(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4.)

First Timer

Well, I’ve reported from the Daytona 500 many times, the first Brickyard 400, the Knoxville Nationals of Sprint Car racing, and numerous short tracks across the country. But this was my first NHRA U.S. Nationals and it didn’t disappoint me, or all the fans in the stands. The “go or go-home” clarity and truth of this racing separates it from the manufactured “entertainment racing” found in the U.S.

For instance, Funny Car icon John Force wins the Skoal Showdown on Sunday and $100,000 and is on top of the world. Yet almost instantly his world collapses on Monday during Funny Car Eliminations. He red-lights himself out in the first round!

I worried for his health when he came into the Press Room afterward and viciously raged against himself in front of the press – “I hate myself! I have no excuses!” Because he believed he had let his team, sponsors, the fans, and importantly himself down from the high standard he sets for himself. My respect for Force the racer and man increased – he puts his soul into this racing.

OK, it wasn’t all intense. The backdoor access to the track puts you driving through two-lane roads of residential areas and can jam you up. Drivers in Indiana (at least in Indy) don’t seem to know what a turn signal is.

But countering that is the NHRA track people are very friendly; the press crew managed by Anthony Vestal keeps the stat sheets coming from the pro classes; track announcer Bob Frey is a fount of neat historical info even while keeping you up to date on the contestants and their runs; and Alan Reinhart at the top end reporting captures the racers’ emotions without pandering.

All The Official (And Unofficial) News

You can read our Same Day Coverage section on these for details, but what was in the water here? First, 60-plus year old Kenny Bernstein decides to come back and race Funny Car in 2007. Then it’s strongly rumored that NHRA Pro class inspector Ray Alley is leaving the sanctioning body to go back to crewing Bernstein’s Funny Car next year.

Where else would an announcement of the magnitude of Jeg Coughlin’s returning to Pro Stock sort of get overwhelmed by the Bernstein news? Matco Tools decides to leave the Don Schumacher mega-team and Whit Bazemore faces a racing crossroads – all the while trying to focus on this race. He does so well that he barely loses in the Funny Car finals—the best Eliminations race of the event. Plus, Schumacher decides to sell his two Pro Stock teams just to liven up the event a bit more.

Oh yeah, let’s not forget that the NHRA decided to announce it’s changing the points system in 2007 and incorporate a “playoff” format. Taking a page from the NASCAR marketing book, the NHRA has decided to make the final few races even more cut-throat and fan-maxxed.

Big Daddy Garlits threw the idea and concept totally under the bus when asked about it on the ESPN nationwide telecast (I’m sure there was orifice puckering from NHRA top management to hear that!). Greg Anderson isn’t a fan of the change either. But it will inject marketing momentum into the Pro class points races and perhaps help build the NHRA TV audience.

The Big Go!

The U.S. Nationals at Indy is called The Big Go! by veterans. The historical weight of the event is incredible and the racers have to keep telling themselves it’s just another race – even though it isn’t. How do you block out the history when it is all around you?

The ESPN announcers were joined by the immortal Don Garlits to help call the race. Butch Leal was in the area. The Hemi Shootout has some great iron thundering down the track. There were Ronnie Sox legit race cars on display.

Indy Is Different

I think I know why all of these elements and dynamics make Indy more than just another race. The same elements and dynamics that make a stock car racer want to win the Daytona 500 almost more than the a Nextel Cup Championship are at work here among the draggers. The bar is higher at Indy. Everyone brings their best stuff, everyone pushes to the edge EVERY round, it takes more rounds to win, you have a gun to your head and you know there could be a loaded chamber in the next round.

That hyper level of competition separates the racers from the drivers. Champions can handle this level of competition. There isn’t some way to learn it, I believe, you either have the ability to perform in it, or you don’t. A win here is so special because it publically marks that you have the right stuff to deliver at the highest capability a drag racing team can achieve. – Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4.)

Pro Stock Motorcycle:

Angele Sampay red lights. Matt Smith takes the win with the Beull at 7.14 / 180

Pro Stock

Greg Anderson’s march is complete: 6.687 / 206.83 wins over Dave Connally’s 6.725 / 205.38

Funny Car

A great race! Whit Bazemore fights Robert Hight right to the end, but the Ford is too strong. Hight takes the final with 4.73 / 328.38 vs. 4.756 / 327.82.

Top Fuel

Tony Schumacher has too much car and storms into the winner circle with a 4.505 / 325.22 vs. Brandon Bernstein’s 4.60 / 274.00 (his car was dropping cylinders at the line). Schumacher picks up 24 points for the win and advances on Doug Kalitta.—Glen Grissom

(U.N. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) OK sports fans here’s a big one: Ray Alley, the top Pro field tech inspector of NHRA is going to leave the sanctioning body and become the crewchief of Kenny Bernstein’s Monster Energy Funny Car team in 2007. This certainly has valid plausibility because Alley used to crew Bernstein’s Engine Masters Dodge Funny Car and work on his Top Fuel ride with Dale Armstrong.

It will interesting to see who the NHRA can get to take Alley’s place, if this works out. I suggest they take a page from NASCAR and find the equivalent of a Gary Nelson—a former crewchief who knows how to read the rule book and find what it doesn’t say. Get off the hip NHRA, and I nominate Dick LaHaie or Alan Johnson.—Glen Grissom

Whit Bazemore must have a special Indy charm. (James Drew photo)

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) Whit Bazemore must have a special Indy charm in his firesuit. In this Funny Car semi-final race with Jim Head, Bazemore and Head both had to furiously pedal their cars when they broke free at about 3/4 track. They traded the lead coming to the finish line, but Head crossed the finish first with a 6.16 to Bazemore’s 6.20. Unbelievably, the instant replay showed Head just brushing the center line but hitting the cone at the top end—so his storybook event came to an end with a disqualification. Bazemore advances to his fourth Funny Car final at Indy.

