​​John Force had a plan. And knowing the 16-time champion, the plan was likely uber aggressive and designed for maximum impact. ​

​Instead, Force came to the starting line during Friday's Q2 Funny Car session at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals outside of Charlotte with a car that he believed was the opposite of his personality, tuned down. John Force had a plan. And knowing the 16-time champion, the plan was likely uber aggressive and designed for maximum impact. 

Steve Johnson got away with one Friday at zMax Dragway. His first qualifying session hinted there was an issue with his Suzuki, and in the evening run, confirmed there was a problem. 

Johnson thought he saw oil leaking from his championship-contending Suzuki in the Circle K NHRA 4Wide Nationals opening session. The next time there was no doubt. 

For the first time in his young Pro Mod racing career, Robert Gallegos will race from the No. 1 spot in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Vortech Superchargers Doorslammer Derby presented by Stroud Safety. Gallegos made a 3.655-second pass at 205.94 mph Friday night at Beech Bend Raceway Park to jump to the top of the Pro Boost qualifying order. 

John Force set both ends of the track record at zMAX Dragway on Friday, making the fastest run ever at the facility to power to the Funny Car provisional No. 1 position at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
 
Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the sixth of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Leah Pruett was angry, and nothing was going to console her. 

Her debut with Tony Stewart Racing, at her home track at Pomona, Calif., had been deflating. She was peeved by her sluggish .118-second reaction time and an annoying 17th loss to Antron Brown as they lined up in the season’s first elimination pass, but she shrugged it off and headed to Phoenix. She had enjoyed success there: two victories, including her first in Top Fuel, and one runner-up finish. Moreover, she had set her career-best speed (334.15 mph) there.

Racers often field questions about whether a particular race weekend adds pressure. But for Matt Hagan, it’s something he said he lives with constantly. 

“The way I look at it is basically every race there’s so much pressure. I mean, on the minimum it costs about $150,000 per weekend to put that sticker on the side of the car and cover that car up. That's a small haul for someone every weekend that we go out there and race as far as what a sponsorship commitment looks like and takes,” he said. 

​Toyota announced that Ron Capps and his newly formed race team of Ron Capps Motorsports will begin fielding the Toyota GR Supra Funny Car at this weekend’s 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C. The addition of Ron Capps Motorsports will expand the footprint of Toyota Gazoo Racing North America (TGRNA) to three GR Supra Funny Cars competing for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series championship.

“Ron Capps is a proven champion in NHRA competition and all around one of the truly entertaining and engaging personalities in the pit area,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager, Motorsports, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “The drivers that pilot not only our GR Supra Funny Cars, but all of our TGRNA vehicles in NHRA competition are not only talented behind the wheel, but also as ambassadors for our brand on and off the race track. And we couldn’t be happier to welcome Ron and his team to the family.”

There’s a storm brewing ahead of the NHRA’s Holley Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Ky., the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the 1981 NHRA Cajun Nationals when the Funny car teams unanimously boycotted for a purse increase. 

This time is different, kinda-sorta. 

According to the All American Fuel Dragsters Association, the group representing the class, the problem is not with the purse offered. 

Cameron Ferré is back in the driver’s seat of the Paton Racing Top Fuel Dragster.

Ferré will be driving for the family-owned operation at the NHRA Circle K Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at Zmax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.

After some sponsor issues to start the year, the team postponed its 2022 NHRA Top Fuel debut with Ferré.

Competition Eliminator is all about strategy. No one understands that better than current NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Comp Eliminator points leader Greg Kamplain. The Brownsburg, Ind. resident and his wife Judy approach everything with a strategic eye. Hence the reason that he’s competing primarily in Division 4 this year instead of his native Division 3. 

“Are you familiar with the deal that Rodger Brogdon is doing?” he asked at the beginning of our recent chat after he won the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston. Yes, all of us at Competition Plus are quite familiar with the Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund, started by Brogdon and featuring a host of additional sponsors this year. 

With four different winners over four different events in Division 4, it’s pretty impossible to FORget what’s at stake. (See what I did there?)