Robert Hight, who lost his Funny Car points lead to Matt Hagan, fired a salvo across the bow Friday night as he drove his Cornwell Tools-sponsored Funny Car during first day of qualifying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas.

Joining Hight were Erica Enders (Pro Stock), Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle), and Mike Salinas (Top Fuel).

Hight stopped the clocks with a 3.851-second pass at 327.51 mph. If his performance holds up, Hight will clinch his sixth No. 1 qualifier this season and his 83rd overall. With only two races left in the Countdown to the Championship, Hight understands a strong showing is of the utmost importance this weekend. 

There’s no question Steve Torrence has a passion for drag racing – his four NHRA Top Fuel world championships are evidence to that fact.

However, the Kilgore, Texas, driver does have a passion for a sport outside the dragstrip – rodeo.

“This is just awesome opportunity to go outside the motorsports industry and into something I have a real passion for and that’s the Western industry,” Torrence said on the latest Chute Bosses podcast, the podcast of the PRCA.

In celebration of OWI's 50th anniversary, John Force and his crew will don a special gold and black scheme on the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet. This scheme is a nod to OWI's first venture into motorsports sponsorship with the PEAK brand of Kyle Petty. The crew uniforms will be fashioned after the ones originally worn by Petty's crew in the late 1980s, adding a touch of nostalgia to the event.

Brian Bohlander, the Director of Marketing – Sports & Partnership, expressed enthusiasm about the timely celebration of Old World Industries' 50th anniversary. The event aligns with the upcoming AAPEX show and serves as a fitting precursor. Bohlander highlighted the significance of OWI's acquisition of the PEAK brand in 1986 and their subsequent entry into motorsports sponsorship with Kyle Petty. To mark the company's milestone, John Force and Kyle Petty, along with racing legends Michael Waltrip and Danica Patrick, will join forces at the AAPEX show next Wednesday afternoon.

Back in 2020, Troy Coughlin Jr. had the pleasure of being a Pro Stock teammate with his uncle Jeg Coughlin at Elite Motorsports owned by Richard Freeman.

However, Troy Jr. still didn’t see this coming. Jeg, a five-team Pro Stock world champion (2000, 2002, 2007-2008 and 2013), is joining the Elite Motorsports team for the final two races of the 2023 season – Las Vegas (Oct. 26-29) and Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 9-12).

And Troy Jr. is thrilled to have his uncle in the fold.

Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans is gaining momentum as it enters the final two Countdown playoff races of the 2023 season. Following the Texas Fall Nationals, which witnessed a surge in participation, DRBB looks to build on its record-setting success. The upcoming Nevada Nationals, taking place from October 27-29, will be followed by the highly-anticipated World Finals at In-N-Out Burgers Dragstrip in Pomona on November 10-12. Thousands of fans are currently relishing the free and enjoyable bracket-style online gaming experience offered by DRBB.

There's a lot to be said about a drag racer who can win without using electronic devices. Robbie Philbeck he was the best of the best in the WDRA's Sportsman division, a category regarded for its status as a true non-electronic class.  

In drag racing lingo, it is a footbrake division where drivers concentrate on the bottom bulb. Sportsman drivers are not allowed to use various starting line enhancers and electronic devices, including transbrakes, two-steps, nitrous, electric shifters, and delay boxes.

Philbeck secured a $10,000 champions purse at the WDRA Championship Finals in Darlington, SC, by securing the Sportsman world championship. He was tough to beat, consistently achieving an impressive .007 average reaction time. In the semifinals, he narrowly missed out on victory with a .015 red light behind his opponent.

 
For the last several years, veteran Top Fuel owner/driver T.J. Zizzo has competed on a limited NHRA schedule on his own terms.

Well, Zizzo is stepping outside his comfort zone and is competing at the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas Friday through Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The last time Zizzo competed in Vegas was in 2017.

The rumor is now reality, as Mission Foods and NHRA confirmed the leading brand for tortillas and wraps as the new series sponsor for 2024 and beyond. Additionally, Mission Foods confirmed the popular #2FAST2TASTY Challenge will return as well, increasing drivers’ chances to earn more money in additional to the championship monies. 

The announcement comes as NHRA enters its 73rd season as the premier sanctioning body in all of drag racing. 

Despite rumors suggesting Camping World, the World’s Largest Recreational Vehicle Dealer, is leaving the NHRA tour when their title sponsorship is complete, the NHRA confirmed today they have signed a multiyear extension to keep them as a premier partner for the upcoming 2024 race season and beyond.

Kalitta Motorsports has focused on a vision far exceeding winning a championship for two seasons. And in this objective, round-wins mean the world to some who are less fortunate. 

The multicar nitro team partnered with Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger and food insecurity in the United States. Every time a Kalitta Motorsports driver turns on a race day win light, Kalitta Motorsports donates $1,000 to Feeding America, and both DHL and Kalitta Air match the donation. After five of the six races, the three teams turned on 21 win lights.