There was some additional drama in the Robert Hight vs. Ron Capps run. Hight showed some real strength as he bested Capps at the far end with a 4.768 / 324 to a losing 4.84 / 319. So, the Schumacher teammates will not meet in the final.

Bazemore vs. Hight in the Funny Car final; Mopar vs. Ford.—Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4)

Brandon Bernstein lays down a great number with a 4.52 / 332.51 drive-around of Cory McClenathan’s 4.58 / 323.04—a .002 margin of victory!

Tony Schumacher cruised to the final with a 4.51 / 330.88 run over 4.58 / 324 by Hot Rod Fuller.

Bernstein vs. Shumacher in the final.

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4.) Well, my thinking that teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson were to meet in the Pro Stock final was thumped by Dave Connolly’s amazing .017 reaction time against Line to advance with a 6.707 / 205.6 (.017) vs. Line’s 6.668 / 206.42 (.045)

Allen Johnson whipped Steve Schmidt with a 6.701 / 205.32 (.026) run vs. a 6.722 / 205.76 (.044) for Schmidt.

Track ET (6.662) and Top Speed (206.95) record-setter Greg Anderson sat in his lane for a long time after Greg Stanfield bulbed his two rows on the tree, but he was unwavering with his march to taking the Wally here with a 6.673 / 206.61 (.036) vs. Stanfield’s tree-nailing 6.712 / 205.63 (.019).

Anderson and V. Gaines match up in the next round; Allen Johnson meets Dave Connoly.—Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) There is a stop in the Pro Stock Eliminations Round 2 action because in the first match-up of V. Gaines and Ron Krisher, Krisher’s car veered right and jacked left; crossed from the right lane to the left lane just before the finish line, and clanged into the wall—hard and at a very bad angle. It was at speed and rolled a couple of times afterwards, and the fuel started on fire behind the car.

Gaines took the win from the left lane with 6.741 / 205.29 as Krisher’s car followed directly behind.  According to the top end radio report, Krisher was unconscious when the Safety Safari reached him, but regained consciouness and was alert, and responding to commands from the NHRA safety workers as they gingerly removed him from the twisted chassis. Eventually, he was standing on his own power, but has been air-lifted to Methodist hospital in Indy for check-out. NHRA emergency workers reported that Krisher had only a minor burn to his left elbow and no other visible injuries.

When speaking with GM’s Fred Simmonds later in Eliminations, he exclusively told DRO that the EMS doctor who extracted Krisher from the car told Simmonds that the HANS device Krisher was wearing “saved his life.”—Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) Funny Car has three Dodges in the semis, and two team Schumacher cars.

Whit Bazemore took the Matco car to a 5.07 / 275.96 victory over the center-line crossing Cruz Pedregon. Lots of slipping and sliding by both cars, but Bazemore is in the semis.

Ron Capps had a little wiggle mid-track, but was laser-straight afterwards and posted 4.865 / 314.53. Scott Kalitta shook the tires mid-track. Capps declared at the top end that they had a fuel line leak at the starting line, used a Ringers glove to wrap the line, and ran the car with it in place!

Mike Ashley smokes the hides and loses to Jim Head’s 4.90 / 310. He was last in the finals here 22 years ago!

Robert Hight in his Mustang upheld the Force Funny Car camp with a very clean run at 4.808 / 321.42 vs. Phil Burkart Jr.’s 4.843 / 316.

So, it’s Head vs. Bazemore, and Capps vs. Hight in the semis—Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) The red-light craziness continued in Eliminations, but Greg Anderson romps along. Anderson dropped D. Northrop with another strong 6.670 / 206.86 run.

Greg Stanfield pushed Larry Morgan back with 6.690 / 206.20.

V. Gains cut a .002 light and left B. Benza and ran 6.686 / 206.26.

M. Edwards red lights and lost to R. Krisher when the latter posted 6.712 /205.29 with a .006 reaction time.

In a major upset, #2 Indy qualifier Kurt Johnson lost to part-timer and master engine builder Steve Schmidt: Steve’s 6.678 / 206.48 (.022 reaction time) vs. Kurt’s 6.709 / 206.01 (.074 reaction time).

Allen Johnson tatooed Tom Martino at the light: 6.684 / 205.26 (.017) vs. 6.685 / 206.20 (.060)

Jason Line probably will face his boss (Anderson) in the final—he went by Warren Johnson when the Professor red-lighted (after struggling all event to get to Eliminations) and Line ran: 6.671 / 206.39.

D. Howard red-lighted against Dave Connolly, who ran 6.689 / 205.85

The track conditions are heating up at about 2:00 p.m. at Indy, so we may not see the strong times we saw this a.m.—Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) The fevered buzz on the final day of Indy today is that Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) has sold his two Mopar sponsored Pro Stock teams of Erica Enders and Richie Stevens.

What exactly is involved in the sale is unclear at this posting time. Because there are no franchises in NHRA racing, a team sale could just include car and engine assets. It is unknown (doubtful) if the current Mopar sponsorship of the two DSR teams would follow in the sales. Enders has purchased the team from DSR and is keeping crewchief David Nickens. The rumors are now confirmed that Allen Johnson has bought the Stevens’ team.

