It came down to the last race of the season, and among the four Pro classes in the IHRA Drag Racing Series, by far the closest points battle was in Pro Stock, a tight battle between defending champ Cary Goforth in his AMSOIL-sponsored Chevrolet Camaro, and his top challenger, Trevor...

Above: Jason RupertThe tally is in for the IHRA Drag Racing Series four Pro categories – Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Nitro Motorcycle and AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars. Here's how the season shaped up:PRO STOCK: It came right down to the final race, the Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorplex in...

In 20 or 30 minutes, Rickie Smith will put on his helmet and drive his Pro Mod to an IHRA elapsed time World Record of 5.831 seconds. But right this minute, sitting on the back of the SUV towing his car to the U.S. 131 Motorplex starting line, his eyes...

Born on Christmas day in 1953 in Walnut Cove, North Carolina – right in the heart of NASCAR country – it's no big surprise that Rickie Smith ended up making his living in motorsports. But it might be surprising that he chose drag racing.We caught up with one of the...

It was clear early on that no one was going to take the first IHRA Pro Modified championship away from Billy Harper and his black 2000 nitrous-injected Dodge Viper.But in the 2016 points battle for the IHRA Drag Racing Series, Ruben Tetsoshvili came closest with his second-place finish, one spot...

At every IHRA Drag Racing Series event this year, Frank Capone, half of the two-motorcycle team at Bad Apple Racing, has been out there working toward his first win, getting more experience with each run, and learning from his teammate, Tracy Kile.At the Northern Nationals season finale at U.S. 131...

It's always one of the biggest events in Central Michigan when the IHRA comes to town at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.The IHRA is coming to town this weekend for the Northern Nationals, the final points event for the IHRA Drag Racing Series, meaning the points battle in...

In June, we reported that IHRA favorite Bill Lutz, the Pro Mod driver, had been in the hospital, unexpectedly, for weeks.But when we spoke with him them, he was confident he'd be back on his feet, and back in the cockpit, in time for the IHRA Northern Nationals this weekend...

Billy Harper's sinister-looking black Dodge Viper is driven by a guy who is anything but sinister-looking. The Paducah, Kentucky resident is cheerful, amiable and approachable anytime – except when he's behind the wheel. Back home, Harper is president of Harper Industries, a holding company for eight construction-related companies that do...

Last but certainly not least, the IHRA Drag Racing Series is focusing on its 2016 finale, the Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan, August 12-13.The race will decide the season championships for the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars, the Pro Mods, the Pro Stocks and the Nitro...