NHRA Insider Podcast

Latest Episodes:

4.38 Men On The Move: Clay Millican and Ron Capps! Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

Ron Capps and Clay Millican join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast. Both racers are in a strong position with regard to their seasons. Capps sits just 10 points behind leader Robert Hight and Millican, with fresh ownership and parts is in the fastest race car he has had in years. While Millican may be a bit too far out to be considered a favorite, Capps has been slugging with Hight and Hagan on a weekly basis to maintain his championship position. Clay Millican brings great insights into the operation of his top fuel team under the ownership of Rick Ware Racing and what it means for the future of the entire outfit. It is an exciting time for he and the entire team as they now have an inventory of parts that will allow them to run the car as hard and fast as the front runners under crew chief Jim Oberhofer. Ron Capps is loving life at the moment. He comes off a big win in Dallas and is in the dream position of being less than one full round out of first place in his NAPA Toyota GR Supra. A multi-time champion, he reflects on the hardened experience of those first two championships and how that struggle can help him here. Capps talks about his crew, Dean Antonelli and co-crew chief John Medlen, and what the future holds for his operation. This is a fun listen with two of drag racing's great personalities!

4.37 The 2022 Texas Fall Nationals Pre-Race Throwdown Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, Tony Pedregon of the NHRAonFox and National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna come on with host Brian Lohnes to talk about the NHRA Texas Falls Nationals. This is a race with massive implications in every Camping World Drag Racing Series category and, for some, could actually provide the points needed to lock in a world title. Taking it from the top with a conversation about St Louis, the threesome dive into each pro class, talk about who has the command of the moment, what desperate measures could be taken by others to stop them, and what the conditions looming in Texas could bring on as far as challenges. There's a discussion about discord in a championship-contending top fuel team, a breakdown of the role a legendary crew chief is playing with regard to a funny car team, and a conversation about how a 21-point lead in pro stock motorcycle seems larger than it is on paper. THIS is truly an "Insider" look at the world of NHRA drag racing and it's up-to-the-minute good!

4.36 Antron Brown and Matt Smith Talk Midwest Nationals, Championships, and Work Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Antron Brown and Matt Smith join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their successes this season, the hard work behind them, and what they both think it will take to add to their championship career resumes. For Matt Smith, the 2022 Midwest Nationals were a showcase of his abilities as a tuner and a rider. Setting low ET on Friday and then carrying a strong motorcycle through an evolving track surface on Saturday and Sunday set him up for a win that gave him the points lead. We talk about that win, what he's doing to prepare for the final three races, and the mindset of a man chasing his sixth career title. Antron Brown has shown his class and his classic approach to team building, hard work, and faith this season. After frustrations through much of the year, the talented organization put the train back on the tracks fully in Topeka, dipped into the .60s in Brainerd, won the US Nationals, and roared into championship contention with a blistering start to the 2022 Countdown to the Championship. Some of the things Brown reveals and talks about here are very telling in the best of ways. Two guys who are in the running for titles in their classes tell all! A very interesting and informative show.

4.35 Countdown Craziness, Hot Takes, and A Potential Record Breaker in St Louis Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast, NHRAonFox's Tony Pedregon and National Dragster Sr. Editor Kevin McKenna weigh in with all that has been happening through two races of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. The hot takes fly, especially when the conversation turns to the action in Charlotte, North Carolina, last weekend and which teams have exerted themselves hard enough to be true championship contenders. The threesome chat about all manner of things in every professional class and really bear down on the top fuel class, which is seemingly set to produce one of the most incredible single season turn around tales ever, with the rocket-like rise of Antron Brown since the Topeka, Kansas race in the regular season. Controversy about Billy Torrence not staging first round? Yeah, that is gone through here as well. Lohnes riffs on his experience at Drag Week between both races, and this is a show that will have you on the chip for this weekend's race or maybe ready to fire off an angry e-mail! Get pumped up because the action will only get more intense from here on out.

4.34 Counting Down to the Countdown Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about Indy, set up this weekend's Pep Boys Nationals, and work to figure out who will be coming out of the gate swinging in this first round of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. There are loads of great points discussed, some controversy addressed, and opinions a-plenty. Can Brittany do it? Will Steve Torrence come from the fourth spot? So many questions. The second half of the show is a conversation with Virginia Pro Mod winner Tylor Miller. Miller's history in drag racing is astonishing, racing full-sized cars half a decade before he had a driver's license. The stories will have you laughing and leaning in to listen to more. Miller also talks about how his family business Pee Dee Fleet is involved with the upcoming Pro Mod race in Charlotte and career opportunities at the operation. This is a great show, a fun listen, and a perfect way to get pumped up for the race this weekend!

