NHRA Insider Podcast
the NHRA Insider Podcast Presented by Speedmaster is an inside look at the world of the NHRA and all things drag racing. Hosted by Brian Lohnes. https://www.speedmaster79.com/
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8.6 Langdon Talks 345 mph, Vandergriff Spills the Rookie Beans
02/23/2026
8.6 Langdon Talks 345 mph, Vandergriff Spills the Rookie Beans
On this high-speed episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Shawn Langdon talks about his historic week of testing at Gainesville Raceway and Jordan Vandergriff talks about a breakout rookie week earning his stripes as a Funny Car driver. For Langdon, Gainesville was not a test session but a continuation of a global drag racing journey he'd been on since November. Langdon ran 3.621, which is the unofficial quickest of all time, and then the next day went 345.62, the unofficial fastest of all time. He breaks down these runs, his globe-trotting odyssey, and more in this insightful interview. Vandergriff has massive shoes to fill at John Force Racing. He knows it, the world knows it. He had an amazing week, gaining a Funny Car license, running 3.80s, and putting the world on notice that he can do the job. Vandergriff tells all about his new status as a Funny Car driver, his new crew chiefs, and his new crew in this chat. This and some more testing and cool news on the show!
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8.5 Pro Mod Legend Von Smith, Blake Bowser On The March Meet and More!
02/11/2026
8.5 Pro Mod Legend Von Smith, Blake Bowser On The March Meet and More!
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast Powered by Speedmaster, NHRA Pro Mod legend Von Smith and the March Meet's Blake Bowser join host Brian Lohnes to tell stories, recount history, and explore all that's coming at the 2026 March Meet at historic Famoso Drag Strip in Bakersfield. 2010 NHRA Pro Mod champion Von Smith is the first guest on the show and he talks about his incredible career, transitioning from Funny Car to Pro Mod, winning championships, being among the first to race internationally more than a decade ago, and the kind of inside racer stories we love. Learn about the health battles he overcame, his memorable 2010 season title, and how the world of five second 250mph door slammer racing has evolved and how he himself helped evolve it. Blake Bowser is the second guest on the show. A man with multiple generations of history at Famoso Drag Strip, he now oversees the operation of the famed Good Vibrations March Meet and the California Hot Rod Reunion. Get the inside scoop on what's happening in 2026, the incredible history of the event, and why it continues to be one of the great drag races on the planet from the guy who knows it best. All that and more including news and rumors, right here!
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8.4 Josh Hart and Mike Knudsen Talk 2026 Preparation, Expectations, More
02/03/2026
8.4 Josh Hart and Mike Knudsen Talk 2026 Preparation, Expectations, More
On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Josh Hart and Mike Knudsen join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the off-season, preparing for 2026, what they are looking forward to, and how this next season will show off the evolution of their respective careers. Josh Hart goes into depth about his experience so far at John Force Racing, his new sponsorship with Speedmaster, and how the team is working to craft the most precisely tailored Top Fuel dragster he has ever piloted. He talks about the shift in pressure from being an owner/driver to a dedicated driver, what David Grubnic and John Collins are doing and how fired up he is for Gainesville. Mike Knudsen heads into the 2026 season with something virtually no other Funny Car Crew Chief has, the same team. The growth they showed in 2025 along with the stability they bring into 2026 means that the car which finished second last season is expected to challenge for a title once again. Mike talks approach, new tracks, how the tuners will navigate them and what he learned from last year. Some awesome deep insight from these two guys who will star prominently in the 2026 nitro fueled war that will be NHRA competition.
