After claiming the Division 3 championship in 2021, Randi Lyn Butner (formerly Shipp) had to lean into patience during the 2022 season of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and take a somewhat different approach to racing. That fortitude and a fresh perspective have injected a rush of excitement to Butner's program heading into... Continue Reading →
Five-time world champion Justin Lamb enthused at the conclusion of full, diverse season
As one of NHRA's most successful Sportsman racers, Justin Lamb has seen the inside of the winner's circle a time or two – 59 times, actually, between national and divisional victories – and as the lifelong drag racer extends a habit of winning, he's also finding satisfaction between celebrations. "This is racing – we go... Continue Reading →
Taking Stock: Katie Sepanek claims Wally No. 3
Katie Sepanek's smile stretched wide across her beaming face as she stood in the Maple Grove Raceway winner's circle at last weekend's Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in Reading. The Moosic, Pa., racer had great reason to grin – she was fresh off of her third national event victory in the incredibly competitive Stock Eliminator category.... Continue Reading →
Class of the field at the Big Go
Stock and Super Stock competitors descended upon Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals in droves this week. Hundreds of hungry racers came to the prestigious facility with one very important task scrawled at the top of their respective Indy to-do lists: win a coveted class trophy. On Thursday... Continue Reading →
Racecar Shuffle: Bo Butner and Austin Williams switch it up in Stock
Bo Butner is known to hop in a different racecar here and there, and his propensity to mix things up has resulted in a fairly diverse scorecard, replete with victories in six different categories. The 2006 Comp Eliminator champion and 2017 Pro Stock world champ showed up with a real stunner, though, for the NHRA... Continue Reading →
Racing on Sunday: Sportsman Racing Gets Down to Semis at Bristol
Winter is coming. For those racing on Sunday at Bristol Dragway, however, winter appeared to have already arrived. The final day of eliminations at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals kicked off early with Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors at the ready to warm the racing surface and season it with some good mojo. Jimmy... Continue Reading →
Early Sportsman Notes from Bristol Dragway
The 20th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals are off to a fine start at the pristine, picturesque facility cut into the mountains of Eastern Tennessee. Friday at Bristol Dragway was a Sportsman racing extravaganza as competitors in five categories completed time trials and qualifying, then hustled to complete two rounds of eliminations. As is often... Continue Reading →
The Emmons Effect
The unmistakable Lucas Oil branding is represented emphatically throughout NHRA's Super Stock and Stock Eliminator ranks in red, white, and blue by Emmons Motorsports. The family name has permeated the muscly door car categories for decades, and with a full stable of powerful racecars, the Emmons group has harvested crop after crop of trophies at... Continue Reading →
Delayed Houston Sportsman Racing Concludes at Texas Motorplex
Racing started early at Texas Motorplex during their historic Stampede of Speed, an unparalleled week packed full of drag racing and activities to engage the racer and surrounding community alike. For an assortment of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors, the Dallas-area facility was host to the weather-delayed Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals. Qualifying and... Continue Reading →
Allstars finalist Shipp finds magic outside of her comfort zone
Making the Stock Eliminator final in the JEGS Allstars at the 67th annual Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals only tells a small part of Randi Lyn Shipp's 2021 story. Shipp, a second-generation Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitor, stepped outside of her normal style of racing this year, and it seems to be serving her well.... Continue Reading →