The experience was totally different this time for John Force.

14-time
NHRA Funny Car champion John Force returned to the Texas Motorplex on
Monday via the same helicopter that transported him to Baylor
Universaity Hospital after his devastating crash. (NHRA.COM Photo)

The fourteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion took another ride in an
Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter. This time the flight was a return to the
Texas Motorplex a year after the most devastating crash of his storied
drag racing career.

Force suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, broken bones in
his hands, fingers and toes and ligament and tendon damage in his right
knee at last season’s NHRA Fallnationals.

This time Force was all healed up.

A flat tire cost Bob Frey his chance of pulling off the Concord trifecta.

The veteran announcer was en route to emcee an event at the old
Concord, N.C. drag strip, the same one in which Tommy Ivo ran his front
engine dragster off a small cliff. He never completed the trip and headed back home.

Years later, under the employ of IHRA President Larry Carrier, Frey
made the only other national event in Concord. This event was the IHRA
Southern Nationals and was contested on pit road of Charlotte Motor
Speedway.

For as long as Orlando Speed World Dragway promoter Carl Weisinger has staged his incredible World Street Nationals event, there has been a pre-event party at Hooters.

Some traditions are too good to end.

Weisinger confirmed the 16th Annual World Street Nationals pre-race
party Thursday, October 30 at Hooters on Lake Underhill will be rocking
this year.

Jerry Toliver remembers a more primitive era for drag racing. He was
there in the early days tagging along with his uncle, the legendary
Jack Chrisman.

He glances over the paved pits at ZMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., and
takes note of the large rigs and hospitality areas. Toliver remembers
when the Top Fuel cars parked in the dirt.

After showing significant signs of improvement in the past week, Pro
Modified racer Steve Engel died suddenly at 5 p.m. Sunday at Methodist
Hospital in Indianapolis. Engel was involved is a serious one-car
racing accident during the recent 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
 
Engel's Diamond Heavy Haul Corvette swerved wildly near the top end of
the track and he impacted the retaining wall head-on. He was airlifted
to Methodist Hospital where doctors discovered six broken vertebrae in
his back. Two were fixed immediately, but then excess fluid developed
in his lung doctors had to wait to fix the other four. That procedure
was done Friday and physicians were diagnosing a long but full recovery.

Steve Johnson may be winning Pro Stock Motorcycle races, back-to-back as a matter of fact, but he’s not carrying a measure of dominance.

At least that’s how he sees it.

He may win with a Suzuki in a class dominated by Harley-Davidson and V-twin Buells but that’s on account of his riding talent.

Want to set him off?

Tony Schumacher had better hope that Kyle Busch never decides to drag race. It seems the NASCAR heavy-hitter is the only one who can beat the five-time champion these days.

Before a packed house at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Charlotte, N.C., Schumacher drove his U.S. Army-sponsored
dragster to his 53rd career victory, passing the legendary Joe Amato
for the role of winningest Top Fuel driver ever.

Just days earlier Schumacher proclaimed jokingly about Busch, “I only know the guy for two hours and I already hate him.”

Speedway Motorports Inc's Chairman Bruton Smith still dodges the rumors of a possible NHRA purchase.

Bruton
Smith [left], SMI President and son Marcus Smith watch as Tom Compton
speaks during the ZMAX Dragway ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Bobby Bennett
photo)

“I’ve heard that rumor before,” Smith confirmed, with a smile on his
face. “I just say it’s a rumor and move on. I think this gentleman [Tom
Compton] is doing such a good job in running the company that I don’t
think anyone should come in and disturb it.”

When a guy named Stumpy has to tell you that you’ve won, something’s wrong.

Steve Johnson doesn’t necessarily agree.

Stumpy is the lead ESPN2 camera man in charge of filming the winners.

Johnson lost focus in the shutdown area after winning his second
consecutive NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle event at the NHRA Carolinas
Nationals, and instead of bringing his
bike to a stop; he became mesmerized with the camera crew headed his
way.

He realized he needed to stop just feet from the sand trap.

He’s Pro Stock’s most stunning example of the reluctant winner.

Justin Humphreys singles to his first career Pro Stock victory. (Roger Richards)

Justin Humphreys scored his first career Pro Stock victory in an odd scenario that would leave even the most seasoned veteran scratching his head.

As the call was issued to fire the Pro Stock final, the unthinkable happened. Kurt Johnson’s car wouldn’t fire.

In a scene reminiscent of the Keystone Cops, crews from both teams push started the car. NHRA officials ordered Johnson to shut off his car and re-fire; starting line officials instructed Humphreys to stage.