Don Ness prefers a low profile when he’s making his way through the race track. He prefers to let the cars he has in competition get all the accolades

Ness has a lot going on in his shop, probably too much to be at the track, but he’s intent that customer relations and the interaction holds a high degree of importance. He’s got a couple of key projects on the jig such as a second Outlaw 10.5-inch tire car for Johnny Gray and a new Pro Stocker for Larry Morgan. In fact, he’s building six cars simultaneously.

The fast-pace of today’s Pro Stock world still impresses him after all these years. He comes to the races to keep up on the rapid progression of the class within the trenches.

NHRA has announced that O’Reilly Auto Parts has
agreed to a multiyear extension to be the title-rights sponsor of the
O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka through 2010.
O’Reilly Auto Parts has maintained the title-rights sponsorship of the
event since 2002.

"O’Reilly Auto Parts is extremely excited to have the
opportunity to continue our long-term association with NHRA and
Heartland Park Topeka," said Doug Ruble, vice president of marketing
and advertising for O’Reilly Auto Parts. "Our relationship with NHRA
has grown significantly over the years, and we welcome the opportunity
to continue this great relationship and enable our customers to the
amazing experience and excitement of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing."

Few would argue O’Reilly Auto Parts’ deep commitment
to NHRA. In addition to the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, the
auto-parts giant maintains title-rights sponsorship of five NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing series events, in Houston, St. Louis, Bristol,
Memphis, and Dallas. Recently, O’Reilly Auto Parts signed a long-term
naming rights deal to historic O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis,
home to the largest drag racing event in the world, the Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals. O’Reilly also is the series sponsor of the successful
O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League, an NHRA series for youths
ages 8 to 17.

Tommy Delago knew there was going to be a period of transition when he
accepted the role as new crew chief for the Jack Beckman MTS Funny Car
team.

“It's definitely different,” admitted Delago, who tuned for Bob
Gilbertson last year. “I've been on big teams before but nothing I
guess this nice and this organized with a really good structure.  It's
a good opportunity to learn.”

Delago is quickly discovering the upside to having five other
nitro-burning teammates. Assistance is not far away if he needs it.

A
drought ended in the Arizona desert and not one drop of rain fell. The
drought we speak of was the one that has plagued Larry Dixon for 13
years at Firebird International Raceway.

“There are places that I've been racing longer and still haven't gotten
a win,” admitted Dixon. “I always enjoy coming here - especially with
Charlie Allen running the track.”

The mere mention of Allen’s name is enough to carry Dixon on a journey
down memory lane to his childhood when he accompanied his father, Larry
Dixon, Sr., a former Top Fuel driver to the racetrack.

There’s no better elixir for an ill drag racer than winning. Battling
the effects of the flu bug, Jack Beckman, driver of the Mail Terminal
Services/Valvoline Dodge Charger drove his way to the winner’s circle
by stopping a tire-smoking Robert Hight.

One
of the largest sources of pride for Jack Beckman in this victory is his
crew who were first joined together in the pre-season.

“Every round win is huge, especially when you have the flu and you’re
staging next to Mike Neff,” said Beckman. “This whole crew has never
worked together before this season. They stood up to the challenge and
this is going to pay dividends at the end of the season.”

The Phoenix triumph marked the fourth national event victory for Beckman in
six final round appearances. The dream continues to expand for Beckman,
a cancer survivor who won a sportsman world championship and then
gained the drivers seat of a Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing.

On a day when Mopars reigned supreme, not even “Big Daddy” Don Garlits
could have beat Vieri a.k.a. V. Gaines and his Kendall-sponsored Dodge
Stratus.

With the NHRA CSK Nationals victory, Gaines upped his career national
event victory total to three out of eight final rounds. He entered the
event tied for ninth place in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock points.

”It’s been a long dry spell,” said Gaines, whose last victory came in
2001. “When I beat Greg Anderson today, it marked the first time I’d
beat him since 2001 also. When you do those kinds of things, it makes
victory bittersweet.

DIXON PICKS UP FIRST WIN OF 2008
AT SITE OF FIRST CAREER WIN; BECKMAN, GAINES ALSO WINNERS AT CHECKER SCHUCK’S
KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS

Roger Richards Photos

Larry Dixon drove his way to within one point of the Top Fuel points lead.

Returning to the site of
his first career victory, Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon raced to his first win of
the season during Sunday’s finals at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals
at Firebird International Raceway.

Jack Beckman and V Gaines
also were winners at the second NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the
2008 season.

Dixon drove his U.S. Smokeless
Tobacco dragster to a 4.532 second, 327.19 mph victory over runner-up Dave
Grubnic, to pick up his first win of the season, second at Firebird, and 42nd of
his career. The win ties him with Tony Schumacher for 9th on the NHRA all time
wins list and second overall in Top Fuel.

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories
following the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals
presented by  Castrol at Firebird International Raceway, the second of
24 events in the  NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series

Final round-by-round results from the 24th annual Checker Schuck's
Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by  Castrol at Firebird International
Raceway, the second of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series:

Mike Edwards lost in the semi-finals during the NHRA CSK Nationals but
he couldn't stop smiling. Today marked the finest hour for his
fledgling in-house engine program.

"I tell you what, it's a blessing to come out here and
(make it to the semis) this early in the season," Edwards said. "We've got a lot
of new things going on and a lot of things we don't exactly know what to do
with, but we just keep working on them and see if we can pick it up. We're not
where we want to be by any means, but it's a good day and hopefully we can build
on this and get better.