"We didn't get it done" - Terry McMillen reflects on missing the Countdown and where the team goes next
Terry McMillen did not make the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, breaking not just a streak of playoff appearances of for the Amalie Motor Oil Top Fuel team but a perceived trend of upward movement.
He started the season well, reaching…
Greg Anderson needs a great weekend to get back into championship hunt
K.B. Racing enjoyed a banner day at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals. Two cars with K.B. Racing engines raced in the Pro Stock final and one of the flagship cars, driven by Jason Line, ended up in the winner’s circle.
That’s great.…
AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals Friday Gallery
NHRA National Dragster photographer Jerry Foss captured some of the best moments from the first day of action at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Stevie "Fast" Jackson can clinch a Pro Mod world championship in St. Louis -- here's how
Stevie "Fast" Jackson needs a lot to go his way to clinch his first National Hot Rod Association world championship in St. Louis. First -- he has to win the race.
That part won't intimidate the Georgian, who enters the AAA Insurance NHRA…
Todd Tutterow still chasing E3 Pro Mod championship heading to St. Louis
It’s already been a banner year for Todd Tutterow, but with a chance for a championship still within reach, the veteran still hopes to accomplish more to end the 2019 campaign beginning at this weekend's AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.
It’s already been a banner year for Todd Tutterow, whose career-best season in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service has also included his first NHRA victory. But with a chance for a championship still…
Pleased with progress this season, Karen Stoffer aims for win at Midwest Nationals
Karen Stoffer already accomplished one major goal this season qualifying for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Now wants something she hasn’t had since 2015 and that’s a victory at this weekend’s AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Racing with a new team in 2019, Karen Stoffer already accomplished one major goal this season qualifying for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. But the Pro Stock Motorcycle veteran now wants something she hasn’t had since 2015 and that’s…
Robert Hight: 'Every point matters' in tight Funny Car championship battle
Two-time NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car champion Robert Hight joined Lewis Bloom in the Wally Parks NHRA Studio to talk about his long and successful career and to take a look at this year's championship battle.
In the Countdown battle for the first time, Alex Laughlin returns to site of first win
When Alex Laughlin scored his first career Pro Stock win at the 2016 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, he had just missed out on the Countdown to the Championship by a mere two points. Fast forward three years and he's among the favorites to win not just the race but the championship, too.
As memorable and thrilling as picking up his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series win was, Alex Laughlin remembers feeling that something was missing. The Pro Stock star was in his first full season and missed out on the Mello Yello Countdown…
Robert Hight hopes for same result in less dramatic fashion at 2019 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals
Moments after winning the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals last year, Robert Hight was involved in a top-end crash past the finish line that broke his collarbone. He'll take the win this year, minus all of the other drama.
Robert Hight will gladly take a repeat of everything that took place a year ago in St. Louis, except for what happened just past the finish line in the finals. Moments after winning the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology…
Another strong outing in St. Louis could be a gateway to a championship for Richie Crampton
Richie Crampton’s season took a sudden turn with a win at the Countdown opener, and now the Top Fuel veteran is excited to see if he can keep the momentum rolling at this weekend’s AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.
In the span of a few hours, Richie Crampton’s season took a sudden turn at the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship opener. Now the Top Fuel veteran is excited to see if he can keep the momentum rolling at this weekend’s eighth annual AAA…
"That's how you learn new things" - how Tom Elliott became the elder statesman of Top Dragster
Tom Elliott has been racing for a long time. He now exists as an elder statesman in a category, Top Dragster, that ranges younger, if for no other reason than its speed.
Tom Elliott has been racing for a long time. He now exists as an elder statesman in a category, Top Dragster, that ranges younger, if for no other reason than its speed.
The six-second rockets are among the quickest in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag…
Tom Bailey stars in Hot Rod Drag Week with record 5.99 run
Tom Bailey becomes the talk of Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week event with a thrilling 5.99-second, 250-mph performance and a convincing win in the Unlimited class.
NHRA fans get to see five-second Pro Mod cars at least a dozen times a year, but how many of those cars are street legal, or capable of being driven even a few miles on public roads? The answer is almost certainly zero which is what makes Tom Bailey…
Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil Saturday gallery
Check out the best shots from the second day of racing from the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil as captured by NHRA National Dragster photographers Marc Gewertz and Bob Szelag.
"Race with your car, not with your mouth" - Mike Kloeber prepared for Countdown fight
Mike Kloeber and Clay Millican start the NHRA Countdown to the Championship in sixth place and he wants his Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster to do the talking.
Mike Kloeber took over tuning duties for Clay Millican ahead of the 2019 season and helped bring the Parts Plus Top Fuel team to the No. 6 seed at the start of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. That is four spots below where the Straightline…
Karen Stoffer: "I want to take a shot at the championship."
Thanks to her partnership with the White Alligator team, Karen Stoffer is enjoying her best season in years, and she believes she's got a legit shot at the Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle championship.
Even though Reading, Pa., is more than 2,600-miles from her home in Minden, Nev., Karen Stoffer almost considers Maple Grove Raceway to be her home track and with good reason the track has been the home of some of her most memorable moments,…
Jeg Coughlin Jr. preparing to chip away at Pro Stock points lead
With six NHRA championships to his credit, including five in Pro Stock, there isn't much that Jeg Coughlin Jr. hasn't seen or done during his long career.
