Track officials hurried teams along throughout Sunday’s running of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series at the Lucas Oil Speedway outside Indianapolis. The threat of inclement weather could be seen building to the west of the track during elimination rounds at the Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals. When the thunderstorms finally arrived at the historic racing facility, all semifinal elimination rounds were in the book and teams were feverishly preparing for a shot a Wally. After a lengthy delay and difficulty in getting the eighth-mile racing surface completely dry for the high-horsepower competitors, race officials announced the fourth round of the pandemic-altered NHRA schedule would be completed prior to the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals on Sept. 3-6 at the...

The Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals saw the popular E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod division kick off its 2020 season with an open test session on Friday at the Indianapolis track. As part of the National Hot Rod Association’s “New Normal”, drivers and teams who did not compete in last weekend’s nationals sponsored by E3, which included Pro Mod, Factory Stock, and Top Fuel Harley Motorcycles, were allowed to test equipment on-track for the first time this year. Originally scheduled for debut in Gainesville FL at the Gatornationals in March, a last-minute delay was issued by the sanctioning body when state agencies directed the event to be postponed due to the pandemic. NHRA officials followed the guidelines set forth by Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, and...

After four months of silence without fans in the stands, a roar of approval greeted NASCAR’s finest this week when a loyal group of racing fans were welcomed back at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. Although privately held venues like Bristol are not required to reveal the number of tickets sold, the track had received the go ahead to make 30,000 tickets available for the NASCAR Open and NASCAR All-Star events that were historically hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. History was made as the races marked the first time All-Star drivers competed on a short track for the non-points paying race for the winner’s purse of one million dollars. Moreover, the annual race needed their fan base back to help select the “Fan’s Favorite” driver...

NHRA racers, teams and fans had been anxiously awaiting the restart of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series for months, when the 10,000-horsepower nitro-burning engines came to life at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis this weekend. After 140 days of silence, racing fans got a glimpse of what the New Normal will look like, as the season resumed in most classes. First, there was a quick temperature check and reminders that masks in the up position were mandatory at all times during the event. Finally, as eager spectators made it inside, big red signs greeted them with the message “STAY CALM & SOCIAL DISTANCE”. Everyone appeared to follow the rules the entire weekend, excepting the part about staying calm. Anyone that follows the World’s Fastest sport knows...

Pro Mod racing teams are eager to put cars and drivers on track for the launch of the 2020 E3 Pro Mod NHRA Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. Currently, the NHRA Mello Yello Schedule has the popular doorslammer class on the lineup for the July 18-19 event at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. That will be the second of back-to-back weekends slated for the relaunch of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing 2020 schedule. Drivers in the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will contest a 12-event schedule in 2020 as originally planned. However, due to a scoring change requested by the race teams and approved by the National Hot Rod Association, racers will only earn points towards the season championship at just nine of the 12 events scheduled. According to the latest RACER...

After four and a half months without NHRA drag racing, the biggest stars in the National Hot Rod Association 2020 Mellow Yello Drag Racing Series are set to return to action this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Nonetheless, with COVID-19 cases on the rise in every state that is set to host an event based on the current revised schedule, uncertainty remains at the center of the “New Normal” for everyone associated with the NHRA. Completing the 2020 season could still prove difficult as new coronavirus cases continue to climb in Florida, Texas, Tennessee, California, North Carolina, and Georgia. Rather than gamble, several drivers and top tier teams are noticeably absent from preregistration for the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA National scheduled for July 11-12. The...

The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service will take to the track for the first time in 2020 on July 18-19 at the second event scheduled for Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.  Drivers will compete in a 12-event schedule as originally planned but, due to a scoring change requested by the Pro Mod race teams and approved by the National Hot Rod Association, racers will only earn points towards the season championship at just 9 of the 12 events scheduled (see non-points scoring events below). Pro Mod non-points earning events will take place at the NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, and at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Until current coronavirus-related...

National Hot Rod Association is set to restart the 2020 drag racing season with back-to-back national events at Lucas Oil Speedway in Indianapolis. The COVID-19 reboot begins with the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, which is the first of two events scheduled at the historic track. The pressure is on for drivers and crew to quickly find the speed they need with only two qualifying passes allowed on Saturday before drivers perform under fire in elimination rounds. Of the seventeen events remaining on the NHRA Mello Yello calendar, 16 of the world championship events on the revised schedule will also be condensed to two-day competition schedules to help compensate teams and promoters dealing with economic and logistical factors. The “New Normal” for the top tier teams at NHRA...

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has announced that E3 Spark Plugs will be the title sponsor of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event on July 11-12 at Lucas Oil Raceway. The Indianapolis event will mark the return to the track of the world’s fastest vehicles in one of the most dramatic seasons in drag racing history. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced promoters and the sanctioning body to adjust (and readjust) schedules to ensure a meaningful fan experience while allowing drivers and teams to compete for year-end honors. The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals will be the first of back-to-back race weekends at the popular Indianapolis track. E3 Spark Plugs is the Official Spark Plug and Official Ignition Products of NHRA. “Over the years, we have been...

A little over a year ago life could not get any better for NHRA Drag Racing fans in Florida. Record crowds attended the traditional track walk for a stroll down the newly repaved Gainesville Raceway and mingled with the world’s fastest race car drivers and teams. Richie Crampton (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Bo Butner (Pro Stock), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) proudly hoisted their special edition gold Wally trophies, as class winners at the historic 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.  In the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod division, Steve “Fast” Jackson made the quickest pass in Pro Mod history but didn’t get the win. North Carolina native Todd Tutterow collected his first career win with quicker start of .008 on the Tree to...