Races will come and go for NHRA Top Fuel racer Morgan
Lucas, however his 2004 NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals experience at Brainerd
International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., will be forever etched in his
mind.

That was the race where he not only made his Top Fuel driving debut but
also won the first of two races sponsored by his family’s Lucas Oil
product line running the Top Alcohol car.

"It was a dream weekend for me," Morgan said. "Our Top Alcohol team was
clicking right along and the car was running so strong. Then we came
out with Joe's (Amato) team and I made my professional debut. Without
question, Darrell Russell was my No. 1 racing idol and meeting him when
I was a kid was one of the big reasons I feel in love with the sport.
It was an awesome privilege to take over what he started with Joe
Amato."

John Leslie Jr., from Munster, Ind., doesn’t have a problem racing in an entry level division in the NMRA. In fact, after
nine seasons of racing in the Factory Stock division, he’s admitted the
notion of moving up the ladder has crossed him mind.

He’ll move on when he’s ready.

He’ll only move on when he’s filled his resume with a few more accomplishments, namely a series championship.

“Everybody always asks me that year after year and I tell them after I
make my first win I'll move up but now that I got my taste of the first
win I want the championship,” Leslie explained.

Funny Car driver John Force always talks about how splendid it is just
to be at the dragstrip. But that's not enough, not right now.
 
He wants to win, and he's not afraid to scramble his crew chiefs and
teams to make that happen. He has given them three races, starting with
this weekend's Lucas Oil Nationals at Northern Minnesota's Brainerd
International Raceway.
 
This is a dragstrip at which he has won 11 times himself -- by far more
than any other pro driver in any class -- and taken home three other
victories as a team owner (twice with Eric Medlen and once with Gary
Densham). Force has won 126 times in NHRA competition -- but not since
last June 1 at Topeka.

Maple Grove Raceway, Don Schumacher Racing, and the Reading Eagle are
teaming up to offer fans a chance to win four suite tickets for the
25th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, Aug. 20-23 in Reading, Pa.

Drag racing has been a part of Bremerton’s history for many years –
even before Bremerton Raceway took over a little-used runway at what
now is called Kitsap Regional Airport.

Surreptitious racing on the streets – on Pacific from First to 10th
Streets was said to be a favorite location – took place occasionally
until the early 1950s when the airport site became a quarter-mile race
track.  With guidance from the Crankers Car Club, the racers were
finally able to compete in a safe environment.

The Handlers Car Club was formed in 1956 by John Flesher, Leon Fox and
Dean Benson and, three years later, the club leased the track for the
1960 season from the County Airport Board . . . and they continue to
lease the track now from BMP.

The Handlers are celebrating their 50th consecutive year of promoting
drag racing events at one of oldest facilities in the United States. 
It is also one of the last “portable” tracks still existing.

After a full day of Fords, family and fun John Force Racing car show
manager Craig Hoelzel pronounced the Ken Grody Ford and Auto Club All Ford Car Show held last Sunday, August 9th a huge success.

“It
was a great day. We had over 6,000 fans attend the event and most
importantly those same fans dropped off 2,416 pounds of canned food for
the Orange County Food Bank. There were over 300 Ford and Mercury cars
and trucks on display,” said Hoelzel.

Aeromotive Fuel Systems announced that racecar builder and fabricator
Larry Larson will drive Aeromotive’s twin turbo, Ford Mustang in AA/AT
at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals begin September 2 and wraps up on the 7th. “We’re really
excited to have Larry drive the car. After all, he built this car and I
think anytime that he has behind the wheel and on the track will be
invaluable for our racing program down the line,” said Steve Matusek,
Aeromotive President and current driver of the car.

Don Bowles has the prototype car and if he gets his wish, he’ll have a class to race it in.

The vision, according to the former NHRA class racer, focuses on the
late model production vehicles powered by engines purchased directly by
NASCAR engine suppliers.

His 2008 Mustang carries a 358-inch Ford engine built by Roush-Yates
and weighs in the neighborhood of 3,300 pounds. That’s about 100 pounds
lighter than the factory GT model and did we mention that it covers the
quarter-mile in just a tad over nine seconds?

Aussie Top Doorslammer racer John Zappia had a very eventful meeting at the ANDRA Pro Series Top Alcohol Championships over the
weekend,
and ended up on National television all over Australia for the wrong
reasons. After reaching the finals of the Top Doorslammer class to face
off against rival Maurice Fabietti, Zap ended up putting the Striker
Monaro into the concrete wall in a spectacular crash.

"I am counting my blessings at the moment" said a relieved John Zappia,
still at the Willowbank track packing up. "I thought it was going to be
worse than what happened when I was facing the wall ahead at 100 miles
per hour. Fortunately the car was at an angle and on two wheels, so it
was a glancing blow and rode the wall without going over. My body is ok
with no damage apart from some minor pain, and that is the main thing -
I will be back next meeting ready to fight back".

R2B2 Racing is saddened at the loss of teammate and friend Bobby Monacelli who passed away at work this morning after suffering cardiac
arrest. His father, Clem Monacelli, his sister Mary Beth, and his
nephews, Nicholas and Timothy survive the 48-year-old who had recently
relocated to Duluth, Ga. to work with the R2B2 Racing team. Bobby
joined the team in November of last year and worked on both Roger
Burgess and Melanie Troxel's Pro Mods after most recently having worked
with Pro Mod driver Ed Hoover.