Mike Bucher proudly displays his faith and has pointed out that it guides him in decision-making regularly. But this time, it was a struggle.

On the one hand, he wanted to drive the Leverich Family Top Fuel dragster during the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals. On the other, Wednesday marked the first anniversary of daughter Abigail passing away following a battle with Leukemia.

The second-generation drag racer's passion kept pushing him to travel to Concord, NC, while his heart inspired him to stay home close to family.

By nature, third-generation Top Fuel drag racer Krista Baldwin is as giddy as any nitro pilot has ever been. But, these days, she's got a little extra giddy-up.

Baldwin has been named Scott Palmer's substitute driver for the upcoming NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex in October. The appointment couldn't come at a better time for Baldwin, who has been burning the midnight oil in search of a new chassis for her Top Fuel operation. 

Baldwin will drive Palmer's Professional Bull Riders-sponsored entry. 

It’s been 20 days since Don Thomas pocketed the most significant single payday of his drag racing career, and he cannot push it to the back of his mind. It tends to have that effect when one wins $30,000, combined with another $17,500 for a Calcutta-style auction and a custom-made trophy from Cold Hard Art. The NHRA U.S. Nationals is in the rearview mirror as Thomas rolled into Tulsa Raceway Park for the final two events in the Rooftec D4 Competition Eliminator Bonus fund.

Just mention Indianapolis to Thomas, and he's all too willing to speak of the most monumental day in his racing career. 

Ever wonder what might happen if you took two of NASCAR’s driving stars and put them behind the drag racing equivalent to a stock car? Two entities in a position of power wondered the same exact thing earlier this season.

Scott Woodruff, director of public relations for Jegs Mail Order, was approached by Anna Fleming, a producer on SPEED TV, acting on an idea presented by J.B. Langley.

Woodruff loved the idea and set forward on his end to bring the idea to fruition.

“We were just thinking outside of the box,” Fleming explained. “We thought it would be fun to put a NASCAR guy with a Pro Stock guy and let them provide lessons on how to drive a Pro Stocker.”

 Since the closure of Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 2018, Maple Grove Raceway has been the  home dragstrip for Pro Stock Motorcycle-to-Top Fuel convert Antron Brown.

And as he returns for the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals for this Countdown to the Championship launch, Brown has more than the hometown-hero vibe.

He has returned with elevated status.

Oh, he doesn’t think of himself that way at all. But that’s the truth.

Titanium has two key elements drag racers seek: it is strong and lightweight. 

These traits have enabled TMS Titanium to make a solid name in the industry. At the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, they plan to partner with another solid name, Paul Lee, as their livery will adorn his fuel Funny Car. 

Lee, who admittedly describes drag racing as his fun time when not running one of his several automotive-related businesses, will use the event to showcase a solid business-to-business relationship with TMS Titanium. 

Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa. 

All that was missing was Chip Ellis being towed up the return road at Maple Grove Raceway, holding up a sign just like Kurt Johnson at the 1995 NHRA U.S. Nationals that read, "I still have a job."

And for Ellis, he did that job superbly. He helped put Matt Smith into the winner's circle at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa., on Monday.

The six-time champion Smith left no room for imagination when he announced Ellis' role upon winning the NHRA U.S. Nationals. He, without hesitation, proclaimed Ellis would ride for him in Reading aboard the same Buell that served as a thorn in Team Suzuki's side. His role was defined as a blocker.

The wait is over for veteran Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta.

Kalitta finally captured his milestone 50th career Wally on Monday when he won the rain-delayed Pep Boys Nationals in Reading, Pa.

Kalitta snared the coveted victory with a 3.662-second time at 336.99 mph to defeat Steve Torrence’s 3.695-second lap at 332.34 mph at Maple Grove Raceway.

There’s no better time in the NHRA season to get things rolling in the right direction, and that’s exactly what nitro Funny Car driver Robert Hight did Monday.

Hight powered his Cornwell Tools Chevy/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS to win at the rain-delayed Pep Boys Nationals in Reading, Pa. Hight clocked a 3.854-second run at 330.39 mph to defeat Chad Green’s 3.928-second lap at 327.27 mph in the finals.