NHRA Insider Podcast

Latest Episodes:

8.39 Aaron Stanfield and Christie Meyer-Johnson Talk Texas, Ladders, and More! Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Christie Meyer-Johnson, the co-owner of the Texas Motorplex and the driving force behind the Stampede of Speed as well as Aaron Stanfield who took victory from his dad at the last stop on the NHRA tour at Worldwide Technology Raceway. Christie Meyer-Johnson joins the show from an in-progress Stampede of Speed to detail what's already been happening since the event began, as well as what's in store for the rest of the week. Killer weather, 600+ race cars, and a whole lot or action are on tap. Christie talks about the role of the track in the community, building the event, and the scenes she is looking forward to. Aaron Stanfield called from the pits of the Texas Motorplex where he was working for his wife Jolie this week as she competes at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at the 'Plex. Stanfield talks Pro Stock wins, racing his dad, strategy in the coming races, and a season that has been manic in some respects. A swift moving show for one of the fastest weeks in the sport!

8.38 The Comeback Kids - Jimmy Prock and Will Smith Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Jimmy Prock and Will Smith join host Brian Lohnes to talk about not only their successes in St Louis at Worldwide Technology Raceway but also their teams' respective improvements over the course of 2026. Jimmy Prock goes into depth about the process and work that has defined the Tasca Racing Ford Mustang this season, how he and his crew have developed their combination, pushed the limits of what's possible, and how they have come back into a championship conversation that some may have believed them to be locked out of. It's an interesting chat with one of the all-time great wrenches in the sport of drag racing. Will Smith's Bluebird Turf Top Fuel Dragster has been on a tear in the Countdown. A second-round appearance to start it, a semi-final in Rockingham to continue it, and then a final round berth in St. Louis for their best race day of the season. The how's and why's of this increasingly successful unique team are explored here. Two great stories and two interviews that bring you into the pits and crew chief lounge of these surging teams!

8.37 Pruett, Knudsen, and Greg Stanfield Talk Tech, Points, and Titles Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

On this super-sized episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Leah Pruett, Mike Knudsen, and Greg Stanfield join to talk about a multitude of topics in the world of NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing. Leah joins to explore the partnership that will be highlighted on her car at WWTR featuring a tech company called Pellera. This is a fascinating conversation that examines how this non-drag racing company plays a role in TSR's nitro operations and how they are doing things that no one else in the pits is currently doing at this level. You'll be blown away at the level of tech that is being employed and how it is being used. She also talks 2027, Tony Schumacher, and how the team is approaching the last four races of 2026. Mike Knudsen is the second guest on the show. He talks about his team's big win in Rockingham, how they have come to lead the points, their strategy, their team approach, and any number of inside baseball crew chief topics. An in-depth study in how a championship level Funny Car team operates. Finally, Pro Stock points leader Greg Stanfield joins the show to breakdown his Rockingham win, his team's rise from a 12th place 2025 into a points leading 2026, the first round that had eyebrows raised, and a whole lot more. Insight, humor, and knowledge abound. A big show with big named before a BIG race in St. Louis!

8.36 Mega Michigan Recap, Troy Coughlin, and More! Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Troy Coughlin Jr joins the show to talk about his amazing Pro Stock win at the Dodge Great Lakes Nationals and host Brian Lohnes recaps the stunning event in a monologue style. Coughlin gives awesome insight into navigating the sometimes up and down world of drag racing, his approach to a treacherous starting line in Martin, Michigan, and how the final round against Matt Hartford was not just a test of skill, but one of patience and physicality as well. His recounting of the victory and weekend are next level good. The show starts with a Brian Lohnes monologue about the race, the starting line questions people had about reaction times and the "why" behind it, recounting top performers, the incredible vibe with the hardcore Michigan fans, and a whole lot more. Rockingham is right around the corner and the Countdown is red hot!

8.35 Regular Season Funny Car Champ Hagan and an Insider's Countdown Preview! Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Matt Hagan joins the show to talk about the hard-fought regular season title his team eared at Indy, the approach they are taking to the Countdown, and how he plans on battling with the best for a fifth NHRA championship. Following Hagan, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join the show to dive into a class-by-class breakdown of not only the Dodge Great Lakes Nationals but also a longer look into the six-race Countdown to the Championship that kicks off this weekend and roars through three straight events. Insight, rumors, news, and more! It's time to get fired up about the NHRA heading back to Michigan and the Countdown kicking off!

