That means multiple galleries over multiple days, so keep coming back to check them all out here.

I’ve raced and announced a fair amount in the state of Florida and can tell you that the fans there are awesome. And boy did they get a great show at the 2024 Gators. Everyone that goes always comments on how fun the crowd is there and they aren’t kidding. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as they loved the live action.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE OTHER GALLERIES FROM THE GATORS

The post Our 2024 Gator Nationals Photos Continue With An All New Gallery From Rich Pasley. The People, Cars, Action, And More You Dig. appeared first on BangShift.com.

(Photos by David Whealon) – NHRA Drag Racing at the Gatornationals was off the hook yet again in 2024! We’re talking huge crowds, great racing, and a good time had by all! This is the start of a whole new year of NHRA Drag Racing and we know this season is going to be something special. We’ve got great nitro action photos from Gainesville thanks to longtime contributor David Whealon. David was in Florida shooting all kinds of fun stuff at the Gatornationals and sent us a whole bunch of his favorites.

That means multiple galleries over multiple days, so keep coming back to check them all out here.

I’ve raced and announced a fair amount in the state of Florida and can tell you that the fans there are awesome. And boy did they get a great show at the 2024 Gators. Everyone that goes always comments on how fun the crowd is there and they aren’t kidding. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as they loved the live action.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST GALLERY!

The post Our Final David Whealon NHRA GatorNationals Photo Gallery! Great Action Pics Of Top Fuel, Funny Cars, Pro Mods, And More Plus Links To All The Rest! appeared first on BangShift.com.

(Photos by David Whealon) – NHRA Drag Racing at the Gatornationals was off the hook yet again in 2024! We’re talking huge crowds, great racing, and a good time had by all! This is the start of a whole new year of NHRA Drag Racing and we know this season is going to be something special. We’ve got great nitro action photos from Gainesville thanks to longtime contributor David Whealon. David was in Florida shooting all kinds of fun stuff at the Gatornationals and sent us a whole bunch of his favorites.

That means multiple galleries over multiple days, so keep coming back to check them all out here.

I’ve raced and announced a fair amount in the state of Florida and can tell you that the fans there are awesome. And boy did they get a great show at the 2024 Gators. Everyone that goes always comments on how fun the crowd is there and they aren’t kidding. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as they loved the live action.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST GALLERY!

The post NHRA GatorNationals Photos Continue! We’ve Got More Great Action Pics Of Top Fuel, Funny Cars, Pro Mods, And More! appeared first on BangShift.com.

(Photos by David Whealon) – NHRA Drag Racing at the Gatornationals was off the hook yet again in 2024! We’re talking huge crowds, great racing, and a good time had by all! This is the start of a whole new year of NHRA Drag Racing and we know this season is going to be something special. We’ve got great nitro action photos from Gainesville thanks to longtime contributor David Whealon. David was in Florida shooting all kinds of fun stuff at the Gatornationals and sent us a whole bunch of his favorites.

That means multiple galleries over multiple days, so keep coming back to check them all out here.

I’ve raced and announced a fair amount in the state of Florida and can tell you that the fans there are awesome. And boy did they get a great show at the 2024 Gators. Everyone that goes always comments on how fun the crowd is there and they aren’t kidding. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as they loved the live action.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST GALLERY!

The post Our 2024 NHRA GatorNationals Action Photos Continue: Whealon Outdid Himself Getting Us All The Action Shots Right Here! appeared first on BangShift.com.

(Photos by David Whealon) – NHRA Drag Racing at the Gatornationals was off the hook yet again in 2024! We’re talking huge crowds, great racing, and a good time had by all! This is the start of a whole new year of NHRA Drag Racing and we know this season is going to be something special. We’ve got great nitro action photos from Gainesville thanks to longtime contributor David Whealon. David was in Florida shooting all kinds of fun stuff at the Gatornationals and sent us a whole bunch of his favorites.