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8.3 Maddi Gordon Talks 2026 Top Fuel, Prock News, Bristol News, More
01/20/2026
8.3 Maddi Gordon Talks 2026 Top Fuel, Prock News, Bristol News, More
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster Maddi Gordon joins host Brian Lohnes to talk about the final preparations for her Top Fuel debut in 2026, moving into the role of being a professional full-time driver, her goals for this career evolution, and a whole lot more. Add into that the huge Prock family news, massive facility upgrades being made across the sport, especially at Bristol Dragway, and a whole lot more and you have a quick and quick moving episode of the Insider. Maddi's move to the Top Fuel world has been very public in its announcements and gradual forward moving steps but now the time has come to truly prepare for the season. Lean about outlook, process, and all the behind the scenes work happening in the Ron Capps Motorsports race shop. It's a great conversation with Top Fuel's newest driver.
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8.2 Headline Makers and Writers: Will Smith, Buddy Hill, and Kevin McKenna
01/13/2026
8.2 Headline Makers and Writers: Will Smith, Buddy Hill, and Kevin McKenna
On this super-sized, three-guest episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast Powered by Speedmaster, National Dragster's Kevin McKenna, Bluebird Turf Top Fuel driver Will Smith, and Funny Car stalwart Buddy Hull join the show to talk 2026 in all forms and fashions. McKenna and host Brian Lohnes dive into a range of 2026 season topics, break down some of the recent news, speculate on some of the happenings still in the wings, and explore the radical door slammer fun to come in both Congruity HR Pro Mod and the new Right Trailers Outlaw Street series presented by Xpel. A great chat with lots of insight. Smith is living a dream. Recently named the driver of the new addition to the Scag Power Equipment factory team, he will be competing full time in Top Fuel. Smith shares his story, his outlook, and his awesome persona here. A real-deal drag racer speaks from the heart. Hull made big news a few weeks back, announcing that he would be fielding his own Funny Car operation in 2026. Get the inside scoop on who is tuning, what lessons he learned over a hard 2025 season, and what the strategy is for 2026. One of the biggest personalities in the class goes into success, failure, and the effort of doing it his own way in the coming year.
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8.1 Burgess and Pedregon Kick Off 2026, New Mystery Dragster, 75th and More!
01/06/2026
8.1 Burgess and Pedregon Kick Off 2026, New Mystery Dragster, 75th and More!
On this 2026 kick off episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Phil Burgess, Editorial Director for the NHRA and NHRAonFox's Tony Pedregon come on to talk about the off-season craziness, rumors, a new mystery dragster on the way to Top Fuel, 75th Anniversary content and celebrations, and more with Brian Lohnes. In the first half of the show Pedregon and Lohnes dive into the wildness of the off-season, the personnel changes, who won, who lost, and who is in a better position than they were last year. They talk about the off season work, the importance of adapting to new tracks, and how some new crew chief pairings are perhaps a little strange but potentially great. International Drag Racing Hall of Fame member and NHRA Editorial Director Phil Burgess joins the show as the second guest. He and Lohnes visit some of the same off season content and then they dive into the incredible array of 75th Anniversary content Phil and his people have been working on and are releasing. This season is going to rock and this show will get you fired up for it!
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7.46 Jordan Vandergriff Speaks, PRI News, Views, and More
12/16/2025
7.46 Jordan Vandergriff Speaks, PRI News, Views, and More
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Jordan Vandergriff who was revealed to be the new driver of the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet for the 2026 season at John Force Racing. Vandergriff talks about gaining the shot, the challenges ahead, how he is preparing, and the natural rivalry he'll share with Austin Prock when the season dawns at Gainesville. The conversation is open, honest, and full of the kind of insights only a professional driver on the doorstep of living a dream can share. Lohnes talks PRI, the recent announcement of a new NHRA National event at US 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan, breaking news and more. This one's got something for everyone.
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7.45 The Insiders Talk Crew Chief Chaos, More Changes, and 2026
12/09/2025
7.45 The Insiders Talk Crew Chief Chaos, More Changes, and 2026
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon joins Brian Lohnes to talk about the chaos of crew chiefs in the NHRA nitro ranks right now, fresh news about a Top Fuel team, landing places for the experienced leaders currently standing as free agents, and a whole lot more. Why did this happen, how did this happen, and how all these moves will reshape the nitro landscape in 2026. This is an interesting episode that takes you to ground zero where all the news is radiating out of and helps to perhaps sort some of the craziness out.
