When the left rear wheel and tire detached from Antron Brown’s Top Fuel dragster during first-round eliminations Sunday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, it had tragic consequences.

A woman, struck by debris from Brown’s crash, died later Sunday at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. Brown, who drives for Don Schumacher Racing, was not injured in the crash.

During Brown’s run, his dragster experienced severe tire shake, and the circumstances that led to the tragedy are being investigated by the NHRA, Don Schumacher Racing and local Gila Reservation authorities.

Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com, through the assistance of a key group of Pro Modified historians and enthusiasts, has compiled a list of the Top 20 all-time drivers based on their contribution to the class, historic achievements, statistics and fan appeal.

Starting on Friday, January 8, 2010, the electronic magazine began revealing those names on the list, and will announce two drivers per week, until the No. 1 driver is unveiled on Saturday, Mar. 20, during the ADRL Dragpalooza in Houston, Texas.

Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com narrowed the list from hundreds of drivers down to 20. Today, we reveal No. 7 on the list.

Even with bad weather shortening testing, the High Speed Motorsports team and their new driver, Brad Thompson, are ready to win their first March Meet. The talent runs deep in this camp as the HSMS team was the 2008 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Top Fuel Champions and Thompson, in his own car, was the 2007 champ.

The GLNFCC provides alcohol Nostalgia Funny Cars for tracks all over the Great Lakes Region and Canada. Any number of cars can be provided. The cost is reasonable for any size track.

The cars are supercharged and have pre 1980 bodies.

All of the cars meet current NHRA and IHRA safety standards. The shows feature long smoky burnouts and are directed towards an exciting experience for the fans.

NHRA is furthering its mission of promoting safe driving by hosting 12 B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Driving Schools in 2010 at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, beginning with the first one the weekend of March 13-14.

B.R.A.K.E.S., a 501(c)(3), safe driving charity, founded by NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Doug Herbert, has already put hundreds of teenagers through the school, which is designed to give young drivers the dynamic experience of handling a vehicle in adverse driving conditions and in a controlled environment.

“B.R.A.K.E.S. has been an extremely successful program in the Southeast United States and we are honored to bring the program and what it stands for to Southern California,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA.  “The program’s success can be directly attributed to the passion and commitment of Doug Herbert to educate young drivers on safe driving skills.”

At the season opening Palm Beach Nitro Jam at Palm Beach International Raceway last month underdog Bobby Lagana Jr. bested the last three IHRA World Champions to stun the field and take home the Top Fuel crown both nights.

In a little over a week Lagana and his team of “giant killers” will get an opportunity to repeat that feat at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam March 6-7 at State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge.

After three rounds of qualifying on Day One of the two-day, championship-deciding Round 7 of the 2009-10 Arabian Drag Racing League season, Sheikh Khalid Al-Thani leads the Pro Extreme field and Khalid Al-Balooshi is on top of the Pro Nitrous list at the Qatar Race Club. Both will have one more opportunity to improve their times on Friday before elimination rounds begin.

Sheikh Khalid stepped up in his third qualifying effort of the day with a 3.73-seconds pass at 204.05-mph in his Frank Manzo-tuned, Al-Anabi Racing ’68 Camaro. The Sheikh has qualified number one at three of the six previous events.

In second place is Alex Hossler of Canton, Ilinois, who also made his best pass of 3.75 at 203.58 in the third attempt with his Chris Duncan-tuned and –built ’70 Camaro, followed by defending series champ Von Smith from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with a 3.79-seconds run at 203.95 mph in his Barwa Racing ’68 Camaro that also came in the third session.

Thanks to the efforts of Extreme Pro Stock competitor Cale Aronson and a score of sponsors, ADRL racers will be treated to a free test session at San Antonio Raceway on the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the ADRL Dragpalooza event in Houston, Texas, March 19 - 20.

RGV Racing Fuels, Mickey Thompson and Aronson Motorsports have joined forces to ensure the test is complimentary.  SAR is only 180 miles from Houston Raceway Park.  The track will be prepped for both eighth and quarter-mile runs. 

Twenty years after his final National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) national event win as a driver, Darrell Gwynn’s famed Coors Extra Gold Special Top Fuel dragster colors will again streak down the Gainesville Raceway 1,000-ft track during the upcoming Gatornationals.  This time, though, champion driver Doug Kalitta will be in the cockpit.
 
As a tribute to Gwynn’s second consecutive Gainesville victory at the 1990 Gatornationals, Kalitta Motorsports donated a dragster to bear Gwynn’s marquee paint scheme during this year’s races.  The special dragster not only will honor Gwynn’s on-track achievements, it also will recognize the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s ongoing work to provide education about spinal cord injury prevention, offer support to those afflicted by spinal cord injuries and debilitating disease, and raise funds to help find a cure.

The internet radio scene will get a healthy dose of "Nitro" as Will Hanna and the Harker Twins, Kate and Diana, will launch their new show Radio Nitro on RaceFanRadio.com next Monday, Mar. 1, at 8 p.m. EST.  The one-hour show will feature commentary and interviews with the top names in the sport with a behind-the-scenes, technical feel.  2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Massey and 2009 NHRA Division 7 Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Sean O'Bannon will be the show's first guests.
 
Both Hanna and the Harker Twins have competed in the NHRA Top Alcohol ranks.  Hanna, who got his start in the NHRA's Jr. Dragster program, drove the ATC Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car from 2005 to 2007 and currently works as a Crew Chief/Consultant for several teams.  Most recently, he was named the 2009 NHRA Division 3 Pro Sportsman Mechanic of the Year after tuning Chris Foster to the Division 3 Championship.  He also owns/operates the popular internet websites InsideTopAlcohol.com, InsideCompRacing.com and InsideFastBrackets.com.