Jimmy “The Hulk” Brantley is taking a hiatus from racing and putting his 5.80-proven Top Fuel dragbike up for sale. 2005 AMA/Prostar Top Fuel Champion Jimmy Brantley has decided to sell his Cycle Specialist/McBride-built record smashing nitro Kawasaki. Last November…
Dragbike Racing
Dragbike and Motorcycle Drag Racing News
Karen Stoffer Wins NHRA Opener and Takes Points Lead
Stoffer claims the first point lead of her career after an improbable win from the No. 16 spot. March Madness is the season for upsets. GEICO-sponsored Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Karen Stoffer caught a little of that aforementioned madness and…
McBride Victorious at AMA/Prostar Opener
Larry “Spiderman” McBride added yet another win to his impressive resume at the AMA/Prostar Bikeweek Nationals. Here, McBride gives us some insight into the season-opening race and brings us up-to-date on Jimmy Brantley. Larry “Spiderman” McBride, seven-time AMA/Prostar Top Fuel…
Malloy, Turner and Ellis Shine at AHDRA Opener
Persistent rains forced AHDRA officials to cancel the Friday night and Saturday pro qualifying sessions. On a beautiful sunny race day Bob Malloy captured his first AHDRA Top Fuel win since 2001, G-Squared rider and Pro Gas winner Chip Ellis…
Warning to Race Teams Headed to Gainesville
NHRA has been informed by the Interstate Registration Service that Florida is requiring any vehicle with an overall length (truck and trailer) of more than 65 feet or a trailer length of more than 28 feet to have a Special…
Donnie Huffman – AHDRA’s Busiest Racer
Multi-time champion Donnie Huffman entered a staggering five classes at the season-opening Bikeweek Nationals from Gainesville, Fla. It’s not uncommon for some talented sportsman racers to compete in two or even three classes at the same event, to increase their…
The Professor’s Plans – A Talk with Paul Gast
Cycledrag.com spoke with motorcycle drag racing icon Paul Gast about his plans for the 2007 season, his first six-second run, AMA/Prostar, what it takes to be competitive in the NHRA and more. Cycledrag – It’s been quite an eventful off-season…
Sauer ‘s Sensational Comeback
The following article chronicles AMA/Prostar Drag Race Manager Bruce Sauer’s incredible comeback in 2003, when the multi-time champ battled back from serious health complications to win the Norwalk 10K Payday. Over the last three decades Kawasaki specialist Bruce Sauer has…
Hammer Motorsports Purchases AMA/Prostar
A Cincinnati-based contingent of Scott McKinney, Scott Valetti, and Brandi Neithamer have acquired AMA/Prostar. Effective Friday February 9, 2007 Prostar Motorcycle Drag Racing, operators of the AMA/Prostar U.S. Drag Racing Series, has been purchased by Hammer Motorsports of Cincinnati, Ohio.…
Racer on the Rise – Chris Rivas
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle standout and rider of the Mohegan Sun-backed Buell, Chris Rivas is anticipating an extraordinarily prosperous season in 2007 after a tremendously eventful off-season. In early January Rivas announced his team’s acquisition of former G-Squared Motorsports crew…
Ed Krawiec Named Second Rider of Screamin Eagle Team
Eddie Krawiec has been named as the second rider on the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson factory supported NHRA team, it was announced today. Krawiec, 30, will join Andrew Hines, 23, on the team that is coming off a third…
Bruce Sauer Discusses Prostar
CycleDrag.com caught up with newly-appointed AMA/Prostar Drag Race Manager Bruce Sauer for an exclusive interview. Here Sauer discusses how he landed the job, where the series is headed, and the obstacles he now faces. Bruce Sauer started drag racing in…
Stotz Clarifies Testing Mishap
Four-time AMA/Prostar champion Kent Stotz continues to work feverishly on developing his new Pro Street and Super Street Hondas for the 2007 season. In this article Stotz addresses the rumors swirling around about his recent testing mishap. Even a veteran…
Fast By Gast to Sponsor AMA/Prostar Top Gas Series
Multi-time AMA/Prostar Pro Stock Champion Paul Gast continues his long term support of the series in 2007 by backing the ever popular Top Gas (8.20) series. Gast also sponsors the MIROCK, and ADRL series. As a founding member and supporter…
2006 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Stats by Brand
With several new teams and different brands of motorcycles expected to join the NHRA PSM ranks in 2007, let’s take one more close look at how things ended up in 2006 before the recent pro-inline four cylinder rule change. Round…
Exploring Pro Stock Motorcycle Parity