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7.44 Gadson and Glenn Talk Titles - Crew Chief Breaking News Revealed
12/02/2025
7.44 Gadson and Glenn Talk Titles - Crew Chief Breaking News Revealed
On this in-depth episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Richard Gadson and Dallas Glenn join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their first championships in the world of NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing. The two hardcore racers take you deep into their championship seasons, talk about behind the scenes moments you've never heard them talk about, analyze their approaches, their successes, failures, and the moments that brought them the sport's ultimate glory. For Richard Gadson, it was a season of intense conversations, learning, and ultimately self-realization that he was not only capable of winning a title but deserving of it as well. Gadson takes us into an intense meeting with Terry Vance after a loss in Chicago that changed his mentality and ultimately set him on a path to the pages of drag racing history forever. His breakdown of the semi-final in Las Vegas against Gaige Herrera, his discussion of the team dynamic when Brayden Davis came on for the Countdown, and more are revelatory. Dallas Glenn had one of the most statistically amazing seasons in modern Pro Stock history and he breaks it down, sometimes to the thousandth of a second in this interview. The depth of desire and the will to win and keep winning are fascinating points of this conversation. You'll fully understand his championship mindset after listening. These conversations as well as deep insider breaking crew chief news will have you glued to this show from end to end!
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7.43 The Insiders Dive Into The Procks, JFR, Rumors, Speculation and More
11/25/2025
7.43 The Insiders Dive Into The Procks, JFR, Rumors, Speculation and More
This is the show you wanted and so it's the show you're going to get. On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Kevin McKenna joins Brian Lohnes for a comprehensive dive into one of the biggest NHRA stories in years; the departure of the Prock family from John Force Racing. They look at it from all sides, squash some rumors, examine others, consider the future for all involved and a whole lot more. A story of this size will have ripple effects for months and maybe longer so that keeps the conversation interesting and engaging. Where are they going? Why are they going there? Who will fill the Prock seat? Who will tune the car? This and so, so much more are discussed and pondered. There's more than just the Prock story as well. Loads of other hirings, firings, and 2026 moves are either revealed or hinted at. Every second of this one is worth the listen.
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7.42 Rain, Heartbreak, and Bad Takes: An Insider Recounts the In-N-Out Burger Finals
11/21/2025
7.42 Rain, Heartbreak, and Bad Takes: An Insider Recounts the In-N-Out Burger Finals
On this monologue episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Brian Lohnes takes you through his manic experience at the In-N-Out Burger Finals in Pomona. From a breakdown of the weekend as only an Insider can to the logistics and thought process behind how the race was ended and why, this is a must listen for any fan looking for the real story from a guy who was there. Lohnes also systematically breaks down why the race was cancelled and not moved or rescheduled with insight that goes far deeper than what has been reported. There's some breaking crew chief news, some team speculation, a breakdown of the champions, awards night, and more. This is an interesting, candid, and insightful breakdown of a weekend that will forever live in the lore of NHRA drag racing for reasons both awesome and crummy.
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7.41 A Vegas Recap, SEMA News, and The Insiders Talk In-N-Out Finals
11/11/2025
7.41 A Vegas Recap, SEMA News, and The Insiders Talk In-N-Out Finals
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon joins host Brian Lohnes to talk all about the events of the last couple of weeks in the world of NHRA drag racing, big news, and the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Lohnes kicks off the show with a monologue getting you up to speed on all the different sportsman and professional championship scenarios, recaps some of the big news from the SEMA show, and more. Tony Pedregon joins to talk about the implications of Las Vegas, who was a mover and who was not as well as how that race will impact the scenarios at Pomona. The guys break down all four classes and the title races, talk about some of the rumors floating about, and give their takes on the potential champions, how they'll win, and why. All this and more on the NHRA Insider, Pomona Finals edition!
