As 2024 draws to a close, the count for new tracks and re-opened tracks, versus tracks that have been closed or shuttered, seems to have the scales tipped to the positive side. And although Florida got news not too long ago that a track will close in the spring of 2025, the new drag strip at Lead Foot City held a grand opening this past weekend.

As we originally reported in February 2024, Lead Foot City made the decision to expand their footprint in Brooksville, Florida to add to their existing compound and schedule that included drifting and several car themed events. Originally rumored to be considering asphalt and more of a no-prep / flag start track, things got ramped up quite a bit when the concrete trucks showed up instead!

From tragic tales can come truly amazing moments. It was June 23rd when John Force suffered a horrific crash during a round one victory at the NHRA event at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Just over three months later, Force’s Cornwell Tools Camaro funny car claimed an emotional victory at the NHRA national event at World Wide Technology Raceway.

‘Win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ is a phrase that’s been used to tie together racing and car sales, and the promotion has worked well over several decades. Included in that idea are the big three and the use of drag racing ‘stock-appearing’ rides to sell their showroom counterparts.

That idea has been enjoying its latest wave with National Hot Rod Association Factory Stock Showdown and Factory X class, but recent rules infractions have the rumor mill swirling on future participation in the class.

In motorsports, risk is one of the components along for the ride. Whether a driver, crew or family chooses to fully accept it or not, parts failures, crashes, and even fire can strike without warning, and it’s up to you to prepare for it.

After a scare with fire in 2015, Lyle Barnett would make some serious changes in his racing program going forward. What happened when fire returned in a big way one week ago?

In an announcement Wednesday by Richard Freeman, owner of Elite Motorsports, he announced plans to expand into the NHRA’s Top Fuel category. A team largely known for their Pro Stock prowess with eight teams currently under their umbrella, Freeman definitely had the racing world buzzing with this news.

Following our coverage on Monday June 3rd from a weekend with three separate events featuring drag-and-drive classes, we’re adding part two today - ‘Drop the Hammer’ as well as the drag-and-drive exhibition class results at the NHRA New England Nationals.

“It’s almost weird not having to thrash (for Sick Summer), but at the same time we thrashed a little for the NHRA race. I’m looking forward to Sick Summer and completing it this year.”

This weekend - the final weekend in May / first weekend of June, a pair of first-time drag-and-drive events get under way, joined by the second drag-and-drive exhibition at a National Hot Rod Association event for the 2024 season.

After four days of fun with drag-and-drive rides, including some road miles on Thursday, a pair of time runs Friday, and eliminations on Saturday and Sunday, a winner has been crowned in the second annual PEAK Street Car Shootout as part of Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Chicago’s Route 66 Raceway.

“It was such an awesome opportunity to be at the reopening of Route 66 Dragway last year. We are coming back with a group of great racers, and we have our sights set on showing all the fans what our street cars can do.”

“Sick Seconds 2.0 got put on the back burner for us to get the Dodge Durango and everything else ready. Just too many projects, only one fab guy.”

Ford definitely got some eyeballs with a 7.75 at 180 mph pass in their Super Cobra Jet 1800 at last weekend’s NHRA Winternationals; will it open people’s minds to the possibility of owning, driving and even racing electric cars in the future?

Even though the NHRA didn’t specifically name the track or area that is slated to possibly get the event, one track is an odds-in favorite to get the nod.

The Gatornationals can be a mixed bag when it comes to weather; This year’s Gatornationals had all that, plus rainy conditions that forced some classes to cut qualifying short.

The 2024 National Hot Rod Association national event season is officially underway, and two drivers in the professional ranks are picking up right where they left off at last month’s PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

Nearly 26 years after making his first laps in a Top Fuel dragster, NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican still smiles just as big every time he suits up for a 300-plus mile per hour pass. But recently, Clay suited up for a different kind of drag strip run, and this one brought a lot of emotion with it as well.

NHRA purchased the facility in 1979, and the four-story Parks tower, named after NHRA founder Wally Parks, was one of the first big improvements the NHRA made to the facility.