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NHRA AND VIZIONONE SPOTLIGHT “GRUNT OF THE RACE” AWARD

June 10, 2026 by

 

NHRA AND VIZIONONE HAND CLEANER SPOTLIGHT NITRO CREW MEMBERS WITH “GRUNT OF THE RACE” AWARD

INDIANAPOLIS (June 10, 2026) – NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars depend on the people who dive beneath 12,000-horsepower machines moments after a pass to prepare them for the next run.

To recognize those often-overlooked crew members, NHRA and VizionOne Hand Cleaner, the Official Hand Cleaner of NHRA, are excited to announce the “Grunt of the Race” award program. The initiative rewards the bottom-end mechanics whose work is critical to the success of Top Fuel and Funny Car teams.

Under the program, the divers on the winning Top Fuel and Funny Car teams at each NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event will receive a $250 bonus courtesy of VizionOne Hand Cleaner.

Working in tight quarters around hot engine components, clutch assemblies, fuel systems, and driveline parts, the bottom-end mechanics perform some of the most demanding work in professional drag racing.

Owned by veteran racer and businessman Rodger Brogdon, VizionOne Hand Cleaner is an American-made, all-natural hand cleaner created by Texas emergency room physician Dr. Ashton “Doc” Hudson. The product was developed to remove grease, oil, clutch dust, fuel residue, and racing grime while helping protect the hands of those who depend on them every day.

“Those guys — and girls — are the unsung heroes on the nitro teams,” Brogdon said. “When that car comes in and it’s steaming and sometimes dripping after a run, the divers are the ones who jump in there and make stuff happen where few want to. I’ve always had a fond appreciation of what they do, and we at VizionOne Hand Cleaner believe they deserve to be recognized.”

The program debuted earlier this season and has already produced multiple recipients.

Top Fuel diver Travis Vandermell has been the program’s biggest beneficiary to date, collecting three Grunt of the Race awards while helping Shawn Langdon and the Kalitta Motorsports team put together a three-race winning streak. V

Funny Car winners have been spread among multiple teams, with Aaron Kelley helping Jordan Vandergriff’s team earn recognition and Caden Gibson collecting the award with Chad Green Racing. Most recently, Narciso Bravo picked it up for Tasca Racing with Austin Prock’s victory.

“It’s always exciting to see unique programs like this and VizionOne has done a great job recognizing a vital crew member in this fashion,” NHRA Senior Director of Advertising Jeff Morton said. “These bottom-end mechanics are crucial to the success of any top team, so it’s a huge thrill to see VizionOne provide this special bonus. They’ve already been a tremendous partner to NHRA and our race teams and we look forward to seeing this relationship continue to grow.”

VizionOne Hand Cleaner products are available on the NHRA Midway at national events as part of the company’s ongoing partnership with NHRA and commitment to racers, crew members, and industry professionals throughout the sport.

For more information, visit www.viziononehandcleaner.com. For more information on NHRA, including the full 2026 75th anniversary schedule, visit www.nhra.com.

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