5.24 Alexander, Freer, and Force: 3 Norwalk Wallys and an ESPY Nomination

On this episode of the NHRA Insider, Blake Alexander, Lauren Freer, and Brittany Force join host Brian Lohnes to talk about awesome success at Norwalk, making history as an NHRA drag racer, and the potential to win the first-ever Driver of the Year ESPY for an NHRA competitor. 

 

Two-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Blake Alexander had a manic weekend in Ohio. Abject disappointment on Friday night gave way to perhaps the most satisfying and emotionally charged victory of his career on Sunday afternoon. It was his first win since 2018 and Jim Head's first since 1997 when he was a driver himself. The road to this win was very long and hard, and Blake tells the story. 

 

Lauren Freer became the 30th person in NHRA history and the first woman to ever win two classes at the same national event. Her career arc has taken her from Junior Dragster into the deepest end of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series talent pool. Her victory was spread over two days, one a very long Saturday and the second a very short Sunday. The behind-the-scenes stories from this one are fantastic. 

 

Brittany Force, the 2017 and 2022 Top Fuel champion has been nominated for the second time in her career for the ESPN Driver of the Year ESPY. No drag racer has ever won this award and she hopes to be the first. The conversation with Brittany is wide-ranging and takes us deep into her team history, her approach, and how she and her team continue to function as a unit today. 

 

This show is PACKED! Enjoy!