PRECISION TURBO & ENGINE has added a new size to its line of championship-winning and record-setting Pro Mod turbochargers with the release of the GEN2 110mm Pro Mod Turbocharger. This turbocharger recently won a new product award at the 2018 PRI Show.

Utilizing a 110mm inducer CEA® (Competition Engineered Aerodynamics) CNC-machined, 2618-forged aluminum compressor wheel for higher efficiency and faster transient response, the GEN2 Pro Mod 110 CEA® turbocharger also features a 108mm exducer CEA® turbine wheel. Precision’s exclusive CEA® technology serves up maximum power and performance and greater efficiency at higher pressure ratios.

The largest Pro Mod turbo that Precision offers, the GEN2 Pro Mod 110 CEA® turbo can support massive power levels – up to 2,800 horsepower – and comes standard with an air-cooled, dual ceramic ball-bearing center housing rotating assembly (CHRA) for faster transient response and added thrust capacity. Additionally, the center housing and compressor backplate assembly is an innovative one-piece design, manufactured from an aluminum forging for improved strength, durability and longevity.

In continued efforts to bring the most technologically advanced and safest turbochargers to market, a compressor cover ballistic blanket will come standard with this product. Additionally, this turbocharger will also come equipped with a speed sensor provision within the compressor cover, as well as the speed sensor to monitor turbo shaft speed.

Priced at $5,995.99 USD, Precision’s GEN2 Pro Mod 110 CEA® turbo is available with an industry-leading V-band inlet/outlet stainless steel turbine housing complete with an extended turbine discharge with cross-bolt provisions for added safety. Available in T5 and V-band inlet options to provide greater flexibility for turbo kit fabrication. Your choice of turbine housing options include: T5 1.0 A/R,T5 1.12 A/R, T5 1.24 A/R, T5 1.40 A/R, V-Band Inlet/V-Band Outlet 1.15 A/R, and V-Band Inlet/V-Band Outlet 1.28 A/R.

Unlike anything else on the market today, Precision’s GEN2 Pro Mod turbochargers have proven to be serious game-changers in the world of turbo technology.

For more information regarding PTE’s GEN2 Pro Mod turbos, or to order, please contact Precision Turbo & Engine at (855) 996-7832.

Lucas Oil Products, Inc. is happy to introduce the newest engine cleaner to its lineup, the Deep Clean GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection). The brand new professional grade formula can remove up to half of all valve deposits after one use by using a concentrated solvent and fuel detergent blend. It will clean an engine’s air intake like the runners, ports and valves as well as the turbo. The product is designed to remedy and prevent problems associated with the harmful carbon deposits that rob an engine of performance and fuel economy. In addition, Deep Clean GDI is also effective with port fuel injection engines.

Morgan Lucas, Senior Vice President of Sales is elated to launch this product by stating, “When direct injection engines were becoming more popular, we were excited for the performance gains that the engine type provides with more power and better fuel economy; however, it became obvious that carbon deposits collected rapidly, sometimes in under 5,000 miles. Prior to this product, mechanics would lose drastic amounts of time to complete an engine tear down to access the direct injectors, but this product gives mechanics and premium do-it-yourself customers their time back.”

“The issue of rapid accumulation of carbon deposits in direct injection engines has been on our radar a long time,” shared Lucas Oil’s Technical Director, Greg Hewgill. He continued, “The product is sprayed directly into the air intake system with a concentrated formula which remarkably can possibly generate a 50% reduction in carbon deposits in the engine according to our tests if used as directed. The results will restore horsepower and torque while also improving an engine’s fuel economy.”

The brand new Lucas Oil Deep Clean GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) is now available at your favorite auto parts retailer.

Part # 11096

Midwest Organics will promote Magic Dry Organic Absorbent on Rickey House’s Top Fuel Harley in 2019, it was announced Thursday. House, a two-time national event winner in the NHRA’s Mickey Thompson Tires Top Fuel Harley Series, was supported by CatSpot Organic Cat Litter in 2017-2018.

“I am very excited about staying with the Midwest Organics family through this new Magic Dry deal,” House said. “We will still have CatSpot on the bike as well, but we want to help the boss, Tommy Thompson, get Magic Dry at the front of everyone’s mind.

“It’s very gracious what Tommy has done for me. I simply would not be racing full-time without his support. Thanks to my Magic Dry teammate Scott Palmer also. He’s been a big help to us in many ways. We’re excited to get started on 2019.”

Based in Humble, Texas, House has been a contender in the 10-race Mickey Thompson Tires Top Fuel Harley Series since its start two years ago. He won the Phoenix race in 2017 on the way to a second-place finish in the points. Last season he won the first Las Vegas event and finished fourth overall.

“We want to win the championship this year and I think we can,” House said. “We are about halfway through getting ready for the season and we have about three more weeks to get this finished so we’re working daylight to dark to make sure we are set to go. All of this while running my regular business as well.

“The first race of the year is Pomona but if I can get the bike together in time we will most likely head to the preseason test session in Arizona, which is a week before Pomona. That would be ideal.”

The Mickey Thompson Tires Top Fuel Harley Series will be contested at the following NHRA national events: Pomona 1, Phoenix, Gainesville, Houston, Topeka, Bristol, Epping, Seattle, Brainerd and Indy.

“The fact I own a repair shop — American V-Twin Services — makes this Magic Dry sponsorship really cool,” House said. “I very seldom have any uh-oh’s here in the shop but when I do, I use Magic Dry and it works better than anything I’ve ever used before. I’m even able to re-use it. I put it back in the bucket and re-use it a few times before I’m done.

“I’ve also given samples to many of my customers and they tell me they love it and they have gone to MagicDryUS.com and ordered it for themselves.”

Aside from Magic Dry Organic Absorbent and CatSpot Organic Cat Litter, House receives funding from Blaklader Workwear, EJ’s Place, OTR Fleet Service, DP Brakes, CP Carrillo and Javelina Harley-Davidson (in Boerne, Texas).

We’re now into 2019 and we can only hope it can match what took place at dragstrips across the country in 2018. From championship moments to clutch performances, to mind-blowing runs and incredible events to the totally bizarre and off the wall, we can’t stop thinking about the outstanding action last year.

With that in mind, let’s hand out some awards!

DRIVER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Making history on a single run is one thing. Doing it over six races – in the midst of a championship race – is quite another and that’s why Steve Torrence is the driver of the year. He made history by sweeping the Countdown to the Championship, winning 24 straight rounds in the playoffs to win his first world championship. It was a stretch that was brilliant and will be remembered forever as one of the biggest accomplishments in drag racing history.

RUN(s) OF THE YEAR AWARD: Let’s just make this multiple runs for the otherworldly performances from Mark Micke at Donald Long’s Sweet 16 race. Micke won the event and the $100,000 and along the way turned the radial world on its head, going 221 mph on one run, 220 mph on another and breaking into the 3.60s on several occasions, including the mind-blowing 3.623 run that had everyone talking.