In other DSR news, and in an exclusive interview with DRO this Monday morning DSR Funny Car racer Whit Bazemore confirmed that he has the opportunity to follow the Matco Sponsorship to David Powers-owned team(s), but he “has to talk with Don next week” to see what the multi-team owner has in mind for his future with his current team.

Bazemore has been with DSR for 6 years. The buzz is that Powers will run a two-car Top Fuel team with Hot Rod Fuller in one fueler and Baze in another. Bazemore though, told us he “is a Funny Car guy.” Wonder what DSR will come up with for Bazemore to keep him?

There is also some deep underground commentary that Gary Scelzi could be joining with top crewchief Alan Johnson to run a Toyota Funny Car in 2007.—Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4.) John Force picked the worst race of the year to have his first fouling-out start of 2006, when he red-lighted (0.060) against Jim Head! The very cool Head, posted 4.825 / 324.05. Force tossed a chance to double-up and win the Skoal Showndown and the Funny Car class at Indy. “Bottom line. I screwed it up!” he dejectedly exclaimed at the top end of the track.

After the elimination round finished, A fully wounded and fully wound John Force came into the Press Room and pointedly said loud and clear, “I forgot how to race! No excuses! I saw the red lights, I saw the guys leave late! I asked Bernie if there was trouble with the roll-out! But you guys [press] were nice to me yesterday, my sponsors were nice to me! But this is Indy, and there are no excuses! I deserve for people to hate me today, because I hate myself! Those kids work too hard on that car for me to do that [red light] to them! God bless Capps!” and he stormed out the door. There were no questions for him because the emotion was just too raw from the multi-time winner.

The only Mustang left in Funny Car is Robert Hight (they changed camshafts yesterday) and he crushed Bob Gilbertson with a 4.715 / 331.04 (Top Speed of the event).

Phil Burkart Jr. started the crazy round by sending Gary Scelzi home with a holeshot and a 4.789 / 323 run.

Cruz Pedregon and Eric Medlin had a highlight real run when Cruz’s hole shot run 4.80 / 327.11 to advance, and Medlin blew up at the top end and went into the sand traps on fire with a 4.748 / 323.19.

Scott Kalitta took his Toyota-bodied Funny Car to the next round when Tommy Johnson Jr. spun the tires down track, and Kalitta ran 4.76 / 320.97.

Tony Pedregon lost to Mike Ashley with a 4.753 / 318.17 vs. 4.754 / 326.95.

Whit Bazemore kept focused (his sponsor is leaving his car in 2007) on his racing here and took out T. Wilkerson, who burned the hides, with a solid 4.79 / 324.05.

Ron Capps gets a chance to regain the Funny Car points as he advances by beating Gary Densham, 4.769 /323.66 vs. 4.805 / 324.51.—Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) Just a quick note—with the cool air and overcast skies, Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations are posting some incredible times—it’s turning into the “Holeshot Nationals”.

Tony Schumacher in the U.S. Army car has just run a 4.486 / 337.5—second fasted Top Fuel speed! Yeah, all those NHRA rules to limit the dragsters are working great. J.R. Todd was game, but was no match for that kind of time/speed.

“Hot Rod” Fuller ran 4.508 / 329.02 to defeat A. Cowin

Larry Dixon dusted Dave Foley with 4.549 / 321

Brandon Bernstein started off the eliminations with 4.51 / 332 to set the tone as he sent H. Will
home.

Corey McClenathan put the sleeper hold on Doug Herbert with a 4.51 /327.35 win.

In the biggest upset so far. David Baca trailered #1 in Top Fuel points Doug Kallita with a hole shot—which is incredible because Kalitta usually owns the tree, and Baca posted a 4.54 / 316. It’s Baca’s first hole shot win.

Melanie Troxel should send some nice parting gifts to Baca for taking points leader Kalitta out so early, because she has a chance to gain some points in the class from her current fourth position. She sent Alan Bradshaw back to the pits with a 4.527 / 326.71-- Glen Grissom

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 4) Top Fuel racer Larry Dixon of nearby Avon, IN and wife Allison welcomed their third edition to the Dixon Dynasty yesterday evening with the birth of Darien Lukas Dixon. Young Darien crossed the finish line at 8-lb, 10-ounces and 21 inches long at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 3. Darien joins brother Donovan and sister Alanna—Dixon, two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, and #2 qualifier, (4.492 / 328.38) is vying for a fourth career Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win today.

He commented about Darien’s pre-race entrance: “I trust everything to fate and believed that everything would work out great and it has. Everyone is in great shape, I couldn’t ask for any more, except for maybe another Wally trophy today”

As the father of three I have a suggestion Larry. If you do win the Wally in Top Fuel, dedicate it to your wife.—Glen Grissom

John Force's '05 Mustang Funny Car sported new colors and is bad-fast at Indy. He's qualified #1 at 4.691 /328.54. (James Drew photo)

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 3) John Force served notice that he’s here at Indy to trailer any and everyone on the ladder no matter if it’s a race for money or a Wally. His #1 qualifying time was just .001 second faster than teammate Robert Hight (no mercy from the boss), but set a track record.

Sunday, in the eight car Skoal Showdown field, which posts $100,000 for the winner, Force drove around Tony Pedregon, Eric Medlen, and Tommy Johnson Jr. to pocket the cash. This was Johnson’s first Skoal Showdown final round in three Showdown starts.

