NHRA Insider Podcast
NHRA Insider Podcast
Brian Lohnes
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/
8.25 Insiders Talk Sonoma, A Half Season Down Plus Dylan Winefsky
On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join the show to talk about the upcoming Denso Sonoma Nationals presented by Power Edge and young Funny Car racer Dylan Winefsky talks about the development of his family's privateer flopper effort.    Pedregon, McKenna and Lohnes get down into the weeds about the first half of the 2026 NHRA  Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and break down the people and performances that have defined it as well as those that need to happen to move teams forward toward championship level success. Lots of interesting insights here.    Dylan Winefsky makes his NHRA Insider debut to talk about his evolution from Junior Dragsters to Nitro Funny Car, how operating a humble family team requires a true love of the sport, and how success is how you measure it week in and week out.    All that and a monologue you don't want to miss!
Jul 14
1 hr 20 min
8.24 Rob Flynn and Aaron Stanfield Share Incredible Stories From Norwalk
On this post Summit Racing Equipment Nationals episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Carlyle Tools Top Fuel crew chief Rob Flynn joins the show along with Pro Stock winner Aaron Stanfield. The two share their awesome stories of victory on one of the most memorable NHRA Sundays in years.    Rob Flynn explains the team's first round drama, the tuning decisions he made during the day, and the ace driving job his rookie pilot Maddi Gordon executed, carrying them to victory. It's a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.    Aaron Stanfield won his second race of the season and did so in incredible fashion, driving like a man possessed in his Elite Motorsports fielded Camaro. He shares the details of how he was able to execute on a superhuman level to win.    All this and more on a wall-to-wall killer episode of the Insider! 
Jul 1
57 min
8.23 Norwalk Talk With the Insiders: From Thunder Valley to Corn Country
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by the insiders themselves, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna. The guys break down Bristol results, some of the overarching stories that have been a part of each category leading up to Norwalk and the teams that are trying to change their position over this last run of the regular season.   The conversation is snappy, informative, and insightful. There are some crazy numbers shared, some hot takes, and plenty of the good stuff that will get you fired up for a big weekend of drag racing in Ohio. 
Jun 23
49 min
8.22 The Runner Ups: Langdon and Dan Wilkerson Talk Bristol
On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, host Brian Lohnes is joined by Top Fuel runner up Shawn Langdon and Funny Car runner up Dan Wilkerson. They both have amazing stories to share about their weekends in Thunder Valley.    For Langdon, it was escaping two harrowing rounds where mechanical issues reared their heads at the last second, and his team was able to remedy them both with legendary action. He made his sixth straight final, seemingly against all odds.   Dan Wilkerson's weekend was the best of his season. The Scag Power Equipment Jackal made its first final of the year and turned a mechanical corner that they had been working to fix all year long.    Two high energy, in-depth conversations with racers who made headlines in Bristol! 
Jun 16
1 hr 7 min
8.21 The Insiders Dig Into The Eastern Swing, Preview Bristol
On this rollicking episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join the show to talk about the first two races of the NHRA three race Eastern Swing, how they have gone, the stories they have produced, and what's to come at the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol.    The Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals will feature a new track surface, the weather delayed Funny Car and Top Fuel finals from Epping on Friday night, and all the action that one of the most breathtaking venues in the country can provide.    The show opens with a monologue from Lohnes about the New England Nationals, the impact they have on the area, and more. Get informed before this culmination of the three back-to-back NHRA races begins on Friday!
Jun 9
1 hr 5 min
8.20 Masters of Maryland: Angie Smith and Thomas Prock Spill The Beans
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Thomas Prock and Angie Smith join host Brian Lohnes to talk about their winning weekends at the first ever NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.    For Thomas Prock, this victory was the validation of a decision he and his family made to leave John Force Racing and take over the on-track operations at Tasca Racing. Prock details the process, the struggles, the highs and the lows, that have brought them back into winning form.  This is a story of big brains and hard work.    Angie Smith's win at MIR was historic, marking the 200th professional class female triumph, an amazing milestone. IT was also as wild and hard fought as any she has had before or ever will in the future. Listening to her tell the tale of Matt being hospitalized, deciding last minute to run the motorcycles, qualifying number one, and running the table on Sunday is astonishing.    A show you'll dig from end to end. 
Jun 2
58 min
8.19 The Insiders Preview The Potomac Nationals and Chris King Chats Chicago
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Kevin McKenna and Tony Pedregon join to talk about the upcoming NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by Jegs and privateer Funny Car racer Chris King joins to talk about his first 2026 race at his home track in Chicago.    The Potomac Nationals kick off a three-in-a- row rip for NHRA drag racers that will take them up the eastern seaboard and then into Tennessee at three of the most historic facilities on the tour. McKennna and Pedregon breakdown what we saw in Chicago and then look forward into what will be a very busy month for racers on the tour. An exciting and interesting conversation.    Chris King, the Funny Car racing Chicago fireman joins the show to talk about how his team performed in Chicago, how his program is evolving, and what his plans are for the rest of 2026. Insight into the wild world of firefighting and drag racing.    All that and more on this show!
May 26
1 hr 12 min
8.18 Matt Smith and Chad Green Detail Windy City Wins
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Chicago winners Matt Smith and Chad Green join the show to talk about how they navigated the track, the wind, and the competition to victory.    For Matt Smith, it was a harrowing experience picking up a second consecutive win on the NHRA tour. The crosswinds tested his bravery and ability on the drag strip. He goes in-depth about what they did to navigate it, his close call, and the final round that didn't go the way anyone expected it to.     Chad Green is having a career season in Funny Car. For the first time he has multiple wins in the same campaign and he has done it twice in six races. Green talks about pedaling around Ron Capps, the consistency of his people, new sponsors, and the team that he calls the best of his career.    This is a great episode with two chats that define two very different winning experiences!
May 21
51 min
8.17 - The Insiders Talk Chicago - Mendy Fry Talks Titles, Her New Doc, and More
On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Tony Pedregon and Kevin McKenna join the show to talk all things SGMP and Gerber Collision and Glass Rt 66 Nationals presented by Peak, plus, two-time NHRA Heritage Series Top Fuel Champion Mendy Fry joins to talk about a new documentary she is the subject of; "Time Trials: A Drag Strip Requiem".    Pedregon and McKenna get into the meat and potatoes of what we have seen so far this season, land some pretty hot-take opinions, and delve into the numbers across the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour to give the kind of insight that you can't really get at surface level. The conversation is wide ranging and will definitely get your ears perked up when the boys get rolling.   Mendy Fry has had an incredible career and life inside the world of drag racing rising to become a two-time Top Fuel Champion in the NHRA Heritage Series wheeling front engine nitro dragsters. Her life and career are the subject of a new documentary that drag racing fans need to see. In this conversation that talks about life, the film, her career, highs and lows, and more, you'll begin to understand the compelling nature of Mendy and her drag racing journey. 
May 12
1 hr 28 min
8.16 Brian Husen and Chris Cunningham Break Down Georgia Records and Wins
On this episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast powered by Speedmaster, Brian Husen the Crew Chief for the record setting and Southern Nationals winning Kalitta Air dragster and Chris Cunningham, the crew chief for the winning Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Funny Car join host Brian Lohnes to break down their memorable wins on a wild and challenging Georgia weekend.    Great insights from these tuners who have spent their lives in the sport of drag racing to grow and perfect their craft are shared into the tuning approach, the team nature of the sport, and how it all came together for them on a sunny Sunday at South Georgia Motorsports Park.    A fun listen from two top tier tuners in the NHRA!
May 6
1 hr 2 min
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