That means multiple galleries over multiple days, so keep coming back to check them all out here.

I’ve raced and announced a fair amount in the state of Florida and can tell you that the fans there are awesome. And boy did they get a great show at the 2024 Gators. Everyone that goes always comments on how fun the crowd is there and they aren’t kidding. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as they loved the live action.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST GALLERY!

The post More 2024 NHRA GatorNationals Action Photos: David Whealon Brought Us All The Action, And The Shots Start Here! appeared first on BangShift.com.

That means multiple galleries over multiple days, so keep coming back to check them all out here.

I’ve raced and announced a fair amount in the state of Florida and can tell you that the fans there are awesome. And boy did they get a great show at the 2024 Gators. Everyone that goes always comments on how fun the crowd is there and they aren’t kidding. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as they loved the live action.

The post 2024 NHRA GatorNationals Action Photos: David Whealon Brought Us All The Action, And The Shots Start Here! appeared first on BangShift.com.

We’re going to take a peek back here to 1978 and a day when Sammy Miller rocketed (literally) down the track in his funny car and a day when what had to have been the last front engine top fuel dragster of the day was retired forever. Sammy Miller’s name needs no introduction but the other racer likely does. Mickey Nayler was the owner and driver of a really nice top fuel car called the Medicine Man. Built by Don Long as one of the last slingshots he would ever stick together in 1971, the car ran a 417ci aluminum Donovan hemi on nitro backed by a two speed transmission. As many of you know, by 1978, the rear engine dragster was the de facto method of getting down the track in top fuel, but Nayler held out and held out strong over in England. We’re reasonably sure that his was the last front engine top fuel car still running the category by this time in history.

As you will see around the 3:00 mark, Nayler came off the starting line and because the nose ballast apparently fell off the car, he launched skyward and ended up flipping the car over and rolling it multiple times, effectively destroying the car. We’re guessing that this car was likely running in the low 6-second bracket well in excess of 200mph.

The cars are cool, the crowds are big, and one of the world’s neatest drag strips was living large in ’78!

Press play below to see this cool 8mm video from Santa Pod in 1978 –

The post Vintage Drag Racing Film: Santa Pod Circa 1978 With Rocket Funny Cars, Hot Rods, and The End Of The Last Top Fuel Slingshot appeared first on BangShift.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series. Dodge//SRT For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete. Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT Hellcat versions of the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Dodge Durango, as well as an R/T plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet, representing the brand’s first-ever electrified performance vehicle. Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock; the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world; and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever; and best-in-class standard performance in the compact utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet. Combined, these four muscle vehicles make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup. In 2022, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so three years in a row. In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in   Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news, including daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis (NYSE: STLA).

The post Tony Stewart Will Take Over Driving Duties For Wife Leah Pruett In 2024 As They Focus On Starting A Family! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 21st race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the last of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Kalitta’s victory also handed him the championship for the first time in his career.

Green knocked off Wilkerson in his 11,000-horsepower Bond Coat, Inc. Ford Mustang, going 3.916-seconds at 328.54 mph in the championship round. It’s been a true breakout season for Green, who advanced to seven semifinals and two final rounds heading into Pomona. He knocked off Robert Hight in the second round, handing the world championship to Matt Hagan in the process, and then J.R. Todd to reach the final before a great .033 reaction time helped Green to a memorable holeshot victory.

To add to the moment, Green’s son, Hunter, also earned the win on Sunday in Top Alcohol Dragster in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

“It’s just been an amazing weekend,” Green said. “First off, it’s been an amazing season. This has been a dream season for us. I couldn’t be more proud of my guys. They’ve really come a long way in the last few years and they’ve stuck with me. We’ve been trying all year to get this Wally. We’ve been close a few times, but it’s just been an amazing season. I can’t think of a better way that you could top off a season, ending it like this.

“But I just can’t say enough about our season. It’s been so amazing. You could have never drawn it up like this. This season has been a great season, we surprised a lot of people, and to cap it off with a win is awesome.”

