Seeing his team, through years of hard work, finally reach the pinnacle as a national-event winner has been very gratifying for Cory Reed. Reed’s teammate and best friend Joey Gladstone having won two events (Sonoma, Topeka).

“Just after a little bit of a long road, four or five or six years for me, five years for Joey, it feels nice to finally get some success,” Reed said. “Keeps us wanting to come back.

“We put the work in, honestly. It's just as simple as that. We've tried a lot of stuff. We've simplified a lot of things. We went testing a bunch and worked at it, honestly. We're more prepared this year racing-wise than we've been at any point, and we've learned a lot the last few years too, like how to race on Sunday and all that type of stuff. Just kind of a combination of everything coming together.

“If we had to do our own engine stuff still, like when we did … the V-Twin stuff, we'd be full-time, all the time, working at it at the shop. We're lucky that we have the luxury of being able to get good power from somebody, you know?” Reed said. “But other than that, it gives me and Joey the luxury of going testing a lot, traveling, doing all the other stuff that you normally have to hire people to go do. Me and Joey drive the rig, you know? We drive everywhere. We've driven to every race for the past four or five years.”

Drag racing is a sport not just won on the track.

It is not just won in the pit area or back home at the shop. Success in drag racing starts behind closed doors with handshakes, signed agreements, and mutual understanding.

The fact of the matter is the best racers in the world don’t get where they are on skill alone. It takes savvy marketing men and women, successful public relations and relationships with the right people and businesses to turn driver skill into actual round wins.

Paul Lee knows that fact perhaps better than most.

Judy’s most famous ride was her 1968 Super Stock HEMI Barracuda that took her to victory at the 1972 NHRA Winternationals. Judy recalled an interesting comment NHRA founder Wally Parks said to her in the winner’s circle at Pomona, “You’re my favorite racer and the only one I want to kiss!” After her win, Mopar upped their sponsorship with Judy, and soon the “Miss Mighty Mopar” moniker was splashed all over her SS/AA HEMI Barracuda and instantly became her nickname. Judy’s HEMI Barracuda would go on to win numerous events and even got the attention of model maker MPC, which created a 1/24 scale plastic kit of her iconic Barracuda that was sold at toy stores across the country.

Jason Scruggs has a new hot rod for the NHRA Pro Modified Series. This beauty just rolled out of the Jerry Bickels Race Car shop and will soon be hitting the strip. Could it be at the NHRA Carolina Nationals next week outside of Charlotte?

Preston Tanner scored his first Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) presented by J&A Service victory in his Stroud Safety Pro Mod debut Saturday night at US 131 Motorsports Park’s Honor Credit Union Funny Car Nationals. The 22-year-old former Jr. Dragster standout defeated points leader Dustin Nesloney when Nesloney went red in the final round. Tanner is now the fourth different Pro Mod winner in the five races the series has contested so far this season. 
 
A red light also decided the outcome in the J&A Service Top Alcohol Funny Car final round, where Chris Marshall won over Annie Whiteley to secure his third MWDRS victory. 

The last time they did this, it worked very well.

Kalitta Motorsports and CMR Constructions and Roofing partnered for a theme car driven by Shawn Langdon, and the program delivered a marketing home run. Langdon drove his way to a Top Fuel runner-up finish.

This weekend they're hoping for the same magic, and the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship kicks off at Maple Grove Raceway with Doug Kalitta driving the familiar blue and white CMR Construction and Roofing Top Fuel dragster.

Reigning NHRA world champion Pro Stock pilot Greg Anderson checked a milestone off his career resume at the U.S. Nationals on Sept. 5.

Anderson, the reigning world champ, captured his 100th NHRA national event win at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

Now, Anderson is aiming for his sixth career Pro Stock world championship to go with the ones he collected in 2003-05, 2010 and 2021.

When the term Chaos is your nickname, you’re likely not the type to sit idle and wait for things to happen.

“Captain Chaos” Kenny Koretsky stepped forward to save the legacy of Maple Grove Raceway and purchased the historic drag strip some five months ago. And ever since, the former drag racer, along with his sons
Kenny Jr. and current Pro Stock driver Kyle have been burning the candle at both ends to ensure Maple Grove Raceway makes a lasting impression when the Camping World Drag Racing Series rolls into town for this weekend’s 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals. 

Reigning NHRA world champion Pro Stock Motorcycle pilot Matt Smith stole the spotlight at the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals Sept. 5.

Initially riding a Suzuki and then switching to his trusty Buell and won the U.S. Nationals for the second time in his career.

However, Smith wasn’t the only rider in his Matt Smith Racing camp turning heads. The other was Jianna Evaristo on her Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing Suzuki.

It has taken a little bit of time but Fernando Cuadra Sr. and sons Fernando Jr. and Cristian are earning respect with their Ford Mustangs. Cuadra Jr. has won eight rounds this season, and Cristian has four round wins.

“From a father’s perspective, I never expect to be that way, but also, they outrun me by far. They went way above me, and they showed me what they were doing is special. Besides that, they are hungry. They want to make it. So, I raise them a little bit of cold, a little bit of hungry and the value of the money.

“So, they work for it. You come and see them. They're working themselves, and they prototype their own deals.. … They are very focused. They are not the Friday night drinking and partying type. They are talking all day long about racing and how to improve and do better.”