At the end of this month the most talked about Nitro Jam in the history of the series will travel to Rockingham Dragway for the annual Spring Nitro Jam May 1-2 at the track known the world over as “The Rock.” Featuring new classes, new drivers and a brand new format and one of those classes, the incredibly popular Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car class, will be at the top of the list of must-see races when the lights go down and the fire flares up next month at Rockingham Dragway.
Cody Norris Junior Staff Writer
Cody has been around motorsports his whole life - from boating all the way to off-roading and everything in between. When he decided he wanted to turn his hobby into a career, he found himself helping out in the PowerTV shop. With a thirst for knowledge, Cody turned himself into a sponge to everyone on the PowerTV crew, in hopes to gain a little something from everyone. He soon drifted into the office as a writer in order to broaden his learning capabilities, and be able to talk face to face with the great people in this industry.
Gallen thrilled about Prostalgia debut at Spring Nitro Jam
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 04/15/10
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The people at FAST have teamed up with EFI University to create a new training course on fuel injection to make getting your feet wet in fuel injection easy. The course will be specific to the setting up and tuning of the FAST XFI Fuel Injection System, and all the knowledge you need to know will be crammed into one full day. Sharpen your pencils.
As a rookie that year Massey produced an unheard of four victories and five final round appearances on his way to winning the ’08 IHRA Top Fuel championship all after earning his license just one week prior to the start of the season. Now, two years after that incredible run Massey, who has since added an NHRA Rookie of the Year award to his resume last season, returns to the track where his career took off at Rockingham Dragway for the annual Spring Nitro Jam May 1-2 at The Rock.
Isaias Rojas and the Mech-Tech Team to run the NEOPMA Season Opener at VMP May 1st
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 04/13/10
Isaias Rojas, driver of the Professional Transmission Mech Tech Cobalt ran 6.07 @ 234 MPH last year at Palm Beach International Raceway. This is the fastest Pro Mod from Puerto Rico. It was displayed at the Mech Tech Boot at the PRI show last year in Orlando, FL. Now it will be in the U.S. competing against some of the fastest nitrous Pro Mods at the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods season opener May 1st at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie Va.
Top Sportsman, Top Dragster JEGS Allstars blocker positions announced
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 04/13/10
By virtue of a special drawing, the Top Sportsman and Top Dragster blocker positions for the 2010 JEGS Allstars event will go to the NHRA Pacific Division and the NHRA Southeast Division, respectively. The two classes were added to the prestigious program at last year’s 25th Anniversary JEGS Allstars event; 2010 is the first year of competition for them. Officials held the drawing last weekend at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
World Products has just released a new engine block for Small Block Chevy applications. This cast iron small block is called the Motown II and it can be either a small block Chevy or an LS type motor depending on what components are used.
New Performance Calculator From Mr.Gasket For Bracket Racers and Engine Builders
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 04/13/10
Mr.Gasket has just released a calculator, but this is not your ordinary calculator that you find at your local Wal-Mart. The Hot Rod Calc is a street and strip performance calculator that can predict your ET’s at the track and give you engine building and performance solutions in your garage.
Red Line Oil has just released a new automatic transmission fluid for Powerglides, TH400s, Torqueflights and other racing automatics. The new Lighweight Racing ATF can help lower transmission temperatures and also gets up to the correct running temperature quickly.
SPEC Clutches and Flywheels has just released a new twin disc clutch and flywheel package out into the market. The Super Twin Clutch and Flywheel assembly is designed for the 2010 Shelby GT500 and is built to handle 700- 1500 ft lbs of torque.
Two months following a decisive victory in the championship-deciding Round 7 of the Arabian Drag Racing League series, Sheikh Khalid Al Thani is preparing for his next challenge – the American Drag Racing League’s Pro Extreme division. Al Thani, who earned three wins in his world championship-winning rookie season, will make his American debut Apr. 23-24, in the ADRL Hardee’s Georgia Drags VI at South Georgia Motorsports Park, near Valdosta, Georgia.
Ferrea Racing Components has just released their new 7” Deg. Radial Valve Locks. These locks are manufactured from 4140 chromoly bar stock and machined for correct tolerances. After these locks are heat treated, they are coated with a black oxide to get a nice finished look.