Kalitta powered to a Sunday-best run of 3.673-seconds at 334.98 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools/Toyota dragster in the winner-take-all final round, driving past Pruett’s run of 3.720 at 326.16 to pick up his third win of the season. After six runner-up finishes in his 26-year career, Kalitta finished the job on Sunday to win a world title for the first time.

On a pressure-packed Sunday, Kalitta knocked off Dan Mercier, Josh Hart and Justin Ashley to set up an incredible final round with Pruett. Kalitta led wire-to-wire, setting off a raucous celebration on the starting line as the veteran had finally achieved the ultimate goal in the sport.

“It’s incredible the way the points thing worked out to come down to that last run,” said Kalitta, who won for the third time this season and 52nd time in his career. “I just stay focused. It was obviously a big round for us and it played out just perfectly.”

Pro Stock’s Aaron Stanfield closed out the regular season with his first win of the year, taking down Matt Hartford in the final round on a holeshot with a run of 6.534 at 209.91 in his Janac Brothers Chevrolet Camaro. It marks the eighth career victory for Stanfield, who use a great .031 reaction time to get past Hartford, who went 6.519 in the championship round.

“We’ve struggled this year, we’ve been waiting for that win to come so to get it here at the last race is just awesome and given everything else that’s going on in my life, it’s perfect timing,” Stanfield said.

“Matt and I, we definitely go at each other. He’s a great competitor and a good friend. It’s cool to race against them and it’s always a god time beating Matt. It’s not very fun when he beats you. I’m personally, my team and myself, we are as focused as ever. We’re here to compete for championships at Elite Motorsports. We’re going to come out swinging in Gainesville. We’re looking forward to it already.”

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera’s dominant 2023 season ended with a victory, as the incredible world champion set the single-season wins mark in the category after earning his 11th victory of the season. He went 6.721 at 201.46 in his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki to beat teammate Eddie Krawiec in the final round, denying Krawiec of his 50th win for a fourth straight race and fifth time overall.

“This is very surreal. The whole championship thing, I have to give it up to the whole team, it’s not only my championship, it’s theirs – especially Andrew (Hines, crew chief),” Herrera said. “He works his butt off day and night to make sure my bike, Ed’s bike, all the Vance & Hines bikes are fast. He texted me during the week and he’s like, ‘I’m ready to go to Pomona and just get this thing done. We had an incredible season, and I’m very excited.’ Just to have someone like Andrew Hines text me and say it was one of his best seasons ever, even though he’s not riding the bike, it’s very cool to get that text message from someone like him.

“I can’t put this season into words. I don’t think it’s set in, what’s been accomplished this year, and I think it’s only the beginning. This season, I can’t even put it into words. I didn’t expect it to end like this this weekend.”

The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 7-10 with the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Doug Kalitta

Top Fuel World Champion, Top Fuel Winner

Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster

3.673 seconds, 334.98 mph

NOTE: Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta finally became a NHRA champion on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. In a winner at all final, Kalitta ran a 3.673-second pass at 334.98 mph to claim the championship over competitor Leah Pruett.

Matt Hagan

Funny Car World Champion

Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

NOTE: Matt Hagan secured his fourth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series championship on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. When competitor Robert Hight lost in the second round, Hagan was able to clinch the title. He joins NHRA greats Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme with four championships.

Chad Green

Funny Car Winner

Bond Coat Ford Mustang

3.916 seconds, 328.54 mph

NOTE: Funny Car’s Chad Green raced to his first NHRA win on Sunday at the season finale at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Green’s 3.916-seconds pass at 328.54 mph was good enough for a holeshot win over Tim Wilkerson in the final round at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Erica Enders

Pro Stock World Champion

Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance Camaro

NOTE: Pro Stock’s Erica Enders collected her sixth NHRA championship on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona. When she won the opening round on elimination, she locked up the title. She now ties Warren Johnson for second most titles, behind Bob Glidden at 10. Enders is the winningest female across all motorsports.

