Jack Beckman raced the new DSR chassis in the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car to No. 5 in qualifying for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

He recorded a 4.151-second pass at 297.29 mph in his first run down Route 66 Raceway in Friday's only session because of a rain delay. The pass was good for No. 3 at the time. In today's two rounds, he posted a 4.159/287.78 (No. 4) and finally a 5.154/147.20, to earn No. 5.

Pro Stock racer had reason to celebrate following Saturday’s first qualifying session at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals. In his first race after being forced to the sidelines three years ago, the Louisiana-based Stevens was called over to speak to ESPN2’s Gary Gerould.

Veteran drag racing journalist Ian Tocher is in Orangeburg, SC., for the first event on the Outlaw Door Slammer Series promoted by George Howard and Roy Hill. He'll bring you the behind-the-scenes action throughout the weekend.

Attitude's CompetitionPlus.com is the title sponsor for this event.

Pro Stock Bike rider Craig Treble held on to the top spot through the final two qualifying sessions at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

Treble ran 6.960 seconds at 190.27 mph to claim the top spot during Friday’s lone session and improved during Saturday’s second run with a 6.932, 188.

This marked Treble's first No. 1 of the year, and the fourth of his career. His last No. 1 came in 2003 at the Pomona, Calif., season finale, where he won the event.

"It was a lot wetter last night and today it started drying out after the rain finally subsided," said Treble of the weather changes. "And you could ride the bike up there to the staging lanes and not have to dodge all the puddles all the way up there, so that was kind of nice. We saw the humidity dropping and this morning it was a lot better than last night, obviously. Everybody picked up a little bit and, man, I still can’t believe it.

Larry Dixon strengthened his points lead in Top Fuel as he raced to the No. 1 qualifier at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

Robert Hight, Mike Edwards and Craig Treble also took the top spots in their respective categories at the 10th of 23 events on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Dixon drove his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to the top of the field and posted a track record of 3.814-seconds at 317.42 mph. It was Dixon’s third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 43rd of his career.

If you're up for some Nostalgia Funny Car racing on Saturday evening, we have streaming event coverage of the event promoted by Beserko Bob Doerrer at Atco Raceway in Atco, NJ.

On the eve of his latest venture, veteran drag racing promoter George Howard of Million-Dollar Bracket Race fame is feeling excited, but tired.

He’d just arrived at Orangeburg (SC) Dragway after a long week of driving across three states for this weekend’s (June 4-6) Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com South Carolina Spectacular, the first of six races for the new Coca-Cola Outlaw Doorslammer Series (ODS) presented by Hooter’s, established and co-promoted by Howard and longtime drag racing school operator Roy Hill.

“I’m definitely encouraged by the early response (to ODS), but in today’s time you never know what you’re going to get until it happens,” says Howard, who also held a stake in the popular ORSCA series several years ago.

“This is not new to me, but it’s still really exciting. There are already a few rigs lined up to get in the track and the spectators are keeping the phones ringing off the hook. I’m looking forward to this.”

Funny Car racer Robert Hight had a week to think about his three-race winning streak. On Friday at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, he had more time to think.

The same held true for his crew chief Jimmy Prock.

Persistent rain showers limited qualifying to one session and left many drivers idle throughout the day.

As badly as the defending series champion wanted to capitalize on his momentum, both he and Prock understood getting a place in the field with incoming Saturday weather was all they needed to do.

The Blue Max is a legendary part of drag racing’s past.

Mad Max could be an exciting part of its future.

“Before I end up my career, you’re definitely going to see me at least doing a test in a dragster,” says Formula One/Le Mans/Indy 500/sports car/Champ Car/now NASCAR driver Max Papis.

Don’t laugh.