NHRA Insider Podcast

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster host Brian Lohnes is joined by rookie nitro funny car driver Daniel Wilkerson and multi-time champion rider turned Vance and Hines crew chief Andrew Hines. The two guys have unique perspective on the 2024 season and they share it in these conversations.    For Dan Wilkerson, it has been a decent start to the 2024 year culminating in his best race yet in Charlotte at the 4-Wide Nationals. Wilkerson talks about so many aspects of his evolution as a driver and the face of his team this season. It is interesting to understand the working dynamic between he and his crew chief dad and how they are both settling into what are new roles for each of them.    Andrew Hines oversees the tuning of Gaige Herrera's Suzuki motorcycle and many aspects of the workload at the Vance and Hines shop. He talks about the fact that two races in they are still learning, how Richard Gadson is doing, and why the pro stock motorcycle class is as tight as it can be with the motorcycles showing up these days. Lohnes asks him about the controversies coming into Charlotte and squashing them with a strong win. It's a wide ranging conversation about competition, motorcycle drag racing, and more!   Two dynamic racers doing what they do to succeed in the tough world of the NHRA!

On this monologue style episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes takes you step by step through the crazy happenings on Saturday at the Charlotte 4-Wide Nationals involving Bob Tasca's team, the tech department, and what was determined to be an illegal intake manifold. It is a story with some interesting twists and turns, some truly big implications, and one that, at least in Lohnes's view, actually happened at the right time.    This recounting of events takes us through the discovery of the problem which was revealed live on air to Lohnes and Tony Pedregon during the NHRA Insider LIVE, the ensuing social media craziness, why the intake was illegal, and how the whole thing shook out.    This is not just a retelling of events, it is a breakdown on the hows and whys of everything that happened on that very interesting day. This is as insider as it gets. 

On this high-octane episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by National Dragster's Phil Burgess and Tony Pedregon to talk about the electric running of the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals as well as the upcoming Carolina 4-Wide Nationals this week.    The conversation ranges from driver performances, driver attitudes, what a hole shot actually is, the process and procedures of top-end interviews for TV, and a whole lot more. There are flying sparks, hot takes, deep dives, and great analysis of the teams that are carrying the torches forward in their respective categories, those that are poised to break out, and who needs to get their act together coming into this second and final four wide contest.    An entertaining and swift-moving show if there ever was one!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Jasmine Salinas, Bob Tasca, and Del Worsham to discuss the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals, growth, strategy, and how great teams get their cars back on track.    Jasmine Salinas is the first guest on the show and a great conversation ensues about her early period in Top Fuel, what she has learned so far, how she has evolved as a racer, and how her competitive personality was formed in the sport of drag racing where she has dedicated so much of her time and effort for the last several years.    Bob Tasca talks about his team's measured approach to the Vegas race, what they tested after the race, and how his relationship with his crew chiefs ultimately has lead to them having the fastest funny car in history and one of the most competitive in the NHRA. A high energy discussion!   Finally, Del Worsham recounts his team's struggles, his own personal grief over the performance of the funny car he tunes, and how they committed themselves to righting their own ship which resulted in a car that went rounds in Phoenix  and Las Vegas. It's an insightful crew chief chat.    This is a jam packed episode with something for everyone! 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, funny car ace Paul Lee joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about the rapid growth of performance and success his team has experienced under the leadership of John Medlen and Jonnie Lindberg, how well Phoenix went before a mechanical problem, and what his outlook is for the rest of the NHRA season. Lee brings some great insights as a racer and an owner on how things are shaping up in nitro funny car.    Lohnes recaps Phoenix and the action fans saw all weekend long, talks about 4-Wide drag racing in Las Vegas its perception and attitude and the ONE thing fans can bank on seeing during that always high energy event.    A bang-bang Insider!

This week on the NHRA Insider, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna of NHRA National Dragster join host Brian Lohnes for a wide-ranging discussion on the early season, well, very early season results we have seen so far in NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing, what the seemingly beautiful Phoenix weekend could look like, and who's trying to emerge from the pack in this first small sampling of 2024.    Working class by class for the upcoming race, the topics touch on everything from the strength of Erica Enders first couple of races, the things that drag racing can do better to tell inside stories, the upcoming Pomona Finals in Phoenix, how Top Fuel is so absurdly good, and why rivalries and tensions are sure to rise as the season progresses.    It's a rocking and rolling hour of drag racing insight, opinion, and fun!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes recaps an insane Lucas Oil Winternationals and is then joined by Travis Shumake who will make his Top Fuel career debut in Phoenix and Lyle Barnett who will make his Arizona drag racing debut at the same event as the pro mods will be competing in the desert for the first time.    Shumake has been working for three years to achieve this moment. He has a one car operation, has raised the funding himself, and has been relentlessly working to secure sponsors and supporters all along the way. He is a legacy racer who will make his debut at a track his late father Tripp had much success on a local and national event level through the years. It's a story of determination and perseverance unique to him.    Lyle Barnett the hard-nosed Pro Mod racer talks about his Gainesville race as well as the excitement of hitting a new venue and facility along with learning its challenges. The event has more than 20 of the cars pre-entered and will of course feature a 16 car field so qualifying will be a high drama exercise like it was in Gainesville.    Two great stories and two things to look forward to in Phoenix at Firebird Motorsports Park!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Steve Torrence and Jeg Coughlin Jr to talk about not only the start of the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series but their careers, their approach to drag racing, and how the mental aspect of this sport is its most towering challenge.    For Steve Torrence, a strong running car in Gainesville has buoyed his spirits and placed him back in a competitive mindset that he will carry into the Lucas Oil Winternationals. In a wide ranging conversation Torrence talks about himself, his family, the team's approach, and how things actually get more difficult in racing as time and success wear on. He also tells a side-splitting story about his first experience in a top fuel dragster as well as his first race. Must hear stuff.    Jeg Coughlin Jr is back among the full-time ranks of NHRA pro stock racers and this conversation spans the spectrum of topics. Whether it is the evolution of a driver in the class, how he is able to maintain and keep competitive focus, his relationship with the car and his crew chiefs, and even the things his father taught him as a young racer, you'll be fascinated by the subject matter.    The Winternationals are going to be fast and this show will get you pumped up for the race. 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Amalie Oil Gatornationals funny car runner up Austin Prock to discuss his weekend and his rapid rise to funny car stardom. There's also a class by class breakdown and analysis of the action from the Gators and what it means for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series going forward.    Austin Prock is candid, thoughtful, and reflective in this conversation. The topics range fom getting handed a rocket of a car and taking it by the horns, the differences in physically driving the machine, how they achieved the success they did at the Gatornationals, and how they plan on keeping the whole works moving forward through the year. Prock has high expectations of himself and his team and he shares them here.    Prior to Prock's appearance Lohnes breaks down the race from his perspective as a broadcaster, what the winners showed the world, and what the losers have to work on. This is a fun and fast moving show!

It's Gainesville week! On this show host Brian Lohnes is joined by NHRAonFox Analyst Tony Pedregon and the two go in-depth looking at the upcoming Amalie Oil Gatornationals as well as the full 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season to come. The conversation is wide ranging and travels from class to class with a heavy concentration on top fuel, which presents itself on paper as perhaps the most challenging of all the professional categories to name favorites in.    From the new teams, the new drivers and riders, the mental and mechanical challenges, those that need to step up, those that appear to have already stepped up, and what it will take to claim championships in 2024, these guys touch on it all.    Listen up and get excited for what will be an incredible kick off to 2024 at the Gatornationals!

