The first pro qualifying session ended at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals just a few hours ago, but it’s not too early to offer you our first impressions of what the year may have in store for us.  If what we saw this afternoon is any indication of what’s to come in the months ahead, it’s safe to say that it’s gonna be good!

The National Hot Rod Association has pulled out all the stops in trying to make the 50^th Anniversary Winternationals celebration unmatched the organization’s history.  The collection of vintage race cars that’s in the pits is exceptional, and current Funny Car driver Jack Beckman wasn’t the only one who said to us, “Man, have you seen some of the cars they’ve got down there?  Oh, what I would have given to see some of those racing for real back in the day.”  There are Cacklefests and legendary driver introductions coming in the days ahead, and we can’t wait.  Could it be that the NHRA management group, which admittedly has little actual history in the sport, and has sometimes been opposed to Cacklefests in the mistaken belief that they detract from today’s stars, is going to actually embrace and support the sport’s history?  That would be an enormous step towards bringing together today’s fans and some of the older folks who have stopped coming to the races because they feel the sport is no longer theirs.

  The first pro qualifying session ended at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals just a few hours ago, but it’s not too early to offer you our first impressions of what the year may have in store for us.  If what we saw this afternoon is any indication of what’s to come in the months ahead, it’s safe to say that it’s gonna be good!

The National Hot Rod Association has pulled out all the stops in trying to make the 50^th Anniversary Winternationals celebration unmatched in the organization’s history.  The collection of vintage race cars that’s in the pits is exceptional, and current Funny Car driver Jack Beckman wasn’t the only one who said to us, “Man, have you seen some of the cars they’ve got down there?  Oh, what I would have given to see some of those racing for real back in the day.”  There are Cacklefests and legendary driver introductions coming in the days ahead, and we can’t wait.  Could it be that the NHRA management group, which admittedly has little actual history in the sport, and has sometimes been opposed to Cacklefests in the mistaken belief that they detract from today’s stars, is going to actually embrace and support the sport’s history?  That would be an enormous step towards bringing together today’s fans and some of the older folks who have stopped coming to the races because they feel the sport is no longer theirs.

Yes, Faithful Reader, you’re going to miss some of last year’s stars because they’ve been unable to come up with the sponsorship support they needed to continue.  John Force Racing, for example, has parked Mike Neff’s car as he returns to his proven skills as a tuner.  But things somehow balance out.  Neff may be gone, but returning to action is Melanie Troxel in the In-‘N-Out Dodge Funny Car, so all is pretty much right with the world.

 

Tony Pedregon appeared to be headed towards the drag racing parking lot along with Neff just a few weeks ago, but now appears solid with backing from Kenny Koretsky’s Nitrofish operation.  Brother Cruz lost the Advance Auto Parts sponsorship (largely due to a change in corporate management more than anything else), but has landed on his feet with backing from Snap-on Tools.  But that’s created a ripple effect that’s negatively impacted Doug Herbert’s top Fuel aspirations and Steve Johnson’s Pro Stock Motorcycle operation.

More than one Pro Stock driver opined this afternoon that by year’s end New Mexican Johnny Gray will probably have spent more money than anyone else in the class fielding cars for himself and his son Shane.  Ironically enough, at the end of that first session it was Shane listed in the top 12, and his dad sitting way down in the 20^th spot, but this list is bound to change – dramatically – in the next three sessions. 

There are a lot of new cars – and fresh livery – throughout the Pro Stock ranks.  Ford’s return to active participation in the class was evidenced by the appearance of Larry Morgan’s new Don Ness-penned Mustang (with Lucas Oil backing) and the purple machine of New Yorker John Nobile.  Morgan says that by Gainesville Jim Cunningham’s operation will be on the track.  “It might’ve been earlier than that,” Morgan said, “but I blew up his engine on my dyno.  No, don’t ask!”

Champion Mike Edwards has three backers to help him defend the title with his Pontiac.  Penhall Construction has returned, and occupies the primary

signage space on the car’s doors, but there’s a very prominent Interstate Batteries logo on the hood, and Contemporary Corvettes has the windshield banner.  Anyone foolish enough to have thought Edwards would spend the short off-season goofing off learned otherwise when he once again crushed the competition with an elapsed time some 0.009 quicker than Jeg Coughlin, Jr, who came home second with a 6.591.  Only Edwards topped 210mph.

Ron Krisher’s car had new colors from Valvoline, Roger Brogdon’s Pistonater is bright and colorful, Rickie Jones has a new deal with Elite and Vinnie Deceglie and Allen Johnson are both behind the wheel of brand new and very sharp-looking Dodge Avengers.  This should be another great year of Pro Stock racing.

Have you, like, ever known John Force to do something that gets everyone’s attention?  Well, he did it again today, putting up an astonishing elapsed time of 3.805 seconds, which is even more astonishing when you consider the all-time Top Fuel time is a 3.75-something that was turned in Tony Schumacher in pre-season testing in Florida.  I mean, like, wow, what a run!

Alas, it was not to be.  It was just too good to be true, and NHRA obviously thought so too.  Force was listed as an NT (No Time) at the bottom of the list as the sky darkened into evening above Parker Avenue (the real name of the race track – and there’s a sign to prove it!), but all was good at JFR.  Atop the list was Full Throttle champion Robert Hight with a 4.059/312.86.  Del Worsham was right there at 4.062, and Ms. Ashley Force-Hood was a “distant” third with a 4.093.  So, what does this all mean?  Maybe nothing.  But it might mean that the senior Force’s car is actually capable of three second elapsed times.  We shall see on the morrow.

 

Since it’s the 50^th Anniversary Winters we figure it’s okay to refer to Top Fuel as “The Kings of the Sport,” but in truth we’re kind of glad that term seems to have somewhat faded into oblivion.  From where we stand the long cars may be the quickest and fastest in the sport, but there’s little doubt that every pro class has something to set it apart from the others, and each is a “king” of sorts. 

One reason we made that “Kings of the Sport” reference is because the first car out of the gate was so familiar to many of us that we thought we’d been transported back in time, because there was no missing the black car with the big “Big Daddy” Don Garlits lettering.  What?  This can not be!  And it wasn’t, of course.  European champ Andy Carter has worked something out with the legendary Garlits, but for a moment there…  Man, wouldn’t that have been something to see, Garlits actually back behind the wheel.  Carter, by the way, smoked the tires, so we’ll have to wait and see what he can do o Friday and Saturday.  Sunday is just too far off to consider at this juncture.

A half dozen cars ran in the threes – including Motorsports Hall of Fame and International Drag Racing Hall of Famer Chris Karamesines.  Check out your neighborhood and you tell us:  How many people do you know who at a reported 82-years of age can drive a race car 308 mph?  the Golden Greek can!

Cory Mac led the pack with a 3.80 with a 9, with Antron Brown clinging to the 12^th sport with a disappointing 8.361.  Not to worry, times like that will be ancient history in about 48 hours.

This is just the beginning, kids.  There’s more to come, a lot more.  And from our Notes section to our feature stories, you won’t any better or more in-depth coverage than right here at Attitude's CompetitionPlus.com.