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7.40 Talking Championship Battles With Tony Pedregon and The Future With Josh Hart
10/28/2025
7.40 Talking Championship Battles With Tony Pedregon and The Future With Josh Hart
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast Powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon joins the show to break down the championship battles in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series categories and Josh Hart comes on to talk about his future at John Force Racing, dominating the headlines and more. Tony Pedregon and host Brian Lohnes take you inside the frantic battles in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcyle, lay out the path to the big prize in Top Fuel land Funny Car, talk silly season rumors and more in this fast paced conversation. Josh Hart takes us inside his mindset at he closes out his tenure as a Top Fuel team owner and begins the transition to pure Top Fuel driver in 2026. His insights into the process he has embarked on, the business deals that have been in the news and more are revealing and exciting to explore. 2025 has plenty of action left in it but 2026 is already shaping up to be one for the books. This and a whole lot more in this episode of the NHRA Insider!
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7.39 Richard Freeman Talks Top Fuel, Sponsors, More - Spencer Hyde on Being A Funny Car Rookie
10/21/2025
7.39 Richard Freeman Talks Top Fuel, Sponsors, More - Spencer Hyde on Being A Funny Car Rookie
On this high octane episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast Powered By Speedmaster, Richard Freeman and Spencer Hyde join host Brian Lohnes to take a dive into the drag racing headlines. Richard Freeman talks all elements of the new Elite Motorsports Top Fuel program. He talks about the acquisition of the team, the acquisition of R&L Carriers as the primary multi-year sponsor, the acquisition of Mike Green to lead it all, and more. This discussion answers a lot of questions about how this whole thing has come together and with such speed. Freeman is wide open with his plans, his vision, and how he plans to do it differently in the Top Fuel ranks. Truly a fascinating look into one of the largest stories of the racing year. Spencer Hyde has two races left in his rookie season of Nitro Funny Car competition. With multiple final rounds, a number one qualifier, a Mission 2 Fast 2 Tasty win, and loads of round victories, he's a very strong candidate for rookie of the year. Spencer takes us through the highs, the lows, the growth, and the learning that has happened during this first season between the chassis pipes of a flopper. A high-energy, high-speed episode!
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7.38 Brittany Force and Eddie Krawiec Talk Titles, The Future, and Legacies of Speed
10/14/2025
7.38 Brittany Force and Eddie Krawiec Talk Titles, The Future, and Legacies of Speed
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Brittany Force and Eddie Krawiec join host Brian Lohnes for a pair of interesting and insightful conversations. Both longtime veterans of the sport, they have unique perspective on the final two races of the 2025 season. For Brittany Force those races will represent her final runs in a Top Fuel dragster for the foreseeable future as she leaves the seat to concentrate on starting a family. She tells some great stories about her career, her legacy, and what the first experience she ever had in a Top Fuel dragster was like. Lots of introspection and history in this one. Eddie Krawiec is the crew chief for current NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Richard Gadson. A man with a stack of titles of his own opens about his role as a tuner, a coach, and a leader behind the scenes with Gadson. This is some of the most interesting Pro Stock Motorcycle conversation we've ever had on the show. Add to that a monologue that may likely cause Lohnes' phone to ring and you've got an hour of drag racing fun like you can find nowhere else.
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7.37 Talkin' Texas, Stampedes, and Speed With Tony Pedregon and Christie Meyer Johnson
10/08/2025
7.37 Talkin' Texas, Stampedes, and Speed With Tony Pedregon and Christie Meyer Johnson
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon and Christie Meyer Johnson join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the Stampede of Speed, the Texas NHRA FallNationals Tony Pedregon is up first and the conversation surrounds the true title contenders in each category. How the championships can, and likely will be won or lost, who still has an outside chance and which teams are likely too far back to challenge. Going class by class presents each scenario differently. Will it be head to head conflict or will it be decided by others? Loads of storylines here. Now in its fifth year, the famed Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex is one of the most audacious and awesome events in the world of drag racing. Christie Meyer Johnson, co-owner of the Motorplex joins the show to talk about this year's event, the evolution of the Stampede, the role of the Texas Motorplex in the community, and a whole lot more. This is a chat you don't want to miss. All that and more on this NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster!
