Drag Strips

Bristol International Dragway (as it was known then) opened in 1965 under National Hot Rod Association sanction. At the time it was considered a state-of-the-art super dragway, the best in the country. Did you know? The dragstrip sits between two mountains so the strip earned the name "Thunder Valley" because of the thundering noise cars made when they traveled down the strip.

Gainesville Raceway opened in 1969 and held its first Gatornationals event in 1970. Long considered one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit, it was from this legendary launch point that drivers clocked the first 260-, 270- and 300-mph Top Fuel runs. Fun fact: During the 2000 Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, eight of 10 national records were set in the professional classes.

Billy Hoskinson’s parents brought him home from the hospital as a baby in a ’70 Nova, and he’s been infatuated with fast cars ever since. From filming – and competing in – central Ohio’s most notorious street races to promoting his own races at the track and making a name for himself as a driver in the no-prep world, Hoskinson, 28, has turned a childhood fascination into something much more than he could’ve imagined.  Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the 30 Under 30

This quarter-mile drag strip opened in 1961 and is famous for hosting the NHRA’s Circle K Winternationals and Automobile Club of Southern California Finals (as well as being operated by the NHRA directly). It can accommodate up to 40,000 spectators and since 1984 has included Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock races. You might also know it as: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona or The Fairplex

A veteran racer and promoter is leading the charge to reopen an abandoned North Carolina 1/8-mile strip in 2026.View the full article

Kyle Wade, the racer and fabricator behind the massively popular BoostedBoiz YouTube channel – now at 1.45 million subscribers – has turned unlikely platforms like a Honda Civic, Toyota MR2, and even a Honda Odyssey minivan into fan-favorite, record-setting machines. But the numbers only tell part of the story.  Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November/December 2025. “I’ve always loved cars,” Wade says. “I remember just watching videos

Pro Modified standout rookie and NHRA Top Fuel driver Jacob McNeal has been officially named by Jeff Diehl Racing as their Nitro Funny Car driver to compete for a points championship in the 2026 IHRA eight-race points series. Legendary Nitro Funny Car driver/owner Jeff “The Surfer” Diehl will continue running at select NHRA races as well as the IHRA Triple Crown series. McNeal will bring his forward-focused discipline and intensity to competing in Nitro Funny Car, along with a deep respect f

NHRA announced the Right Trailers Outlaw Street Exhibition Series for 2026, bringing Street Outlaws stars to NHRA tracks.View the full article

Lesenko reunites with Jim Dunn Racing to pilot the Funny Car for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.View the full article

A third-generation drag racer, Taylor Strange grew up immersed in the sport, as his grandfather raced at the outlaw George Ray’s Wildcat Dragstrip in Arkansas and his father carried the family tradition forward. Strange is also a driver, but his most rewarding moments in the sport have come as a crew member helping family-based team succeed in drag racing’s highest levels. Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November/December 2025.  Strange start

Strange Engineering unveiled new driveshaft speed sensor kits and the updated Evolution 2 lightweight brake system at the 2025 PRI Show.View the full article

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced Friday its acquisition of Maple Grove Raceway. Established in the early 1960s, Maple Grove Raceway has earned national recognition as one of the fastest and most respected drag racing venues in the United States. For generations, it has served as a destination for racers and families, building a legacy rooted in community, competition, and tradition. Under the leadership of the Koretsky family, Maple Grove has undergone a period of r

The U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission continues at Bradenton Motorsports Park including Pro Mod final qualifying, opening rounds of eliminations in the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series drag radial classes, and the first round of eliminations in Pro Mod, Pro 10.5, True 10.5, and Lil Gangstas. Pro Mod completed its final qualifying session Saturday morning, setting a historic field that saw all 32 drivers run in the 3.50-second zone for the first time in drag racing

One of drag racing’s most entertaining personalities is about to step into one of the most proven pieces in Limited Drag Radial. Tom “Jimmy Dale” Gunner has been announced as the new driver of Rob Kohler’s familiar screw-blown fourth-generation Camaro, with his competition debut set for the fast-approaching U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission – the second stop of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service. Gunner’s arrival in LDR comes with real momen

Austin Flemming’s passion for cars began long before he could drive one. Growing up near St. Louis, Missouri, he was surrounded by horsepower. His parents and grandparents owned muscle cars and race cars that filled his childhood with the sights, sounds, and smells of the shop. What first caught his attention was how the cars looked, but what truly hooked him was how they worked. Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November/December 2025.

Earlier this year, Larry Larson put the small-tire world on notice, defeating Lyle Barnett in the final round of the $75,000 King of the South invitational, headlining the Ronnie Buff Memorial weekend at Shadyside Dragway in Shelby, North Carolina. During the opening day of PRI in Indianapolis, KotS promoter Corey Stamper and Shadyside Dragway co-owner Seth Buff officially extended invitations to both Larson and Barnett for the 2026 edition of the event, taking place May 21-24.  Both dri

No Prep drag racing has shown us what was old can be new again. These racers are using ingenuity like those who helped pioneer the sport. View the full article

At 29 years old, Johnny “Lil JT” Thompson Jr. is living two racing careers at once. He’s the driver of the “Lil Fugitive” ’04 Mustang Cobra, a nitrous-fed, small-block-powered no-time car, and he’s the crew chief and tuner for the “Big Fugitive” Pro Mod driven by his father, longtime Mississippi racer JT Thompson. Together, the father-and-son team has become one of the most respected duos in Southern no-time and Pro Mod competition. Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #197, the

NHRA officials announced today that U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will have a Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in 2026, with the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals set to open the 2026 Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The event will take place Sept. 18-20 at the standout facility in Martin, Mich., serving as the 15th of 20 races during NHRA’s special 75th anniversary season and the first of six playoff races. Tickets go on sale for the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals on Feb.

Andy Mcpherson didn't want to build your average GMC Syclone. His truck is powered by a Ford Coyote engine. View the full article

The IHRA has acquired historic Maple Grove Raceway, the series announced on Friday at the annual PRI Show in Indianapolis.View the full article

For more than a decade, the name Larry Larson has lived more in legend than in lanes when it comes to drag-and-drive competition. That may be about to change. Fresh signs of life from Larson’s infamous 1998 Chevy S-10 – a truck that once redefined what “street legal” meant – have reignited speculation that the five-time HOT ROD Drag Week champion could be preparing for a long-awaited return to the drag-and-drive arena. If that turns out to be the case, the implications are massive. L

The countdown to 2026 is officially on. From coast to coast, the NHRA Canada National Open Series returns with another thrilling season of side-by-side drag racing, championship battles, and unforgettable weekends at Canada’s premier drag strips. Powered by the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series, this year’s schedule brings together the best racers in the country across East and West divisions, all chasing Cash, Wallys, Points, Pride, and National recognition. The John Scotti Canadian C

Quarter-Max debut Bubba Stanton's new Pro Mod at PRI. This Camaro is packed with the latest features from the Quarter-Max team.View the full article

Davis Technologies revealed a major Profiler software overhaul at the 2025 PRI Show, featuring dual Profiler support.View the full article