Recognizing the need to further protect the environment at racing venues, NHRA has announced a new environmental management policy for all NHRA events and/or facilities, effective at all NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events beginning with the NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14.

John Force believes 60 is the new 40.

For the 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion, age is only a number, and the number he was most concerned with was for the first time in 40 starts, he was able to win a race. The self-proclaimed old man not only won the race but did so on a hole shot.

Force repelled the charge of Ron Capps, the defending event champion, by cranking out a 4.124, 298.67 mph blast to stop Capps’ quicker 4.123, 305.08.

The fact that he reached the finals said a lot about Ron Capps’ resolve.

The veteran driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger didn’t let a broken finger or a broken race car deter him in the least.

In December, Capps broke a finger and did tendon damage on his left index finger. He drove all weekend with a splint on his finger. Then in the second round, Capps was stranded on the top end as his Funny Car broke a rearend, and had to be transported back to the pits on a wrecker. A 35-minute thrash ensued and not only did Capps make the semi-final call but also beat Bob Tasca III.

The field can shuffle.

New cars and drivers can come into the mix.

But for the Pro Stock class, the more change that comes, the more the end result remains the same.

Defending champion Mike Edwards, dominated qualifying and eliminations, to the point he captured every possible point available short of setting a world record en route to winning the 50^th NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Ca.

Larry Dixon beamed when he recalled the sentimentality on Friday of the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Ca. Every year of his life, he said, has included the traditional NHRA season-opener. And even though he’d won the event three times and his father, Larry Dixon Sr., once, winning the 50^th anniversary event would be the ultimate.

He made sure the experience was his on Sunday.

From the No. 2 spot on the qualifying grid, Dixon blasted his way through the field beating legendary names – Chrisman, Bernstein, Schumacher and then defending event champion Doug Kalitta in the final.

“It is beyond words,” Dixon said. “This is a huge event in its own right. Whether it's the first, twelfth or whatever, the 50^th and all the hype that has gone into it makes it special. Having a shot at running for it and actually doing it, I feel blessed. I feel lucky. I feel very lucky.”

Team owner Shirley Muldowney and driver Angelle Sampey, each of whom owns three National Hot Rod Association championships, were ready to report to Top Fuel duty this season with a National Guard-sponsored dragster.
 
But the Guard retreated from its offer, Muldowney said Saturday, sinking more of its promotional dollars into the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program -- and missing out, she said on "probably the best story in motorsports."
 
"They decided drag racing wasn't where they wanted to go -- shamefully -- and took enough money away from our sport where they could have financed three teams for three years. And they handed it to Hendrick (Motorsports)," Muldowney said.

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. 10 on the list.

On a weekend in which NHRA paid tribute to its rich history during the 50th running of the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, NHRA legend John Force turned back the clock himself by winning for the first time in a year-and-a-half.

The other winners at the season-opening event in the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). All three final rounds featured drivers who ranked in the top-10 on the all-time wins lists in their respective classes.

The holeshot win for Force (4.124 at 298.67 to Capps’ 4.123 at 305.08), who had a .016 advantage (.057 to .073) on the tree, was the NHRA-record 127th in his legendary career, but his first in 40 races dating back to Topeka, 2008.

Final round-by-round results from the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1.  Larry Dixon, 122; 2.  Doug Kalitta, 96; 3.  Cory McClenathan, 86; 4.  Tony Schumacher, 81; 5. Shawn Langdon, 55; 6.  (tie) Brandon Bernstein, 52; Antron Brown, 52; Troy Buff, 52; 9.  Morgan Lucas, 36; 10.  (tie) Thomas Nataas, 34.