This episode of the NHRA Insider concentrates on two fascinating story lines developing in the home state of the Amalie Oil Gatornationals. Josh Hart and Dave Richards are at their center and both men join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the show.    For Josh Hart 2023 was a string of disappoints following a shining moment at the Gators when he won the Pep Boys All-Star Call Out. After that things were a pretty rough uphill slog all year. Hart talks about that, working through the frustration, commitment to his team, and the outlook for 2024 following Florida testing. It's an insightful chat with one of the sport's most interesting guys. Economical with his words, they all land with a punch.    Dave Richards is set to live out a life's dream that was borne of a nightmare in 2023. After a massive season ending crash parked the Versatran funny car, no one knew what the future held for the team. Well, as it was, this wreck would cause the team to be reborn, purchased as part of the SCAG Power Equipment Factory effort, they will run the full tour for the first time in 2024. Richards talks about the challenges, the excitement, and the work that goes into making this whole thing work. It's fun, it's insightful, and it's the story of an epic full time call up to the big leagues. 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Jonnie Lindberg and Leah Pruett join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their pre-season testing successes and what's coming for Gainesville, which could be a watershed weekend for both of them.    For Jonnie Lindberg, he has the shot of a lifetime as a young crew chief. Working along side John Medlen in tuning Paul Lee's funny car, he gets to call from his own experience and that of a man who has been tuning longer than he has been alive. Lindberg talks about the process of tuning the car, the string of 3.80s runs it made in Bradenton testing, the process of learning from Medlen, and the various aspects of his own life and career that will contribute to his success in this large role. It's insightful and a great window into the challenges and exciting things facing a motivated and talented young mind in the sport.   Leah Pruett is preparing for one of the wildest weekends of her drag racing career in Gainesville...maybe. She will race in the Pep Boys All-Star Call-Out...maybe. In this interview, Pruett reveals the unprecedented plan she and her team have hatched for Gainesville. Qualifying her husband on Friday and then concentrating on her efforts on Saturday with potentially both cars running on Sunday is something we have never heard of anyone else doing. She tells all here.    This is one heck of a show!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast re-minted full-time Pro Mod racer Lyle Barnett and top fuel Ace Justin Ashley join host Brian Lohnes to talk off-season moves, big expectations for 2024, and how, as individuals, they plan on making a measurable impact on the upcoming season.    Lyle Barnett had a whirlwind of an off-season. Initially tagged as the replacement driver for Leah Pruett, the situation changed and he was left without a ride. A single conversation with Pro Mod team owner Scott Tidwell placed him in the seat of a highly competitive car and one he will pilot all season long. Barnett talks about the team, why it is a good fit, and what he brings to the table in what promises to be a season for the doorslammer books.    Justin Ashley made waves when it was announced that his team would be part of the new SCAG factory mega-team that includes multiple Funny Car entries, a Top Fuel dragster, Pro Stock entries and more. Ashley talks about pre-season preparations, his approach to 2024, and why this SCAG Power Equipment team is set to take an already stable operation and kick it over the top.   Big energy here. Big talent here. Big fun here as well. Listen!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes dives into the big news of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category of the last week with four time champion and 49 time race winner Eddie Krawiec. National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna also joins the show to talk about motorcycles along with other brewing NHRA stories.   In this candid conversation, Eddie Krawiec talks about his career, his decision to abdicate the seat of the second Vance and Hines Suzuki, who Richard Gadson is and the process of bringing another rising star in motorcycle drag racing to the sport's largest stage. It is retrospective, introspective, and really interesting to learn about how this all happened and how the team will work going forward, along with Eddie's plans. Revealing and fun, the conversation rolls.    Kevin McKenna brings his insight as one of the true NHRA Insiders not only about some interesting internal storylines in Pro Stock Motorcycle but also about other classes and developments that are on going as we speak, all leading up to the Gatornationals in March.    A fun and swiftly moving episode here!

If the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series off-season comes in waves, consider this the second one, and it's the central focus of this episode of the NHRA Insider. Host Brian Lohnes has Daniel Wilkerson, the newly minted driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang, and Austin Prock, the even newer named driver of the Cornwell Tools, AAA, John Force Racing Chevrolet Camaro on as guests.    Both guys will be fresh to the funny car category as full-time competitors, both will be tuned by their fathers and both are high energy, entertaining, dynamic personalities. This show radiates the energy you'd expect from two lifelong lovers of drag racing that were both surprised at the turns their respective careers took for 2024.    Lots of interesting conversation here from the approach of a driver with a handful of races under his belt to the approach of a seasoned and fun-loving top fuel driver getting in one of the greatest funny cars on the planet.    Non-stop fun here, some teasers on upcoming news, some other stuff revealed and more!

On this fired up episode of the NHRA Insider host Brian Lohnes talks with Shawn Reed Racing crew chief Rob Wendland and JCM Top Fuel pilot Tony Schumacher about a multitude of behind the scenes topics in professional drag racing.    Wendland talks about the massive undertaking of getting a new Top Fuel operation off the ground. From the literal nuts and bolts, to the work, how the labor is divided, how a new team functions together, and the expectations he has for the 2024 season. This is as insightful as it gets into the world of a crew chief overseeing a hue project being done over a short period of time. How does this all come together? Wendland spills the beans on every inch of it.    Tony Schumacher, the eight time Top Fuel champion is the second guest on this show and the conversation ranges from the legacy his late father Don left in the sport, his feelings on the 2023 season at JCM Racing, the shock and surprise of a primary sponsor leaving unexpectedly, his feelings on the topic, becoming a driver coach for incoming FIA Top Fuel champion Ida Zetterstrom, and a ton more.    This episode is on the gas! Listen up now!

On this first 2024 episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon to talk about the news of the last couple of weeks, the passing of legends like Don Schumacher and Roland Leong, the wild news about JCM Racing, the new SCAG factory drag racing team, and a whole lot more.    What is normally a quiet stretch of time between Christmas and New Year's Day was far busier than normal this year. Lohnes and Pedregon take time to reflect on the lives and careers of both the late owner and tuner Roland Leong as well as the massive legacy left by the passing of Don Schumacher.    The two talk about the work being done in this earliest week of the new year by the teams who have officially kicked off preparations for the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, what those preparations are, and how important getting new crew members acclimated is.    The most interesting part of the show delves into the announcements made by JCM Racing and SCAG regarding wholesale changes of both sponsorship and ownership tied into multiple teams. This story will continue to develop and the insiders are here for it.    It's 2024 and the action is getting closer by the day, enjoy this episode!

On this final 2023 episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, host Brian Lohnes talks to championship crew chief Alan Johnson who worked with a talented team to achieve a Top Fuel world championship with the Kalitta team. He talks about the building process, the end of the season run, and a lot about the inner workings of a top fuel drag racing team. It's a fascinating chat with one of the most decorated minds in drag racing history.    The other section of the show is a monologue wrap up of the 2023 season, some news and rumors that are still bubbling in the Pro Stock and Nitro Funny Car ranks and an outlook to the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series to come. A fun way to wrap up the season and get settled in for a short Christmas and holiday season break!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider host Brian Lohnes takes you through the absolutely astonishing torrent of news that came from the 2023 PRI show in Indianapolis and is later joined by a guy who helped to make some headlines in the form of Buddy Hull, who is moving into the Jim Dunn Racing nitro funny car for the 2024 season.   The first 20 minutes of this show is nothing but headlines, analysis, and breakdown of a relentless 2023 PRI show. The news was all positive from drivers changing classes, to drivers moving into ownership roles, the emergence of an FIA champion into NHRA top fuel, and a whole lot more.    The second half of the show has Buddy Hull joining to talk about his change to the nitro funny car ranks with Jim Dunn Racing, how the deal came together, what he is most excited about, and how he has sold a large portion of his operation to Jacob McNeal who will run it intact into 2024. Hull is a highly positive force in NHRA and he is poised to be a rock star as he enters the ranks as a full time runner.    A big episode that is packed with juicy news. Some you know and lots you do not!

