Red Line Oil’s motto has been, “If you know, you know.”

At the upcoming PRO Superstar Shootout, Red Line Oil will prove they know how to make a splash. The leading high-performance oil company will provide a $10,000 bonus from Red Line Synthetic Oil for the victor, along with the inaugural Don Schumacher Nitro Superstar Award, named in memory of the late team owner and former Funny Car driver for the forthcoming Top Fuel versus Funny Car Shootout. The competition format for the main event will include four qualifying sessions, with non-qualifiers in Top Fuel and Funny Car filling the slots for Saturday’s showdown. The quickest driver from each category will advance to the final round for a shot at the bonus and the prestigious Don Schumacher Nitro Superstar Award.

It’s not the Cajun Nationals that was a staple in the NHRA schedules of the 1970s and 80s, but it’s a start. 

The NHRA has officially announced the revival of the Laris Motorsports Insurance Cajun NHRA SPORTSnationals, a significant event in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Scheduled for March 15-17 at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La., this marks the return of the prestigious race after a hiatus since the 2015 season. The event, featuring classic crawfish artwork from the 1978 NHRA Cajun Nationals, aims to provide racers with an additional SPORTSnationals opportunity in 2024, complementing the JEGS SPORTSnationals scheduled for July 10-13.

Hundreds of sportsman racers representing all seven NHRA divisions nationwide are set to converge on No Problem Raceway for the Cajun NHRA SPORTSnationals. The competition will unfold across eight categories, offering a substantial purse exceeding $150,000, including more than $50,000 in contingency offerings. Beyond the racing, the event promises a distinctive atmosphere celebrating the unique facets of Cajun culture, creating a memorable weekend for participants.

Randy Meyer Racing has unveiled its lineup for the 2024 NHRA season, with reigning NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national champion Julie Nataas and two-time national event winner Hunter Green set as the team’s primary drivers. Celebrating its 45th season, the team plans to compete in 26 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events, with Nataas and Green aiming for national and regional championships. Scott Dean will also vie for a regional title, while Megan Meyer and newcomer Deni Jensen will participate in select match race appearances.

Team owner and tuner Randy Meyer expressed optimism about the upcoming season, highlighting Nataas’ and Green’s achievements in the previous year. 

When Clay Millican rolls through the gate at Bradenton Motorsports Park for the inaugural PRO Superstar Shootout, forgive him if he smiles a little broader than average. He might even chuckle a bit. 

The Top Fuel driver turned social media superstar has his own memory at the facility outside of Tampa, Florida. The memory has nothing to do with Top Fuel drag racing or anything. The thought of racing Top Fuel was too lofty a dream to fathom. 

“You’re talking about a guy that made a living driving a forklift who pretty much had every credit card maxed out and a guy named Raymond King and the Koffel family, they felt bad for me and made sure my engine showed up and dad-gummit if we didn’t win,” Millican admitted. 

Oildowns by Top Fuel and nitro Funny Car drivers are a nightmare and often a byproduct of racing hard. They can also be the result of inattention to detail.

NHRA, facing the time constraints of live television and declared time windows, as well as curfews and canceled sessions, has determined the issue must be addressed through policies intended to cut down on event delays.  

NHRA recently outlined their penalties for drivers in Top Fuel and Funny Car who have oildowns during the upcoming 2024 season – which consists of 21 races – beginning at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 7-10.

Rodger Brogdon has fun drag racing. But, lately, the most fun he's had is ensuring his favorite division is enjoying a resurgence. 

Brogdon has laid out plans for an even more significant investment back into the sport. It's an investment he sees paying dividends to the sportsman racer. 

Brogdon's Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund will be even more robust in 2024, with a planned $750,000 total payout, and is no longer bound by the confines of one NHRA division. This year's series will pay $250,000 to the series champion and will feature competition in three NHRA divisions outside of its home base of the South Central [Division 4].

NHRA has confirmed its payouts to the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams in a memo recently issued to its competitors. 

The prize money for an event where a competitor makes four qualifying runs will pay $54,000 to win, and pays down to $5400 for the No. 20 qualifier. A first-round loser will earn $13,000, proving they make all four qualifying runs.

In a three-qualifier event, the winner pays down to 20, with $6500. A first-round loser gets $10,000, provided they make all three qualifying runs. 

Why mess up a good thing?

For 22 years, the partnership between Kalitta Motorsports and Mac Tools has worked well. Headed into a championship defense season, the two announced the partnership will come back for a 23rd consecutive year. 

This collaboration, which dates back to 2001, has proven to be one of the world's longest-running and most successful sports marketing relationships. 

Crossing the centerline and/or striking a timing block is a serious safety concern and has resulted in driver injuries and extensive vehicle damage.

With that in mind, for the upcoming 2024 season – which begins at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 7-10, NHRA is implementing a stiffer Centerline/Timing Block Violation Policy.

Daniel Wilkerson admits he's dreamed of driving a fuel Funny Car on the NHRA tour for more than a race here or there, and the reality is when he heads into the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in March, he will do so with less than ten races of experience under his belt.

And, for the first time, having not exhausted his maximum requirements for Rookie of The Year eligibility, he'll get to compete for the title. 
Of course, his first opportunity puts him up against contenders such as motorsports legend Tony Stewart, Ida Zetterström, and Sienna Wildgust, to name a few.
"At first, I thought Tony Stewart was going to be the biggest hurdle to jump, but the hits just keep coming," Wilkerson said on a recent episode of CompetitionPlusTV's Power Hour show. "The last 10, 15 years for as long as I've been dreaming about doing this, they've all been tough. So it doesn't really change the way we're going to come out there anyway, though. We're going to come out swinging and let the chips fall where they do."