Bob Tasca left no doubt about his intentions as he headed into the final round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. It wasn’t just about racing against his three fellow competitors; it was about something deeper. Following a contentious disqualification Friday, attributed to an intake manifold deemed illegal by the NHRA Tech Department, Tasca found himself feeling personally slighted by the decision. In response, he vowed to overcome the controversial decision, not just for himself, but for his dedicated crew chiefs who work tirelessly behind ..read more

There was a time when Matt Hagan was a wet-behind-the-ears Funny Car driver, having just graduated from being the NHRA’s Pro Modified Rookie of the Year. It’s taken Hagan a little under two decades, but he has developed into one of the most seasoned drivers in the Funny Car class, and on Sunday   at the 14th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte he scored his milestone 50th win at zMaz Dragway ..read more

From his earliest memories as a young boy, Matt Hagan still vividly recalls the awe-inspiring experience of attending his very first drag race in Bristol, Tennessee. The sights, sounds, and smells of the sport left an undeniable impression on him. In that moment, Hagan could scarcely have imagined that he would one day ascend to the pinnacle of NHRA competition, piloting an 11,000-horsepower, nitro-burning Funny Car, let alone etching his name into the history books as one of the sport’s true legends. Sunday, at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals held at zMAX Dragway, Hagan cemented his status as a mem ..read more

Make it 105 for Greg Anderson.  Anderson increased his NHRA Pro Stock record of national-event wins to that number by capturing the 4-Wide Nationals on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. Anderson, who pilots the HendrickCars.com Chevy Camaro for KB Titan Racing, clocked a stout 6.502-second elapsed time at 210.77 mph to win the finals quad over Aaron Stanfield (6.551), Dallas Glenn (6.561) and Cristian Cuadra (6.549 ..read more

by Bobby Bennett Jr.    Rickie Smith has seen a lot in a lifetime of drag racing, but the one thing that transpired on Sunday he didn't see coming when he rolled through the gates at zMAX Dragway on Thursday. In fact, months ago, when he planned to run Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on an off-weekend, he had never thought it could happen in a million years.  Smith has been drag racing for a long time, but Sunday marked a million years.  "I can't believe this is happening," Smith said. "I came down here for Parkway Ford just to put on a show. I'm more ..read more

Justin Ashley has harbored a love-hate relationship with four-wide drag racing. He loves to race them, but he’s hated the results. However, all of that changed Sunday when the Top Fuel phenom secured his inaugural victory in a race of that type at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals hosted at zMAX Dragway. The triumph marked a milestone in Ashley’s career, finally aligning his enjoyment of the format with a well-deserved taste of success.    ..read more

Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, NC ..read more

by Bobby Bennett Jr.    When you have won as much as Bo Butner has and done so in as many divisions, rarely does a first time look like a first time. But on Sunday, at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, Butner did something new - he won a Mountain Motor Pro Stock race. And it looked like business as usual.  Butner also joined Jeg Coughlin Jr. as one of two drivers to have won in seven different categories. He now has 31 career national event victories.  ..read more

by Bobby Bennett Jr.    The Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) season opener at Maryland International Raceway saw a fierce battle between father-son duo Mike Decker Jr. and Mike “Hollywood” Decker III. Decker III clinched his first Pro Modified win by defeating his father in a showdown marked by exceptional performances throughout the event. Decker Jr. and Decker III claimed the top two qualifying spots in their respective screw-blown Camaros, setting the stage for a thrilling competition. With Decker III’s victory over formidable opponents like Derek Ward, the family riv ..read more

by Bobby Bennett Jr. ; Photo by Ron Lewis    Sponsorships are drag racing’s life’s blood. National IT Consulting company IGTG (Innovative Global Technology Group) plans to make its presence known in the straight-line sport through programs they plan to activate with four top drag racing teams.  IGTG is no stranger to NHRA drag racing. This season’s endeavor marks its fifth year in the straight-line sport and return in 2024 with Paul Lee Racing (Funny Car), Krista Baldwin Racing (Top Fuel), Matt Smith Racing (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and has started a new partnership with Angelle Sa ..read more