8.34 Brian Husen and Tim Fabrisi On Winning the Nitro Battles At Indy Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

On this post Cornwell Quality Tools US Nationals episode, host Brian Lohnes is joined by winning crew chiefs Tim Fabrisi and Brian Husen, the guys who captured the Nitro Funny Car and Top Fuel diamond Wally trophies on a wild Monday at the biggest race of the season. Both men talk about the challenges presented by the weather with incredible temperatures, off the charts humidity, and wild swings over the four days of competition between qualifying and racing. For John Force Racing's Tim Fabrisi and Daniel Hood, the guys who tune Jack Beckman's funny car, it was a rich weekend in every respect. Between the race win and their All-Star Call Out victory, they netted about $200,000 in 48 hours. Fabrisi takes us inside the weekend and shares some truly neat stories about how they approached and conquered the US Nationals. Brian Husen knew his team needed to break out of their three-race slump and boy did they! Husen talks about the weekend that landed them in the most coveted winner's circle in drag racing, the one at IRP. Listen to him explain where the struggles were, how they fixed them, and what he is looking for over the next six races. The inside story of the teams that conquered Indy!

8.33 Insider Bonus Show: Indy Pro Mod - Facts, History, and Rookie Peter Norton! Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

On this bonus Cornwell Quality Tools US Nationals Insider, Brian Lohnes dives deep into the world of JBS Equipment Pro Mod and interviews rookie sensation Peter Norton who has been racing for nine months and has already done huge things with his young team. Norton is making his quarter-mile Pro Mod debut at Indy, his home track.

Outside of the conversation with Norton there's a breakdown of the Road to the Championship, the points standings, the drivers to watch, a history lesson of the Pro Mod class at the US Nationals, statisics, bump spots, and a whole lot more.

If you love Pro Modified like we do, this is a must listen show to know it ALL going into the World's Largest Drag Race. The implications for careers are huge, championship runs are on the line, and the intensity cannot be beat.

8.32 The Insiders Dive Into the 2026 Cornwell Quality Tools US Nationals Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Kevin McKenna and Tony Pedregon join the show for an in-depth romp into all things 2026 Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA US Nationals. Kevin McKenna and Brian Lohnes go deep into the storylines, names, history, and cars that will be competing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing series categories at the event from Stock Eliminator all the way up to the Top Alcohol Funny car and Dragster divisions. The Sox and Martin Hemi Challenge, FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown and more are also discussed. That plus the cars you need to find in the pits, the strategy to win the most grueling race on the tour, and a whole lot more is broken down. Tony Pedregon joins the show and the conversation moves to the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series categories and a class-by-class breakdown that examines regular season championship leaders, new and returning faces, and the high-stakes poker that qualifying becomes with the massive herd of cars descending upon Indy. It's an interesting and eye-opening discussion. Info on how and where to watch, emerging story lines and more. It's Indy and EVERYONE is fired up!

8.31 Maddi Gordon, Jordan Vandergriff, and the MKD Pit Reporter Tell All! Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

On this super-sized, three guest episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Maddi Gordon, Jordan Vandergriff, and Mario Boesch (aka "The MKD Pit Reporter") join the show to talk all things about Brainerd, the points, Indy, sportsman drag racing and more. Add that with an action-packed monologue to start the show, and you have the perfect recipe to prepare yourself or two of the largest weeks of NHRA drag racing all year. Jordan Vandergriff hits lead-off on this episode and he talks about the runner up finish he and his team earned in Brainerd, the season so far, and the idea that he is a Funny Car rookie only seven points out of the lead for the regular season championship. Jordan drops plenty of knowledge and some interesting hints at fun to come at Indy. Maddi Gordon is up next, and she regals us with the tale of her first career runner-up finish, the season that has been, the idea of legitimately running for a Top Fuel title, and how the whole world of drag racing has changed so much for her in a year. The final guest on the show is Mario Boesch, a Right Trailers Top Sportsman and Top Dragster racer that is better known on the internet as the "MKD Pit Reporter". Mario has become a huge hit on the drag racing internet making great videos and more importantly standing as a voice for sportsman drag racers. He talks about how this all happened, the stuff he has done, the benefits racers have seen from it, and more. This is a BIG show and we're just getting warmed up for the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA US Nationals!

8.30 The Insiders Talk Brainerd, Points Battles, and More! Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Powered by Speedmaster Tony Pedregon of the NHRAonFox and Kevin McKenna of National Dragster join the show, and the conversation is locked in on the Brainerd Nationals, the pitched points battle for lucrative in-season championships, and more The conversation this week really gets into the nuts and bolts of the teams, the drivers, and the cars that have a chance to land first in the points by the end of the regular season and the methods, challenges, and threats they face while trying to do it. There's plenty of talk about stats, driver performances, and the lessons this 2026 season has taught everyone in terms of who can get the job done and how they can do it. The domination of the Kalitta Top Fuel cars is explored, the Pro Stock situation among leading teams, and the wide-open Funny Car battle that seems impossible to call, even now. Loads of insight, loads of excitement, and all the knowledge to get you fired up for Brainerd and beyond!

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