Nhra funny car driver todd veney

Careerbest season thus far has driver and blind crew chiefteam owner dreaming of championship. Top alcohol funny cars jay blake is a man on a mission. Todd lesenko nhra funny car explosion pomona youtube. I cant imagine anyone who was around this stuff who wouldnt want to, said brown, 33, son of veteran racer burl brown.

Words by eric lotz and todd veney photos by richard muir. Veney, whos campaigned his own top alcohol funny car on a limited basis when hes had the funding to do so, will reportedly sell his pristine. Theyve won three of their last five top alcohol funny car races at richmond va. Funny car driver, lawrenceburg native more than paid his dues before signing with kalitta motorsports. A great driver and an even better friend are how members of the drag racing community remember former nhra funny car driver chuck etchells. Mike edwards nhra 2011 auto world 124 nhra pro stock rare 4064. Lohnes brings us back to 1991 when driver pat austin took the drag racing word by storm, making history, when he became the first driver to win in two classes at the same national event, scoring in top fuel and alcohol funny car. Words by eric lotz and evan jones photos by don carrickstudio 4. The permatexfollowadream top alcohol funny car driven by todd veney and owned by jay. Practicing what he preached, blake formed his own race teams, first in super comp, now in alcohol funny car, and, in the future, with a nitro car on the nhra full throttle tour. W hen blake debuted his new ride on the 2003 nhra national circuit with driver todd veney, the sanctioning body was particularly welcoming but thats not surprising, as nhra has long been arguably the most progressive motorsports organization in the u. Doing it his way has made him one of the leading alcohol funny car drivers of the past 15 years, with multiple national event titles and five divisional victories since the late 1990s. View the team logos and drivers for nhra funny cars sponsored by lincoln electric.

Theres nothing quite like funny car racing, and sporting news writer ryan fagan got to experience it firsthand with the driver of the kalitta motorsports dhl toyota, j. The teams funny car has a 3500horsepower engine that goes from 0 to 260 miles. Fox59s dave griffiths chats with nhra funny car driver jr todd at lucas oil raceway. Veney and the psa will work to increase media exposure and fan awareness of the top alcohol dragster and funny car categories. Jul 10, 2014 proving they hadnt missed a beat, harker took the honor of being numberone qualifier in top alcohol funny car with a 5. Today hes the crew chief for the drag racing team follow a dream, which. Nhra todd veney team race worn signed alcohol funny car crew shirt jersey rare. Our whole team is excited to have phil driving as another era begins here at follow a. In top alcohol funny car, veney won the final over top alcohol funny car s most overdue driver, john anderika, who shook so hard his parachutes fell out, with a 5. Hes been offered a position with mike ashleys funny car team that may ultimately offer him the chance to live his dream of piloting a nitro funny car as the team test driver and who knows what. Written by todd veney pro sportsman association photo by david smith. May 06, 2017 nhra funny car driver owner, jeff diehl, is no stranger to the journey of harnessing the power of speed.

In 1998, he became the first funny car driver to exceed 320 mph, and holds both ends of funny. Central indiana motorsports fans will be grateful a new condensed schedule released. Dragrace canada, nhra, ihra, canadian drag racing news. Todd powered to his first career funny car victory sunday at the 30th annual toyota nhra sonoma nationals at sonoma raceway.

Former funny car driver chuck etchells remembered by friends. The win at national trail raceway put reichert, an owosso, mich. Current driver todd veney has won three divisional events. Norwalk, ohio results of round 2 eliminations in top alcohol funny car at the nhra mello yello drag racing series, eighth annual summit racing equipment nhra nationals. At the wideopen summit racing equipment nhra nationals held july 47 in norwalk, ohio, dave hirata broke through for his first national event victory in years and kris hool earned. J r gives dave from lifethebasicmanual the low down on how he can overtake robert height at the las vegas toyota nationals. The permatexfollowadream top alcohol funny car driven by todd veney. Its all new for todd veney drag illustrated drag racing. Im doing just fine, no better than that, said veney, who resides in indianapolis. Todd, 34, admits racing a funny car was on his socalled bucket list, even though hes not officially old. Todd talks about his success at las vegas motor speedway heading into the dodge nationals on october 31, 2019.

Results of round 1 eliminations in top alcohol funny car at the nhra mello yello drag racing series, 61st annual chevrolet performance u. In the final results from lebanon valley dragway it was darren nicholson and todd veney taking the wins and the trophies for the nhra lucas oil drag racing series and the 4 th of july celebration. Consistency is the game and harker proved his experience as tuner and driver throughout the event, kicking things off in round one with a 5. Ray won the 2006 gatornationals, where tuner tom howell guided the car to the no. In 1989, driving john rossitters alcohol funny car, he became the first, and thus far only. He may not see with his eyes, but he has vision nbc. Nhra funny car teams and drivers lincoln electric we use cookies to help our website work more effectively and efficiently, and to align our services and advertisements to your needs. Nhra top fuel driver bob vandergriff jr shoots huge header flames from. The following fcs represent some of the forgotten funny cars from the 70s with what information was found. So this blind guy walks in and wants to buy a funny car. Nhra funny car driver alexis dejoria will retire after 2017.

