NHRA Insider Podcast

Tony Schumacher and Austin Prock join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The two returning top fuel standouts have a lot to say about the 2022 season to be, the way that their teams will attack pre-season testing in Phoenix, and what it means to be back as sponsored drivers who know they have a full season in front of them. The winningest driver in top fuel history is candid in his remarks about his expectations for 2022 and he is definitely motivated to show the world that his top fuel return is not simply for his own entertainment. Schumacher talks about what it will take to chase a championship, working with a new team and crew chief, and the singular focus DSR will have on his top fuel car, a potential benefit to him. Austin Prock had his career interrupted by Covid-19 and doubted at times that he would ever drive again. In this frank discussion, he talks about the downtimes, the work he put in as a crew member of the JFR operation, the meaningful nature of his return, and how he will make good on the promise we all saw out of him during his rookie season in 2019. In with the old brings two huge top fuel names back into the fore as the NHRA season looms closely on the calendar!

It's a funny car extravaganza on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Championship driver JR Todd and championship crew chief Dean Antonelli join host Brian Lohnes and talk about all the things going on to prepare for the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season. There's also a rather in-depth look into the 2022 top fuel season to get the show started. JR talks about the early GR Supra testing which happened in Florida, his impressions of the new body, and what he's most enthusiastic about for 2022. It's an interesting conversation that gives the professional driver's outlook on what the upcoming season will look like. The tightness of the 2021 season was wild and it sets the stage for what should be an incredible 22 race campaign this year. A good chat with a guy motivated to bring the heat in 2022. Dean Antonelli won his first championship as a crew chief of record last year along with Jon Medlin and his talented and experienced team. He's back with the same group in 2022 and that means the team should be able to contend again. Now racing under the Ron Capps Motorsports banner, Guido talks about the upcoming challenge of the season, the challenge of preparing for 2022, and things on the horizon that will require professional drag racing teams to get creative to succeed this year. It's going to be wild when the season starts and these guys think so as well!

Multi-time Top Fuel winner Josh Hart and NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. For Josh Hart, 2022 represents his sophomore year as a driver/owner in the top fuel category of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. He comes in as a confirmed race winner, fully sponsored, and prepared to run every race of this upcoming year with his sights set on a world championship. He talks the business of drag racing, the learning curve of his first season, and why team stability will play a big role in his planned success during 2022. Tony Pedregon checks in from NitroVille, USA otherwise known as Brownsburg, Indiana. He talks about late off-season crew shifting, the changing landscape of top fuel, and how good enough in 2021 won't be good enough in 2022. There's plenty of insider knowledge drops here, rumors revealed, and lots of the chatter that will drive the sport ahead once teams begin testing in Arizona and then racing in Pomona just a few short weeks away. Lohnes also recaps a wildly busy week of news across the NHRA and sets the stage for upcoming excitement!

Multi-time pro mod winner Lyle Barnett and drag racing suspension guru Mark Menscer join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The guys talk about their careers in the sport, how they have achieved their success, and what the future holds for premier door slammer straight-line competition. Lyle Barnett was one of the breakout stories of the 2021 NHRA pro mod season. Barnett's transition from the world of radial drag racing into quarter-mile pro mod racing was swift and while the team had their struggles, two late-season wins after swapping cars saw them flourish among tough competition. The conversation about the season, the NHRA pro mod class, rules, screw blowers, and more is a must listen. Mark Menscer came to the world of drag racing from dirt track competition and it was purely accidental. That happy accident has resulted in performance gains in drag racing that many people never saw coming. Menscer talks about his evolution in drag racing, his approach, the science of suspension, and what his own personal interests in the sport are. A couple of great conversations as well as breaking news, rumors, and more!

Nitro crew chiefs Aaron Brooks and Jason Bunker join Brian Lohnes on this week's episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The two men have wildly different histories in NHRA drag racing with Brooks being the more experienced of the two. Aaron Brooks began his career in drag racing in 1997 and worked his way to the lofty position of crew chief over his time working for some of the best minds in the sport. In this interview, Brooks talks about his modern role as a crew chief who has guided many smaller teams to successful starts in the highest level of drag racing exists how the sport has evolved, how his experience racing with so many teams and across the world have helped his career, and how he sees 2022 unfolding. Jason Bunker is the crew chief for Ton Jurado and the Capitol Punishment funny car team. He has been successful working on pro mods, nostalgia nitro funny cars, and has overseen the privateer California funny car team's impressive launch into NHRA Camping World Drag Racing. A 3rd generation racer, Bunker talks of his history in the sport, his philosophy as a leader and crew chief, and how his combined life experience took him down a path he didn't even realize he wanted until he set foot on it. Two good chats, two good guys, and two of the smartest mechanical minds in drag racing!

