Daily Driver

The points lead has changed hands in TWO categories — and with Dallas up next, things are about to get even more interesting. Jordan Pratt’s pressure-packed Super Gas win in St. Louis vaulted him to the top of the standings with 624 points, ending Nathan Vrooman’s run atop the leaderboard. Pratt controls his own destiny, but with Tim Powell, Phil Unruh, Bo Butner, Kris Whitfield and others still i...

The Competition Eliminator championship chase might be the most compelling story in sportsman drag racing right now. Joe Carnasciale has put together a nearly perfect season with seven wins, one runner-up, and 659 points -  a résumé that would normally have a World Championship all but locked up. But five-time and reigning World Champion Jeff Taylor still has a path. In this NERD OUT, I'm breaking...

The NERD OUT is changing gears as we enter the final stretch of the 2026 NHRA Lucas Oil season. With fewer races remaining, I’m taking a weekly look at the biggest movers, shakers, and championship developments from the weekend. This week, we’re recapping St. Louis and the impact it had on Stock, Super Stock, and Super Gas - from Jimmy Hidalgo Jr.’s late-season charge to several new names entering...

The NERD OUT returns to Super Comp, but the conversation has changed. At this point, it’s less about the championship chase and more about just how historic Trey Vetter’s 2026 season has become. With 711 points, five wins in nine races, and a 44–4 round record, Vetter has joined an incredibly exclusive group of racers to eclipse the 700-point mark. Now the question becomes: How high can he go? I’m...

The NERD OUT rolls into Stock Eliminator , and this championship chase is getting crowded. Joe Santangelo has taken over the top spot, but with several contenders still holding valuable opportunities to improve, 633 points may not be enough to close the door. I’m breaking down the paths for Michael Brand, Cooter Hidalgo, Parker Theobald and others still in the hunt. Plus why this weekend in St. Lo...

Today on The Daily Driver, we’re introducing the next installment of our Win Light Lab series - this time led by Gage Burch and focused on bottom bulb racing. Gage joins us to talk about his “chameleon” approach to competition, the importance of being able to adapt to any situation, and what racers can expect from this small-group experience. From footbrake and transbrake to the starting line, fin...

The NERD OUT continues, and today I’m turning my attention to Super Gas, a category that has delivered some incredible championship drama in recent years. Nathan Vrooman has built a sizable lead, but in Super Gas, 612 points is far from a guarantee. I’m breaking down his path to the title, why Bo Butner and Phil Unruh still have plenty of opportunity, and how Jordan Pratt has quickly raced his way...

The NERD OUT continues, and this time I’m breaking down the Super Comp championship chase. With the 2026 Lucas Oil season heading into the home stretch, the points picture is getting interesting and changing quickly. I’m taking a closer look at Trey Vetter’s position at the top, the paths that Phil Unruh and Jordan Pratt have to challenge him, and why Zach Mazir is my long shot worth watching. The...

Today’s episode of The Daily Driver is dedicated to the memory of Larry Croft . We take a moment to honor his life, remember the impact he made, and reflect on the legacy he leaves behind within the racing community. This one is for Larry.

The NERD OUT rolls on, and this time I’m diving into the Super Stock championship chase. With the Lucas Oil season winding down, I’m looking at the battle from three different perspectives: the current leader, a top contender, and a long shot who still has a path to the championship. There’s still plenty of racing left and plenty of ways this thing can play out. Let’s dig into the points, the poss...

It’s that time of year again... The NERD OUT is back! With the NHRA season entering its final stretch, I'm deep diving into the championship picture across the Lucas Oil categories. First up: Competition Eliminator. Who’s in the hunt? What does the path to a championship look like? And which races, points opportunities, and potential scenarios could shape the final two months of the season? It’s t...

"Which NHRA Class is the "Easiest" to win?" If you’ve got a topic you want us to tackle, submit it at thisisbracketracing.com/ask . With insights from the TIBR and ELITE brain trust, this episode starts a series of Q&A discussions built around the questions racers are asking right now.