This week on the NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon. The pair talk about the continuing news around crew chief moves in the NHRA and they preview what will be the largest and most exciting week of drag racing news in years at PRI.    From the announcements of new teams, new drivers, the NHRA National Dragster All-Star Team, new sponsors, and more, this will be a week long remembered by NHRA fans and a week that will supercharge an already busy off-season.    The pair talk about Leah Pruett testing her car in 40-degree weather at IRP, the preparations being made by those teams that are already established, speculate on some news that has not been fully confirmed yet, and a whole lot more. This is a fun show that has a lot of energy coming into the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis.   Make sure you tune into NHRA.com all week long to stay abreast of the breaking news in drag racing through all the various classes and categories!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, host Brian Lohnes drops the puck on the silly season with a load of news from behind the scenes of NHRA drag racing. Crew chiefs moving around, brewing controversy with one announcement, perhaps, longtime unions busted up, and new ones formed. This is wild stuff!   The guests on the show are funny car racer and Pomona winner Chad Green who talks about his weekend, his season, his ability to help decide a title, and how he feels going into the 2024 campaign and the off-season. Matt Smith is the second guest and he talks a lot about the lessons learned in 2023, how he can apply them to 2024, and what he learned over a tough season. Smith talks rules, talks racing with strategy, and talks about how he can step and give Gaige Herrera a run for his money, along with everyone else in 2024.    This is a heck of a show with news that will make your eyes and ears pop!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon and Phil Burgess host Brian Lohnes to talk all things past, present, and future in NHRA drag racing. The trio have a class-by-class championship breakdown with loads of insight, loads of information, and loads of behind-the-scenes knowledge only they can bring.    This wide ranging discussion moves to the teams and people that struggled during the countdown after strong regular season efforts and the potential reasons for why and how they can improve for 2024. There's lots of great information to be had here and an in-depth breakdown of individual performances along with how teams dealt with the curve balls of the year.    Finally, the three launch into rumor patrol mode and go into some of the breaking stories, some of the good dirt, and some of the interesting happening. The guys actually surprise each other with some of this stuff, so it is silly season gold!    A great listen to kick off the off-season and Thanksgiving week! 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon talk all things Las Vegas and about the upcoming In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. It was a controversial and hardcore weekend in the desert paradise of lights and glamour where a handful of racers set their course for potential championships. Gaige Herrera dominated, Erica Enders got her 10th victory at the facility, and the already tight nitro ranks got even tighter leading into this last race.    The two talk about the major stories that came from the pits at the race, their net effect on the outcome, and which teams proved themselves championship-worthy. As the conversation moves to Pomona and the In-N-Out Burger Finals, they break down the strengths and potential pitfalls of the remaining contenders and how each can succeed or fail on this most pressure-packed stage.    It promises to be a beautiful Southern California weekend filled with all the drama professional drag racing can deliver. Get geared up for it right here with the NHRA Insider!

On this crew chief edition of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Dallas-winning Top Fuel crew chief Neal Strausbaugh and Dallas pro stock-winning crew chief Mark Ingersoll for two revealing discussions.    Both of these crew chiefs talk about pressure, leadership, the team dynamic in drag racing, and how they stuck to their respective programs even when things were not always going according to plan in the 2023 season. For Strausbaugh, the proof is in the results. A final round appearance in St Louis was followed in quick order by a win in Dallas among one of the fastest top fuel fields in history. Mark Ingersoll talks about the early season woes experienced by Erica Enders and her car along with the work to fix it and how success has really begun to pour their way in this late section of the season.    Two guys who want the ball in high-pressure situations and two guys who have proven themselves to be among the best at their chosen craft. The big lesson here? Nuts and bolts will only get you so far, it is the people who ultimately carry the day.    A great listen!

We're going LIVE from the pits at the NHRA Fall Texas Nationals with three big guests at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis. Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon will play host and co-host on a beautiful Saturday with guests Phil Burgess, the Editorial Director of NHRA's National Dragster Magazine, three-time and defending NHRA funny car champion Ron Capps and fellow three-time funny car champion Matt Hagan, who is coming off a big win in St Louis.    The weekend has been historically fast already, and we're not even done with qualifying yet! The group will talk all things Countdown to the Championship, the huge performances so far this weekend, and how the leaders in the respective classes will handle the huge potential performance conditions that remain this weekend. 

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series heads to the Texas Motorplex for the Fall Texas Nationals, and on this week's episode of the NHRA Insider Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon to break down what fans should expect to see, what racers need to do, and how championship hopes will be bolstered or crushed in Ennis, Texas.    The pair have a class-by-class breakdown of not only the leaders and their positions post St Louis but also of the cars and drivers on the bubble of still being in contention to feasibly win a world title. It is fascinating that Top Fuel is led by a guy who had not had a points advantage in years, Pro Stock Motorcycle is led by a veritable rookie, Pro Stock is only a six-point margin between first and second and Funny Car is a four-way battle that is just a handful of rounds between first and fourth.   The pressures, the mistakes that need to be avoided, and the advantages that need to be taken. There's no more time for friends, there is only time for the business of winning at 200 and 300+ miles per hour. A big-time race calls for some big-time takes and this show has 'em from end to end. 

NHRA Midwest Nationals winners Clay Millican and Greg Anderson join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The race changed the face of the points in all professional categories and Lohnes opens up the show talking about just that.    For Greg Anderson, back-to-back wins in this late-season stretch have juiced his chances of winning a title. Now sitting number two in the points, he is in a place that many had thought impossible for him to find earlier in the season. After middling performances, he has broken out from the pack and stands a very scant number behind current leader Erica Enders.   Clay Millican is having a season unlike any other in his more than two decades of experience in driving top-fuel dragsters. Recording his third win on the year in St Louis, Millican now sits eighth in the points, thick in the battle for an even better position with three races to go. Millican talks about some of the inside stuff regarding his Rick Ware-owned, Jim Oberhofer-tuned dragster. Between the great insight about running the car, his team's approach, and his outlook for Dallas and beyond, there's loads of fun stuff to listen to, here.   It's the post St. Louis show and it's full of the info that you'll only hear on the NHRA Insider. 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon to talk about the first two races of the 2023 NHRA Coundown To The Championship and preview the upcoming third race at Worldwide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, this weekend. The NHRA Midwest Nationals will mark the halfway point in the playoffs and will present the clearest picture yet about who can actually hoist a championship trophy at the end of the year.    The guys get into everything from the lanes at Charlotte to the chances that some teams have to employ strategy to win, to the racers who are in "must-win" situations to keep their hopes alive this week. Can and will Matt Hartford maintain his slim Pro Stock lead? Can Tasca actually continue to stand in the ring with Hight, Hagan, and Capps? Will Doug Kalitta actually win three races in a row? Will Gaige Herrera be thwarted by more Matt Smith moves?    All this and more on this show!

The NHRA is at zMax Dragway for the second race of the Countdown To The Championship and that means hosts Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon are sitting down with some of the drivers who made big headlines at Maple Grove where the playoff series of drag racing began. Matt Hartford and Doug Kalitta will be the featured guests along with plenty of news and analysis to go along with the interviews.    Matt Hartford took the win and the pro stock points lead in Pennsylvania after a challenging couple day of qualifying. Defying the odds and driving one of the best races of his career, it was the first time he and his team had ever won back to back coming off of their US Nationals triumph. In the fast conditions of Charlotte, his job will be to stave off the competition again.    Doug Kalitta won a rock'em sock'em top fuel category in Pennsylvania to rocket up the points chart, lock down his 50th career victory, and reassert Kalitta Motorsports as a legitimate championship threat once more. After a wild tire explosion in qualifying, Kalitta piloted a backup car to the win and is running the same dragster at zMax. He's already quick in qualifying.    Along with the interviews Lohnes and Pedregon will dive into the weekend, the hidden stories you may have missed, and all the juicy tidbits from the pits!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by his right hand man in the broadcast booth, Tony Pedregon and the two look critically at the upcoming NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Starting with this weekend's race at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, they systematically go through the cars and drivers who are leading the conversation, who are potentially falling behind, and lastly, those that can spoil the party for the front runners.    There's plenty of depth and insight here as the pair looks back over the season to observe trends, find out what lessons racers learned, and how those can be applied in this final dash for glory at the end of the season. Sit down, settle in, and prepare yourself for the Pep Boys Nationals. These guys will get you up to speed quicker than a top fuel dragster!

