KYLE – Texas’ very own Austin Wayne Self returns to Central Texas Speedway tonight and will compete in the Pro Late Model class at the NAPA Know How 250 season opener. The 20-year old stock car driver and Austin native, who is competing this year on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series circuit, has a break in his schedule and is looking forward to returning to his roots this weekend where his stock car racing career began about six years ago. On Thursday, Self made a stop at Black’s Barbecue in Lockhart, Texas to meet his fans and to visit…
Author: Mike Haag
Mike Haag
Mike Haag has covered motorsports in San Antonio and South Texas for more than 39 years. In addition to covering motorsports for the San Antonio Express-News for nearly 28 years, Mike also has co-hosted TrackSmack with Dawn Murphy for 19 race seasons. In addition to being a writer, Mike taught high school English and Journalism for 30 years before retiring in May, 2020.
Courtesy of the NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brittany Force raced to the qualifying lead in Top Fuel at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Friday. Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were qualifying leaders at the third of 24 events in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. Force powered her Monster Energy dragster to a 3.745-second pass at 309.56 mph to earn the qualifying lead at Gainesville Raceway. Force, who was the runner-up in Phoenix three weeks ago, has four No. 1 qualifiers in her career. She is…
KYLE – Track officials at Central Texas Speedway will kick off the 2016 racing season tonight with the NAPA Know How 250. The gates open at 3 p.m. and the opening ceremonies are set for 6 p.m. Practice sessions begin as early as 11 a.m. and qualifying time trials are set for 4 p.m. Tonight’s race card will feature 11 different racing classes. Tickets are $15 for adults and children 12 and under are free. There are discounts for seniors and military
GAINESVILLE, FL – During the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame banquet tonight Laurie Force was honored with the Pat Garlits Memorial Award presented by Mopar. Force, the wife of 16-time Funny Car champion John Force and mother to NHRA standouts Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force and Courtney Force, has been a fixture on the drag racing scene for over four decades. The award was presented in recognition of Force’s presence behind a drag racing dynasty whose dedication and passion embodies the spirit of Pat Garlits while also being the ever patient wife of 16-time champion John Force. “In the…
Courtesy of the NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Mar. 16, 2016) – The NHRA will honor a former Funny Car world champion and some rocking hot rods will be on display at the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Florida’s Gainesville Raceway. The NHRA will continue its celebration of the 50th anniversary of Funny Car and the fan-favorite Hot Rod Junction will provide fans with a stellar race car exhibit during the third of 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, March 17-20. Two-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Funny Car world champion Frank Hawley will be honored during the…
Courtesy of the NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A remarkable 10 different drivers won races during the 2015 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series season, meaning not a single racer won more than one. Of those 10 winners, none were Troy Coughlin, something he hopes to change in 2016 and as soon as this weekend’s season opener as part of 47th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing is presented by Pro Line Racing and Jerry Bickle Race Cars. One thing Coughlin would like to keep, however, is the finish, as he…
The NHRA Top Fuel drivers return to action this weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. Leah Pritchett, who drives the FireAde dragster, raced to her first Top Fuel win when she defeated Brittany Force in the finals in Phoenix. It was the first time since ’82 that an all-female Top Fuel final was contested. Pritchett used a quicker reaction time and a performance of 3.775 seconds at 323.12 mph in her dragster to finish in front of Brittany Force’s 3.774 at 321.35 in her Monster Energy dragster. It was her second career Top Fuel final…
Courtesy of the NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Chris McGaha enjoyed his finest season in Pro Stock in 2015, winning three races, advancing to five final rounds and becoming a legitimate championship contender. But in a sense, McGaha feels like he is starting over during the early part of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and he is just fine with embracing that challenge. The class has new rules and a new look, including fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods and a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter. It created a significant learning curve for the entire class, but McGaha…
Courtesy of the NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It has not taken long for John Force to see a difference in his John Force Racing team in 2016. In fact, it has been all of two events during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the legendary Force has seen an improvement compared to the early stretch of 2015. The fruits of a busy, productive and important off-season have already had an impact, as the four-car JFR team (Top Fuel’s Brittany Force, Funny Car drivers John Force, Courtney Force and Robert Hight) has posted two final appearances through two…
The NHRA Funny Car class returns to action this weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. Ron Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T, won the season opening event in Pomona when he defeated Del Worsham in the finals for this 45th Funny Car win and his 46th Mello Yello Drag Racing Series victory. He has one Top Fuel win in 1995. His 45 career Funny Car wins is second in the category and trails John Force. He raced to a second round appearance in Phoenix and is the current Funny Car points leader. Last week,…