DI Warm-Up: 10 NHRA Pros to Follow on Instagram

It seems just about everyone has a smartphone now, or at least access to one of the several social networks. Fans have taken to social media to supplement the news and results they receive from standard media outlets, like ESPN2 or NHRA.com. Drivers and teams can interact with fans instantaneously through social media, posting results as they happen or revealing new sponsors or paint schemes before the press release even hits the editor’s inbox. Facebook is the current leader in drag racing social media activity, but picture sharing service Instagram is becoming the next frontier, especially for the younger generation. Maybe you’re on Instagram but you never use it, or you need a reason to sign up. To help you out, we put together this list of some of the NHRA professional drivers and teams who use Instagram to update their fans.

@DoteRacing car is all wrapped and ready for it's debut at Charlotte. Running the @gumout scheme until then. #carbon

A photo posted by Leah Pritchett (@leahpritchett_tf) on Jan 28, 2015 at 5:53pm PST

Leah Pritchett

The former Nostalgia Funny Car driver regularly posts behind-the-scenes look at the Dote Racing shop, like this first look at the team’s new look for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

#ThrowbackThurs The @NHRA track here in Pomona was the scene of a lost bet with teammate Scelzi

Ron Capps

The NAPA Auto Parts driver has been wheeling nitro cars since the mid 90s, so he has plenty of great Throwback Thursday pics in the bank. Also, if there’s a rock star or action sports athlete hanging out at the races, you’ll probably find out about it on Capp’s profile.

Set up overlooking the lake here at the Phoenix racetrack #GrayMotorsports #NHRA2015

A photo posted by Gray Motorsports (@graymotorsports) on Feb 3, 2015 at 12:11pm PST

Gray Motorsports

Pro Stock fans should enjoy the updates from Gray Motorsports and drivers Shane and Jonathan Gray. They’re one of the few Pro Stock teams with a consistent Instagram feed.

Who Ready for @MonsterJam Des Moines IA Fri &Sat #MoreMonsterJam @DMillican25 #TeamBlueThunder #TeamDMILLIcan

A photo posted by claymillican (@claymillican) on Jan 1, 2015 at 1:51pm PST

Clay Millican

Millican brings his fan-favorite enthusiasm to his Instagram feed, which isn’t limited to shots of his Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster. Clay also posts updates on his son, Dalton, an AMA ATV national champion who now drives the Blue Thunder Monster Jam truck.

Second round of the #PROWinterWarmup included a stellar 3.72 at 332mph for Spencer & the #RedFuel team! #NHRA

A video posted by Megan Fessel-Schumacher (@meganfessschu) on Jan 16, 2015 at 3:19pm PST

Megan Schumacher

Megan takes her followers behind the ropes of the Don Schumacher Racing organization and its seven nitro teams through posts like this video from preseason testing.

After 8 hours in the Windtunnel the new @victorybikes should be ok… Next test Bradenton fl. Feb 16-18 on the track…#makingprogress

A photo posted by Matt smith (@mattsmithracing) on Jan 31, 2015 at 9:50am PST

Matt Smith

The two-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champ posts pics of whatever project he’s working on currently, whether it’s a backyard go-kart track or windtunnel testing the new Victory Motorcycles PSM body.

This is typically how our shoots go. Don't do it if you're not having fun!

Courtney Force

The youngest of John Force’s daughters posts photos from all of the family’s racing activities: John Force Racing’s NHRA events, niece Autumn Hight’s Junior Dragster races, and fiancé Graham Rahal’s IndyCar races.

Soon… We shall meet again #myoffice #aintnogrocerygetter #BOT

A photo posted by Alexis DeJoria (@alexisdejoria) on Jan 8, 2015 at 5:58pm PST

Alexis DeJoria

DeJoria has one of the largest Instagram followings of the NHRA drivers and it’s easy to see why. Her posts range from standard race car shots to photos of custom motorcycles and handguns made by her husband, Jesse James.

Brittany Force

Brittany gave her followers a sneak peek of her new Drag Illustrated cover, set to go online early next week.

Check out this sneak peak @dannyroweracing shared with us of the @agaveunderground C7 Corvette Pro Mod they will unveil in June 2015! Sick!!! #nhra #promod #pdra #supercharged #corvette #c7

A photo posted by Drag Illustrated (@dragillustrated) on Feb 5, 2015 at 6:32pm PST

Bonus: Drag Illustrated

Make sure you’re following us on Instagram, too!

 

GOOD READS

• Kalitta Motorsports team owner Connie Kalitta and J.R. Todd, driver of the Red Line Oil Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta, discuss their unlikely relationship as tuner and driver in this new article from USA Today.
• ESPN W recently posted this article, titled ’10 Things We’d Like to See for Women in Auto Racing in 2015′. Click through to see which NHRA drivers made the list.
• The owner of Heartland Part Topeka announced this week a tentative 2015 schedule, highlighted by the 27^th Annual NHRA Kansas Nationals. The move would be nothing more than routine if it weren’t for the track’s questionable future. Local Kansas newspaper The Hutchinson News has more on the schedule and ownership situation.

GOOD VIEWS

• Pulled from an old VHS tape, this video features the Midwest-based Supercharged Outlaws group facing off against The Wild Bunch from the northeast. Where else will you see a Ford Taurus station wagon line up alongside a Fiat altered? If you’re into screamin’ supercharged doorslammers and open-bodied machines, you’ll probably enjoy this.

• PDRA TV was on-hand at Jerry Bickel Race Cars when Lizzy Musi first laid eyes on her new car for 2015, a Pro Nitrous ’15 Dodge Dart.

• NHRA Funny Car driver Chad Head kicked off a new sponsorship deal with golf giant TaylorMade this week, teeing off the roof of his fuel coupe at Auto Club Raceway before competing at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals this weekend. Pro qualifying starts today, February 6th, at 12:30 PM PST.