On this post US Nationals NHRA Insider podcast, Brian Lohnes speaks with Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown and Erica Enders who enters the Countdown To The Championship third in the pro stock points. Lohnes gives a post-race monologue and then dives right into the conversations with two multi-time champions.   For Antron Brown, Indy was a study in perseverance. Qualifying, which was hard scrabble for the team led them to a 15th spot on race day and they ran with it, defeating some of the sport's hottest talent to win a second straight US Nationals. He gives the inside scoop on this race and his championship hopes for the remaining races.    Erica Enders was fired up at the US Nationals. The five-time Pro Stock world champion had high emotions during top-end interviews and over the course of a long race, shared her honest feelings on the air. The conversation here ranges from the early season struggles her team had to starting the Countdown third, just 32 points out of first. The pair talk about her history in the class, who she sees as the biggest threat, and how she plans on making this a season where title number six could be the most satisfying yet.   A big look back at the largest drag race of the year!

This week's NHRA Insider is a relatively quick one as host Brian Lohnes goes monologue style, looking forward to the 2023 Dodge Power Brokers NHRA US Nationals which are set to kick off in the coming days. As there is a planned NHRA Insider LIVE coming on Saturday at Indy, consider this a warm-up act for the event and what listeners can expect to see during the week.    Lohnes shares some of the major storylines coming into the race, from the new programs that have been announced, racers jumping in different classes, the debut of Factory X, driver development programs, and more; this show is 100% an appetizer before the main course hits the table. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming NHRA Insider LIVE on Saturday from the US Nationals.    Jump in, listen up, and get yourself primed for a week of drag racing unlike anything else that this planet has to offer! This is US Nationals Week!

On this episode, Antron Brown's Crew Chief Brian Corradi, pro mod's Jason Lee and Eric Gustafson all join host Brian Lohnes for a conversation about how they set about winning their respective categories at Brainerd, Minnesota. The weekend was a challenge for everyone and there were some interesting bumps in the road for each team to endure and overcome. They talk about 'em all here.    Corradi joins the conversation at the helm of a very hot top fuel team. Maturing through the season, the AB Motorsports group has peaked at the seeming right time. Like last year, a late regular season win places them in perfect position for the Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals and potential Countdown Success. This is a great discussion about the approach his team has, how they operate, and what it will take to earn another championship.   Jason Lee won FuelTech Pro Mod at Brainerd and his car owner and fellow driver Eric Gustafson joins the chat about the weekend, the state of the pro mod class, rules parity, how hard the machines have to be run, and what the first season of NHRA competition has been like for these two highly experienced competitors. Both men have been champions in other series and are working hard to add NHRA accolades to their respective resumes. Fascinating deep dive into pro mod here!   This show will get you thinking, will get people talking, and will get you ramped up for the massive week that looms for the US Nationals!

For the first time ever, the NHRA Insider podcast hits the road! The pits of Brainerd International Raceway will serve as the backdrop for host Brian Lohnes, co-host Tony Pedregon and guests Erica Enders and Justin Ashley. Dealing the same deep cuts, hot takes, and snappy opinions NHRA Insider fans have gotten for the last three years, Lohnes and Pedregon will chat with the racers, get you up to speed on this second to last race of the regular season, and bring you deep inside the NHRA world like only they can.    There's breaking news in Pro Stock, exciting moves being made in the nitro classes, and some late season drama on tap that only Brainerd can bring. 

On this quick turnaround episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon to talk about the pure madness of the Topeka weekend and what can be expected out of the teams competing at the Lucas Oil Nationals this weekend.    The two delve into the results of Topeka and talk about the rise of Erica Enders in the points and in her personal performance, how the Justin Ashley team looks eerily similar to Steve Torrence in his prime, and why Bob Tasca's 3.885 final round blast in funny car may be one of the greatest runs of the year.    There's lots of talk about how people are approaching this near end of the regular season, the language used by struggling teams who perhaps claim to be "testing", and lastly how true championship contenders are going to rapidly accelerate away from the pretenders at this time of the year.    A spicy chat about the current competition! 

In this bonus edition of the NHRA Insider, host Brian Lohnes talks with Ron Capps on the day before he is set to compete in the SRX stock car series on the dirt of Eldora Speedway in Ohio. This is a huge moment not only for Capps but for the NHRA community as he will become the first representative to appear in a series where NASCAR, IndyCar, WorldofOutlaws, and other racers mix it up.   Capps talks about the nerves, his dirt racing experience, his goals for the event, and how he plans on approaching a field of racers who have spent their lives turning left and right. As you'll find out, Capps is confident but not cocky and plans on absorbing as much knowledge as he possibly can before leading the field into turn one, heat one, live on TV.    A fun chat with the NHRA Funny Car champ!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast Tony Pedregon and Jim Epler join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the upcoming Menard's NHRA Nationals presented by Pet Armor. Lohnes and Pedregon put a fine point on the western swing and break down, by class, where people are coming into this home stretch of the regular season, culminating at the Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals.    The discussion on the western swing centers not just on the races and teams themselves but on the true look we got at their individual performances over the three week stretch. Did some teams show themselves in championship form already? Can they carry it through for nine races? Did some teams seem to have a break of some kind? It's all open for discussion and boy do they have at it.    Jim Epler joins the show as the second guest. The man who broke the 300mph barrier for funny cars at Topeka and who is now an executive with Phillips Connect shares his memories, his passion for drag racing, and what it means to return to the scene of an insanely memorable moment, 30 years after the fact.    A great show that will pump you up for the Topeka race and give you some things to look at as the teams put their best food forward headed to the final in Indy and the Countdown to The Championship!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes is joined by Jon Oberhofer and Todd Smith, the winning funny car crew chiefs from the Denso Sonoma Nationals as well as rookie Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Chase Van Sant.   In the case of Oberhofer and Smith, the conversation centers around the long and systematic rebuilding process of their tune-up and race car after the disaster weekend they had in Pomona with a crash followed by a horrible explosion. It is a fascinating thing to hear about their approach, the arduous work, and ultimately when the results began to come to them. On top of that, the pair talk about the workings of their team, personnel, their approach on race days, and the challenges of Sonoma 2023 with odd weather, a massive oil down, a right lane no one wanted, and what it was like to deliver Kalitta Motorsports a win, their first in a long while.    Chase Van Sant is one of the young riders in Pro Stock Motorcycle forging his name into the ranks of many established players. Van Sant has not ridden like a rookie as he leads the class in average reaction time, has qualified close to the front of the field, and goes rounds more often than he doesn't. In this fun conversation, Lohnes and Van Sant cover a lot of ground from he mental mechanics of being a rider to the pressures, adjustments, and learning curve of being a rookie. Lots of fun here!   Different classes, different lives, the same drive to win. A truly fun show. 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Seattle Top Fuel winner Steve Torrence and Funny Car runner up JR Todd join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the race, the Western Swing, and all the fun that comes with the intense competition of professional drag racing.    JR Todd is on the show first and he talks about how his DHL team has managed to make three semi-finals and a final round over the course of the last five races. This forward march has changed the team's fortunes after they hit a lull following a disastrous Winternationals. With Sonoma looming this weekend, a race they have won before, the team may be poised for that big breakout weekend we have all been waiting to see. Todd talks about the whole Kalittla organization seemingly gaining steam at the same time.    Steve Torrence, fresh off his Seattle win talks about a multitude of topics including the Mission 2Fast2Tasty Challenge, which he won, the difficulty of eliminations, and the whole attitude and perseverance of his CAPCO Contractors team. Torrence has great perspective on his season, his career, and his motivations to continue succeeding in the short and long term. A fascinating discussion with a four time champion now leading the points toward a hopeful fifth.    Great conversations, both! 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, Blake Alexander, Lauren Freer, and Brittany Force join host Brian Lohnes to talk about awesome success at Norwalk, making history as an NHRA drag racer, and the potential to win the first-ever Driver of the Year ESPY for an NHRA competitor.    Two-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Blake Alexander had a manic weekend in Ohio. Abject disappointment on Friday night gave way to perhaps the most satisfying and emotionally charged victory of his career on Sunday afternoon. It was his first win since 2018 and Jim Head's first since 1997 when he was a driver himself. The road to this win was very long and hard, and Blake tells the story.    Lauren Freer became the 30th person in NHRA history and the first woman to ever win two classes at the same national event. Her career arc has taken her from Junior Dragster into the deepest end of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series talent pool. Her victory was spread over two days, one a very long Saturday and the second a very short Sunday. The behind-the-scenes stories from this one are fantastic.    Brittany Force, the 2017 and 2022 Top Fuel champion has been nominated for the second time in her career for the ESPN Driver of the Year ESPY. No drag racer has ever won this award and she hopes to be the first. The conversation with Brittany is wide-ranging and takes us deep into her team history, her approach, and how she and her team continue to function as a unit today.    This show is PACKED! Enjoy!

