INDIANAPOLIS – The Professional Racers and Owners Organization (PRO) today announced that Boninfante Friction will join the growing list of industry leaders who are sponsoring the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout, February 6-8, 2025, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The family-owned business, Boninfante Friction, started in 1988, produces superior quality parts as the world leader in friction clutch manufacturing for the motorsports market. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock competitors will be using Boninfante clutch discs and components to chase win lights and records during the three-day specialty race.

“Our sport has been built on manufacturers and suppliers like Boninfante Friction,” said Scott Woodruff, PRO Board Member. “When you look at the teams competing at the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout, you’ll see a Boninfante decal on their race car. That kind of universal support is critical to our growth and having them involved with this event is a perfect match.”

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CARLSBAD, CA – For nearly five decades, Auto Imagery, Inc. has elevated the visibility of NHRA drag racing by capturing its wildly visceral nature in stunning images. Frame by frame, the talented Auto Imagery photographers have diligently gathered an archive of drag racing history, and owner Richard Shute has taken steps to ensure that the catalog of more than one million historic images will continue to grow.

Effective January 1, 2025, Alex Owens will assume the role of Vice President for the renowned organization. Owens joined the Auto Imagery team as an apprentice photographer in 2009, and he was an eager student, quickly adapting to the intricacies of capturing 300+ mph racecars and wheelstanding Stock and Super Stock hot rods in all their glory.

Hired as a full-time photographer in 2021, Owens continued to grow, both in terms of his skill with a camera and in working one-on-one with clients. For the past two seasons, he has been the Director of Business Relations, continuing to shoot photos while also dedicating consistent effort toward exceeding client needs and brainstorming and implementing ideas that will carry the business into the next era.

“I remember looking up photos on AutoImagery.com as a kid, and now to be Vice President of the company – this is a full-circle experience for me,” said Owens. “Richard believed in me and saw talent in a 15-year-old kid, talent I didn’t even know I had. I’m honored to keep the Auto Imagery legacy alive and to continue growing the business for years to come.” Continue reading →

Category leader elevates its diesel exhaust fluid purity guarantee with new triple-filtration process

LAS VEGAS – Old World Industries announced today that America’s number one brand of diesel exhaust fluid, PEAK® BlueDEF®, has further set the standard of purity by investing in a new triple-filtration process. PEAK® BlueDEF® and the premium PEAK® BlueDEF PLATINUM® will also debut new packaging in Q1 2025, highlighting the purity and performance benefits that set its product line apart.

“As even the smallest contaminant can create significant issues for your vehicle, it is critical that your diesel exhaust fluid is of the highest purity. BlueDEF® has always been manufactured to the highest quality and purity standards but this new process offers consumers an extra layer of assurance,” said Randy Turner, director of product management. “Every batch of PEAK® BlueDEF® and PEAK® BlueDEF PLATINUM® is now triple-filtered, lab-tested and secure-sealed to provide ultimate protection from contaminants.”

PEAK® BlueDEF® and PEAK® BlueDEF PLATINUM® are compatible with all diesel SCR systems and the non-flammable formula with easy-pour dispensing nozzle makes handling safe and easy. BlueDEF PLATINUM® contains a proprietary additive package to help prevent deposit build-up, optimize fuel economy and extend the life of the SCR system. Continue reading →

INDIANAPOLIS – At the beginning of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series there was a crowded field of rookies in all four professional classes. Through 18 of 20 national events Richard Gadson, rider of the Vance & Hines RevZilla Suzuki, has emerged as a solid front-runner through on and off-track performances. So far this season he has raced to three final rounds, is the only rookie with a positive win-loss record (21-13) and has a 62% (.617) overall win percentage on top of an 85% (.846) first round win percentage.

“This season has been a dream season, and I am looking forward to getting that first win in either Las Vegas or Pomona,” said Gadson. “It won’t be easy but that is what I love about this class. The competition has never been tougher and when you get a couple round wins on Sunday, you know you have accomplished something. I can’t thank Andrew (Hines), Eddie (Krawiec), Gaige (Herrera) and everyone behind the scenes at Vance & Hines for putting me in position to win NHRA Rookie of the Year.”

