Nhra Insider Podcast

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

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 suspen

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,

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, driv

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

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

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 sh

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 Ha

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

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

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 p

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 si

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 ra

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.