Guests Bob Tasca III and Camrie Caruso join host Brian Lohnes on this first episode of the NHRA Insider podcast for the 2022 season. Tasca is coming off a career season in 2021 with multiple victories, including the season-ending NHRA Finals in Pomona. He talks about his team, keeping his program working with the right people, the oncoming rise of electric cars on the drag strip and in the marketplace, and even the fact that Ford engineers think that by decade's end that they could have an electric car that's faster than a nitro funny car! This is an entertaining and eye-opening conversation about drag racing, business, and technology. Camrie Caruso joined the show moments after making her first official pro stock runs in what will be a highly aggressive testing schedule in Florida this winter. Having gotten the team organized, hiring Jim Yates as their crew chief, and now getting on the track, this team is 100% serious about contenting from the jump at the NHRA Winternationals. Camrie talks pressure, driving pro stock, and what it has taken to get this far. The learned and the learning. NHRA drag racing is going to be exciting in 2022!

Guests Tony Pedregon and Wes Buck join Brian Lohnes on this final episode of the NHRA Insider podcast for 2021. The conversations range from a look back over the NHRA's insanely successful PRI show to the season that was, what to look for in 2022, the changing landscape of professional drag racing, and the plethora of breaking news that has swarmed over drag racing in the last few weeks and promises to be unrelenting after the new year. Tony Pedregon talks about the effects of independent team ownership will have on the professional ranks, who is he looking for to succeed in 2022 and who are the stars on the rise coming off a hot and heavy 2021 season. Wes Buck talks about youth in drag racing and looks back over not only the 2021 season but the state of drag racing as a whole. This is a neat conversation that recognizes the opportunities that are available to drag racers these days, how people are taking advantage of them, and why the future of the appears to be so bright. A fun walk back over 2021 and a fun leap forward looking at a 2022 that holds more promise than any season we have looked ahead to in years!

NHRA National Tech Director Lonnie Grim and NHRA Medical Director Dr. Phil Surface join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider that is TRULY insider! Grim talks about how the tech department works on race weekend and the process in developing a new class like Factory X, the freshly announced category that has captured the imagination and attention of drag racers across the country. It's a discussion on the inner workings of a side of drag racing few people know anything about. Dr. Phil Surface is not just a racing enthusiast, he is the man responsible for overseeing the NHRA on-site medical services at national events and his job goes far beyond race weekends. Working hand in hand with NHRA to develop the protocols that allowed the sport of Camping World drag racing to resume so quickly in 2020 and continue in 2021, this is a fascinating conversation about not just health, but the role that a person like Dr. Surface takes in helping to even advance things like chassis safety and more. Two important guys in drag racing with jobs few know much about!

NHRA Rookie of the year Dallas Glenn, and a pair of Pomona top fuel semi-final finishers, Tripp Tatum and Cameron Ferre join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. All three racers have had late-season success stories to tell. Glenn, a rookie sensation in pro stock achieved three wins and made five final rounds this season on the way to an awesome first season in the class. Tripp Tatum has been working for years to get his top fuel team completed and to the track. In 2021 he did just that and had his best performance ever at Pomona to close the season. Making his first career top fuel semi-final was a thrill for Tatum but just the tip of the iceberg for what he has plans to achieve in the future. His story is cool. The final guest is Cameron Ferre. The Huntington Beach native has been chasing top fuel glory for more than 20 years and he had the best two races of his life in Las Vegas and Pomona to close the season. Racking up personal bests left and right, he and the Paton family have shown themselves to be a potent combo together! A great show and three positive stories to kick off the off-season with!

NHRA Editorial Director Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna, and NHRAonFox analyst Tony Pedregon all join host Brian Lohnes on this throwdown Auto Club Finals episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The most informed insiders in the sport dish on what they know, what they think, and what they have heard is coming in the high tension world of pro drag racing. From finals winner predictions to potential off-season headlines, this is a wall to wall gab-fest for the ages. Whether it is the three-horse races in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Funny Car, the two-team brawl coming in Pro Stock car, or the potential fourth coronation of a perennial top fuel champion, these guys all have something to say. A great listen to get you pumped up and full of info for the finals!

Tony Pedregon joins host Brian Lohnes for this episode of the NHRA Insider. The two talk about the upcoming Dodge SRT Las Vegas Nationals presented by Pennzoil and break down the racers who really need to win this event to keep their title hopes alive. The conversation is honest, interesting, and enlightening as all four championships look poised to come right down to the wire. Interestingly, as the show was being made, a massive storm knocked out power to the studio and the planned second guest was unable to be added to the program. This is a unique show from front to back!

