Nhra Insider Podcast

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!

On this final episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast for 2020, Brian Lohnes conducts a wide-ranging series of whip around interviews with members of the NHRAonFOX team ranging from the faces you see on-air, to the brilliant minds and talented people who work on the other side of the lens to make NHRA drag racing shows. There's a load of memories, inside stories, cool details you never knew, and remembrances from the year that was. There's also a neat musical tribute to the top fuel season of 2020 as well! Listen to this last episode of the wackiest year in modern drag racing history and enjoy your holidays!

Four-time Pro Stock champion crew chief Rick Jones joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about being a leading race car builder, a champion, and his road to becoming a champion mind in the world of NHRA drag racing. Jones' path from a guy who daydreamed about building cars for a living has become a reality beyond even his wildest expectations. There's also a fun musical look back at pro stock in 2020!

Lyle Barnett joins Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider to talk about his path through the world of small tire drag racing and into the ranks of the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series. On the day they spoke, Barnett had completed his licensing making runs of more than 250mph in the quarter-mile. He talks about the experience, his recovery from a horrendous fire in 2015, and how he has made his way to the highest rank of door slammer racing in the world. An intense and fascinating man, this is one you'll want to hear. There's also a fun musical look back at the Funny Car category with very final round set to an iconic tune. 

Leah Pruett and A Look Back At Pro Stock Motorcycle On this return episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Leah Pruett joins host Brian Lohnes for an in-depth interview about the 2020 season which was both successful and tumultuous for the driver of the Mopar SRT Dodge top fuel dragster. The talk ranges from the start, the stop, life, the mental aspects of the sport, and how pressures both real and imagined weigh on a driver's performance in drag racing. There's also a cool musical look back over the incredible final rounds of 2020 in the pro stock motorcycle category!

Matt Hagan joins Brian Lohnes on this week's episode of the NHRA Insider podcast and talks about his 2020 NHRA Camping World Funny Car Championship season. The ups, the downs, the motivating factors, and the ultimate victory in Las Vegas. Lohnes also talks about some of the most interesting numbers from the 2020 top fuel season as well. A fun listen!

In a year that was heavily influenced by powers and forces outside of the realm of NHRA Camping World drag racing, Ron Capps and Ryan Oehler were both outside influencers from within the sport. Both men had strong seasons with wins and final round appearances and both men made noise and had some sway on who became champions in both Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Host Brian Lohnes speaks to both racers about the season that was, what they took from it, what their personal highlights were, and what they are looking forward most to in 2021. Two insightful and fun conversations from within the world of NHRA drag racing. Both of these guys have their sights set on championship fun in 2021.

Erica Enders and Antron Brown Newly minted four-time NHRA pro stock world champion and Las Vegas top fuel champion Antron Brown join Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider Podcast. These are two awesome conversations with NHRA competitors who battled adversity, bad luck, and disappointment to ultimately prevail in the closing stanza of the 2020 season. Brown talks about how his team has worked diligently and tirelessly for nearly two years to get back into the top fuel winner's circle. For Erica Enders, it was a shocking and positive end of the 2020 season when Christian Cuadra beat Jason Line on a holeshot. Hearing her tell the story is awesome. 

Tony Schumacher, Matt Smith, and Tony Pedregon join Brian Lohnes on this pre-Dodge NHRA Finals episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. The conversation ranges from who we think can win championships, what it means to Tony Schumacher to have an 85th Wally after a massive final round in Houston, and what Matt Smith needs to do in order to lock down his 4th career pro stock motorcycle crown. The chats are all wide-ranging and insightful. It's the business of drag racing, the psychology of winning, and ultimately talking about the things that take the great and elevate them above the good in pressure situations. An awesome show to have right before the season's competition reaches its zenith!

Phil Burgess and Tony Pedgreon join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider to talk about a wide range of topics from the event in Dallas, the upcoming race in Houston, and the unexpected and shocking passing of crew chief Eric Lane. Some of the news broke during the production of the show so that conversation is handled with Phil Burgess. The news on the track is interesting and off the track is hard. Burgess and Pedregon give a great perspective on both. 

The Hard Part About Getting To The Top Tommy Johnson Jr and Cameron Ferre join Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider podcast this week. Lohnes talks Camping World, craziness at St Louis, and then has two great conversations with a veteran funny car racer and a top fuel competitor who is working hard to climb the ranks in arguably the most competitive category in the sport. This is about the pressures of a wild weekend, the pressures of working hard to live your dream, and the idea that always having a plan is the best approach no matter what level you compete at.

Biting Commentary On this episode of the NHRA Insider, Tony Pedregon and Joe Castello join Brian Lohnes to talk about the amazing Amalie Oil GatorNationals as well we this weekend's AAA Midwest Nationals in St Louis. The conditions are going to be totally different. Who has what it takes to win? Who impressed Tony and Joe? Who needs to figure it out fast, and who's falling by the wayside. This is a good listen with some fun analysis of the races, the racers, and the intensity of the season going forward.

Stevie "Fast" Jackson and "Fast Jack" Beckman join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. Jackson and Beckman are fresh off US Nationals wins and come into the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals with momentum on their side. Jackson also recently reset a world record in radial tire drag racing and he tells Lohnes about the challenges that are associated with each style of competition. Beckman talks about the trials and tribulations of the funny car season and being in an amazingly tight battle for the points with his teammates.