NHRA legend Jeb Allen will return to Top Fuel competition when he partners with Don Schumacher Racing at the 31st annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, July 27-29. Palomar Builders, the construction company owned and operated by Allen, will be on the sides of the Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett.

“I became involved in drag racing because my mother and father both raced,” said the 1981 Top Fuel world champion, who is friends with DSR owner Don Schumacher. “I started as a mechanic and then progressed. It’s important to me to be able to give back and to help someone who is progressing in their career.”

Allen was the racer who finally bettered Don Garlits’ 5.63 all-timer at the 1975 Supernationals by turning a 5.62 at the 1981 NHRA Gatornationals. Among his bigger event wins were titles at the 1981 NHRA Winternationals, back-to-back NHRA Summernationals (1978/79) wins, and two IHRA Springnationals crowns. All in all, he won five NHRA national events, four IHRA ones, and an unknown amount of AHRA titles. (Tim Marshall photo)

“I left drag racing for a while, then started to follow what was going on with the Make-A-Wish team,” explained Allen. “That inspired me to get involved once again. I love everything the Make-A-Wish/DSR partnership has accomplished. It really touched my heart.”

Palomar Builders has raised $500,000 in donations for Make-A-Wish via three ‘House of Hope’ projects.  [07/12/18]

John Schnatter, who founded Papa John’s more than three decades ago, resigned as chairman of the board of the pizza company on Wednesday, although he remains a member.

Schnatter reportedly used the “n-word” back in May during a conference call with the company’s ad agency. He apologized for the statement at the time.

Last November, Schnatter blamed the company’s sagging sales on the NFL’s “poor leadership” in response to the demonstrations during the national anthem, and in January 2018 he stepped down as CEO of the company.

The Papa John’s name has been noticeably absent from Leah Pritchett’s Top Fueler recently.  (Chicago Jon Hoffman photo) [07/12/18]

The "Wicked Quick" Chevrolet of North Dakota's Jim Chase leaves on the green on its way to a 6.17 blast at 225 mph, a win over Tony Arcuri's "Firefighter" Ford and, the overall race victory at Yellowstone Dragstrip. The Billings, Montana, track hosted the Rocky Mountain Superchargers all funny car show along with a strong contingent of Rocky Mountain Nostalgia A/FX racers.

Scott Dominguez calls his Fiat funny car "Slowpoke" but the name fools no one. He won an Outstanding Performance award for making the trek from his Garden City, CO, home while setting a new blowout record with four tire explosions on the trip!

Next on the series schedule is Aug. 17-18 at SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend, KS.   [07/12/18]

Two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders will compete Aug. 10-11 in the World Series of Pro Mod at Bandimere Speedway.

Enders made her Pro Mod debut earlier this year at Houston in the Elite Motorsports turbocharged Camaro built by RJ Race Cars, but was one of 12 entries that did not qualify for the 16-car field.  (Ron Lewis photo)   [07/12/18]

In advance of the July 18-22 third annual SFG Promotions’ Super Bowl of Drag Racing and its half million dollar cash purse, Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood has commissioned Rockingham-based Hudson Paving, Inc., to refurbish the track’s feeder roads and thereby provide greater ease of access for an expected field of 500 of the nation’s premier racers. Focus of the four-day, big-money bracket race are $100,000-to-win races on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with sponsorship from FTI, VP Racing Fuels, and Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels, respectively.  [07/11/18]

This has been a busy season for teams in the nitro funny car class and with new entries and drivers, Legends of Nitro has anounced the inaugural Rookie of the Year program for drivers who compete in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series, the United Nitro Funny Car Championship Series presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports, and select independent events in the United States.

“As a fan of all the nitro classes, we are proud to see new entries and performance in the class,” said Legends of Nitro owner Kevin Stith. “After filling out the 260-MPH Club for Nitro Funny Cars, we’ve noticed a surge in drivers moving over to drive these great, fan favorite racecars. With that, I’m always proud to recognize talented new drivers.”

The winner of the Legends of Nitro Rookie of the Year for 2018 will receive a specially designed letterman’s jacket with $250 cash tucked in the pocket. Early candidates are Billy Morris, driver of the Eddie Knox Racing “Problem Child” Camaro (shown), Elaine Sellers, driver of the “Lady Elaine” Trans Am, and Nancy Matter, driver of the “Guardian” Trans Am. The winner will be revealed at the 27th California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in October.

A select group of Legends of Nitro judges will be making the final decision as to which driver will be chosen. Stith added, “We are also putting together a similar Rookie of the Year program for the 6.0 Fuel Altered class and will make that announcement soon.”

Stith Printing and Legends of Nitro is the leading printer of officially licensed vintage drag racing fan apparel.  (Darr Hawthorne photo)    [07/12/18]