It takes a lot more than the quickest pass in nitrous doorslammer history to get Jim Halsey excited.

Halsey, of Street, Md., was all business on Friday afternoon following his 3.859-second pass at 195.48 miles per hour during the first qualifying session at the ADRL Len-Mar World Finals.

NHRA’s South Central division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will close out the 2009 season at the Thunder in the Heartland event at Thunder Valley Raceway Park this weekend.  The race is the last of six in the division and it could mean division titles are wrapped up in some categories on Sunday.  Top qualifiers include Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Richard Putz of Earlville, Iowa, and Steve Harker, Gainesville, Ga., in Top Alcohol Funny Car.

In Top Alcohol Dragster, Putz laid down a 5.455 second, 262.00 mph lap to take the top qualifying position. The West Central division racer has one win on the year and is looking to improve on his No.2 overall standing.  Harker posted a 5.742 second lap at 241.02 mph to take the pole in Top Alcohol Funny Car.  The reining division champ currently holds the lead in the class, yet Kebin Kinsley is within striking distance of the title.

Jim Daniels left no doubt he is once again the driver to beat at the 2009 Mopar® HEMI^® Challenge Race Series Dutch Classic event at Maple Grove Raceway, after setting a Super Stock/A-HEMI National Record to lead qualifying heading into Saturday’s scheduled eliminations.

The Bristol, Pa., dentist qualified at the top of the Dutch Classic field in his Ray Barton-built 1968 HEMI Dodge Dart with a record run of 8.331 seconds at 157.96 mph on his first pass Thursday, bettering the 8.38/157.08 mark set by Charlie Westcott Jr. of Parma, Mich. at this event in 2008. Daniels, who also led qualifying for last month’s Columbus, Ohio event, backed up the record with an 8.37-second pass later in the day.

A passing shower at just the right moment has put a halt to Friday’s opening day of competition at the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway just moments from the beginning of the evening session.

Despite the delays point leaders Kenny Lang (Pro Modified) and John Montecalvo (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock) both took advantage of their single passes on Friday with chart topping laps in their respective divisions.

The Awesome Al-Anabi Pro Modified team put four teams into Friday’s ADRL Battle for the Belts competition at the ADRL World Finals but only three will compete this weekend.

Shannon Jenkins, crew chief and tuner for the organization, and driver of the fourth car, didn’t travel this weekend to Texas, electing to remain home after the death of his father, Gaylon, who passed away from unexpected complications following routine surgery.

Mike Castellana, Jenkins’ longtime teammate, believes that while Jenkins is noted for his tuning prowess, he deserves recognition for his planning and organizing of a team that could operated so efficiently in his absence.

It's funny how a single incident, or two, can alter the course of an entire life.

For whatever reason, 14-car Funny Car Champion John Force, didn't change much following the tragic loss of Eric Medlen. Instead of slowing down in one area, Force simply squeezed in another priority – safety. After his own horrific crash in Dallas, Force re-evaluated not only his racing but his entire life.

After Medlen died, Force's focus on winning never changed, but suddenly safety was almost as important. After all, Force is not just a driver. He is a car owner with the lives of three other drivers in his hands, and one of those, his daughter Ashley, is more precious than just about anything in his life.

Revell, Inc. and the NHRA announced today that Revell will be introducing nostalgic drag racing model kits in the very near future bearing the NHRA logo.

Revell in the early 1970s started out as a major player in drag racing sponsorships and worked hand-in-hand with the NHRA, and introduced many Funny Cars, Top Fuel dragsters, Pro stockers, and more bearing some of the most well-known names in the history of drag racing.

From Greensboro down to Charlotte and everywhere in between the International Hot Rod Association is abuzz throughout the Carolinas as the IHRA World Finals roll into Rockingham, N.C. this weekend for the final race of the 2009 season Oct. 23-25 at Rockingham Dragway.

Besides being near his suburban Philadelphia home, Jim Daniels has many reasons to love competing at Maple Grove Raceway.
 
During time trials for the Pennsylvania Dutch Classic Thursday, Daniels set a tentative national NHRA Super Stock/A HEMI elapsed time record in his 1968 Dodge Dart with a pass of 8.33 seconds at 157.96 mph on his first run of the day. He then backed it up later in the afternoon with a run of 8.379 at 157.48.
 
The previous mark was 8.38 at 157.08 set by Charlie Westcott Jr. at last year’s Dutch Classic.
 
The record should officially be certified after this weekend’s HEMI Challenge at The Dutch. Once the record is official, Daniels will win $2,500 in awards, including $2,000 from Penske Truck Leasing.
 

Rhonda Hartman-Smith is returning to her Top Fuel roots this weekend at the IHRA World Finals held at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, NC. Marking her first appearance behind the wheel of a Top Fuel Dragster in IHRA since the 2006 season, Hartman-Smith will be piloting one of three Top Fuel entries by team owner, Mitch King with support from Bexar Waste and La King’s Confectionary.