When there's a point to be proven, rest assured that doorslammer drag racing icon Stevie "Fast" Jackson isn't shy about getting the job done. Some circles believed Jackson was finished in small tire racing after years of being absent at the drag radial events.

Let the record reflect very few can straighten a circle like Stevie Fast. 

In a brand new, purpose-built ride for small tire racing, Jackson came out on the first day at the Lights Out 15 drag radial event at South Georgia Motorsports Park outside of Valdosta, Ga., proving he's still a force to be reckoned with. 

Larry Frazier, a noted drag racing tuner in the nitro world, passed away on February 9, 2024. He was 87 and died peacefully in his sleep. 

Frazier left behind a legacy of helping the smaller teams who needed more options to champion their cause. 

Two of drag racing's more popular people champions, Scott Palmer and John Force, benefitted from Frazier. 

When Pro Modified pioneer Robbie Vandergriff got the call from the North Carolina Hall of Fame informing him of his appointment into the state's drag racing shrine, his inquisitive nature immediately got the best of him. 

"How is that? I'm not even from North Carolina," Vandergriff responded. 

Then it occurred to the Knoxville, Tenn., resident, back in the formative days of Pro Modified, he had spent as much if not more time, running the highways of North Carolina and parking in its drag strips than he did in the Volunteer State. 

Joe C. Maynard, with a background in military aviation and local dirt track racing, is set to debut in NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster category at the Division 2 event at Gainesville Raceway. Maynard, driving the JCM Racing/Leatherwood Distillery A/Fuel Dragster, aims to compete for a Wally trophy in his rookie season.

Maynard, a former Chief Warrant Officer Four in the U.S. Army, brings extensive experience in handling high-pressure situations from his 20-year military career. His transition to drag racing follows successful stints in local dirt track competitions and training at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, where he earned his Top Alcohol Dragster license.

Mark Beaver, owner of Beaver Motorsports, confirmed to CompetitionPlus.com that his team will run a limited NHRA Pro Stock schedule in 2024.

“We’re planning on running eight to ten races and Larry (Morgan) is going to drive the car,” Beaver said. “We do our motors in-house; Larry Morgan Racing does the engines, and we will be running a Camaro again.”

Beaver said his team plans to start its season at the 2024 NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series opener – the 55th annual NHRA Gartornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 7-10.

SCAG Racing has made another acquisition, announcing the integration of Paul Richards Racing into its fold. The move sees driver Dave Richards and the Versatran/BlueBird Funny Car team transitioning to compete under the SCAG Racing banner, debuting at the NHRA Gatornationals.

“This is a best-case scenario for our Paul Richards Racing team. We’re still all together, same group of great, hardworking guys, just now we get to focus on racing,” Dave Richards said. “When Randy and SCAG approached us with the deal, we knew we couldn’t pass it up. With Versatran and BlueBird they were already making sure we could race a full season and now there’s a sense of stability. My brother Paul and I can’t thank the SCAG team enough for investing in this team, trusting us to represent Versatran, BlueBird and SCAG, and believing we deserve to be out here.”

The North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame honored accomplished track promoters Steve Earwood and the late Jim Turner alongside other luminaries during a gala event on Feb. 17. The ceremony, held at the Greensboro Coliseum, also inducted Larry “Spiderman” McBride, Rob Vandergriff, Wally Stroupe, and Gary and Charlie Wisecarver into its prestigious ranks.

The 21st annual Shriner’s Drag Racing and Hot Rod Expo served as the backdrop for this esteemed occasion. This event, a long-standing tradition, supports the Shriners’ Children’s Hospital, exemplifying the charitable spirit deeply ingrained in the drag racing community.

Steve Earwood, a stalwart figure in the racing world, received the Jeff Byrd Memorial Award for lifetime achievement. His three-decade tenure as the owner and operator of Rockingham Dragway solidified his legacy within the sport. Meanwhile, Jim Turner, posthumously honored with the Pioneer Award alongside his wife Dora, left an indelible mark as the former operators of Piedmont Dragway.

If there’s something Josh Hart has learned early in his drag racing career, it is to be prepared for the unexpected. His biggest test could be at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals next month, where he is the defending Pep Boys All-Star Callout champion. 

But, the test for him will not be defending his title. It will instead be whether or not he gets in the show. 

Hart experienced one of his worst seasons on record, but the tide started to turn late in the season. However, for the R+L Carriers-sponsored driver, the early shortcomings had him come up short in the point standings of the special race-within-a-race.

This is certainly unchartered territory for Dave Richards.

After racing part-time for 10 years, Dave Richards and Paul Richards Racing will be running the full 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season for the first time in the Versatran/BlueBird nitro Funny Car.

His first stop with a full-time operation is competing at the inaugural $1.3 million PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park, which began Thursday and concluded Saturday night.