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Rise and fall of Don Schumacher Racing, emergence of Tony Stewart Racing tops the list.

The 2021 NHRA season dawned with a new full-time series sponsor in Camping World and the rather false impression that drag racing was back in its proper orbit.

Camping World boss Marcus Lemonis kept tabs behind the scenes on what was transpiring all year. But aside from an exhibition race between two motorhomes at the March season-opening Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla., the company executed little activation and skated through with a low profile.

John Force Racing (JFR) made its return after hibernating for the final nine races of 2020. But JFR's return was without Austin Prock, whose Top Fuel dragster had no sponsorship and who spent the year as a crew hand. The team had flashes of past glory with five Funny Car victories and Top Fueler Brittany Force winning once among her near-record 12 top-qualifying performances.

Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) had the upper hand in the Funny Car class, despite having dropped drivers Jack Beckman and Tommy Johnson Jr. during the offseason because of no funding. Ron Capps delivered DSR its seventh Funny Car championship.

By year’s end, the Camping World Drag Racing Series saw some impressive performances by new drivers but championships going to the veterans—and a few late-season twists that could usher in a change in the landscape.

Here are some of the highlights of another unpredictable campaign:

Not only did motorsports mogul Tony Stewart carry his late-November bride, Leah Pruett, over the threshold of their home in 2021, but he carried her over the threshold of a whole new experience in her NHRA Top Fuel career when he announced in October the formation of the Tony Stewart Motorsports NHRA team.

Three’s not a crowd in the new shop, either, as three-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan came along. Both Pruett and Hagan come to TSR from Don Schumacher Racing.

It was no surprise when Antron Brown stepped out on his own and established his own team starting Dec. 1—that moved was in the works for the past two years.

But after the announced departures of Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan to Tony Stewart Racing, Ron Capps made it unanimous. He, too, has become an independent owner. Capps' move meant that it all six DSR drivers from 2019 had left the fold, as Tommy Johnson Jr. and Jack Beckman left after the 2020 season due to lack of sponsorship.

Tony Schumacher, the eight-time Top Fuel champion, is returning full time in 2022, bringing DSR full-circle. Team owner Don Schumacher became active again in the sport in the late 1990s because son Tony wanted to race in the Top Fuel class and he wanted to ensure his son had the safest equipment possible.

Through the years, the team ballooned to as many as seven pro teams—biggest in the NHRA—and amassed 366 victories.

Rookie Josh Hart stunned everyone (including himself, he said) in winning the first race of his career at the season-opening Gatornationals at Gainesville, Florida.

The 38-year-old Ocala, Fla., businessman also won the fall race at Charlotte. He would have qualified for the Countdown to the Championship had he not missed two midsummer races because several crew members were ill and chose not to compete without the entire team intact.

Steve Torrence won his fourth consecutive NHRA Top Fuel championship, as the scrappy Texan became only the second Top Fuel driver to do so (following Tony Schumacher, who won six titles from 2004 through 2009).

Others in NHRA pro classes to win four or more consecutive championships are Pro Stock’s Bob Glidden and Lee Shepherd, along with Funny Car’s Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, and John Force.

Torrence earned 11 victories in 14 finals during the 20-race 2021 season. He compiled a 60-9 record in eliminations and led the standings after all but two races.

On the way to Championship No. 5, Pro Stock veteran Greg Anderson acquired much-needed primary sponsorship from NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick (HendrickCars.com), led the standings wire-to-wire, won five times, started from the No. 1 position 12 times, and became the most successful driver in his class’ 51-year history.

Anderson tied six-time champion Warren Johnson, his former mentor, with his 97th victory in September at Reading, Pa. He then passed Johnson’s mark by winning at Dallas and improved to 99 victories with the trophy at the season finale at Pomona, Calif.

Anderson trails only Funny Car icon John Force in victories among all NHRA pro drivers. Force has 154.

Dallas Glenn won three times throughout the season to claim the NHRA Rookie of the Year Award.

The Pro Stock novice was planning to tune Kyle Koretsky’s KB Racing/Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro, but he got an offer to drive the team’s third car, one that three-time champion Jason Line had taken to the winners circle, and he made the most of his opportunity.

Glenn, 31, won the four-wide event at Charlotte in just his fourth career start. He also won at Topeka and Las Vegas.

Tommy Johnson Jr., who lost his ride due to a loss of sponsorship before the 2021 season, substituted for Matt Hagan at two races and won one while Hagan recovered from COVID.

Johnson, stung when rain washed out the final two qualifying sessions, failed to qualify at the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis in Hagan’s car. He made up for that at the following race, the Countdown opener at Reading, Pa., winning to keep Hagan on target for a chance to win his fourth title.

Johnson's DNQ at Indianapolis dropped Hagan from first to fifth in the standings, but his Reading triumph vaulted Hagan to second place. It raised the possibility that for the first time, a driver might win a championship with the help of a substitute driver.

Hagan went on to finish second in the championship behind DSR teammate Ron Capps.

New, younger faces in Pro Stock gave veterans Greg Anderson and Erica Enders a challenge all season and revitalized a Pro Stock class that many thought might fold.

Aaron Stanfield, 26, (pictured, three victories in four final rounds), Dallas Glenn (three victories in five finals), Kyle Koretsky, 32, (one victory and three runner-up finishes), and Mason McGaha, 20, (one runner-up performance) headlined the youth movement in Pro Stock.

Other up-and-comers showing promise included brothers Cristian Cuadra, 22, and Fernando Cuadra Jr., 27.

Houston Raceway Park announced its sale and permanent exit from the NHRA schedule on the heels of the final race at Atlanta Dragway (pictured).

The 2022 SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park will close the book on the storied racetrack at Baytown, Texas, where during its 35 years it was the site of many performance milestones.

The land sale to expanding Belgium-based Katoen Natie, an international logistics service provider and port operator, was completed in 2019. Terms of the deal permitted the racetrack to operate through next April to satisfy its contract with the NHRA.

The action will mark the fourth NHRA track to drop from the schedule since 2018 (joining ones at Joliet, Ill.; Englishtown, N.J.; and Commerce, Ga.).

Steve Johnson made huge career strides in Pro Stock Motorcycle at age 60.

With tutoring regarding the clutch from Pro Stock’s Chris McGaha, mental-preparation techniques from three-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon, and guidance from his advisory committee, perennial underdog Johnson put together a legitimate run at the two-wheeled title before finishing third in the championship behind five-time champ Matt Smith and series runner-up Angelle Sampey.

Johnson won a Las Vegas, Reading and Charlotte.