Canadian Kenny Lang, a veteran Pro Mod racer who has won his share of races and series titles in other drag racing organizations, made history in March as the first Pro Mod racer to raise a Wally – NHRA’s highly coveted national event winner’s trophy – in an NHRA winner’s circle…
Spencer Massey, last year’s top NHRA rookie as winner of the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, will make his 2010 Full Throttle debut this weekend at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park in the seat of Mitch King’s Top Fueler.
This is the 8th year Holley will be sponsoring the National Hot Rod Reunion. Modeled after the infamous “March Meet” – the Hot Rod Reunion has proven to be a really great success for not only NHRA, but drag racing as a whole.
COMP Cams has just released their master catalog for the 2010 year and this catalog features the newest and most up-to-date information on COMP Cams products. With 500 pages of products, part numbers, and images, you are sure to find what you need.
There’s a reason why Auto Meter is the company that comes immediately to mind when racers think “gauges” – five decades of leadership in the aftermarket doesn’t happen by accident. Check out our full install of a set of Auto Meter gauges into Project 666 – our Fox Mustang.
Karamesines named grand marshal of 8th Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 04/01/10
Chris “the Greek” Karamesines, who is still racing Top Fuel dragsters at age 81, has been selected as the grand marshal of the 8th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, June 18-20. He is a member of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. He has participated in the sport for more than 50 years and continues to amaze the masses.
The countdown to the 2010 ENZED Australian Top Fuel Championships is ticking down, with over 260 entries for the two-day April 17 and 18 event now confirmed.
Over 200 sportsman competitors will line up alongside seven 7000hp flame-throwing Top Fuelers, 17 Pro Stockers and nine Pro Stock Bikes, as well as seven Pro FX racers over the Saturday/Sunday calendar. With only three rounds left in the 2009/2010 ANDRA championship chase for all racing categories, emotion-charged racing will be front and centre starting with qualifying Saturday evening followed by race day Sunday.
Elite Motorsports will add a second Pro Stock car to its operation, with veteran Sportsman driver Mike Trumble Jr. joining Rickie Jones on the team. Trumble is a familiar name to many, having frequented the winner’s circle for years in Comp, Super Stock, and Stock.
Project Swinger Nova Update: Room for Wider Tires, a Stiffer Frame, and a Patch Job
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 03/31/10
The ’71 Nova looks far better with all of the rust off and the new panels on. While we took our time to do the job right, the mini-tub kit was not as difficult to install as we originally thought it would be. Detroit Speed really hit the nail on the head when it came to getting the correct dimensions for a perfect fit. The same goes for their connectors. You can’t cut corners or rush a job like this, but Detroit Speed helped the process by providing parts that fit like they should and clear, easy-to-follow instructions
Ford Racing has announced an extension of its partnership with John Force Racing that will keep the Castrol and Auto Club Force Mustangs wearing the Ford oval through the 2014 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car season.
A swap meet is being held in Flint Michigan to help raise funds for the Club and the Scholarships they give out at the end of the year. The students are taught the basics of Bracket Racing and actually enter competition at Milan Dragway High School Nationals.
In order to maintain its reputation as the “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” US 131 Motorsports Park continues upgrades. Last fall at the end of Michigan’s racing season the track’s concrete surface was extended from 500 feet to 1,000 feet to allow the concrete to slowly cure during the winter months. Read more to see what other upgrades are being done.
The Bankston Boyz Racing team rolled into Houston Raceway Park for the ADRL season opener just over a week ago with new marketing partners on board for the 2010 race season as a result of aggressive approaches at the Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) trade show in Orlando back in December last year.
Nitro Jam’s roster of decorated racers continues to grow as Pro Fuel star Cherissa Smallwood has announced her intention to run the rest of the season with the Nitro Jam series. Smallwood, a fulltime racer and mother of two, has spent the past 17 years racing various sportsman classes with the NHRA and is excited to make her debut with the brand new Pro Fuel class on the Nitro Jam circuit beginning at Rockingham Dragway’s Spring Nitro Jam May 1-2.
Cory McClenathan, John Force, Mike Edwards, and Matt Smith collected important and memorable victories at the historic inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, which concluded Monday at zMax Dragway. Read more to see the words of the winners of this history making race.
