Nitromater

For Immediate Release – Mar. 23, 2020

Robinson sets Diesel 1/8-mile elapsed time record at 4.10

DIBOLL, Texas – “Hunting Season” means a lot of things to many different people over the winter months but, for diesel racer John Robinson, horsepower was the quarry.

Not of the ordinary gasoline, methanol or nitro variety – Robinson’s Power Service Diesel Additives-backed dragster utilizes a 390-cubic-inch Cummins Diesel for power. The Weatherford, Texas, driver’s hunting efforts were rewarded as he recorded the quickest 1/8-mile elapsed time with a 4.10-second pass at 181 mph at the recently completed Funny Car Chaos Texas Nationals at Pine Valley Raceway near Lufkin, Texas, on an exhibition pass.

Robinson, who owns and operates Texas Diesel Power in Weatherford, did his “hunting” at the proven grounds of renowned diesel engine builder Dan Scheid of Scheid Diesel. Their efforts rewarded them with a gain of 280 hp and 140 ft/lbs of torque from their last dyno session, with...

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Gatornationals - Gainesville
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon says the team is making some really good changes to the Snap-on Dodge® and the car is responding. He says he's close to getting the type of performances he had at the Gatornationals in years past where he was the number one qualifier four years running.
"It's hard to show these incremental improvements we're making, but when we're reviewing performance the car is right there to really go" says Cruz. "Nick (Casertano) and Eric (Lane) are excited to see the power we get out of the car close to sea level. The work we're doing is getting the car to the consistent, parts-sparing place we need it to be.
"We've been back in the shop in Indy shoring up things, building our inventory for the season, and we are all very excited for the Gatornats." NHRA fans may remember the epic win Cruz had in Gainesville in 1998, something he says he'd like to repeat.
For this year's race, he's encouraging...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORRENCE BACK ON TOP AT ARIZONA NATIONALS
Two-Time Mello Yello Champ Beats Dad Billy, Point Leader Kalitta for Title

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Steve Torrence took the first big step toward winning his third consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel championship Sunday when he drove his new look Capco Contractors dragster to an impressive victory in the 36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

The 36-year-old Texan, who sat out the season-opening Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., survived a semifinal showdown with his dad, defending Arizona Nationals champion Billy Torrence, before beating point leader Doug Kalitta for Torrence Racing’s third straight victory at Wild Horse Pass.

Significantly, it was the cancer and heart attack survivor’s 37th career victory, his 29th in his last 68 starts and the team’s 34th win in the last 69 NHRA events dating back to 2017. Billy Torrence, whose resume includes a pair of Super Comp...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Torrence Chases Three-in-a-Row
MELLO YELLO CHAMP GOES BACK TO WORK AT PHOENIX

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Two weeks after rivals began the 2020 drag racing season without him, Steve Torrence launches his bid for a third consecutive Mello Yello Top Fuel championship Friday with the start of qualifying for the 36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

Because the 36-year-old Texan opted out of the season-opening Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., he’ll put his Capco Contractors hybrid on the starting line for the first time this year trailing Doug Kalitta, last year’s second place finisher, by a whopping 117 points. He’s 99 points behind last year’s rookie-of-the-year, Austin Prock,
and 87 behind 2017 champion Brittany Force.

Nevertheless, that early deficit is just the kind of challenge likely to motivate the man who, just 15 months ago, made history by sweeping all six races in the NHRA’s Countdown to the...

ENNIS, TX (February 18, 2020) --- The world renowned Texas Motorplex will be celebrating its 35th year of showcasing the fastest sport in the world, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and the upcoming International Drag Racing Hall of Fame induction of track founder and owner Billy Meyer with a season long Hall of Fame celebration. Since 1986 Texas Motorplex, located between Ennis, Texas and Waxahachie, Texas has featured the most exciting racing and biggest names in professional drag racing. Tickets for the October 15-18, AAA Texas FallNationals are on sale now following a highly successful renewal period and while supplies last each order will receive a commemorative 35th anniversary coin. The fourth of...

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Arizona Nationals - Phoenix
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team took a few days to head back to the shop in Brownsburg before arriving at the Arizona Nationals where they will introduce a new trailer that pays homage to the 100th anniversary of primary sponsor Snap-on.

"We took time in the shop to get some projects done and review data from the opening race prior to Phoenix," says Cruz. "We wanted the rest after testing and trying out some things in Pomona, so we're revved and ready to hit the track at Wild Horse Pass.

"We took a closer look at the issue we had with the blower belt in Q3 and studied the good numbers we ran in Q4. After working through those things as a team, we're planning for the fans to see good runs by the Snap-on Dodge this weekend."

Cruz is inviting NHRA fans attending the race this weekend to stop by his pit and snap a picture with the new Snap-on 100th paint scheme on the Dodge® Funny Car and trailer to post on...