There is an unfamiliar face in Top Sportsman this weekend at the NHRA Winternationals, but the name is strikingly familiar. Fernando Cuadra Jr., son of Pro Stock driver Fernando Cuadra Sr., is entered and competing in the Sportsman door slammer category driving a 2008 Pontiac GXP formerly owned by Pro Stock champ Mike Edwards. The engines are Cuadra Racing’s own, tuned by Fernando Sr., and were purchased from the Gray Motorsports arsenal. 

Fernando Jr. finished No. 2 in Mexico in 2018 in Pro Competition, a category that is the equivalent of NHRA’s Top Sportsman, and licensed in the American version of the category last year. It’s only the beginning, though, for the young driver. He plans to make his Pro Stock debut at the NHRA Virginia Nationals this season and race each event thereafter.

The first day of qualifying for the 2019 season is in the book, with a familiar face as the quickest sportsman drag racer on the property.

Shawn Cowie, the 2018 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster series runner-up, started off the new season the same way he did last year with a first-day, provisional No. 1. Cowie laid down an impressive 5.166, 280.25 mile per hour run.

Rodger Brogdon might have a substantial investment in racing Pro Stock but hasn't forgotten his straight-line heritage. And, the successful business owner from Tomball, Texas, is all too willing to put his money where his fond memories are. 

Brogdon is providing an influx of $150,000 to the NHRA Div. 4 Competition Eliminator program with the hope it will stimulate growth in a division near and dear to his heart. 

"It’s always been my favorite class, and it’s still probably my favorite class even though I race Pro Stock," Brogdon said. "Just through the years, I didn’t like some of the rule changes. I don’t participate anymore but I love all the guys out there. 

Brothers Matt and Zach Sackman will race together at an NHRA national event for the first time this weekend at the 59th annual Lucas Oil Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. With primary sponsorship from Hangsterfer’s Metalworking Lubricants, Matt will compete in Top Alcohol Dragster and Zach will race in Top Dragster. 
 
“This is a very cool opportunity,” said Matt Sackman, 25. “Zach and I are both going to be running the Hangsterfer’s colors, so to have two shots to win at the Winternationals for Hangsterfer’s is a big deal.”
 
The Winternationals will be Matt Sackman’s third race driving one of Randy Meyer Racing’s championship-caliber A/Fuel dragsters in the loaded Top Alcohol Dragster class. The effort will be supported by Hangsterfer’s, Gemini Farms and TMS Titanium. 

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division arrives at Orlando Speed World Dragway for the Winter Warm-Up on February 1st-2nd. The event is one of 44 scheduled across the country where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000. Categories include Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. Stott’s Ford Top Sportsman Series and Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales Top Dragster Series will also be run in conjunction with the event.

Mother Nature didn’t want to cooperate with a snowstorm.

However, in the end the 5th annual DragstersForSale Practice Tree Race Jan. 19 in Evansville, Ind., was a success according to event organizer Don O’Neal.

Effective January 1, 2019, local businessmen Donald ‘JR’ Sandlian, David Dockens and Jason Caldwell have acquired the business and property known as Kansas International Dragway (KID) and are preparing for the 2019 race season. The new owners are excited to elevate the sport of drag racing in Wichita, and have numerous improvements planned before the opening date of March 23, 2019.

The offseason in drag racing can sometimes seem forever.

Sitting at home during the winter months waiting to get back to the track is not a cure for boredom.

Enter Don O’Neal.

Shane Westerfield, 2017 NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car champion, is the new driver of Rick Jackson's new Camaro alcohol Funny Car. Westerfield parked his own team at the end of last season.

“I haven’t been this excited and this nervous in a while to go race,” Westerfield said.

Westerfield and Jackson plan to put in some test laps following the PRO Winter Warm-up at Wild Horse Motorsports Park ahead of the NHRA season-opener in Pomona, Ca.

The NHRA Summit Jr. Drag Racing League, the wildly popular series for young NHRA racers two premier events, the Western and Eastern Conference Finals, will return to familiar surroundings for the 2019 season. The Western Conference Finals will take place at Osage Tulsa Raceway Park in Tulsa, Okla. and the Eastern Conference Finals will be held at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee.

Oklahoma’s Osage Tulsa Raceway Park will host the event for the fourth consecutive season on June 27-28, while the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Eastern Conference Finals will return to Eastern Tennessee’s famed Thunder Valley, July 18-20. 

“These young racers have so much talent. They truly are the future stars of NHRA drag racing,” said Eric Lotz, director of field marketing, NHRA. “The NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League is where these young drivers of NHRA learn skills that will prepare them for the future. Both facilities continue to grow these events and make the racers and their families feel welcome during the weekend.”