Drag racing can produce some of the more challenging rollercoaster rides for a straight-line sport. Longtime sportsman racer Jeff Melnick will testify to the ups and downs as he navigated to a challenging PDRA title in the M&M Transmission Pro 632 division while driving for team owner Alan O’Brien.

To think, it was his rookie season.

“I remember the first pass I made in the car, and I thought, ‘Oh boy, what did I get myself into? This is a different animal," Melnick said. "A Liberty 5-speed, heads-up, a Pro tree, just a bunch of different stuff for me."

The 2023 SEMA Show was deemed a success by various industry professionals. The Las Vegas-based trade show, hosted from October 31 to November 3, attracted over 150,000 participants from the automotive aftermarket industry. The four-day event showcased a unique blend of relationship-building, networking, sales, and marketing opportunities aimed at translating business success and dreams into reality.

The Las Vegas Convention Center was filled with 2,200 exhibitors who presented their newest products, automotive builds, and education seminars. Throughout the vast exhibit halls, attendees, which included industry professionals and enthusiasts, fostered connections through dedicated product communities, outdoor activations, educational sessions, award programs, groundbreaking product reveals, distinctive experiences, and lively celebrations.

Tom Gattuso, SEMA VP of Events, emphasized the transformative power of the show.

The staff of Competition Plus would like to take this opportunity to wish our readers a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

In these troubled times it’s vitally important that we all stop and reflect upon the blessings we receive each and every day. Often, as we deal with the complexities of modern life we overlook many of the things that should be most important to us, the things that really matter.

As a tradition established years ago, CompetitionPlus.com has asked members of the racing community to provide our readers with what they are most thankful for during this holiday season. This year's featured person is NHRA President Glen Cromwell. 

In 2017, NHRA promoted Glen Cromwell to President of the sanctioning body. The Michigan native, a former NHRA division director, represented the first true grassroots promotion into this position since the late Wally Parks, founder of the series held the role. 

Cromwell is considered one of the most personable figures in the role since Parks. He's had his battles along the way, namely a worldwide pandemic, and successfully navigated the major league of drag racing through the tumultuous time. 

In this edition, Cromwell opens up to convey those things he is most thankful for during this holiday season. 

Cruz Pedregon announced a contract extension with longtime sponsor Snap-on Tools at the recently competed In-N-Out NHRA Finals. Almost two weeks later comes another significant announcement. 

Pedregon, a two-time NHRA world champion and 38-time national event winner, confirmed the signing of tuner Jason Bunker as a replacement for John “JC” Collins. The announcement also indicated past championship tuner John Medlen will join Bunker in a consulting role. Most recently the two worked with Paul Lee Racing. 

“I am eager, excited, and motivated for this opportunity, for both myself and the entire team we are putting together here at CPR.” Bunker said. “The competition in Funny Car is incredible right now but we feel we have a solid plan as a team to hit the ground racing in 2024.”

The PDRA’s eight-race 2023 schedule will mark the return of eighth-mile, fast doorslammer racing to Bristol Dragway in over a decade. Additionally, the series, which completed a monumental tenth season, returns to five familiar racetracks throughout the East Coast and Midwest. Along with eight points-earning races, drivers will compete for the opportunity to take part in the fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars. 

“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Simple, right?” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director PDRA. “One of the hardest parts of the entire series is finding the right track partners and facilities to host events that can hold 3-second, 200-plus-MPH runs for Pro Mods, park over 300 85-plus-feet-long motorhomes and stackers, and have the right amenities for fans to enjoy a day or weekend at the races. The concept sounds very simple, but it is one of the hardest things we face each season.

On a limited schedule in 2022, veteran Hector Arana Jr. proved he could still win in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
 
Arana Jr. competed in just seven races and won two of those – Dallas and the Las Vegas fall race.
 
That performance was no fluke.

Matt Smith is ready to come home. And starting in 2024, he plans to return to what he's been able to depend on for six NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championships.

CycleDrag.com and Jack Korpela first broke the story of the Denso-sponsored Smith leaving Suzuki and returning to his all-too-familiar Buell V-twin program.