NHRA Insider Podcast

It's a crew chief-heavy episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast this week. Bristol-winning crew chiefs Mike Green, Tommy DeLago, and Dean Antonelli join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the ins and outs of succeeding at Thunder Valley, the unique pressures of two races in one weekend, and the systematic approach that they took to earn their respective victories. Mike Green and Tommy DeLago had a dream weekend, sweeping every available contest in Bristol. They won the rain-delayed New England Nationals and the Thunder Valley Nationals while also capturing the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. It was an amazing effort and one that has some truly cool backstories that they share. Dean Antonelli and the entire Ron Capps Motorsports team had to rebound from a first-round loss in the New England Nationals to race again on Sunday for the Thunder Valley Nationals crown which they got. Antonelli talks about how they altered their clutch program, hung together as a group, and worked hard on a challenging Sunday to win. He talks about his career and some of the more unique things about leading a Nitro Funny Car team into battle. Lastly, to head up the show, Lohnes goes on a rant about people who are constantly repeating lame tropes about drag racing and actually harming the sport they claim to be helping. He's going to be short some Christmas cards this year. Something for everyone here!

On this short and sweet episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes delivers a monologue on the race that never was, the New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire. The event was a testament to the heartiness of the New England region fans who battle searing temperatures on Friday and then rainy, frigid temperatures for the rest of the weekend, all the way until nothing more could be done on Monday afternoon. Lohnes talks about the event, the people, and the implications of what's coming in Bristol this weekend. An insanely short turn for the teams, the people of the NHRA, and a Tennessee weekend that will be absolutely packed to the gills with qualifying and racing action from end to end. Learn how the NHRA will pull off effectively two national events over the course of three days this week, where and when you can watch, and why you should be buying a ticket to see a colossus of a race happen at Bristol Dragway. There will be PLENTY to talk about after this one!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon and Todd Veney join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the major stories and trends coming out of the Chicago Rt 66 Nationals and to preview the weekend ahead at New England Dragway. The event this weekend is unique as it centers around Top Fuel and Nitro Funny car, with the Pro Modified class also a showcase during the event. The three touch on some really interesting topics like how talent is recognized and snatched up the ranks in drag racing, why smaller teams don't take more advantage of races like Epping where they'd get more attention and have a better shot to win, the effect of the Indy 500 weekend on racing across America, and the seemingly instant turn of performance for Tony Schumacher's car during testing post-Chicago. All this and a whole lot more on this week's Clam Chowder-powered NHRA Insider!

On this post-Rt66 Nationals episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, NHRA's Joe Castello joins Brian Lohnes along with Vance and Hines chief tuner Andrew Hines. The talk is centered on an incredible race weekend at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. The fans came out by the 10s of thousands, the car counts were fantastic, and the competition through the event was off the charts. Sunday was one of the most incredible race days that anyone has ever seen and you'll get it from the perspective of a television reporter and of a racer in Andrew Hines. The conversation eventually turns to the unstoppable nature of Gaige Herrera, how Hines continues to work with him, how his multi-faceted presence is aiding the team, and some surprising facts about this racer who may be most well known on a motorcycle but can do damage in cars as well. The stories from inside the race, on the starting line, and in the pits, all right here!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon and NHRAonFox pit producer Todd Veney join host Brian Lohnes to talk all things about the upcoming Gerber Collision and Glass Rt 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois. This is the first time the NHRA has raced at the venue since 2019, and expectations are high for the great event. The conversation works class by class through the race. Which competitors are in positions of power, which need to better their fortunes, and which may want to start smashing the panic button with a sledgehammer. The first ever All-Star Pro Stock Call Out is broken down and discussed, possible pairings are bandied about, and the class and competitors analyzed. Finally, the guys break down the freakish points situation top fuel where, after five races, two of the top three have not won any of them! Fun perspective to get you revved up about this weekend!