BEST USE OF THEIR FREE TIME AWARD: Jonnie Lindberg & Richie Crampton Hit the Open Road in the Sh!tbox of Doom. What an unbelievable idea this was and seeing the massive reception was so cool to see. Getting the car to go 200 mph was also pretty spectacular and a major thing worth remembering in 2018.
Special Mention: Bo Butner isn’t afraid to try something new and in 2018 that meant making his No Prep debut at Thunder Road Raceway in Gilliam, La.

BEST SIDE-BY-SIDE RACE AWARD: So many amazing ones, but the one between Mike Bowman and Carl Stevens Jr. at the World Series of Pro Mod stuck out. Champ versus eventual champ and both delivered incredible performances, with Stevens’ 5.88 at 246.21 nipping Bowman’s 5.912 at 249.03 by .007. It was so close Bowman thought he won, but it was the type of run Stevens needed to win the $100,000 in 2018.
Special Mention: Carl Stevens Jr. vs. Michael Biehle, World Series of Pro Mod. Short a red-light start for Biehle, this could have been considered race of the decade.

CLUTCH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR AWARD: J.R. Todd for his awesome performance down the stretch to win his first NHRA world championship. Facing stiff competition from Robert Hight, Todd went to three straight finals to end the year, winning the last two races to claim the Funny Car world title.

BEST SPECIALTY NIGHT OF RACING AWARD: The Norwalk Night of Fire. For a single-day specialty event, you can’t do any better than this one and it was even better in 2018, drawing a solid-out crowd to Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The entertainment and fun factor continue to be off the charts at this race, and the Bader family sure knows how to put on a show.

BEST COMEBACK AWARD: Stevie “Fast” Jackson for winning the U.S. Nationals. Not only had Jackson not qualified for two straight races, he was on the outside looking in heading into the final qualifying session. No biggie. But he responded with a great run and then swept through eliminations for the biggest win in a season that also included a Lights Out victory.

HEART-WARMING MOMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD: Terry McMillen nearly left the sport a few years ago. This year, he won the biggest race of the year, taking the Indy win in Top Fuel. It’s been a heck of a journey for the fan-favorite underdog and good things are heading his way.

BEST FINISH AWARD: Matt Smith laid claim to that with his clutch performance against Eddie Krawiec in the final round of the final race of the season in Pomona in Pro Stock Motorcycle. It was a winner-take-all matchup for the race and the world championship, and Smith won it with a record-setting speed performance, going 201.54 mph to beat Krawiec and claim the title.

BEST UNDERDOG STORY AWARD: Jeremy Ray, NHRA Pro Mod. Pretty much a one-man band, Ray more than held his own in the Pro Mod ranks, winning in Dallas and putting together a series of massive runs in Charlotte. Ray is a definite throwback and it’s great to see him have success.

BEST MEME DUEL AWARD: This goes to the seemingly yearlong back-and-forth between Britt Cummings and Johnny Ezell. The bracket racing standouts settled things on the track, but they did a brilliant job of building of their duel on social media, landing one meme blow after another on each other. That wins out over Donald Luck wearing us down with sheer quantity.

BEST PODCAST AWARD: J.R. Todd and Shawn Langdon gave us unprecedented access and zero filter on the Nomex Effect and it made for a thoroughly enjoyable podcast. They got guys like Antron Brown and Tommy Johnson Jr. to open up and it’s this type of access that is only going to grow the sport.

WILDEST CRASH AWARD: This goes to Jonnie Lindberg and John Force’s collision in Phoenix after Force hit the wall and barreled into – and on top – of Lindberg’s Funny Car ride. The picture from Lindberg with the tire mark on his helmet made this one truly unreal.

BEST SIDE-BY-SIDE EXPLOSION AWARD: We had a serious case of exploding Funny Car bodies early in the year, but none was bigger than the finish line dual explosion from Robert Hight and Matt Hagan at Gainesville. Hagan grabbed the round win, but is was a pretty surreal moment seeing both bodies go skyward at the finish line.

BEST OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM ON KILL AWARD: This award goes to Donald Long’s Sweet 16 and Keith Haney’s Elite 16 events, which gave drivers approximately 27 qualifying sessions.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT AWARD: Goes to the Top Alcohol Dragster class, which boasted a bevy of young talent in 2018. You had the likes of Megan Meyer, Troy Coughlin Jr., Justin Ashley, Josh Hart, Julie Nataas, Rachel Meyer and Jordan Vandergriff, who’s already moved onto the Top Fuel ranks for 2019. It’s always awesome to see so many young drivers thriving in a big-time class.

BEST VIDEO SERIES AWARD: World Series of Pro Mod Embedded produced by Blake Fontinel. Welcome to the video future, folks. The behind-the-scenes look at the WSOPM gave fans access like they’ve never seen before. If you want to make fans feel really part of the action, this is the stuff they want to see. DI is already well on its way to producing plenty more of this in 2019.

BIGGEST HOLY SH!T QUALIFYING MOMENT AWARD: Pro Mod qualifying at Charlotte. Runner-up: Pro Mod qualifying at St. Louis. You get the idea. The qualifying times during the NHRA Pro Mod season got insane toward the end of the year, the latest sign of the incredible ascension in the class. Seeing 5.60s on the regular was pretty incredible, now let’s just hope the momentum in the class is used in the right way.

HOPE IT WORKS AWARD: After years of tinkering, let’s hope Pro Stock and NHRA got it right with 18-race schedule in 2019. We’ve had all sorts of changes in the class, but no long-term solutions. Everyone seems on board with a shorter schedule in terms of more participation for the class, so let’s hope this is a step in the right direction.

BEST NEW IDEA AWARD: Okay, it’s not necessarily a new idea, but the Vegas 4-Wide was an absolutely massive success with sellout crowds across the board. Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay and it’s cool to have a 4-Wide race out west. Then, at the two-wide race in the Countdown, the track sold tickets to watch the action from the unused lanes bringing a little bit of STREET OUTLAWS style event operation to the big stage.

BEST CONCESSION FOOD: How can you go wrong with $1 ice cream at Norwalk? We don’t foresee this award changing anytime soon, possibly ever.

BEST USE OF A JET ENGINE AWARD: Neither had anything to do with going down the dragstrip, but we saw a jet in a van – A VAN! – at the DI After Hours show, and there was also one literally burning down the house at the Brainerd Zoo. Wild times, indeed.

 

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BEST BURNOUT CELEBRATION AWARD: Marc Caruso celebrating on top of his car after his burnout at the WSOPM is one of the lasting images of the year for me. Just an awesome guy putting on a show and enjoying every minute of it.

BEST INTERVIEW AWARD: Apologies to loads of others, but Dan Fletcher unfiltered for two hours in his trailer at zMAX Dragway for this year’s Sportsman Issue cover story was incredible. Give that man a mic more often!

