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.

When the NHRA announced they had suspended Matt Guidera for one year
for failing to comply with they Substance Abuse Policy, they could have
been a bit more forthcoming.

According to Guidera, he tried to comply. He just failed in his effort.

“Well, I’m disappointed that I didn’t go up there and perform the test
on time,” Guidera said Saturday night. “I wish it was different, but I
understand that the NHRA has rules and they have to stick to them, and
I certainly wish I was racing here on Monday and qualifying Sunday, but
they’ve told me that I can’t.”

According to Guidera, he was issued the paperwork from the NHRA to take
a drug test at 4 p.m. Friday. Guidera then had 24 hours to go take a
drug test.

Don Prudhomme announced on Friday at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in
Indianapolis that his entire race team is for sale immediately. In a
press conference, the multi-time NHRA World Champion announced that he
will not field a team in 2010 unless a sponsorship is procured.

Prudhomme announced that his longtime association with the United
States Smokeless Tobacco ends at the end of the season. Reportedly new
legislation regarding tobacco advertising played a large role in the
decision to discontinue the program.

Ed French, Bloomington, Ind., is a daily reader of CompetitionPlus.com;
reading for nearly as long as the internet magazine has been in existence. The owner of Community Ford and Valley Chevrolet said the site has become a regular stop for his drag racing news.

French has also grown fond of the Roger Richards photos which have graced CompetitionPlus.com for the last decade.

That’s why when French read on Friday afternoon that a thief had stolen
Richards’ scooter, he believed the time was right to help out a person
he considered friend, yet had never met.

Life has been a blur for Tony Pedregon's interim crew chief, Tony Shortall. Since he was given the last minute
assignment of joining the two-time Funny Car world champion, the racing has been pretty fast.

Through it all, Shortall has been having a good time.

“Yes. Yes, and then some,” Shortall said when asked if he was adjusting
quickly to his new position. “It's been good and it's been fun. Working
with these guys has been simple and obviously you don't have to worry.
The driver does a great job. The crew does a great job.”