Gadson was tabbed to replace multi-time world champion Krawiec at the end of last season. Throughout this season with Krawiec and Hines calling the tuning shots Gadson has performed more than admirably in a class littered with world champions and high-performance teams. Krawiec has nothing but praise for the team’s first year rider. Continue reading →

DALLAS – In advance of the 39th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull will catch up with NHRA Funny Car point leader Austin Prock on Wednesday, October 2 at 8 pm. EDT and 8 p.m. PDT. During the show Prock talks about his early days racing sprint cars for now NHRA superstar Tony Stewart as well as how his career as a chef has benefitted him behind the wheel of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car. The interview-style program, hosted by Funny Car driver Hull is the latest original series added to the NHRA’s 24/7 digital channel which is available on 13 platforms including the Roku Channel (USA & Canada), Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, and others. Interested viewers can search NHRA and select the LIVE option on any of these platforms.

“Getting to talk with Austin and hear about his early racing career was really special,” said Hull. “Austin has taken the Funny Car class by storm, and he is on a record pace this season. It was great to talk with him more in-depth about racing with his dad and brother as well as getting his insight on driving these 11,000-horsepower animals.” Continue reading →

COLUMBIA, IL – For the past six years Allan Middendorf has been chasing win lights, breaking Funny Car and Fuel Altered records, and building a brand around his cowboy and outlaw spirit. The passionate and driven Middendorf today announced he will be turning his attention to a new endeavor and is stepping away from professional drag racing. As a self-made entrepreneur out of Columbia, Illinois, Middendorf developed a passion for drag racing during his late 20’s and in 2018 he started Allan Middendorf Racing and began running the American Outlaw brand. He dedicated his racing career to following in the tire tracks of his successful businesses built around perfection, attention to detail and being true himself. He attributes his success on the track to his crew members, sponsors, and business relationships with companies like Snake Enterprises, Vinyl Images and Torco.

“Jake Sanders of Snake Enterprises was a huge part of my success,” said Middendorf. “Jake’s knowledge and experience is what made this team highly competitive. Without him, there is no way I could have achieved what I did. You add in the support we received from Vinyl Images and Torco and this dream I chased wouldn’t have been possible. We made a lot of history, and I can’t thank all our supporters enough.”

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ANAHEIM, CA – A celebration of life for drag racing legend Fred Crow will be held Saturday, April 27 at 11 a.m. at Influence Church (8162 E. Kaiser Blvd, Anaheim, Calif., 92808). The event will be an opportunity for friends, family, and racing community supporters to share stories and memories of the joy and love Crow brought to the world both on and off the track.

“Fred was an important contributor to racing for many decades and he will be missed,” said Jon Dunn, of Jim Dunn Racing. “Fred, DeEtte, and I have been partners in Crow for over 25 years. Beyond our working relationship Crow has been a major supporter of our program and racing in general. Crow Safety Gear will continue to flourish as a leader in the safety gear industry. Everyone at Jim Dunn Racing extends our condolences to DeEtte and the Crow family.”

A 2006 NHRA Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Crow was a driving force behind Crow Safety Gear, a family run business specializing in quality racing safety gear. The Crow line of safety gear including junior and adult auto racing suits, gloves, shoes, neck collars, fire retardant underwear and arm restraints. Crow manufactures all their famous racing seat belts in the USA.

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JOLIET, IL – For the past two decades, motorsports marketing executive Brian Bohlander has been building brands through motorsports. Currently, the Director of Marketing for Old World Industries, Bohlander has led a variety of marketing programs at various levels of global motorsports as well as serving this term as SEMA’s Motorsports Parts Manufactures Council (MPMC) Chair Elect.

Where Bohlander has set himself apart from so many motorsport executives is knowing what it takes on and off the track as a competitive driver.  With over three decades of racing experience, Bohlander has raced everything from karts to off-road buggies. Recently, he added another title to his ever-growing list of racing accomplishments; licensed NHRA driver.

?“I’ve stood on the starting line and watched the best in the NHRA race everything from Stock to Top Fuel.  The licensing experience really puts into perspective just how good all NHRA national level drivers are when races are won and lost by as little as a 0.001 of a second,” Bohlander stated after attending Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School.

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