BEST PRE-RACE DECISION AWARD: Using walk-up music for the pro categories at NHRA races. It was nothing major, but definitely added a little more entertainment value to a race weekend.

BEST USE OF THE GYM AWARD: I mean, is there really another option than Matt Hagan?

FOUND HIS HOME AWARD: Jason Hamstra, who continued to carve out an excellent Pro Mod career with a banner year racing in NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod and Mid-West Pro Mod Series.

LONG TIME COMING AWARD: Mendy Fry had raced for nearly two decades trying to win a Nostalgia Top Fuel world championship, finally breaking through in 2018 with a dominant season. It was a true mark of perseverance and it was great to see Fry enjoy all the well-deserved accolades.

LIKE YOU NEVER LEFT AWARD: Virginia Motorsports Park. It had been nearly a decade since the NHRA last raced there, but the closing of Englishtown was VMP’s gain. The race attracted massive crowds, rave reviews for the new track surface and seemingly cemented itself as a strong facility and annual race for years to come.

THANK GOODNESS HE’S OKAY AWARD: Steve Collier had a huge blow over at Heartland Park Topeka in Top Alcohol Dragster, and it was definitely one of the wildest moments in 2018. He walked away with no serious injuries and one major highlight.

BEST OFFSEASON PUBLIC REACTION AWARD: During a fairly informal Pro Mod State of the Union meeting at the recent Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis, NHRA technical officials presented to the crowd assembled their case for leaving the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series rules untouched headed into the 2019 season. On the heels of a season packed with side-by-side competition, the aforementioned officials cited racing amongst the eliminator’s notorious three power adders as being within “fifteen hundredths” and therefore making any sort of rule adjustment unnecessary. Renowned nitrous engine builder Pat Musi, in the audience along with several of his clients, as well as Chad Green, for whom he serves as crew chief in NHRA Pro Mod competition, abruptly stood and left the gathering – with his wife and clients in tow. While we can’t argue that the racing is close, we tend to side with Mr. Musi on this matter. With only two confirmed nitrous cars committed to the entire 12-race tour in 2019, it seems that the writing is on the wall for this beloved engine combination when it comes to legal, quarter-mile Pro Mod racing. If something isn’t done to bring those cars back closer to potential frontrunner status, we fear these flame-throwing, nitrous-purging hot rods will soon be relegated exclusively to the outlaw eighth-mile.

BEST MOVIE SCRIPT AWARD: It’s a tie between John Force Racing teammates Robert Hight and Brittany Force. Hight broke his collarbone during a crash just past the finish line during his win at St. Louis, but then returned in two weeks to win in Dallas under improbable conditions. Brittany Force had her own redemption story after her massive crash in Pomona, returning to the winner’s circle just two months later in Houston.

BEST WHEELSTAND AWARD: This goes to Harry Hruska for his wild wheelstand at Topeka earlier this season.

BIGGEST CONTROVERSY AWARD: The track prep conversation in Top Fuel and Funny Car was only missed if you were living under a rock this year. In the end, it seemed to level the playing field, created greater parity in Top Fuel and Funny Car, while the best teams were able to adjust and still run great numbers this year. It drew plenty of criticism, but seemed to work itself out by the mid-point of the year.

MOST AMBITIOUS PLANS AWARD: Goes to Elite Motorsports, who will have three drivers (Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin, Alex Laughlin) competing full-time in Pro Stock in 2019, with two of those (Enders, Laughlin) also running a full season in PM with new teammate Steve Matusek.

BEST DISPLAY OF PERSEVERANCE AWARD: Chad Green was not going to be denied in his standout rookie season, coming back from two crashes, including one at his NHRA Pro Mod debut in Gainesville. He suffered another one in Bristol, but was back racing a week later in Norwalk. Green ended his year with two finals appearances and is poised for a big 2019.

NO ONE-HIT WONDER AWARD: This goes to Clay Millican, who had a magical moment winning his first NHRA Top Fuel race a year ago in Bristol. But that was no fluke as Millican won twice in 2018, set the E.T. record in Pomona and finished with 10 No. 1 qualifiers.

BIG NUMBER AWARD: Hector Arana Jr. became the first rider in Pro Stock Motorcycle to go 200 mph, doing it to kick off the season in Gainesville.

Bring on 2019!

Team Aruba enjoyed a historic year in 2018. They debuted a gorgeous new Jerry Haas-built 2018 Mustang, attended their first ever NHRA U.S. Nationals, went to the semi finals or finals at every race, and driver Trevor Eman welcomed his second baby girl, Maya, into the world. This varied success has laid the groundwork for a promising 2019.

Eman and the Aruba.com Mustang will once again compete on their regular Professional Drag Racers Association circuit, chasing an Extreme Pro Stock Championship. However, after the initial test run for incorporating mountain motors with the traditional 500 inch motors of NHRA Pro Stock at the U.S. Nationals, NHRA has announced mountain motors will be able to join their field of Pro Stocks at four events in 2019.

Combining the two versions of Pro Stock was a monumental move by NHRA. The organization will continue to test the waters in 2019. Team Aruba is excited to be a part of the changes.

“Mountain Motor Pro Stock will participate in four NHRA National events in 2019, which could not have come at a better time,” explained team owner, Ven Eman. “American Airlines has just added four new straight flights to Aruba. We can market The One Happy Island to a new population, and it’s easier than ever for them to enjoy a paradise vacation.”

Mountain Motor Pro Stocks will run with NHRA at the Charlotte four-wide event, Dallas, Epping and Bristol. NHRA is the premier drag racing organization, world wide.

“Direct flights are available from Charlotte and Houston, so those markets will be an incredible opportunity for us to promote our island. Racers spend a lifetime working toward racing with the NHRA. We feel extremely privileged and grateful for this opportunity.”

NHRA is the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body and the foremost promoter of drag racing in the world, entertaining millions of racing fans with the fastest and most spectacular form of entertainment on wheels. Up to 125,000 spectators attend each NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

“We’re very excited about our 2019 season. The car has been running extremely well, we’ve got an incredible crew, and there are many amazing opportunities ahead for us. We want to thank our crew: John and Julie Peterson, Hennito Orman, Bruce Morgan, Doug Schriefer, Pat Norcia, Jon Kaase Racing Engines and crew. They work hard to help this car perform well and keep us running. We also have deep gratitude for our partners, Aruba.com and the Aruba Airport Authority. Their loyalty over the years is what got us this far. Next year is going to be very exciting for us, and we can’t wait to take them with us.”

Callies Performance is officially on the list of partners for Chase-N-Dad Racing for the 2019 season. The father-son race team will continue their partnership with SDPC Raceshop while Callies Performance provides essential parts for their rebuilds.