4.33 The Big Pre-Show For The Big Go Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

National Dragster Sr Editor Kevin McKenna and NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon join Brian Lohnes to take a look at the upcoming Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals as well as a look back at Brainerd. Over the course of this wide-ranging chat, there's talk about teams on the rise, breaking news about high-level personnel being hired, and a truly in-depth look at the upcoming US Nationals. Lohnes and McKenna break down some of the race's "hidden gems" that every fan who loves the sport cannot miss, the three of them go professional class by class to talk about surprise entries, who can pull it off, and who the potential Cinderella stories of the race could be. There's talk about the Pep Boys All-Star Callout Events, the Jeg's All-Stars, and so much more. Listen up and get excited about the upcoming US Nationals!

4.32 Meet The Producers - An Insider Discussion On Making NHRAonFOX TV Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

: On this episode of the NHRA Insider, NHRA Vice-President of Broadcasting Steve Reintjes and FOX Sr. Coordinating Producer Pete Richards join host Brian Lohnes to delve into the fascinating world of putting drag racing on television. There's lots to learn here. From the size and scope of the broadcast team to the literal production elements of the shows. Both guys have loads of experience and are descriptive and thorough in their descriptions of many elements that go into the end product you watch at home. Both Reintjes and Richards have many years of experience in the sports television industry and their perspective on what makes drag racing not only different but exceptionally difficult to produce on TV is interesting and well rounded. If you love our NHRAonFOX shows, you'll love this deep dive into how they make it to your TV!

4.31 Talkin' Topeka 2022 Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

NHRAonFOX analyst Tony Pedregon and National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider. The talk is all about the upcoming Menard's NHRA Nationals presented by Pet Armor in Topeka, Kansas, and how teams will either sink or swim in the projected searing heat of the weekend. The trio talks about the massive weekend that was in drag racing with major events all over the country, the tail end of the western swing, and then they evaluate the storylines class by class for this weekend's throwdown in America's heartland. There are some interesting points made here, some great analysis, and some raw opinion that will get you fired up! If you want to go into this weekend with more knowledge than your fellow NHRA pals, this is the show that will get you there. Listen up!

4.30 A Chat with Seattle Top Fuel Winner Tony Schumacher Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast, Tony Schumacher joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about his season so far, Joe Maynard taking a majority ownership stake in his car, his wild victory at Seattle, and what the future holds for the rest of this season and seasons to come. This is a long-form, insightful conversation with the winningest driver in top fuel history. He's able to bring interesting perspective into the struggles of building the team he is on and the payoff of their victory. The conversation regarding the Maynard Family Racing transition is highly informative and interesting. The Maynards have significant goals which could have positive reverberations all through drag racing, not just in the top fuel ranks. Lohnes recaps Seattle, talks about the swing, and then looks forward to the upcoming Topeka race. Listen up!

4.29 Joey Gladstone and Robert Hight Are Riding A Summer Success Wave Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

Sonoma winner Joey Gladstone and NHRA funny car points leader Robert Hight join host Brian Lohnes for this episode of the NHRA Insider podcast. After an incredible race in Sonoma, Lohnes recaps the event, its highlights, and provides some insight into not only Sonoma but this week's Seattle race before settling down with the show's guests.

Joey Gladstone captured his first national event win in his third straight final round by nailing a holeshot against Eddie Krawiec in the Sonoma final. Lohnes talks to him about that event, the weeks leading up to it, and how his career has formed him up to rise to this occasion. This is a very personal conversation with the brightest rising star in this class of drag racing.

Robert Hight is having one of his greatest seasons ever and it shows no signs of letting up. While he was eliminated in the semi-finals in Sonoma he had been on a streak of finals and wins that have made him the points leader by a wide margin. Hight talks about the lessons learned in 2021 and how they have translated into the successes of 2022. It's a cool conversation and one that will take you inside the current successful season for JFR.

Big-time stuff happening at this time of the year and Seattle is coming in hot!

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