Parity? The media has continually pointed out the improved parity and seemingly leveled playing field which has manifested itself in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class. But let’s face it – a closer look reveals not much has changed and the…
Llewellyn to Race a Bryce-Tuned Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2007
Six-time NHRA champion crew chief George Bryce has built a reputation for discovering talent, hiring greats like John Myers and Angelle Sampey. Has he found another? The NHRA’s first female African-American Pro competitor Peggy Llewellyn announced she will run the…
19 Combinations to Choose From in Pro Sport Bike
The MIROCK Series has continued to adjust the rules of one of its marquee classes, Pro Sportbike, to maintain parity and allow for all types of motorcycles and riders. In 2007 the number of possible combinations reaches an all-time high…
Chris Rivas Acquires New Crew Chief
After a 17th place finish in the 2006 POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings third-year racer Chris Rivas and his Mohegan Sun team have hired Rick Maney as a new crew chief. Maney comes from an extensive background of engine-building…
Armon Furr’s Most Valuable Tool – His Father
After winning the 2006 AHDRA Pro Fuel Championship, Armon Furr says his greatest asset in the pits isn’t in his tool box, or the laptop in the trailer – it’s his father After a tremendously successful championship season in AHDRA…
Rob Muzzy to Build ZX-14 NHRA Pro Stock Bike for 2007
After a two year hiatus from his long time racing partner Kawasaki Motors Corporation, Rob Muzzy will again field a Team Green Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2007. Muzzy with rider Ryan Schnitz opted to run a Buell for the last…
Screamin Eagle Pro Stock Team Close to Adding Additional Rider
Defending three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Andrew Hines reports his Screamin’ Eagle Harley Davidson Team is close to naming a replacement for GT Tonglet, who was released from the squad in early December. Hines stated that of the large…
AMA/Prostar Motorcycle Drag Racing Announces 2007 Class Changes
Pro Stock, Hot Rod Cruiser, and Super Gas cut from the program for 2007 and Super Comp index readjusted. Starting in 2007, the AMA/Prostar drag racing series will feature 10 classes and one exhibition class, down from the current structure…
Pippin Scores Fifth AHDRA Dragbike Championship
AHDRA Pro Mod Racer Junior Pippin has been virtually unstoppable for the last three seasons. With another title added to his resume in 2006 Junior Pippin has become one of the most successful AHDRA racers of the new millennium. Pippin…
Brown Admits Electrical Problems Cost Him NHRA Dragbike Title
At mid-season it appeared as if 2006 would be the year Army Suzuki jockey and nine-year veteran Antron Brown claimed his first NHRA No. 1 plate. When the smoke cleared at the final race in Pomona Brown fell a painstaking…
Huffman Wins Fifth Dragbike Championship in Three Years
In 2006 AHDRA standout bracket racer Donnie Huffman won two champions in a single season for the second consecutive year. Prominent AHDRA sportsman Donnie Huffman’s drag racing career is like a fine wine. It keeps getting better as time goes…
MIROCK Miller Reminisces on Record Pro Street Dragbike Run
At the final MIROCK race of the season retirement-bound Jason Miller captured a new 60-Inch Pro Sport Bike elapsed-time record. MIROCK 60-Inch Pro Sportbike racer Jason Miller “Time”, in perhaps his final season, fell just short of his goal for…
Top Fuel Dragbike Crewchief Steve McBride Hospitalized
On Tuesday December 5th crew chief and brother of multi-time AMA/Prostar Top Fuel champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride, Steve McBride underwent an emergency surgery to have his appendix removed. The operation was a success and after spending a few days in…
Rick Moore Wins Pro Dragbike Championship in Rookie Year
Some try for an entire lifetime to win a national championship. Rick Moore did it in his very first year as a Pro. After a stellar season that included six wins, two runner-ups and a quarter-mile ET record of 7.13…
Romine’s Less Aggressive Top Fuel Dragbike Tune-ups Pay Off in 2006
Mike Romine won back-to-back AHDRA Top Fuel championships by learning to ignore his desire to go faster. Consistency wins championships – It is that drag racing cliché which best sums up Mike Romine’s second consecutive title run in 2006. Romine…
GT Tonglet Released from Screamin’ Eagle Harley DragbikeTeam