"When I bracket race my super class car, should I run it wide open or should I run it on the throttle stop?" If you’ve got a topic you want us to tackle, submit it at thisisbracketracing.com/ask . With insights from the TIBR and ELITE brain trust, this episode starts a series of Q&A discussions built around the questions racers are asking right now.

"When you cross the finish line, what is the safest way to complete your pass - get out of the gas and put it in neutral, shut down and coast or leave it in gear and let the engine slow you down?" If you’ve got a topic you want us to tackle, submit it at thisisbracketracing.com/ask . With insights from the TIBR and ELITE brain trust, this episode starts a series of Q&A discussions built around...

"When it comes to racing top bulb and bottom bulb (same day or not), why do you think some racers elect to switch between box and no box even when they are clearly better with no box? I watch a few racers channels on YouTube and I will notice they are hitting the tree better with no box better than the box runs. Why not just run top bulb with no box at that point? Ego? I have the box why not use i...

This week’s Question of the Week comes from Brian, who asks: I really enjoyed the episode about your first national event win, curious if we turn back the clock even more could you tell us the story of your first win in general? If you’ve got a topic you want us to tackle, submit it at thisisbracketracing.com/ask . With insights from the TIBR and ELITE brain trust, this episode starts a series of...

After more than a decade of faithfully chasing his first win, longtime ELITE member Bryan Campbell finally broke through—and he did it on one of the biggest stages possible: a $50,000-to-win event at Mid-Michigan Motorplex. In this episode, Luke celebrates Bryan’s incredible accomplishment and shares what happened when Bryan walked the ELITE community through the race, round by round. But the bigg...

Today on The Daily Driver, our ELITE Spotlight series continues with another look behind the scenes of an ELITE member's racing season. Throughout the year, we're following select members as they share race recaps, personal insights, lessons learned, and the ups and downs that come with competing. Our next featured member is Lee Newmeyer. Tune in to get to know Lee and follow his journey as he sha...

This week’s Question of the Week comes from Dave, who asks: Do you find a difference in your reaction time if you stage first or you stage second? If you’ve got a topic you want us to tackle, submit it at thisisbracketracing.com/ask . With insights from the TIBR and ELITE brain trust, this episode starts a series of Q&A discussions built around the questions racers are asking right now.

This week’s Question of the Week comes from David, who asks: On an old episode of the Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast, I heard you talk about how odd a role Billy Torrence has played in your racing career. As a CAPCO fan, as a Torrance fan, I'd love to hear the Billy Torrence of it all. If you’ve got a topic you want us to tackle, submit it at thisisbracketracing.com/ask . With insights from the TIB...

Today on The Daily Driver, our ELITE Spotlight series continues with another look behind the scenes of an ELITE member's racing season. Throughout the year, we're following select members as they share race recaps, personal insights, lessons learned, and the ups and downs that come with competing. Our next featured member is Megan Bemiller. Tune in to get to know Megan and follow her journey as sh...

Today on The Daily Driver, we're excited to announce the next course in the Win Light Lab series at This Is Bracket Racing. This time, Matt Dadas takes the lead with Win Light Lab: Prepared for Anything. A course designed to help you become the kind of racer who's ready to step into any class, any car, or any opportunity with confidence.  Listen to learn more about the course and hear why versatil...

Today on The Daily Driver, I’m sharing the audio version of my latest National Dragster column, "Sportsman Top 50, The Calculus". In this piece I'm peeling back the curtain and walking through the selection process of the Sportsman Top 50. 

This week’s Question of the Week comes from Ryan, who asks: First and foremost congratulations to your son Gary on his recent Western Conference Finals Jr Dragster Championship but I got to ask the question, out of all of the cool things you have done in your racing career - whether it's winning the Spring Fling Million, the US Nationals, World Championship, I've got to ask were you more nervous w...

A few weeks back on The Daily Driver, we announced a new addition ELITE Spotlight program. Throughout the season, select ELITE members will be sharing their racing journey through blog posts, updates, and other behind-the-scenes interactions. From the highs and lows to lessons learned along the way, this is a chance to follow along with real racers navigating a real season. Tune in as we introduce...