Currently, the engines are out of Chase’s Camaro and Rick’s dragster and at The Raceshop getting freshened, this year with top-of-the-line Callies rods and crankshafts. The Camaro engine will be getting a new Callies Compstar series crankshaft and rods, while the dragster motor will receive new Callies Ultra I Beam rods.

“When you race the way we do, quality and reliability is the number 1 thing we look for,” Rick stated. “All of our engines from SDPC Raceshop have Callies products, and that will continue into the future.”

SDPC Raceshop has used Callies products on their pre-configured engines for years and are a large Callies stocking dealer.  SDPC Raceshop can get you great deals on your Callies products even if you don’t currently use The Raceshop for your other engine needs.   

“We can not thank the whole Scoggin-Dickey crew for their support – they have been very instrumental in our race program,” Chase added. “I am excited to see what the future holds.”

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced today that a spring event at Xtreme Raceway Park, Ferris, Texas will complete the 16-race IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular schedule for 2019.

The double-race weekend will take place March 22-24 with competitors earning local track championship points.

Box, No Box / Footbrake and Junior Dragsters will have the opportunity to compete for the prestigious IHRA Ironman at each event as well as the coveted oversized championship checks.  Class runners-up will receive the limited-edition Summit Sportsman Spectacular silver medals in addition to their winnings. 

The weekend program includes a test & tune session and features prizes for the best losing packages in the first, second and third-rounds.

To become a member of the IHRA please call (561) 337-3015 or email membership@ihra.com.

When J.R. Todd was picked for the cover of Drag Illustrated’s annual Champions Issue, one thing everyone at DI kept coming back to was the Funny Car world champion deserved to become a major superstar in the sport.

Not just a guy everyone knew, but like a real genuine star.

I can remember DI Founder and Editorial Director Wes Buck declaring on more than one occasion that he was intent on “making him a star in 2019.”

Well, appearing on the cover – looking like a genuine badass, by the way – certainly helps that, but let’s hope it’s just the start.

Todd has plenty of qualities to make him a star, whether you’re talking about the adversity he’s overcome to reach this point, his ethnicity, how he looks the part, his age or the fact he’s not afraid to speak his mind.

But most importantly, he’s a genuine racer, a guy any fan of the sport or just going fast can relate to. He loves the sport, loves every kind of racing and has a passion for driving and being the best.

When it comes down to it, being an incredible wheelman – a racer’s racer if you will – is what Todd’s story is based on and that means a lot to him.

“There’s plenty of good drivers out there that are capable of winning that can’t bring money to a deal, and I was one of them and I got a lucky break,” Todd said. “That’s the cool thing about where I’m at now. Shawn and Richie got their job based on talent and their ability to get the job done, and we kind of pride ourselves on that.”

Getting the job based on talent isn’t something that’s a given in this sport and it’s a tough pill Todd had to suffer through on several occasions.

Depending on the team, bringing money to the table and being marketable are just as important – if not more so – as pure driving skill.

It’s understandable, but compared to any other sport, it’s unconventional to put it mildly.

But Todd and Langdon have found a natural fit at Kalitta Motorsports and have made being throwback racers cool again, helped in part by being able to embrace the future in the process.

They’re old-school racers at heart, starting in Jr. Dragsters a young age and racing whatever they could get their hands on. But with their “Nomex Effect” podcast, they’ve brought a new age approach to being old-school, giving people a behind-the-scenes look at being a professional race car driver.

Langdon called it an opportunity to step outside the sometimes-vanilla box the sport gets in, which was a big step for the 2013 Top Fuel world champion. He’s found his niche with his dry, sarcastic personality and Todd matches that, combining into a duo that have a great rapport and aren’t afraid to jump into touchy subjects with both feet.

“It’s huge for us because we feel like we’re the voice of the voiceless,” Langdon said. “There’s so much talent in the sportsman classes and the bracket racing scene, from young kids to adults, there’s so much talent and personality that goes unseen. We feel like we can be the voice of that because everybody has to have a dream.

“For J.R. and I, we feel like we have one of the most relatable stories. We started in the Jr. Drag Racing category, we were able to get opportunities on the way – and obviously you have to take advantage of all your opportunities – but we felt like our story is one that is relatable to any average Joe out there who has a dream to drive a race car for a living. Now that we have that voice with Kalitta, I think it’s given an opportunity for people to think they could do that.”

The podcast gives them that voice, another step for Todd and Langdon taking the next step in growing their star power.

It makes them both seem more real and their profession more achievable to every racing fan out there, and that’s one way to build an audience.

Both have stayed true to themselves as well, and it’s been that genuine approach that Todd believes has drawn people to the show so quickly.

“People are all about it,” Todd said. “They can’t wait for the next episode and now people want to come on the show because it’s a platform where they can say what they feel. That’s what our sport needs. Everything that Shawn and I say, we’re so passionate about the sport. We just want to see it even better than it is because we know it has potential to be even better than it is.”

That potential includes Todd becoming a household name, which doesn’t happen overnight. There’s no superstar-by-numbers playbook that guarantees your name in bright lights, but Todd is doing his part and is ready to do even more.

But what he doesn’t lack is the backbone of any star and that’s an ability to perform when the lights are the brightest. Todd delivered one epic performance after another during the Countdown to the Championship, showcased incredible driving abilities and has displayed an unquestioned passion for working hard.

It’s been evident for team owner Connie Kalitta, a man who has seen it all in the sport. But with Todd, he recognizes the making of a brilliant driver.

“J.R. has been an exceptional driver, teammate and person in the time I’ve gotten to know him,” Kalitta said. “He works hard at his craft, because he truly cherishes the opportunity to drive that DHL Camry, and he wants to be the best. When you combine his work ethic with the natural ability that he has, you get a really special driver.”

Coming from Kalitta, that comment holds a lot of weight and is one more reason why Todd has all the makings of a superstar in this sport.

We chose “The Future Belongs To J.R. Todd” as the cover text for DI 140 because it simply made sense. Let’s hope that’s even more evident by the end of 2019.

Dodge and The LEGO Group announced a partnership pairing the two iconic brands through a new multimedia marketing campaign. The campaign launches with a new 30-second television commercial “Metamorphosis” that first breaks across the Dodge brand’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTubechannels. The initiative also includes a new LEGO® Speed Champions building set that features the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T.
 

“We know that many of our Dodge//SRT enthusiasts become fans of the brand at an early age, and like me, also grow up building LEGO vehicles that we dream of one day driving on the road,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands, Dodge//SRT, Chrysler and FIAT – FCA North America. “With the new Speed Champions set featuring the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, our youngest fans can now build and jump into the ‘driver’s’ seat of two of their ultimate fantasy muscle cars.”  
 
”We are thrilled to bring the exciting Dodge designs to a LEGO build and play experience that is sure to capture the imaginations of not only LEGO fans, but also car lovers and the passionate community of Dodge enthusiasts around the world,” said Chris Stamp, senior designer, LEGO Group.

