Two years ago, Dave Connolly accomplished a tough task when he captured his second consecutive NHRA Pro Stock victory at drag racing’s biggest race, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.

That was the Ohio native’s 20th of 21 career wins in what was his last season in Pro Stock, but he hasn’t stopped racing.  He returned to his Sportsman roots, racing and winning in Super Comp, Super Gas and Top Sportsman.

Now, with the backing of Kenny Koretsky and his Nitro Fish apparel, Connolly has an opportunity to win back-to-back events at Indianapolis again this year, only this time the races are separated by one week and will include hundreds of competitors.

With his victory in this past weekend at the NHRA Division 3 event in Bowling Green, KY, driver Bill Reichert and his Rislone Engine Treatment Top Alcohol Dragster have unofficially clinched the Division 3 title, and increased their lead in the national points chase heading into the 56th Annual MAC Tools US Nationals in Indianapolis this weekend.

Reichert, hailing from Owosso, MI, qualified second with his Rislone-backed machine, setting the stage for what would be a merciless romp through the rounds en route to the finals.  “We settled right in at Beech Bend Raceway Park,” said Reichert.  “It was hot and muggy all weekend, and typically when that’s the case the track will tend to go away.  But Beech Bend’s track crew was absolutely on it all weekend long, and gave us a great track to put on a show for the fans.”

Team owner and driver Morgan Lucas announced Tuesday that tuning consultant Rob Wendland has been released from his two-car team, which is based in Brownsburg, Ind.

"We appreciate Rob's efforts and hope he gets another gig right away," Lucas said. "This was simply a matter of our tune-up not matching what Rob is used to doing. It was a bad fit for him and as much as we tried to make it work, it just didn't. There's no hard feelings at all and I have nothing but respect for Rob. I wish him well."

Type the name “Kurt Johnson” into Google and you’ll get 3,780,000 hits, so if you think this story is about KJ the Pro Stock racer, think again.  It’s about Kurt Johnson the NHRA guy – and a lot more.  It’s about O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis and the future.

You don’t know the Kurt Johnson this story is about.  You may have seen his face in the background at the finish line during an ESPN2 Gary Gerould interview with a winner.  You may have caught a glimpse of him as he helped push a Funny Car out of the way so there’d be room for the coming Top Fuel cars.  You might have even seen him scraping the track with the Safety Safari.  Or you might have never seen him at all – but the management team at NHRA headquarters in Glendora has not only “seen” him, they’ve noted his professionalism and dedication to drag racing.  They like what they’ve seen.

Veteran nitro pilot Tommy Johnson Jr. has been without a full-time driving gig since the end of the 2008 season, when he drove the Monster Energy Drink-backed Funny Car for Kenny Bernstein, but he certainly isn't giving anyone a chance to forget him.

In fact, the 10-time national event winner (2 Top Fuel, 7 Funny Car, and 1 Top Alcohol Funny Car), currently employed by Don Schumacher Racing as one of two exhibition fuel drivers on the Abu Dhabi-based Yas Marina team (Rod Fuller, employed by Yas Marina Circuit, is the other), has been in attendance at all but two Full Throttle Series event this season.

"I got back from Abu Dhabi the Wednesday before the first Charlotte race this year," said Johnson. "I did some laundry – since I'd been gone for 17 days – then jumped in my car and took off to go to Charlotte. I've been helping the [DSR] team in any aspect I can, from working in hospitality to cleaning parts and helping the drivers or teams with their strategies. Probably the most important thing I've been doing is standing on the starting line. I'm not just standing there watching the races; I'm learning and trying to better myself for when the opportunity arises to drive again."

With nine victories in nine final round appearances, Larry Dixon’s regular season performance in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series was extremely impressive.

Because of his stout run in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster during the first 17 races of the season, the two-time world champion must be feeling a sense of anticipation as he heads into the upcoming six playoff races as the top seed and category-favorite.

Despite all those who may tell Dixon that he’s got world championship No. 3 locked up, he knows better. Last year he finished second by two points to arch-rival Tony Schumacher. This season he’s not guaranteeing anything, despite the strong regular season. He knows his Al-Anabi team led by team manager Alan Johnson and crew chief Jason McCulloch will need to work hard during the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship to close the deal.

Searching for a quicker way to get Funny Car star Melanie Troxel down the drag strip, R2B2 Racing team owner Roger Burgess has enlisted the help of respected crew chief Richard Hogan to assist tuner Lance Larsen with Troxel's In-N-Out Burger Dodge Charger R/T. Hogan already has joined the team and will be on hand at this weekend's 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.

The team, which has run in all the markets where In-N-Out Burger has restaurants, as well as a few other select races, has struggled to find a rhythm in its nine national event appearances this year. Although they've successfully qualified for every field, they only have two elimination-round wins to their credit.

"The best car I've ever driven in the NHRA nitro ranks was the dragster Richard tuned in 2005 and 2006," said Troxel, one of only 14 racers in history and the only female with wins in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. "We went to six final rounds in a row, earned a couple of wins, and set a few NHRA records back then and it was an exciting time. When Richard gets onto a tune-up, he knows how to keep the car running strong.

For some car enthusiasts, it is Mopar or no car. For those people, the September 3-5 Mopar Thunder at Bristol Dragway is the perfect opportunity to see their favorite rides in action.

Several racing classes will give drivers the chance to race their Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler or other Mopar-badged vehicles on one of drag racing’s premier tracks. Racing action includes Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Slant 6.

A number of General Lees, possibly the most famous Mopar, will be on hand for fans to see. Additionally, fans will be able to take rides around the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” in the famous Dodge Charger.

In the final results from Beech Bend Raceway Park and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., and Brent Henry, Breckenridge, Colo., took home the wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car respectively in the final race of the division. Reichert and Henry both currently sit in the number one position in the respective classes.

Reichert, worked his way through the field and ran 5.425 seconds at 259.36 mph in his final round victory over Richard Putz, Earlville, Iowa.

Henry qualified No. 2 and faced off against the No. 1 qualifier Ray Drew, Hales Corner, Wis., posting a winning run of 5.707 seconds, 256.21 mph in his '09 Charger.  Drew drove to a 5.693 second, 241.02 mph lap for his runner up finish.