Matt Smith and JR Todd join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast to talk about their respective weekends in Bristol, Tennessee at the Thunder Valley Nationals and to chat about the last two races of the season. Both men are in a strong championship position with Smith leading the Pro Stock Motorcycle category into Las Vegas and Todd launching himself into third place on the strength of his Bristol race day. For Matt Smith, the conversation revolves around consistency, not beating himself, and letting the world know that Angie will be back on her motorcycle to defend her win last year at what was the season-closing event. He talks about buying a Suzuki, building a Suzuki, and having his options open for 2021 as to what he plans on riding. Interesting stuff! JR Todd talks about coming away from a Bristol Sunday one round short of a win but far stronger in points and confidence. After struggling in qualifying, Todd and his DHL Toyota Camry crew mowed down the likes of John Force, Matt Hagan, and Ron Capps in eliminations before drawing the short straw against Alexis DeJoria in the final round. An interesting conversation with a reenergized former champion!

Greg Anderson and Ron Capps join NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes to talk about their success at Texas, their championship hopes, and in the case of Capps an interesting upcoming weekend at Bristol Dragway. Greg Anderson made history at Dallas last weekend, winning his 98th career pro stock racing and supplanting Warren Johnson as the all-time leader in class history. It has been an amazing year for Anderson so far but he knows that there's no time to lift off the throttle with the likes of Erica Enders hot on his heels for the pro stock championship. Anderson talks about his season, his career, and where his inner drive to win comes from. Ron Capps ruled the funny car roost in Texas and now trails Matt Hagan by a small 33 points headed into the last three races of the season. This is a fun conversation that touches on many different points from the Dallas win, a championship mentality, and the potential pitfalls to avoid this weekend in Bristol. Pair all this up with some Insider news from an explosive week of NHRA breaking reveals and things are going to get really interesting, really quick!

This week pro stock racer Dallas Glenn and pro stock motorcycle racer Angelle Sampey join host Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider podcast. The two competitors are in the midst of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship and they each have a fighting chance of getting the job done. In the case of Dallas Glenn, the rookie has been nothing short of sensational in his first season behind the wheel of the tightest class in NHRA. He discusses his personal growth this season, the reasons for his success, and how he can take on the last handful of races to try and make a dent in the points to contend for a championship. He provides great insight into KB Racing's all-out competition strategy and how he always seems to elevate his performance in the final rounds of events he competes in. Angelle Sampey won Charlotte in this most emotional way anyone can remember. It was a race day filled with extreme emotions and she recounts them all. The conversation with Angelle ranges through her approach to competition, her team, the mistakes she has made in her career, and how she's grown from them, as well as the things she will do to attempt to win a 4th championship in the unforgiving landscape of NHRA pro stock motorcycle. Add in a Dallas preview, a Stampede of Speed layout, rumors, and pit scuttlebutt and you have one full show!

Tony Pedregon and Josh Hart join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. Lohnes and Pedregon go over who has risen and who has fallen over the last four races, who can get their program righted, and who is in big trouble as the countdown continues. They talk some silly season stuff and layout what needs to be done for certain teams to lock down a title or at least get back in the fight. Josh Hart joins to talk about racing four events in a row, winning Charlotte, and working not only with his sponsors but with his team and all of the moving parts associated with it. This is an enlightening conversation with a man who is determined to make himself a force to be reckoned with in top fuel drag racing. Two radically different chats here and one fun show.

Alexis DeJoria and Clay Millican join Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider podcast this week to talk about their strong seasons and what it will take to move from being good cars to great cars. Both teams and drivers have made finals in 2021 but neither has closed the deal on the 4th win light of a Sunday afternoon. Alexis and Clay share great insights into their teams and how the pieces all come together a certain way on those weekends when the round wins stack up. Lohnes talks about Charlotte, what to look for in St Louis and some of the insider stories that you love to hear on this show.

Steve Johnson and Edmund Richardson join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Johnson after a stunning triumph at the Countdown Opening event at Maple Grove Raceway and Richardson after a larger-than-life reentry into NHRA sportsman racing with victories in consecutive weeks at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the Dodge SRT US Nationals. Steve Johnson is introspective and analytical about not only his win in Maple Grove but the arc of his career in NHRA drag racing. It is a career that thus far has not yielded a championship but this year he is sitting on the best equipment he has ever had and feels as though he is a legitimate contender. The results back this assertion up. Johnson talks about his mistakes, his growth, and how he has taken the points lead in pro stock motorcycle. Edmund Richardson is one of the greatest sportsman drag racers ever. After some time away from the sport he has back. His confidence high and his attitude highly positive. The man is having fun and plans to race for championships on the divisional and national level. The man who has done it all has goals and we're all going to get to watch him try and make them happen. Two great chats on this episode of the Insider!