Tony Pedregon and Todd Veney join host Brian Lohnes for this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. The three guys talk about many of the interesting elements that Bristol brought to the table and how the results there may have an influence on what happens in Ohio. From Gaige Herrera turning on a red light in the final against Steve Johnson to Erica Enders hole-shotting herself to a win over the pro stock field, it was a weekend that just didn't quit.    In the nitro categories the guys discuss Ron Capps' victory as well as his legacy as a racer, how many wins he has left in him, and why we should never lose sight of him and a championship. The go into depth on Chad Green's success in 2023, why it has stood up, and what the future holds for that team. Lastly the top fuel discussion centers around Justin Ashley and the command performance he and his team managed to complete in Tennessee. Sweeping the whole race, placing themselves in a huge points position, and making themselves the undisputed championship favorites right now.    Add in Lohnes' recap from Bowling Green and the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals and we have a well rounded enterprise.    This is a snappy, fun show with opinions, takes, and insight from beginning to end!

It's a crew chief-heavy episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast this week. Bristol-winning crew chiefs Mike Green, Tommy DeLago, and Dean Antonelli join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the ins and outs of succeeding at Thunder Valley, the unique pressures of two races in one weekend, and the systematic approach that they took to earn their respective victories.    Mike Green and Tommy DeLago had a dream weekend, sweeping every available contest in Bristol. They won the rain-delayed New England Nationals and the Thunder Valley Nationals while also capturing the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. It was an amazing effort and one that has some truly cool backstories that they share.    Dean Antonelli and the entire Ron Capps Motorsports team had to rebound from a first-round loss in the New England Nationals to race again on Sunday for the Thunder Valley Nationals crown which they got. Antonelli talks about how they altered their clutch program, hung together as a group, and worked hard on a challenging Sunday to win. He talks about his career and some of the more unique things about leading a Nitro Funny Car team into battle.    Lastly, to head up the show, Lohnes goes on a rant about people who are constantly repeating lame tropes about drag racing and actually harming the sport they claim to be helping. He's going to be short some Christmas cards this year.    Something for everyone here!

On this short and sweet episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes delivers a monologue on the race that never was, the New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire. The event was a testament to the heartiness of the New England region fans who battle searing temperatures on Friday and then rainy, frigid temperatures for the rest of the weekend, all the way until nothing more could be done on Monday afternoon.    Lohnes talks about the event, the people, and the implications of what's coming in Bristol this weekend. An insanely short turn for the teams, the people of the NHRA, and a Tennessee weekend that will be absolutely packed to the gills with qualifying and racing action from end to end.    Learn how the NHRA will pull off effectively two national events over the course of three days this week, where and when you can watch, and why you should be buying a ticket to see a colossus of a race happen at Bristol Dragway. There will be PLENTY to talk about after this one!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon and Todd Veney join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the major stories and trends coming out of the Chicago Rt 66 Nationals and to preview the weekend ahead at New England Dragway. The event this weekend is unique as it centers around Top Fuel and Nitro Funny car, with the Pro Modified class also a showcase during the event.    The three touch on some really interesting topics like how talent is recognized and snatched up the ranks in drag racing, why smaller teams don't take more advantage of races like Epping where they'd get more attention and have a better shot to win, the effect of the Indy 500 weekend on racing across America, and the seemingly instant turn of performance for Tony Schumacher's car during testing post-Chicago. All this and a whole lot more on this week's Clam Chowder-powered NHRA Insider!

On this post-Rt66 Nationals episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, NHRA's Joe Castello joins Brian Lohnes along with Vance and Hines chief tuner Andrew Hines. The talk is centered on an incredible race weekend at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. The fans came out by the 10s of thousands, the car counts were fantastic, and the competition through the event was off the charts. Sunday was one of the most incredible race days that anyone has ever seen and you'll get it from the perspective of a television reporter and of a racer in Andrew Hines.    The conversation eventually turns to the unstoppable nature of Gaige Herrera, how Hines continues to work with him, how his multi-faceted presence is aiding the team, and some surprising facts about this racer who may be most well known on a motorcycle but can do damage in cars as well.    The stories from inside the race, on the starting line, and in the pits, all right here!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon and NHRAonFox pit producer Todd Veney join host Brian Lohnes to talk all things about the upcoming Gerber Collision and Glass Rt 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois. This is the first time the NHRA has raced at the venue since 2019, and expectations are high for the great event.    The conversation works class by class through the race. Which competitors are in positions of power, which need to better their fortunes, and which may want to start smashing the panic button with a sledgehammer. The first ever All-Star Pro Stock Call Out is broken down and discussed, possible pairings are bandied about, and the class and competitors analyzed.    Finally, the guys break down the freakish points situation top fuel where, after five races, two of the top three have not won any of them!    Fun perspective to get you revved up about this weekend!

On this three-guest episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, racers Tony Stewart, T.J. Zizzo, and Chris King join host BrianLohnes to talk about winning races, new cars, and working relentlessly to make it in the sport of NHRA drag racing.    Tony Stewart has come on very strong lately in Top Alcohol Dragster. Winning the national event in Las Vegas unleashed he and his team and they have gone on to capture another victory, recently, at the Indy regional Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. Stewart talks about the evolution of the team, how he has evolved as a competitor, and a wide variety of topics.    T.J. Zizzo and Chris King are both Chicagoland area drag racing success stories. Neither man is made of money but both will be racing nitro-burning cars at the Rt 66 Nationals. Zizzo and team took more than a season off to construct a brand new, cutting-edge top fuel dragster. They have designs on making trouble for the competition at their home track.    Chris King is a Chicago firefighter who loves funny cars and has worked his whole life to get to a point where he can compete in one. King tells his story of hard work, being a regular guy, and how he's been able to make his dreams slowly come true.    Three great conversations in this one, you'll enjoy it all!

Josh Hart and Del Worsham join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast and both of them have plenty to talk about. In the case of Josh Hart, the conversation centers around his growth as not only a driver, but as a personality, team owner, and most importantly a competitor in the ranks of professional drag racing. It has not always been fun or easy and Josh takes us inside the process. The chat reveals a hardnosed competitor and a genuinely good guy who is not going to be stopped in his championship quest.   Del Worsham is the second guest on the show and he talks about the evolution of the tune up that has created the most consistent funny car in the sport today. Currently second in the points, Worsham reveals that the team was headed in a different tune up direction before the season started but reverting back to last year's car and tune have brought them to the place they are today.    Two fascinating guests and two great insider chats! 

