It’s always surprising how facts can put rumors to rest.  After CompetitionPlus.com reported on a pending announcement from the NHRA that an altered qualifying points system would be introduced with the beginning of the Countdown, rumors began circulating that the drivers and team owners were adamantly opposed to the plan.  

As first suggested the change called for five bonus points for the quickest elapsed time in each of four qualifying sessions, but Alan Johnson, unquestionably the sharpest tuner now working in drag racing, quickly told NHRA competition director Graham Light that five was far too many points.  He reportedly told Light that he felt he was on the verge of getting the Al Anabi Top Fuel car driven by Larry Dixon in top form, and while he knew the possibility of picking up 20 points just in qualifying – the equivalent of a round of racing – might work to his benefit, he considered it unfair to the competitors.  Another consideration, apparently voiced by Kenny Bernstein and several others, was the possibility that the bonus points alone could settle the championships well before the Finals in November, completely eliminating the kind of tension-filled season-ender that generates major publicity and helps fill the grandstands.  The result is a program calling for three points going to the quickest car in each session, two to the second quickest and one to the third.  This was apparently widely agreed to, yet the rumors continued to escalate at Indy that a major confrontation between NHRA and the competitors was likely to unfold.

Six-time NHRA champion and Hall of Famer Kenny Bernstein has named
Copart, Inc., an online remarketing company that sells more than 1
million cars per year, as the primary sponsor of his legendary Top Fuel
team beginning in 2010.

Copart sells vehicles using an online auction format at www.copart.com , making it easy for people to search for an bid on vehicles from the comfort of their home or office.

Jim Head and Warren Johnson have little in common with the race cars they drive. But, when it comes to speaking their minds, they’re very much alike.

Two weekends ago, on the NHRA’s ESPN2 broadcast of the NHRA Toyo Tires
Nationals from Reading, Pa., Johnson was interviewed following a run
where it was apparent water was on the track.

Johnson blasted the NHRA for what he felt were misguided priorities.
His comments were chronicled in an article on CompetitionPlus.com
recently. Johnson basically stated that if the NHRA didn't waste so
much time and money on the Top Fuel classes other issues could receive
the attention and funding they need.

Head is a firm believer that one should take the sanctioning body to
task. That tendency to tell it as he sees it has often put him at odds
with the NHRA.

Robert Hight knows the window for his 2009 NHRA Full Throttle championship aspirations is quickly closing. The
pressure is on because he must not only out-qualify the defending world
champion Cruz Pedregon but must also gather 39 points more.

He’s done his homework enough to know what will help as well as what
will hurt. Maintaining Friday’s top spot through Saturday at the NHRA U.S. Nationals only helped
his chances.

“Had I not been number four qualifier and Cruz not number one, well
that changes everything,” Hight explained. “Then we have to make up
three rounds on Sunday, and that is big. But at the same time, you
know, you risk smoking the tires. All my other team mates, had we not
stepped up tonight would have bumped me. John already had, by speed.
And Neff and Ashley...and had Cruz stepped up and gone to number one,
well, that would have made it 40 some points, 40 and some change, which
would have made it three rounds on Sunday.”

ROWE GOES FROM ZERO TO HERO IN SATURDAY QUALIFYING

Danny
Rowe went from last place to the top of the pack Saturday in the Get
Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the Mac
Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. Joe Baker and Mike Castellana also made big
jumps in qualifying in the day's lone qualifying session.
 
On Friday, Rowe's '67 Camaro shook the tires at the launch, forcing the
veteran racer to abort his run early and land dead last in the order.
His position in the standings forced him to take the first pass in the
run order, and the Laguna Hills, Calif.-resident fired a shot straight
down the quarter-mile at 5.943 and 245.54 mph that none others in the
class were able to surpass.
 

Racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits will return to the cockpit of the
vehicle he pioneered nearly 40 years ago, a rear engine Top Fuel
dragster. The eight-time U.S. Nationals winner will warm-up Antron
Brown's Matco Tools dragster before Sunday's first qualifying attempt
at O'Reilly Raceway Park during the 55th annual U.S. Nationals
presented by Lucas Oil.

Brown, the only driver to win races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock
Motorcycle, considers Garlits his racing hero, so it's only fitting
that he approached the 35-time NHRA winner about starting his Matco
Tools dragster at the most prestigious race on the NHRA schedule. The
warm-up will take place at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Top Fuel
qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

The NHRA is serious about enforcing the Substance Abuse Policy detailed
in CompetitionPlus.com's recent Drag Racing and Drug Testing.

Matt Guidera, Pro Stock Motorcycle racer has been disqualified from the
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and suspended for a period of one year for
failing to comply with the NHRA's drug testing policy with the required
24-hour time period.

Making note of the size of the event, an NHRA official stated early
Saturday that a larger number of drivers were being tested. Notices
were randomly distributed starting on Wednesday.

This is something that no one saw coming.

On Saturday afternoon, Don Prudhomme Racing, Inc. announced that his Top Fuel dragster team is for sale and that he will begin accepting offers immediately, according to its president Don Prudhomme. Prudhomme’s dragster is sponsored by U.S. Smokeless.

Prudhomme’s team will begin to field inquiries from parties interested in purchasing or investing in the team, with any potential sale to be finalized upon the completion of the 2009 NHRA season. In the event that an investor or sale is not complete by the end of the calendar year, the Snake Racing Top Fuel dragster team will not compete in 2010.

Rookie Spencer Massey is driving Prudhomme’s dragster. Massey is seventh in the points standings, and has one win at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in June in Joliet, Ill. Massey will remain under contract with U.S. Smokeless through the 2010 season.

Andrew
Hines raced to the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle victory for the
fourth time in his career Saturday at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
presented by Lucas Oil, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

Hines beat the Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying leader and bonus event
top seed Hector Arana in the final round at historic O’Reilly Raceway
Park at Indianapolis to earn the $25,000 payday for the special event
that features the eight best bike teams from the last year.

Hines took the win on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines
Harley-Davidson when Arana fouled at the start on his Lucas Oil Buell.

Ron Capps and Bob Tasca have something in common. They both don't have
any issues with the NHRA awarding points to the top three qualifiers in
each qualifying session
and the honoring of records based on the current 1000 foot mark racing.

“I like it,” said Capps. Whether it's good timing or not, there are a
lot of guys who are really iffy about it. To be honest, I have always
hoped and been excited about when NHRA has made any change. For
instance, the extra 20 points for being the points leader going into
the Countdown, I love that. I would love to add race wins, like NASCAR
had done to their Chase. This excites me.”

Tasca went a little farther with comments. He's here to race and he acknowledges while he races, the NHRA runs the show.