Drag Racing News

(CONCORD, NC – SEP 17, 2017 – RIS) Doug Kalitta took his No. 1 qualifying position to a career first win at zMAX Dragway Sunday in the tenth NHRA Carolina Nationals. Joining Kalitta at the top of the weekend's podium was 18-year-old rookie phenom Tanner Gray in Pro Stock, also a No. 1 qualifier, Robert Hight in Funny Car and Eddie Krawiec riding his Pro Stock Motorcycle, all victorious in the first Countdown event of the final six rounds of the Mello Yello Drag Racing season. Kalitta beat teammate Richie Crampton in the finals with a 3.775-second pass at 318.39 mph in the Mac Tools dragster, earning his first 'Wally' trophy of 2017. Kalitta has 43 career wins and has not won at only two tracks on the NHRA circuit.  “Getting this win gives us great momentum with only five races to go, but with the team I have with me I’m full of confidence,” Kalitta said. “It’s huge for me to get my first win at this great facility, because we have been coming here for a lot of years and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.” The win and quick qualifier points vaulted Kalitta from fifth in points to the lead, going into the next race at the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA.

Courtney Force continued her list of number one qualifying efforts by holding on to the to spot for Sunday's NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Her Friday time help up through Saturday's hot and sunny conditions, as all four pro class pole winners failed to improve their qualifying times. Doug Kalitta held onto the No. 1 seed in Top Fuel qualifying for the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, while Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) used their times from Friday to hang onto top seeds after track temperatures exceeded 145 degrees on Saturday Eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday in the first of six Countdown to the Championship races

(CONCORD, NC – SEP 15, 2017 – RIS) Doug Kalitta sped to the top qualifying position at zMAX Dragway in Top Fuel today with a pass of 3.723 sec and a trap speed of 329.50 mph. Antron Brown held the top speed of the day's two rounds, at 331.85 mph with his pass of 3.728 seconds, both runs came in the second round of qualifying.

Ron Capps captured his first NHRA Four-Wide Nationals victory in Funny Car action on Sunday at zMAX Dragway; Steve Torrence edged Tony Schumacher and points leader Leah Pritchett for the win in Top Fuel

Chris McGaha claimed the win in Pro Stock, L.E. Tonglet won in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Mike Castellana scored the first four-wide win in Pro Mod history

(CONCORD, NC – APRIL 29, 2017 – RIS) Courtney Force, Clay Millican, Jeg Coughlin Jr and Jerry Savoie clinched top qualifier spots for Sunday's NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

(CONCORD, NC - APRIL 28, 2017 - RIS) Clay Millican headed the first day of Top Fuel qualifying at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. zmAX Dragway saw multiple record runs in first-day qualifying for the only four-wide race on the NHRA schedule. Courtney Force heads Funy Car going into Saturday's qualifying sessions, with Jeg Coughlin at the top of the Pro Stock sheets, his brother Troy in the lead of Pro Mods and Jerry Savoie set quickest time in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

POMONA, Calif. -- (courtesy of NHRA Communications)

POMONA, Calif.   RIS-– Leah Pritchett, a Redlands, Calif. native, earned the second Top Fuel victory of her career at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, her home track.

 GLENDORA, Calif. – RIS- (Feb. 1, 2017) – NHRA and FOX Sports announced there will be additional live programming from the season opening NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, the Circle K NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. The new one hour program will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) from 1 – 2 p.m. Eastern, 10 – 11 a.m. Pacific, on Saturday, Feb. 11.

POMONA, Calif. – RIS - Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) claimed NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships Sunday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

POMONA, Calif. – RIS -  Funny Car racer Ron Capps clinched his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship on Saturday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

(CONCORD, NC - SEP 18, 2016 - RIS) Bracket Busting Sunday? zMAX Dragway holds a contest for the media to see who can predict the day's results best, but today proved to be a bracket-breaker for many as Tony Schumacher spun the tires on his Army Top Fuel racer, allowing Cameron Ferre to beat the champion and become undefeated in his first ever NHRA Top Fuel race. Australian Wayne Newby beat Shawn Langdon when Langdon had his tires spin halfway down the strip. Pat Dakin beat out JR Todd in Todd's haze of tire smoke, and Doug Kalitta, beat Ike Maier in about the only clean pair of Top Fuel's first round. Leah Pritchett beat Richie Crampton but had an engine failure and pulled to a halt with flames coming out of the car. Steve Torrence beat out Scott Palmer in a pedal fest and Antron Brown took advantage of a tire smoking pass by Clay Millican to advance to round two.