Harley-Davidson Motor Company announced today that riders GT Tonglet and Rich King have been released from their Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson race team contracts. Veteran AMA Flat Track racer Rich King recently completed his seventh season with the Screamin’ Eagle team,…
Kile Finishes Strong
Nitro Harley racer Tracy “The Bad Apple” Kile assembled a successful late season charge that helped him to land the No. 6 spot in the competitive AHDRA points chase and post a career best 6.27 in October. After a dismal…
Time to Put a Single Digit on the GEICO Bike
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Karen Stoffer will have some extra space on her wheelie-bar panels for 2007. Stoffer, who finished tenth in the POWERade point series the last two seasons, assembled a career-best effort in 2006, concluding the season…
Zittle wins MIROCK Quick 32 on an FBR ATAK Hayabusa
Most of the victors in MIROCK Quick 32 have been powered by one of two engine combinations – the classic Kawasaki Z/KZ and the Suzuki GS. Jason Zittle of Hanover, Pa. scored a victory for the late-model fans when he…
2006 AMA/Prostar National Champions
Top Fuel – Larry McBride Funnybike – Keith Lynn Pro Mod – James Rester Pro Stock – Dean Frantz Pro Street – Mike Slowe 1000 SuperSport – Vince Woska Hot Rod Cruiser – Jeremy English Super Street – Mike Slowe…
2007 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Rule Revisions
GENERAL RULE UPDATES Scalloping, notching, etc. of brake rotors prohibited. Flat shield must be incorporated into front wheel, minimum of 5 1/2 inches from the ground. (aka The Steve Johnson Rule) ENGINE (For four-valve, four cylinder configurations) * * Maximum…
2006 AHDRA Dragbike Special Recognition Awards
Mac Tools Sportsman Wrench of the Year Bob Drapp Mac Tools Pro Wrench of the Year Dale Nungesser Sportsman Rookie of the Year Douglas Horne Pro Rookie of the Year Jim Fagan AHDRA Lady of the…
Simon Overcomes Dragbike Allegations and Claims Championship
After a season of record smashing performance Andy Simon vindicated himself from the rumors that he had been cheating. As any true racer knows, winning can provide some tremendous benefits. However success can sometimes have its downfalls as well. In…
2006 Pro Stock Motorcycle Final Points Standings
01 Andrew Hines 1,099 02 Antron Brown 1,076 03 Angelle Sampey 999 04 Chip Ellis 892 05 Matt Smith 857 06 Karen Stoffer 814 07 Ryan Schnitz 771 08 Tom Bradford 721 09 Geno Scali 705 10 Craig Treble 675…
Brown Humble in Pro Stock Motorcycle Defeat
U.S. Army Pro Stock Motorcycle pilot Antron Brown was beaten in the second round of eliminations and thus lost his shot at the 2006 NHRA POWERade world championship. Brown, who came into race day having to advance three rounds further…
Romine – Take Two – Nitro Harley Dragbike Championships
Mike Romine’s early to mid-season consistency earned him a second straight AHDRA Nitro Harley championship. It’s good to be king. When Mike Romine won the opening round of this year’s AHDRA series in Gainesville, Fla. he effectively began 2006 the…
Records Fall, Champions Crowned at Final MIROCK Event
Ralph Medrano Jr. of Miami spoiled the going away party for Rodney Williford and his turbocharged Suzuki Sunday, beating the MIROCK Superbike Series champion in the final round of the Lee’s Performance Fall Bike Nationals at Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway.…
AMA Dragbike Racing Brings Drag Racing In-House, Bruce Sauer Hired as Drag Race Manager
“Bruce is a good guy who knows the business. I don’t think Scooter could have made a better decision. It’s a great change and I’m very excited.” – Eight- time Top Fuel Champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride “I think it’s a…
Andrew Hines’ Rocky Road to a Third Straight NHRA Dragbike Title
No one said it was going to be easy In one of the most competitive NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle seasons yet, Harley Davidson-backed Andrew Hines entered the AAA Auto Club NHRA Finals, clinging to a mere 37-point lead over US…
Brock-backed Woska Wins Super Sport Dragbike Title
Brock Davidson, owner of Brock’s Performance Products and the first man to put a street bike in the sevens, and Vince Woska, a young aspiring rider climbing the no-bar ranks, accomplished what they intended to do when they first teamed…
Dragbike Racer Stoffer Looking to Finish Strong
After a successful string of late-season races Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Karen Stoffer finds herself just three points shy of a top-five ranking in the POWERade points series heading into the final NHRA event of the season – The AAA…
McBride on Dragbike Championship No. 7 – “This one is the sweetest.”
