With the three-day Goodguys Southeastern Nationals at Lowe's Motor
Speedway opening at 8 a.m. Friday, rush hour commuters traveling on
Highway 29 or Bruton Smith Boulevard can expect increased traffic
congestion in the speedway area.

During your traffic reports, please advise rush hour commuters to plan
accordingly by leaving earlier for work or taking alternate routes.

More than 3,000 cars from 30 states and Canada will be arriving at the
speedway on Friday for the three-day event. Lowe's Motor Speedway
officials recommend show attendees utilize Highways 29 and 49 to
enter/exit the speedway area and to avoid Interstate 85 during morning
and afternoon rush hours.

It was just one year ago that Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon and his Q
Horsepower Chevy Impala SS pulled up to the starting line at The Strip
at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the first day of qualifying for the ACDelco
Las Vegas NHRA Nationals and first of the final two races in the
Countdown to the Championship. Pedregon entered the race in the top
spot in the point standings, but was just a mere 10 points ahead of
second-place driver Gary Scelzi and only 30 points ahead of
fourth-place driver Ron Capps. The top four in the point standings all
had a legitimate chance at taking the points lead and possibly securing
the championship at the end of the event. Pedregon’s second-place
qualifying effort and final round win over Ashley Force kept him at the
front of the pack and strengthened his points lead to 91 over
second-place Scelzi. A first round appearance at the Automobile Club of
Southern California NHRA finals proved just enough to secure Pedregon
his second POWERade world championship and first as an owner.

Ron Capps lapped the one-third-mile oval at All American Speedway 50 times last week as he tested the NAPA-sponsored NASCAR
Late Model he will pilot in this Saturday's NASCAR Whelen All American
Series, a companion event to the NASCAR Camping World Series
championship finale in Roseville, Calif.

Driving the car owned by NCWS team owner Bill McAnally for the first
time, Capps acclimated himself to the 440-hp Late Model, which he
admits is quite different from the 7000-hp NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car he regularly wheels in the NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series. He was supported by two spotters, Late Model racer
Bennie Moon and spotter/crew chief Chris Nelle.

Top Fuel team and third Pro Stocker still up in the air …

There
has been all kinds of rumors floating about concerning Ken Black, but
the successful Las Vegas-based home builder prefers living in the world
of reality. That said, Black told CompetitionPlus.com that he has no
definitive plans for his Top Fuel operation for next season.

“I’ve heard all kinds of things floating out there including we had
signed a two-car team with well known driver and sponsor, the funny
thing is, no one ever mentioned a thing about it to me,” Black said.
“We do have some deals in the works but unless there is a signed
contract, there’s nothing.”

Black told CompetitionPlus.com that his Top Fuel team was one of at
least three in the running for the Geico deal when he was told it went
elsewhere.

Veteran driver still uncertain what 2009 will bring …

Tommy Johnson Jr. hasn’t made plans for 2009 and with good reason. He doesn’t know what they are.

Johnson, the veteran driver of Kenny Bernstein’s Monster Energy drink
flopper, was told in August that he could test the waters for a new
driving gig in case the team’s sponsor did not renew for next season.
He doesn’t have an answer as to what his plans are and neither does
team owner Bernstein.

Four-time European drag racing champion Urs Erbacher has returned to the United States
to resume competing in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Erbacher,
who ran four of the season's first races with his Fat Attack Top
Fueler, will compete at the ACDelco NHRA Las Vegas Nationals Oct. 31 –
Nov. 2 and the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals Nov.
13-16.

The
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association’s first visit to historic Beech
Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky was a colorful blend of
hot rods, vintage race cars, crisp fall weather and an enthusiastic
capacity crowd! The 1st Nostalgia Nationals proved to be a popular
first time event as over 2000 vintage rods and race cars packed the
quaint facility owned and operated by Dallas Jones and his family. The
Nostalgia Nationals served as the third and final Goodguys Vintage Drag
Race of the 2008 season.

This home movie comes from the 1981 Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga. After running it's formative years under the IHRA sanction, this was the first event with the NHRA. There are some interesting scenes such as Top Fuel Motorcycle and there's a cameo appearance from Terry Vance. You'll also see a pre-race parade and race action featuring such names as Jody Smart, Raymond Beadle, Al Segrini and the Yuill Brothers. The late John Hagen is on there as well.

When you drive well, especially in your rookie season, it draws
attention. Spencer Massey parlayed his IHRA prowess into a dream gig.

Massey was named as a driver for Don Prudhomme last week.

The recently crowned IHRA Top Fuel champion told CompetitionPlus.com
that his conversations with Prudhomme began earlier in the season when
he was approached by the drag racing icon.

It may have taken quite a bit longer than planned, but Pete Berner (Crete, Ill.) has no complaints. Berner defeated John Montecalvo
in the final round of the $100,000 IHRA Pro Stock Shootout, a program
that was originally scheduled to be completed at the North American
Nationals in Epping, N.H. last month.

Rain washed away the final round in Epping after the first two rounds
were completed. Montecalvo and Berner agreed to race for the $50,000
first prize during the season-ending IHRA World Finals at Rockingham
Dragway during the Saturday evening session. Unseasonably cool weather
caused the race to again be delayed as IHRA rescheduled it for Sunday
at the World Finals. Again, things did not work out as planned…but it
was not weather that caused another delay, it was Montecalvo.