On this race week episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna and NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon join Brian Lohnes to talk all things Circle K NHRA Charlotte 4-Wide Nationals. The guys talk about the news of Bandimere's impending closure, the Pro Stock Motorcycle downtime and who made the best of it, starting line/staging espionage, and the questionable forecast for this weekend's race to start with.    Leading into the race discussion, the group talks about racers like Antron Brown, the complexity of operating the near double-digit Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team, Matt Hagan's dominating funny car performances thus far, and why the NHRA needs to embrace a power ranking system like other sports have.    This one goes deep into some interesting subjects. There's some laughs, some debates, and some hot fire spit by this panel on all the above topics. In other words, it's another must-listen trip inside the world of NHRA Camping World Drag Racing!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast Shawn Langdon and Manny Buginga join host Brian Lohnes to talk about two of the season's most memorable moments this far and they both happened on the starting line.    For Shawn Langdon, it was the second round of Top Fuel at the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals where he took a slower-than-normal approach to counteract the starting line tactics of Josh Hart which eventually drew him a foul for timing out. The conversation centers around the world of top fuel, the exciting nature of staging four-wide, and how different drivers approach their procedure differently. Langdon takes us inside the moments leading up to the run, the scene on the line, and the aftermath with competitors and teammates. This is an open and honest recounting of a memorable situation.    For Manny Buginga, his first-ever race as part of the NHRA Pro mod series was memorable for fans and competitors alike. Engaged in a two-minute and thirty-second staging battle with defending series champion Kris Thorne, Buginga stood his ground in pre-stage until he physically could not hold the car still any longer. This whole situation cost him a crew chief immediately following the run. Ever defiant, Manny lays out the logic, his career experience, and his expectations for the rest of this season.    One of the spiciest and most interesting episodes ever, you'll hang on every word!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Brian Lohnes brings back the regular race week guest panel of Tony Pedregon, NHRAonFox analyst, and Kevin McKenna National Dragster Senior Editor to talk about the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals, a wild weekend in Pomona, and some of the deeper stories brewing behind the scenes in the world of NHRA drag racing.    The rollicking conversation kicks off with a look at Pro Stock and how the class has taken on a "Countdown" feel already in this early part of the season. The points standings are tight, some racers who we all place high expectations on are struggling and others are making their mark right out of the gate. The conversation focuses on how a Pro Stock season can vary versus a nitro-powered one and the driver performances to this point.    The group delves into the recent craziness in nitro Funny Car from the hot starts of Chad Green and Alexis DeJoria to the weekend of John Force and JR Todd, how those teams will recover, and how the idea of las Vegas being anyone's game may not be so true. Lots of meat on this bone as the guys go deep into these storylines.    Finally, the Top Fuel class is the center of discussion. Obviously, Justin Ashley's recent performances are on the table as are those teams struggling to get up to speed, and which of them will be the first to notch themselves a breakout weekend? Loads of interesting food for thought here about teams, reality series', secrecy, and how the sport of drag racing benefits from a little cage rattling and feather ruffling!   An entertaining listen that's full throttle the whole way through!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, two members of the same team join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the red-hot start to their season. Justin Ashley and Mike Green, the driver and crew chief of the Phillips Connect Top Fuel Dragster, have, along with a talented team, scored two convincing wins in a row at Phoenix and then Pomona. In these two separate conversations, Lohnes talks to Ashley about not only winning but the process of racing at the highest levels, taking the Mission #2Fast2Tasty crown, number one qualifier, and event win in Pomona along with many other topics like his race weekend, regimen and more.    Mike Green talks about running his dragster, being paired with a talent like Ashley, and operating the points-leading team so far in 2023. There's a great insight into the last two races from a chief crew perspective, the dynamics of his crew, the fact that his boss works actively on the car, and why these guys are built for the long haul this season.    Insights from the driver's seat as well as the chief crew lounge on this episode and all from the same winning team!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, host Brian Lohnes breaks down the NHRA Lucas Oil Arizona Nationals from Phoenix. Taking listeners inside some of the major happenings of the race, you'll learn the root cause of some of the more intriguing moments of the weekend and get a full breakdown regarding the key points of the event. History was made when Camrie Caruso got her first Wally and became the second female Pro Stock winner ever; deep dives into the head-to-head battles between Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon, among others, and a full explainer on the Pro Stock controversy from round two in eliminations.    Phoenix was a monster of a race from a crowd perspective, a tricky race from the track perspective, and the perfect start to the Mission #2Fast2Tasty program that perhaps over-delivered from even the most well-seasoned viewer and fan perspectives.    The Winternationals will be spiced up both in performance and emotion based on what we saw in Arizona. Listen up!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the controversy of "weightgate" following the 2023 Amalie Oil Gatornationals, recapping the high and low performers of that event, and they look forward to the 2023 NHRA Arizona Nationals as well.    The three talk extensively about their impressions of what happened following the Gators with Mike Salinas and his team, their penalty for coming arcoss the scales light after the final round, and what the implications may be going forward. It is an interesting chat with some perspective you will not find anywhere else.    Recapping the Gatornationals, Lohnes, Pedregon, and McKenna review the performances of teams who exceeded, lived up to, and failed to reach the performance bar they all expected at the season-opening race.    The episode concludes with an interesting talk about whether or not drag racers are truly ready to be "big time" in the sporting world and the direction of professional drag racing as a whole. This is the best way to get revved up for a fast weekend at Wildhorse Pass Motorsports Park!

On this post-Gatornationals episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Andrew Hines and Rob Flynn, two winning crew chiefs from the event, join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their experiences and how they achieved victory.    For the Vance and Hines team, this one was a long time coming. Plucking rider Gaige Herrera from relative obscurity and giving him the chance to ride one of the best machines in the category may have seemed risky to some, but Andrew Hines knew that Herrea was a talent that just needed horsepower. Boy, was he right. The whole story of his victory is one for the history books.    Rob Flynn commanded his tune-up and team like a maestro in Gainesville, making the final round of the Pep Boys All-Star Top Fuel Call Out and then winning Top Fuel Eliminator on Sunday. Rob talks about his approach, his team, and how everyone came together under high-stress, short turnaround conditions at the opening race of the season.    The story of two victories, a look back over the race, some fun insider stories, and more on this episode! 

On this pre-Gatornationals episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon and National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about how testing has gone, what teams should be better than they were in 2022 and which teams have made the most waves in testing. The guys also delve into the topic of the things they DO NOT want to hear in 2023, and that may be the most entertaining part of the whole exercise.    Pedregon takes us deep inside the Bob Tasca team to talk about what happened to cause his crew chief change, the immediate results of it, and why the driver/crew chief dynamic is so important on any team. Lohnes shares a wild story about how they may have known about the change before many others did. Clay Millican's team is talked through, and expectations are shared now that they have the most parts, pieces, and funding than they ever have had before. Similarly, the guys talk about Doug Kalitta and the whole Kalitta camp and what they foresee for Shawn Langdon and Doug in 2023.    The class-by-class breakdown culminates in a fun conversation about the cliches and actions the guys want to see drivers abandon for 2023. Whether it's feigning to not care about opponents or turning the top end into a recreation of the summer of love, the boys have a few ideas. Perhaps you have more to add!   A fun show to get us fully cranked up for the start of the season!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Tony Schumacher and Bob Tasca III join host Brian Lohnes to talk about off-season moves, upcoming testing, and the reasons why both think they are in a position to succeed during the 2023 season.    For Tony Schumacher, 2022 was not a return year that was arranged in a relatively hasty fashion. It's easy to hear in his words and tone that the Seattle winning team wasn't exactly firing on all eight cylinders all year long, nor were they in a luxurious position with their equipment. With the addition of Mike Neff and John Shafer as the leaders of the team, new crew members throughout, and a load of fresh parts, the SCAG Power Equipment top fuel dragster is ready to roll. The two also chat about the addition of Tim Wilkerson to the JCM team. A fun chat.    Bob Tasca has grouped Aaron Brooks and Todd Okuhara together to lead his Motorcraft Ford Mustang team in 2023. He's also added new people to the crew and the team has some really lofty goals for the season. A strong running car in the summer, Tasca and crew need to pick up the pace in the Spring and Fall to really be championship contenders.    This is a great show with lots of insider stories you'll only get here!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by David Grubnic and Robert Hight. Hight is coming off of an incredible season, perhaps the best in his career, but one that did not see him with a championship when it was all over. Robert talks about testing and how fast his car was, the work that they have done in the off-season, personnel changes at John Force Racing, and the fact that the major players in funny car are all coming back strong for this season. This is an interesting and insightful conversation.    David Grubnic enters a season for the first time as a defending world champion. The conversation with Lohnes is wide ranging, from his first experience seeing nitro cars when he was 13 years old at Surfer's Paradise, to the approach he and his team take to testing. He also talks about testing being interrupted by weather and the goals he and the team have to achieve when they return shortly to get their last two days completed.    Great chats, more news from inside the NHRA, and insight into the sport that we all know and love. 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, new Vance and Hines team rider Gaige Herrera and multi-time champion funny car crew chief Dickie Venables join host Brian Lohnes to talk about testing, preparing, and what it will take to win in 2023.    Third-generation drag racer Gaige Herrera was practically made for this moment in his life. He's the newest name on the Vance and Hines roster, and after a highly successful first test session at Gainesville, he'd ready for what the season will bring. Herrera talks about his evolution in drag racing, his family's roots in the sport, and the expectations he has to perform in the 2023 season. If the test was any indicator, this guy is going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.    Dickie Venables talks about the fresh start to 2023 with the same team in the same roles. He talks about his off-season preparations, how he reviews data, what it will take to be at the top in '23, and how life at TSR racing is a breath of fresh air in NHRA drag racing. Dickie talks about his hobbies away from the track and how excited he is to return to Chicago this year.    All this plus news, insider information, and a multitude of topics in professional NHRA Camping World drag racing!