As part of the LEGO® Speed Champions series of buildable iconic vehicles, modern meets classic in a new set featuring the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Fans of all ages of the Dodge and LEGO brands can recreate a thrilling drag racing experience after building the LEGO Speed Champions 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and 1970 Dodge Charger R/T models! The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon features two sets of wheel rims, authentic design details and decorative stickers while the cool LEGO version of the Dodge Charger, an iconic American muscle car, has a removable supercharger and alternate engine cover. The set also includes:

• Three LEGO minifigures: a Challenger driver, Charger driver and a race marshal.
• The race-ready, buildable 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon features a minifigure cockpit, removable windshield, wheels with rubber tires, 2 sets of rims, rear spoiler, dual exhaust, and authentic design details and decorative stickers.
• The muscular, buildable 1970 Dodge Charger R/T features a minifigure cockpit, removable windshield, wheels with rubber tires, removable supercharger and alternate engine cover, translucent light-style elements, and authentic design details and decorative stickers.

 
A limited number of LEGO® Speed Champions building sets featuring the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T will also be available for purchase on Dodge.com.
 
The 30-second Dodge spot “Metamorphosis” was created in partnership with GSD&M.

Stepping into a turbocharged Pro Mod Camaro for the first time, Alex Laughlin had his own way of rating the initial experience.

Forget anything technical. Laughlin instead decided to go with the pucker factor, an appropriate rating system when it comes to a hell on wheels Pro Mod.

“I can’t compare it to anything except something in my imagination, like the space shuttle,” Laughlin said. “It’s unreal. I’m telling you, the pucker factor is a level 10.”

Now at the completion of his third day of testing the Camaro at Bradenton Motorsports Park with the rest of the Elite Motorsports team, the pucker level has lessened for Laughlin, but the thrill is just getting started.

From just the initial burnouts to the first quarter-mile pass at 5.90 and 250 mph, Laughlin is learning that driving a Pro Mod is unlike anything he’s experienced in his racing career and Laughlin has dabbled in a lot.

The Pro Stock driver, who plans to race a full NHRA Pro Stock and Pro Mod schedule with Elite Motorsports in 2019, has piloted everything from lightning-quick go-karts to an A/Fuel dragster to a blown drag radial Corvette, which he raced for the first time last year.

That experience was close to hellacious as the Pro Mod, but the extra 1/8-mile made a considerable difference.

“I’ve driven an A-Fuel dragster and been 280 (mph) and it’s not even in the same ballpark,” said Laughlin, who has two NHRA Pro Stock wins. “I’m between two actual car doors now and it’s chugging along and, I tell you what, my eyes have to be the size of silver dollars by the end of the race track.”

It’s been a Pro Mod baptism by fire for Laughlin, who admitted he was more of a blower guy and wasn’t exactly a turbo fan. In the course of a couple days, that opinion quickly changed.

“Let me tell you how wrong I was,” Laughlin said.

It’s a massive step for Laughlin, much like Elite teammate and two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders experienced a year ago when she made her NHRA Pro Mod debut.

But being the talented driver she is, Enders made considerable strides throughout the year and Laughlin expects to do the same.

Even from the initial burnout earlier this week to Thursday’s final 250 mph run, Laughlin has been pleased with the progress. The shock value of a turbocharged monster is still there, but it’s not quite as daunting as it was just a few days ago.

He’s gone from “just hanging on and cannot wait to dump the laundry on this thing” to an unreal experience.

Brennan Shortall photo

Of course, it’s all made Laughlin crave the adrenaline rush the car provides even more.

“I absolutely can’t wait (to start the season),” Laughlin said. “Every pass that I make in this thing, I’m able to slow it down a little bit and process it a little bit. It’s getting easier with every pass, but in the beginning it’s a whole lot. You’ve got the adrenaline, the noises, and you feel the tail of the car wagging the whole way down and you have to drive it.”

It’s a total reversal from what he would do in his Pro Stock Camaro. With the way that car is set up, any slight waggle means letting off the gas and quickly ending the run. In a Pro Mod, that’s simply when the fun starts.

“This is something it does and it’s perfectly fine,” Laughlin said. “You just hang on, steer it in the right direction and keep rolling.”

Laughlin will keep rolling into an ambitious 2019 season that already includes more than 30 weekends of racing when you factor in his NHRA schedule, an appearance at the third annual World Series of Pro Mod and a few appearances in his radial car at Donald Long’s big three events.

But there’s a definite excitement for racing in Pro Mod this year and that extends through the entire Elite Motorsports camp. They’re bringing their Pro Stock knowledge, expertise and technology into the Pro Mod class, which will make for an interesting dynamic on a number of fronts.

They will have three cars racing full-time in Pro Mod with Laughlin, Enders and class veteran Steve Matusek, and Laughlin has high expectations heading into the season debut at Gainesville in March.

“The excitement is one thing for sure, the competition is another as well,” Laughlin said. “You’re talking about a huge number of cars trying to fit into a 16-car field and the difference in ETs aren’t that much more drastic than what we’re seeing in Pro Stock. It’s an interesting time to be getting involved in Pro Mod because it’s so strong right now. But you want to come in and run well and be competitive and win, so we’re going to do whatever it takes to do just that.”

Fifteen years ago, I made my first pass in a Junior Dragster. It was a day I will never forget. It was on a Wednesday night at Kansas City International Raceway (KCIR) approximately 45 minutes from our house. I remember my dad telling me if it feels uncomfortable or spins the tires, lift off the gas. I knew exactly what to do – I’ve seen my dad and older cousins go down the strip hundreds of times. As I watched the amber lights fall, I smashed the throttle and cruised down to the eighth-mile at 30 MPH. It was so thrilling!

I began racing at the age of 10, after my sister Rachel turned 8. Junior Dragsters was a completely new monster for us to tackle but thankfully we had the support of three of my older cousins to help guide us. We used a rollback tow truck from my parent’s business to pick up two Juniors and all of the parts and tools we needed to run. I remember I had acquired an old firesuit and safety equipment, and put on the entire outfit and wore it the whole drive back home. I didn’t even take off the neck collar to go to the restroom. Looking back now, I probably looked like a clown, but I didn’t care, I was so happy that I finally got a race car.

A few days later we visited one of my dad’s oldest friends who owned a motorcycle shop to get a pair of helmets. We were set. That weekend, my sister and I strapped back into our Juniors and competed in our first race. There was only the two of us, so we got to race against each other for trophies, and bragging rights. That day I got the win, and the following day (after a few more cars showed up) I got a runner-up finish.

We would visit KCIR every Wednesday and Friday night to test, and then race each Saturday and Sunday that we could. Sometimes it was only my mom who could take us. Two years later, when I could move up to the 13-18 age group, I got a newer Junior Dragster with a faster motor. This Junior was then passed onto Rachel when she entered the class, and we still have it to this day. When that happened, we got a newer car from a friend that had just graduated the class and I had it painted my favorite color: purple.

