NHRA Insider Podcast

Latest Episodes:

6.2 Schumacher and Wendland Tell All On Team Building, Sponsorships, More Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

On this fired up episode of the NHRA Insider host Brian Lohnes talks with Shawn Reed Racing crew chief Rob Wendland and JCM Top Fuel pilot Tony Schumacher about a multitude of behind the scenes topics in professional drag racing. Wendland talks about the massive undertaking of getting a new Top Fuel operation off the ground. From the literal nuts and bolts, to the work, how the labor is divided, how a new team functions together, and the expectations he has for the 2024 season. This is as insightful as it gets into the world of a crew chief overseeing a hue project being done over a short period of time. How does this all come together? Wendland spills the beans on every inch of it. Tony Schumacher, the eight time Top Fuel champion is the second guest on this show and the conversation ranges from the legacy his late father Don left in the sport, his feelings on the 2023 season at JCM Racing, the shock and surprise of a primary sponsor leaving unexpectedly, his feelings on the topic, becoming a driver coach for incoming FIA Top Fuel champion Ida Zetterstrom, and a ton more. This episode is on the gas! Listen up now!

6.1 2024 Is ON - The Insiders Talk Ownership Controversies, Passing of Legends and More Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

On this first 2024 episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon to talk about the news of the last couple of weeks, the passing of legends like Don Schumacher and Roland Leong, the wild news about JCM Racing, the new SCAG factory drag racing team, and a whole lot more. What is normally a quiet stretch of time between Christmas and New Year's Day was far busier than normal this year. Lohnes and Pedregon take time to reflect on the lives and careers of both the late owner and tuner Roland Leong as well as the massive legacy left by the passing of Don Schumacher. The two talk about the work being done in this earliest week of the new year by the teams who have officially kicked off preparations for the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, what those preparations are, and how important getting new crew members acclimated is. The most interesting part of the show delves into the announcements made by JCM Racing and SCAG regarding wholesale changes of both sponsorship and ownership tied into multiple teams. This story will continue to develop and the insiders are here for it. It's 2024 and the action is getting closer by the day, enjoy this episode!

5.53 Championship Crew Chief Alan Johnson, A Wrap On 2023, and Some Final Rumors! Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

On this final 2023 episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, host Brian Lohnes talks to championship crew chief Alan Johnson who worked with a talented team to achieve a Top Fuel world championship with the Kalitta team. He talks about the building process, the end of the season run, and a lot about the inner workings of a top fuel drag racing team. It's a fascinating chat with one of the most decorated minds in drag racing history. The other section of the show is a monologue wrap up of the 2023 season, some news and rumors that are still bubbling in the Pro Stock and Nitro Funny Car ranks and an outlook to the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series to come. A fun way to wrap up the season and get settled in for a short Christmas and holiday season break!

5.52 An NHRA PRI News Avalanche and New Funny Car Driver Buddy Hull! Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider host Brian Lohnes takes you through the absolutely astonishing torrent of news that came from the 2023 PRI show in Indianapolis and is later joined by a guy who helped to make some headlines in the form of Buddy Hull, who is moving into the Jim Dunn Racing nitro funny car for the 2024 season. The first 20 minutes of this show is nothing but headlines, analysis, and breakdown of a relentless 2023 PRI show. The news was all positive from drivers changing classes, to drivers moving into ownership roles, the emergence of an FIA champion into NHRA top fuel, and a whole lot more. The second half of the show has Buddy Hull joining to talk about his change to the nitro funny car ranks with Jim Dunn Racing, how the deal came together, what he is most excited about, and how he has sold a large portion of his operation to Jacob McNeal who will run it intact into 2024. Hull is a highly positive force in NHRA and he is poised to be a rock star as he enters the ranks as a full time runner. A big episode that is packed with juicy news. Some you know and lots you do not!