The 2015 jegs allstars event will culminate a yearlong points battle between drivers in each of nhra s lucas oil drag racing series eight. A weekend in funny car driver todd s shoes nhra nhra national hot rod. Nhra cruz pedregon team funny car top fuel dragster nitro crew shirt xl rare. Thought by todd veney, a staff writer for national dragster, to be one of only three known. Todd began campaigning his own ihra top alcohol funny car in 1995 before switching to nhra competition in 2000. Results of final, round 3 eliminations in top alcohol funny car at the nhra lucas oil drag racing series, northeast division, event at lebanon valley dragway. The top points earner in each category will qualify to. Continue reading permatexfollow a dream team hits vegas for first time since 2010. Courtesy of the pro sportsman association todd veney carl oberman photo like a lot of racers kids, top alcohol funny car driver bryan brown grew up dreaming of the day hed be behind the wheel. Careerbest season thus far has driver and blind crew. In the staging area, blake helps driver todd veney with prerace. Veney also suffered mechanical problems and coasted across the finish line. Top alcohol funny car 1 todd veney, indianapolis, ind. Doing it his way has made him one of the leading alcohol funny car drivers of the past 15 years, with.

Funny car driver j r todd on catching robert hight nhra. Todd veney finally captures coveted wally competition plus. Courtesy of todd veney pro sportsman association photo courtesy of david smith todd robertson, who lined up against championship contender tony bartone in the first round of the u. Jun 14, 2012 written by todd veneypro sportsman association photo by david smith.

Nhra host brian lohnes takes us for another ride on the nitro time machine. Nhra lucas oil drag racing series results summit racing. Nhra lucas oil drag racing series results lebanon valley. His father is the legendary ken veney, who was the seventhwinningest driver in nhra history when he retired from driving alcohol cars in 1985. In the top alcohol funny car ranks, todd veney scored his first trophy of the season. Todd veney has reportedly informed nhra s national dragster that he will not seek to renew his annual contract with the house organ publication.

Todds career highlights, bio, stats and latest news. Funny car is a type of drag racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organized drag racing. Nhra updates schedule, chat with jr todd wttv cbs4indy. Mercier, who won on the lucas oil drag racing series tour for the eighth time in his. Todd celebrates his 2018 funny car championship in his hometown of lawrenceburg, indiana. Then, over the next decade, nearly half of the indy top fuel winners were drivers who had never won another nhra event. While john force is acknowledged as the king of nhra funny car racing.

Im doing just fine, no better than that, said veney, who. Marstons mills, manovember 12 2015jay blakes permatexfollow a dream winds up its best season ever this weekend at the nhra finals in pomona, calif. Pro modturnedalcohol funny car driver todd robertson. The nhra northeast division is at virginia motorsports park for the nhra lucas oil drag racing series power in the park this weekend featuring 260 mph. Thats of 40 races, roughly 33% of the races that nhra has won. They also have the engine placed in front of the driver. He may not see with his eyes, but he has vision nbc sportsworld. Veney, son of drag racing legend ken veney, has an. Oct 26, 2016 his father is the legendary ken veney, who was the seventhwinningest driver in nhra history when he retired from driving alcohol cars in 1985. Todd comes into this years race having won the last two funny car crowns at indy in 2017 and 2018.

Top fuel champion shawn langdon to drive funny car in 2018. However, to the folks who ran them, these floppers were anything but obscure. Funny car driver todd lesenko suffers massive explosion during qualifying for the auto club. The 20 jegs allstars event will culminate a yearlong points battle between drivers in each of nhra s lucas oil drag racing series eight classes as well as top sportsman and top dragster. Not just anyone can be a funny car driver and not just any car is ready to race. Oct 09, 2017 nhra funny car driver alexis dejoria will retire after end of 2017 season. Tafc team owner jay blake is following his dream drag. If he can make it three in a row, todd will make nhra history. Sixth in the top alcohol funny car national standings with two races to go this weekends toyota nhra nationals and the world finals in pomona, calif.

That meant purchasing a top alcohol funny car from none other than. Sep 25, 2012 todd robertson, who lined up against championship contender tony bartone in the first round of the u. Todd talks about his experience at the pros vs joes reaction time challenge, a contest of skill that took the best nhra pro racers and faced them off in remote practice tree battle with the best sportsman racers in the world. Jay blake can tear down and rebuild a 3,500 horsepower drag racing motor by himself. He purchased frank manzos 2002 car, and put popular driver writer todd veney in the seat. Todd veney has reportedly informed nhras national dragster that he will not seek to renew his annual contract with the house organ publication. Apr 08, 2020 jr todd and joe amato join the nhra insider podcast to talk shop with host brian lohnes.

