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Jerry Bonkowski

@JerryBonkowski is an award-winning writer/columnist/editor who has specialized primarily in motorsports -- most notably coverage of NASCAR, IndyCar and NHRA -- for much of his 30-plus-year career. He has worked full-time for many of the largest media brands including USA Today, ESPN, Yahoo and NBC. He started AutoRacingDigest.com in partnership with Sports Illustrated in 2022 and serves as the site's editor and publisher. He also is a regular contributor to Autoweek.com and NASCAR.com. Follow Jerry on Twitter @JerryBonkowski

Articles From This Author

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Formula One

Missing excitement of F1? Let's replay Season 1 of 'Drive To Wynn' podcast

By Jerry Bonkowski
Jimmie Johnson applauds NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough during the 2008 NASCAR Awards Ceremony in New York City. Photo: Getty Images via NASCAR/ISC Archives.
NASCAR

The night Jimmie Johnson thought Cale Yarborough might slug him -- only to wind up hugging him

By Jerry Bonkowski
Gil de Ferran (right) and Tony Kanaan on pit lane during practice for the 2023 Indianapolis 500. de Ferran sadly passed away Friday from a reported heart attack at the age of 56. Photo by Joe Skibinski/IndyCar
IndyCar

Two of racing's biggest names -- Gil de Ferran and Roland Leong -- pass away

By Jerry Bonkowski
Leah Pruett and husband, NASCAR legend Tony Stewart, celebrate her win earlier this year in the NHRA Mile-High Nationals near Denver. Photo courtesy NHRA.
NHRA

Breaking News: Tony Stewart to go NHRA Top Fuel racing in 2024, while wife Leah Pruett to focus on starting a family

By Jerry Bonkowski
Drive to Wynn host Justin Bell (left) wraps up the final race of the F1 season, as well as the season overall, the highlights and lowlights and Varsha's key analysis about several drivers and how they performed in 2023. Photo courtesy Blue Wire.
Formula One

The F1 season isn't over just yet -- here's the 2023 finale of the Drive to Wynn podcast

By Jerry Bonkowski
Darren Jack (left) and Drive To Wynn podcast host Justin Bell (right). Photo courtesy Drive To Wynn/Justin Bell
Formula One

Drive To Wynn: Las Vegas Grand Prix -- That's a Wrap!

By Jerry Bonkowski
Drive To Wynn host Justin Bell (right) welcomes Valtteri Bottas and Magnus Walker to this episode. Photo courtesy Drive To Wynn.
Formula One

Drive To Wynn pre-Las Vegas episode features Valtteri Bottas, Magnus Walker

By Jerry Bonkowski
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Formula One

Drive to Wynn podcast: More previews of Las Vegas race

By Jerry Bonkowski
Jay Leno joins Justin Bell on this week's episode of the Drive To Wynn podcast. Photo courtesy Justin Bell/Blue Wire.
Formula One

AutoRacingDigest.com welcomes Justin Bell's 'Drive To Wynn' podcast with special guest Jay Leno

By Jerry Bonkowski
Pat Long and "The Dirtmeister." Photo courtesy Mobil 1 and Hot Wheels.
Extras

Legendary sportscar racer Pat Long turns a Porsche 944 into an off-road 'Dirtmeister'

By Jerry Bonkowski
Photo by either Hunter or Logan Butler
IMSA

Going back in (racing) time at Historic Sportscar Racing event at Daytona

By Jerry Bonkowski
James Hinchcliffe. Photo courtesy Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
IndyCar

Oh, Canada: James Hinchcliffe named to Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame

By Jerry Bonkowski
Pro Mod driver Kris Thorne emerged uninjured from this spectacular crash on Saturday during the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Image courtesy NHRA.
NHRA

Bing Bang Boom: NHRA race in Vegas had a number of wild incidents

By Jerry Bonkowski
Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan (left) and Top Fuel points leader Leah Pruett (right) were part of the preview media conference for next weekend's penultimate race of the season, the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Video courtesy NHRA.
NHRA

NHRA: Tony Stewart Racing's Pruett, Hagan riding high, No. 1 in their classes (VIDEO)