(CONCORD, N.C. Sept. 17, 2016) [Track Release] – The electrifying sound of nitro-fueled NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series action thrilled a rocking crowd on Saturday at zMAX Dragway, as the final day of NHRA Carolina Nationals time trials saw Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel, Tommy Johnson Jr., (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) emerge with No. 1 qualifying spots ahead of Sunday's action-packed Countdown to the Championship opener.

(CONCORD, NC - SEPT. 16, 2016 - RIS) NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway opened Friday with qualifying and some Sportsman eliminations runs. When the Pro classes finished their first two rounds of qualifying, Jerry Savoie led Pro Stock Motorcycle with a best run of 6.850/195.19 on his Suzuki, with Angelle Sampey's Buell next at 6.861/195.82. The top twelve qualifiers were filled out by Chil Ellis, LE Tonglet, Andrew Hines, Jim Underdahl, Hector Arana Jr, Matt Smith, Eddie Krawiec, Hector Arana, Melissa Surber and Cory Reed. Karen Stoffer, Mike Berry, Angie Smith, Mark Paquette, Shawn Gann, Steve Jonson, david Hope, Lance Bonham, Brian Bognuda and Chaz Kennedy all will have to wait until Saturday's qualifying to make the field.

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. RIS– Angelle Sampey raced to her first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory since 2007 on Sunday at the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also were winners of the 10th NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event of the season.

EPPING, N.H. – Antron Brown raced to his second Top Fuel victory of the season Monday at the rain-delayed NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

COMMERCE, Ga. – Doug Kalitta raced to his second consecutive Top Fuel victory of the season Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

[Track release] CONCORD, N.C. (April 23, 2016) – Reserved seats for Saturday’s qualifying rounds of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods at zMAX Dragway are sold out, as fans from 48 states and nine foreign countries have ventured to the Bellagio of drag strips, one of the largest venues on the circuit, for a 40,000-horsepower festival of nitro-powered drag racing excitement.

(CONCORD, NC – April 22, 2016 – RIS) After a rain shower that soaked the track this morning, Sportsman qualifying got underway a little after 11:30,  with a track temperature of 95°F.  Sportsman qualifying opened the day, with SuperComp actually running four-wide, just like the Pro classes. Persistent rain late in the day halted qualifying after only one round of Pro class runs.

(CONCORD, NC – APRIL 24, 2016 – RIS) The seventh annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods had dramatic results under brilliant Carolina blue skies Sunday. Hosted by zMAX Dragway, the weekend got underway with only one Friday round of qualifying after rain started falling late in the day. The rain gave way to near perfect weather for the rest of the weekend and a sellout crowd saw Saturday's two Pro qualifying rounds, plus the start of Sportsman eliminations.

(CONCORD, NC – April 23, 2016 – RIS) Alexis DeJoria posted a track record 3.934 second ET at 321.04 mph in front of a sellout crowd to surge to the top qualifying position in NHRA Funny Car racing at the 4-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods. DeJoria will drive her Kalitta Motorsports Toyota Camry against Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson and Jeff Diehl in the noon first round of eliminations. "To actually finish the day in the No. 1 spot and get a track record, that's just incredible," said DeJoria. "I'm so proud of my guys. They really give me good equipment. It makes it easy – well, easier. Man, she's a handful off the starting line and I'm surprised I could keep her in the groove and get her down to the end of the track."

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Mar. 16, 2016) – The NHRA will honor a former Funny Car world champion and some rocking hot rods will be on display at the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Florida’s Gainesville Raceway. The NHRA will continue its celebration of the 50th anniversary of Funny Car and the fan-favorite Hot Rod Junction will provide fans with a stellar race car exhibit during the third of 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, March 17-20.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brittany Force raced to her first career victory and took control of the Top Fuel point standings Sunday at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  –   RIS - Jack Beckman set a national record and raced to the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car at the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Saturday.

GAINESVILLE, FL (March 17, 2016) --- During the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame banquet tonight Laurie Force was honored with the Pat Garlits Memorial Award presented by Mopar. Force, the wife of 16-time Funny Car champion John Force and mother to NHRA standouts Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force and Courtney Force, has been a fixture on the drag racing scene for over four decades. The award was presented in recognition of Force’s presence behind a drag racing dynasty whose dedication and passion embodies the spirit of Pat Garlits while also being the ever patient wife of 16-time champion John Force.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –RIS - Terry McMillen has enjoyed one of the best starts in his Top Fuel career, winning rounds at each of the first two events of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

McMillen and his team are excited and encouraged by the early-season success, which may prove to be perfect timing for the 47th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 17-20 at historic Gainesville Raceway.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — RIS - Leah Pritchett raced to her first Top Fuel victory Sunday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.

Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) also picked up victories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix.

Pritchett used a quicker reaction time and a performance of 3.775 seconds at 323.12 mph in her Quaker State dragster to finish in front of Brittany Force’s 3.774 at 321.35 in her Monster Energy dragster. It was the first all-female Top Fuel final since Shirley Muldowney defeated Lucille Lee in 1982 in Columbus, Ohio. It is only the fourth time two women have decided a pro class victory in the Mello Yello Series. Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer have met twice in finals in Pro Stock Motorcycle, most recently at Norwalk last season.

CHANDLER, Ariz. – RIS - Erica Enders’ two-year run in Pro Stock has been one of the most impressive stretches in the illustrious history of the class. She capped it off in Pomona last year with a second straight world championship but Enders isn’t ready for the run to be over yet.

• The new era of TV coverage on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Broadcast Network


• Pro Stock changes hit the track with electronic fuel injection, hood scoops removed and shortened wheelie bars among other advancements


• Off‐season changes on track: Erica Enders switches to Mopar, driving a Dodge Dart; Leah Pritchett joins Bob Vandergriff Racing fulltime; Jeg Coughlin returns to competion; J.R. Todd gets fulltime sponsor with SealMaster

POMONA, Calif. – RIS - Ron Capps raced to his first Funny Car victory in nearly a year Sunday at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

POMONA, Calif. – Jack Beckman picked up right where he left off last season by racing to the No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car Saturday at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also will lead their categories into Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations at the season-opening event of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

POMONA, Calif. – RIS-News.com - Tony Schumacher raced to the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel Friday at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

POMONA, Calif. —RIS-News.com - It’s a brand new era in the new-look Pro Stock class in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. A class veteran and a five-time world champion, it took Jeg Coughlin Jr. one brief glance at his Magneti Marelli Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart to see an immediate difference.

“It’s a pretty dramatic change to see the hood of a Pro Stock car without that big hood scoop we’ve had for so many years but it sure is a slick-looking design,” Coughlin said. “Then you get a look under the hood and see the intakes and how it all attaches to the top of the motor and you really start understanding that we’re in a brand-new era.

POMONA, Calif. — After seven wins in her first three seasons, including four during a banner 2014 campaign, Funny Car star Courtney Force seemed primed for big things in 2015.

Instead, Force was dealt her most trying and frustrating season in her young NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series career. Finding bumps in the road at almost every turn, Force failed to win a race and just missed qualifying for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

POMONA, Calif. — (RIS-News.com)- Now, entering his third season in Top Fuel, Richie Crampton doesn’t take his opportunity for granted. That appreciation to drive the 10,000-horsepower Lucas Oil dragster for Morgan Lucas Racing has already taken the Australia native to incredible places, including five victories and a third-place Top Fuel finish in 2015.

That success carried over into the off-season and has Crampton excited for what is ahead during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, starting with this weekend’s tradition-rich 56th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

GLENDORA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2016) -RIS — Fans attending the Circle K NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 11-14 at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the tradition-rich season-opening event in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series alongside one of the sport’s greatest legends – four-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Don “The Snake” Prudhomme.

GLENDORA, Calif. (RIS) – NHRA’s competition committee announced today that the longstanding 1-percent back-up policy to certify national record performances in the NHRA Mello Yello Series, J&A Service Pro Mod Series, and Lucas Oil Series Alcohol categories will no longer be required at NHRA Drag Racing Series events starting in 2016.

POMONA, Calif. – RIS - Del Worsham claimed his second NHRA world championship title and first in Funny Car, and then raced to the event victory Sunday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals near Los Angeles.

Southern California native Worsham defeated Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoff rival Jack Beckman in the semifinals to secure the Funny Car season title at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and become just the third driver in NHRA history, joining Kenny Bernstein and Gary Scelzi, to win world championships in both nitro categories. Worsham won the 2011 Top Fuel world championship

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2015) - RIS - Most of the attention on the 2015 Funny Car world championship race is focused on Jack Beckman's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T of Don Schumacher Racing and points leader Del Worsham of Kalitta Motorsports. It is doe to the wire for the NHRA Finale.

Beckman dominated the regular season and Worsham has dominated the NHRA Countdown to the Championship by winning three of five playoff races.