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7.36 A Serious St Louis Sit Down With Ida Zetterstrom and Mike Knudsen
09/30/2025
7.36 A Serious St Louis Sit Down With Ida Zetterstrom and Mike Knudsen
On this post St Louis episode off the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes chats with two big headline makers from the weekend. First he is joined by Ida Zetterstrom fresh off her first Top Fuel final round and her best day as an NHRA racer. Ida talks about the work, the struggles, and the discoveries that have turned her team in the right direction. She is hunting sponsors hard and looking forward to Dallas with a renewed vigor and outlook. The second guest on the show is the Crew Chief on the Tony Stewat Racing Funny Car operation, Mike Knudsen. In his rookie season in the role, he scored his second victory of the year in impressive fashion in St Louis. He takes us deep inside the team element, the approach, and the satisfaction of success. Lohnes breaks down the points from all classes you know and love, brings some inside information to light, and sets up an exciting run to the end, starting in Dallas. Big weekend action from both of these guests, making their mark in NHRA drag racing.
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7.35 A Countdown Catchup With The Insiders
09/24/2025
7.35 A Countdown Catchup With The Insiders
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna to talk all things Reading and Charlotte. There's been loads of action on the track, unexpected winners, points leads gained and lost, and a whole lot more. The guys take you through a class by class look at who is rising, who is falling and why. They also dive into some of the points scenarios that could unfold over the next few races. They touch on recent stories and controversies, as well as investigating the strength or lack thereof that some of those points leads have built into them. Lastly, they talk Charlotte carnage and the most major stories, concerns, and headlines as we head into the halfway point of the 2025 Countdown. Don't miss this one!
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7.34 The Insiders Go Deep on The Countdown, Reading, and More
09/10/2025
7.34 The Insiders Go Deep on The Countdown, Reading, and More
Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes on this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster to take a deep dive into the Countdown, the favorites, the dark horses, and how the match can and should play out in Reading, PA this weekend. There's breaking news during the show, there's a hint at more big news coming this week at the race, and there's a lot of analysis of how top performers earned their spots and how everyone else is lining up take their shot in knocking them off. An intense weekend is on tap in the Keystone State and you need to enter it armed with the information that'll make you the most knowledgeable fan in the room on raceday!
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7.33 The Finalists: Justin Ashley and Tony Stewart Talk Epic Indy Top Fuel Weekends
09/03/2025
7.33 The Finalists: Justin Ashley and Tony Stewart Talk Epic Indy Top Fuel Weekends
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Indy Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley and Indy Top Fuel runner up and regular season champion Tony Stewart join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their respective races. Their Top Fuel final on Monday afternoon was an absolute instant classic and one that will be talked about for the ages. Justin Ashley reveals some interesting things in this interview. Whether it's the fact that the team rolled a new car out and didn't tell anyone, his process and how he adjusts it through the day, his approach, and what he takes most pride in as a driver, you'll learn it here. Tony Stewart tells awesome behind the scenes stories about the team's capture of the NHRA's first regular season Top Fuel championship. How the day unfolded, what he needed to do and more importantly couldn't do, what it all means for his team and crew, and a whole lot more. Two of Top Fuel's best tell all about their experiences at the greatest drag race on the planet.
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7.32 The Big Go Big Preview With The Insiders
08/25/2025
7.32 The Big Go Big Preview With The Insiders
A new tower, testing mishaps, countdown controversy, teams that are fast when it's cold and teams that are cold when it's fast, this episode has it all. Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about all aspects of the 2025 Cornwell Quality Tools US Nationals and it's a banger of a chat. From the interesting situation of Brayden Davis in Pro Stock Motorcycle, the relentless stomping domination of Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock, who can challenge Austin Prock in Funny Car, and why Doug Kalitta may win the regular season Top Fuel championship, this one has all the elements on tap. The conversation is lively, the debate informed, and the excitement for the greatest drag race of them all is off the charts. Listen and enjoy!
