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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. 

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!