In the afternoon heat of Sunday it was very unlikely Force would match his stout qualifying numbers. But a 4.789 / 327.19 against Johnson’s 4.823 / 321.04 was very impressive in those conditions.

He noted to DRO, “Today we were cloud readers! [Austin] Coil used to check his armpits [to determine the weather and adjust the car’s tune-up at the line]. Coil said we were going to buy a device to read the speed of the clouds. There was one [cloud] coming and others behind it. That’s the difference. We were [tuned] soft, but we made a call to step on it! Bernie made the call and said ‘put ‘er to ‘er!”

So, winning in today’s Funny Car takes some luck and cloud reading. Force has 23 Skoal Showdown starts, and earned victories in: ‘87, ‘90, ‘93, ‘96, and ‘00. With today’s win he has six wins in 11 final appearances.—Glen Grissom

Bob Gilbertson's '05 Stratus sported new paint at Indy. (James Drew photo)

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 3) Bob Gilbertson showed off a new look at Indy. The Charlotte, NC racer had it designed and painted by a local Indy custom car builder. Carey Bewley, owner of Speed Custom & Restoration sure did a spectacular job. The paint is a tribute to Jungle Jim Lieberman.—Glen Grissom

The real deal: A couple of very rare Sox & Martin racers. (James Drew photo)

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 3) Car collector Todd Werner brought a couple of very rare race cars to display at the 52nd Annual Mac tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Todd has over 80 cars in his collection. The Plymouth Barracuda (right) was raced by Ronnie Sox in the wickedly-competitive NHRA, AHRA, and IHRA Super Stock classes.—James Drew

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept. 3) Roaming the pits at Indy on Sunday morning I saw the perfect T-shirt for a journalist:

“I make stuff up; I might be lying.”

With that in mind (kidding!) here’s some Sunday Pro Stock buzz:

Sunday’s first session of Pro Stock found Warren Johnson still not qualified. One of the reasons for that might have been that his ‘06 GTO had only three passes on it—it’s that new. In fact, his car made its first two passes without the typical array of computer electronics the teams use to monitor the car’s performance and change the tune-up fully functional. Talk about flying blind.

Late Saturday it looked like a bad day at Radio Shack around Warren’s car—wires everywhere, him under the car, a BIG hammer nearby. Even I know not to approach a racer when they’re trashing to make the show. At least he didn’t go for a power cutting wheel that was near the hammer. Apparently he got it sorted enough because he made the 14th spot on Sunday morning. Not completely safe, but good enough.

Trouble was, with the great conditions early Sunday, almost everybody in Pro Stock improved from Saturday. For instance, Greg Anderson stormed to #1 qualifier with a 6.662 / 206.95 vs. his 6.698 / 205.85 on Saturday. Amazingly, nine of the Top 10 Pro Stock qualifiers all posted over 206 mph! Don’t see that very often, and may not for quite some time.

Pro Stock Top 10 after Sunday 1st Session

1) Greg Anderson 6.662 / 206.95
2) Kurt Johnson 6.672 / 206.83
3) Jason Line 6.676 / 206.64
4) V. Gaines 6.682 / 206.32
5) Mike Edwards 6.683 / 206.73
6) Dave Howard 6.686 / 206.07
7) Allen Johnson 6.690 / 205.57
8) Greg Stanfield 6.693 / 206.35
9) Larry Morgan 6.694 / 206.20
10) Tom Martino 6.698 / 206.10

Josh Hernandez's 239.14 mph pass is the top speed so far in Pro Mod. (James Drew photo)

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 2) Pro Mod qualifying as of Saturday has Toronto’s Raymond Commisso’s ‘67 Camaro atop the last real “outlaw” car class in drag racing with a 6.016/236.80 run. Fellow Ontario, Canadian Tony Pontieri is in the number two position after posting a 6.040/237.71 pass. These guys from the Great White North are setting quite a pace in the unseasonably cool weather—it was 69F air temp with a track temp of 106F. Maybe they’re leading because they’re used to these conditions—it’s a heat wave for them.

So far though, Texan Josh Hernandez (pictured, and in 3rd position) has held up the American side with an impressive top speed of 239.14 mph (@6.051) in his ‘68 Camaro. Pro Mods of today remind me of the Fuel Altereds of yesterday—wild-powered beasts that stretch the boundaries of a “stock bodied” 4-wheeled vehicle as far as your imagination will let you go.

Missouri’s Andy McCoy, who is bringing up the rear in 21st position, made quite a day of it when his ‘57 Chevy seemed to have a transmission with a mind of its own—it sounded like it shifted too early from low to high gear. McCoy kept coasting after the finish (6.360/216.62) and his possessed car stopped just before the sand traps and lit itself up in flames.—Glen Grissom

Top 10 Pro Mod Qualifying Saturday

1.  Raymond Commisso 6.016 / 236.55
2.  Tony Pontieri 6.040 / 237.71
3.  Josh Hernandez 6.051 / 239.14
4.  Joey Martin 6.066 / 234.00
5.  Shelly Payne 6.074 / 235.06
6.  Rick Stivers 6.114 / 233.76
7.  Chip King 6.120 / 233.40
8.  Jim Payne 6.122 / 234.53
9.  Matt Hagan 6.130 / 231.60
10. Mike Janis 6.147 / 230.92

Charlie Westcott Jr. (L) and Bucky Hess put on a great final race in the Hemi Challenge, with the victory taken by Westcott. (James Drew photo)

(Hemi Challenge, U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 2) Charlie Wescott Jr. joined a very elite drag racing club when he won his second consecutive Hemi Challenge at the 52nd annual U.S. Nationals.