Immediately after I got my driver’s license, I would take the truck and trailer up to the track with Rachel and a friend and we would go racing. We didn’t rely on our parents to drive us to the track, change the oil, polish the cars, etc. They were off following my dad’s dream of winning the Top Alcohol Dragster Championship. I believe this is what sets us apart from other racers – we truly were dedicated to the sport.

I had struggled for years with red lights, breaking out, being way off my dial-in, slow reaction times, bad clutches, etc. I always saw the other kids who were unbeatable and wanted to be one of them someday. I finally had a great year and accumulated enough points to win my first points Championship at KCIR in 2009 and it was the happiest day of my life. I learned how important a routine was in the pits and on the starting line and used that knowledge to get my second Championship the following year.

2010 was also the year I got a Super Comp dragster. Again, we had no clue how to operate a car with a delay box and throttle stop – these were all foreign terms to my dad. But we had help from my uncle and other Super Comp racers from Kansas City to help us figure it out. It was a blast racing two completely different cars in the same weekend. I would have to be first in line with my Junior, make a pass, rush back to the trailer, grab my helmet and run to the staging lanes to hop in my Super Comp car that was waiting to go down the quarter-mile at 170 MPH.

My final year of Juniors came in 2011 when I turned 18, graduated from high school, and the track had announced that it was closing. I was devastated when I heard the news since it was the closest drag strip to our house and we had so many memories of racing in Kansas City. For the final race of the year, we loaded our Junior Dragsters on the back of a rollback tow truck, just as we did when we first began this journey. It was a cold, damp day that matched our feelings as we drove to the track. I was sitting second in points and ended up running the guy who was leading points in first round. All I had to do was beat him and win a couple rounds and I would clinch the Championship. I was too excited about winning my third Championship that I didn’t pay attention and broke out by a ton. I was so devastated, I had just lost my last Junior Dragster race in the first round. I couldn’t believe it, but there were no buy-backs or second chances. I was done and had to move on.

It was an upsetting way to end my Junior Dragster career, and there are times I still think about that day. It reminds me to always stay focused and don’t think about the points or results until after the race is over.

Racing Junior Dragsters has always been my favorite type of racing. The camaraderie we built between other families in this area allowed Rachel and I to race on our own with the help of other parents while ours were following the NHRA tour. We are all still loyal, trusting, and enjoy each other’s company to this day even though not all of the kids we raced against stayed in the sport. But the ones that did have made huge strides in their racing careers. You can find them as points chasers and Champions in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series or even crewmen on Top Fuel teams.

These memories will last a lifetime, and I will always do anything I can to give back to other racers so they can have lasting memories as well. Racing Junior Dragsters is a very serious and competitive sport, and can make or break relationships between racers and tracks. Building up a solid foundation like we did makes for a great launch pad for a professional racing career.

Yesterday I saw on Facebook that Heartland Motorsports Park, my current home track, is having thoughts of relocating the track from Topeka to Kansas City. I believe that this will be a good move for all of the racers who live closer or in Missouri. However, it may be a couple of years before we have an NHRA track in the Midwest if he does close it down. I also have many good memories of racing at Topeka with Juniors, Super Comp, and Top Alcohol Dragsters, but I understand Chris’s financial decision even after he spent millions to improve the facility. Hopefully he will come to an agreement with the city and we can continue to do what we love.

Aeromotive, the market leader in fuel delivery systems and components, announced they will be the Official Fuel System for Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School in 2019. Over the years, Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School has mentored numerous drivers that went on to become powerhouses in drag racing.

“We are excited to be working with Aeromotive this year,” founder Frank Hawley said. “We’ve been teaching drag racing’s top drivers for over three decades and it is imperative that we can provide these drivers not only with great instruction, but powerful and reliable race cars as well. It’s that reliability and performance that we will get from the long line of Aeromotive products.”

With the advent of this partnership in 2019, Aeromotive has put together a system that can handle the rigors of licensing passes day-in and day-out, while still providing the quality performance and reliability for which the company, which earned the SEMA Manufacturer of the Year in 2018, is known.

“We also have used Waterman fuel systems on our alcohol cars for 30 years,” Hawley added. “With Aeromotive’s acquisition of Waterman Racing in 2017, Aeromotive is now providing us with all of the school’s fuel system needs under one roof. Steve Matusek has put together a great group of people that provide top quality parts for everyone’s performance needs. We’re proud to be with them.”

Said Steve Matusek, Aeromotive Founder and President: “Frank Hawley and his Drag Racing School have been a force in this industry for decades. We’ve known Frank Hawley and his team for a number of years. He even brought his program out to Heartland Park Topeka for an Aeromotive team-building day! There is a great group of people behind Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and it shows in their hard work, passion, and dedication. We’re excited to be the Official Fuel System for Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and we’re looking forward to what 2019 will bring for everyone involved.”

For more information, visit the Aeromotive website, Aeromotiveinc.com, or email at info@aeromotive.com, or call 913-647-7300 to speak to one of Aeromotive’s technical specialists.

POMONA, Calif. — The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ annual iconic opener, the tradition-rich 59th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com, will kick off another thrilling NHRA season, Feb. 7-10 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

The first of 24 races during the 2019 season has long been a historic event for the sport and winning the Winternationals has provided career-making moments for NHRA competitors for nearly six decades. On the heels of an action-packed 2018 campaign, there is plenty of excitement heading into 2019 and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona provides the perfect backdrop for the 10,000-horsepower nitro machines to roar back to life. New cars, new teams and new team members add another level of excitement to the race, making it a must-see event to start 2019.

Steve Torrence

The top stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will aim for a quick start and to grab a Wally at one of drag racing’s most revered events. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Bo Butner (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of a race that will be televised on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including finals coverage beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10.

In Top Fuel, world champion Steve Torrence returns to a track where he capped off his incredible finish to 2018. Torrence won all six Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoff races a year ago, becoming the first competitor in NHRA history to do so. That included a season-ending triumph in Pomona, giving Torrence 11 wins on the year. He’ll try to keep that momentum going to kick off 2019, but it won’t be easy against a loaded Top Fuel lineup that includes defending event winner Kalitta, eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, Leah Pritchett, 2017 world champ Brittany Force, Clay Millican, Terry McMillen, Mike Salinas and Scott Palmer.

J.R. Todd clinched his first career Funny Car world championship last November at Pomona, winning the season-finale race to cap off a dream season that included six victories. Entering his third season in Funny Car, Todd will look for his first Winternationals win to start his 2019 season strong, but he’ll have to do it against a talented field that includes back-to-back race winner Matt Hagan. Todd will also face off with the likes of 2017 world champ Robert Hight, 16-time world champion John Force, Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon, Jack Beckman, Tommy Johnson Jr., 2016 world champ Ron Capps and veteran Tim Wilkerson.

