Shawn Langdon is one of the NHRA Top Fuel class’ best “leavers,” getting the jump more often than not on his opponents at the starting line.

He also might be one of its best strategists.

Most of what he predicted for the call-out portion of the Pep Boys All-Star Shootout at the Amalie Oil Gatornationals happened on stage Friday at the Gainesville Raceway Top Eliminator Club.

Persistent rain showers have forced the postponement of Friday qualifying at the NHRA Gatornationals, the third stop on the 22-race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

NHRA had hoped to get in at least one session with the professional divisions and one with the alcohol cars, but without a break in precipitation, the plan was washed away. The Lucas Oil Sportsman Drag Racing Series, which had its qualifying canceled on Thursday, were not expected to run on Friday. 

Krista Baldwin will begin her second season of Top Fuel Dragster competition in Gainesville, FL at the Gatornationals. As a new team owner in the class, she welcomes McLeod Racing and Lucas Oil back as major marketing partners. 

With a new year, the former Chris Karamesines dragster entry has a new look for the 2022 season. She plans to make an 8-10 race schedule across the country with the NHRA Camping World Series. Coming off of a successful rookie year, Baldwin has strategically planned for another consistent season.

Clutch industry pioneer John Norcia passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of February 27, 2022. 

Norcia started Ram Clutches in 1971 inside of his father’s auto parts rebuilding business in Canton, Ohio. He was an innovator behind several clutch technological advancements over the years, which included the Rametallic paddle clutch disc in the 1970s, then in the 1980s, the Ram Assault Weapon 6.25 multiple disc oval track clutch, the Ram Coupler, a 5.5-pound direct coupling that utilized a cone clutch inside. 

Take a look at last night's festive Don Garlits' International Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductions thanks to the camera of Roger Richards.

Drag Racing fans will be able to witness a part of history on Thursday, March 10, 2022, and do it for free, as CompetitionPlusTV, in partnership with Masters Entertainment, will provide a free Livestream from the 32nd annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Banquet.

Drag racing fans can watch from the comfort of their homes on their mobile devices and/or their USB-equipped televisions, starting at 7:40 PM EST.

If it appears veteran Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta has a little more pep in his step, there's a good reason. He does. 

Kalitta, a favorite among drag racing fans and those he competes against, finally has someone who has been a respected nemesis over the last two decades in his corner. 

The optics are precisely as they appear. 

"That was pretty exciting news," Kalitta said of the team's behind-the-scenes announcement that championship tuner Alan Johnson and his tuning entourage had landed with the Kalitta Motorsports operation. 

The last time Steve Johnson won a fan-vote, virtual reality championship, it nearly happened in real life. 

Johnson, the energetic Pro Stock Motorcycle rider from Birmingham, Alabama, is now a two-time people's drag racing champion, having won the Virtual Reality Hot Rod Association series title once again. 

So if this is a harbinger of things to come, how does Johnson plan to top a season where he came within a couple of rounds of scoring what was envisioned as an unattainable dream?

"Well, to get a sponsor, ride better, and create better results including the more wins, number ones, possibly a championship, but the root of all evil is process," Johnson explained. "Get through the process."

Antron Brown got a hearty laugh from his Pep Boys All-Star Top Fuel Call-Out rivals during Tuesday’s Zoom call with NHRA Toyota-sponsored qualifiers for the specialty race this Saturday at Gainesville Raceway.

Saying he was eager to ace out the others for the $80,000 winner’s share of the purse, he said cheekily, “I’m going to be walking around, popping some holes in some Goodyear tires.”

Justin Ashley spoke so seriously, about “no margin for error” and that call-outs won’t be personal but rather “strictly business.” But he lightened up and said, “Antron got me excited, talking about all these zeroes on that check. He got me thinking about breaking out some scissors and a knife myself and going around and popping those Goodyears.”

That prompted top seed Steve Torrence to declare, “If I come up with a flat tire, I’m lookin’ for you cats.”

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Doug Gordon has experienced quite a bit of success in recent years. In 2020, he captured the world championship title and last year, he came in a close second to Sean Bellemeur. He and his father Mike have built a solid reputation in the sport as fierce competitors, and now the next generation is ready to follow in their footsteps. At ages 17 and 16, respectively, Maddi and Macie Gordon are like sponges, soaking up every bit of knowledge their racing roots have to offer them. 

“We’ve always had a passion for drag racing,” said Macie. “Now that we are older we have more opportunities to do something with it.”