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7.31 Alan Johnson and Kyle Satenstein Talk Top Fuel Championships and Debuts
08/19/2025
7.31 Alan Johnson and Kyle Satenstein Talk Top Fuel Championships and Debuts
On this Top Fuel centric episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast presented by Speedmaster, all-time great crew chief Alan Johnson and NHRA rookie Top Fuel driver Kyle Satenstein join host Brian Lohnes. The two guys are on wildly different ends of their Top Fuel lives but both bring fascinating perspective to the conversation. For Alan Johnson the conversation takes us through this season and the approach that has placed the team in the thick of a championship run yet again. It moves through Johnson's history in the sport, his evolving approach to Top Fuel racing, and the sometimes invisible elements that make good teams into great ones. His insights into the more hidden corners of the crew chief role are fascinating. Kyle Satenstein is a racer through and through. Coming from the world of small tire and grudge racing, his path to Top Fuel racing is both interesting and unexpected. Sporting one of the most unique sponsors in the class and the attitude of a successful and hardcore racer, he had a heck of a weekend in Brainerd. The small team nearly pulled off the upset of the race in round one and you'll hear him tell the whole story. Two very different men in very different places with the singular passion of NHRA Top Fuel drag racing. Enjoy the conversations.
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7.30 A Brash Brainerd Preview - The Insiders Dive Deep and Spit Fire!
08/12/2025
7.30 A Brash Brainerd Preview - The Insiders Dive Deep and Spit Fire!
On this high energy episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, the guys are together again and the fur flies. Tony Pedregon, Kevin McKenna and Brian Lohnes join in a very lively discussion that covers the last couple of races and looks at Brainerd as a significant hinge point for many teams trying to sort out their either dimming or fading championship hopes. The guys dive deep into all three professional classes competing weekend, talk about Shawn Reed's replacement driver selection, and even go hard into some driver related stuff, especially in top fuel. This is not an episode to miss. News, opinion, and some amazing takes await!
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7.29 Wilkerson and Capps on Funny Car Battles, Trials, and Success in 2025
08/05/2025
7.29 Wilkerson and Capps on Funny Car Battles, Trials, and Success in 2025
On this Funny Car edition of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Dan Wilkerson and Ron Capps to discuss the stories of their respective seasons and where they are headed on the back stretch of 2025. Wilkerson documents the battle he has faced in recent weeks with engine explosions, broken parts, and tight timelines while Capps reviews the season and talks about the evolution of a tune-up that has him vying for what could be a runner up regular season finish. Both of these drivers have great stories, insights, and information on the inner-workings of their teams, the sometimes chaotic nature of professional drag racing, and the strategies needed both with the wrenches and in the driver's seat to make it work. Two great conversations, breaking news and more!
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7.28 Gears, Guts, and Heart: Gadson and Stanfield Talk Sonoma Wins
07/29/2025
7.28 Gears, Guts, and Heart: Gadson and Stanfield Talk Sonoma Wins
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Richard Gadson and Greg Stanfield join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their awesome victories at the NHRA Denso Sonoma Nationals last weekend. Both guys have been in peak form for several races and both had to really bushwack their way to the winner's circle. For Richard Gadson a -.001 red light on Saturday in the Pro Stock Motorcycle Call-Out final was frustrating but valuable motivation for his work on Sunday. Leveraging the disappointment of that moment into the race day success he earned is a really fascinating process to listen to. Greg Standfield won his first Pro Stock race in more than a decade by taking on his own son in the final round. A moment generations in the making for the duo, it was a race to the stripe with all the awesome tightness we have come to expect out of the category. Stanfield relives it all. Those interviews, an Insider monologue, and more. This is an episode you'll love
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7.27 A Smashing Seattle Leads to a Potentially Speedy Sonoma
07/22/2025
7.27 A Smashing Seattle Leads to a Potentially Speedy Sonoma
On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes takes you though an incredible weekend in Seattle that not only challenged teams and drivers but also challenged the record books. Conditions that were ideal for traction and horsepower delivered the fastest speed in Top Fuel history, multiple track records, and more. There were scary moments as well in terms of Shawn Reed's crash and Buddy Hull's foray into the gravel trap at the end of the strip. Lohnes goes over all of it here, winners, big moments, and takeaways that can be carried to Sonoma. If you think it will be any slow there, Lohnes has other thoughts, and he tells you why. Tune in and get ready to fly!