Bo Butner, the 2017 Pro Stock world champion, started last season on a strong note with his first Winternationals victory and the talented driver will look for a repeat win in 2019. To do so, he’ll have to get by a Pro Stock lineup that includes a bevy of former world champions, including five-time world champ Jeg Coughlin Jr., who finished second in points in 2018, four-time world champ Greg Anderson, Jason Line, a three-time champ who has five Winternationals victories, two-time world champ Erica Enders and title hopefuls Alex Laughlin Matt Hartford and Deric Kramer.

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where future stars of the sport hone their skills.

Those in attendance will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with some of the biggest names in drag racing during the NHRA Legends Tour. This includes meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, and a variety of other activities. Legends scheduled to attend the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com will be announced soon.

Along with the exciting on-track action, the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com will honor first responders with NHRA’s “Salute to First Responders” celebration.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at noon and 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Feb. 9, at noon and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. All students can save 50 percent on general admission at the gate with a student ID. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more info about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) officials announced today that FuelTech will be the presenting sponsor of the first race of the series’ sixth season. The 2019 PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech will take place April 4-6 at GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson, N.C.

“We are extremely excited to have a new partnership with a new sponsor for 2019,” said Tyler Crossnoe, race director, PDRA. “One of our goals for 2019 is to bring new faces and names to the PDRA and by offering a new event presenting partnership, we have opened the door to new partners like FuelTech.”

FuelTech has been an industry leader and a go-to company for drivers in classes across drag racing. Celebrating its 16th year on an international scale, FuelTech USA started in 2015 and has already shown impressive growth, offering innovative products that have been praised for their painless installation. The FT series ECU’s built-in interface allows the user to have full control of the engine without the use of a PC, allowing for extreme convenience.

“FuelTech has done a great job of promoting their products across a number of markets in the past few years,” Crossnoe said, “and we are proud to announce they are furthering their Pro Modified branding by signing on with the PDRA series.”

Fans at the PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech can expect thrilling eighth-mile drag racing in a variety of professional and sportsman categories. Moroso Pro Boost, Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Outlaw 632 are on tap, as well as Atomizer Racing Injectors Outlaw 10.5 presented by Drag965. Sportsman racing will include MagnaFuel Top Sportsman Elite 16 and Top Sportsman 32, Lucas Oil Top Dragster Elite 16 and Top Dragster 32, and Edelbrock Bracket Bash. The future stars of the PDRA will compete in Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster and Gilbert Motorsports Top Jr. Dragster. Drag965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle, racing on a six-race schedule in 2019, will join the tour at the PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown at Virginia Motorsports Park in May.

“The season opener at GALOT has always been one of the best events of the year for the PDRA,” Crossnoe said. “We hope to continue this trend in 2019 with the FuelTech partnership.”

The PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech will cover three days: Thursday testing, Friday qualifying and Saturday eliminations. A detailed run order and daily schedule will be announced soon.

One of the lasting moments of the 2018 drag racing season was Mark Micke’s incredible Sweet 16 weekend at South Georgia Motorsports Park, where Micke and handful of competitors slugged it out with one “can you top this” performance after another.

Micke held the most prodigious blasts – and the $101,000 check – by the end of the weekend in the Jason Carter-owned twin-turbo ’78 Malibu, marking another key moment in drag radial’s meteoric rise in the sport.

For Micke, it was a race and part of a year that can define a career. But Micke isn’t close to finished and he doesn’t think his progression – or that of the class – is anywhere near its peak, which could bode for a mind-blowing 2019.

“I hope we’re not at the end of the whole deal,” Micke said. “Looking at we did over the off-season and our customers, I think 3.60s are going to become the norm. A lot of big teams coming out this year with serious backing, the right products and we’ve all learned a bunch, looked at all the data. I think 2019 is going to be a crazier year than ’18.

It hardly seems possible, but then again, when could we have ever predicted a drag radial car could run 3.62 at 221 mph, like Micke did on that mind-altering weekend in Valdosta.

It set a new bar and it’s a bar that has moved at a rapid rate with the creative minds and personalities within Radial vs. The World scene.

Micke is certainly at the forefront of that, which means not getting complacent with that magical weekend in Valdosta. The team ended up with a strong year, but as a flurry of drivers reached the 3.60s, including Dewayne Mills, who was the first to accomplish the feat, and Stevie “Fast” Jackson, Micke wasn’t about to stand pat.

The team has been hard at work in the off-season, continuously searching for new ways to improve for 2019.

“On my end, a lot of our stuff is in the torque converter,” Micke said. “That’s where a lot of stuff lies and that’s where we made some huge gains last year. But, then again, there’s a lot of stuff in the shocks, the struts, the front-end suspension we’ve overlooked and are starting to catch onto. The cars have always been heavy so we haven’t thought a lot about weight reduction, but we’ve really focused on rotating weight.”

There’s a certain point of pride in doing it all in a ’78 Malibu, especially considering the basic chassis for the car

Mark Micke

was built in 1999. There continue to be refinements, but as Micke’s budget doesn’t allow for the latest and greatest, or a new car, they have optimized the performance on the Malibu.

That’s been beneficial to Micke’s standing as a driver and personality within the class, as well as business, M&M Transmissions, which has seen impressive growth over the years.

Micke and his team now do significant work in the Pro Mod ranks, but as a business and driver, his backbone remains the radial world. More than a decade after it came to prominence, the class still remains on fire as Donald Long’s Lights Out 10 looms a month away at SGMP.

“For us, our history is small-tire cars,” Micke said. “We’ve grown up through he ranks with this all. That’s how we got into the game and it’s grown into everything else we do. For me, the attraction of the small-tire car is you’re dealing with something the average person can relate. You’ve got the old-style nostalgia cars, a. It’s a challenging way to run a race car. What I love about RvW right now, it falls into our mode. We love to get into slugfests, just like Sweet 16. If it gets into an all-out, throw everything you got at it, that’s our style of racing. That fits us perfectly.”

That showed last year and with all eyes on Micke, he’s set to do it again and has no plans of slowing down. He lives for the attention-getting big events and big paychecks that are on the line, which makes it no surprise those are at the forefront of his schedule in 2019.

Micke has 8-10 races planned with the Malibu, including Long’s three major events, and he’s fine with everyone trying to top him this year. Micke will head to test later this month in Florida, knowing full well that he is aiming high and trying to make even more history.

“We’ve got a good car and everything worked great for us last year, and the car was consistent everywhere we went,” Micke said. “But I also know everyone’s coming. There’s a lot of guys that are doing the same thing we are. We just can’t sit back and be happy with what we did last year. We’ve got some work ahead of us, but we feel pretty confident where we’re sitting.

“I want to be the guy everybody’s chasing. That’s what we live more and that motivates me more, honestly. I’m always thinking those guys are coming and we’ve got to keep pushing and pushing. We love it. We want to be up front.”