Wescott and his ’68 hemi equipped ‘Cuda were the dominant car and driver of this annual race within a race at the U.S. Nationals.

Wescott’s SS/AH was not only the number one qualifier, but also recorded the low ET in every round of qualifying and elimination on his way to his team’s second consecutive Hemi Challenge title.

The Parma, Michigan racer not only had the stoutest car of the event but the stats showed that at this collection of top Hemi cars, he was also the dominant driver. During eliminations he had reaction times of .510, .530, .554, and a .514 in the final round against Bucky Hess.

Wescott’s 3000-lb plus ‘Cuda ran 8.60s and 150+ with ease during eliminations and waded through a stellar field of drivers and cars, including a semi-final win over former event winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. He not only put a holeshot on the 2002 Pro Stock World Champ but drove away from Coughlin’s similar ’68 Cuda using an 8.640 ET—negating Coughlin’s dead game 8.757.

While Wescott was dominating his side of the ladder, West Virginia racer Bucky Hess was quietly working his way to a final round meeting with the flying Wescott Jr.

Hess’s ‘Cuda dipped into the low 8.60s with a stellar 8.633/152.12 in a semi-final round thrashing of Joe Teuton Jr—whose 8.81/148.94 time was just too far off the pace to get a win—despite the massive near tenth of a second holeshot he put on Hess.

The final round match-up between the two Hemi ‘Cudas gave the fans of the mystical Mopar Super Stockers just what they had come to see. Both Hess and Wescott obviously stepped on their tune-up, which resulted in both cars recording speeds of over 152 mph .

Hess crossed the stripe going 152.47, but Wescott once again showed he had the car to beat—he not only set Top Speed of the event but also the Low ET. He recorded a speed of 152.81 but ran the first sub-8.60 timing of the event when he tripped the beams in just 8.583 seconds—way in front of Hess whose 8.637 ET just wasn’t enough.

The two racers and the Hemi Challenge fans had to wait until today for the results to be official because the cars had to go through a teardown this a.m. Both cars came through clean and Charlie Wescott Jr. and his Warfish ‘Cuda got the gold ($10,000 for the event win and $5,000 for taking the Hemi series) and the glory.—Jeff Burk

Popular former Pro Stock Jeg Coughlin Jr. emerges at Indy from his 2007 Slammers Colbalt. (James Drew photo)

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept. 2)—Three-time NHRA champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. will return to the POWERade Drag Racing Series full-time in 2007 behind the wheel of a second Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevrolet Cobalt. Coughlin, a 47-time national event winner, will be driving for Victor Cagnazzi.

“Our goal is to win championships,” said Coughlin, who won Pro Stock titles in 2000 and 2002. “We strongly feel we are capable of doing just that. Victor is a great guy, he’s running a top-notch organization, and the talent he’s assembled is second-to-none. I’m proud to become a member of the Slammer’s Ultimate Milk Team.

“I’ve worked with a couple of his guys (Roy Simmons and Nick Ferri) in the past and I certainly know (chassis builder) Todd Bevis and (engine builders) Joe Hornick and Steve Johns. We’ve all seen what they’ve done with their cars and their current success with Evan Knoll’s Torco Fuels/Skull Gear car driven by Dave Connolly. It’s obvious they can put a competitive car on the racetrack.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to have a person like Jeg to represent Slammers Ultimate Milk,” said Bravo! Foods Internationals CEO Roy Warren. “Slammers is ‘Milk With An Attitude’ and Jeg has a great winning attitude both on and off the track.”

After running under the family’s JEGS Mail Order umbrella for most of his career, Coughlin spent the 2005 season driving for Don Schumacher Racing, which was highlighted by a race win at the season finale in Pomona, Calif. Coughlin took 2006 off from Pro Stock but still managed to win several high-dollar bracket races around the country. He’ll begin testing a custom-built Cagnazzi Cobalt next week at Virginia Motorsports Park.

“I got fitted for the car a few months ago and it’s ready to run,” Coughlin said. “We plan to test prior to running the last three national events this year in Richmond (Va.), Las Vegas, and Pomona.

“We’ve actually been talking about doing this for some time. I’ve been racer friends with Victor since the early ‘90s when he was the first guy I knew of to use his RacePak computer system with a laptop. I wanted to learn how to do that so I went to him then. We’ve been friends ever since.

“Victor knew I was taking a year off so it gave us time to put a deal together. Slammers and Bravo are having a record year and they attribute a significant portion of that to their racing program. The thought was that two cars will be better than one. I’m excited to enhance what they already have.”

Coughlin said his family’s company will be offering Slammers Ultimate Milk products through JEGS Mail Order’s 1-800-345-4545 phone number and JEGS.com. The system Slammers has to sterilize and bottle their product allows this milk to be stored and shipped without refrigeration through the JEGS distribution network. Customers will now be able to order a twelve-pack and have it in their hands within two days.

“The next step is to get up and running and get these two Slammers Ultimate Milk Cobalts in the winner’s circle as often as possible.”

Tom Hammonds joins Team Chevy as the driver/owner of a Chevy Cobalt Pro Stock car in 2007.

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 2, 2007)

Leading off his news with a confident “I’m baaaaaccck,” former NBA standout Tom Hammonds announced his plans today to return to NHRA Pro Stock in 2007 behind the wheel of a Rick Jones-built Chevy Cobalt.

