MECHANICSVILLE, Md. The roar of 11,000-horsepower Nitro Top Fuel and Funny Cars will once again echo through Maryland Intl Raceway as the IHRA Presidents Cup Nationals makes its highly anticipated return on Aug. 8-9.

After a nine-year hiatus, one of the International Hot Rod Assns most celebrated events is back, bringing with it a legacy of unforgettable moments. First held from 1992 to 2010, and again from 2014 to 2016, the Presidents Cup Nationals has long been a staple of the drag racing community, showcasing some of the sports most thrilling performances.

The event has seen historic milestones, including the first-ever all 6-second Pro Stock qualified field in drag racing history on Sept. 24, 1994. It has also crowned champions across multiple classesScotty Cannons Pro Mod victory over Al Billes in the 1992 debut event, the introduction of Funny Car in 1993 when Mark Thomas took the title and the addition of Nitro Harleys in 1999 with Jay Turners win.

One of the most memorable moments came in 2002, when Jack Ostrander pulled off a stunning upset, ending Clay Millicans perfect season in the first round before defeating Paul Romine in the Top Fuel final. That years event also saw an overwhelming turnout of over 700 racers, so large that many had to park in a nearby farmers field and be towed to the track.

Maryland Intl Raceway owner Royce Miller expressed his enthusiasm for the events return:

We are beyond excited to welcome the IHRA Presidents Cup Nationals and Nitro Racing back to MIR. The nearly 20-year history of this event is filled with incredible moments for racers and fans alike. Thanks to the collaboration between IHRA and WDRA, we now have the opportunity to create even more unforgettable experiences. I hope everyone will join me in celebrating the return of this iconic event.

Maryland Intl Raceway, a premier drag racing venue in the Washington-Baltimore region, hosts more than100 events annually and has been thrilling fans since it opened in July 1966. From March through November, the track features nonstop action with professional and sportsman drag racing, car shows, and a variety of special events.

IRVINE, Calif. Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducatis Josh Herrin will roll into Daytona (Fla.) Intl Speedway this week riding high with a level of confidence that only comes from winning two Daytona 200s in a row, and three overall.

Hes not Mr. Daytona yet, but a fourth win would put him just one trip to Victory Lane away from making it a three-way tie with Scott Russell and Miguel Duhamel, who both have five wins.

But first things first. Theres a race to be run and it is historically one of the more difficult to win. You need to be quick, and you need a motorcycle that is fast and a pit crew that is both fast and mistake-free. You also need to have the instinct of being in the right place at the right time to win a last-lap battle to the tri-oval and the checkered flag that awaits there.

And you need Lady Luck riding pillion.

Case in point: Most of the winners of the Daytona 200 have only won once in the races 82-year history. Seven racers have won twice, six have won three and one has won four. Only Russell and Duhamel have won five.

And none of them have won three in a row.

Herrin and his three victories will be joined on the grid by another multi-time winner, TOBC Racings Danny Eslick. Slick has four Daytona 200 wins (2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018) and hes back for another try in 2025.

Herrins first win, meanwhile, came in 2010, 14 years before his third win in the 82^nd edition of The Great American Motorcycle Race this past March.

The Daytona 200 Can Someone Stop Herrin?

Thirty-six riders will attempt to qualify for the 83rd running of the Daytona 200 on five different brands of motorcycles. The grid is again international with riders from six different countries represented with the Brits leading the foreign charge with six entries, one of whom is a 14-time Isle of Man TT winner and the all-time lap record holder on the Island with an average speed of 136.358 mph Peter Hickman. The PHR Performance Triumph-mounted Hickman will be making his second start in the 200 after making his debut in the race last year.

Speaking of the TT, Northern Irelands Michael Dunlop (yes, the 29-time Isle of Man TT winner) will make his Daytona debut this week, riding a Milwaukee Ducati MD Racing Panigale V2. Youd think Daytona would be eye-opening for a first-timer, but that likely wont be the case for someone with 29 Isle of Man TT victories. Hes seen scary.

