If you’ve been following the drag racing headlines in recent days and weeks, you’re well aware that silly season in the NHRA is well under way and by the time Pomona rolls around in February, it it could end up as one the most interesting off-seasons in recent memory.

Much of the news thus far has centered around the Don Schumacher operation, and speculation has now turned to the Funny Cars side of things, where Don has done everything but make an official announcement of his fielding of an additional Dodge flopper in 2011, to join those of Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, and Ron Capps. It is being widely rumored that current Pro Stock racer and team owner and drag racing journeyman Johnny Gray will suit up to pilot the fourth Schumacher car next season.

National Tire and Battery, the primary sponsor for Gray and son Shane’s Pontiac GXP Pro Stockers this season, currently has just a seven race deal in place for 2011, leaving the teams plans up in the air as of this writing. At Pomona, Gray would not directly address rumors regarding his return to the Funny Car class, but was quoted by one journalist referring to DSR Team Manager Lee Beard as his “new boss.” Gray last drove in Funny Car in 2006 for Paul Smith, and previously drove for Schumacher and Del and Chuck Worsham.

In the rumor no longer category, it was being widely discussed around drag racing circles and certainly on the internet that fan favorite driver Jack Beckman was out at DSR, which would come as quite a surprise, given his relationship with major sponsor MTS’ Roger Comstock. Schumacher quickly put the kabosh on that one, releasing a statement this week that Beckman would indeed be part of his driver lineup for 2011.