Drag Strips

Drag Illustrated, the independent voice of drag racing, today announced the launch of the DI Power 100, an annual editorial franchise recognizing the 100 most influential people in the sport. Nominations are open immediately at DragIllustrated.com and will be accepted through July 3, 2026. The DI Power 100 is the most comprehensive recognition program in drag racing history – spanning every corner of the sport. Racers, builders, engine builders, promoters, track operators, sanctioning body l

Despite a dreary forecast, dedicated and determined Small Tire Pro Stock racers showed up for the Nostalgia Drag Racing League Route 66 Rockabilly Reunion, May 22-23 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. It was the first event of the year for the series for racers who run their cars with naturally aspirated combinations to mid-7s to low-8s in the quarter-mile in a heads-up format, and they were warmly welcomed by Nettie Johnson and the rest of the World Wide Technology Racew

Earlier this month, Drag Illustrated’s own Wes Buck and Mike Carpenter traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual Washington Rally hosted by the Government Affairs divisions of Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and Performance Racing Industry (PRI). The duo met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to “spread the gospel of drag racing,” as Buck often says. This time, they brought the message directly to the nation’s policymakers. Two key issues were at the focus of their

The Chaos Super Nationals put on a show at Summit Motorsports Park. Here's a recap of all all the chaos-filled action.View the full article

Tony Stewart's comparison between Kevin Harvick and Leah Pruett is a big compliment. Pruett's ability to do more than drive is underrated. View the full article

Due to persistent rain and mist, as well as more inclement weather in the forecast, Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series officials have cancelled the PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix, May 21-23, at Virginia Motorsports Park. The event will not be rescheduled. The Mid-Atlantic Showdown was the third of seven races on the 2026 PDRA schedule.  “Due to constant heavy mist this morning and rain returning to the hourly forecast for Friday, continuing worsening conditions for

On a Saturday afternoon in April 2026 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Justin Ashley sat in the cockpit of his 12,000-horsepower SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel dragster and did the same thing three rounds in a row. He left with an .025 light. Round one. Round two. Round three. He cut a good light in the final, too – .036 – but it just wasn’t enough to hold off a hard-charging Tony Stewart and his 3.683-second blast. Most fans walked out of Pomona talking about motorsports Hall

To celebrate NHRA’s thrilling debut at Maryland International Raceway for next weekend’s inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, Visit St. Mary’s MD, the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development and NHRA have partnered together for a driver meet and greet featuring a huge lineup of NHRA stars. The free, can’t-miss event will take place on Thursday, May 28 from 5-7 p.m. at The Barns at New Market (29133 Thompson Corner Rd., Mechanicsville, Md.). Driver autographs are s

Established in 2004, Sporthorse Saddlery is located at 56849 Grand River Avenue in New Hudson, Michigan, and owned and operated by Anna Rebori-Theisen, whose husband, David Theisen, competes in Small Tire Pro Stock. The well-known equestrian tack shop serves riders across multiple disciplines with a strong focus on the dressage and hunter/jumper disciplines. It features carefully chosen saddles, tack, riding apparel, horse care products, stable essentials for amateur and competitive riders a

There is a lot riding on the shoulders of 31-year-old Jordan Vandergriff, but the weight of being tapped by John Force himself as the driver of the Cornwell Quality Tools Funny Car is more than welcome. To have been invited to drive for a legendary team would be mind-blowingly cool for anyone, but to settle into a Funny Car for the first time – let alone the one still sizzling after back-to-back championships – only adds to the surreality for Vandergriff. That being said, he’s certainly up to th

When it comes to historic dragstrips located in my native North Carolina, Wilkesboro Motorsports Park has compiled more history than most people can remember. I first stepped foot on the property 35 years ago when the track was known as North Wilkesboro Dragway, and it had just undergone a massive renovation. Editor’s Note: This column originally appeared in DI #199, the Interview Issue, in March/April 2026.   Prior to my first memory of the place in 1991, you could actually go back anot

Learn why wet sumps fail in motorsports and how dry sumps ensure survival. We break down pump stages, plumbing, and pressure.View the full article