“Hello, this is the fastest man in the world and I need to talk to the quickest man in the world?” That’s how the conversation started when newly-crowned seven-time AMA/Prostar Top Fuel champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride called Jimmy “The Hulk”…
Steve Speaks on Top Fuel Dragbike Weekend
An interview with Team Spiderman crew chief Steve McBride following the team’s record performance at the AMA/Prostar National Finals, Nov. 3-5, 2006. CycleDrag – Your team recorded an astonishing nine five-second runs, and Jimmy Brantley ran the quickest pass ever. …
Monumental Top Fuel Dragbike Weekend for Team Spiderman at Prostar Finale
Team Spiderman put on a show at the AMA/Prostar finale that won’t soon be forgotten. Larry “Spiderman” McBride earned an unprecedented seventh career Top Fuel championship and teammate Jimmy ‘The Hulk” Brantley recorded the quickest dragbike run to-date with a…
Frustrating Defeat for Steve Johnson in Vegas
I Feel Like A Rookie” – 20-Year Pro Stock Motorcycle Racer Steve Johnson After Redlighting In Las Vegas “I’ve ‘thrown away’ more trophies this year than I’ve ever had a chance to win,” said Snap-on Tools Suzuki racer Steve Johnson…
All-Harley Final in Vegas Leaves Andrew Hines in Control of His Destiny
After a clutch win at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, the tour’s next to last event, Andrew Hines and the Screamin Eagle Harley Team don’t need any help from the competition to take a third straight championship. Andrew Hines and…
Karen Stoffer Scores Moral Victory in Las Vegas
What a difference a year makes. Last season GEICO-backed NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Karen Stoffer was involved in a near-career-ending accident in the pits of the NHRA AC Delco Las Vegas Nationals. This year she is enjoying the most successful…
Dan DeGood’s Road to Retirement
Over the past several seasons seven-time AHDRA national champion Dan DeGood, of Mountain Top, Pa. has cemented his place in history of one of the greatest dragbike bracket racers ever. Now in the stretch-run of his farewell, retirement-bound season DeGood…
This Year’s Competitive PSM Title Chase – Just What the Class Needs
Bill Stephens is a guest columnist for CycleDrag.com. Stephens has been involved in the motorsports media for over 30 years and has compiled a lengthy resume of accomplishments. Most notably he has hosted NHRA Today, NHRA Heat, and served as…
Rickey Gadson aiming for championship at AMA/Prostar National Finals
The AMA/Prostar National Finals marks the last race of the season for The Kawasaki/Adams Performance/Sportbike Zone team and the excitement and growth that has happened in Super Street can be largely credited to the simplicity of the class and the…
McBride Fueled by Racing – A Profile on the World’s Quickest Dragbike Racer
“I love the thrill. I love the rush.” – Larry McBride It takes a courageous and tenacious type of individual to throw a leg over a 240-mph, nitro-guzzling Top Fuel motorcycle. Six-time AMA/Prostar champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride has been piloting…
Williford Runs Quickest Outlaw Pass and Claims Point Lead at MIR
Soon-to-be-banned turbo rider pulls off the MIROCK triple crown Earlier this month MIROCK Outlaw Pro Street racer Rodney Williford got the news that his record-holding, turbo-charged Suzuki, and all other turbo bikes would be illegal in 2007. Williford made what…
Rain Dampens Day No. 1 of MIROCK MIR Finals, but not Outlaw Turbo vs. Nitrous Controversy
Not a single motorcycle made it down the waterlogged Maryland International Raceway on the opening day of the 2006 MIROCK Finals from Budds Creek, MD. The persistent mist of rain refused to subside, thus forcing the entire event into a…
Rain Halts Record-breaking Harley Race at Cecil County
There’s no question the Northeast was the place to be for making horsepower during the last weekend of September. The NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle field was the quickest ever in Reading, Pa., and just an hour south in Rising Sun,…
Jay Turner Doubles in Virginia Nitro Categories
The true mark of excellence and consistency for any drag racer is to win two classes at the same event. Typically, although rare, the feat is accomplished by sportsman racers competing in index classes and ET. However it’s even more…
Takeshi Shigematsu Runs Quickest Nitro Harley Pass Ever
It was during the opening round of qualifying at the AHDRA S&S Jim McClure Nationals that Ehime, Japan-based Top Fuel rider Takeshi Shigematsu memorized fans with the quickest Nitro Harley run ever at 6.245 at 212 mph. “I knew we…
AHDRA to Pay Homage to the Late Jim McClure
One of the all-time greats of motorcycle drag racing will be honored this weekend at one of AHDRA’s most important events of the year. As the Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts Championship Series prepares for the upcoming national event at Virginia…
