It’s clear that NHRA drag racing’s primary industry is neither automotive nor sport. It’s entertainment.

The majority of individuals involved in the Camping World Drag Racing Series would say, as NHRA President Glen Cromwell did, that “we are in the entertainment business.”

Just days before the NHRA Fall Nationals are scheduled to kick off at the Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas, Texas, Compulink released an official statement to the media on Sunday evening. The creators of the official timing system for the NHRA announced that while their timing system will be used for the event, their staff will not be in attendance at the event for technical support. 

According to the statement, the issue dates back to October 2020, when the Texas Motorplex opted to go with another brand of timing system, thus ending a 35-year relationship. 

Advancing to his third final round in four races, Pro Mod’s Keith Haney knew he needed to finish the job and he turned in a clutch performance at his home track to win the second race of the Osage Hotel Casino Throwdown in T-Town for the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service.

Haney picked up his first win of the season, knocking off Jim Whiteley in the final round at Tulsa Raceway Park to finish off an impressive weekend in style.

​​​The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has debuted the first episode in its new five-episode streaming series chronicling the ninth year of its Launch Pad competition. The series showcases the ingenuity of rising entrepreneurs in the automotive industry as they pitch their new product or service to a panel of industry experts.

Fifteen individuals have been selected out of a record number of applicants last spring to advance to the semi-final round. From there, five of them will be chosen to compete for cash and prizes at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., where the series finale will be filmed before it airs on the History Channel on a future date.

​It has become a tradition during the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series for race tracks across the country to recognize and honor first responders and members of the armed forces. The Texas Motorplex has been a consistent supporter of both remarkable groups of people and their families over the years. This year during the 36th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed, the Texas Motorplex will once again offer members of the active or retired military, government employees and first responders a variety of ticket discounts to the NHRA national event.

 

“We look at all the sacrifices first responders and members of the military make every day or have made throughout their careers, and we just wanted to say thank you,” said Andy Carter, Texas Motorplex General Manager. “We will be recognizing representatives from the Dallas Five as well as members of the armed services and first responders throughout the event. We also have a special promotion with the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation on Saturday.”

Joey Oksas continued his impressive run in Pro Mod, picking up his third straight win with his victory on Friday at the first race of the Osage Hotel Casino Throwdown in T-Town for the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service.

It’s a perfect start to the double-race weekend at Tulsa Raceway Park as Oksas knocked off Jim Whiteley in a pivotal final round to extend his points lead in Pro Mod. Oksas has won every race since the MWDRS returned to action in August in his turbocharged ’67 Mustang, getting the win on Friday when Whiteley went red.

Brian Amrosini, the acknowledged "Wheelie King" from Kenosha Wisconsin was crowned overall winner of the 26th World Power Wheel Standing Championships at Byron Dragway.

After climbing atop the leader board with a 410-footer in Round 1, Ambrosini sealed the deal with his 447-foot wheelie in his second attempt of three in Round 2. Ambrosini was presented with the $10,000 Champion's check and handcrafted trophy by Byron Dragway owner B.J. Vangsness.

Two-time world champion Tommy Franklin scored his first Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous victory of the season Saturday night at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Proline Racing DragWars presented by Modern Racing. Franklin in his “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro defeated fellow two-time world champion Jason Harris in the final round at GALOT Motorsports Park. 
 
Daniel Pharris (Penske/PRS Pro Boost presented by WS Construction), Wes Distefano ($hameless Racing Pro Outlaw 632) and Travis Davis (Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle) added victories to their 2021 scorecards, while Tony Gillig scored his first Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition victory in the debut of his new family-owned car. 

For the sixth time in seven races, defending world champion Jim Halsey qualified No. 1 in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous after recording a 3.64-second, 207.02 mph pass to conclude Friday qualifying at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Proline Racing DragWars presented by Modern Racing at GALOT Motorsports Park. 

The decision by Sydney Dragway to dump IHRA Australia in favor of ANDRA as the sanctioning body for the venue will have a significant impact across the drag landscape in Australia as the sport slowly begins to emerge from the Covid pandemic. 

The decision was met with a swift and hostile response from IHRA Australia, which instituted legal proceedings against Sydney Dragway for an alleged breach of contract and unlawfully terminating their sanctioning agreement with two years remaining.

According to IHRA CEO Maurice Allen, “IHRA Australia is extremely disappointed to have yesterday received advice that the board of Sydney Dragway have decided to terminate its binding and exclusive contract with IHRA Australia, and its parent company, as the official and exclusive representative and sanctioning body for all races, events or promotions conducted by Sydney Dragway.”