Aussie racer harker wins tafc at norwalk drag illustrated. In the final results from the nhra lucas oil drag racing series event being held this weekend at cecil county dragway, reining nhra top alcohol funny car champion frank manzo of morganville, n. Another unique item for the discriminating motorsports collector. Thought by todd veney, a staff writer for national dragster, to be one of only three known drag racing. On the track, team driver marc white won this past weekends nhra division 3. At the wideopen summit racing equipment nhra nationals held july 47 in norwalk, ohio, dave hirata broke through for his first national event victory in years and kris hool earned his second career title. Funny cars are characterized by having tiltup fiberglass or carbon fiber automotive bodies over a customfabricated chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers showroom models. He will instead opt for a position on the new funny car team being formed by mike ashley.

Photos courtesy of todd veney collection, nhra fri. Top alcohol funny car driver dj cox took a hard hit into the wall during the first round of eliminations at the 50th annual amalie motor oil gatornationals. While he was chasing his dreams, he had several opportunities to move up to the nitro funny car class, where he would compete against. If youve got more information, driver background, car history, etc. Longtime national dragster staffer todd veney leaves the team to. Alcohol funny car distilled to a fitting final between the drivers who tied for no. Jay blakes permatexfollow a dream top alcohol funny car team has a new driver for the 2016 season. Park your funny car in the tech center of the tracks where youll be earning your license.

Nhra top fuel nitro crew starting line shirt leah pritchett pruett large. Phil burkart named new driver for follow a dream tafc. The 11members of the crew including driver todd veney. Nhra top alcohol funny car driver todd veney does an awesome burnout in his permatex sponsored funny car. Jeff tells of his start into the sport, his experience in nitropowered cars and opens up. In the final results from the lucas oil drag racing series event at new england dragway, top alcohol dragster driver, john finke, selkirk, n. Davenport, ia to fans, races are won and lost by drivers, but drivers know the real truth. The 2007 jegs allstars event will culminate a yearlong points battle between drivers in each of. Initially, todd paton drove for the nitro fish racing team and in his first venture ever in that car 2000 mac tools gatornationals todd became canadas all time fastest racer with a lap of 4.

Fielding a team in one of drag racings most challenging classes is. Nationals wins, team kalitta also won the funny car event in 2014 with nowretired driver. Paul gill doesnt look around to see how everyone else does things. Veney races top alcohol funny car, like his father the. George etterman release from hospital, edgewater recap. His latest car, a 2014 chevrolet camaro is the teams third funny car and is. New england dragway lucas oil drag racing series results. Jul 30, 2012 doing this full time makes me different from other racers. He began racing a funny car when he was 30yearsold.

Top alcohol funny car driver dj cox takes a hard hit into. Ken veney, todds father, was a star driver in alcohol funny cars and dragsters and was drag racings seventhwinningest driver when he retired in 1985, trailing only legends such as don garlits, don prudhomme, and bob glidden. Reichert, veney take wins at national trail lucas series event. Oct, 2017 as shawn langdon continues his push for a second top fuel championship in the nhra mello yello drag racing series, he can also begin to set his sights on a first championship in the funny car class. Nhra drivers listing the nhra, the largest auto racing organization in the world. To date, only two drivers top fuel greats big daddy don garlits and tony schumacher have won three in a row at indianapolis. In the year 2000 paton racing made its much anticipated graduation to nhra s professional nitroburning funny car category. A funny car must meet the nhra s sanctioning rules and guidelines to pass the equipment test for the licensing passes you need to drive. The veteran nhra top alcohol funny car driver finally captured his inaugural wally when he won at the summit racing equipment nationals july 5 in norwalk, ohio. Results of round 2 eliminations in top alcohol funny car at the nhra mello yello drag racing series, 61st annual chevrolet performance u. Todd becomes the 16th driver to win in both funny car and top. The follow a dream team debuted their new car in 2003 with driver todd veney. Drag racing results, news photos and highlights from nhra and ihra series events. At the nhra northeast division lucas oil drag racing series at maple grove raceway, chassis builder dan page collected his second career top alcohol dragster victory and frank manzo earned what surprisingly was his first win all year in top alcohol funny car.

The newly formed pro sportsman association announced today the hiring of veteran racerjournalist todd veney to handle media and marketing duties for the 2012 season. She was also the first female funny car driver to break the foursecond barrier and the first woman to compete in 100. Browse through indepth news on todd veney along with latest information, updates, biography, expert analysis and opinions. Bernsteinthe only driver to win nhra championships in both top fuel and funny cars, bernstein was also.

Those two names combined created one of the greatest funny car racing. Nhra top alcohol funny car driver todd veney does an awesome. Sporting news writer ryan fagan spent a weekend with kalitta motorsports driver j. Gary beck 1972, marvin graham 1974, dennis baca 1977, and capp at the last one, in 1980. Todd veney, the pilot of the nhra lucas oil drag racing series permatex top alcohol funny car, which is owned by the blind jay blake, got a late start to his racing career. Norwalk top alcohol funny car round 2 eliminations. Sixth in the standings with one race to go, driver todd veney looks to improve on a quarterfinal finish last year in his only previous finals appearance. Inside every top fuel driver could be a funny car daredevil just waiting to get out. Joining demke was todd veney, grabbing his first nhra national event win in top alcohol funny car but did so in anticlimactic fashion as dj cox, whiteford, md. Funny car driver todd lesenko suffers massive explosion during qualifying for the auto club nhra finals.