On this three-guest episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, racers Tony Stewart, T.J. Zizzo, and Chris King join host BrianLohnes to talk about winning races, new cars, and working relentlessly to make it in the sport of NHRA drag racing. Tony Stewart has come on very strong lately in Top Alcohol Dragster. Winning the national event in Las Vegas unleashed he and his team and they have gone on to capture another victory, recently, at the Indy regional Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. Stewart talks about the evolution of the team, how he has evolved as a competitor, and a wide variety of topics. T.J. Zizzo and Chris King are both Chicagoland area drag racing success stories. Neither man is made of money but both will be racing nitro-burning cars at the Rt 66 Nationals. Zizzo and team took more than a season off to construct a brand new, cutting-edge top fuel dragster. They have designs on making trouble for the competition at their home track. Chris King is a Chicago firefighter who loves funny cars and has worked his whole life to get to a point where he can compete in one. King tells his story of hard work, being a regular guy, and how he's been able to make his dreams slowly come true. Three great conversations in this one, you'll enjoy it all!

Josh Hart and Del Worsham join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast and both of them have plenty to talk about. In the case of Josh Hart, the conversation centers around his growth as not only a driver, but as a personality, team owner, and most importantly a competitor in the ranks of professional drag racing. It has not always been fun or easy and Josh takes us inside the process. The chat reveals a hardnosed competitor and a genuinely good guy who is not going to be stopped in his championship quest. Del Worsham is the second guest on the show and he talks about the evolution of the tune up that has created the most consistent funny car in the sport today. Currently second in the points, Worsham reveals that the team was headed in a different tune up direction before the season started but reverting back to last year's car and tune have brought them to the place they are today. Two fascinating guests and two great insider chats!

On this race week episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna and NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon join Brian Lohnes to talk all things Circle K NHRA Charlotte 4-Wide Nationals. The guys talk about the news of Bandimere's impending closure, the Pro Stock Motorcycle downtime and who made the best of it, starting line/staging espionage, and the questionable forecast for this weekend's race to start with. Leading into the race discussion, the group talks about racers like Antron Brown, the complexity of operating the near double-digit Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team, Matt Hagan's dominating funny car performances thus far, and why the NHRA needs to embrace a power ranking system like other sports have. This one goes deep into some interesting subjects. There's some laughs, some debates, and some hot fire spit by this panel on all the above topics. In other words, it's another must-listen trip inside the world of NHRA Camping World Drag Racing!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast Shawn Langdon and Manny Buginga join host Brian Lohnes to talk about two of the season's most memorable moments this far and they both happened on the starting line. For Shawn Langdon, it was the second round of Top Fuel at the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals where he took a slower-than-normal approach to counteract the starting line tactics of Josh Hart which eventually drew him a foul for timing out. The conversation centers around the world of top fuel, the exciting nature of staging four-wide, and how different drivers approach their procedure differently. Langdon takes us inside the moments leading up to the run, the scene on the line, and the aftermath with competitors and teammates. This is an open and honest recounting of a memorable situation. For Manny Buginga, his first-ever race as part of the NHRA Pro mod series was memorable for fans and competitors alike. Engaged in a two-minute and thirty-second staging battle with defending series champion Kris Thorne, Buginga stood his ground in pre-stage until he physically could not hold the car still any longer. This whole situation cost him a crew chief immediately following the run. Ever defiant, Manny lays out the logic, his career experience, and his expectations for the rest of this season. One of the spiciest and most interesting episodes ever, you'll hang on every word!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Brian Lohnes brings back the regular race week guest panel of Tony Pedregon, NHRAonFox analyst, and Kevin McKenna National Dragster Senior Editor to talk about the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals, a wild weekend in Pomona, and some of the deeper stories brewing behind the scenes in the world of NHRA drag racing. The rollicking conversation kicks off with a look at Pro Stock and how the class has taken on a "Countdown" feel already in this early part of the season. The points standings are tight, some racers who we all place high expectations on are struggling and others are making their mark right out of the gate. The conversation focuses on how a Pro Stock season can vary versus a nitro-powered one and the driver performances to this point. The group delves into the recent craziness in nitro Funny Car from the hot starts of Chad Green and Alexis DeJoria to the weekend of John Force and JR Todd, how those teams will recover, and how the idea of las Vegas being anyone's game may not be so true. Lots of meat on this bone as the guys go deep into these storylines. Finally, the Top Fuel class is the center of discussion. Obviously, Justin Ashley's recent performances are on the table as are those teams struggling to get up to speed, and which of them will be the first to notch themselves a breakout weekend? Loads of interesting food for thought here about teams, reality series', secrecy, and how the sport of drag racing benefits from a little cage rattling and feather ruffling! An entertaining listen that's full throttle the whole way through!