Last year, the Daytona 200 wasnt the thriller weve come to expect. As always, there was a large pack of riders in the lead group until the pack was thinned down during the first pit stop. For all practical purposes, Herrin won the race in the first pit stop with his team turning in a quick performance while his closest challenger, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzukis Richie Escalante, had a stop that was quite the opposite. From that point forward, Herrin was never threatened.

Escalante will be back this year, hoping Lady Luck speaks better Spanish than she does English. Escalante was robbed of what seemed to be a sure second place last year when he ran out of gas, coasting around for what would end up being a fourth-place finish. On the track, Escalante was fifth, but he moved up a spot when Bobby Fong was DQd for having a fuel tank that exceeded the legal size.

Escalantes teammate, 19-year-old Tyler Scott, will be back with another year of racing under his belt. Scott took full advantage of Escalantes bad luck last year to finish second, some 45 seconds behind Herrin. Scott did a lot of learning, and he should prove to be a threat in this years big race.

Hayden Gillim rode the Vesrah Suzuki to third place last year, but he wont be racing in this years 200. The fan-favorite will, however, be in the two Mission King Of The Baggers races this weekend.

The fastest of the Brits in 2024 was Hickmans PHR Performance Triumph teammate, Richard Cooper. Cooper is one to watch for as he ran in the lead pack until a crash took him out of the race.

As previously mentioned, four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick is entered for the 200 on a TOBC Racing Triumph Street Triple 765 RS. Eslick certainly isnt a favorite to win a fifth 200, but this is Daytona. Anything can happen.

Brandon Paasch has two Daytona 200 wins to his credit, and hes self-entered on another TOBC Racing Triumph. Paasch is serious about Daytona and is spending his own money to make it happen. If he pulls it all together, he is an obvious favorite.

Another Daytona first timer with a wealth of racing experience is Brit Danny Webb. Webb, a former 125cc GP, Moto3, World Supersport, Endurance World Championship, and Isle of Man TT competitor, will ride a Team Classic Suzuki GSX-R750 in the 200.

The Truelove brothers, Harry and Matt, are back for another Daytona 200 on their Truelove Brothers Racing Suzuki GSX-R750s.

Round two of Race Industry Now, EPARTRADEs weekly tech webinar series, is scheduled for March12. EPARTRADE will host a tech webinar every Wednesday until the end of October.

Join SPEED SPORT partner EPARTRADE for Race Industry Now Episode No. 533:  Redefining The Future Of Vehicle Testing by by LABA7.

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ABOUT EPARTRADE: EPARTRADE (Electronic Performance And Racing Trade), is a revolutionary, trade-only product-sourcing platform that works 24/7 to connect performance parts suppliers with racing business professionals around the world. EPARTRADE, in conjunction with SPEED SPORT and RACER.com, also produces the annual Race Industry Week webinars which feature five days of live sessions with industry leaders, race sanctioning organizations and promoters from around the world.

For the next eight months, Jack Beckman will have the thrill of gunning for Wallys in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car class with arguably the series top team in John Force Racing.

Ironic enough, entering the season opener in Gainesville, Fla., last year, the last thing on Beckmans mind was going 330-plus mph in a nitro-burning Funny Car.

However, after 16-time champion John Force suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in a crash at Virginia Motorsports Park last June, Beckman received an unexpected call that saw him go from repairing elevators from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the weekdays to adding Funny Car driver to his weekend tasks.

Nobody wanted John to get hurt. Nobodys ever going to replace John, Beckman began. Somebody was going to get the call to fill in for him for eight races in 2024 while he decides what his long-term plans are.

That was absolutely surreal. I was out of the cockpit for three years and nine months. I had nothing lined up. I went back to a career that I was away from for 22 years. I went back the week after my last race, which was Vegas, 2020 and I thought, Thats that, this is where Ill retire.

Then I got that phone call and then Im driving John Forces car, Beckman continued. I couldnt tell you in an hour, the emotions that were involved with all of that. I dont know if Johns going to retire, or thats a decision hes going to make later on.