Tickets for the Stampede of Speed including the Stars of Texas Music Festival and the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals are on sale now. The sixth annual Stampede of Speed, the 10-day family-friendly Texas themed country music festival and NHRA Countdown event, will bring some of the biggest names in music and racing to the Texas Motorplex, Oct. 9-18. Opening weekend will feature the Stars of Texas Music Festival, Oct. 9-11, with a three-day headliner line-up including Aaron Watson (Friday), Brad Paisle

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series opened its season at Toronto Motorsports Park on Victoria Day Weekend in Cayuga, ON. The event was part of the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series and took place during the NHRA National Open double-header.  In the first completed event, Steve Ferstl won the Top Dragster division, then advanced to the Quick 32 Sportsman Series final and defeated Top Sportsman division winner Matt Costabile.  Ferstl, of Burlington, ON, ran the eighth-mile at 4.858 second

Speartech Fuel Injection Systems, Inc., the industry’s renowned LS and LT engine retrofit specialist, and Modern Racing, a leader in motorsport electronics and wiring solutions, have announced a strategic partnership focused on developing high-performance electrical systems for the underserved space between sportsman racers and top-tier professional race teams. While expanding into new motorsports-focused product offerings, Speartech remains fully committed to growing the industry-leading EFI co

The U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission just wrapped up, and the pit area of event winner “Stevie Fast” Jackson is oddly silent. Soon the bourbon will be flowing like water, but for the moment, crew members are busy discussing a variety of other topics – what all needs to be repaired on the car; what time do they need to leave the following morning to get back to the shop; and how bad has the weekend’s winter storm affected their area.  Editor’s Note: This story originall

For this issue’s column, I decided to do another chat with a driver and get their favorite fan interaction. Elaine Larsen along with her husband, Chris, founded Larsen Motorsports in 2006. Larsen Motorsports (LMS) has grown to become one of the most sought exhibition teams. Winning two world championships with the IHRA Nitro Jam series, LMS owns six elite jet racing teams that are crowd favorites, including the two-time world championship car driven by Elaine.  Editor’s Note: This column ori

Brian Bednar's Oldsmobile Cutlass has transformed from family car to race car. Now the Olds is powered by a supercharged Gen III HEMI.View the full article

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 425 “SMALL TIRE STORMS & SOUTHERN CHAOS” SOME PEOPLE SEE BAD WEATHER. WE SEE BOOST WEATHER. This week on The Wes Buck Show, we’re diving headfirst into one of the rowdiest weekends on the outlaw racing calendar as we get ready for the 9th Annual Strange Engineering Ronnie Buff Memorial and the always wild King of the South showdown. Joining us are two guys who live in the middle of the madness, Michael Poland and Corey Stamper. And if you know these tw

NHRA officials announced today that JEGS, a DTC, e-commerce retailer and distributor of high-performance automotive aftermarket parts and accessories, has been named the presenting sponsor for the first-ever event at Maryland International Raceway in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. The inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS takes place May 29-31 at the standout facility just outside of Washington, D.C. during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, coming just after Memorial D

Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the free fantasy game built for NHRA drag racing fans, has officially opened voting for the Pro Stock Motorcycle edition of its popular Major Moments brackets, the latest chapter in a season-long fan experience celebrating 75 years of NHRA history.   The Major Moments initiative features seeded 64-moment brackets in each professional NHRA category: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, highlighting the most iconic wins, rivalries, records, cha

Blue skies, sticky track conditions and packed staging lanes highlighted a busy weekend of Summit Series competition at Famoso Dragstrip as racers battled through back-to-back points races during Races No. 3 and No. 4 of the 2026 season. Saturday’s program opened the weekend with a strong mix of door cars, dragsters, motorcycles and Junior Street entries filling the property from early morning through the final rounds. Paige Smith picked up the Sportsman victory, while Jeff Arnswald drov

The IHRA has named Dustin Farthing as its new president. Farthing has an extensive background in the motorsports industry. View the full article

The Idle Air Control value is an important setting in an EFI system. Here's how to set the IAC for a Holley EFI system.View the full article

The Mid-West Drag Racing Series is collapsing two of its 2026 Flying H Drag Strip dates into a single weekend, turning what had been the June and October Smack Down stops into a four-day double-header September 24-27 – two complete, separately scored races run back-to-back with their own purses, their own qualifying, and their own eliminations. Series founder Keith Haney announced the move alongside Flying H Drag Strip owner Scott Higgs, citing a stack of scheduling and economic pressure poi