Judy Lilly raced for years in the NHRA's Super Stock division with her
Mighty Miss Mopar entries. This rare classic video was shot at the 1978
NHRA SportsNationals in Bowling Green, Ky. This Diamond P video also
provides an insightful interview. It also features her third round race
as well.

The spirit is willing; all he needs is a little race day cooperation.

That’s the scenario Larry Dixon, driver of the Alan Johnson/Al-Anabi,
faces headed into this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd,
Minn.

Dixon is one of four Top Fuel drivers who have already clinched a spot
in the NHRA’s Countdown-to-1 playoffs and currently ranks third in the
point standings.

If you thought Mike Ashley Racing winning the famed Western Swing would leave the team complacent, better think again.

A brief vacation from racing has only served as a great motivator for driver Antron Brown and crew chief Brian Corradi.

"I can't wait to get back to Brainerd,” said Brown, the 23-time NHRA
national event winner. “We've had a lot of success at B.I.R. over the
years and coming off our great run at the Western Swing, you really
want to keep racing. This two-week break was great to relax and get
caught up after the Swing, but we're ready to race with the MAR Matco
Tools team.”

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.