Perth-based drag racer, Robin Judd, is determined to take an early lead in the Top Doorslammer championship when the 2009/2010 ANDRA Pro Series starts at Willowbank Raceway near Ipswich, Qld, on August 8 and 9.

Judd, who was runner-up in the championship series last season, is keen
to win the opening Doorslammer round at the Blown Alcohol Championship
at Willowbank to deny defending and back-to-back champion John Zappia
from winning a record seven consecutive Doorslammer championship series
events.

Looking for an extreme sport? Try visiting the Aug. 8-9 Rush Racing
Products AHDRA Thunder in the Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. 

Watching the AHDRA professional riders muscle their two-wheel missiles
through Thunder Valley at speeds in excess of 220 mph will remind
everyone that this sport is not for the faint of heart.

With the walls of Thunder Valley intensifying the famous
Harley-Davidson rumble, Bristol Dragway provides the perfect atmosphere
for this event, one of the most highly-anticipated and well-attended
events of the AHDRA series.

For several weeks now, residents of Boys and Girls Town of Missouri
have been earning the opportunity to attend the ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags II at Gateway International Raceway, just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis.

“We’re excited about being able to offer this outing to the children in
our care,” said Vince Hillyer, president of Boys and Girls Town of
Missouri, a nationally accredited non-profit organization that offers
housing and treatment for troubled youth from all across the country.
“We really appreciate everything the National Guard ADRL is doing to
welcome us to what sounds like a fantastic event.”

Tony Schumacher, six-time NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel champion, will be Newsmaker of the Week on The Race Reporters radio show, Wednesday, August 5, 7 p.m. EDT, on www.PowerUpChannel.com .

Schumacher, who drives the U.S. Army dragster, is NHRA’s all-time Top
Fuel class victory leader. After five consecutive titles with crew
chief Alan Johnson, who left to operate his own team, Schumacher this
season is working with a new crew chief and mechanics. Currently second
in points, with three wins, Schumacher will talk about that and other
NHRA issues of the day.

Rinnai, the world's leader in Tankless Water Heaters, will once again
join forces with Bob Gilbertson's Nitro Funny Car team for the 2nd Annual Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway on September 17-20, 2009.

"I'm very pleased that the fine folks from Rinnai had a great response
from their first foray in drag racing with our team at last years
Carolinas Nationals," Gilbertson said.  "All of their guests, employees
and customers got a chance to get a close-up look at what it takes to
go 300 mph and I'm looking forward to getting back on track with Rinnai
on the flanks of my race car at my home town race."

The phrase "Drive One" resonates much louder today in the corporate
offices of NHRA as it was announced that the world’s largest
motorsports sanctioning body has signed a multi-year agreement with
Ford Motor Company, designating the legendary automaker as the
"Official Car and Truck of the NHRA."

NHRA will be transitioning all official vehicles to the renowned blue
oval. As Official Car and Truck of the NHRA, Ford will provide support
vehicles for NHRA trackside, including the NHRA Safety Safari presented
by Automobile Club of Southern California, to allow them to perform
their important trackside duties.

The Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame will induct nine new members later this month.

The Class of 2009 for the KMHOF will include Don Bowles, Army
Armstrong, Joe Williamson, Randy Walls, Bob Nowicke, Harry Hyde, David
& Charles Garvin and F. William Swope.

IHRA Pro Stock racer John Montecalvo has found a new home.

Montecalvo, of Center Moriches, N.Y., scored his second consecutive
final round appearance at the IHRA Northern Nationals in Martin, Mi.,
on Sunday. He’s been in three finals thus far in 2009.

The good fortune has elevated his team to second in the championship
point standings in one of the tightest battles in the history of the
class.

Montecalvo’s latest showing wasn’t without adversity as he and the crew
battled the car the entire weekend, changing motors twice along with
many other parts on the car.

When you are the head of a major racing operation and a driver as well, the pressure can sometimes be a bit overwhelming.

Especially in your first year on the job.

But whatever you do, don’t tell Richard Freeman that.

Despite being in his first year at the helm of the three-car Elite
Motorsports Pro Stock operation, Freeman and his team haven’t had the
typical bugs associated with a first year operation.

In fact, through six races this season, the Elite Motorsports bunch are
first, fifth and seventh in points, with Freeman and points leader
Frank Gugliotta right in the thick of the championship hunt.