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 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.

We’ll also be cranking photo galleries from the huge car show, the pits, and some of the off-site cruises as well. Bookmark this page, and send the URL to all your friends cause the FREE LIVE broadcast will take place right here in this blog item!

As if you needed more incentive to show up, the Winged Express and the Rat Trap will be match racing all weekend, plus gassers galore and all the nitro fired iron you can handle!

LIVE Broadcast Sponsors:

Below is the event schedule as published by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum folks:

Wednesday, June 15

Late Registration and Will Call for Show ‘N Shine Only

(Holiday Inn Convention Center)………………………….9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Racer Will Call opens at Beech Bend Raceway …………………….7 a.m.

Racer Pit Parking and Vendor Midway Setup ……………..9 a.m. – 6 p.m

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Grounds at Heartland Park, adjacent to the Holiday Inn University Plaza) and Heacock Classic Insurance Cruise …..5 p.m.

NO Show ‘N Shine parking at track

Thursday, June 16

Late Registration and ALL Will Call pick up (Beech Bend Park) ……….6 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Show ‘N Shine parking opens ……………………………………………..6 a.m.

Reunion Opens ………………………………………………………………..8 a.m.

SoffSeal Show ‘N Shine Judging ……………………………..8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Hot Heads Qualifying and Exhibition Runs ………………10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Hot Heads Top Fuel & Funny Car Qualifying – Session 1………2 p.m.

Secure Track Activity ………………………………………………….5 p.m.

Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion Reception

(FREE admission – Holiday Inn Convention Center) ………………7 p.m.

Friday, June 17

Show ‘N Shine parking opens …………………………………………6 a.m.

Reunion Opens ……………………………………………………………8 a.m.

SoffSeal Show ‘N Shine Judging …………………………….8 a.m. – noon

Autograph Session at Dynamat Dynamic Legends Tent ………11 a.m.

Hot Heads Qualifying and Exhibition Runs As Called…………..10 a.m.

Hot Heads Category Eliminations – Round 1………………….3 p.m.

Autograph Session at Dynamat Dynamic Legends Tent………3 p.m.

Hot Heads Top Fuel & Funny Car Qualifying – Session 2……..4 p.m.

Hot Heads Top Fuel & Funny Car Qualifying Final Round…..8:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 18

Reunion Opens …………………………………………………………..8 a.m.

Pre-race Ceremonies & National Anthem……………………….1:30 p.m.

Hot Heads Category Eliminations …………………………………..11 a.m.

Autograph Session at Dynamat Dynamic Legends Tent ……11 a.m.

Hot Heads Top Fuel & Funny Car Eliminations…………….2 p.m.

Autograph Session at Dynamat Dynamic Legends Tent………3 p.m.

Special Awards and Honoree Presentation ………………………………………………..6:30 p.m.

Twilight Memorial………………………………………….6:45 p.m.

Top 50 & Best of the Best SoffSeal Show ‘N Shine Parade and Awards…….7 p.m.

Final Round Eliminations…………………………………..8 p.m.

Cacklefest ……………………………………………………………..8:30 p.m.

Winner’s Circle Awards ………………………………………………………………..9:30 p.m.

Reunion Closes …………………………………………………….10 p.m.

The post Watch FREE Live Streaming Video of the Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion Here! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Our pal over at DragRacingOnline, Darr Hawthorne sent us over the link for the car and while we think the price is a little steep, it is a complete machine that would need seemingly “minor” investment to get into running order again. The chassis would need upgrading and re-certing and the turbine, which is a 1951 J-34 would need to be serviced, as it has not generated smoke and fire for a long time. Other than that, the fun stuff, which would inclide licensing could get rolling pretty quick. 

Jet Funny Cars put a lot of asses in seats across the country each year. The put on a fun show, look spectacular, and have a cost ratio that is far more favorable than anything powered by nitromethane. One thing that many people overlook is the inherent danger in any machine capable of running north of 200mph. Many men have died behind the wheels of jet powered machinery, including a friend of ours, Chris Gould, who passed a couple years back at the Citrus Nationals, held at PBIR, before it was renovated.

Thanks to Darr for the tip!

Vintage Jet Funny Car on eBay 

The post eBay Find: A Vintage Jet Funny Car Available for Fun and Profit appeared first on BangShift.com.

