NHRA Insider Podcast

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6.13 The Insiders Convene To Talk Phoenix and Early Results Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

This week on the NHRA Insider, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna of NHRA National Dragster join host Brian Lohnes for a wide-ranging discussion on the early season, well, very early season results we have seen so far in NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing, what the seemingly beautiful Phoenix weekend could look like, and who's trying to emerge from the pack in this first small sampling of 2024. Working class by class for the upcoming race, the topics touch on everything from the strength of Erica Enders first couple of races, the things that drag racing can do better to tell inside stories, the upcoming Pomona Finals in Phoenix, how Top Fuel is so absurdly good, and why rivalries and tensions are sure to rise as the season progresses. It's a rocking and rolling hour of drag racing insight, opinion, and fun!

6.12 A Hail-acious Pomona Recap and Phoenix Primer With Travis Shumake and Lyle Barnett Powered By Speedmaster Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes recaps an insane Lucas Oil Winternationals and is then joined by Travis Shumake who will make his Top Fuel career debut in Phoenix and Lyle Barnett who will make his Arizona drag racing debut at the same event as the pro mods will be competing in the desert for the first time. Shumake has been working for three years to achieve this moment. He has a one car operation, has raised the funding himself, and has been relentlessly working to secure sponsors and supporters all along the way. He is a legacy racer who will make his debut at a track his late father Tripp had much success on a local and national event level through the years. It's a story of determination and perseverance unique to him. Lyle Barnett the hard-nosed Pro Mod racer talks about his Gainesville race as well as the excitement of hitting a new venue and facility along with learning its challenges. The event has more than 20 of the cars pre-entered and will of course feature a 16 car field so qualifying will be a high drama exercise like it was in Gainesville. Two great stories and two things to look forward to in Phoenix at Firebird Motorsports Park!

6.11 Two Drivers, 11 Championships - Steve Torrence and Jeg Coughlin Jr Dive Deep! Powered By Speedmaster Mar 20, 2024

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On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Steve Torrence and Jeg Coughlin Jr to talk about not only the start of the 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series but their careers, their approach to drag racing, and how the mental aspect of this sport is its most towering challenge. For Steve Torrence, a strong running car in Gainesville has buoyed his spirits and placed him back in a competitive mindset that he will carry into the Lucas Oil Winternationals. In a wide ranging conversation Torrence talks about himself, his family, the team's approach, and how things actually get more difficult in racing as time and success wear on. He also tells a side-splitting story about his first experience in a top fuel dragster as well as his first race. Must hear stuff. Jeg Coughlin Jr is back among the full-time ranks of NHRA pro stock racers and this conversation spans the spectrum of topics. Whether it is the evolution of a driver in the class, how he is able to maintain and keep competitive focus, his relationship with the car and his crew chiefs, and even the things his father taught him as a young racer, you'll be fascinated by the subject matter. The Winternationals are going to be fast and this show will get you pumped up for the race.

6.10 Austin Prock and A Post Gainesville Breakdown To End 'Em All! Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Amalie Oil Gatornationals funny car runner up Austin Prock to discuss his weekend and his rapid rise to funny car stardom. There's also a class by class breakdown and analysis of the action from the Gators and what it means for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series going forward. Austin Prock is candid, thoughtful, and reflective in this conversation. The topics range fom getting handed a rocket of a car and taking it by the horns, the differences in physically driving the machine, how they achieved the success they did at the Gatornationals, and how they plan on keeping the whole works moving forward through the year. Prock has high expectations of himself and his team and he shares them here. Prior to Prock's appearance Lohnes breaks down the race from his perspective as a broadcaster, what the winners showed the world, and what the losers have to work on. This is a fun and fast moving show!

6.9 Go Time - The Insiders Talk Gainesville And The 2024 Season Ahead Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

It's Gainesville week! On this show host Brian Lohnes is joined by NHRAonFox Analyst Tony Pedregon and the two go in-depth looking at the upcoming Amalie Oil Gatornationals as well as the full 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season to come. The conversation is wide ranging and travels from class to class with a heavy concentration on top fuel, which presents itself on paper as perhaps the most challenging of all the professional categories to name favorites in. From the new teams, the new drivers and riders, the mental and mechanical challenges, those that need to step up, those that appear to have already stepped up, and what it will take to claim championships in 2024, these guys touch on it all. Listen up and get excited for what will be an incredible kick off to 2024 at the Gatornationals!

