Steve Scheidker, public relations director for VP Racing Fuels, confirmed a price increase will be enacted this weekend during the NHRA Torco Race Fuels Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill.

A 400-pound drum (roughly 38 gallons) of nitromethane will sell for $1,405 during this weekend. The majority of teams CompetitionPlus.com talked to this afternoon had not been notified of the increase.

Scheidker confirmed this increase was a matter of supply and demand. The company official confirmed members of upper management were in China as we posted this news item.

"The cost from our supplier has increased substantially," Scheidker explained.

Sheidker couldn't say whether or not this will be the only increase for 2008.

"I can't honestly say at this time," Scheidker admitted. "It wouldn't be surprising if it did. We're just going to see how it works out.

"Steve Burns and Wade Gray are in China as we speak and this is the second time in three weeks they've been there. They are doing everything they can and turning over every rock and scouting out every source they can. I don't know what the status is now because i haven't heard back from them yet."