Erica Enders and Cruz Pedregon join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The conversations are wide-ranging and cover not only the success of both drivers on the track but also the pressures and hidden work that's done away from the track to win on Sunday. Cruz Pedregon is entering the 2021 NHRA Countdown to the Championship with the best car and team he has had in years. The conversation carries through many elements of the 2021 season like how the team has gelled, how Cruz has adapted himself to serving as a dedicated owner and driver, and how he sees driving a nitro funny car as an "old school" competitor. Fun, honest stuff here! Erica Enders scooped up her second US Nationals win in a row last weekend and is riding a strong wave of performance into the countdown. Her race day on Sunday was not "typical Erica" but it was strong enough to earn her another US Nationals win in her third straight final round at the event. Again, the conversation goes into great depths on the mental side of competition and what's ahead in the Countdown!

Tony Pedregon joins Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider and the two talk about the biggest drag race in the world and the biggest event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season. The Dodge SRT NHRA US Nationals conversation ranges from the racing surface itself to a class by class breakdown of who is coming into the end of the regular season with bells on and who is needing to drastically improve their program to fight for a title. Drivers who are sleepers and those who seem to be destined for victory are analyzed and broken down. A big show about the Big GO and it's WAY in-depth!

Blake Alexander and Aaron Stanfield join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Alexander, who races with Jim Head in the nitro funny car category has seen positive successes over the last several races with increasing numbers of round wins and even a semi-final appearance under his belt. He talks about the road to getting their race car back, the work they have put in, and how the team will approach the rest of the season, especially as they appear a virtual lock to make the NHRA Countdown in the 10th position. An enlightening conversation about nitro racing. The second guest is the winningest pro stock driver on the 2021 season so far, Aaron Stanfield. With three victories and four final-round appearances under his belt in 2021, the sky appears to be the limit for the 2020 Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown champion. Stanfield talks winning, his insane three class schedule at the Dodge SRT US Nationals, how he will approach a championship run, and the work he puts in between races at the family race engine shop. A smart, driven, young man, Stanfield is a second generation racer who has applied the lessons his father has taught him with great skill. Two interesting chats this week!

NHRA Chief Starter Brad Hardy and multi-time funny car world champion Matt Hagan join Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider Podcast. The conversations are both very different. Starting with Hardy, he discusses his role in the epic staging battle waged between Bruno Massel and Mason McGaha last week in Topeka, Kansas. He talks about the process, the communication, the inside information about what was happening, and ultimately his decision to DQ both competitors when they refused to stage on his orders. It is the first time we have ever heard a starter talk about this stuff in-depth! The second conversation is with Matt Hagan. He talks about the tightness of the funny car points chase, the quality of the cars, the approach he and his team are on, and yes, we delve into the recent starting line controversies which have carried the discussion week to week. A fun, informal, and informational chat with a guy who is more than capable of collecting another world championship.

Josh Hart and Tony Pedregon join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Hart talks about the hurdles of getting back on track full time in 2021 and how he has been working hard to make sure his team is championship caliber when he returns. Hart is chasing Rookie of the Year honors and is relentless in his pursuit of building a team worthy of his own expectations. This is an interesting conversation. Tony Pedregon breaks down the results of the NHRA Western Swing both good and bad for the premier teams in the sport. A discussion is had about the John Force - Matt Hagan tension at Pomona and what it could mean for the men going forward. Lohnes and Pedregon then look forward to Topeka and discuss the track and who should be bringing the high hard one at the Menard's Nationals presented by Pet Armor.

Justin Ashley and JR Todd join the NHRA's Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. They talk about their personal experiences at what was a dramatic running of the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals in Pomona, California. Intense heat, a race track that was over 140-degrees, and the mental chess of late regular-season competition all added up to some of the wildest drag racing of the last several seasons. Justin Ashley made the top fuel final but was unable to participate when he was overcome by the heat while strapped into his car. Making one of the hardest decisions of his racing career, he elected to get out of his dragster and Leah Pruett had a solo for the win. We talk about not only that moment but the quality race car that carried him through eliminations as well as his own personal performance. Nitro funny car runner-up JR Todd had a successful weekend with the DHL Toyota Camry team and in so many ways, kept pace with an amazingly tight nitro funny car field. Todd talks about not only racing in the heat but also the addition of his new visor cam, the upcoming challenges in Topeka, Kansas, and why this boiling weekend in Pomona may have helped his team set a championship course for the rest of the year. Great conversations with two of the premier competitors in drag racing today!

