Nhra Insider Podcast

 National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna joins Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider podcast this week to talk about pro stock motorcycle, the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA US Nationals, sportsman drag racing, and pro modified. A wide-ranging conversation about the season, the upcoming races, and why the pro stock motorcycle category has been so wide open in 2020 and beyond. The pair also discuss the upcoming Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals as well. This time it's the Insider's Insider on the hot seat!

Erica Enders and Shawn Langdon join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. These are two of the most mentally tuned-in drivers in the game and to hear them walk through their US Nationals victories is really interesting. They both have an amazing depth of understanding about how their actions both on the physical and brain-related side change the way they perform in the car. Fascinating conversations with two NHRA champions and Denso Spark Plugs US Nationals winners.

Eddie Krawiec and Tony Pedregon join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. Eddie talks about pro stock motorcycle, the Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle, and the evolution of the four-valve head in pro stock motorcycle competition. Tony Pedregon pops in to talk about getting a sportsman drag racing license with Bo Butner, his predictions about the Denso Spark Plugs US Nationals, and who he thinks is ready to perform on the big stage.

 TJ Zizzo and Angelle Sampey join Brian Lohnes on the NHRA Insider Podcast to talk about their careers, recent successes, and how the long and winding road of drag racing has taken them to places both physically and mentally they never expected. Zizzo's trip through top fuel is full of highs and lows as he prepares for the first final round of his career to be contested at the Denso Spark Plugs US Nationals and Angelle talks about getting her first win in four years at the Dodge Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil. This truly is a pair of epic tales.

The First-Timers Ron Capps and Joe Morrison join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. Capps is coming off of his first race win at Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis. Morrison is coming off of his first-ever top fuel start after qualifying for the Dodge Indy Nats presented by Pennzoil. Both guys talk about the race and both talk about the kind of inside drag racing stuff that we love to hear on the show. Two great conversations with two cool guys.

Andrew Hines and Donald "Duck" Long join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider to talk drag racing! Hines talks about the start of the 2020 pro stock motorcycle season, the upcoming Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle to be run at the US Nationals, and more. Donald Long is one of the most well known and outlandish promoters in drag racing. He talks about the history of his races, the classes he has created, and what's happening in drag racing these days. Great conversations! Be There! 

Clay Millican, Jack Beckman, and Bruno Massel join host Brian Lohnes for a wide-ranging conversation about NHRA drag racing, history, the ever-changing landscape of the schedule, and what it takes to compete at drag racing's highest level. For Millican it's chat about getting over the hump at Indy, with Beckman it's talking about the points lead and drag racing history, and with Massel it's a discussion on how he has risen through drag racing's ranks and became a multi-time champ along the way.

Pro Stock Bikes and Indy races NHRA pro stock motorcycle winner Ryan Oehler and National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna join Brian Lohnes for a wide-ranging episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Oehler talks about the self-made program that he and his dad have developed into a contenting operation virtually on their own and Kevin McKenna lends a reporter's insight into the action we saw at the first to NHRA return races at Lucas Oil Raceway Indianapolis.

Host Brian Lohnes is joined by the NHRA's Kasey Coler who is the Vice President overseeing track management and operations. Coler was a point man on the development of the procedures and strategies to keep NHRA fans, racers, and media people as safe as is possible during the upcoming restart events at Lucas Oil Raceway. This is a fascinating chat with a guy who has been working as hard as anyone in racing!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Mike Galimi and Joe Castello join host Brian Lohnes. Both guys are deep into the world of drag racing media and both of them are longtime pals of Lohnes. The conversation is wide-ranging from different series outside of NHRA to the technology in today's drag racing world, the recovery from COVID-19, how different series are handling it, and how the media has worked to keep the stories of drag racing at the forefront of people's minds. A great conversation and covers a lot of ground with two different guests!

In this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Dr. Jamie Meyer is the guest. After a successful career at General Motors and serving on the SEMA Board, Meyer is the new president of PRI, the Performance Racing Industry association. PRI operates a massive trade show for racing and is also working hard to become a forceful ally of racing in all of its forms across America. We talk about Dr. Meyer's philosophy, approach, and what the world of racing needs most right now. A great listen!

NHRA President Glen Cromwell joins Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider to talk leadership in tumultuous times, decision making, the people who helped him form his love and dedication to drag racing, and the necessary moves being made for the health and longevity of the NHRA drag racing world. This is an honest and enlightening personal conversation with the man who some would say is the most powerful person in drag racing.

 NHRA pro stock motorcycle veteran Steve Johnson and A/fuel dragster standout Garrett Bateman join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. Johnson tells the gut-wrenching, tragic, but ultimately triumphant story of Ervin "Jock" Allen, his lead technician and right-hand man who contracted COVID-19 and battled for his life in the hospital. Johnson talks about the dark days, the hard work, and the dedication of the medical staff that ultimately saved Jock's life. It is a stunning story and a sobering one. Garrett Bateman talks about his life in drag racing, his successes, and the topic soon shifts into his varied successes in motorsports. Bateman is a member of the 200mph club on the Bonneville salt flats, he operates a five engine pulling tractor for fun, and when he is not doing that he is stacking up Wally trophies with a 280mph injected nitro-burning dragster.

Cruz Pedregon and Tyler Crossnoe join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. Pedregon talks about his approach to what will be a very unique 2020 NHRA Mello Yello drag racing season and how his experience will play a role in it. Tyler Crossnoe, a 27-year old drag racing wunderkind is the Vice President of Virginia Motorsports Park and the Series Director for the PDRA. He talks about the current challenges facing tracks and series as the sport of drag racing slowly rumbles back to life after this pandemic subsides. Interesting conversations from two different perspectives!

Jason Line and Don O'Neal Description: Guests Jason Line and Don O'Neal talk drag racing, making power, planning a schedule for 2020, and what they have learned in their pursuits of speed. The conversation with Line concentrates around his career and an engine builder and not just in pro stock. We chat making 600hp with a Buick, building a turbo engine, Chrysler Hemis, and more. Don O'Neal talks about running a Factory Stock Showdown engine in a pro stock chassis while competing in Top Sportsman and host Brian Lohnes surprises O'Neal with the 2020 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Schedule hours before it was released to the public. O'Neal gives his spot reactions to the schedule and format of the championship chase. 

Jim Maroney and Brad Plourd join Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. Maroney is the Arizona based privateer top fuel team owner and racer who has had a steady climb up the ranks of drag racing competition and in business. He speaks with Lohnes about his career, his plans for the re-start of the NHRA season, and his take on the state of top fuel. Brad Plourd has won 21 NHRA Nationals events, he has won in 5 categories, he has won in cars he'd never driven before an event started, and he's delivered in a stocker as well as a blown alcohol competition eliminator machine. He truly is the McGruber of drag racing and can make any hot rod work in a pinch. Plourd talks racing, philosophy, success, and how he went from a weeknight runner in Seattle to one of the premier players in the game.

Matt Hartford and Will Smith join the NHRA Insider this week, host Brian Lohnes talks about the newly revamped start date for NHRA in 2020 and there's an audio look back at the "blow over era" in top fuel as well using vintage audio from the late 1980s and early 1990s. The conversation with Matt Hartford centers around the business he owns, Total Seal Piston rings, and how they have been dealing with the undulations of the current economic and social trends. Will talks about his rise and climbs to drive on one of the best A/fuel dragsters in the country. He's also a charter member of the "mullet mafia" so he riffs on tat as well. Stick around until the end for that vintage audio!

On this NHRA Insider, Shawn Langdon and Luke Bogacki join host Brian Lohnes for a wide-ranging pair of discussions within the sport of drag racing. Landon talks about his growth and development in the iRacing scene, talking about how he has gone from a frustrated rookie to a competitive racer after applying himself and acquiring knowledge and experience Champion sportsman racer Luke Bogacki dives deep into the psychology of sportsman competition and brings a level of depth and interest that you have likely never heard before. Bogacki talks about being successful, making mistakes, big rounds he has lost, and how he uses his knowledge to reach others. A fresh episode every week!

Champion funny car racer Ron Capps and multi-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion Austin Williams join Brian Lohnes for two entertaining discussions. Capps talks about his burgeoning iRacing career, helping sponsors in this time of delay, and working hard to keep his skills and mind sharp for a return to racing. Austin Williams shared amazing insight into the depth of skill sportsman drag racing requires, his amazing 2019 NHRA US Nationals victory, and how he has evolved his game with the ever more complex landscape of sportsman racing. An awesome and insightful look into the methods of a world champion.

 Dom Lagana and Billy Stockiln Speak Description: On this episode of the NHRA Insider, Dom Lagana and Billy Stockiln join host Brian Lohnes to talk about tuning race cars, their lives in the sport, and the things that have made them into the successful racers that they are today. Lagana quite literally grew up with wrenches in his hands and nitro burning race cars as his toys. Billy Stocklin has been a successful crew chief in more than a half dozen different categories of drag racing and he talks about this diversity and how he has made it to where he is in the sport. Both men talk about their mindset and how people have been instrumental in helping them learn and achieve. Two truly insightful interviews.