As the Nitro Jam series prepares to head west a new batch of stars have joined the fun as part of the series’ western swing that includes stops at Salt Lake City’s Rocky Mountain Raceways June 18-19 and Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway June 25-27.

The two week swing through the Rockies is expected to draw some of the largest crowds of the year as many of the sports biggest west coast race teams join Top Fuel regulars Bruce Litton, Bobby Lagana Jr., Spencer Massey and Del Cox Jr. at two of the biggest Nitro Jam events of the year.

The NHRA is in the process of gathering data as a means of reducing the speed of nitro cars so they might be able to return to tradition quarter-mile racing.

The sanctioning body seeks to conclude data gathering no later than July.

The NHRA has already tested the value of a smaller gallons per minute fuel pump, and a smaller displacement engine.

Veteran crew chief Ed “Ace” McCulloch, who is the wrench boss for the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger driven by Ron Capps at Don Schumacher Racing, isn’t welcoming any change the NHRA might implement. McCulloch is at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Summer Nationals which concludes Sunday.

Rickie Smith encountered a tough day in testing with this supercharged Pro Modified entry while in Bristol, Tenn.

The cause of the accident is unknown but what is crystal clear in not long after the initial launch, methanol went under the right rear tire. The car slipped sideways and drifted head on into the wall. Smith was uninjured in the accident.

Terry Leggett figured if a Ford was good enough for his father, it was darn sure good enough for him.

The Pineville, NC.-based logger who races in the ADRL’s Pro Extreme believes family tradition is the reason he’s been a Ford driver since getting his driver’s license.

“I was born and raised around Fords; I guess I’ve got a bad habit of wanting to be a little different too,” said Leggett, who debuted his newest Ford this weekend at the ADRL U.S. Drags III, a Tommy Mauney-built Mustang.

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Between last November and May of this year, ADRL Pro Nitrous racer John Bartunek admits he was as indecisive as he’s ever been about drag racing.

His uncertainty had nothing to do with the tune-up of his engine or which series he should race.

Instead, Bartunek was hesitant about whether he wanted to race at all following a 2009 crash where his car went airborne and flipped violently.

John Force Racing East, the Midwest  headquarters of the most successful team in Funny Car drag racing history, will open its doors to the public Saturday, May 29th , from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the 4th annual Brownsburg Motorsports Network Open House.

2009 Funny Car champion Robert Hight will be available from 11 a.m. to noon signing autographs. Hight, winner of the last three NHRA national events, is currently No. 2 in the Full Throttle point standings.

For a sport already well known for its sensory overload, the NHRA continues to stimulate the senses in announcing today the forthcoming release of its debut music compilation. “Go Fast: The Official Music of the NHRA,” is a ten-song compilation highlighting the sights and sounds drag racing fans have long associated with the sport.

The collection is being released digitally on Tuesday, June 1 via iTunes and Amazon.  Fans can listen to an exclusive sneak preview of the full album in advance of the release date by streaming the music at NHRA.com and on the NHRA Facebook page.

Melanie Troxel, the nitro racer turned Pro Modified contender, will race this weekend in Europe as part of the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Dragway in England. Her name is on the entry list posted at Eurodragster.com.

According to the site, Troxel will drive one of the R2B2 Camaros and is reportedly the same entry which won the Atlanta Get Screened America event two weeks ago. The reported confirmed the car is scheduled to arrive on Thursday along with members of the R2B2 team.

Bill Reichert and Andy Bohl each picked up wins as they worked their way though eliminations at O’Reilly Raceway Park for the Lucas Oil Spring Spectacle of Speed in the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes respectively.

Reichert, Owosso, Mich., dominated the field recording low elapsed times in each round of eliminations saving his best run of the day for his final round against Ken Perry, Richmond Hill, Ont.  Reichert clocked in at 5.320 seconds at 265.85 mph to Perry’s 5.424 at 260.41 mph.

Perry’s final round appearance assured him a berth in the prestigious JEGS Allstars as the North Central division’s rep in the best-of-the-best competition between NHRA’s seven geographic divisions.  Reichert will also be competing in the event as the defending JEGS Allstar champion.

Spectator tickets and racer registration for the highly anticipated NHRA Unleashed event in Indianapolis will go on sale to the general public on Saturday May 29th.  NHRA Unleashed, is a celebration of pure American horsepower, and will make its inaugural stop at O’Reilly Raceway Park on August 6 – 8.  

 Tickets for NHRA Unleashed will go on sale at 10 a.m. EDT and can be purchased by visiting NHRA.com and clicking on the NHRA Unleashed logo box.  Spectator tickets will also be available the day of the event at the gate.

NHRA Unleashed tickets are $10 for adults on Friday and $20 for Saturday and Sunday.  A three-day pass is $40 and a Saturday-Sunday pass is $35.  Tickets for children 6-12 are $5 for one day, or a three-day ticket is $10. Children five and under are free.