Lucas Oil announced today that its longtime relationship with Pat Musi Racing Engines and Musi Racing will continue for the 2019 season on a number of different fronts.

Lucas Oil will share the primary sponsorship with Edelbrock on Frank Brandao’s record-setting Pro Nitrous 2018 Dodge Dart driven by standout driver Lizzy Musi, while the partnership will also extend into the engine shop for Pat Musi Racing Engines. The company has proudly used Lucas Oil’s proven products for more than a decade with an impressive track record.

“Lucas Oil is extremely proud to return in 2019 with Musi Racing and driver Lizzy Musi,” Lucas Oil Motorsports Manager Tom Bogner said. “We’re always looking for partners that can help us bring awareness to our products, and we enjoy working with Pat and the entire Musi family. Lizzy is a very talented driver who has already put together a number of exciting records using Lucas Oil products, and I’m looking forward to seeing the results on the dyno and on the track in 2019. We also like the strong connection with Edelbrock on her Dodge Dart and in Pat’s engine shop, putting us alongside another strong American performance aftermarket company.”

On the dragstrip, Lizzy Musi will race the full 2019 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season, which starts in April at GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson, NC, as well as the Mad Mule events that take place at GALOT and Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, VA. Musi has compiled a list of jaw-dropping performances and numerous race victories in her young career, and is also the fastest driver in eighth-mile doorslammer nitrous racing after posting an incredible 209.23 MPH pass at the 2018 PDRA World Finals at VMP.

At Pat Musi’s highly-successful engine shop, Lucas Oil is the lifeblood for every Musi engine. That will continue in 2019, as Pat Musi Racing Engines will use Lucas Oil’s 10w40 Racing Oil, 20w50 Racing Oil, 20w50 Break-in Oil and the new Low Viscosity Stabilizer this year to again stay a step ahead of the competition.

“I couldn’t be more excited to continue our relationship with Lucas Oil. Tom and the team are like family to us at this point,” Pat Musi said. “Their support, both with their sponsorship on the track and their quality oils in the engine room, has been invaluable in allowing us to achieve our sustained success and 2019 should be no different.”

In the latest episode of “Stevie Fast” Jackson’s increasingly-popular video blog, the driver-and-tuner extraordinaire breaks down the ins and outs of a Neal Chance-built lock up torque converter and how he shifts the transmission in his race cars, along with a little ribbing of his on-track rival Keith Haney. Check it out!

From NHRA Pro Stock’s new 18-race schedule and the incredible pre-entry turnout for Pro Mod in 2019 to radial racing performance mark predictions and talk about doorslammer racing’s G.O.A.T., the year’s second episode of Drag Illustrated Live! delivers the goods! Check out the fast-paced drag racing talk show now!

Tony Gillig made a name for himself racing in IHRA and NHRA Pro Stock in the 1990s, driving a family-owned Oldsmobile Cutlass with considerable success. His career continued through the 2000s as a hired-gun wheelman in the Fun Ford Series, securing a championship in his first season before returning to IHRA Pro Stock for the 2003-2006 seasons. He made his last pass down the track in Extreme Pro Stock in 2011, unsure when he would race again.

Gillig made his triumphant return to the eighth-mile earlier this summer at the PDRA Firecracker Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, where he made his debut in East Side Auto Transport Pro Outlaw 632. Driving a throwback ’96 Cutlass powered by a MadCap-built 632 ci engine with a Liberty 5-speed and Ram clutch, Gillig raced Jordan Ensslin and No. 1 qualifier Johnny Pluchino before a carburetor issue bit him in the final round.

During a break in the action at PDRA Drag Wars at GALOT Motorsports Park, Gillig sat down with DRAG ILLUSTRATED to talk about returning to racing, finding a new home in Pro Outlaw 632, and racing with his family.

What was it about Pro Outlaw 632 that caught your interest?

I think it’s pretty cool. I think it gives guys like us – guys who have been diehard Pro Stock fans and like to race naturally aspirated with a clutch – a place to race. We won’t race NHRA Pro Stock – it’s ridiculous. The Mountain Motor Pro Stock stuff here is pretty cool. I’ve done it in the past and did well. We wanted to do something maybe a little more low-key. This thing fit into some other classes, too. We have some Nostalgia Pro Stock stuff going on in the Midwest that this can fit into. If we had to, we could also run in A/Altered in Comp over in NHRA. We kind of built this thing with the intention of being able to run it other classes, too, rather than something specific like a mountain motor or 500-inch Pro Stock car. Plus, we’re just NA guys that won’t run nitrous and won’t run automatics. This is a good fit for us and it came along at the right time. This class came along right when we were wanting to get back into racing, so we were lucky. 

Your new Gillig-Wagner Motorsports Cutlass is a beautiful piece. What went into bringing it out for its debut?

We decided to build this car for the 632 class and we wanted to build a replica of our original Cutlass that we built in the ’90s and ran in IHRA and NHRA Pro Stock. We quit racing in ’01 and sold the car. We tried to buy the car back from the guy who bought it from us, but he wouldn’t sell it. My dad found this car out in Vegas. It’s an old Don Ness car that Mike Edwards drove in NHRA Pro Stock. We bought it, brought it home, stripped it and started over. Just completely and totally redid the car and put it together the way we wanted to do it. We had a motor built by MadCap. So far, so good. There’s only 15-16 runs on it, so we’re still trying to figure some things out on it, but so far, it’s been a pretty cool deal. 

Did you exceed your expectations by making it to the final round at your first race?

We didn’t know what to expect. We thought we had enough power to run in the top half of the field and go out and make some noise. The car ran pretty good, but we had some struggles that weekend. We beat Johnny Pluchino second round and we had a bye into the finals. In the final round we had a needle and seat stick in the carburetor and I couldn’t get it to unstick. It was flooding the motor over after the burnout. I just staged the car and hoped for the best. In all reality, just being out for the first time with the car, things went pretty well for us. I can’t complain about going to the final. 

Who do you have working on the car?

My dad is the brains behind this thing. My brother-in-law, Billy Wagner, is our crew chief. He’s been around this stuff forever. He was John Montecalvo’s crew chief in the ’90s, Larry Morgan’s crew chief in the late ’90s through early 2000s when he was with Mopar, and he worked for Bob Benza, too. My sister, Chrissy Wagner, also comes with us. We’ve got some pretty good knowledge here, we just have to get our stuff together and get this car worked out. It should be pretty fast when we’re done with it. 

Your family has been deeply involved in drag racing for decades. How special is it to be able to all race together now?

We’re having a blast together. We never raced together, by brother-in-law, my dad and I. It was always my dad and I, then Billy was somewhere else and we were racing against him. This is a family deal and we’re all doing it together now. That’s the most important thing: getting us all together and spending time at the racetrack together.