NHRA Goes Live on ESPN2 this Weekend from Houston

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | 1 Comment

This coming weekend (Apr. 27-28), when NHRA fans turn their televisions to ESPN2 for coverage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries from Royal Purple Raceway near Houston they will be watching the racing action…live.

NHRA confirmed Apr. 23, that the Saturday and Sunday race coverage on ESPN2 will showcase live programming of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, a step the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body hopes will lead to more future live telecasts of the fastest, most powerful form of motorsports in the world. Read more

Force Looks Forward to Win-Friendly Houston

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Teams | Leave a comment

On a track on which he won his milestone 100^th NHRA tour event, thereby becoming the first and only pro driver to reach that plateau, John Force this week tries to win for the 135^th time and, in so doing, extend one of the most remarkable records in pro sports.

The 63-year-old straight-line racing legend sends his 10,000 horsepower Castrol GTX Ford Mustang into the 26^th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals with a legitimate shot at winning an NHRA tour event for the 26^th season and for the eighth time at Royal Purple Raceway. Read more

Gall Gets Pro Street Bike Win at Rockingham

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

It may have taken a full month to deliver, but Mother Nature and Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway track prep crew laid out a record setting buffet for Mickey Thompson MIRock Superbike Series racers to feast on in the rain-delayed opening round of the 2013 season. The April 19-21 FBR Shop Spring Bike Open also saw it’s fair share of drama and rising underdogs, as none of the pro class champs made it to the finals, let alone the winners circle.

Three-time Orient Express Pro Street champ Rodney Williford qualified number 1 with a 6.99 and seemed destined for a final round showdown with rival Joey Gladstone of DME Racing. But Williford—who’s trying mightily to be the first Pro Street bike in the 6.80s—wheelied wildly on his turbocharged, purple “Nitrous Bike Eater” Suzuki Hayabusa and was unable to chase down Doug Gall (above) in the other lane. Read more

Hagan, Massey, Edwards and Arana Jr. Win NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

Matt Hagan (above right) ended a 17-month winless drought by racing to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway.

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel, above left), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners of the only NHRA Mello Yello Series Drag Racing event that features competition in four lanes simultaneously. Read more

Rini Wins 2013 Big Dog Opener at Piedmont Dragway

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

At the end of the 2012 season, Piedmont Dragway’s management decided to make major changes in the rulebook for the 2013 season. With new title sponsor ZDD Plus and other sponsors such as, Mickey Thompson tires, the time was right so all power adders were allowed, as well as tires.

Qualifying was a moot point as many cars left for the ADRL event in Georgia, only to get rained out, so the eight cars that were on the property made the field. General Manager Kevin Shipman thanked each driver that came and supported the show and assured them their loyalty would not be forgotten. Read more

Coughlin Wins PM at NHRA Charlotte

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

Defending class champion Troy Coughlin raced to the NHRA Pro Mod Series victory Sunday at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway. The NHRA Pro Mod Series portion of the event was contested in the traditional two-lane configuration. Read more

Pro Mod Racing Underway at NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

NHRA Pro Mod Series No. 1 qualifier Danny Rowe and his Agave Underground Tequila Camaro was upset in the first round of eliminations Apr. 20, at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle.

The popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series is competing in the traditional two-lane configuration at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, NC. Read more

Head, Langdon, Edwards and Arana Jr. No. 1 Starters at NHRA 4-Wide Nats

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

Rookie Funny Car driver Chad Head (above) raced to his first career No. 1 qualifying position Saturday at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also will lead their categories into Sunday’s noon eliminations as No. 1 qualifiers at zMAX Dragway during the only NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that features racing in a four-wide configuration. Read more

Old-School Gassers Going to Bristol with X-DRL

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | 1 Comment

The new X-treme Drag Racing League (X-DRL) is already bringing many of the world’s quickest and fastest doorslammers to Bristol Dragway for next week’s X-DRL Thunder Valley Madness (April 26-27). Now, thanks to one of its standouts in Pro X-treme (PX), the X-DRL’s second-ever event will have a touch of nostalgia to go with all of the 200-plus mph action.

The X-DRL announced Apr. 19, that PX standout and Pro Mod legend Quain Stott will be bringing four period-correct gassers to the event to make special exhibition passes during the two-day event, adding another special bonus for what will be a memorable X-DRL debut at historic Bristol Dragway. Read more

Coughlin Leads Early PM Qualifying at NHRA Charlotte

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

Defending NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series world champion Troy Coughlin raced to the qualifying lead Friday in a rain-shortened day of action at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway.

The race, which is being contested in the traditional two-lane configuration, is the second of 10 races in 2013 for NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series. Read more

Rain Ruins Day One of NHRA 4-Wide Qualifying

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Race Coverage | Leave a comment

Persistent rain showers forced NHRA officials to postpone qualifying for the fourth annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway until Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

One qualifying session of racing was completed in Pro Stock Motorcycle, while 10 cars were able to make runs in Pro Stock before rain showers moved into the area Friday afternoon. Read more

DI.com Blog: Van Abernethy Scores Some Car Show Swag

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Blogs, Features, On The Road | Leave a comment

I very rarely attend car shows, but man, if I’d have known you could score some cool free gifts at them I could sure be persuaded to go more often!

My buddy, Raymond McNeil, from Benson, NC, organized this nifty car show last Saturday, with the proceeds going to his church’s building fund, so I promised him I’d bring the Drag Illustrated Sprinter and set up a booth on Saturday morning. Read more

Al-Anabi Hosting 2 U.S. Marines at NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Teams | Leave a comment

The Al-Anabi Racing Team will have some new crew members at this weekend’s Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, but they won’t be the standard nitro engine experts. No, these two gentlemen have special skills – they are United States Marines, and they will be serving as honorary crew members with the Al-Anabi team this Sunday, it was announced today.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visits zMAX Dragway near Charlotte this weekend for the fifth of 24 races making up the 2013 season. Read more

NHRA Stars Pound NASCAR Drivers 19-5 in Charity Baseball Game

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News | Leave a comment

A squad of highly competitive and terrifically talented NHRA drivers trounced a team of NASCAR stars 19-5 in Wednesday night’s softball game in Kannapolis, N.C., in front of a boisterous crowd at CMC NorthEast Stadium, the home of the Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League.

Morgan Lucas went the distance on the mound for NHRA, scattering 8 hits in 7 complete innings while only giving up one earned run. The NHRA pounded out 27 hits in the game, with every batter in the line-up collecting at least one hit. Read more

Defending PM Champ Eyes Charlotte Turnaround

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Drag Illustrated in Features, News, Teams | Leave a comment

Troy Coughlin definitely is proud of the No. 1 on the side of his JEGS.com Chevrolet Corvette, which designates him as the current world champion, but the veteran Pro Mod driver knows it’s little more than window dressing as he arrives in town for this weekend’s Dollar General 4-Wide NHRA Nationals. Read more