Kandy Magazine has agreed to a sponsorship package with Matt Smith Racing rider Angie Smith beginning at this weekend's NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. The agreement will include Kandy branding on Angie's 190-mph Buell. The famous Kandy Girls will be greeting fans in Smith's pit area.
Gumout Performance Additives has announced the sponsorship of Formula Drift star and World Champion Drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR for 2014.
NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, A SPECTACLE LIKE NO OTHER: Without question, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, now in its fifth year, presents one of the most powerful sights and sounds on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. It marks the fifth of 24 events during the 2014 season and takes place April 11–13 at zMAX Dragway, Bruton Smith’s “Bellagio of Drag Strips.” The world’s top racers will once again try to stay out in front, where cars race four-wide at the world’s only four-lane, all-concrete drag strip. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (PSM) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.
The 2014 Formula Drift season starts April 4–5 in Long Beach, California, and Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) will try to defend its title with reigning champion Michael Essa.
Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster enter the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas as one of the toughest Top Fuel cars on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing circuit. Their hot streak to start the 2014 season includes two No. 1 qualifying positions, two final-round appearances and one victory in a three-race stretch. Kalitta and all the Top Fuel racers will attempt to break the bank at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, March 28–30.
The 2014 General Tire Mint 400 presented by Polaris featured 57 Trick Trucks and 38 Class 1 cars battling for desert domination in front of thousands of fans. Andy McMillin’s FOX-equipped Trick Truck was the first to the checkered flag, winning with a 14-minute margin over the second-place finisher. For his efforts, McMillin received a $10,000 payday for riding on FOX.
Hotchkis Sport Suspension has teamed up with the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) to deliver an autocross event series for 2014 taking place at all three NMCA West events at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California.
Allen Johnson will lead the K&N Horsepower Challenge field as the No. 1 seed for the second time in his career as the special event takes center stage March 29 during the 15th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A $50,000 prize is on the table for the winner with a total purse of $76,000 for the eight drivers competing in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.
Royal Purple has announced its sponsorship of Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens. The 2014 season marks Enders-Stevens' 10th competing in Pro Stock as she works to continue her reign as the most successful female Pro Stock driver in NHRA history.
Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Matt Smith will lead the two-wheel category into its first race of the season this weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Several riders are expected to challenge Smith for the PSM crown this season, including Andrew Hines, Eddie Krawiec, Hector Arana Jr., Steve Johnson, Hector Arana Sr., Michael Ray, Chaz Kennedy and John Hall among others.