- Jeff Verdi Captures RAD Torque Systems $20,000 Shootout Win at the Spring Fling
- AFTER HISTORIC FUNNY CAR WIN, BOB TASCA AFTER MORE AT CHARLOTTE’S NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS
- This Week at MBE
- SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CONTINUES TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE FOR ACTION-PACKED 2024 SEASON
- Josh Hart Looking for Continued Success at Charlotte Four-Wides
- LONGTIME BATTLE FOR CONSISTENCY ENTERS NEW PHASE FOR TODD, DHL TEAM
- CONFIDENT SHAWN LANGDON, AUTODESK TEAM APPLY JOHN WOODEN MANTRA TO NHRA
Joe Maynard, JCM Racing Announce Partnership with Michael Waltrip Brewing Co.
BROWNSBURG, IN – JCM Racing team owner and serial entrepreneur Joe Maynard recently became an equity owner in Michael Waltrip 
Brewing Co., the premium brewing company founded by NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip. As part of this newly formed alliance, Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. will have a more prominent place aboard the JCM Racing Top Fuel machines piloted by NHRA icon Tony Schumacher and European champion Ida Zetterström, who is slated to make her NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series start later this summer.
Fans of eight-time Top Fuel world champion Schumacher may have already glimpsed the Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. logo on his Leatherwood Distillery Top Fuel dragster this season, a small indicator of what’s to come for the two brands.
“I thrive on forging strategic alliances that elevate brands in ways that will create something greater than any one brand can achieve on its own. This is an opportunity for us to bring the race team, the brewery, and Leatherwood Distillery all together,” remarked Maynard. “We want to utilize the JCM Racing team as a marketing vehicle to drive interest in both brands.” Continue reading
JONATHAN JOHNSON JOINS NHRA AS SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION DIRECTOR
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA officials announced today that Jonathan Johnson has been named the Division Director of the South Central 
Division (Division 4), where he will oversee NHRA member tracks in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Prior to being named NHRA Division Director, Johnson was the president at JKJ Auto Parts and was most recently the south region parts and service manager with National Trailer Source, bringing significant experience to the Division Director position.
He also earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, and received his Masters of Business Administration degree from Baylor University in 2024. Continue reading
TSR Heads to Charlotte 4 Wide
Charlotte, NC – The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte, North Carolina, is the fifth event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing 
Series’ 20-race calendar in 2024. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two full-time entries – one in Top Fuel for Top Fuel rookie Tony Stewart and one in Funny Car for 49-time Funny Car winner and four-time champion Matt Hagan. Hagan and Stewart each advanced to the Finals in their respective nitro categories at the previous event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas.
Coming into Charlotte, Stewart is sixth in the Top Fuel standings, 145 points behind leader Justin Ashley. Hagan is currently fourth in the Funny Car standings, 106 points behind leader Austin Prock.
Hagan needs just one win to become the 17th pro driver with 50 tour victories. John Force, Robert Hight and Ron Capps currently are the only Funny Car drivers to have reached that plateau. Hagan has won at least three tour events for 11 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Continue reading
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