A rare three-guest show this week on the NHRA Insider. Tim Wilkerson, Justin Ashley, and Camrie Caruso are all guests talking about their plans, news, and prep for 2023. The show begins with host Brian Lohnes getting everyone up to speed on the latest NHRA news and info and rolls into a great conversation with Tim Wilkerson on his new partnership with Maynard Family Racing and SCAG teammate Tony Schumacher. This is truly a new chapter in his career, and he tells all.    Justin Ashley talks about preparing for the season with testing, what Top Fuel will look like in 2023, and why his team is primed for another championship contenting run over the year.   Finally, Camrie Caruso talks about being a part of KB Racing, how her whole outlook has changed with this move, how her job changes on the team, and why working in drag racing outside of the car has been great for her career. Lohnes and Caruso talk about her tough 2022 Countdown, what she learned, and how she'll approach it in 2023.   A great show with three NHRA stars!

For this first episode of 2023, NHRA Insider host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna to talk about the things all three of them need to see in 2023. This is a wide-ranging discussion about what drivers and riders need to stand on it, what teams need to make a recovery fast, what they want to hear in interviews, and who they think will be breaking through for their first career wins in the season ahead. There are plenty of rumors to address, potential testing schedules to look at, and a myriad of different topics covered here.    We're getting closer to Gainesville by the day, and these guys set up some of the biggest potential stories of the year during this first show of 2023. Hope springs eternal for everyone at this early moment of the season, and time will tell how accurate their predictions and wants are. Come up with some of your own, or choose to agree/disagree with the panel here. 

On this season-ending episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes reviews the hot news from the PRI show, takes a retrospective look over the year that was, teases some interesting stuff that is in the news pipeline, and looks forward to the 2023 season both on the track in the Podcast-verse. It's a timely and tidy end to a racing year that saw sellouts, records, great competition, surprise winners, and hard-fought championships come down to the wire. After nearly 50 episodes this year, we'll take a couple of weeks off, get our engines tuned up, and we'll be back to sling the news, dig the dirt, and get you inside the hottest stories in drag racing.     

Just when you thought Antron Brown could not get any cooler, he just did. Last weekend Antron attended the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals at the NHRA-sanctioned Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida and drove Manny Buginga's 3,000hp Pro275 car known as Fred. This is basically a stock wheelbase car with full suspension and as much power as a pro mod on tiny 275mm wide rear tires. He didn't just drive it, he won the race! Brown joins host Brian Lohnes on this episode to tell the epic tale of how he found himself in the car and what it was like to do something he had never done in drag racing. It is an amazing and fun story told by one of the sport's all-time greats. His legend continues to grow!   Additionally, Lohnes drops the hottest rumors surrounding the NHRA on this week of the PRI show in Indiana, where many of them will be brought to light and either confirmed or denied. There's a new nitro funny car driver coming, crew changes, and a whole lot more to talk about here!

Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider for one last look over the 2022 NHRA season before turning their sights to rumors, 2023 plans, and the overall state of the sport as we move into the depths of the winter months.    There's a lot to take in here. From the upcoming changes in the alcohol funny car ranks, Factory X, the big news of Angelle and the Vance and Hines team going their separate ways, massive Top Fuel rumors, and more, the guys touch on the stuff that happened, the stuff that might happen, and what they all expect to see in 2023.    New names coming in Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock Car, Funny Car, and Top Fuel? That's what they are hearing among a load of other topics and conversations. The show will continue in the off-season, but for these two guests they're preparing for a winter break! A fun listen that will keep you locked in.

The last race of the season is upon us, and with it comes some incredible storylines. National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna and NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon join host Brian Lohnes to talk about news, rumors, championship scenarios, and what we should all be looking for during a race that promises to be incredible.    While the pro stock championship is locked up, three other championships are wide open, and they each carry their own unique stories. Can Matt Smith lock up his 6th title and join Andrew Hines and Dave Schultz? Can Robert Hight thump his three closest rivals? Which of the potential five top fuel champions will get the job done?   The silly season is already springing into high gear, and the rumors are flying! The threesome talk about these as well. A fun listen before the final race of the year!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, National Dragster's Kevin McKenna and the NHRAonFox's Tony Pedregon join host Brian Lohnes o preview the coming action at the second to last race of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series 2022 Tour in Las Vegas.    The huge storylines include the first competition start for Tony Stewart, who will be running in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, the potential coronation of Erica Enders as the Pro Stock World Champion, the raging battles in Pro Stock Motorcycle, nitro funny car, and top fuel, as well as plenty of other interpersonal storylines.    This second to last race of the year will be as wide open as the city that's hosting it, and listening to this show will have you fired up and informed for what promises to be a weekend that breaks the ultimate Vegas rule. What happens at the Las Vegas nationals won't be staying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals

Ron Capps and Clay Millican join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Both racers are in a strong position with regard to their seasons. Capps sits just 10 points behind leader Robert Hight and Millican, with fresh ownership and parts is in the fastest race car he has had in years. While Millican may be a bit too far out to be considered a favorite, Capps has been slugging with Hight and Hagan on a weekly basis to maintain his championship position.    Clay Millican brings great insights into the operation of his top fuel team under the ownership of Rick Ware Racing and what it means for the future of the entire outfit. It is an exciting time for he and the entire team as they now have an inventory of parts that will allow them to run the car as hard and fast as the front runners under crew chief Jim Oberhofer.   Ron Capps is loving life at the moment. He comes off a big win in Dallas and is in the dream position of being less than one full round out of first place in his NAPA Toyota GR Supra. A multi-time champion, he reflects on the hardened experience of those first two championships and how that struggle can help him here. Capps talks about his crew, Dean Antonelli and co-crew chief John Medlen, and what the future holds for his operation.    This is a fun listen with two of drag racing's great personalities!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon of the NHRAonFox and National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna come on with host Brian Lohnes to talk about the NHRA Texas Falls Nationals. This is a race with massive implications in every Camping World Drag Racing Series category and, for some, could actually provide the points needed to lock in a world title. Taking it from the top with a conversation about St Louis, the threesome dive into each pro class, talk about who has the command of the moment, what desperate measures could be taken by others to stop them, and what the conditions looming in Texas could bring on as far as challenges.    There's a discussion about discord in a championship-contending top fuel team, a breakdown of the role a legendary crew chief is playing with regard to a funny car team, and a conversation about how a 21-point lead in pro stock motorcycle seems larger than it is on paper.    THIS is truly an "Insider" look at the world of NHRA drag racing and it's up-to-the-minute good!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Antron Brown and Matt Smith join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their successes this season, the hard work behind them, and what they both think it will take to add to their championship career resumes.    For Matt Smith, the 2022 Midwest Nationals were a showcase of his abilities as a tuner and a rider. Setting low ET on Friday and then carrying a strong motorcycle through an evolving track surface on Saturday and Sunday set him up for a win that gave him the points lead. We talk about that win, what he's doing to prepare for the final three races, and the mindset of a man chasing his sixth career title.    Antron Brown has shown his class and his classic approach to team building, hard work, and faith this season. After frustrations through much of the year, the talented organization put the train back on the tracks fully in Topeka, dipped into the .60s in Brainerd, won the US Nationals, and roared into championship contention with a blistering start to the 2022 Countdown to the Championship. Some of the things Brown reveals and talks about here are very telling in the best of ways.   Two guys who are in the running for titles in their classes tell all! A very interesting and informative show. 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, NHRAonFox's Tony Pedregon and National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna weigh in with all that has been happening through two races of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. The hot takes fly, especially when the conversation turns to the action in Charlotte, North Carolina, last weekend and which teams have exerted themselves hard enough to be true championship contenders.    The threesome chat about all manner of things in every professional class and really bear down on the top fuel class, which is seemingly set to produce one of the most incredible single season turn around tales ever, with the rocket-like rise of Antron Brown since the Topeka, Kansas race in the regular season. Controversy about Billy Torrence not staging first round? Yeah, that is gone through here as well.    Lohnes riffs on his experience at Drag Week between both races, and this is a show that will have you on the chip for this weekend's race or maybe ready to fire off an angry e-mail! Get pumped up because the action will only get more intense from here on out. 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about Indy, set up this weekend's Pep Boys Nationals, and work to figure out who will be coming out of the gate swinging in this first round of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. There are loads of great points discussed, some controversy addressed, and opinions a-plenty. Can Brittany do it? Will Steve Torrence come from the fourth spot? So many questions.    The second half of the show is a conversation with Virginia Pro Mod winner Tylor Miller. Miller's history in drag racing is astonishing, racing full-sized cars half a decade before he had a driver's license. The stories will have you laughing and leaning in to listen to more. Miller also talks about how his family business Pee Dee Fleet is involved with the upcoming Pro Mod race in Charlotte and career opportunities at the operation.    This is a great show, a fun listen, and a perfect way to get pumped up for the race this weekend!

