Courtesy of the NHRA POMONA, Calif. – The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season kicked off Friday and defending Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence piloted to the category’s qualifying lead at the 59th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) are also provisional qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the first of 24 events on the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Torrence leads the Top Fuel category with a run of 3.716-seconds at 330.07 mph in his…
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 NTT IndyCar Series DETROIT (Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019) – INDYCAR announced today during the North American International Auto Show that global information technology and communications leader NTT has signed a multiyear agreement to become the IndyCar Series title partner. In addition, NTT becomes the official technology partner of INDYCAR, the IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 beginning in 2019. INDYCAR will partner with NTT to deliver digital innovations that enhance the fan experience. These innovations include the evolution of INDYCAR’s mobile application and adoption of NTT’s proprietary Smart Platform to support…
By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Tyler Reddick book-ended his rookie NASCAR Xfinity season run – with wins in the season-opener in Daytona Beach and again Saturday evening in the Homestead-Miami season finale. But a stellar championship field kept him honest – truly settling the season trophy among themselves. Last year’s Homestead winner Cole Custer finished second- a full 6.9-seconds behind Bell in the race and therefore second also in the title chase. But his effort was still good enough Saturday to give Stewart-Haas Racing its first Xfinity Series owner’s championship. Richard Childress Racing driver Daniel Hemric was…
By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Tyler Reddick was the only driver of the Championship 4 who really liked it on top, and his willingness to run the wall paid off with a race win and a NASCAR Xfinity Series title. Charging forward in the top lane, even though it meant an occasional brush with the outside wall, Reddick pulled away from pole winner Cole Custer during a long green-flag run to the finish to win Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 by 6.902 seconds. “I picked a really good time to get my life together and decide to…
Officials with the NHRA have announced that they will cut back on the number of Pro Stock races from 24 to 18 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in 2019. “We think the new schedule will increase participation by relieving the economic burden and time commitment that comes with 24 events, which will ignite more intense competition. All of that should make for compelling action and drive fan interest,” said Josh Peterson, NHRA vice president of racing administration. Texas NHRA drag racing fans will only see the Pro Stocks compete at the Texas Motorplex in the fall. …
FORT WORTH, Texas – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch and Ty Dillon joined h President Eddie Gossage for Friday’s grand opening festivities of the new 7-Eleven® convenience store on the Texas Motor Speedway grounds. The world’s largest convenience retailer opened its first location at a professional sports venue on Oct. 27. The 5,000-square-foot store is located on the Lone Star Circle inner ring road outside of the infield’s North Tunnel exit. Tram service is being offered to and from the store this weekend and will give customers access to all other tram stops located throughout the…
FORT WORTH, Texas – A photographic look at the grand opening of the 7-Eleven store on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. All photos provided courtesy of Getty Images and Texas Motor Speedway.
By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Chad Knaus is ready to fulfill a career-long dream—sort of TALLADEGA, Ala. – Almost from the day he arrived at Hendrick Motorsports 25 years ago, Chad Knaus had a specific ambition. He wanted to be crew chief on Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet. Only one problem: Ray Evernham had the job. So Knaus began his association with the No. 24 team as a fabricator. He also changed rear tires for Gordon as an original member of the vaunted Rainbow Warriors pit crew and was part of Gordon’s championship teams in 1995 and 1997. After…
Courtesy of TMS Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – Before the green flag flies on the AAA Texas 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on Sunday, Nov. 4, fans will have the opportunity to rock out to some country music – Texas style. Beginning at 12 p.m. CT, the Josh Abbott Band will take the stage for the Texas Corn Producers Loud & Proud Pre-Race Show Powered By American Ethanol. This will be the band’s first performance at Texas Motor Speedway, but the group certainly is no stranger to the Lone Star State. Lead vocalist Josh Abbott founded…
Courtesy of the NHRA CONCORD, N.C. – For the third straight NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship race, there was a different points leader by the end of the event in Pro Stock Motorcycle. After winning last weekend in Dallas, former class champ LE Tonglet hopes that is a trend he can break starting at this weekend’s 11th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Making his second straight final round appearance in the playoffs, Tonglet picked up his fourth win of the year on his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki, opening up a 47-point lead on defending world champion…