Torrence, Hight, Enders and M. Smith Claim Key Playoff Wins at NHRA Midwest Nationals
Steve Torrence put together a run of 3.741 seconds at 328.70 mph in the final round in his 11,000hp Capco Contractors dragster, slipping past Josh Hart, who went 3.749 at 329.67.
Four-time defending Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence is back in the title hunt, powering to his second straight win at World Wide Technology Raceway last Sunday at the 11th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also picked up wins at the 19th event in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Torrence put together a run of 3.741 seconds at 328.70 mph in the final round in his 11,000hp Capco Contractors dragster, slipping past Josh Hart, who went 3.749 at 329.67. Torrence jumped three spots in the standings to move into second in the title chase. He trails Justin Ashley by just 14 points with three races remaining.
In the Funny Car final round, points leader Hight took down defending world champ Ron Capps on a holeshot, as his run of 3.911 at 331.61 in his 11,000hp Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS was enough to get past Capps’ quicker 3.908 at 330.47.
Enders now has the most wins at World Wide Technology Raceway of any driver in NHRA history, claiming her sixth St. Louis win by knocking off Dallas Glenn in the finals in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro. Glenn went red, while Enders put together a pass of 6.535 at 210.28, extending her points lead.
Smith finished off a nearly-perfect weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle, rolling to the win—and moving back into the points lead—on his Denso Auto Parts Buell with a run of 6.756 at 202.00 against Jerry Savoie in the championship round.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action October 13–16, with the Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas.
Jessica Fickenscher Named Executive Director for 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race
Speedway Motorsports executive Jessica Fickenscher has been named executive director for the upcoming May 21, 2023, NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. A 23-year veteran with the company, Fickenscher will add planning, community relations and stakeholder coordination surrounding All-Star Race week to her current role as chief experience officer for Speedway Motorsports.
IndyCar Releases Complete 2023 Schedule
IndyCar has announced a 17-race schedule for the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series as the sport’s athletes will be showcased with traditional weekend dates, 13 races on NBC and a late-summer swing leading to another climactic ending to the 2023 championship. The 2023 season opens Sunday, March 5, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Racing then will take place all spring and summer, including the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 28, before the season ends on Sunday, September 10, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.
Complete 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Schedule:
- Sunday, March 5: Streets of St. Petersburg
- Sunday, April 2: Texas Motor Speedway
- Sunday, April 16: Streets of Long Beach
- Sunday, April 30: Barber Motorsports Park
- Saturday, May 13: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)
- Sunday, May 28: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)
- Sunday, June 4: Streets of Detroit
- Sunday, June 18: Road America
- Sunday, July 2: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
- Sunday, July 16: Streets of Toronto
- Saturday, July 22: Iowa Speedway
- Sunday, July 23: Iowa Speedway
- Sunday, Aug. 6: Streets of Nashville
- Saturday, Aug. 12: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)
- Sunday, Aug. 27: World Wide Technology Raceway
- Sunday, Sept. 3: Portland International Raceway
- Sunday, Sept. 10: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
IHRA Names New Director of Track and Racer Relations
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced recently that Paige Hamlin has been named the IHRA director of track and racer relations. Hamlin has worked with promoters, including Tommy Phillips, Luke Bogacki, Coalburg Promotions, Great American Bracket Races, and Final Call Promotions, and on major events, such as the Great American Guaranteed Million, the World Footbrake Challenge and the Million Dollar Race. In addition, she promoted her own major event, the Rudd Racing Engines Six Shooter Showdown at Xtreme Raceway Park in April. Hamlin also serves as social-media manager for Xtreme Raceway Park. She previously held a similar role with Drag Champ to help spotlight the Sportsman racer.
For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.