Aaron Stanfield

Pro Stock Winner

Janac Brothers Camaro

6.534 seconds, 208.91 mph

NOTE: Aaron Stanfield picked up his first win of the season at the final event of the year when he defeated Matt Hartford in the final round at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Stanfield clocked a 6.534-second lap at 208.91 mph to win at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Gaige Herrera

Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner

Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki

6.721 seconds, 201.46 mph

NOTE: Gaige Herrera secured his 11th NHRA race win of the year, the most Pro Stock Motorcycle wins in a season, on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona. He defeated his Vance & Hines teammate Eddie Krawiec in the final round with his 6.721-second pass at 201.46 mph at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Herrera clinched the Pro Stock Motorcycle on Saturday after qualifying.

The post GREEN, KALITTA, STANFIELD AND HERRERA CLOSE OUT 2023 WITH WINS AT IN-N-OUT BURGER NHRA FINALS appeared first on BangShift.com.

The exciting, talent-heavy category had another banner season in 2023, enjoying great competition across the class with a diverse mix of drivers. The Pro Stock schedule was reduced to 18 races in 2019, but with a continued influx of talent, Pro Stock has featured large fields at NHRA races across the country in recent seasons.

Starting in 2024, they will move back to competing at every NHRA national event, joining Top Fuel and Funny Car for all 21 races next year.

“I think the class is in a good spot and everybody’s excited about it,” Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman said. “Seeing that the overall schedule has moved to 21 events, I think it’s only fitting for us to be a part of every event. I definitely think it was a group effort. This category is absolutely healthy and we just have to keep working towards that.”

Added Pro Stock veteran Greg Anderson: “It shows the class is very popular right now. It shows that when we (aren’t at) a race, people miss us. That’s a great feeling. I feel great about the class right now and that’s the reason we’re being asked to participate in all 21 next year. I love it. Since day one, I want to run as many races as I can.”

The full category schedule for all racing classes that will compete at NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events during the 2024 season will be released later this week. The 2024 season opens with the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals on March 7-10 at Gainesville Raceway and features 21 races at standout facilities across the country.

Heading into the final event of the season in Pro Stock, Erica Enders holds a 114-point lead over Anderson as both star drivers seek their sixth world championship. Both are part of two of the standout teams in the category, with Enders driving for Elite Motorsports and Anderson leading the way for the KB Titan Racing team. The success and growth of the two teams – along with a host of other top competitors – has allowed for continual growth and stability in the category, helping pave the way for a full 21-race schedule in 2024.

“Sometimes you just have to do what’s good for the class and I think that’s what we did over the last few years when we cut back on races,” Anderson said. “But then we showed people how important the class is and how great the class is. It’s more important for the future of the class to be at every race so I think everybody agrees with that now and have come along to that thinking. The class is on an ascent. It’s all good and all thumbs up on my end and great for the class and that’s what’s most important. You’ve seen the popularity grow in the class. It’s on great footing now. We’ve got a little bit of everything, a great product, a great group of drivers and it’s a great mix right now.”

Often called “factory hot rods,” Pro Stock is one of the most technical classes in the NHRA. The 500 cubic-inch engines use electronic fuel injection, making in excess of 1,300-horsepower and providing thrilling side-by-side action. The class can run in the 6.40-second range at more than 210 mph, with races often decided by a fraction of a second.

“Pro Stock is an extremely important category to the NHRA and we’re excited to have them at every race during the 2024 schedule,” said Josh Peterson, NHRA Vice President, Racing Administration. “Pro Stock continues to thrive from a driver participation and competition standpoint, and I know our fans will be thrilled to see them at all 21 races next year.”

To view the full 2024 event schedule and for more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

The post PRO STOCK TO COMPETE AT ALL 21 RACES DURING 2024 NHRA MISSION FOODS DRAG RACING SERIES SEASON appeared first on BangShift.com.