DragStory
Feather-Lite Batteries Introduces No. 1 Qualifier Bonus Program for NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock
WYNNEWOOD, OK – Feather-Lite Batteries, a leading supplier of high-performance racing batteries, has stepped up to support the 
Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock category by offering a No. 1 qualifier bonus for all six races on the 2024 schedule. Feather-Lite customers will also have the opportunity to win a double-up bonus for winning the race. The Feather-Lite bonuses will be available starting at the season-opening race for the series, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 26-28, at zMAX Dragway.
“We wanted to do something different to support the class when we found out NHRA was stepping up the Mountain Motor Pro Stock program,” said Jonathan Pickett, President/CEO, Feather-Lite Batteries. “We have a lot of customers in the class, and I’ve been a fan of Mountain Motor Pro Stock for years. We reached out to Richard Freeman, who’s been working hard behind the scenes on the NHRA Mountain Motor program, to see how we could get involved. I felt like the No. 1 qualifier bonus and the couple other things we have going would be a good way to support the class and our customers.” Continue reading
TIM ERDMANN NAMED NHRA VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA officials announced today that Tim Erdmann has been named NHRA Vice President of Finance. Erdmann is based 
out of NHRA’s San Dimas, Calif. office and had been the Senior Director of Finance since 2020. He was hired by NHRA in 2019, first serving as a NHRA business manager. As NHRA’s Vice President of Finance, Erdmann oversees the payroll, accounting and finance departments.
Erdmann has also successfully navigated the complex budget, track settlements and contracts, and is responsible for creating operational efficiencies within finance. He played a pivotal role working with NASCAR to hold the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals last year at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, which was a successful event and returns to the schedule in 2024.
“I’m excited and honored to be named Vice President of Finance at NHRA,” Erdmann said. “I’ve been very fortunate to work closely with great people, tracks, partners and race teams over the last several years. The NHRA has a passionate fanbase and a lot of invested stakeholders who want the best for this sport. I look forward to continuing to help the organization grow and be creative in coming up with ways to excite fans across the country.” Continue reading
Halsey, Hyde, Pluchino, Nicholl, Essick and Mota Race to Victory at PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown
DINWIDDIE, VA – In a final-round battle between the two winningest drivers in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, four-time world champion 
Jim Halsey collected his first win of the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season when he defeated three-time and reigning world champion Tommy Franklin on a holeshot. Halsey charged to a 3.628-second pass at 208.33 MPH to finish ahead of Franklin and his 3.613 E.T. Saturday night at the Kaeser Compressors Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Spencer Hyde earned his first-ever WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive win to join Halsey and fellow multi-time pro class winners Johnny Pluchino (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), Doug Nicholl (PDRA Pro 632), Tim Essick (Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing), and Derek Mota (Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports) in the winner’s circle.
Sportsman class victories went to Glenn Butcher in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Kellan Farmer in Laris Motorsports Insurance Elite Top Dragster presented by Greenbrier Excavating & Paving, Jeff Melnick in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman presented by Corbin’s RV, and Chad Traylor in Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Younce RV. Richie Allen in his ’70 Mustang defeated Keith Dunkum Jr. in his ’91 Mustang in the Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams final round. Continue reading
Salemi, Halsey, Pluchino, A. Franklin, E. Steding and Mota Top Friday Qualifying at PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown
DINWIDDIE, VA – Multi-time No. 1 qualifier Melanie Salemi fired off a 3.585-second, 209.01 MPH pass Friday night at the Red Line Oil 
PDRA Drag Racing Series Kaeser Compressors Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix to qualify No. 1 atop the quickest field in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive history. After just two qualifying sessions at Virginia Motorsports Park, the 16-car Pro Boost field was separated by just .053 seconds.
An evening rain shower led to an abbreviated qualifying program, with all professional classes completing two of three scheduled qualifying sessions to set the fields for Saturday eliminations. Jim Halsey (Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous), Johnny Pluchino (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), Amber Franklin (PDRA Pro 632), Ethan Steding (Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by Afco Racing), and Derek Mota (Afco Racing Super Street presented by Menscer Motorsports) also qualified No. 1 in the pro classes. Continue reading
Tony Schumacher to be Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Class of 2025, Joins Late Father, 2019 Inductee Don Schumacher
BROWNSBURG, IN – Tony Schumacher, the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA Drag Racing history, will be inducted into the 
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s (MSHFA) class of 2025, it was announced today. He is one of seven motorsports icons who will receive the prestigious honor reserved for individuals who are regarded as game-changing performers in the world of American motorsports.
Fellow inductees into the MSHFA Class of 2025 include Carl Haas, Dale Jarrett, Skip Barber, Miguel Duhamel, Ed Iskenderian, and Bill Stroppe. The esteemed group will take their place in history among some of the greatest names in motorsports at an induction ceremony scheduled to take place in Daytona, Florida in March of next year.