Hammonds last competed in NHRA Pro Stock at the Gatornationals in March, 2003 in Gainesville, FL. He has secured sponsorship from Mac Tools and Industrial Depot for the new Cobalt, and has backing from Chevrolet. He’s looking to add more sponsorship partners, including working with the NBA to “bring some NBA fans to drag racing, and drag racing fans to the NBA.”

Key to his new team formation is that he is going to have an in-house engine program, which makes it all the more ambitious. In an exclusive interview with DRO, Hammonds clarified, “Because the competition is so tough in this class, to be successful you have to have full control of your destiny. To do that you have to have control over your engines—you can keep everyone on the team focused on the same page, keep any advantages you develop in-house, and not be dependent on an outside source for such a critical part of your program.

“We’ve been working on this team for three months and we plan to be testing our car in October or November. We’re building a 10,000 sq.ft. only 10 minutes from a local dragstrip where we can test. My former Pro Stock crewchief Greg Luzinski is returning to crew the car. Our first race is going to be Pomona 2007, and I think realistically, we’ll be able to qualify.”

When DRO asked what engine man is going to head up the in-house engine program, Hammonds hedged, “That’s still in the works and I’m not ready to announce who it will be just yet.” We wonder if he is going to lure some Nextel Cup engine talent to the new team based in his hometown of Crestview, FL.

Chevrolet backing will be important to Hammonds quickly getting competitive. “Team Chevy is proud to support Tom Hammonds upon his return to NHRA Pro Stock racing in 2007,” said Fred Simmonds, GM drag racing marketing manager. “Tom was a valued member of our team when he raced his Pro Stock Chevy Cavalier several years ago, and we’re looking forward to renewing our relationship with one of the class acts among professional athletes.”

Hammonds admitted to DRO that he got his start in drag racing by street racing. “I’m not proud to say that’s where I started, but my first racing was done with a Chevy pickup with a big cam. You couldn’t tell me anything!” he remembered with a chuckle. Being raised in the South, one would guess that he might have been tempted by stock car racing, but he says, “I always admired the racers in Pro Stock: Bob Glidden, Butch Leal, and that’s what I wanted to do.”

So, after a fine 12-year career in the NBA, he returns to his first sporting interest, above-board and with winning on his plan.—Glen Grissom

Chevrolets are looking for approval of a new smallblock Cup engine for 2007.

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Aug 31) OK, don’t get your special commerative John Force knickers in a twist—why are we posting up NASCAR engine info from Indy? Because a lot of Cup engine technology makes its way into drag racing—note how fast Pro Stockers Greg Anderson and Jason Line are running. Did you know that Line used to do engine dyno testing at Joe Gibbs Racing? Think he forgot everything he learned there? Plus, when we get this sort of info when roaming an NHRA event, we can’t wait.

Mark your calendars Chevy faithful. September 1st was the deadline that Chevrolet’s new Nextel Cup block and heads had to be submitted to NASCAR for approval to run in 2007. Why is this important? Chevy’s engine is the oldest design used on the Nextel Cup tour. Its SB2 heads were released in 1996, and upgraded in 1998.

In the meantime, Dodge has developed their Cup engine with marked improvements, and Toyota is getting a new Cup engine ready for approval, too. They have had the benefit of studying all the manufacturers engines. It’s generally considered that Toyota has the optimum engine design, with Dodge second, and Chevy playing catch-up.

According to our Chevy Cup team engine builder sources, this latest smallblock version is on the green-light path with NASCAR because it fits directly into the “box” the sanctioning body has specified, and leans toward its “Engine of The Future” requirements. In fact, Chevy proposed a couple of Cup engine redesigns in 1999 and 2003 and they were not allowed by NASCAR. But our engine builder mavens say that the new engine has some of the traits of the 2003 design.

The new Chevy engine will have a “raised” camshaft – moved up in the block so the distance between it and the crankshaft is greater. (The Dodge and Toyota engines have this.) The plus of this is that the valvetrain (pushrods) can be optimized for higher RPM. The camshaft is also on bigger in diameter to stiffen it and stabilize it.

But the biggest change in the new engine is with the cylinder heads. The “mirror ports” of the SB2 (which allowed the intake ports to angle toward the carburetor for improved flow) are not used in this new head. The new head was described to us as a “somewhat non-symmetrical head, but definitely not an SB2.” OK. We’ll have to see what that means when the parts are visible.

And what of NASCAR’s “Engine of The Future”? Our Chevy engine sources say that is scheduled to come on-line in 2010 and have a displacement reduced to 325-CID, and limited to 9,000 RPM to reduce HP.—Glen Grissom

Kenny Bernstein returns to NHRA Funny Car racing in 2007. He last raced in the class in 1989.

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Sept 1) Kenny Bernstein unretired himself from drag racing on Friday as he announced that he will return to NHRA Funny Car competition in 2007. Major extreme sport sponsor Monster Energy drink ventures into one of the “full on” classes of NHRA, with the six-time NHRA champ at the wheel. Bernstein will have to go through the full Funny Car licensing procedure because the last time he raced in the class was 1989. Probably won’t be much of a problem for the ever-youthful 62-year old racer who won four consecutive Funny Car championships from 1985--89.

Although it’s being billed as a comeback tour, Bernstein commented as if he’d never left the seat, “I thrive on competition and I still love the sport. I’ve been searching for the perfect opportunity and the perfect sponsor to field a competitive team to get back into the sport, and Monster Energy drinks provided the ideal scenario. I’m as excited as I was the first time I ever sat in a Funny Car.”

