Steve Torrence will try to maintain his hot streak at this weekend’s NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. The 34-year-old from Kilgore, TX, has won Top Fuel at the previous two NHRA Mello Yello events at Charlotte and Atlanta that has him third in the Top Fuel points.

“The race car I have right now is the best race car I’ve ever had in my life,” Torrence said. “When you’re confident in you race car, it makes you a better driver.

“(Right now) I’m driving like a machine. (Crew chief) Richard Hogan is the key to that along with Bobby Lagana (Jr.), Justin Crosslin, Chris Martin, Mike Wingo, Cale Hood, Gary Pritchett. All those guys are family (and) I’ll put them up against anybody out there. I’ve really got a bad-ass group of guys.” [05/15/17]

Mopar enthusiasts from as far away as Canada, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and Florida took part in the day-long event that featured Chrysler Corporation’s full complement of late model street Hemi muscle cars.

Mooresville, North Carolina’s Leon Epling directed his 2015 Dodge Challenger down the Rockingham Dragway quarter mile in 9.570 seconds at more than 150 miles per hour to win the featured High Horsepower Hellcat class. Epling earlier turned the quickest elapsed time ever for a manual Challenger Hellcat at 9.08 seconds.

Jeremy Webb doubled-up at the wheel of his 2009 Jeep at the inaugural Modern Street Hemi Shootout. Webb, from Mohrsville, Pa., won the True Street Performance title and then claimed the King of the Hill championship, collecting $5,000 from Van Drake Racing. (photos courtesy Rockingham Dragway)

High Horsepower Hellcat: Leon Epling, Mooresville, 2015 Challenger, .296, 9.570, 151.51 mph, def. Jason Epling, Bean Station, Tenn., 2015 Challenger, no time.

ThitekPro (9.50): George Muller, NA, 2007 Jeep, .191, 9.542, 136.93 mph, def. Chris Harrigan, Orlando, Fla., 2006 Dodge Charger, .162, 14.254, 69.39 mph.

True Street Performance (10.50): Jeremy Webb, Mohrsville, Pa., 2009 Jeep, .103, 10.532, 120.43 mph, def. Ron Polidora, Hubert, 2017 Dodge Challenger, .037, 10.654, 130.30 mph.

Legmaker Intakes (11.50):  Bill McFadden, Scotch Plains, N.J., 2007 Dodge, .205, 11.851, 100.32 mph, def. Jason Fradenburgh, West End, 2007 Jeep SRT, .516, 11.556, 113.12 mph.

RK Motors (12.50): Gary Rhudy, NA, 2014 Dodge Challenger, .070, 12.564, 111.12 mph, def. Gary Sanders, Eagle Springs, 2017 Dodge Challenger, .004, 12.478 breakout, 97.14 mph.

East Coast Mopars: Jon Dalton, Ashtabula, Ohio, 2014 Dodge Charger, .058, 12.673 on a 12.650, 97.39 mph, def. Ron Polidora, Hubert, .195, 10.732 on a 10.660, 130.02 mph.

King of the Hill: Jeremy Webb, Mohrsville, Pa., 2009 Jeep, .082, 10.567 on a 10.490, 118.85 mph, def. Gary Rhudy, NA, 2014 Dodge Challenger, .131, 13.818 on a 13.780, 102.97 mph.

Demon Performance Super Pro: Todd Barber, Orange, Conn., 2010 Dodge Challenger, .432, 8.985, 156.15 mph, def. Dan Poltkin, Palm City, Fla., 2007 Dodge Charger, .149, 9.582, 112.50 mph. [05/15/17]

Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway kicked off the 2017 season for its Franco’s Pizza IHRA Drag Racing Series with a large turnout of competitors.

Mike Nowak picked up the Top 8 victory over Mark Talmadge despite Talmadge having a one-second advantage. Nowak in a ’67 Camaro ran 5.031 on a 5.01 dial at 138.04 mph to Talmadge’s 6.059 on 6.04 dial at 111.11 mph in his ’75 Vega.

The Buffalo Street Outlaws made their first visit to Lancaster as part of the opening day festivities. Jason Bezinque in a 2002 Camaro ran 5.533/127.92 and defeated Brian Prior’s ’84 Camaro that ran 5.671/123.92 in the heads up final.

The Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds final came down a pair of veterans in Mike Peters (shown) and Dick Nearhoof. Nearhoof broke out by less than a tenth of a second to hand Peters the win, which kicks off his class championship defense with a victory.

Donny “DJ” Raiser cruised to the win in Tread City Tire Street over Mark Schifferle, both from Lancaster, NY.

Mallare Enterprises Top ET and McGard Mod ET could not declare a winner due to the midnight curfew. Both classes were down to their final pairing with Pete Maduri, Jr. and Kevin Frank remaining in Top and Clay Ricketson and Joe Skok in Mod.

IHRA Drag Racing resumes at Lancaster National Dragway on Friday, May 19, with Buffalo Street Outlaws Real Street and Unlimited Big Tire joining the four weekly classes of racing. [05/15/17]

Don Schumacher announced that Pennzoil will continue as the official "Oil Technology of Don Schumacher Racing" in NHRA with a new multiyear agreement.

"We've been working with DSR since March of 2015, when Pennzoil became the "Official Oil Technology of Don Schumacher Racing," said Mark Henry, Shell Lubricants Brand and Communications Manager. "Since making the switch to Pennzoil to protect their 11,000-horsepower engines, the DSR teams have had outstanding performances on the NHRA circuit, breaking track records and posting world championships each season. We're really pleased to be part of such an incredible winning team."

In addition to developing an engine oil that withstands the rigors of an 11,000-horsepower supercharged engine fueled by a blend of nitromethane, Pennzoil supports DSR's primary community charity, Riley Children's Hospital for Children in Indiana.

Pennzoil will also be a major associate sponsor of current NHRA Top Fuel points leader Leah Pritchett and her primary backer for at least one NHRA Mello Yello event this year. It also has a major presence on the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car of two-time world champion Matt Hagan and as a major associate on reigning world champion Ron Capps' NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge. (Ron Lewis photo)  [05/15/17]

JEGS cast iron Vortec cylinder heads are the perfect complement to your small block Chevy. Made from select GM castings they offer the same features and benefits as the OEM Vortec cylinder head, including fast-burn combustion chambers and high velocity ports, improving horsepower and efficiency over earlier designed (non-Vortech) SBC heads. These cylinder heads will fit all 1955 to present small blocks except LS-1 and LT1/LT4 (reverse coolant flow) engines. [05/15/17]