New Magnesium Reverse-Mount Starter Bellhousing from Quarter Master
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 03/29/10
Quarter Master has a new bellhousing for racers using Jerico and T-10 style transmissions. The magnesium reverse-mount starter bellhousing offers a stronger material as well as more clearance for different header configurations.
Kooks Custom Headers and Flowmaster Exhaust Install On Project 666
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 03/27/10
The Kooks long-tube headers and Flowmaster exhaust are perfectly suited to the deep-breathing needs of our 408 in Project 666, and fit like a custom-built system though they’re both off-the-shelf part numbers
Bluebaugh Racing’s Team Magna Fuel is taking a brief reprieve to rethink and prepare for the 2010 racing season yet ahead. Last September Bluebaugh and Crew Chief Deborah Woodard took a late mid-season leap of faith changing a proven combination in the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo with a bigger engine. Read more to see where they stand now.
Litton unveils new look as team prepares for huge Spring Nitro Jam
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 03/26/10
For the second consecutive year Louisiana race fans witnessed Bruce Litton and the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster visit victory lane at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam and once again it was longtime rival Bobby Lagana Jr. he bested in the Sunday final. “We are very excited to get a win at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam in back to back years,” Litton said. “We’ve had a great start to the season and we’re excited to keep up that trend. The Lucas Oil team is doing a great job on this dragster and really adjusting well to the new Nitro Jam format. So far, it’s working really well for us.
The inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event to incorporate a four-lane format in both qualifying and eliminations, got off to an as-billed start with wild actions across all four lanes at zMax Dragway. Cory McClenathan, Robert Hight, Jason Line, and Matt Smith are the first-day leaders.
The T&D Engine Blueprinting Kit puts all the measuring tools and fixtures engine builders typically gather over the course of years together in one convenient 8”x18” impact resistant and foam lined carrying case.
American Drag Racing League star Bennie McDonald Jr. will attend this Saturday’s (Mar. 27) American Diabetes Association (ADA) EXPO Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center to greet show goers and sign autographs. The McDonald Family Racing 2,500-horsepower ADRL Pro Extreme ’53 Corvette will also be on static display beside him in the EXPO Atlanta Youth Zone.
NHRA Unleashed tickets on sale, racer registration dates announced
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 03/25/10
NHRA will unleash ticket sales in a few weeks for its newest major attraction, NHRA Unleashed, a celebration of pure American horsepower, coming to an NHRA facility near you this summer. The first of four inaugural NHRA Unleashed events will be held June 11-13 at Atlanta Dragway.
NHRA announces preliminary results of investigation into Phoenix incident
Posted by
Cody Norris
on 03/24/10
NHRA has released the preliminary findings of its investigation regarding the tragic incident in Phoenix, which took the life of a spectator, as well as precautionary measures being implemented. Read more to find out what happened in this tragic incident.
Antron Brown and the Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel team will sport a new look for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway March 25-28. The 24-time NHRA winner’s dragster will fly the colors of Valvoline during the first four-lane NHRA race at the Bruton Smith-owned facility.
The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) opened its 2010 season this past weekend with the ADRL Universal Technical Institute Dragpalooza VI presented by Safety-Kleen at Houston Raceway Park. Unfortunately, the event had to be postponed to July 23, due to rain, but with Extreme Pro Stock qualifying completed, John Montecalvo was very pleased with his team’s performance after placing third with a stout 4.074-seconds pass at 178.50 mph.
After a second day of qualifying at Houston Raceway Park, driver Trevor Eman and the Team Aruba crew achieved a career-best fifth in Extreme Pro Stock (XPS) qualifying with an elapsed time of 4.09 seconds at 177.30 mph in their fourth and final qualifying attempt for the 2010 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Universal Technical Institute Dragpalooza VI, presented by Safety-Kleen.
In the world of nostalgia drag racing the well-known March Meet held at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. is often considered one of the biggest races of the year. But on the same day as the 2010 March Meet, roughly 2,000 miles away in Baton Rouge, La., eight nostalgia cars, under the new Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car banner, raced their way to numbers equaling and many times surpassing those at the Bakersfield meet.
In the Northeast, this winter proved to be one of the longest and toughest ever. With the trailer being buried under feet of snow, racing season seemed a distant memory as well just a dream. But finally, the snow has melted, the temperature is rising and the season is starting. Well, sort of…
