Much attention is given to the recent announcement by the Pedregon Brothers regarding their use of Toyota support vehicles. Currently their association with Chevrolet is limited to the supply of a new body for their Funny Cars. Would they love to be a part of the Toyota team? Our source close to the program says yes. Currently the Toyota program is in the hands of Alan Johnson but that's not to say the Pedregons aren't trying to get a foot in the door. An insider tells us the support vehicles program, while a small one, is just one step toward their eventual goal.

A source tells Torco's CompetitionPlus.com that Funny Car racer Ron Capps will carry Coke's Full Throttle backing during the highly-touted NEXTEL "Prelude to the Dream" late model stock car event in Eldora. The Brian Ruhlman-owned entry will appear on HBO and pay-per-view.

It will be announced soon that Rod Fuller's Top Fuel effort at the upcoming Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals will again be underwritten by Fabick CAT. This was Fuller's sponsor in St. Louis.

Yesterday on the investors conference call, the new owners of  NHRA Pro Racing made their intentions known of an expansion to five more events. What may not be public knowledge is they plan on the implementation of three more for 2008 with forays into Canada and Mexico. Let the speculation begin. UPDATE: It's a well-known fact that the NHRA has made bids in the past to gain access to the Toronto and Monterrey markets leading speculation those will be the logical choices. Of course, the New England market continues to be a hotbed of banter as well.

Earlier this year, the Quartermax team owned by Rick Jones announced the formation of a two-car team featuring drivers Frank Gugliotta and Mike Corvo, Jr. A source tells us the team will only run one car for the time being and it will be driven by Gugliotta. Corvo is said to be out of a ride for now.

Corvo was not in attendance at the IHRA event in Tulsa.

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has learned that freshman Pro Stock driver Rodger Brogdon may be force to call it quits soon with his Pro Stock operation. The former Competition eliminator standout made some waves early in his Pro Stock experience but inevitably, as a reliable source tells us, the lack of major funding combined with the downturn of the housing market for his personal business proved to be an obstacle that is forcing a review of his racing program.

A reliable source tells us
that Top Fuel driver Hot Rod Fuller is part of a group intent on bringing a
major league racing complex to Northwest Arkansas.
The potential national event facility has plans on locating close to the
corporate headquarters of Wal-mart in Bentonville,
Arkansas.

We are hearing that Victor Cagnazzi Racing will be hosting an open house this week for the upcoming NASCAR Coca-Cola 600. A source tells us that would provide the perfect opportunity to announce a new major sponsor to replace the departed Bravo Foods program. Stay tuned.

Evidently Matt Smith is not resting on his laurels from St. Louis. Neither is his sponsor. Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Evan Knoll and Smith will be adding a second bike to his potent (and recently penalized) Buell team beginning in Chicago. We are awaiting confirmation or denial from Smith and/or Knoll on the issue. Stay tuned.

We are told that veteran Top Fuel racer Rhonda Hartman-Smith will soon return to the drag racing ranks, but it won't be in a dragster. Our source tells us that she will soon take over the driving chores on a classic Dodge Charger and it will be a quick one. Recently husband John Smith took it for a test run and recorded an eighth-mile 4.03, 192.