By Jerry Bonkowski
Tony Stewart came oh-so-close to winning the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster championship, but wound up 21 points behind new champion, Norway native Julie Nataas. Photo: USA Today Sports / Mark J. Rebilas.
NHRA

Tony Stewart finishes second in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster championship in Dallas

By Jerry Bonkowski
Tony Stewart came oh-so-close to winning the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster championship, but wound up 21 points behind new champion, Norway native Julie Nataas. Photo: USA Today Sports / Mark J. Rebilas.
NHRA

Smoke out: Tony Stewart DQ'd from NHRA Carolina Nationals after parts violation

By Jerry Bonkowski
Smoke wafts through the cockpit as Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes to pit road to escape a fire in his race car in Friday's Xfinity race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Photo courtesy NBC Sports.
NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a hot time at Bristol, literally, after race car catches fire (watch VIDEO)

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

Think you know NHRA drag racing? Sign up for new drag racing bracket challenge

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

NHRA: Alcohol Funny Car driver escapes massive fire at U.S. Nationals (VIDEO)

By Jerry Bonkowski
Ryan Preece's car goes airborne and begins the vicious barrel roll that saw his car flip 10 times before coming to a rest. Thankfully, he climbed out of his car and was transported to a local Daytona hospital for treatment and observation. Photo courtesy NBC Sports.
NASCAR

WHAT A VIDEO! Ryan Preece barrel rolls 10 times in violent wreck, then walks away

By Jerry Bonkowski
Will Power (left) and Marcus Ericsson were involved in a wreck during Saturday night's practice at WorldWide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. Screenshot courtesy NBC Sports.
IndyCar

IndyCar VIDEO: Power, Ericsson wreck. Does 2022 Indy 500 winner have a backup for Sunday's race?

By Jerry Bonkowski
Image courtesy of Ashlea Albertson social media account.
NASCAR

Tony Stewart mourns loss of his young racer in highway crash, see father's heartbreaking video

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

Hey, NHRA fans: Catch up with Ron Capps' #CueandA -- not one, not two, but THREE videos for you!

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

NHRA legend Kenny Bernstein roars back for a one-off with Antron Brown at Denver

By Jerry Bonkowski
ARD 2
Extras

To quote Michael Jordan, 'I'm back!'

By Jerry Bonkowski
Cole Custer is named the winner of the rain-shortened NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 121 at the Chicago Street Course in downtown Chicago. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NASCAR

Rain brings unusual and abrupt shortened end to Xfinity street race in Chicago

By Jerry Bonkowski
Simon Pagenaud went for a wild and scary ride, flipping several times, in a crash during practice Saturday morning at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Pagenaud said on his team radio that he lost his brakes. He was taken to the infield care center, examined and released. Photo courtesy IndyCar.
IndyCar

IndyCar: Pagenaud OK after scary crash in Saturday practice at Mid-Ohio (see VIDEO)

By Jerry Bonkowski
Ron Capps and his guest, NHRA announcer and WFO host Joe Castello, enjoy some hot BBQ and hot drag racing talk on the latest edition of #CUEandA With Capps.
NHRA

Enjoy some great chat and BBQ from Bristol in latest episode of #CUEandA with Capps

By Jerry Bonkowski
Will Power (right) grabs Scott Dixon after a crash during Saturday's practice. Image courtesy Peacock.
IndyCar

Will Power goes toe-to-toe with Scott Dixon after Road America crash (VIDEO)

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

Check out the latest episode of Cue & A With Capps

By Jerry Bonkowski
Fans turned out to support the first IndyCar temporary street course race on the streets of Detroit. Photo courtesy IndyCar/Chris Owens.
IndyCar

IndyCar: New Detroit street course race needs just a few tweaks to become a true top-notch event

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

NHRA: Rain pushes back final eliminations of New England Nationals to Monday

By Jerry Bonkowski
GITS - Tracks around Indy
Extras

After the Spectacle: Tracks Around Indy

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

Hungry for drag racing & food? It's time for a new episode of #CueAndAWithCapps (video)

By Jerry Bonkowski
Ryan Blaney takes the checkered flag to win Monday's NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
NASCAR

NASCAR VIDEOS: Blaney, Allgaier, Bubba, Almirola, Cup, Xfinity race highlights, more

By Jerry Bonkowski
Robin Matthews has a great attitude after her car is slammed by a wayward wheel in Sunday's Indianapolis 500. Photo courtesy WTHR TV, Channel 13, Indianapolis.
IndyCar

See GREAT! interview with race fan whose car was hit by loose wheel in Indy 500

By Jerry Bonkowski
Can Takuma Sato earn his third Indy 500 win in the last seven years? Photo courtesy IndyCar.
IndyCar

Will Sunday's Indy 500 be the Sato and Santino Show?

By Jerry Bonkowski
NASCAR 75th anniversary logo 2023
NASCAR

Rain pushes NASCAR Xfinity race to Monday, Sunday's Cup race questionable

By Jerry Bonkowski
What a heartbreak for Stefan Wilson, who was involved in a crash during Monday's practice, was injured and has been ruled medically ineligible to race in Sunday's Indianapolis 500. Photo courtesy IndyCar.
IndyCar

Stefan Wilson hurt in Indy crash (video), will miss the 500; Power fastest in last practice

By Jerry Bonkowski
Santino Ferrucci had an outstanding Fast Six qualifying run, leaving him to start next Sunday's 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 from the fourth position. Photo/video courtesy IndyCar.
IndyCar

Check out some of Sunday's top videos from Indy 500 qualifying, NASCAR & NHRA

By Jerry Bonkowski
Alex Palou celebrates after winning the pole for next Sunday's 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Photo courtesy IndyCar.
IndyCar

Palou, Veekay, Rosenqvist on Indy 500 front row; Team Rahal heartbreak (full stats below)

By Jerry Bonkowski
Highlights from Saturday's qualifying for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Video courtesy IndyCar.
IndyCar

You want VIDEOS? We've got plenty from Indy 500 qualifying, NHRA and NASCAR

By Jerry Bonkowski
Check out what Alex Palou had to say after winning Saturday's GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Photo and videos courtesy IndyCar.
IndyCar

IndyCar: Post-race videos of Palou, Dixon, Newgarden, race highlights and more

By Jerry Bonkowski
Bubba Wallace and 23XI teammate Tyler Reddick stopped by to talk with the media in advance of Sunday's race at Kansas, spoke about their respective past performances at the 1.5-mile track, as well as how the 2023 NASCAR Cup season has gone for them thus far this season. Photo courtesy NASCAR.
NASCAR

VIDEO: Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick talk about Kansas and 2023 season thus far

By Jerry Bonkowski
The second-winningest driver in NHRA Funny Car history, Ron Capps, flashes a very familiar pose after a recent win. He's not only starring on drag strips across America, he's also starring in a new video series, "Cue and A," which we're excited announce we will release every new edition right here at AutoRacingDigest.com. Videos courtesy Ron Capps. Photo courtesy NHRA.
NHRA

Need an NHRA fix? Check out 'Cue and A', new video series with Funny Car star Ron Capps

By Jerry Bonkowski
Image courtesy NHRA.TV
NHRA

Why NHRA Funny Car driver J.R. Todd is calling for parachutes on Pro Stock Bikes

By Jerry Bonkowski
Here's the calm before the storm, you might say, in Saturday's NASCAR Ag-Pro 300 Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NASCAR

Massive crash in Xfinity race at 'Dega sends one driver to hospital for observation

By Jerry Bonkowski
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NHRA

Another track bites the dust -- should the NHRA (and its loyal fans) be worried?

By Jerry Bonkowski
Tony Stewart wins TAD race in Las Vegas
NHRA

Smoke-in! Tony Stewart wins first career NHRA race and he does it the hard way

By Jerry Bonkowski
John Force turns 74 on May 4. Photo courtesy NHRA.
NHRA

NHRA -- John Force makes it VERY clear: 'I'm NOT gettin' out!' of his race car

By Jerry Bonkowski
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