In a press conference today, the NHRA and zMax Dragway announced plans for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at the facility in Concord, NC, March 24 - 28, 2010. The event will be conducted four-wide instead of the traditional two-lane racing.

The four-wide action will start with qualifying on Friday and Saturday, March 26-27. Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday.

We'll have the full story shortly.

The NHRA is going four-wide.

NHRA President Tom Compton, zMAX Dragway owner Bruton Smith and 14-time Funny Car champion John Force were on hand Thursday to announce the inaugural Four-Wide Nationals to be held March 25-28. All four lanes of zMAX Dragway’s concrete will be used for the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

The announcement comes four months after the NHRA conducted a four-lane exhibition at zMAX during the Carolinas Nationals in Septmber. Racing all four lanes at one time will also bring a change to the raceday format.

Bill Doner and Pat Musi are supposed to be engaged in a competition to determine who can tell the best story. However, in the last 48 hours, their final round match in the War Stories Showdown has resembled a tennis match with the lead going back and forth.

On Monday during the annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Manager’s Conference in Memphis, Tennessee 14-time Funny Car Champion John Force and 2009 Funny CarFull Throttle Championship Runner-Up Ashley Force Hood surprised 4,500 O’Reilly store managers making an unannounced appearance and entertaining the crowd for nearly an hour.

Autocross drivers will have a new venue to show off their ability to maneuver cars through tight courses in 2010 – the Super Chevy Show. Select host tracks will feature an autocross event during the 30th anniversary season of the Super Chevy Show series.

Autocross will be just one more tantalizing feature of a series that offers drag racing, car shows, swap meets and collector cars for sale. Forward Sports Marketing's Ryan Haas has been charged with marketing and sponsorship for the series and said the idea to add autocross to the events was a collaborative effort between fans and the Super Chevy Magazine staff.

In late June, NHRA racers and fans alike will be headed to Norwalk, Ohio for the Fourth Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. While NHRA Pro Stock competitors will be looking forward to their chance to vie for the largest single payday available in the class, the $50,000 awarded to the winner of the 2010 K&N Horsepower Challenge Race, they aren’t the only ones who can win big during the Challenge.

Each of the eight K&N Horsepower Challenge Sweepstakes finalists will receive a thrill packed trip to attend the NHRA National Event in Ohio, including full event credential and suite pass.

Newly announced Yas Marina Top Fuel driver Tommy Johnson Jr. provided more insight to the new team last evening on Joe Castello’s WFORadio.com. He also shed some light on teammate Hot Rod Fuller’s plans as well.

“I won’t be living in Abu Dhabi, but Hot Rod Fuller will,” Johnson told WFORadio.com. “He’s moving over there to run a drag racing school over there similar to what we have over here.

“I’ll be getting quite a few frequent flier miles,” Johnson continued. “I’ll be commuting back and forth. I’ll go over a few days earlier and prepare the cars to run. I will then race the cars and stay a few days and prepare the cars for the next race, then come back to the United States. It’s a unique situation and a neat opportunity for those involved.”

The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team, owned by Bob Tasca III, announced today that it has re-signed Chris Cunningham and Marc Denner for 2010.

“It’s been just great to be able to work with such talented people for the last couple of years,” said driver/owner Bob Tasca III. “A big part of our extension with Motorcraft and Quick Lane this year was about securing our future as a program.  When you know you have a big long-term commitment from your sponsor, then you can go back to the team that’s done such a great job and give them a long-term future.”

The same Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team that earned two race wins, one runner-up finish, 26 round wins and a place in the 2009 Countdown to 1, will return for the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season.