In Center Moriches, NY., they're still celebrating their hometown racer, John Montecalvo, winning the 2009 IHRA Pro Stock championship. Attitude's CompetitionPlus.com doesn't usually post cake pictures, but this one you have to see.

A score of NHRA Pro Stockers are in Bradenton, Fla., and have been testing this week. Ace photographer Chris Simmons is on hand to capture the action. While the results are sketchy, a couple of notable runs include a 6.53, 211 from KB Racing and an impressive 6.54, 209 from Larry Morgan behind the wheel of his new Ford Mustang.

Drag racing superstar Melanie Troxel will return to the Funny Car ranks in 2010 behind the wheel of the In-N-Out Burger Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car. Troxel will banner the landmark restaurant at the eight NHRA national events that take place in California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas.

The agreement resurrects a successful partnering between Troxel and In-N-Out Burger from the late 1990s that was highlighted by Troxel's second-place finish in the 1999 Top Alcohol Dragster national standings. In two seasons, Troxel won six races for In-N-Out Burger and claimed the '99 Division 6 title and '98 Division 5 runner-up honors.

Bill Doner and Pat Musi, the finalists in the CompetitionPlus.com War Stories Showdown will tell their tales of drag racing yore tonight at 7 p.m. ET on WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday with Joe Castello.  In addition to the War Stories, NHRA Top Fuel driver Tommy Johnson Jr. will appear on the program to discuss his recent announcement with Don Schumacher and Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.  To listen live, on demand, or to download tonight's show, go to http://www.wforadio.com
 
The CompetitionPlus.com War Stories Showdown is a month-long competition between 16 drag racing old schoolers paired on the standard NHRA professional eliminations ladder.  After three rounds of elimination, Doner and Musi are squaring off for the War Stories championships won last year by 14-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion John Force.
 
Doner is a legendary drag racing promoter who has submitted a final round story titled "Linda and the Open" and starring former adult film star Linda Lovelace.  Musi, a renowned drag racing engine builder and driver, will discuss his final entry titled "30 White Castle -$13.50, 2 Ex-Lax Spiked Chocolate Milkshakes - $11.75, Seeing a 350-lb Man get on a Public Bus Filled with it All - Priceless".

Dick Wells, the first editor of National DRAGSTER and a longtime member of the NHRA Board of Directors, died late Monday night from complications after heart surgery last November.  He was 75.

A member of both the NHRA board of directors and the NHRA Wally Parks Museum board of directors, SEMA Industry Hall of Famer Wells began his long and storied career in motorsports as National DRAGSTER’s first editor in 1960.

“Dick loved the NHRA and everything about drag racing and the world of performance,” said Dallas Gardner, NHRA chairman of the board.  “His passion led him to a lifetime of contribution that, simply put, made things better.  His efforts and influence touched everyone.  He was a great part of the leadership that saw the sport grow to what it has become today.  We will miss him for his participation, but we will miss him more as a friend.”

Finding a defining a moment for some drag racers takes some searching.

That isn’t the case with Steve Faria. His career-changing moment came in May of 1989 when he clocked a 5.99-second history-making run at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Faria was the first in a Top Alcohol Dragster to register a sub 6-second elapsed time down the quarter-mile.

“It was great and unbelievable really,” Faria said. “I didn’t see the numbers (the 5.99) because I was on the other end of the track, but the (NHRA) safety crew came running up hollering and told me what I had done, and then my crew came down screaming. Later that day, we also set the Top Alcohol Dragster speed record. It was a hell of an eventful day, I have to tell you.”

The Winter Rod and Speed Show set for this Saturday, January 23 has been expanded to include a second building that will house a motorsports expo that will include race cars, 4X4 trucks, sprint boats and even a nitro burning chainsaw that will do a demonstration during the show. At the show signing free limited edition pictures is NHRA drag racing legend and 1999 FIA Top Fuel World Champion “240 Gordie" Bonin.

Over 114 cars have been entered in the show that includes show cars, classic cars, custom trucks, roadsters and muscle cars. This year, American Graffiti movie fans can see a four car display including the original 51’ Merc that was featured in the classic film. Other featured cars include the wild blown GTO called the Judge, the “Shock n Aw Pacer” show car, and the Veney’s Vega Funny Car.

Today, the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) released an updated 2010 schedule featuring a return to familiar territory and a pair of date changes for established races.

“Creating a season schedule is one of the most challenging tasks we face every year as there are so many variables and individuals to consider,” ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling said. “Ultimately, every scheduling decision is reached based on how it affects our racers and track partners and our ability to put on the best show possible for ADRL fans. I think the scheduling changes we’re announcing today reflect that process well and will result in a stronger 2010 ADRL season all around.”  

In order to allow ADRL race teams additional testing opportunities, this year’s season-opening event, the ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI at Houston Raceway Park, will be held Mar. 19-20, one week later than originally planned. Also moving from July to May 21-22, will be the ADRL U.S. Drags III at Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg, Virginia.

The Pacific Street Car Association enters their 12th year as their season starts in Las Vegas Jan 29-31 with the Ford Racing Record Breaker Nationals.

The 2010 event schedule for the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association is finalized with three (3) new tracks coming on board in 2010 which include: