Shorter Mile-High Nats still long on drama
July 14, 2008
The 29th Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver featured a fast all-concrete drag strip with innovative cooling strips, but less of it was used during the race than last year.
In an effort to get their arms around super-powerful nitro cars in the wake of Scott Kalitta’s tragic Funny Car death, the NHRA decreed that nitro races would run (at least temporarily) to 1000 feet instead of the traditional 1320 feet/quarter mile distance.
The slightly shortened nitro runs didn’t seem to lack for excitement. Read more
Breaking News: NHRA Shortens Racing Distance To 1,000 Feet
July 2, 2008
As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA announced today that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport’s long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport. Read more
An uplifting competition after tragedy
June 30, 2008
The first half of the season is wrapping up, the Western Swing is about to start and the drag racing community was shocked last week by the tragic death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta (preliminary findings about the Englishtown crash were released by NHRA.)
Some uplifting news was needed, and it come from Dougzilla.
In the 2nd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert achieved his goal of winning one “for the boys;” his sons Jon and James, who were killed in a January auto accident. Read more
Remembering Scott Kalitta
June 24, 2008
By now you have probably heard of the unfortunate and tragic passing of NHRA champion driver Scott Kalitta. Kalitta not only was blessed with one of the most famous last names in all of drag racing, he was also a superb driver and proved it on the track again and again. A two time champion in the Top Fuel category, Scott Kalitta walked away from full-time racing to do what many of wish we all could do. Kalitta stepped away from racing to spend more time with those that he loved more than racing; his wife and children. As I have tried before with Darrell Russell, Eric Medlen and most recently Al Hofmann, I will do my best to remember a racer whom I knew briefly. Now that he is gone I am regretful I did not know him better.
Read more
Breaking news: Scott Kalitta killed at Englishtown
June 21, 2008
Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta (son of Connie “The Bounty Hunter” Kalitta and cousin of Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta) was killed today in a driving accident during qualifying at Supernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey. Read more
Winners break through at Route 66 Nats
June 9, 2008
The Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, IL (a bit south of Chicago) are held halfway through the regular NHRA racing season, and the who’s in/who’s out of the top drivers is starting to coalesce.
Tony Schumacher grabbed the provisional pole on Friday with a 4.513 at 331.69 mph and didn’t let go of the Top Fuel lead position, holding it all the way to win the Wally today in his second final round of the season against “Hot Rod” Fuller. Read more
Yes, Hillary Will….Win in Topeka
June 2, 2008
It was an emotional day for a lot of teams and fans at the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas.
At long last, it was Hillary Will’s turn to hoist a Wally for her first win in Top Fuel, after beating a tire-hazing Larry Dixon (the low qualifier) in the final with a 4.744 at 304.53. Her last final round was in 2006 at Memphis; thanks to her consistent record in qualifying for almost every race, she is now 4th in the points standings. Read more
How the NHRA’s Missing the Boat
May 27, 2008
What’s the one biggest difference between NASCAR and the NHRA? Well coming from my perspective, as a person of reasonable marketing knowledge, I would say that it’s the perceived lack of sex appeal that our sport has in the eye of the public and potential marketing partners. And no I don’t mean sex appeal as it normally relates to women. What I’m referring to is the lack of brash, passionate, young, talented, natural, photogenic, well-spoken drivers in our sport. As I watched the National Hot Rod Association coverage of the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, TN, something hit me. Albeit, it didn’t hit me right then but almost a week later to the day a bell went off saying “That’s It!” Read more
Rain delays at Bristol
May 18, 2008
Updates below, following the rain delay….
Well, I can tell you the Top Fuel results — Tony Schumacher goes from the low qualifier position to his third win this season, beating Larry Dixon with a 4.555 at 306.81 mph at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.
In Funny Car, we’ll have a first-time winner; either Mike Neff or Melanie Troxel.
In Pro Stock, it’s Dave Connolly vs. Greg Stanfield (looking for his first win.)
Unfortunately, there’s a rain delay, so we’ll just have to hang out until the skies clear and the track is dry. Read more
Thunder in the Valley
May 17, 2008
The weather is cooperating at one of drag racing’s most picturesque facilities; the Bristol Dragway that zooms between mountains in eastern Tennessee.
Top Fuel’s Tony Schumacher held onto his Friday night 4.502 run at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, and grabbed his second pole of the season; good thing, since Saturday was mostly tire-smoking.
“The first thing Alan [Johnson, crew chief] had to say this morning was, ‘We didn’t have to run a .50-flat or a .43, we just need to find out where the limit is and we found it,” said Schumacher. “I can’t enjoy racing on Sunday when we haven’t already found that limit, because you’re going to find it eventually, and I’d hate to find it Sunday.
“I’m as comfortable as I’ve ever been; the car is driving fantastic, the racetrack is outstanding, and it’s going to be great. There’s still a little something strange going on because yesterday we thought we could run 4.40s but only ran 4.50 and everyone else was behind us, so there’s still something out there giving us a curveball, but I would rather drive A.J.’s car any day of the week when all is wrong than drive anyone else’s car.”
Connie Kalitta’s crew had an excellent showing, with Dave Grubnic, Doug Kalitta and Hillary Will all in the top five. Antron Brown continued his consistent performance since switching to Top Fuel, with a 4th place qualifying position. Read more