Schumacher’s induction into the MSHFA has significant meaning as this same distinction was bestowed on his father, Don Schumacher, in 2019. The elder Schumacher lost his battle with lung cancer in December of 2023, and his only son is proud to carry on the family legacy. Continue reading
NHRA RETURNS TO CHICAGO FOR ACTION-PACKED GERBER COLLISION & GLASS NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS
CHICAGO – After the successful return to Route 66 Raceway last season, NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series teams and officials are 
excited to return to Chicago for the upcoming Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19.
The 2023 event saw a huge number of fans return to Route 66 Raceway to take in a memorable weekend of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph excitement. This season’s race at Route 66 Raceway promises to deliver the same thrills on a race weekend loaded with four rounds of qualifying, a host of special events on Saturday and Sunday eliminations.
Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) took home race wins last year in their respective categories while Justin Ashley, Ron Capps and Gaige Herrera secured Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge titles. An additional highlight of the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance is the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout. A year ago, Pro Stock newcomer Camrie Caruso won the specialty event, with the best in Pro Stock set to duel again this year. All the action will also be featured on FS1, including eliminations action and a special Callout broadcast that airs at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 18 on FS1. Continue reading
DRAG AND DRIVE EXHIBITION WITH ALEX TAYLOR AND TOM BAILEY RETURNS TO NHRA NATIONAL EVENT AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY
JOLIET, IL – After a successful debut last year during NHRA’s return to Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, officials announced today the special 
Drag and Drive exhibition will again be part of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in Chicago, the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19.
With star drivers like Alex Taylor and Tom Bailey on hand, plus a “Mob of Sick Drag & Drivers,” this exhibition offers an all-star cast of drivers and something unique for the fan-favorite event at Route 66 Raceway. The standout street cars set to be featured all weekend in Chicago run in the 6-second range and quicker at speeds of more than 200 mph, offering a thrilling spectacle for all race fans.
Along with the stars of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, this Drag and Drive exhibition will showcase some of the quickest street cars in the world. They are set to entertain fans with runs throughout the weekend, crowing a winner during eliminations on Sunday. Continue reading
Record Setters and Race Winners Head to Virginia for PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown
DINWIDDIE, VA – Two weeks after a record-setting start to the 2024 season, the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will be back on 
track this weekend at the Kaeser Compressors Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix. Set for April 18-20, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown will feature a wide range of racing action in the PDRA’s professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster classes as racers from across the country compete at the series’ “home track,” Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP).
“It’s always fun to welcome everyone to our home turf at Virginia Motorsports Park,” said Tyler Crossnoe, PDRA series director and VMP vice president. “VMP has been a staple on the PDRA tour since the very beginning of the series in 2014. Virginia fans know when the PDRA is coming to town, and they’re in for a show this weekend. The season opener in North Carolina was off the rails with excitement, and you do not want to miss the second edition of the PDRA this season.”
The two quickest and fastest categories in the PDRA, Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous and WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, both enter the Mid-Atlantic Showdown with brand-new elapsed-time national records. Four-time world champion Jim Halsey lowered the Pro Nitrous record that he already held to a 3.608-second effort, and Derek Ward charged to a 3.555 to set the new Pro Boost record. Continue reading
Race Wrap | NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals
Rockingham, NC – The Holley NMRA Ford Nationals and Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals returned to North Carolina’s 
Rockingham Dragway for the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Presented by Sipple’s Speed & Performance and Top of the Rock Thrill Festival Presented by Innovation Performance Technologies on April 12-14, 2024, and fans were treated to a full weekend of automotive awesomeness.
Qualifying kicked off for all drag racing categories on Friday morning and on Saturday, the fun festivities were amplified as both the 60th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang and the Top of the Rock Thrill Festival were in full swing.
From Bigfoot, the world’s largest monster truck, on display to the wild, flame-throwing Dawn Perdue vs. Larry Aldrich Jet Car Shootout, freestyle BMX stunt shows featuring Alex Johan doing a trick off of the back of Bigfoot, TV personality and DJ Clarence Barnes, Miss NMRA/NMCA, 704 Exotics supercar display, Innovation Performance Technologies “Laps of Honor” custom Mustangs, meet-and-greet sessions with No Prep Star George Cunningham of Bad Apple Racing, massive car show featuring the best in American-made muscle, a huge vendor midway, and so much more, the atmosphere was absolutely electric. Continue reading
Race Wrap | NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals
Rockingham, NC – Despite the challenges of rain early in the event schedule, the sun shined on the racetrack when it counted and the Holley 
NMRA Ford Nationals series campaign powered on at Rockingham Dragway with the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Presented by Sipple’s Speed & Performance and Top of the Rock Thrill Festival Presented by Innovation Performance Technologies, which delivered fast Fords and plenty of fun for all those in attendance.
“NMRA is celebrating Mustang’s 60th birthday all season long, but with our second event rolling into Rockingham just days before its birthday, a celebration was in order,” Steve Wolcott, President and CEO of NMRA, said. “We felt the power of Ford’s pony car throughout the weekend, and it was rewarding seeing so many smiling fans in the stands.”
NMRA celebrated the Mustang’s 60th birthday with special Mustang Day celebrations both on and off the racetrack, as the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show offered a Mustang-only grouping and the huge Circle D Specialties True Street class included a Mustang Day classification as well. Continue reading
