ATI to sponsor ‘Jim Beattie Stock/Super Stock Memorial Race’

The third annual Jim Beattie Stock/Super Stock Memorial Race will be held at Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, MD, this weekend, Aug. 19-20.

 

The race honor’s ATI Performance Products’ founder, James Beattie, Sr. ATI will award $1,000 to the winner or the highest finisher with an automatic transmission package in each class. Should an automatic car not win or R/U, the highest finishing racer with an automatic will win the award. The award is not contingent on use of ATI product but racers must display the 2017 Jim Beattie Memorial Decal on each side of their car throughout the entire event.   [08/17/17]

Detroit to hold drag race at City Airport

After years of effort that required FAA approval and drew support from Police Chief James Craig, Detroit will hold its first-ever legal drag racing event.

 

The Motor City Showdown will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23, at City Airport. The effort was spearheaded by NHRA racer and Detroit native, Brian Olatunji.

 

"Obviously, illegal street racing gets a lot of attention and growing up I was well aware, as most Detroiters are, of French Road, which has been a hot bed for illegal street racing for many years. Hosting this event is being able to actually demonstrate what drag racing is on a big stage," Olatunji told the Detroit Metro Times.

 

Street racing enthusiasts in recent months have been petitioning for City Airport to be their sanctioned space, and two months ago were met with tentative support as they pitched the idea to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

 

"[Chief Craig] thinks if we can prove that these events work really well this year, then we can talk about a permanent race track if there is a basis for it,” Duggan said at the time.  [08/17/17]

Marina Anderson to make TAD debut at Brainerd

Marina Anderson of Lombard, IL, has announced she will be making her NHRA debut at the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in the Top Alcohol Dragster category.

 

Anderson will drive the A/Fuel Dragster she built with the assistance of Competition Fabrications and Dave Daunheimer. She completed licensing at the LODRS North Central Regional race at Route 66 Raceway in June of 2017.

 

The team will be racing at the LODRS Central Regional at Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa, on Sept. 8-10 and then the North Central Regional at Gateway Motorsports Park, Oct. 20-22.

 

"In 2018 we plan to run a similar local schedule with a mix of Divisional and a National events within the Midwest," Ms. Anderson said.  [08/17/17]

McLeod Racing moving to new location

Beginning Sept. 1, McLeod Racing will move its operations to a newly purchased manufacturing facility in nearby Anaheim, CA. The new 25,000 square foot building will house new offices and new manufacturing operations.

 

McLeod’s moving plans are to be seamless, so customers will continue to get their orders shipped on time, and without delay. With the larger facility, McLeod will be able to better accommodate customers with more products stocked and ready to ship.

 

All Customers and Vendors: Please use the following address starting Sept. 1, 2017:  McLeod Racing LLC, 1570 Lakeview Loop, Anaheim, CA 92807. The main telephone number, 714-630-2764, will remain the same. [08/17/17]

Rupert ruled ‘legal’ by NHRA

After the controversy over a device in Jason Rupert’s fuel system broke out at last weekend’s rain-shortened Nightfire Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Boise, ID, the NHRA has issued its ruling on.

 

Rupert’s modification, which he and crew chief Brad Littlefield say is a hi/low valve that allows excess fuel during a burnout to be returned to the tank, so that the engine runs cleaner and, using Littlefield’s term, does not “blubber” on the burnout, is deemed legal.

 

Rupert says he has been using the device for a few years and has been inspected by both NHRA and IHRA Tech Officials.

 

We’ll have the race report tomorrow in DRO.  (Brian Losness photo) [08/17/17]

Wilkerson hopes to start anew at Brainerd

This weekend's 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will allow veteran Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson and his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang team to make amends for a tough Western Swing. The team will arrive at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) with a new chassis and the bright Circle K logo on the hood of their Funny Car.

 

"When we left Seattle, we said we were going to go to bed, get up the next morning, and leave that all behind us. That's just what we did," said Wilkerson, currently No. 8 in the Funny Car standings with two races left before the Countdown to the Championship field is set. Wilkerson, who was runner-up at BIR in 2003, will be looking for his first Brainerd win. The facility is one of just a handful where Wilkerson has yet to earn a victory.

 

"I think the biggest thing is that these cars are all so fast now, and they're like a bunch of bracket cars out there," said the 20-time nitro Funny Car winner, who is also the team owner and tuner. "I have to stay on my game and pay attention, and my guys have to stay focused. It's a challenge, but I'm excited to get to Brainerd. I've never had a lot of bad luck there, and it seems like we usually do well at Brainerd."

 

For the fifth season, Wilkerson will race with the support of Circle K stores of the Twin Cities. He will fly the Circle K logo on the hood of his 330+ mph LRS Ford Shelby Mustang.

 

"Daniel [Wilkerson's son, who, like his dad, is knowledgeable in both the mechanical side of things and driving a nitro Funny Car] will be there with Brian Stewart behind the wheel again, so that will be fun. I always learn a little something when we have two cars, so hopefully that will help us a little bit there, too. I think it'll be a good weekend for us."                                                                                                                      [08/17/17]

Old School Bracket Nationals this Saturday

The rain makeup date from May for the Southwest Heritage Racing Association Old School Bracket Nationals is this Saturday, Aug. 19, at North Star Dragway in Denton, TX.

 

This event features the Old School No Electronics and Old School Electronics racers.

 

The Old School Bracket racers are half-way through their season with Michael Graves leading the No Electronics class and Dean Johnson with the Electronics points lead.

 

The next event for all the SHRA classes will be Sept. 9 at Wichita Raceway Park in Wichita Falls, TX.   [08/17/17]

VOLUME XIX,  NUMBER 8 - AUGUST   2017

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