Most of the formative years of the Pro Modified division took place east of the Mississippi in the United States. That’s not to say there wasn’t some Pro Modified in the western United States. But when it came to the main stage for the most volatile doorslammers, the show rarely drifted beyond Texas. 

The NHRA will bring Pro Modified to the furthest west this weekend as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, presented by LearnEV+, will make its first trip to Firebird Motorsports Park as part of the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.

There are 20 entries that have made the trek to the facility located just outside of Phoenix. This weekend’s event is powered by LAT Racing Oils, which works with several teams in the NHRA Pro Mod category. 

If there's one thing for certain, Jim Dunn Racing knows how to bring in the drag racing sponsorships. This weekend at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, the JDR Funny Car, piloted by Buddy Hull, will sport the branding of USD, an authorized full line distributor of ACDelco (General Motors), Motorcraft (Ford) and Mopar (Chrysler) original equipment auto parts and accessories. 

“We have had a longstanding relationship with USD and this race is in their backyard,” said Jon Dunn, with Jim Dunn Racing. “We are thrilled NHRA is returning to Firebird Motorsports Park and having the support of USD on our Funny Car will make this a special weekend. Buddy has been doing a great job behind the wheel and the competition is very tough out here. We are looking forward to an exciting weekend.”

Hull, a high-energy driver and ambassador for all the JDR sponsors, loves the idea of representing new companies at every race.

Six years has been an incredible ride. At least, this is how Funny Car/Fuel Altered racer Allan Middendorf sees it. 

But today, Middendorf is ready to put it all on the shelf to pursue other opportunities. He's got a new unnamed challenge ahead of him, and this will require the self-made entrepreneur out of Columbia, Illinois, to narrow his focus. 

“Jake Sanders of Snake Enterprises was a huge part of my success,” said Middendorf. “Jake’s knowledge and experience is what made this team highly competitive. Without him, there is no way I could have achieved what I did. You add in the support we received from Vinyl Images and Torco and this dream I chased wouldn’t have been possible. We made a lot of history, and I can’t thank all our supporters enough.”

GALOT Motorsports Park in North Carolina will kick off its 11th Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season with the East Coast Nationals at Galot Motorsports Park this weekend. 

All 12 categories of the PDRA will participate in the East Coast Nationals, including professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster divisions. Teams will have two days for testing before entering Friday’s qualifying rounds and Saturday’s eliminations. The competition promises to be fierce across the board.

Apparently NHRA isn't so rigid after all. 

Taking a page from the Professional Racers Organization's PRO Superstar Shootout, the NHRA will host a two day event, the Virginia NHRA Nationals, where professional teams will have one day of qualifying and one for eliminations. The event will now begin on Saturday, June 22. 

If you like nitro, Harley-Davidsons, jambalaya, and a relaxed cajun atmosphere, there’s no problem having a good time at No Problem Raceway this weekend. 

The AMRA will be bringing its PennGrade1 Cajun Nitro Nationals into town. For the first time, the event will feature a 16-bike Top Fuel Harley field thanks to the support of Top Fuel Harley legend Johnny Mancuso and his Circle M Ranch and Dove Fuels. 

Plenty of eyes will water for no other reason than nitro fumes in the air, and as many as 30 bikes could be making the trip to compete. 

To the drag racing world, Walter Bullard was just one person. But to us at CompetitionPlus.com, Walter Bullard meant the world. 

Walter, 64, passed away on March 12, after a brave battle with cancer. 

Walter was a longtime reader of CompetitionPlus.com, and actually ran into us for the first time at an Australian drag race. The Seattle, Washington, native had made his way from Dubai, where he was on a work assignment, to Brisbane, Australia, for the ANDRA Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

Harry Schimdt created the first Blue Max Funny Car in 1970. Raymond Beadle purchased the brand, making it a world champion and household name. Ronny Young has made it his life's mission to ensure that it is never forgotten. 

It's been almost 55 years since the Blue Max Funny Car branding debuted on a Funny Car, then owned by Harry Schmidt. 

Young's mission of preservation began around 2003 with Beadle's blessings. 

Quain Stott doesn't mince words when talking about how Pro Modified has changed since he stepped away in 2009. The longtime doorslammer racer who won a championship in 2006 and finished in the IHRA's Top Ten points 14 consecutive times considers those who pilot these cars to be riders, not drivers. 

Pretty soon, Stott smiles and admits he will become one of them.

Stott jokingly laughs and admits he will be a rider in a Pro Modified car for the first time since he last drove a clutch-equipped Pro Modified. He will be behind the wheel of the Troy Bostick blown '57 Chevy in Jacksonville, Fla.

Just six weeks ago, Jeff Arend wasn’t planning on racing or driving any type of Funny Car.

Then, the veteran NHRA driver had an unexpected change of plans in a good way.

“Matt Bynum, who is Del Worsham’s car chief (on Alexis DeJoria’s Funny Car), called up and asked if I wanted to drive his Nostalgia car at the March Meet (in Bakersfield, Calif.), and of course I said, ‘Yes.’ Matt and I have known each other for a long time, and he has helped me out lots over the years,” Arend said. “In the three years they've owned that car, I'm not even sure that it actually even made it to the finish line under power.