You read that right. See, Force won the NHRA Funny Car Championship in the 1990 and 1991 seasons, but then here came Cruz and took that big Wally right back for 1992. Force and Pedregon both grew up in Southern California and had a passion for drag racing, but that is where the similarities end. Whatever it is that makes these two like oil and water, we like it. John didn’t and we are sure he came back for the 1993 season with a big giant chip on his shoulder. The result was unprecidented success.

Cruz Pedregon, and brother Tony, have never given up, and have both won two NHRA Funny Car Championships. We expect they will win more in the years to come. Cruz was one of the hottest Funny Cars in the field during the last third of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, and is hoping to capitalize on that with even great success in 2011. We wish him luck. 

Check out our own Brian Lohnes talking to Cruzer while we were at the PRO Winter Warmup in Palm Beach Florida.

To keep up with the latest from Cruz Pedregon Racing, check out their website here.

The post Video: Cruz Pedregon talks with us about the NHRA Full Throttle Series and More. appeared first on BangShift.com.

Too often professional level racing has become a task rather than a passion. We see it all the time with drivers getting out of cars delivering the script of sponsor mentions, and somehow forgetting why they are there, and that there are thousands of fans that would gladly give their left nut to be them. I happen to be one of the rare people that has had the incredible opportunity to drive an NHRA Pro Stocker. It’s insanely bitchin. Okay, that is the lamest way to describe it. But I can’t without swearing and jumping up and down.

Jim Yates gets it. He built a successful auto parts chain, sold it to race cars full time, and knows that he’s a lucky bastard. We thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with the entire crew, and will make a point of saying hi to Jim and the gang at every opportunity. They are the kind of people you want to hang out with. We’ve got a few minutes of Yates on camera, and will follow up tomorrow with Shane Gray, driver of the Yates tuned Service Central Pro Stock Pontiac. Enjoy.

The post Video: Pro Stock Legend Jim Yates on the Service Central Pro Stocker of Shane Gray appeared first on BangShift.com.

If you haven’t gotten your Winternationals tickets yet, make sure you go to NHRA.com and buy yours now or you are going to miss out on watching Ron and the rest of the Funny Car drivers compete for the first Wally of the 60th Anniversary season of NHRA Drag Racing.

The post Video: We talk to Ron Capps about the 2011 NHRA Season, Singing, and more… appeared first on BangShift.com.

The drive, and the fire in his eyes is real. When he told us that he and the team had their heads down and ears back and were hungry, we believed him. Hagan has taken the “off season” to get himself into better physical and mental shape through excercise, diet, and conditioning. He was on his game in Palm Beach and we are certain he and his Don Schumacher Racing Die Hard Funny Car will be a “Force” to be reckoned with in 2011. 

For more information on Don Schumacher Racing, and Matt Hagan, click here to visit their website, and check out the video below.

The post Video: We talk to Matt Hagan about his team, the championship, and 2011. appeared first on BangShift.com.

All of our interviews were conducted either at the PRO Winter Warmup at Palm Beach International Raceway, or at the Pro Stock Showdown in Las Vegas. We have to give a hardy thank you to Ron Capps, Don Schumacher, Bob Yonke, Terry McMillan, Jim Yates, and all the other drivers we spoke to. We are glad to see that the excitement we all feel for drag racing is alive and well inside the guys that drive our favorite cars.

Our first quick interview is with John Force. John spent the off season thinking that his three car team was in better shape than ever before. After all, his daughter Ashley and son in law Robert were in the top 10 in points in 2010 right behind Force and his 15th National Championship. The shocking, but very exciting, news that Ashley and husband Daniel were expecting their first child required John and the entire Force racing crew to spring into action. We all know John loves family, and adding to it is truly a joy for him, but he has THREE race cars to race with, and only two drivers now that Ashley was out. Well in came Mike Neff to the rescue. John’s own crew chief would once again be back behind the wheel. With the level of talent John Force Racing has become known for, the gang sprang into action and made adjustments for 2011. John will drive Ashley’s car, Mike Neff will drive John’s car, and Robert Hight will stay right where he’s always been, behind the wheel of the Auto Club of Southern California Mustang. We wish the John Force Racing team the best of luck for 2011. Everyone is going to be gunning for them. For the latest from John Force Racing, click here to visit their website.

Check out the interview with Force below, and stay tuned for more videos throughout the week.

The post Video: John Force talks about racing, testing, and grand kids. appeared first on BangShift.com.