Jeg Coughlin Jr. won his first Pro Stock race more than two decades ago, and his career resum is Hall of Fame worthy with six championships and 81 national event wins for starters. Given his vast experience, it’s hard to throw Coughlin a pitch that…
Hear what the teams said following Friday qualifying at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil:
"It's ladies' night and I'm about to do this" -Angelle Sampey
Track records were broken after a pair of weather delays in Reading, Pennsylvania. Hear what the teams had to say about the first day of qualifying at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
Don Schumacher Racing…
Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil Friday gallery
The NHRA Countdown to the Championship blasted off in Reading and NHRA National Dragster photographers Marc Gewertz and Bob Szelag captured the action.
Ron Capps draws first blood in NHRA Countdown to the Championship
Ron Capps earned the first three bonus points of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil. Naturally, crew chief Rahn Tobler chalked it up to luck.
"You know, I'd say that that was probably about half luck," said Tobler…
'I was gonna light him up' - Antron Brown just as hungry entering Countdown
Antron Brown enters the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil in third place, just 30 points behind Steve Torrence as he chases his fourth Top Fuel world championship. The New Jersey native knows how difficult earning that trophy will be, but that doesn't make the ever-optimistic Brown any less confident.
Antron Brown enters the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil in third place, just 30 points behind Steve Torrence as he chases his fourth Top Fuel world championship. The New Jersey native knows how difficult earning that trophy…
What the teams said ahead of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil:
“I think there’s a lot going on mentally for a driver going into the Countdown. There’s really no easy way to go about it, but I do know that being in that number one spot, it’s yours to lose. That’s a tough spot to be in." --Shawn Langdon
John Force Racing
John Force Racing doubled-up for the first time in its history in 2017 as Brittany Force and Robert Hight both won championships. 2018 was not so kind to JFR as Hight stumbled at the season-ending Auto Club Finals and Force was…
WATCH: Re-live the 2018 Dodge NHRA Nationals
Watch the start of Steve Torrence's historic NHRA Countdown to the Championship sweep in highlights from the 2018 Dodge NHRA Nationals.
Watch the start of Steve Torrence's historic NHRA Countdown to the Championship sweep in highlights from the 2018 Dodge NHRA Nationals. Courtney Force and Clay Millican began on pole in Reading at the Countdown opener while Tanner Gray and Matt…
Points leaders Andrew Hines and Bo Butner will try to keep pushing the pace
Andrew Hines and Bo Butner are in similar situations heading into the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, as both have been the points leader in their respective classes for the entire season. Now they just have to keep the mojo going for the next six events.
Andrew Hines and Bo Butner are in similar situations heading into the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, as both have been the points leader in their respective classes for the entire NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season. With…
What’s ahead for Tommy Johnson Jr. as he heads into the Countdown battle?
After arguably the most consistent regular season in his Funny Car career, Tommy Johnson Jr. hopes it translates into more clutch performances in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and possibly his first career world championship.
Tommy Johnson Jr. has had no trouble finishing his NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season on a high note. After arguably the most consistent regular season in his Funny Car career, the veteran standout hopes it translates into more clutch…
Leah Pritchett has a lot of reasons to want to win this weekend, and history is one of them
Since 2013, the Top Fuel winner of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway has gone on to win the season championship, and Mopar driver Leah Pritchett would like to continue that trend.
Considering it’s happened the past six years, it’s a streak worth noting. It’s also one that has Leah Pritchett’s attention heading into this weekend’s 35th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Maple Grove Raceway. Since…
NHRA Countdown to the Championship Preview: Who can stop the Harley-Davidson machine in Pro Stock Motorcycle?
Andrew Hines enters the countdown as the No. 1 seed with teammate Eddie Krawiec close behind. Can anyone offer a challenge in Pro Stock Motorcycle?
he Countdown to the Championship begins at the next event, the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil in Reading, and Harley-Davidson teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec have locked down the top two spots. With a combined nine…
NHRA Countdown to the Championship Preview: Can Bo Butner win his second Pro Stock championship in three years?
Bo Butner un-retired his way to the No. 1 seed in the Pro Stock playoffs. Can he turn that into another world title?
On the dawn of the first race in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, this much is certain: We will have a new NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion in 2019. With reigning champ Tanner Gray off racing in the K&N Pro East…
NHRA Countdown to the Championship Preview: Is Robert Hight still the favorite in Funny Car?
Robert Hight holds the No. 1 seed in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, but he will face a stacked field of competitors in the Funny Car category entering the Mopar NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
Robert Hight looked like the heir apparent for the Funny Car championship throughout the first half of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. He may still be by virtue of locking up the No. 1 seed, holding the most 2019 Wallys, and driving the…
NHRA Countdown to the Championship Preview: Can Steve Torrence repeat as Top Fuel champion?
We answer the biggest questions surrounding the Top Fuel category entering the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, which kicks off Friday at the Mopar NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
The NHRA Countdown to the Championship turns 12 in 2019, and Steve Torrence enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed for the third straight season. The Texan does not need to repeat his history-making 24-round winning streak to win his second title,…
Steve Torrence eyeing more Countdown records with top seed, huge lead
Heading into final eliminations for Top Fuel at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, one thing that won’t change is that Steve Torrence will enter the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs as the top seed.
Heading into final eliminations for Top Fuel at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, one thing that won’t change is that Steve Torrence will enter the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs as the top seed.
Torrence will finish the…