Ron Capps and Sonoma Super Comp Winner Marko Perivolaris join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Capps talks about having a fast and consistent nitro funny car, having racked up multiple semi-final finishes in a row on the Camping World Tour. He also talks about the adjustment of having a car that often qualifies atop the field and how his team continues to pour their hearts and souls into turning on their first final round win light of the season. Marko Perivolaris had an incredible and incredibly emotional race day at Sonoma where he was dominant on the starting line and driving a car that was practically glued to the 8.9 second index of super comp. He was racing with his heart set on delivering a win for his late mother and his recently passed friend Kyle Seipel. He did both of those things working in lockstep with his dad and sister. His story of the day and the win is amazing and uplifting. Enjoy!

Joey Haas and Alex Miladonivch join host Brian Lohnes for this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The two independent racers are competing with more guts than wallet and they talk about the advantages and disadvantages of both scenarios. Haas had an amazing weekend in Denver, landing in the final round and winning the hearts of drag racing fans across America. Alex has been building his own cars in a garage located in So Cal for years and his brother builds his engines four blocks away. So many sit on the internet and say that "it cannot be done" anymore. These are two men of action who are doing things and eschewing excuses along the way.

Alex Laughlin joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about the stunning news that he will be racing top fuel at Denver this weekend as part of the Dodge SRT Mile High Nationals. The move came in a pinch when sponsor requirements needed to be met and Laughlin was without his traditional pro modified car. Hooking up with Scott Palmer at the last minute and achieving his top fuel license at a small Kansas Drag Strip, it has been a whirlwind and one that he's happy to be on. With Palmer concentrating on tuning and Laughlin concentrating on driving, the car is definitely going to be a factor. Having had experience through the sportsman ranks, having won races in pro stock, and having gone 250mph in pro mod, this will be a momentous moment in his career. Lohnes talks about all things Denver and the other big news of the NHRA week as well!

Mike Neff and Travis Shumake join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. Two men who are at very different points of their drag racing career share stories of their lives, the way they approach the sport, and how their efforts are going to succeed in 2021. Mike Neff is currently leading the points as a crew chief in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series funny car division and it has come through years of study and hard work. His career is nearly 30 years in NHRA drag racing and it has been 30 years of learning, success, and dedication. Neff talks about who he learned from, what the Tasca team is doing well this year and his passion for desert racing! Travis Shumake has made major drag racing headlines over the last month with the announcement that he is looking to follow in his father's footsteps as a professional-level funny car driver. His dad Tripp is still well known and loved by so many fans on the tour and even fellow drivers. Travis has an unyielding passion to break into the sport and is on pace to do just that with a self-imposed goal of running at the 2021 Finals in Pomona. THIS is a captivating interview.

This episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast features interviews with Mark Ingersoll who serves as crew chief for Erica Enders' car in the NHRA Camping World pro stock category and ace sportsman racer Johnny Labbous Jr. who has been racking up national event wins and is chasing another world championship. Ingersoll talks of the challenges the team has been working through this season and the attack they took at Norwalk which lead them to a victory over Greg Anderson who had a very strong race car. The talk turns to tech, Ingersoll's decorated history in the sport, and a whole lot more. John Labbous Jr has been on one heck of a streak lately. A Super Gas win in Epping followed by a Super Comp win in Norwalk has rekindled Labbous in many ways and he talks about it here. He also talks about the difficulties of racing for a living, how tight the competition is, and how "doing homework" is one of the hidden strategic points of bracket racing premier racers like him focus on. Great stuff from inside the world of drag racing here!

Guests Mike McIntire Jr and National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider podcast this week to talk all things on the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio this weekend. McIntire is a local funny car hero having grown up in the sport with his dad racing alcohol cars and eventually graduating to nostalgia nitro funny car and then the Camping World series. This is a true drag racing love story as told by the guy who has lived it. The car has been a consistent qualifier and they had their best weekend ever at Charlotte this year. Regular guys cannot run funny cars anymore, right? Wrong. The second guest on this show is NHRA National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna. The conversation ranges from pro stock motorcycle to the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and to a remembrance of Kyle Seipel, the amazing NHRA racer, track manager, and a guy who changed the face of bracket racing history. Another wide-ranging drag racing discussion!