But to get an opportunity to know youre going to be in the same car for the entire season and that car can win races and a championship, is, for a guy thats going to go back to fixing elevators Monday, I go back to my regular job, I will have a smile on my face, I guarantee it.

Beckman was slated to run the final eight races of the NHRA season, where hed be able to carry Forces points from the previous races as the team eyed a championship, which they called Joint Task Force Mission Championship.

For someone whod been out of the cockpit for more than three years, some of the nuances would naturally cause a slight hurdle.

The part that was tough was putting the helmet on, Beckman began. I had only ever tackled a nostalgia Top Fuel car in the three years, nine months that I was out of the cockpit. I had no practice. But getting shoved into that tight area and getting the harnesses crushed down on you. I hated it.

I really didnt know how that was going to feel until I stood on the throttle the first time, like, OK, thats not that bad. I forgot what it was like in the summertime to sweat wearing all that stuff.

In fact, in my work van, I had turned off the air conditioner and rolled the windows up for the couple weeks before that, just to kind of try to get prepared.

California Highway Patrol is not fond of anybody wearing a helmet driving a work van, Beckman joked. So I didnt do that. But I wore it on the couch at home and I practiced some runs. But once I stood on the throttle, its like, OK, its back there in my mind.'

A large part of Beckmans ease back into Funny Car racing was due to his countless practice runs he made at Frank Hawleys Drag Racing School, where he still works as an instructor.

Getting comfortable inside the car is one thing. However, executing to near-perfection on Sundays is another animal.

Despite not being in a race-winning mindset since 2020, Beckman quickly knew the type of team and race car he had behind him one that could utterly obliterate the majority of the Funny Car field every week.

Knowing you can win, as compared to holding the trophy at the end of race day with your crew in the winners circle are light years apart, Beckman explained. In other words, if you drive a car thats not going to win the race, youre probably not thinking about either one of them.

I knew getting in that car, we were capable of winning. But racing luck can intervene a whole bunch, good or bad, you still may not ever win.

His rise back to the top came during the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Illinois World Wide Technology Raceway as he took down three-time champion Ron Capps in the final round.

However, within the 3.856-second run came a wide variety of emotions inside the Peak Chevrolet.

To close the deal, in St. Louis, like, Im at half track and our car is hauling butt, Beckman explained. The guys turned it up against Capps for the final round.

Then it puts a hole out on the right side. Then it puts a second hole out. It starts making a hard move to the wall and the throttle shuts off right before the finish line.

I went, Oh, sh- and then I saw my win light come on. I dont want to say its life changing. Its pretty damn cool, though.

If it wasnt for vertigo-like symptoms that sidelined him for the Texas Fall Nationals later in the Countdown to the Championship, Beckman may have been an even closer threat to teammate and eventual champion Austin Prock.

Nonetheless, Beckman capped off his unexpected partial season with a win at the NHRA World Finals in Pomona, Calif. with friend and boss Force in-person to witness his famed powdered-blue Chevrolet celebrate in victory lane.

Following the finale, it was unclear what was to come for Forces Funny Car. A month later during the annual Performance Race Industry trade show in Indianapolis, Beckman was named the full-time driver as Force continues to heal from his injuries.

With the keys handed over to Beckman at a full-time level again, he heads to this weekends Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., with a clear-eyed view of what stands between him and a title this season Prock.

I think our Peak Camaro was the best car in drag racing and Austins Cornwell Camaro might have been that much better, Beckman said. They had that twice in a generation season. What they did was just it wasnt unprecedented because (Don) Prudhomme has done it. Force has done it. His dad, Jimmy Prock has done that with Robert Hight.

He did that with me. But they won eight out of 20. They set the single-season mark for number one qualifiers in a season that was four races shorter than what weve had in the past. They are going to have the most ginormous target on their backs.

But so will we for next year and bring it on. I mean, thats a great feeling. Would you rather suck and slide in there next year, nobody looks at you or have have a car and a team thats thats dominating, wins a bunch of races and people take you seriously?

I will take the latter on those two.