NHRA Insider Podcast

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Indy Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley and Indy Top Fuel runner up and regular season champion Tony Stewart join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their respective races. Their Top Fuel final on Monday afternoon was an absolute instant classic and one that will be talked about for the ages. Justin Ashley reveals some interesting things in this interview. Whether it's the fact that the team rolled a new car out and didn't tell anyone, his process and how he adjusts it through the day, his approach, and what he takes most pride in as a driver, you'll learn it here. Tony Stewart tells awesome behind the scenes stories about the team's capture of the NHRA's first regular season Top Fuel championship. How the day unfolded, what he needed to do and more importantly couldn't do, what it all means for his team and crew, and a whole lot more. Two of Top Fuel's best tell all about their experiences at the greatest drag race on the planet.

A new tower, testing mishaps, countdown controversy, teams that are fast when it's cold and teams that are cold when it's fast, this episode has it all. Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about all aspects of the 2025 Cornwell Quality Tools US Nationals and it's a banger of a chat. From the interesting situation of Brayden Davis in Pro Stock Motorcycle, the relentless stomping domination of Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock, who can challenge Austin Prock in Funny Car, and why Doug Kalitta may win the regular season Top Fuel championship, this one has all the elements on tap. The conversation is lively, the debate informed, and the excitement for the greatest drag race of them all is off the charts. Listen and enjoy!

On this Top Fuel centric episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast presented by Speedmaster, all-time great crew chief Alan Johnson and NHRA rookie Top Fuel driver Kyle Satenstein join host Brian Lohnes. The two guys are on wildly different ends of their Top Fuel lives but both bring fascinating perspective to the conversation. For Alan Johnson the conversation takes us through this season and the approach that has placed the team in the thick of a championship run yet again. It moves through Johnson's history in the sport, his evolving approach to Top Fuel racing, and the sometimes invisible elements that make good teams into great ones. His insights into the more hidden corners of the crew chief role are fascinating. Kyle Satenstein is a racer through and through. Coming from the world of small tire and grudge racing, his path to Top Fuel racing is both interesting and unexpected. Sporting one of the most unique sponsors in the class and the attitude of a successful and hardcore racer, he had a heck of a weekend in Brainerd. The small team nearly pulled off the upset of the race in round one and you'll hear him tell the whole story. Two very different men in very different places with the singular passion of NHRA Top Fuel drag racing. Enjoy the conversations.

On this high energy episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, the guys are together again and the fur flies. Tony Pedregon, Kevin McKenna and Brian Lohnes join in a very lively discussion that covers the last couple of races and looks at Brainerd as a significant hinge point for many teams trying to sort out their either dimming or fading championship hopes. The guys dive deep into all three professional classes competing weekend, talk about Shawn Reed's replacement driver selection, and even go hard into some driver related stuff, especially in top fuel. This is not an episode to miss. News, opinion, and some amazing takes await!

On this Funny Car edition of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Dan Wilkerson and Ron Capps to discuss the stories of their respective seasons and where they are headed on the back stretch of 2025. Wilkerson documents the battle he has faced in recent weeks with engine explosions, broken parts, and tight timelines while Capps reviews the season and talks about the evolution of a tune-up that has him vying for what could be a runner up regular season finish. Both of these drivers have great stories, insights, and information on the inner-workings of their teams, the sometimes chaotic nature of professional drag racing, and the strategies needed both with the wrenches and in the driver's seat to make it work. Two great conversations, breaking news and more!

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Richard Gadson and Greg Stanfield join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their awesome victories at the NHRA Denso Sonoma Nationals last weekend. Both guys have been in peak form for several races and both had to really bushwack their way to the winner's circle. For Richard Gadson a -.001 red light on Saturday in the Pro Stock Motorcycle Call-Out final was frustrating but valuable motivation for his work on Sunday. Leveraging the disappointment of that moment into the race day success he earned is a really fascinating process to listen to. Greg Standfield won his first Pro Stock race in more than a decade by taking on his own son in the final round. A moment generations in the making for the duo, it was a race to the stripe with all the awesome tightness we have come to expect out of the category. Stanfield relives it all. Those interviews, an Insider monologue, and more. This is an episode you'll love

On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes takes you though an incredible weekend in Seattle that not only challenged teams and drivers but also challenged the record books. Conditions that were ideal for traction and horsepower delivered the fastest speed in Top Fuel history, multiple track records, and more. There were scary moments as well in terms of Shawn Reed's crash and Buddy Hull's foray into the gravel trap at the end of the strip. Lohnes goes over all of it here, winners, big moments, and takeaways that can be carried to Sonoma. If you think it will be any slow there, Lohnes has other thoughts, and he tells you why. Tune in and get ready to fly!

On this monoogue style episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes takes you through a load of information to set up not only the Muckleshoot NHRA Northwest Nationals but also the teams who are in best contention for the first NHRA regular season championship bonuses in history. Diving into the statistics that drive the sport Lohnes takes you through, class by class, the leaders, how they got there and how they need to stay there. Additionally, there is a look at Pro Stock and the performance numbers that have come to define the season for the two largest teams, both good and bad. Once you understand the numbers you'll be able to see the clear difference between those that are succeeding and those that and not gotten a solid footing. This is a deep breakdown before the tour heads west, enjoy!

On this revealing episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Thomas Prock and Joey Gladstone join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the victories they scored with their teams at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals. Both guys have interesting stories and behind the scenes info that will keep you locked in. Joey Gladstone is up first and he talks about the incredibly special relationship he shares with Cory Reed, their trials, tribulations, and his transition from championship level Pro Stock Motorcycle racer to critical wrench on Cory's car. The win was emotionally charged and you will know why when you listen to Gladstone's exceptional interview. Thomas Prock is the junior half of one of motorsports most interesting crew chief duos. The senior half is of course his father Jimmy. In this chat, Prock talks through back to back victories, racing Funny Cars on tracks hot enough to fry eggs on, and the lessons learned so far this year. Two young guys with futures in this sport that seem limitless, you'll love this in-depth exploration of their success.

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Chris King, the Chicago firefighter who has battled his way into the NHRA Funny Car ranks and will attempt to qualify with 20 other drivers in Norwalk. The conversation with King starts off with the wild story of him having to act to save his neighbor's life just before the interview and ranges through the growth, challenges, ups, downs, and memorable moments of funny car racing. King is the second half of the show. A monologue style recap of the Virginia Nationals starts the show and host Lohnes goes into all of the classes, the controversial Top Fuel winner situation, and all the factors he learned about all of it. This one will get you primed for the action this coming weekend in Norwalk!