National Dragster Sr Editor Kevin McKenna and NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon join Brian Lohnes to take a look at the upcoming Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals as well as a look back at Brainerd. Over the course of this wide-ranging chat, there's talk about teams on the rise, breaking news about high-level personnel being hired, and a truly in-depth look at the upcoming US Nationals.    Lohnes and McKenna break down some of the race's "hidden gems" that every fan who loves the sport cannot miss, the three of them go professional class by class to talk about surprise entries, who can pull it off, and who the potential Cinderella stories of the race could be.    There's talk about the Pep Boys All-Star Callout Events, the Jeg's All-Stars, and so much more. Listen up and get excited about the upcoming US Nationals!

: On this episode of the NHRA Insider, NHRA Vice-President of Broadcasting Steve Reintjes and FOX Sr. Coordinating Producer Pete Richards join host Brian Lohnes to delve into the fascinating world of putting drag racing on television. There's lots to learn here. From the size and scope of the broadcast team to the literal production elements of the shows. Both guys have loads of experience and are descriptive and thorough in their descriptions of many elements that go into the end product you watch at home.    Both Reintjes and Richards have many years of experience in the sports television industry and their perspective on what makes drag racing not only different but exceptionally difficult to produce on TV is interesting and well rounded.    If you love our NHRAonFOX shows, you'll love this deep dive into how they make it to your TV!

NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon and National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. The talk is all about the upcoming Menard's NHRA Nationals presented by Pet Armor in Topeka, Kansas, and how teams will either sink or swim in the projected searing heat of the weekend.    The trio talks about the massive weekend that was in drag racing with major events all over the country, the tail end of the western swing, and then they evaluate the storylines class by class for this weekend's throwdown in America's heartland. There are some interesting points made here, some great analysis, and some raw opinion that will get you fired up! If you want to go into this weekend with more knowledge than your fellow NHRA pals, this is the show that will get you there. Listen up!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Tony Schumacher joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about his season so far, Joe Maynard taking a majority ownership stake in his car, his wild victory at Seattle, and what the future holds for the rest of this season and seasons to come. This is a long-form, insightful conversation with the winningest driver in top fuel history. He's able to bring interesting perspective into the struggles of building the team he is on and the payoff of their victory.    The conversation regarding the Maynard Family Racing transition is highly informative and interesting. The Maynards have significant goals which could have positive reverberations all through drag racing, not just in the top fuel ranks.   Lohnes recaps Seattle, talks about the swing, and then looks forward to the upcoming Topeka race. Listen up!  

The 2022 Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile High Nationals were a showcase of the best elements of NHRA drag racing. There were speed records set. There were upsets. There were holeshots, destroyed engines, and four champions across the Camping World Series spectrum. In this unique format episode of the NHRA Insider, host Brian Lohnes takes you through the inside stories of the race, gives context to some of the things you saw on the broadcast, and looks at the Denso Sonoma Nationals through the prism of Denver.    As it is a short turnaround between races, the normal cast of characters and guests were all tied up so, in this monologue-style show, you get some juicy behind-the-scenes morsels from the weekend along with the hows and whys of victory and defeat.    Relive Denver one last time with Lohnes and then set your sights on wine country with him as he does the same. From the thin air struggles of the mountain in Colorado to the abundance of sea level horsepower-making air in Sonoma, it's the most manic two races of the whole season. 

As the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series heads into the most intense three-race series of its 2022 season, Kevin Mckenna and Tony Pedregon join Brian Lohnes to talk all things Dodge Power Brokers Mile High Nationals. This challenging race kicks off the Western Swing and forces teams and drivers into the most uncomfortable physical and mental atmosphere of the entire year.    For many teams, the Western Swing provides an opportunity to right the ship and make a mad grab at valuable points as the regular season grinds ever closer to its end at the US Nationals. For other teams, this mountain provides a power equalizer that can align their potential performance better with the pack than other locations can. The end result? A race historically known for its stunning upsets through eliminations.    There's chatter about the revised 2023 NHRA schedule, some insider information on new potential deals and drivers returning, as well as the insight that these two veterans of the sport bring to the table.    Get your breathing right and get your knowledge bucket filled with this Mile High Nationals episode of the NHRA Insider!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Brian Lohnes is joined by Rob Flynn and Erica Enders to talk about the incredible seasons both of them are having.    For Rob Flynn, tuning the dragster of Mike Salinas has been an experience in measured aggression. The Scrappers team has four wins already this year and there's no sign that they'll be slowing down to let someone take them off the perch they are on now, leading the top fuel points. Flynn talks about the team, the approach, another successful weekend in Norwalk, and what the upcoming Western Swing means for him and all of his guys.    Erica Enders has five wins in eight races and is on pace to smash her personal best record for a season which was 9 wins in 2015. Erica talks candidly about a number of subjects from attitude to staging, to the sometimes prickly nature of head-to-head competition. Lots of insight into the cars, the career-building moments, and the state of the class in 2022.    The Insider will be on a one-week hiatus next week but we'll be back right before Denver!

After an exciting race weekend in Bristol, Tennessee, Tony Pedregon and National Dragster's Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to review the event and look forward to this weekend's Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Ohio. The three go class by class and talk about not only the winners but also those drivers and riders who made headlines for reasons both good and bad in Bristol.    The conversation ranges from how teams can succeed in the summer heat, the massive top fuel field assembling at Norwalk, and its implications, along with a host of other topics that NHRA fans are interested in.    The Summit Racing Equipment Nationals could be a make-or-break weekend for some of drag racing's top teams, it will be interesting to see how the event shakes out!

Tony Pedregon joins Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, and the two delve deep into the upcoming 2022 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. This conversation touches on everything from the updated racing surface to the successes and failures of teams so far this year, the possibility for team shakeups in this back half of the regular season, why some teams can't seem to get it together, and more.    The two review each class and the performances of those who have defined them thus far in 2022, both good and bad. There's plenty of talk on Mike Salinas, how his team has succeeded, Matt Hagan and Robert Hight, Erica Enders, and more.    Lastly, the two talk about NHRA drag racing and how the need for tension and even conflict is important for the sport's growth and popularity. The level of competition, especially in classes like Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, seem poised to drive competitors into the type of tension that fans love to see and which makes for great competition.    It's Bristol, Baby! Give it a listen.