Drag
racing is officially underway at what could be the finest drag strip ever
built, the zMax Dragway at Concorde, located outside of Charlotte. Time
trials were scheduled for 8:30 AM, but heavy mist pushed the start to
10 AM.

Stock eliminator racers Robert Summer [far lane] and Dick Kincaid launch in competition during the first session. 

For the trivia buffs, the first oil on the racing surface transpired at 10:15.

MBE Cylinder Heads to Host Open House September 11 to Kick Off Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals

Bring
your appetite for great food and big horsepower September 11 as MBE
Cylinder Heads hosts an open house at their 5000+ square foot facility
in Mooresville, NC. The event precedes the Inaugural NHRA Carolinas
Nationals at Z-Max Dragway located just minutes away in Concord, NC.

NASCAR
team owner and former drag racer Jack Roush, shown here celebrating a
team victory in Dover 2007, said 14-time NHRA champion John Force has
been an inspiration. (NASCAR/Getty Images)

Jack Roush is
far removed from his days of campaigning the Gapp & Roush Pro
Stocker. That doesn’t mean that he hasn’t watched drag racing develop
over the years.

He’s watched the development of 14-time champion John Force into a drag racing legend.

“I started in drag racing – I’m pretty much a generation older than
John,” admitted Roush. “I started drag racing back in the sixties and
spent a decade drag racing, which really formed the foundation of my
motorsport knowledge and my judgment as it related to sponsorships and
race teams and things. I’d like to think that if I’d stayed in drag
racing and grown up, I’d have been able to survive in John Force’s
shadow. John has certainly been an inspiration to me by maintaining the
continuity of his effort for all the decades and all the championships
he’s won. He’s been a great supporter and a great advocate for all the
sponsors, including Ford, and I still enjoy keeping track of what John
is doing.”

If there was any speculation that Ford’s new guy might not be a drag
racing gear-head, that notion was dispelled during the recent Ford
Motorsports teleconference.

Brian Wolfe, the newly promoter Ford Racing Technology director, touted
John Force as directing all four of his Mustang Funny Cars into the
Countdown to the Championship’s playoff phase.

For Wolfe, the timing is perfect as he enters his new role with his
prominent teams positioned prominently in both NHRA drag racing and
NASCAR’s championship battles.

Timeline for reimbursement provides major sticking point

Maybe the fight isn’t totally over.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith accused Concord, N.C., and
Cabarrus County officials early this week of not dealing in good faith
by alleging that someone is trying to negate his $80 million incentives
deal that inspired him to remain in his current locations.

Smith claims the money is owed within two to three years. The county contends 40-years provides more realistic terms.

As a result, Smith’s lawyers are exploring the reportedly reality of fraud charges.

Historically, the National Hot Rod Association has only approved
powertrains for competition as they come from the factories in Detroit,
but all that changed with the recent approval of the 2008 ROUSH®
supercharged 4.6L V-8 in the Stage 3™ and P-51A™ Mustangs. It is
believed that this is the first time the NHRA has approved an
aftermarket powertrain for competition.

The ROUSH Mustangs will be allowed in the NHRA Stock and Super Stock
categories as determined by the horsepower and shipping weight of the
two vehicles. Coupe or convertible chassis will be allowed with a
horsepower of 430 for the Stage 3 and 510 for the P-51A. The shipping
weight of the ROUSH coupes is 3316 pounds, while a convertible weighs
in at 3443 pounds.

On Tuesday morning, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported Chemical Bank had
filed a lawsuit against Evan Knoll’s Torco Race Fuels and that a court
appointed receiver was in the process of liquidating its assets.

A day before the damning article, Reuter’s news agency reported that
Chemical Financial Corp (CHFC.O) incurred a Q3 charge on loan fraud.
Shareholders will incur a charge of 30 cents per share in the third
quarter, as Reuters said, due to a fraudulent commercial loan related
to a single borrower.

Respected Time Magazine journalist Mark Halperin provided pool coverage
of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s visit to the Ellis
Soda Shoppe & Grill in Abington, Virginia today.  His report
appeared on the publication’s “The Page” online outlet.  What made
Obama’s visit noteworthy for CompetitionPlus.com was his unplanned
meeting with drag racing legend Don “Big Daddy” Garlits who, along with
his wife, Pat, was simply visiting the area and did not know of Obama’s
being there in advance.
 

Organizers of the JEGS ProMod Challenge have announced a rare
opportunity for three Pro Modified racers to compete at the upcoming
23rd annual O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals, Sept.
18-21 at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. Interested drivers should
e-mail their intentions to JegsProMod@earthlink.net as soon as possible
to be considered for the coveted spots.

"We're looking for three racers to join us," series organizer Troy
Coughlin said. "We've had a few of our regulars pull out for various
reasons so we've got a few open slots. We'd love to see some fresh
faces come out and race with us at one of the best drag strips in the
country."

Former distributor with former employees purchases company name from Torco International …

The Torco Race Fuels name will return to drag racing under different
management according to a statement issued on Tuesday evening.

Phoenix Race Fuels, a former Evan Knoll Torco Race Fuels distributor
based in Chandler, Az., has purchased rights to use the name through a
multi-year agreement with Torco International.

Their focus will be the automotive, motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, and watercraft markets.