NHRA Insider Podcast

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, two members of the same team join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the red-hot start to their season. Justin Ashley and Mike Green, the driver and crew chief of the Phillips Connect Top Fuel Dragster, have, along with a talented team, scored two convincing wins in a row at Phoenix and then Pomona. In these two separate conversations, Lohnes talks to Ashley about not only winning but the process of racing at the highest levels, taking the Mission #2Fast2Tasty crown, number one qualifier, and event win in Pomona along with many other topics like his race weekend, regimen and more. Mike Green talks about running his dragster, being paired with a talent like Ashley, and operating the points-leading team so far in 2023. There's a great insight into the last two races from a chief crew perspective, the dynamics of his crew, the fact that his boss works actively on the car, and why these guys are built for the long haul this season. Insights from the driver's seat as well as the chief crew lounge on this episode and all from the same winning team!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, host Brian Lohnes breaks down the NHRA Lucas Oil Arizona Nationals from Phoenix. Taking listeners inside some of the major happenings of the race, you'll learn the root cause of some of the more intriguing moments of the weekend and get a full breakdown regarding the key points of the event. History was made when Camrie Caruso got her first Wally and became the second female Pro Stock winner ever; deep dives into the head-to-head battles between Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon, among others, and a full explainer on the Pro Stock controversy from round two in eliminations. Phoenix was a monster of a race from a crowd perspective, a tricky race from the track perspective, and the perfect start to the Mission #2Fast2Tasty program that perhaps over-delivered from even the most well-seasoned viewer and fan perspectives. The Winternationals will be spiced up both in performance and emotion based on what we saw in Arizona. Listen up!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the controversy of "weightgate" following the 2023 Amalie Oil Gatornationals, recapping the high and low performers of that event, and they look forward to the 2023 NHRA Arizona Nationals as well. The three talk extensively about their impressions of what happened following the Gators with Mike Salinas and his team, their penalty for coming arcoss the scales light after the final round, and what the implications may be going forward. It is an interesting chat with some perspective you will not find anywhere else. Recapping the Gatornationals, Lohnes, Pedregon, and McKenna review the performances of teams who exceeded, lived up to, and failed to reach the performance bar they all expected at the season-opening race. The episode concludes with an interesting talk about whether or not drag racers are truly ready to be "big time" in the sporting world and the direction of professional drag racing as a whole. This is the best way to get revved up for a fast weekend at Wildhorse Pass Motorsports Park!

On this post-Gatornationals episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Andrew Hines and Rob Flynn, two winning crew chiefs from the event, join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their experiences and how they achieved victory. For the Vance and Hines team, this one was a long time coming. Plucking rider Gaige Herrera from relative obscurity and giving him the chance to ride one of the best machines in the category may have seemed risky to some, but Andrew Hines knew that Herrea was a talent that just needed horsepower. Boy, was he right. The whole story of his victory is one for the history books. Rob Flynn commanded his tune-up and team like a maestro in Gainesville, making the final round of the Pep Boys All-Star Top Fuel Call Out and then winning Top Fuel Eliminator on Sunday. Rob talks about his approach, his team, and how everyone came together under high-stress, short turnaround conditions at the opening race of the season. The story of two victories, a look back over the race, some fun insider stories, and more on this episode!

