260-mph DRO AA/FC Challenge racers and Heritage Top Fuelers headed for Tulsa

The DragRacingOnline.com AA/FC Challenge presented by Elite Motorsports will run this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22-23, at Tulsa Raceway Park. The event will be a part of the Raymond Beadle Memorial. Among the drivers will be Ronny Young in the “Blue Max” made famous by Beadle.

 

It will be nitro fumes and flames under the lights when, for the first time, the DRO series will have two teams that have gone over 260 mph in the quarter mile: Two-time DRO champions Paul Romine and John Hale.

 

In addition, Tulsa track operator Todd Martin has booked the NHRA Heritage Series Top Fuelers also capable of 260-mph performances. (Jeff Burk photo)  [09/18/17]

Gray family doubles up at zMAX Dragway

It was a good homecoming for the Gray family as the North Carolinians got wins in Pro Stock and Pro Mod at the NHRA Carolina Nationals.

 

Tanner Gray got his first win at his home track when the Pro Stock rookie defeated Greg Anderson in the final.

Uncle Jonathan Gray defeated “Stevie Fast” Jackson in the Pro Mod final. See the Pro Mod results at here. (Chris Haverly photos)  [09/18/17]

Edwards returns to KB Racing pit at Charlotte

​Mike Edwards (right) added some input to crew chief Rob Downing’s tune-up.  (KB Racing photo)There was a familiar face in the KB Racing camp for the first event of NHRA's six-race Countdown to the Championship. Veteran Pro Stock driver, crew chief, and 2009 series champion Mike Edwards was on site and working alongside KB Racing's longtime crew chief Rob Downing at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. He was last an on-site contributor to the KB Racing team in 2015.

 

Edwards was offering input pertaining to the KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stockers driven by reigning and three-time world champion Jason Line, four-time world champ Greg Anderson, and current points leader Bo Butner.

 

"There were a couple things Rob was wanting somebody else to look at, and I got voted in," said Edwards, who had back surgery at the beginning of the year and has been progressing through recovery. "It's good to be here. I've just been doing things around the house and all the things normal people do – but we all know drag racers aren't normal. The first year after I quit racing, I missed this a lot. As time goes on, I don't miss it as much. But I'm still interacting with these guys a little bit, and with that little fix, I've got enough."

 

Edwards already might have been of help as KB Racing had one or more of the top three cars in each of four rounds of Carolina Nationals qualifying. Line, who has been somewhat challenged much of the season, was a top performer throughout qualifying, particularly on Saturday at zMAX Dragway as he had the quickest car in both sessions.

 

Line was defeated in the semifinal by Tanner Gray. Anderson knocked out Butner in the semifinal but lost to Gray in the final round.  [09/18/17]

Steven Whiteley pauses racing for birth of first child

Pro Mod racer Steven Whiteley was not at the Charlotte race and won’t be at St. Louis either. He is sitting out a couple of events to be with his wife, Delaina, for the birth of their daughter.

 

“We’ll probably fall to sixth or seventh in the points by the time we’re back out there – lower, may,” said the driver who has been in the top five of the J&A Service Pro Mod series points all year. “But as long as we change the car number (by finishing in the Top 10) for next year, I’ll be happy. There are bigger things in life – this is my first child. I can race for the rest of my life.   [09/18/17]

You want a burnout? I’ll show you a burnout…kinda

Not to be outdone by the burnout contest for Pro Stocks at Indy, at Charlotte Josh Hart in the Advance Auto TAD smoked the tires on the launch during qualifying and never lifted, smoking the tires to the 700-800 foot mark. That’s got to be good for some sort of prize. (Chris Haverly photo)  [09/18/17]

Maybe NHRA should coordinate with football schedules?

This was taken during the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at zMAX Dragway. According to DRO photographer Chris Haverly, the Friday crowd was low and Saturday was pretty good, but there were no night sessions by the pros. The NFL Carolina Panthers played at home in Charlotte on Sunday where they had a full house with tickets about $100 each.  (Chris Haverly photo) [09/18/17]

New Product of the Day

 

GM Sportsman Tool Steel Camshafts from COMP Cams

Custom GM Sportsman Tool Steel Camshafts from COMP Cams feature core technology widely used in NHRA and other professional race engines for its high strength and profile flexibility. Special ST4 grade tool steel is 30 percent stronger than SAE 5150 or SAE 8620 options. Due to its higher carbon content, it wears less than the S7 tool steel and is superior to camshafts made from induction-hardened or carburized steel cores. GM Sportsman Tool Steel Camshafts can handle more aggressive profiles and offers engine builders the opportunity to choose virtually any combination of duration, lift, lobe separation and advance. Can also be reground multiple times for fine tuning or annual refreshes without material degradation.  [09/18/17]

VOLUME XIX,  NUMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER  2017

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