Author: Mike Haag

Courtesy of the NHRA MOHNTON, Pa. – A first-round loss to open the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship hasn’t changed Jack Beckman’s mindset heading into this weekend’s 33rd annual Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. The sense of urgency and goal of winning is always the same for the former Funny Car world champion. But the veteran also knows he can’t have a repeat of what happened in Charlotte if he wants to remain in contention for another NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world title in his 10,000-horsepower Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T. “We were…

Courtesy of the NHRA MOHNTON, Pa. – A class-best five wins during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season showed the type of performance Pro Stock Motorcycle’s LE Tonglet is capable of this year. It’s also why Tonglet won’t let a slow start to the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship get him down heading to this weekend’s Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. Tonglet lost in the second round in Charlotte to teammate and reigning world champ Jerry Savoie, also dropping the points lead to event winner Eddie Krawiec. But pointing back to the type of…

Courtesy of the NHRA MOHNTON, Pa. – In terms of a blueprint for starting a critical juncture of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season well, Tanner Gray came about as close as possible to a perfect one at the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship opener in Charlotte. The rookie phenom continued to roll at his first playoff race, qualifying No. 1 and winning his fifth race of the season heading to this weekend’s 33rd annual Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. It has Gray in a prime position to contend for a world championship, but the…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – NASCAR’s three manufacturers – Chevrolet, Toyota and Ford – joined Goodyear for a two-day wheel force transducer test that concluded Wednesday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtekWy-H7xE&feature=em-upload_owner The session, designed to gather data for the manufacturers and teams to improve their simulation programs, also served as a jumpstart for the driver tabbed to replace NASCAR’s biggest superstar. Chevrolet driver Alex Bowman, who is set to replace retiring Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet beginning next season, got the opportunity to test Texas Motor Speedway’s newly…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series SONOMA, California – For Team Penske, it was the perfect day at the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. Simon Pagenaud won the race to conclude the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Teammate Josef Newgarden finished second to wrap up the championship. Pagenaud, the 2016 champion driving the No. 1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet, beat Newgarden to the finish line by 1.0986 seconds to win the 85-lap race at Sonoma Raceway. It was the Frenchman’s 11th career victory and second straight on the 2.385-mile, 12-turn permanent road course. A year ago, Pagenaud won…

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service JOLIET, Ill. – Remember all those playoff points that were supposed to carry regular-season champion Martin Truex Jr. through the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs? He didn’t need them—not after what turned out to be a dominating victory in Sunday’s Tales of the Turtles 400, the Playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway. Truex’s fifth victory of the season, his second straight at Chicagoland and the 12th of his career was hardly a cakewalk, even though the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota took the checkered flag 7.179 seconds ahead of runner-up…

Courtesy of the NHRA CONCORD, N.C. — Doug Kalitta powered to his first career victory at zMAX Dragway Sunday at the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious in their respective categories at the first of six playoff events during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. Points leader Kalitta took down teammate Richie Crampton in the final round with a 3.775-second pass at 318.39 mph in his Mac Tools dragster to earn his first victory of the season. Kalitta…

News, notes, photos and audio courtesy of NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: Tales of the Turtles 400 The Place: Chicagoland Speedway The Date: Sunday, Sept. 17 The Time: 3 p.m. ET TV: NBCSN, 2:30 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Open At Chicagoland Speedway The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series kicks off its Playoffs with the Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway (3 p.m.…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series SONOMA, California – Verizon IndyCar Series points leader Josef Newgarden withstood constant pressure from his nearest championship competitors, setting a track record to win the Verizon P1 Award in GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma qualifying. Newgarden earned his first pole of the season and second of his six-year career with a scintillating last lap of 1 minute, 15.5205 seconds (113.691 mph) on Sonoma Raceway’s 2.385-mile, 12-turn permanent road course. The championship bonus point Newgarden collected for winning the pole stretched his advantage to four points over Scott Dixon heading into Sunday’s season finale that…

Courtesy of the NHRA CONCORD, N.C. — Courtney Force powered to the Funny Car No. 1 qualifier Saturday at the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Force claimed the top spot after a run of 3.891 seconds at 330.07 mph in her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro during her second pass Friday. She clinched her category-best seventh No. 1 qualifier on the year as she continues to chase her first victory this season. Force will face off with Bob Gilbertson in round one of eliminations on Sunday. “I’m really proud of my team for giving me a great…