He also made it clear that his involvement in the new nitro team, which will be housed in the same racing shop as the Budweiser Top Fuel car driven by his son Brandon, will not detract from the Top Fuel effort. No crewchief nor Funny Car body style has been selected yet according to Bernstein, but the search is on.

Why choose the tough Funny Car class to return to racing? Bernstein noted that Monster Energy wanted to be associated with one of the “extreme” classes of NHRA racing to support their marketing image. Importantly though, by racing in this class, he will not compete head-to-head with his son—and thereby possibly compromise (beat) the Budweiser team, and weaken its marketing muscle. He has a 27 year association with Budweiser and because the company has the U.S. distribution rights for Monster Energy drink, the association is a natural fit.

The agreement with Monster Energy was described as “multi-year” and Bernstein joked he’ll have to see how many years he can last. You can bet it will be more than a one-year deal for him.—Glen Grissom

Pro Stocker Warren Johnson & Gm Engineers have developed an LS-X cast iron racing engine block that is planned to sell for less than $2000 and support 2500HP!

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Aug 31) One of the reasons to attend the U.S Nationals is that you hear info that is early on the curve, and sports fans we have a juicy tidbit for you. In the very near future you’ll be able to go into your neighborhood GM dealer and buy an LS-X cast iron engine block that will support up to 2500HP and is scheduled to cost less than $2000. Sign us up now!

It is a high-nickel content smallblock and it was designed by Pro Stock Champ Warren “The Professor” Johnson and GM engineers to accept LS Gen III and IV parts. It comes direct from GM in “tall deck” configuration, but can be machined to standard deck height. Think of it as a Universal LS smallblock that will will support the LS-1 racing into the future.

Plus, wait for it—a big-block cast-iron version is in the works. The first LS-X blocks are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. by mid-Sept. and expected to be in wide distribution later this fall.—Glen Grissom

Greg Anderson is looking for a 4th U.S. Nationals title at Indy.

(U.S. Nationals / Indy, Aug 31) With the completion of 17 NHRA POWERade events already in the books, and six still remaining on the docket, fans and aficionados of drag racing now turn their focus toward the city of Indianapolis and the 52nd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at the fabled O’Reilly Raceway Park on Aug. 30 – Sept. 4. First run at Great Bend, Kan., in 1955, this is the NHRA series’ most celebrated contest, and regardless of who goes on to win championships in each of the professional categories, the U.S. Nationals is the one “Wally” every driver wants on their mantle.
 
Pontiac’s Greg Anderson knows what it’s like to win the season’s most sought-after single-event prize. He already has four such trophies with his name on them, and he would like to add one more to the collection, but this time, inscribed with the year 2006.
 
“The U.S. Nationals is, without a doubt, a marathon weekend and it’s a race that can wear you down,” said Anderson. “You show up, you unload, and on Friday you have a single night session right away that, depending on the weather, could determine the pole. By Monday morning, you have to be able to find enough and save enough energy to be able to race. We’re programmed to go three days, and I can honestly say that by Sunday at a national event, your energy level is just about tapped. At Indy you add an extra day and you have to find a way to have enough left to be sharp – not just to show up and get down the track, but to be sharp. The last three years, we’ve been able to do that.”
 
The driver of the Summit Racing Pontiac GTO advanced to his first final round at Indianapolis in 1999 before losing to his former boss, Warren Johnson. Two years later in 2001, the Minnesota native took home his first U.S. Nationals trophy with a final-round win over Mark Osborne. In 2003, Anderson won the first of his three consecutive U.S. Nationals titles with a final-round victory over Kurt Johnson, and then he thrice repeated the feat in ‘04 by defeating Kenny Koretsky in the title heat and Richie Stevens in the ‘05 money round. Anderson is looking to join the elite tandem of Bob Glidden (1985-88) and Warren Johnson (1992-95) on the very short list of professional drivers who have won four straight at Indy.
 
In addition to his four wins at O’Reilly Raceway Park, Anderson has been No. 1 qualifier at the “Big Go” twice (2004-05), and his Pontiac GTO set both ends of the Pro Stock track record last year with a run of 6.689 seconds at 205.72 mph.
 
“Indy has been golden to me – it’s special,” said Anderson. “I’ve had a lot of success there over the years and there’s no race that means more to me than the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. You can win a driver’s championship, but if you don’t win the U.S. Nationals once or twice, then to me, your career is just not complete. Winning this year would be especially sweet, given the dry spell that I’ve been in.”
 
Entering this year’s U.S. Nationals, Anderson is second in the Pro Stock standings and trails teammate Jason Line by 121 points. Anderson opened up the year with a win at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., and has since advanced to three finals (Phoenix, Bristol, Chicago), and has qualified his Summit Racing Pontiac in the No. 1 spot nine times. He brought a new racecar out at the Mile-High Nationals in Denver in July, and two weeks later at Sonoma (Calif.), he bettered his own national e.t. mark with a run of 6.631 seconds.
 
“We’re very happy with our new Pontiac GTO,” said Anderson. “The last three races it seems that I’ve driven better, and the car keeps improving each time we run it on the racetrack. I was doing pretty well at Memphis and had a doggone transmission failure. I feel I had a really good shot to win that race. The good thing though is that the car was working good and the meathead behind the wheel was doing a decent job. I think we’re about ready to put it all together and win a race one of these days.”
 
