If Firebird International Raceway were home to a professional football or baseball team, the team wouldn’t have walked out in the middle of the night. They would walk out in broad daylight for a better deal. Children play in sand boxes, not professionals.

If conditions are that bad, and they are, why does the Firebird International Raceway event remain on the NHRA Full Throttle tour?

Call it kid-friendly, nitro-driver-approved. Funny Car driver Bob Bode and Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher are planning their own team, of sorts.

Bode's son Bobby, 8, just became the proud owner of a new Junior Dragster. Right now it has an honored spot in the garage at the family's Barrington, Ill., home. Bobby practices every day -- getting in and out of the car. “They're difficult for a little guy with short legs to get out of,” Dad said. “So I taught him how to get on top of the roll cage and jump out.”

While Jack Beckman jumped about like the Mad Hatter, Cory McClenathan, fresh off a win over Doug Kalitta in the final round of the NHRA Arizona Nationals, grinned like a Cheshire Cat.

Admittedly having taken Kalitta too lightly in Pomona during a semi-final match-up, crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler were loading up for bear this time around.

“We are going to go down the track and we are going to do it fast,” was the message from Okuhara and Shuler, recalled McClenathan  as he discussed the win on WFORadio.com Tuesday night.

The AHRA's first ever Nitro Showdown will blast down the track on May 15 at Desert Thunder Raceway in Midland, Texas, featuring a one-day duel of Top Fuel Dragsters, fire-breathing jet cars and a Bug Bucks Sportsman race.

The event marks the first of several Nitro Showdowns planned throughout the season, AHRA CEO Troy Moe said Friday.

Louisiana has always been known for its laid back lifestyle.

From the “Big Easy” to Mardi Gras and everything in between, the people of Louisiana are known for their lavish parties and generally positive outlook on life. So when it comes to taking on a slogan, it should come as no surprise that the French saying “laissez les bons temps rouler” would take on new life as the official phrase of choice for the people of Louisiana

Translated to mean “let the good times roll”, the French phrase is often used in conjunction with Mardi Gras and other Louisiana celebrations, but in just a few short weeks that phrase will take on new meaning when the International Hot Rod Association’s highly popular Nitro Jam series travels to Baton Rouge for what is being touted as the world’s largest nitro party March 6-7 at State Capitol Raceway.

In the running for his first world-title, Sheikh Khalid Al Thani is ready for his shot at drag racing glory this week at the Qatar Race Club during the seventh and final round of the Arabian Drag Racing League. Al Thani, who has been in the midst of a season-long points battle with teammate Von Smith, goes into the final event of the season less than one round win out of the lead.

“Frank [Manzo, crew chief] and the Al-Anabi Racing team have been working hard to make sure we have the best car possible going into this most important final round,” said Al Thani, from his office in downtown Doha. “With drag racing, though, there are no guarantees. It’s going to come down to who makes the best decisions on race day and me doing my job as a driver.”

Long-time public relations and marketing specialist Gabrielle Stevenson, 35, was named Texas Motorplex General Manager today by owner Billy Meyer. Stevenson joins the Texas Motorplex after leaving her post at the United Way California Capital Region in Sacramento, California where she managed a broad range of marketing projects including donor relations, branding initiatives, marketing materials as well as Web site content. Stevenson has nearly 10 years of public relations experience working for both the Motorplex and the National Hot Rod Association sanctioning body.

“I am excited to bring someone with Gabrielle’s skill sets into the General Manager position. Her years of public relations and marketing experience will be a big asset for the Texas Motorplex in the North Texas region. She understands how critical public relations and marketing are to the growth of this facility and her positive, can-do attitude will make an immediate impact. We looked at a number of candidates and Gabrielle’s enthusiasm and ideas quickly moved her to the top of the list,” said Meyer.

It’s time to put or shut up in the ever escalating war of words between Drag Radial racers in North America.  This weekend, February 26 - 27, 2010, from South Georgia’s premier drag racing facility (SGMP) just outside Adel Georgia, ‘The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia’ $20,000 to win Mickey Thompson Drag Radial vs. The World will take place.

Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel) and Jack Beckman (Funny Car), NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event winners from Phoenix, will appear on "WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday with Joe Castello", live tonight at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).  To listen, go to http://www.wforadio.com
On Monday, McClenathan defeated Doug Kalitta to win the Arizona Nationals, his 32nd career Top Fuel victory.  With the win, McClenathan moved atop the Top Fuel standings holding a five point lead over Kalitta after two races.

How excited was “Fast” Jack Beckman after besting 14-time Funny Car champion John Force in the rain-delayed NHRA Arizona Nationals Funny Car final round?

He was so excited he could hardly stand still.

Paul Page, off to the side doing his stand-up introductions for ESPN, was interrupted more than once by the bouncing Beckman. Cory McClenathan just smiled, laughed and continued his post race interview after every Beckman intrusion.