On this pre-Gatornationals episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon and National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about how testing has gone, what teams should be better than they were in 2022 and which teams have made the most waves in testing. The guys also delve into the topic of the things they DO NOT want to hear in 2023, and that may be the most entertaining part of the whole exercise. Pedregon takes us deep inside the Bob Tasca team to talk about what happened to cause his crew chief change, the immediate results of it, and why the driver/crew chief dynamic is so important on any team. Lohnes shares a wild story about how they may have known about the change before many others did. Clay Millican's team is talked through, and expectations are shared now that they have the most parts, pieces, and funding than they ever have had before. Similarly, the guys talk about Doug Kalitta and the whole Kalitta camp and what they foresee for Shawn Langdon and Doug in 2023. The class-by-class breakdown culminates in a fun conversation about the cliches and actions the guys want to see drivers abandon for 2023. Whether it's feigning to not care about opponents or turning the top end into a recreation of the summer of love, the boys have a few ideas. Perhaps you have more to add! A fun show to get us fully cranked up for the start of the season!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Tony Schumacher and Bob Tasca III join host Brian Lohnes to talk about off-season moves, upcoming testing, and the reasons why both think they are in a position to succeed during the 2023 season. For Tony Schumacher, 2022 was not a return year that was arranged in a relatively hasty fashion. It's easy to hear in his words and tone that the Seattle winning team wasn't exactly firing on all eight cylinders all year long, nor were they in a luxurious position with their equipment. With the addition of Mike Neff and John Shafer as the leaders of the team, new crew members throughout, and a load of fresh parts, the SCAG Power Equipment top fuel dragster is ready to roll. The two also chat about the addition of Tim Wilkerson to the JCM team. A fun chat. Bob Tasca has grouped Aaron Brooks and Todd Okuhara together to lead his Motorcraft Ford Mustang team in 2023. He's also added new people to the crew and the team has some really lofty goals for the season. A strong running car in the summer, Tasca and crew need to pick up the pace in the Spring and Fall to really be championship contenders. This is a great show with lots of insider stories you'll only get here!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, host Brian Lohnes is joined by David Grubnic and Robert Hight. Hight is coming off of an incredible season, perhaps the best in his career, but one that did not see him with a championship when it was all over. Robert talks about testing and how fast his car was, the work that they have done in the off-season, personnel changes at John Force Racing, and the fact that the major players in funny car are all coming back strong for this season. This is an interesting and insightful conversation. David Grubnic enters a season for the first time as a defending world champion. The conversation with Lohnes is wide ranging, from his first experience seeing nitro cars when he was 13 years old at Surfer's Paradise, to the approach he and his team take to testing. He also talks about testing being interrupted by weather and the goals he and the team have to achieve when they return shortly to get their last two days completed. Great chats, more news from inside the NHRA, and insight into the sport that we all know and love.

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, new Vance and Hines team rider Gaige Herrera and multi-time champion funny car crew chief Dickie Venables join host Brian Lohnes to talk about testing, preparing, and what it will take to win in 2023. Third-generation drag racer Gaige Herrera was practically made for this moment in his life. He's the newest name on the Vance and Hines roster, and after a highly successful first test session at Gainesville, he'd ready for what the season will bring. Herrera talks about his evolution in drag racing, his family's roots in the sport, and the expectations he has to perform in the 2023 season. If the test was any indicator, this guy is going to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Dickie Venables talks about the fresh start to 2023 with the same team in the same roles. He talks about his off-season preparations, how he reviews data, what it will take to be at the top in '23, and how life at TSR racing is a breath of fresh air in NHRA drag racing. Dickie talks about his hobbies away from the track and how excited he is to return to Chicago this year. All this plus news, insider information, and a multitude of topics in professional NHRA Camping World drag racing!

A rare three-guest show this week on the NHRA Insider. Tim Wilkerson, Justin Ashley, and Camrie Caruso are all guests talking about their plans, news, and prep for 2023. The show begins with host Brian Lohnes getting everyone up to speed on the latest NHRA news and info and rolls into a great conversation with Tim Wilkerson on his new partnership with Maynard Family Racing and SCAG teammate Tony Schumacher. This is truly a new chapter in his career, and he tells all. Justin Ashley talks about preparing for the season with testing, what Top Fuel will look like in 2023, and why his team is primed for another championship contenting run over the year. Finally, Camrie Caruso talks about being a part of KB Racing, how her whole outlook has changed with this move, how her job changes on the team, and why working in drag racing outside of the car has been great for her career. Lohnes and Caruso talk about her tough 2022 Countdown, what she learned, and how she'll approach it in 2023. A great show with three NHRA stars!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Cruz Pedregon and Leah Pruett join host Brian Lohnes to talk about strong late-season 2022 performances and the hopeful prospects for 2023 with renewed vigor and established teams.

Cruz Pedregon took a leap at the end of 2022, swapping to a six-disc clutch program and bringing on Lee Beard to assist John Collins, his crew chief. This resulted in the most dominating win of his long career at the NHRA Finals in Pomona. Pedregon talks about being at the Chili Bowl with his midget race cars, his outlook for 2023, what the prospects are for the Raiders signing Tom Brady, and his testing plans for the winter.

Leah Pruett's team was barely assembled before the 2022 season. They matured and won Denver and then had a strong car for the last stretch of the season. The win lights didn't come on, but the performance was certainly ramped up. Leah talks about the late Ken Block, transitioning to the role of driver and not a "do-all" person on a team, and how their stable crew will help them succeed in 2023.

That and more on this episode of the NHRA Insider!