Don Schumacher Racing scored 14 national-event wins in 27 final rounds among its seven teams in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, ending the season with one world championship. DSR drivers also earned 11 No. 1 qualifiers during 2009.

In all, since DSR was formed in 1998, DSR teams have scored a total of 136 national-event victories in 260 final rounds, 125 pole positions, and claimed eight world championships.

A group of NHRA drivers are poised to travel overseas and spread some nitro-flavored holiday cheer to U.S. soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines serving our country.

Top Fuel professionals Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon, and Spencer Massey, along with Pro Stock favorite Erica Enders and Pro Stock Motorcycle rising star Doug Horne are set to depart on a week-long USO Tour of Germany where they greet servicemen and women at various locations around the country.

At 44 years old, Paul Candies Jr. joined the fraternity that made his father a legend.

He’s officially a bona fide drag racer and has the competition license to prove it.

The second-generation Candies had grown up around drag racing, surrounded by his father’s long-running nitro team partnership with Leonard Hughes, but earlier this week Paul Jr. made a name for himself thanks to drag racing school instructor Frank Hawley.

Traditions help fuel the blessings of Thanksgiving and for CompetitionPlus.com, we’re embarking on a new tradition. Here at the magazine we consider ourselves traditional, a big family if you will. We share many hours together in labor and miles together on the road in our efforts to produce a top-notch drag racing publication.

The time together on the road enables us to focus on the different facets of our life for which we are most thankful.

In following the Thanksgiving tradition, CompetitionPlus.com each year will select one driver or drag racing industry figure to share with our readers what they are most thankful for.

Our first installment comes from Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car.

Kurt Johnson plans to spend a few days enjoying Thanksgiving with his family and neighbors, but come Monday the veteran Pro Stock driver plans to be back in the shop working the dyno and tweaking engines for 2010. Those are the plans he revealed while a guest Tuesday evening on Joe Castello’s WFO Radio show.

Earlier the same day, Johnson’s sponsor of 14 years, ACDelco, announced the end of their sponsorship program. The 39-time NHRA Pro Stock winner confirmed that he’s got his work cut out for him if he hopes to race.

They were once heated rivals in the Pro Street movement of the 1990s.

In the years that have passed, the animosity between Pat Musi and Tony Christian might have appeared to settle. Ask either one and they’ll tell you that is just wishful thinking.

The rivalry, which has been in mothballs, is on again and if the two of them have their way, this one will be settled on the drag strip, again.

After a decade long absence from the Sunshine State, the IHRA will make its long awaited return to Florida for the inaugural Palm Beach Nitro Jam January 29-30 at Palm Beach International Raceway.

Tickets for the two-day event will go on sale Friday at www.nitrojam.com.

Fans can beat the holiday rush and grab the best seats in the house or pick up the perfect gift for a loved one by logging on today.

Rodger Brogdon knew the start of the 2009 season would be a challenge. The Houston, Tex.-based Pro Stock driver was willing to make the sacrifices for a late season payoff.

Almost two weeks following the final race of the 2009 season, Brogdon is right where he wants to be, in contention for the 2010 championship.

“We’re excited by our performance since Indy and certainly looking forward to next year,” Brogdon said. “We’ve got a new Jerry Haas Pontiac coming and it’s a car that will include some Tommy Utt engineering. Tommy’s had some things he’s wanted to try chassis wise and with the new car being built specifically to fit me, we felt it was a perfect opportunity to put his ideas to work. Basically, if Tommy wants it, this car will have it.”

With the Christmas season rapidly approaching, those looking to get the perfect gift for the drag racing fan in the house doesn’t have to go far.
 
Maple Grove Raceway is once again offering gift certificates in $25 denominations. These certificates can be used toward the purchase of tickets for any Maple Grove event. They can also be applied toward race entry fees or track souvenirs.

NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock driver Kurt Johnson will appear on WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday with Joe Castello, 7 - 8 pm ET, 4 - 5 pm PT.