On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Kevin McKenna of National Dragster and Tony Pedregon of the NHRAonFOX join Brian Lohnes to talk about the excitement of Chicago and how that will translate into the action at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire this weekend. The New England Nationals are always a unique event each season. The classic track, the fast air and surface, and increasing pressure on teams at this time of the year, always lead to memorable moments.    On this show the three talk about the news of the week, the drivers who are making headlines for the right and wrong reasons, the outlook for Pro Stock this weekend after an extended break, and how the whole season is shaping up. There's also the #1 Clawifier for the first time ever on Friday night, and they talk about all the good stuff on the line there as well.    Big fun in the Granite State, coming this weekend!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Jack Beckman the Funny Car winner from the Gerber Collision and Glass Rt 66 Nationals presented by Peak as well as Chicagoland's favorite Top Fuel son, T.J. Zizzo. The two guys take us deep inside a race weekend that will long live in the lore of NHRA history.    Incredible weather conditions from high winds to the first actual dust storm in Illinois for 91 years had racers on their toes. The teams that best navigated the conditions won the race and Beckman takes us all on a weekend trip through a topsy-turvy battle he and his team faced.    T.J. Zizzo was eliminated in the first round but it's still amazing to hear how his part time team dealt with the wild weather everyone was handed at Rt 66 Raceway. He takes us through their approach, goals, and what they learned.    A great show about an exceptional race!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join Brian Lohnes to talk all things about the Gerber Collision and Glass Rt 66 Nationals presented by Peak Performance. The guys go over each class of competition, talk about the teams that are struggling and those that are on the rise.    The weekend is also unique in that there are loads of independent nitro teams in both Funny Car and Top Fuel which have the potential to upend the apple cart for the established full-time touring operations. The facility is one of the best on tour and the action will be hot and heavy from qualifying session one all the way to Sunday afternoon.    This is a great conversation and one that will have you fired up for the week's upcoming action!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Austin Prock and Dallas Glenn join host Brian Lohnes to talk about leading the points in their respective categories, winning back to back four-wide races,  and their outlook for the rest of the season.    Prock is the first guess and in this conversation he talks about the evolution of his team, why they work so well, the elements fans can't see that make teams great, and how John Force continues to be the guiding star for the race team that bears his name. Prock is insightful in his answers and provides a lot of interesting takes on his team and season.    Dallas Glenn is having the season dreams are made of so far. He has appeared in every final round since late in 2024 and has won back to back races. He has come close to winning a title but has never been able to leave a season as a champion in Pro Stock drag racing. Is this the year? He talks about his approach and how he is working to make himself better each race.    A fun episode with two really hot superstars of NHRA!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster Shawn Langdon and Matt Smith join host Brian Lohnes to deep dive into their victories at the American Rebel Light Four-Wide Nationals.    For Shawn Langdon it wasn't just the second win of his season, it was winning the 1,000th Top Fuel race ever held that has set it apart in his already decorated career. Langdon talks about a dramatic qualifying run in amazing detail, how the race day went, and why this team is once again on a path to championship contention. His insights about winning and sharing the winner's circle with Don Garlits and Connie Kalitta are fantastic. A truly historic day for both he and the NHRA.   Matt Smith made the final in Gainesville and then roared through the field to win the 4-Wides in Charlotte. In a wide-ranging discussion, Smith talks about not only his path to victory but the ins and outs of his rigorous off-season making more than 70 dyno pulls to master the VP Racing Fuel that has come back into the class for 2025, and more. It's a window into the mind and approach of a six-time champion, who is relentlessly seeking 7.    Great racers talking success and hard work!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join the show to talk about all things Las Vegas and Charlotte Four Wide. The teams that made an impression in Vegas, the impact of Tony Stewart's victory, which teams need to make a stand at Charlotte and which ones are in the driver's seat.    There's loads of discussion on the news of the week, Jasmine Salinas' foregoing some upcoming races, and all the juicy insider stuff that you love to hear about the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.    Top Fuel race #1,000 is happening at zMax so the history of that is discussed along with a class by class breakdown of the contenders and pretenders. It's an action packed hour!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Crew Chief Neal Strausbaugh joins host Brian Lohnes to give an in-depth breakdown of how he and his team were able to provide Tony Stewart a race car capable enough to win one in Las Vegas. A race rife with challenges, plot twists, and downright curveballs, Neal's take on how the team did it is fascinating.    Strausbaugh talks about the change in approach for the entire team in 2025, the addition of experienced people like Phil Shuler, and a whole lot more. He takes us inside the workings of the operation, the pressures, the decisions, and the mentality of a crew chief.    The episode begins with a race breakdown from host Lohnes and brings some more insight into why the conditions were so seemingly impossible, outside of the desert heat. A great race on a wildly hard to navigate race track, this is a listen any Top Fuel fan will enjoy.

On this pre-NHRA Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna of National Dragster to talk all things Las Vegas. From the PlayNHRA gaming odds to the teams that may be best equipped to deal with a very hot race track, the guys go in-depth on a multitude of topics in each professional category of NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing.    Along with all that, get the latest updates from the Brownburg, Indiana tornado from last week delivered by two guys who live minutes from the highly impacted areas from the storm.    Loads to set up, break down, and go over before the first NHRA Four-Wide of the season, right here!

It was an amazing weekend at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Drag Strip for the 2025 Lucas Oil Winternationals. The stories from every aspect of the race were amazing. From Bob Tasca III not qualifying to the continued dominance of KB/Titan Racing in Pro Stock, but the nitro racing action was off the charts. Daniel Wilkerson clawed his way to a Funny Car final round, Clay Millican took home a dramatic Top Fuel victory, and the fans turned out under cloudy skies all weekend long to watch it. 

 

On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Wilkerson and Millican join host Brian Lohnes to tell the inside stories of their successes at the Winternationals. From crewmembers catching last minute mistakes before a run to holeshots, tuning calls, and more, this is an awesome dive into just how fantastically crazy the world of professional drag racing could ever be. 

 

Enjoy this high-energy, in-depth pair of conversations!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, David Freiburger and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about an incredible weekend in Phoenix and the looming Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. Whether it was the bizarre Pro Stock final round, the emotional Funny Car victory of Paul Lee, or the domination of the team Kalitta Top Fuel cars, it was a weekend packed with stories from wall to wall. Oh, did we mention that the place was sold out, as well?!   The Lucas Oil Winternationals, one of the great major races on the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour is this weekend and the weather forecast is laying out conditions that could lend themselves to historic performances.    The stories, the stats, and the odds.  It's all on this episode of the Insider!