6.8 The Florida Men Cometh - Josh Hart and Dave Richards Talk 2024 Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

This episode of the NHRA Insider concentrates on two fascinating story lines developing in the home state of the Amalie Oil Gatornationals. Josh Hart and Dave Richards are at their center and both men join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the show. For Josh Hart 2023 was a string of disappoints following a shining moment at the Gators when he won the Pep Boys All-Star Call Out. After that things were a pretty rough uphill slog all year. Hart talks about that, working through the frustration, commitment to his team, and the outlook for 2024 following Florida testing. It's an insightful chat with one of the sport's most interesting guys. Economical with his words, they all land with a punch. Dave Richards is set to live out a life's dream that was borne of a nightmare in 2023. After a massive season ending crash parked the Versatran funny car, no one knew what the future held for the team. Well, as it was, this wreck would cause the team to be reborn, purchased as part of the SCAG Power Equipment Factory effort, they will run the full tour for the first time in 2024. Richards talks about the challenges, the excitement, and the work that goes into making this whole thing work. It's fun, it's insightful, and it's the story of an epic full time call up to the big leagues.

6.7 Jonnie Lindberg Talks Funny Car Tuning and Leah Pruett Talks All-Star Callout Craziness! Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Jonnie Lindberg and Leah Pruett join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their pre-season testing successes and what's coming for Gainesville, which could be a watershed weekend for both of them. For Jonnie Lindberg, he has the shot of a lifetime as a young crew chief. Working along side John Medlen in tuning Paul Lee's funny car, he gets to call from his own experience and that of a man who has been tuning longer than he has been alive. Lindberg talks about the process of tuning the car, the string of 3.80s runs it made in Bradenton testing, the process of learning from Medlen, and the various aspects of his own life and career that will contribute to his success in this large role. It's insightful and a great window into the challenges and exciting things facing a motivated and talented young mind in the sport. Leah Pruett is preparing for one of the wildest weekends of her drag racing career in Gainesville...maybe. She will race in the Pep Boys All-Star Call-Out...maybe. In this interview, Pruett reveals the unprecedented plan she and her team have hatched for Gainesville. Qualifying her husband on Friday and then concentrating on her efforts on Saturday with potentially both cars running on Sunday is something we have never heard of anyone else doing. She tells all here. This is one heck of a show!

6.5 Lyle Barnett Talks Full Time Pro Mod in '24 - Justin Ashley Talks SCAG, Strategy, and Success Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast re-minted full-time Pro Mod racer Lyle Barnett and top fuel Ace Justin Ashley join host Brian Lohnes to talk off-season moves, big expectations for 2024, and how, as individuals, they plan on making a measurable impact on the upcoming season. Lyle Barnett had a whirlwind of an off-season. Initially tagged as the replacement driver for Leah Pruett, the situation changed and he was left without a ride. A single conversation with Pro Mod team owner Scott Tidwell placed him in the seat of a highly competitive car and one he will pilot all season long. Barnett talks about the team, why it is a good fit, and what he brings to the table in what promises to be a season for the doorslammer books. Justin Ashley made waves when it was announced that his team would be part of the new SCAG factory mega-team that includes multiple Funny Car entries, a Top Fuel dragster, Pro Stock entries and more. Ashley talks about pre-season preparations, his approach to 2024, and why this SCAG Power Equipment team is set to take an already stable operation and kick it over the top. Big energy here. Big talent here. Big fun here as well. Listen!

6.4 Eddie Krawiec Talks About Getting Off The Motorcycle Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes dives into the big news of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category of the last week with four time champion and 49 time race winner Eddie Krawiec. National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna also joins the show to talk about motorcycles along with other brewing NHRA stories. In this candid conversation, Eddie Krawiec talks about his career, his decision to abdicate the seat of the second Vance and Hines Suzuki, who Richard Gadson is and the process of bringing another rising star in motorcycle drag racing to the sport's largest stage. It is retrospective, introspective, and really interesting to learn about how this all happened and how the team will work going forward, along with Eddie's plans. Revealing and fun, the conversation rolls. Kevin McKenna brings his insight as one of the true NHRA Insiders not only about some interesting internal storylines in Pro Stock Motorcycle but also about other classes and developments that are on going as we speak, all leading up to the Gatornationals in March. A fun and swiftly moving episode here!

6.3 Funny Car: The Next Generaton - Daniel Wilkerson and Austin Prock Talk 2024, More Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

If the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series off-season comes in waves, consider this the second one, and it's the central focus of this episode of the NHRA Insider. Host Brian Lohnes has Daniel Wilkerson, the newly minted driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang, and Austin Prock, the even newer named driver of the Cornwell Tools, AAA, John Force Racing Chevrolet Camaro on as guests. Both guys will be fresh to the funny car category as full-time competitors, both will be tuned by their fathers and both are high energy, entertaining, dynamic personalities. This show radiates the energy you'd expect from two lifelong lovers of drag racing that were both surprised at the turns their respective careers took for 2024. Lots of interesting conversation here from the approach of a driver with a handful of races under his belt to the approach of a seasoned and fun-loving top fuel driver getting in one of the greatest funny cars on the planet. Non-stop fun here, some teasers on upcoming news, some other stuff revealed and more!

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