Shawn Gann’s misfortune provided an excellent opportunity for
aspiring Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie McBride. Gann was injured in
a non-racing pit bike accident where he suffered a cracked skull and
three blood clots on his spine.

The doctor’s prognosis will enable him to return following Sonoma. Until then, McBride is on the job.

Female
superstar Top Fuel pilot Melanie Troxel won her first race of the 2007
season and the third of her career Sunday at the 11th annual O'Reilly
NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis.
Troxel outlasted veteran Cory McClenathan, 4.741 to 5.355, in the money
round to become just the second female winner in track history.

Ron Capps extended his lead in the POWERade Funny Car points to 121
with his third victory of the year, this one over Del Worsham. Dave
Connolly topped teammate Jeg Coughlin by .016 seconds to move into
second place overall in Pro Stock, while Matt Smith used a stunning
national record elapsed time of 6.901 seconds to earn the Pro stock
Motorcycle hardware over three-time Gateway winner Angelle Sampey.

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following
the 11th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at
Gateway International Raceway, the seventh of 23 events in the NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series -

Final round-by-round results from the 11th annual O'Reilly NHRA
Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International
Raceway, the seventh of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series:

Sunday's final results from the 11th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest
Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway. The
race is the seventh of 23 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

Pilcher Back on Top in Pro Nitrous; Baker, Hill, and Drake Score First Wins

It took more than two years, but Johnny Pilcher can finally say that he is back on top of the Pro Nitrous ranks.
 
In
a rematch of the first Pro Nitrous final round in Flowmaster American
Drag Racing history, Pilcher edged Rickie Smith, 4.029 to4.045,
Saturday night in the final of the Camp Motorsport ADRL Georgia Drags
to claim his first ADRL event title since he beat Smith in February of
2005 for the Pro Nitrous title in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Georgia Drags
win also vaulted Pilcher to the top spot of the AlphaTrade Battle for
the Belts points standings.

Victor
Terenzio Racing (Frank Schuster driver) crewmember Scotty MacIlvane succumbed
to injuries sustained in a return road accident during Friday qualifying at the
NHRA LODRS event at Richmond,
Virginia. Macllvane fell from the
team’s tow vehicle.

MacIlvane
is survived by a wife and three children.  Work is underway to start a
memorial fund for his family.

TRACK RECORDS FALL AFTER QUALIFYING RESUMES AT GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

"Hot Rod" Fuller wants to break a perplexing streak Sunday when he
attempts to win his first elimination round out of the No. 1 qualifying
position, a slot he's earned four times in his brief career, including
this weekend's 11th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by
Castrol at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis.

With two of four professional time trials lost to rain, there was a
premium on Saturday's final two qualifying runs and Fuller, Funny Car
leader Mike Ashley, Pro Stock dominator Greg Anderson, and Pro Stock
Motorcycle hot shot Matt Smith all managed to rise to the occasion.

Sporting Fabick Caterpillar livery this weekend, Fuller is the No. 1
qualifier in Top Fuel for the second race in a row after zipping to a
4.596 at 313.37 mph. Fuller gains two points on No. 3 qualifier Brandon
Bernstein, who passed him in the rankings by 19 markers with his second
straight win in Atlanta last weekend.

“We've talked about getting past this deal where we qualify No. 1 and
then lose in Round 1,” Fuller said. “When you're No. 1 it means you
have lane choice and it means you're running
the guy that's had the hardest time getting down the track. Instead of
burying everyone, maybe we should just back it down enough to make sure
we get down the track.”

“This shouldn't be shock to anyone” - Andy
Carrier

Despite what’s been reported on another web site,
while the Carrier Brothers, Andy and Mark, have agreed in principle to sell
their Top Fuel team to Scott Griffin, the purchase is not final.

“Contrary to reports, this is not a done deal,”
Griffin told Torco’s Competitionplus.com this afternoon. “Those details are not
going to be resolved this week. We have agreed to the initial terms. Out of
respect for those involved, we aren’t going to rush with a formal announcement.
We will be communicating heavily (with those involved in the
purchase).”

Griffin purchased one-third of the Carrier Boys
operation earlier this season after making the decision to park his own Top Fuel
car, which was formerly driven by Andrew Cowin and had been slated for Scott
Weis to drive in 2007. Due to a number of problems the team never made it out
this season.

“I
approached Mark and Andy earlier in the week as to whether there would be any
interest on their behalf of selling the remaining shares,” Griffin said. “At
this time we have reached terms on an agreement, although there are some details
that still need to be determined.”