Racing by nature, is inherently dangerous.

Bubba Stanton experienced the danger firsthand Friday during the first round of Pro Extreme qualifying at the American Drag Racing League’s Hardee’s Independence Drags IV at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan.

Blake Housley and crew will surely be among the emotional favorites this weekend (July 2-3), at Heartland Park Topeka as they return to ADRL Pro Nitrous action from a two-month layoff following the death of team co-owner Mike Walker.

In a freak pit-side accident, Walker was struck and killed by an errant nitrous bottle during the ADRL event in April at South Georgia Motorsports Park, near Valdosta.

“We sat down as a family and talked it over and said we wouldn’t come back until we had regained confidence,” said Housley, who dates Walker’s daughter, Sara, and continues to own the team with her stepmother, Melanie.

Back in 1967, Ben Wenzel Sr. had a crowning moment as an NHRA competitor.

Wenzel won the B Stock Eliminator class at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

“That was as good as it gets,” Wenzel said of his Indy victory.

Fast-forward 43 years and Wenzel returned to the NHRA national event winner’s circle when he captured the Stock Eliminator crown at the Fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, last Sunday.

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It’s time to rally the troops.

One of our own is up for an ESPY award and this time we feel the best motorsport in the world should be properly recognized. Not to take anything away from the other forms of motorsports, but we know what is required in drag racing and while the drivers representing the other forms of auto racing might not say it, many of their fans feel there is no skill needed to go in a straight line, even if the car races at 320 miles per hour.

We all know what Tony Schumacher has accomplished in the last two seasons on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing tour and for him not to win last year was just plain wrong. Once again Tony is up for Best Driver.

After going on a championship winning spree in 2009, for the Walker Racing Group to set out in anticipation of an even better 2010 season could be considered nearly impossible. However, thus far in 2010 the team looks to be on the same torrid pace.

Across both Pacific Street Car Association and West Coast Hot Rod Association Pro Street competition this season, Randy Walker and his crew have put their unmistakable nitrous-assisted ’74 El Camino in four final rounds, taking three consecutive wins in those finals and setting career bests in elapsed time and speed.

Walker says the team knew they couldn’t rest on their laurels after their unprecedented season last year and went to work upgrading their operation wherever possible.

Honing your starting line skills has never been easier thanks to the brand-new JEGS Perfect Start iPhone application, which is
free to download and use.

The two-car jet dragster team of Mark Stevens and David Douthit will return to Bandimere Speedway on Saturday July 3rd for the Jet Car Nationals presented by Big-O Tires.

“We are super excited to able to perform in front of our friends, family, and sponsors,” said Mark Stevens.

The team based out of Denver, Co., look forward to racing at their home track dubbed “Thunder Mountain.”

Matco Tools, a manufacturer and distributor of quality professional automotive equipment, tools and toolboxes, hosted its inaugural Matco Tools Charity Car Show on June 22 at Matco's headquarters in Stow, Ohio. The event raised $4,500 for Akron-based Haven of Rest Ministries and was highlighted by 24-time winner Antron Brown and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster.
 
The charity car show was the brainchild of Matco Tools district managers Bruce Barber and Don Welch and featured 131 muscle and classic cars. The highlight of the event was the appearance of Brown, the only driver in NHRA history to win races and lead the standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and his Matco Tools dragster. Patrons were wowed when Brown, crew chief Brian Corradi, of Medina, Ohio, and the Matco Tools pit crew started the race car.

Race fans will meet top stars from the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and enjoy a night of poker, great food and fun at the 4th annual Burnout Bash party on Wednesday, July 14, at the legendary Fior d’Italia Restaurant in San Francisco.

Burnout Bash, the official fan kickoff party for the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, July 16-18, will be headlined by a Texas Hold ‘Em Charity Poker Tournament, hosted by River Rock Casino.

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer (GEICO Suzuki), as well as Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas (GEICO/Lucas Oil) and Shawn Langdon (Lucas Oil/Speedco) and Funny Car driver Melanie Troxel (In-N-Out Burger) will take their seats for poker. Paul Tonelli, from the popular morning-show duo of Lamont & Tonelli on 107.7 FM The Bone in San Francisco, will complete the poker table. Tonelli won the poker tournament one year ago. The poker tournament is limited only to the racers and Tonelli, fans will be permitted to watch.

NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil announced the addition of new thrilling Heads-Up classes and a new schedule which will feature thrilling Saturday night eliminations.  The new classes will be the Aerospace Components 9.0 Heads-Up and Aerospace Components 9.5 Heads-Up class. Entry fees for the Aerospace Components 9.0 Class will be $75, and the Aerospace Components 9.5 Class will be $75.

Also new for the remaining events will be an action packed schedule that will feature one round of qualifying on Friday night with two more qualifying sessions taking place on Saturday during the course of the day.  Following the three rounds of qualifying it will be time for the drivers to prove what they have under the lights that will shine brightly during the course of the nights racing activity.