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7.26 Seattle, Stats, and Setting Regular Season Championship Expectations
07/16/2025
7.26 Seattle, Stats, and Setting Regular Season Championship Expectations
On this monoogue style episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes takes you through a load of information to set up not only the Muckleshoot NHRA Northwest Nationals but also the teams who are in best contention for the first NHRA regular season championship bonuses in history. Diving into the statistics that drive the sport Lohnes takes you through, class by class, the leaders, how they got there and how they need to stay there. Additionally, there is a look at Pro Stock and the performance numbers that have come to define the season for the two largest teams, both good and bad. Once you understand the numbers you'll be able to see the clear difference between those that are succeeding and those that and not gotten a solid footing. This is a deep breakdown before the tour heads west, enjoy!
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7.25 Winning Wrench Benders Tell All - Gladstone and Thomas Prock Talk Norwalk
07/01/2025
7.25 Winning Wrench Benders Tell All - Gladstone and Thomas Prock Talk Norwalk
On this revealing episode of the NHRA Insider podcast powered by Speedmaster, Thomas Prock and Joey Gladstone join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the victories they scored with their teams at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals. Both guys have interesting stories and behind the scenes info that will keep you locked in. Joey Gladstone is up first and he talks about the incredibly special relationship he shares with Cory Reed, their trials, tribulations, and his transition from championship level Pro Stock Motorcycle racer to critical wrench on Cory's car. The win was emotionally charged and you will know why when you listen to Gladstone's exceptional interview. Thomas Prock is the junior half of one of motorsports most interesting crew chief duos. The senior half is of course his father Jimmy. In this chat, Prock talks through back to back victories, racing Funny Cars on tracks hot enough to fry eggs on, and the lessons learned so far this year. Two young guys with futures in this sport that seem limitless, you'll love this in-depth exploration of their success.
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7.24 A Blazing Hot Richmond Recap, A Funny Car Fire Fighter, and Norwalk Looms
06/24/2025
7.24 A Blazing Hot Richmond Recap, A Funny Car Fire Fighter, and Norwalk Looms
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Chris King, the Chicago firefighter who has battled his way into the NHRA Funny Car ranks and will attempt to qualify with 20 other drivers in Norwalk. The conversation with King starts off with the wild story of him having to act to save his neighbor's life just before the interview and ranges through the growth, challenges, ups, downs, and memorable moments of funny car racing. King is the second half of the show. A monologue style recap of the Virginia Nationals starts the show and host Lohnes goes into all of the classes, the controversial Top Fuel winner situation, and all the factors he learned about all of it. This one will get you primed for the action this coming weekend in Norwalk!
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7.23 The Insiders Talk Pro Stock Tension, Virginia Heat, and More!
06/17/2025
7.23 The Insiders Talk Pro Stock Tension, Virginia Heat, and More!
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join host Brian Lohnes to talk about all the big stories coming out of Bristol and coming into the American Rebel Light NHRA Virginia Nationals this weekend. The boys really deep dive into the Mission Foods classes and the conversation has more than a few twists and turns. There's a returning potential young rock star in Pro Stock Motorcycle, a pro debut in the same class, there's untold levels of angst and ire in the Pro Stock car class, which is not at this race but is discussed in depth, and then there are the nitro categories which have their own myriad storylines that the guys go over. Get geared up for three qualifying sessions on a warm Saturday, a roasty toasty Sunday, and network coverage on FOX this week here on the Insider!
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