5.22 Masters of the Valley: Mike Green, Tommy DeLago, and Dean Antonelli

It's a crew chief-heavy episode of the NHRA Insider Podcast this week. Bristol-winning crew chiefs Mike Green, Tommy DeLago, and Dean Antonelli join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the ins and outs of succeeding at Thunder Valley, the unique pressures of two races in one weekend, and the systematic approach that they took to earn their respective victories. 

 

Mike Green and Tommy DeLago had a dream weekend, sweeping every available contest in Bristol. They won the rain-delayed New England Nationals and the Thunder Valley Nationals while also capturing the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. It was an amazing effort and one that has some truly cool backstories that they share. 

 

Dean Antonelli and the entire Ron Capps Motorsports team had to rebound from a first-round loss in the New England Nationals to race again on Sunday for the Thunder Valley Nationals crown which they got. Antonelli talks about how they altered their clutch program, hung together as a group, and worked hard on a challenging Sunday to win. He talks about his career and some of the more unique things about leading a Nitro Funny Car team into battle. 

 

Lastly, to head up the show, Lohnes goes on a rant about people who are constantly repeating lame tropes about drag racing and actually harming the sport they claim to be helping. He's going to be short some Christmas cards this year. 

 

Something for everyone here!