Scott Woodruff doesn’t deny his guilt. He was driving lead-footed.

Woodruff, publicist for Team Jegs, was driving in northeast Ohio when a police officer clocked him doing 50 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone.

The officer interrogated Woodruff as to why he was in such a hurry. Every question the officer asked resulted in a ‘no’ answer including, “Do you realize how fast you were going?”

Fresh off of a win at Lebanon Valley Dragway, Jay Blake's Permatex/Follow A Dream team heads to Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, Md., for the next race in the Division 1 Lucas Oil Series.  

"It's great to head to the track with a win still fresh in our minds," driver Todd Veney said. "That weekend at Lebanon Valley was the best of my career, and I'm ready for another one just like it. Plus, I've got a little unfinished business at Cecil County." In his only previous appearance at the Maryland track, in 2003, Todd reached the final against Frank Manzo was but unable to compete following an engine explosion in a semifinal win over Paul Gill.

Starting this Friday night, Aug. 20, there will be a new “kick” for the Auto Locator Grudge Racing Series: A group of 16 grudge competitors will be chosen to run a new feature titled Run Tuff.

All grudge participants will be eligible for the special 16-car Run Tuff feature that will be contested after the third session of grudge runs.

Maple Grove Raceway staff will select a field of cars based on the closeness of the group’s elapsed times during sessions, 1, 2 and 3. For example, if the closest 16 cars are in the range of 14.00 to 14.35 seconds, this will be the featured group. Cars in that group of 16 that are eliminated may continue to make grudge runs.

The times can vary week-to-week depending on closest group times.

The NMCA’s Pro Stock division is a naturally aspirated class designed for 1950 and newer American production cars and trucks that are equipped with stock-type chassis and 10.5-inch wide tires. Entries are permitted small block and big block engines up to and including a maximum of 565 cubic inches (depending on combination).

Pro Stock rules permit a variety of race-proven modifications and performance ¬ enhancements on stock bodied, stock appearing -vehicles. One enhancement not allowed is the use wheelie bars.

Past NMCA champion Butch Kemp and his fellow NMCA Pro Stock racers don't like the “no wheelie bar” rule. Kemp and his peers who faithfully supported the class have decided without wheelie bars the risk is too great for the potential reward. In this case, Kemp says the reward is his just being able to race safely.

Steve Petty is frustrated this summer by the dire lack of Outlaw 10.5 competition for him and driver Tim Lynch.

But he’s not dissing their on-track rivals; the acknowledged turbo tuning master just wishes there were more opportunities to compete.

“Me and Tim have had that new car done for two-and-a-half months and we’ve got to race it one time,” Petty says of the twin-turbocharged, Skinny Kid Race Cars-built 2010 Corvette ZO6 they picked up late in May. “There’s not a lot of races going on down here right now. ORSCA canceled a couple of races because of the heat, but I don’t know, I can’t ever remember a time going this long without racing.”

Piedmont Dragway will host the first ever Outlaw Big Dog race on Labor Day Monday, September 6.

"We're going to lighten them up and turn 'em loose," said Piedmont's Jim Turner. Piedmont Dragway, who founded the world famous Big Dog Shootout in 1994, will throw the vast majority of the rules out the window for this special event to be contested on September 6.

A buzz was definitely in the air, as Carolina Dragway [Jackson, SC] opened its gates for a Thursday night test and tune. History was in the making with 5 cars already on the grounds making test hits, some as far away as the Dominican Republic.

Friday afternoon the gates opened to find the baddest converter driven Pro Mods in the country playing a cat and mouse game  at the House of Hook. As the track opening for testing, only a few cars lined up in the staging lanes. No one wanted to be the first to test track conditions on a hot summer night.

Then, Robbie Matthews and Danny Blankenship decided they would set the tone for the evening. After a nice lap from both cars, along came the Bladerunner, owned by Terry and Terri Green. With Troy Jordan behind the wheel, the car laid down two patches of nice hot rubber and set the Alan Pittman built Camaro in the lights. When the amber lights flashed it only took a few seconds to realize this was going to be a fast run. Lighting the board at  3.92 seconds, 184 mph, the Bladerunner team had just reset the World Record for a powerglide equipped race car. With an astounding .930 sixty foot time transmisson builder Victor Reitzel proved he has found some secrets to make the glides hold up.

Larry Morgan admits he’s survived some tough seasons in his storied career but 2010 has been in a league of its own. He’s blown up enough engines and broken enough parts to leave the legendary Henry Ford shaking his head in disbelief.

He knew the year was going to be one of transition with a change of manufacturer and a new engine program. However, Morgan never envisioned the carnage would reach the level where he would be left to wonder if he’d survive financially.

“When you break seven engines and try and survive that, that’s a tough deal,” admitted a puzzled Morgan. “I am lucky to even still be here. I’m not sure how I am still here, but I am. We’re here. We’re struggling along and I’m fine with that. I could be home doing something I don’t want to do.

Five nostalgia Funny Cars will again roar to life during the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Open House on Sept. 3, 2010. The popular cacklefest will feature five of the legendary floppers from match racing lore: the Stardust ‘Cuda, Chi-Town Hustler Charger, Jungle Jim Camaro, Motown Shaker Vega, and Brand X Camaro.

DSR will open the doors of its 100,000-square-foot shop to race fans from 10 a.m.-3 pm. on Sept. 3 when DSR hosts its fifth annual Open House to benefit Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The open house coincides with the opening day of professional qualifying for the 56th annual U.S. Nationals at nearby O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.