(Photos by Big Bob Snyder) – As the 2019 NHRA Mello Mello drag racing season unfolds, the traditional PRO Winter Warm-ups invite member fuel cars from all over the country to test new team members, crew chiefs, chassis and engine combinations for first time since November at pre-season testing at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz.,

Many of the racecar tuners were making short squirts on this first day, but 2018 Funny Car Champion JR Todd, driving the DHL Toyota made the quickest pass of the class with a 3.930/305.22.

BANGShift’s first day of coverage shows off only fourteen top fuelers and nitro funny cars shaking out the cobwebs.

Veteran crew chief David Grubnic has joined John Force Racing to oversee Brittany Force’s pursuit of the 2019 NHRA Top Fuel world championship. The team announced the addition of David Grubnic, previously with Clay Millican, as crew chief of 2017 Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force’s Advance Auto Parts dragster. She finished fifth in the 2018 NHRA points standings

Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson will both utilize a 2019 Ford Mustang Funny Car body Ford Performance unveiled the body they’ll campaign in 2019. This is the first full update to the Mustang Funny Car body in 10 years and marks a reaffirmed commitment by Ford to nitro funny racing.

Kalitta Motorsports, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in NHRA this season, welcomes back Del Worsham as co-crew chief of the Global Funny Car entry driven by Shawn Langdon. Worsham previously served as crew chief with Kalitta Motorsports in 2012 before taking over driving duties to become one of only three drivers in NHRA history to earn championships in both the Funny Car and Top Fuel.

Not all the first day testing was stellar, but 2018 Top Fuel Champ Steve Torrence picked-up where he finished 2018 making  the quickest pass of the day with a 3.725/327.66.

Billy Torrence’s 3.742/326.16 followed his son Steve closely for the second quickest of the first day.

Mike Salinas showed off his decision to acquire Alan Johnson as full time crew chief for the new year, also adding the entire crew from Brittany Force’s dragster in the off-season. Salinas’ 3.821/317.94 in his self-funded Scrappers Racing top fueler was third quickest of the day.

Brian Corradi, who joined the John Force Racing family at the beginning of the 2018 season, and Danny Hood are taking their expertise over to the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by team owner and 16-time world champion, John Force. Force finished a roller coaster 2018 season.

Robert Hight ran an early shut-off 4.061/249.12.

Clay Millican

Jordan Vandergriff

Jonnie Lindberg

Richie Crampton

Doug Kalitta