Terry Haddock and Scott Woodruff of Jegs join host Brian Lohnes on this wide-ranging episode of the NHRA Insider. Haddock tells the story of his incredible weekend at Epping where he appeared in a first career semi-final round. Haddock's story is one of grinding hard work and the relentless pursuit of drag racing success despite all the odds being stacked against him. He is truly a regular guy funny car hero and he talks about running his operation on a small budget with limited help and making his way in the world of NHRA Camping World Drag Racing. Scott "Woody" Woodruff of Jegs is the Director of Media and Motorsports, meaning that if you see the Jegs logo on a car, at an event, or being worn by someone, he likely had an influence on that decision. In a discussion that ranges from the business of motorsports to the inside baseball of working with a sanctioning body like the NHRA, Scott gives great insight into an element of racing that the general public usually doesn't spend a lot of time talking about. Two interesting conversations with two interesting people!

Tony Pedregon joins Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider to talk about what's happened five races into the season, who's succeeding, who's falling behind, and who needs to really turn their season around at Epping, New Hampshire. The TascaParts.com NHRA New England Nationals are on tap for the weekend and cool conditions indicate that this could really a race for the highest performing cars to take control. Matt Hagan has won three straight at Epping and his tuner Dickie Venebles will be ready, willing, and able to make it four if he matches his tune-up to the track. Opinions shared, predictions made, performances discussed. Give it a listen!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, No-Prep racer Joey Baroni and track operator Mike Natoli join host Brian Lohnes to discuss drag racing, winning the first no-prep Wally ever given, and operating an old school, community-based drag strip. Baroni is the first guest on the show and he talks about racing "Swamp Thing" a Nova station wagon designed to run down drag strips and any other surface with no prep. Packing a massive nitrous engine and loads of horsepower, the art of no-prep racing and power management are discussed as well as what it means to Baroni to hold the first-ever NHRA Speed for All Wally for winning a no-prep event. Mike Natoli the operator of South Mountain Raceway in Pennsylvania is the second guest on the show and he's the guy who organized the no-prep event that Baroni won. Natoli has loved drag racing his whole life and operates his facility in a traditional manner as part of the community. A man with huge personality, vision, and the will to make a drag strip work out of love and dedication to the sport, it is a highly entertaining conversation!

Ron Capps and Jeffrey Barker join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast to discuss their 2019 season, their take on driving, rules, and how the rest of the Camping World and E3 Spark Plugs seasons will shake out. The conversation with Capps is wide-ranging and rollicking as the season's successes and failures (thus far) are gone over, some of the finer points of nitro funny car driving are discussed, upcoming events are gone over, and New England Dragway is broken down as the next location on the Camping World tour. Jeffrey Barker, a two-time NHRA Vortech Superchargers Top Sportsman world champion has been flexing his muscles in a nitrous fed Toyota Camry pro mod in 2021. Currently sitting sixth in points but only a couple of rounds outside the top three, Barker is poised to make a difference in the championship hunt over the course of this season. We talk about rules, nitrous, success, family, and how it all fits together in Barker's world.

Steve Johnson and Dallas Glenn join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast to talk about their respective wins at Charlotte and the NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. For Steve Johnson it had been seven years since he last tasted victory on the NHRA championship trail and this one was sweet. Working as an independent with a new engine combination, he had been frustrated by early season failures and mistakes but the motorcycle's performance was starting to show itself at events like Las Vegas and Atlanta. In Charlotte the dam broke and Johnson roared to victory in convincing fashion. Dallas Glenn has been waiting for the moment to compete in pro stock for his whole life and he is not squandering it. Having proven himself as a premier leaver in the class, Glenn captured his first pro stock win in Charlotte in his fourth pro stock start. Quietly confident and an expert on every inch of the machinery he is racing, Glenn gives insight into one of the most memorable moments in his burgeoning career. All this and some Charlotte wrap up along with a sneak peek at what's to come (and what isn't!) in Houston this weekend!

Racers Krista Baldwin and Joey Gladstone join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast to talk about their seasons, their reasons for competing in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing, and their hard work and struggles to succeed. Baldwin, a third-generation top fuel racer talks about her first race, which was the 2021 Gatornationals, and what she took from the experience while preparing to compete at the NGK Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. She talks about her road to top fuel, her family, and the people she had met and who have supported her along the way. Joey Gladstone talks about the incredible race weekend he had at Atlanta Dragway when he rode a motorcycle while recovering from injuries sustained during a 200mph testing crash just weeks before. This is a story of grit, guts, determination, and the will to win. Both of these are hardcore racers and both are budding stars in the world of NHRA Camping World Drag Racing.