5.51 The Insiders Talk More Crew Chief Moves and a Monster Week Ahead At PRI Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

This week on the NHRA Insider Podcast host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon. The pair talk about the continuing news around crew chief moves in the NHRA and they preview what will be the largest and most exciting week of drag racing news in years at PRI. From the announcements of new teams, new drivers, the NHRA National Dragster All-Star Team, new sponsors, and more, this will be a week long remembered by NHRA fans and a week that will supercharge an already busy off-season. The pair talk about Leah Pruett testing her car in 40-degree weather at IRP, the preparations being made by those teams that are already established, speculate on some news that has not been fully confirmed yet, and a whole lot more. This is a fun show that has a lot of energy coming into the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis. Make sure you tune into NHRA.com all week long to stay abreast of the breaking news in drag racing through all the various classes and categories!

5.50 Crew Chief News and Rumors, Matt Smith, Chad Green, and More! Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, host Brian Lohnes drops the puck on the silly season with a load of news from behind the scenes of NHRA drag racing. Crew chiefs moving around, brewing controversy with one announcement, perhaps, longtime unions busted up, and new ones formed. This is wild stuff! The guests on the show are funny car racer and Pomona winner Chad Green who talks about his weekend, his season, his ability to help decide a title, and how he feels going into the 2024 campaign and the off-season. Matt Smith is the second guest and he talks a lot about the lessons learned in 2023, how he can apply them to 2024, and what he learned over a tough season. Smith talks rules, talks racing with strategy, and talks about how he can step and give Gaige Herrera a run for his money, along with everyone else in 2024. This is a heck of a show with news that will make your eyes and ears pop!

5.49 The Insiders Talk Pomona, Champions, Failures, and The Future! Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon and Phil Burgess host Brian Lohnes to talk all things past, present, and future in NHRA drag racing. The trio have a class-by-class championship breakdown with loads of insight, loads of information, and loads of behind-the-scenes knowledge only they can bring. This wide ranging discussion moves to the teams and people that struggled during the countdown after strong regular season efforts and the potential reasons for why and how they can improve for 2024. There's lots of great information to be had here and an in-depth breakdown of individual performances along with how teams dealt with the curve balls of the year. Finally, the three launch into rumor patrol mode and go into some of the breaking stories, some of the good dirt, and some of the interesting happening. The guys actually surprise each other with some of this stuff, so it is silly season gold! A great listen to kick off the off-season and Thanksgiving week!

5.48 NHRA Insider LIVE: Soothsayer and the Spoilers Nov 12, 2023

Show notes

On this live edition of the NHRA Insider Podcast, hosts Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon are joined by National Dragster Editorial Director Phil Burgess, top fuel driver Josh Hart, and funny car pilot Chad Green.

The guy will get inside the head of drag racing's most knowledgeable journalist and get his take on early qualifying and how the weekend is laying out in the performance realm and championship storylines.

Josh Hart sawed his way through tough competition to go rounds in Las Vegas and cause heartburn for many top fuel contenders. The guys will talk to Hart about a frustrating season and the lessons learned in it.

Finally, top 10 funny car runner Chad Green will join the show and tell the world about his career year in 2023, what the team learned, how they grew, and what he plans on doing to get even better in 2024.

It's all LIVE from Pomona!

5.47 The Insiders Talk Vegas Controversy, Winners, and The In-N-Out Burger Finals! Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon talk all things Las Vegas and about the upcoming In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. It was a controversial and hardcore weekend in the desert paradise of lights and glamour where a handful of racers set their course for potential championships. Gaige Herrera dominated, Erica Enders got her 10th victory at the facility, and the already tight nitro ranks got even tighter leading into this last race. The two talk about the major stories that came from the pits at the race, their net effect on the outcome, and which teams proved themselves championship-worthy. As the conversation moves to Pomona and the In-N-Out Burger Finals, they break down the strengths and potential pitfalls of the remaining contenders and how each can succeed or fail on this most pressure-packed stage. It promises to be a beautiful Southern California weekend filled with all the drama professional drag racing can deliver. Get geared up for it right here with the NHRA Insider!

5.46 NHRA Insider LIVE at Vegas: Pro Mod Championship Edition Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

Join hosts Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon in the pits at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as they talk to the three leading contenders for the 2023 NHRA FuelTech Pro Mod championship.

Mike Castellana, Justin Bond, and Kris Thorne are racing to the wire. Thorne is the defending series champion, and both Bond and Castellana are seeking their first world title.

The conversation will be lively and both Lohnes and Pedregon will get deep into the realm of NHRA drag racing and this championship chase that ends at The Strip on Sunday!

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