Following the Memphis national event on Monday, Aug. 21, the Summit Racing team spent the following two days testing at ORP in preparation for the upcoming U.S. Nationals.
 
“Testing went okay,” said Anderson. “It’s certainly not the kind of track we’ll see at a national event, but we were able to learn some things on how to run the car, especially in the early part of the track - at least low gear stuff. We made 10-12 runs and consider it a good learning experience.
 
“Right now, I think Jason [Line] and I both have the two best cars. Jason’s GTO has been great for the last 10 or 12 races, and that’s going to continue. It’s not going to be easy catching him, he has fantastic equipment and he’s done a great job. We have two equal horses, and it will come down to the two variables behind the wheel, along with Dave Connolly, Kurt (Johnson) and anyone else who is going to be in this championship mix. It’s not going to be easy, but the good thing is that Jason and I both know we have good equipment, we’re both driving better, and we have as good a chance as anybody.”
 
Pre-Race Stats & Facts
U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis
 
Following the most recent national event in Memphis on Aug. 21, Pontiac leads the NHRA Manufacturer’s Cup standings with 3,100 points, Chevrolet is in second place with 2,100 points, and Dodge is third with 1,800 points.
 
GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO driver Warren Johnson leads all active Pro Stock drivers with six victories at Indianapolis (1984, 1992-95, 1999). Greg Anderson is second on the active list with four (2001, 2003-2005), and Young Life Pontiac driver Mike Edwards rolled to his lone Indy win in 1998. Bob Glidden, crew chief on Tom Martino’s Pontiac GTO, has the most wins of any professional driver at Indy with nine.
 
Pontiac’s Jim Yates was runner-up at the U.S. Nationals in 2002, Greg Anderson in 1999, Warren Johnson in 1988 and 1998, and Mark Pawuk in 1994.
 
Pontiac’s first U.S. Nationals victory came at Detroit Dragway in 1960 when Jim Wangers won the Stock eliminator category.
 
For the seventh straight year, a group of GM racers along with other NHRA drivers will make a visit to the world-renowned Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis on Thursday, Aug. 31. Signing autographs, and visiting with the kids and their families will be Greg Anderson, Jason Line, Kurt Johnson, Jim Yates, Morgan Lucas, Cory McClenathan, Ron Krisher, Hillary Will and Dave Connolly. It is the third time this season that the GM Racing contingent has spread good cheer at a children’s hospital in conjunction with a locally held national event.
 
Warren Johnson has earned eight No. 1 qualifying awards at the U.S. Nationals (1982, ‘88, ‘90-91, ‘93, ‘95, ‘98-99). Greg Anderson was No. 1 qualifier at the U.S. Nationals in 2004-05, and Jim Yates captured pole honors at Indy in 1996.
 
Through the completion of 17 national events, competitors in Pontiac GTOs have won eight national events, advanced to 18 final rounds, earned 13 No. 1 qualifying awards, set low e.t. of the meet 14 times and top speed 16 times. Jason Line leads the Pontiac pack with three victories (Bristol, Englishtown, Sonoma), Mike Edwards has two wins (Houston, St. Louis), Greg Anderson has one (Pomona), Warren Johnson has one (Phoenix) and Jim Yates has one (Columbus).
 
Jason Line’s win at Sonoma, Calif., on July 30 was the 167th all time for a Pontiac in NHRA Pro Stock competition.

Charlie Westcott Jr. (far lane) and Jeg Coughlin in the final round at last year's Super Stock Hemi Challenge

Center Line, Mich. — This year’s Mopar Hemi Challenge finale at O’Reilly Raceway Park will not only feature over 25 of the hottest doorslammers in the country, but high-stakes cash prizes and contingencies as well. In addition to the prize money for the event champion and the points fund payout, this Friday’s event will also feature contingency awards from Mickey Thompson Tires, Ray Barton Racing Engines and Jesel Rocker Arms.

The Mopar Hemi Challenge event winner will receive an additional $1,000 from Mickey Thompson Tires, Ray Barton Racing Engines and Jesel Rocker Arms, bringing the winner’s purse to $13,000. The event runner-up will receive an additional $500 from the three contingency sponsors for an additional $1,500 payday. Competitors ending their runs in the semi-final round will receive $250 from Mickey Thompson Tires and Ray Barton Racing Engines, as well as a $250 certificate from Jesel Rocker Arms.

In order to be eligible for the bonus awards, Super Stock competitors in the Mopar Hemi Challenge will be required to utilize either Ray Barton’s patented rocker system or the qualifying Jesel Shaft Roller Rocker Arm product in their Hemi engines. To collect the Mickey Thompson payout, that company’s tires must be run during the competition on both the front and rear of the car. Decals for each company must also be displayed throughout the competition and product verification will take place at the conclusion of the event. Approved decals can be obtained before the race from representatives of each company.

Competitors in the Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) division are eligible to compete in Mopar’s Super Stock HEMI Challenge event. Featuring more than 25 Hemi-powered factory lightweight SS/AH 1968 Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts, the event winner will receive a $10,000 bonus. The final round will feature an all or nothing format as the competitors compete for not only the bragging rights but the cash prize. The event will also crown an overall Mopar HEMI Challenge series points champion based on rounds won at the two NHRA Sportsnationals held earlier this year. The Mopar HEMI Challenge Series winner will receive a $5,000 prize.

The Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge will take place on Friday, September 1, during the 52nd Mac Tools U.S. Nationals event at O’Reilly Raceway Park.