Antron Brown and Bob Tasca III join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The two Atlanta winners talk about their respective victories at the final NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. For Bob Tasca III, his second race win in a row stands as an affirmation that his team is not only championship caliber, but built for the long haul of the 2021 Camping World NHRA season. Antron Brown talks about the hard path he took to victory on Sunday in Atlanta, how his team rose to the occasion each round, and how facing down Steve Torrence in a legitimate top fuel duel to close the weekend was a massive confidence builder for their operation. All this and additional commentary and breaking news from Lohnes sprinkled in!

David Grubnic and Eddie Krawiec join Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider podcast to talk about life, drag racing, and getting back into the sport that they love in 2021. Grubic, who serves as the crew chief on Brittany Force's top fuel dragster has come out of the gate swinging in 2021 and it's been fun to watch. He talks about being away and what it means to come back after being away for nearly a full year. Eddie Krawiec was at the track when he called into the show, having completed a successful test day with teammate Andrew Hines. The V-twin-powered motorcycles with their EBR bodies showed promise at the test session and the two are excited to be on the drag strip for the rest of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Eddie and Andrew talk success, pressure, a three motorcycle team, and more!

Shawn Langdon and Tony Pedregon join the NHRA Insider podcast this week for a wide-ranging discussion about drag racing, the upcoming Denso Spark Plugs 4-Wide Nationals, and other storylines in the sport. The discussion with Langdon centers around the difficulties, attraction, and culture of big money bracket racing, an arena he competes infrequently outside of NHRA top fuel. This is an enlightening discussion on a large swath of bracket racing many people are undereducated on. Tony Pedregon joins the show to preview the upcoming race weekend in Las Vegas. The discussion is about who looks strong, who's debuting at the event, who needs to step it up and the proclivities of 4-wide drag racing. Lots of great insider info here, opinion, and more!

Andrew Hines and Elon Werner join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Werner, the Vice-President of Sports Publicity for the Tony Fay Agency of Texas has long been a presence inside NHRA drag racing, garnering teams like John Force Racing headlines over the years. He talks about the modern world of PR, how things have changed over his 30 years in the sport, and what he is doing to work with people like Kalitta Racing, Justin Ashely, and more each week. The second guest on the show is Andrew Hines who tells the amazing tale of the new Vance and Hines four-valve cylinder head, developing new motorcycles for Cory Reed and Joey Gladstone, testing before Gainesville, and breaking the 200mph barrier with Angelle during the race. Truly an awesome story of applied technology in the sport of NHRA Camping World Drag Racing.

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Greg Anderson and Dean Antonelli, lovingly known as Guido join Brian Lohnes on the show to talk about their early-season successes and careers. Guido and Jon Medlen are the crew chiefs overseeing the Ron Capps-driven NAPA Dodge out of the Don Schumacher camp and Greg Anderson was the Gainesville winner with a crushing performance that put the class on notice. Antonelli shares some amazing insights on not only his career but on the weekly pressures and life of a crew chief and his crew. The talk about the service time between rounds is really amazing and you'll work up a sweat just listening. Greg Anderson talks Gainesville success, searching for a primary sponsor, chasing the magical 100 career win mark, watching Dallas Glenn make his first start, and the importance of Jason Line's transitioned role at KB Racing to the organization. Two veterans with stories and great insight into the sport.

Gatornationals winning crew chief Todd Smith and Gatornationals winning pro stock motorcycle racer Matt Smith both join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. The discussion with Todd centers around the race weekend and the off-season preparation that went into getting the car ready for battle at Gainesville. Sharing the insight gleaned from a long and distinguished career, Todd Smith takes us inside the decisions and leadership that are making the DHL Toyota Camry a front runner in the earliest parts of the 2021 season. A fascinating look behind the scenes with a crew chief who knows the game. Matt Smith won the Gatornationals and became the first rider in history to make four straight 200mph passes to do it. He talks about the race weekend, the performance of the rival Suzuki motorcycles, and how he dealt with the loss of his brakes in qualifying, a situation that would have put lesser riders in a much more harrowing position. Hear the champ talk about the racing program, his attack in 2021 and how h hopes to fend off all comers for another championship!

Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals funny car winner JR Todd and top fuel winning crew chief Ron Douglas join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. Todd talks about the off-season and his road to victory in Gainesville, a welcome change from the frustrations of a 2020 season that saw no wins for his DHL Toyota Camry. Todd talks about the electricity of the crowd, the champagne bath at the end, and how this could be a very special season in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing. The second guest is crew chief Ron Douglas who tuned Josh Hart to a dramatic victory in Gainesville. Douglas talks about the weekend, talks about his career, the things he has learned along the way, and the special group of people who lay their hands on the race car to make it go down the track each time. This is a great perspective from a crew chief who shows up to win, weekend after weekend.