Rainout Amplifies NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Points Battle
With only three races remaining in one of the most competitive NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle seasons ever, several teams couldn’t wait to compete in the NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals from Maple Grove raceway in Reading, Pa. However, mother nature put…
Upset-laden Atco Held Many Surprises
The 40th annual AMA/Prostar US Nationals from Atco, NJ didn’t go according to plan. Well, at least for a select few that is. Of the three professional classes, all of the top qualifiers were forced to watch the finals from…
Final Round Results from 2006 AMA Prostar US Nationals
The big news of the weekend came when AMA/Prostar CEO Keith “Scooter” Kizer announced that AMA/Prostar will be back next season and it will taken over by a motorsports management group. Kizer refused to give anymore details until the deal…
Pole-sitter McBride runs first Atco Five – Gast and Stoll also No. 1
This year’s 40th running of the Orient Express US Nationals from Atco, NJ, includes everything that has made it one of the most popular races of the season – record smashing performances, beautiful South Jersey weather, and one of the…
McBride Anticipating Return to Atco
Five-time AMA/Prostar Top Fuel champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride is eagerly anticipating his return to the fabled Atco Raceway in New Jersey for the 40th running of the all-motorcycle US Nationals. “I’ve always loved Atco,” McBride said. “There is so much…
Bryce Cements Indy Legacy
Star Racing/G-Squared’s George Bryce sure knows how to celebrate his birthday. Bryce, who is exactly the same age as the NHRA US Nationals,52, has now won the prestigious event a total of eight times. Bryce first won in Indy as…
Matt Smith wins Indy
Matt Smith very well could have celebrated the highlight of his career at the 2006 Mac Tools US Nationals. Smith, son of well noted Pro Stock car racer “Tricky” Rickie Smith, has been racing motorcycles since 1996 and has garnered…
Street Bike Scrutiny
The first man to put a street bike in the sevens, Brock Davidson, talks about the current state of heads-up no-bar racing, who the most talented rider is, and how a single run changed his life. It’s been over six…
Top Ten Stories of the 2005 Dragbike Season
The stunning 2005 dragbike season was loaded with stories – recording setting performances, death defying crashes, and of course controversy. Let’s look back at the top ten stories that defined last season. 1) U.S. Nationals Finish Line Controversy In my…
Brock-backed Gadson Wins Championship No. 8
After a second consecutive All-Brock’s Performance Products final, team riders Rickey Gadson and Vince Woska finished No. 1 and No. 2 in the points chase respectively following the season’s final event, the AMA/Prostar World Finals, from Gainesville, FL, Nov. 11th-13th,…
Stoffer Recovering from Season Ending Accident
Sometimes terrible things happen to good people. Such was the case Sunday October 23rd, when kind-hearted, fan-friendly NHRA Pro Stock bike racer Karen Stoffer was violently driven into the ground by the top of her transporter’s heavy back door, which…
Super Street Challenge
To say the Super Street class has a low turnout would be a gross understatement. On this particular weekend you could count the number of entries on just one hand – even if you cut off three of your fingers.…
The Lumberjack Report – First-Half Standouts
There have been some pretty impressive two-wheeled accomplishments over the last few months that have more than made up for the rain-plagued, slow start to this year’s motorcycle drag racing season. Now that we are already at the midpoint, let’s…
POWERade Prophecies
After four rounds of racing, this year’s NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike series has produced three different winners and five different finalists. The class displayed incredible parity and set a new record for the quickest field in the history of…
Fast by Gast Superbike Showdown Preview
After a record-setting dynamic “no-bar” season-opener at the Rock, competitors are preparing for round two this weekend at Maryland International Raceway. As always the Fast by Gast MIR Showdown Series will be running Schnitz Outlaw Pro Street, Mickey Thompson 60-Inch,…
Five Questions with George Bryce
While we were waiting for the track to dry on Friday for the student’s sixth and final pass at the George Bryce Drag Racing School , I had the opportunity to engage in a candid conversation with one of the…
Holeshot 101: George Bryce Drag School
After attending Frank Hawley’s Funny Car school in 1985, as a present for winning the Funny Bike championship, Star Racing owner George Bryce wanted to create a similar school focusing on the intricacies of two-wheel racing. Hawley agreed that a…
