Max Papis, driver of the No. 13 GEICO Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, got a taste of what it takes to make an 8,000 horsepower NHRA Top Fuel dragster fly, and left Morgan Lucas Racing on Wednesday wanting more.

"I've always had a curiosity about coming over and seeing what drag racing is like," Papis said. "I would love to get an opportunity to see how one of these things feel – and not just from the stands."

Papis got a tour of the MLR shop in Brownsburg, Ind., from Morgan Lucas, driver of the GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster, and Lucas said he was impressed by how much Papis was interested in the technical aspects of drag racing.

Just in case you’ve never heard the word “grunt” used in conjunction with drag racing – and we’re not talking about someone making guttural noises – it’s a word used to describe the often faceless front line warriors of the Army and Marines.  They’re the rifle-carriers, the guys asked to take that hill, or hold that beach or capture that airport.  When the battle’s been won it’s the generals who take the bows, while the grunts just settle back to clean their gear and get ready for another assault.

Weekends like this do not come around very often, but Sonny Leonard wasn’t complaining.

The renowned engine builder had a front-row seat as cars using his engine power plants were dominant during the American Drag Racing League’s double-race event at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas last Friday and Saturday.

Rickie Smith had back-to-back event wins in consecutive days in the Pro Nitrous class and John Montecalvo also had two wins in two days in Extreme Pro Stock. If that wasn’t enough, the Sonny Leonard-powered Johnny Pilcher machine was runner-up to Smith in the originally-scheduled event at Houston.

If you're a fan of the high-winding, gear-jamming doorslammers that once comprised the now defunct Modified eliminator, the Classic Gear Jammers Inc., has preserved this style of drag racing and now tours around the Carolinas and Virginia. Last weekend the group made a stop at the Union County Motorsports Park in Union, SC.

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has released ticket information for its two September races and also announced a convenient e-ticketing process that will allow racing fans an opportunity to print their own complimentary tickets from their homes.

By clicking on an upcoming individual event on the ADRL website - www.ADRL.us - fans will be given the chance to print an e-ticket by following the proper steps. The ticket will then be good for admission to that particular event.

Currently, tickets are available on the ADRL website for its next three races, giving fans a convenient and simple way to attend their favorite ADRL races and watch their favorite ADRL drivers.

Idaho’s largest motorsports event, the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals, returns for the 39th time to Boise’s Firebird Raceway, Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 12-15. A record $180,000 is on the line in the Professional and Bracketeer Championships.

Aligned with the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, the Nightfire will feature a pair of 16-car fields for AA/Funny Cars and AA/Fuel Dragsters with national points and records on the line. Outlaw Pro Modifieds, jets, and the Stagecoach wheelstander will also be featured at the Heritage event.

Defending NHRA Heritage Series 7.0 Pro champion Will Martin looks to clinch his second consecutive championship when he drives his Multistack.com / Prolong Blown Alcohol Funny Car at the Nostalgia Reunion contested at Sacramento Raceway. The second generation flopper pilot from San Dimas, Calif. will welcome the group from Airco Commercial Services as Major Associate Marketing Partners for this event.

“We are very happy to have the assistance of Airco Commercial Services this weekend up at Sacto,” noted Martin, who enters this event following the team’s recent victory at the last NHRA Heritage Series 7.0 Pro race, held in Las Vegas earlier this year. “Airco is based in Sacramento and is a major part of our MagLev Retrofit Contractor program at Mulitstack. Being the Director of Centrifugal Development for Multistack provides me with the opportunity to ‘talk shop’ with these guys at the races and introduce them to the power of NHRA Heritage Series racing. We are honored to have them involved with our team at this event.”

Tony Pontieri feels like he’s stared Death in the face, and he didn’t like what he saw.

“I can remember every second of it,” Pontieri says of the fiery, top-end crash he went through June 25, while qualifying for the NHRA Pro Mod event in Norwalk, Ohio.

“I remember seeing that grey concrete wall coming up and thinking, ‘So this is what it looks like to die.’ It was a weird feeling and let me know that all those guys who’ve died before doing this knew what was coming up and it’s something I hope I never have to feel again.”

Making the NHRA Countdown to the Championship can be a stressful roller-coaster ride.

It’s a ride Robert Hight knows all too well.

A year ago, Hight, who pilots the Auto Club Ford Mustang for John Force Racing, just barely qualified for the Countdown in the No. 10 spot by capturing a controversial win over John Force in the semifinals at the U.S. Nationals.

Hight’s victory also set off a firestorm between Tony Pedregon and Force because Hight’s win against his father-in-law and boss, knocked Cruz, Tony’s brother and defending NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car world champion, out of the Countdown. Force beat Cruz Pedregon in the second round.

Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH® Enterprises, has been hospitalized following a plane crash at Wittman Regional Airport in OshKosh, Wis.