How you can transform a stock Mustang GT into a 10-second dragstrip monster
NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna wanted a car that was capable of 10-second elapsed times on the dragstrip and would be an effective weekly bracket racer, but it also needed to be suitable for daily driving. Was that too much to ask? Apparently not.
Grinding it Out: Tips to finding the best cam for your application
It’s often said the camshaft is the brain of the engine because it dictates the opening and closing of the valves, thus controlling the flow of air/fuel mixture to the cylinders. That’s the simple explanation, but there’s more to the story.
Drag Racing Vs.COVID-19: Buffalo Turbine offers its track-drying technology for large-scale disinfection
Long before we’d ever heard the term COVID-19, NHRA partners were poised to fight it with tremendous engineering and manufacturing capabilities
Buffalo Turbine, the official track blower of NHRA, is a critical part of our track-preparation process. Its technology cleans and dries quarter-mile surfaces for racing’s quickest cars. But the same technology used to direct massive amounts of air…
Drag Racing Vs.COVID-19: Toyota’s rapid-prototyping facilities helping hospitals
Long before we’d ever heard the term COVID-19, NHRA partners were poised to fight it with tremendous engineering and manufacturing capabilities
Tech Specs: Inside the supercharged Ford Cobra Jet Mustang
We’re taking a deep dive into the factory muscle cars, engineered in Detroit, and campaigned by NHRA Sportsman racers in the SAMTech.edu 91 Factory Stock Showdown
Of the Big Three, Ford has been in this arena the longest. It’s the only Detroit automaker that’s continuously produced a ponycar from ’64 ½ to ’20. It launched its Cobra Jet Mustang drag car (based on the Ford FR500C Grand Am road race car) a year…
Tech Specs: Inside the supercharged Chevrolet COPO Camaro
We’re taking a deep dive into the factory muscle cars, engineered in Detroit, and campaigned by NHRA Sportsman racers in the SAMTech.edu 91 Factory Stock Showdown
The muscle car gods were smiling down on NHRA drag racers when Ford, Dodge, and Chevy began offering supercharged ponycars from the factory. It started when GM reimagined its historic ZL1 engine code as a performance package for the fifth-generation…
VIDEO: How much nitro does a Top Fueler or Funny Car guzzle on a run?
Nitromethane by the bucketful fuels today’s 11,000-horsepower NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car engines. Here’s what it looks like.
The NHRA Motorsports Museum includes an interactive display that simulates the massive amount of nitromethane that pours into each cylinder of a Top Fuel or Funny Car engine. The first seconds of the display show the amount of fuel being…
NHRA Expertise: Make AN hoses—the easy way
Eight steps to make AN hoses in your garage, at the track, or at the shop
One the fundamentals of building a drag car is plumbing. Fuel, oil, coolant, and hydraulic systems all need reliable and serviceable connections. In our world, that means AN fittings—an open-source fluid-transfer technology that dates back to World…
Piping for Power: How to choose the best headers for your combination
Maximizing exhaust flow is a key element in obtaining peak performance from any high-performance engine. Before you buy your next set of headers, collectors, and/or mufflers, you'll need to understand a lot of factors, and we're here to help.
Survive the Drive: Having the right tie-downs is key to keeping your race car secure
Having the right tie-downs and knowledge is key to keeping your race car secure inside the trailer on your way to, and from, your next race.
You head straight to the garage or shop every day after work. Late night after late night. Countless hours ensuring your dragster is prepped and ready for a pass that will take only seconds. Your i’s are dotted, and your t’s are crossed. Now imagine…
Why you need an aftermarket harmonic balancer
Found at the front of the engine attached to the snout of the crankshaft, harmonic dampers are used to quell the harmonics of the crankshaft and are vital parts of your hot rod.
A common part found on all high-performance engines is a harmonic damper (or harmonic balancer, as they are often called). Found at the front of the engine attached to the snout of the crankshaft, harmonic dampers are used to quell the harmonics of…
How superchargers can take your race car to the next level
Evan J. Smith takes you behind the history of supercharging in drag racing and how you can best apply it to your vehicle.
Supercharging has long been a favorite of drag racers who recognize that Mother Nature alone cannot supply ample airflow to the cylinders. You’ll find superchargers in a variety of classes within NHRA, and of course, today, they are regularly used…
How to pick valve springs for your race car
Valve springs are the unsung heroes of horsepower. Evan Smith dives into the basics of the parts that control the valve train in the latest Racing Technology column.
It could be said that valve springs are the unsung heroes of horsepower. Tasked with a critical job of controlling the valve train, valve springs operate in a harsh environment. They are rapidly cycled while being subject to great force, friction,…