle national events and has captured six PSM world championships in 2007, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022.

The automotive aftermarket industry continued its growth streak in 2022, surpassing $51.8 billion in sales, as revealed by the 2023 SEMA Market Report. Despite economic challenges resulting from the pandemic, the specialty-equipment market witnessed a 2% growth, showcasing the industry's resilience and consumer demand.

While the growth rate was slightly lower compared to the annual average of 4% to 5%, this decline was expected given the current economic climate. SEMA predicts that sales growth will remain stable in 2023, with a resurgence towards historical growth trends anticipated in 2024.

Australian Sportsman racers will face an abundance of riches with a 20-round season as part of an expanded Aeroflow Sportsman Championship for 2023-2024.

Three rounds will be held in conjunction with the Burson Auto Parts Top Fuel Championship and four will be partnered with the Nitro Funny Car series.

The additional 13 rounds will be stand-alone events primarily in regional venues.

Jason Scruggs’ motto has always been simple - race good enough to let them know he was there. When the bell rang at the end of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, “them” knew the farmer from Saltillo, Mississippi, had been there. 

Scruggs is savoring the victory, despite not being his first in drag racing. It is, however, his first on the big stage of the NHRA Pro Modified series. He stopped Jose Gonzalez for the monumental victory.

Scruggs isn’t a trailblazer in the sense that he’s not at every race when the NHRA schedule rolls into town. He does make it a point to make the most of his opportunities.

The halfway point of the Spell Paving Services Funny Car Chaos and DMP Awnings Nitro Chaos Championship series has arrived, and the competition is heating up. The pursuit of both the championship title and a share of the $30,000 in year-end points payouts has intensified, making each qualifying session and elimination round crucial for the teams involved.

In the Funny Car Chaos series, Alex Barker, the young driver of the "Back In Black" GTO-bodied alcohol burner from Oklahoma, had been leading the standings for most of the first half of the season. However, a recent Cordova Dragway event setback resulted in a first-round loss, allowing Tom Furches, the runner-up in the 2022 FCC Championship, to take the lead.

Reflecting on the current standings, Furches said, "Leading the Funny Car Chaos points at the halfway point of the season is a reminder of the goals that were set for the 2023 season. We know we have a car capable of winning a championship. The Chaos formula works, and it's all about camaraderie, competition, and competitiveness between teams."

Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels announced that John Bodart has assumed the role of president.

Bodart brings more than three decades of experience in the tire industry to the position. He has held leadership positions in the technical, quality, sales and manufacturing organizations of Cooper Tire, where he began his career. Additionally, Bodart played a critical role in the integration of Cooper Tire with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.