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, crew chief Rob Flynn and top fuel world champion Steve Torrence join Brian Lohnes. Flynn tells his story of how he got into drag racing, how he worked his way through the ranks of competition to become one of the most respected crew chiefs in the sport, and how Kalitta Motorsports plans on running for a top fuel championship in 2021. The second conversation on the show is with top fuel world champion Steve Torrence. He talks about the incredible and indomitable spirit of Dom Lagana and how his family and crew have established themselves as an amazing top fuel dynasty. It is an emotional and in-depth discussion about the strength, toughness, and mental temerity of a beloved member of the CAPCO family and how this one man personifies the entire operation. You'll learn a lot about these two men who are chasing the same goal in 2021 and doing it in different ways.

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Mike Janis and Kevin McKenna join Brian Lohnes. Janis was recently told by doctors that his hall of fame pro-modified driving career was at an end but Mike is not letting that end his career in the sport. Janis has put JR Gray in the family pro mod and will continue as the leader of the family race team that has garnered championships and race wins by the dozens over the years in pro mod. Mike talks about his career and the future of the team. National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna joins to talk about the inside stories breaking and developing around the sport. In wide-ranging conversation, he and Lohnes talk about the return of John Force, the situation in various categories of the NHRA universe, the path forward for hopeful professional racers, and what the 2021 season may have in store for all of us.

Angelle Sampey and Bruno Massel join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. The conversation with Angelle is about the amazing announcement of Mission Foods coming on board to sponsor her season on a brand new Vance and Hines pro stock Suzuki with a four-valve cylinder head. She talks about her belief that her career ended with the closure of the Harley-Davidson sponsorship and what it feels like to be born anew on this new bike and this new program. Bruno Massel talks about having the "holy trinity" of drag racing problems in his life. Running pro stock, running Competition Eliminator, and also working the NHRA on FOX broadcasts. It is a juggle he accepts happily and with the help of his dad, he knows he can succeed. A fun show with two hardcore drag racers!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon and Josh Hart join host Brian Lohnes for two entertaining chats. Firstly, Pedregon talks about news, rumors, and innuendo he has been hearing around the NHRA hotbed of Brownsburg, Indiana. There's some inside stuff here you are not going to get anywhere else. Following the talk with Tony, Lohnes and Josh Hart describe his rise to become a top fuel team owner, what his goals are, and how he plans on executing his season as a freshly minted top fuel racer. A standout in the alcohol ranks, Hart is a man with a plan in top fuel and if history is a guide, he will not be denied!

Joey Gladstone and JR Gray join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. Both men have backgrounds in drag racing's grudge scene and have worked their way to the worlds of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle and e3 Spark Plugs Pro Modified respectively. Gladstone talks about the upcoming season and the new Vance and Hines Suzuki motorcycles he will be racing with Cory Reed. The four-valve, fuel-injected bikes will be the most technologically advanced machines in the sport when they debut at Gainesville. JR Gray is one of the most recognized names in the grudge racing world as well as the Radial Vs The World arena of competition as well. With the guts and guile of a scrappy grudge racer, he has earned all the accolades and money that comes with those two forms of competition. He's taken the driver's seat at Mike Janis racing for the 2021 season and will be fun to watch. Two awesome interviews!

Cruz Pedregon and Justin Ashley join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast to talk about the headlines they have made on the business side of drag racing during this off-season. For Pedregon, a three-year extension with Snap-On is major news and for Justin Ashley, cultivating new and unique sponsors by creating opportunities for them both in and out of drag racing has been the secret to his program's growth. This is a fun look behind the scenes of business in the world of NHRA drag racing.

Tyler Crossnoe and Victor Alvarez join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. These two guys are among the youngest and most innovative track operators in the country and they do it in different ways. For Crossnoe who oversees Virginia Motorsports Park, an NHRA Camping World national event track, it's identifying trends and building the best customer experience possible for the racers and the fans. For Victor Alvarez who owns and operates Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida, it is using the creativity and flexibility he has as an owner/operator to innovate programs, foster local series, and programs, as well as working to continually grow his facility's reach on social media and other platforms. These are two guys who work hard to not only see into but to make drag racing's future.

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Elana Scherr the author of "Don Prudhomme, My Life Beyond The 1320" joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about making this amazing book and the inside stories behind the creation of the world. It's a fascinating discussion about The Snake and his influence on drag racing and beyond. Tony Pedregon is the second guest on this show. He and Lohnes delve into the biggest stories of the year so far, the crew chief announcements, race schedule announcements, and more. They also talk about Tony's battle with COVID-19 and his hospitalization. A wide-ranging episode!