The dark clouds began to lift for Hight’s team at Norwalk.  (Ron Lewis photo)

After making adjustments to his AAA of Northern New England Chevrolet Camaro SS before the Norwalk, Ohio, race, reigning Funny Car world champion Robert Hight is looking forward to the second half of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season beginning this weekend with the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

“We were running bigger cylinder heads, a different camshaft and a different supercharger to start the year because we were trying to go faster and set records,” Hight said. “(Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) decided to go back to what we ran last year, the same stuff Courtney’s running right now, because with the NHRA’s new track prep, we just can’t run as hard as we want to."

Now fourth in points, Hight, who owns the New England Dragway speed record after running 334.65 mph at last year’s event, is looking for his first win at the venue.

“I have a lot of confidence because we ran this same combination all last year,” Hight said. “It’s not like we’re putting something foreign in there. (Brian) Corradi (co-crew of Courtney Force’s Advance Auto Parts Chevy) and those guys took what we had over the winter and that’s what they’ve been running. They’re going to be hard to catch but I don’t want them to slow down. We’re fourth now and we still have plenty of time before the Countdown."  [07/06/18]

Bo Butner hopes to start the second half of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season the same way he started the first half, and that is with a win.

The 2017 Pro Stock champion was first in points through the first six races of 2018, but struggled to just two round wins over the next five races, dropping the standout to eighth in points. For a driver who had 58 round wins a year ago and just one first-round loss, it wasn’t what he had become accustomed to. He rebounded with a semifinal appearance at the most recent race in Norwalk, which was enough to give Butner, who won five races in 2017, confidence he is back on track.

“That car, it’s the same car that won the championship so I know it’s there,” Butner said. “We have to find it, but we just have to get it back. Greg (Anderson) is running very good, but Jason (Line) and my car have struggled. It’s not a secret. You can see it in qualifying and in points. But the year is not even close to over. I think if you stay in the top six starting the Countdown you’ve got a shot.”   (Ron Lewis photo)   [07/06/18]

Mike Janis at last year’s World Series of Pro Mod.  (Joe McHugh photo)

Quick Drive, a creator of torque converter drives, will serve as a sponsor for the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by One Cure and J&A Service, which takes place Aug. 10-11 at Bandimere Speedway outside of Denver.

“A majority of our business comes directly from door cars and specifically Pro Mod, and that’s what our bread and butter is,” said Brock Graves, who is the owner of Quick Drive, along with his father, Steve, and his brother, Blayne. “To be involved in a race like this with this level of competition and competitors, it’s huge. There’s a lot of challenges, but we want to be the best. The more the sport grows, the more interest it creates and the more opportunity it gives us to develop a better product. There’s a huge level of passion in our product.”

The second year for the event will feature 32 Pro Mod drivers vying for a $100,000 winner-take-all prize. The event will also feature the MagnaFuel Pro Star 16 and Quick Star 16 Shootouts, the JR Race Car 7.90 Shootout, the One Cure Reverse Race, and more.   [07/06/18]

Jamie Holston was the winner of Thursday’s Gambler’s Race as the 12th edition of the BTE World Footbrake Challenge presented by Yukon Gear & Axle began at Tennessee’s Bristol Dragway.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be contested in typical bracket racing form with first round buybacks available. Turn on two win lights in rounds one and two and you begin to get paid.  (John DiBartolomeo photo)    [07/06/18]

The 6th annual Pro Mod vs. Fuel Altered Showdown was held at North Star Dragway in Denton, TX.

After the first round of eliminations, the returning 10 winners lined up for a second round Chicago-style bout that would bring the quickest winning Outlaw Pro Mod and Fuel Altered back for the final. Doug Riesterer was the final Pro Mod in his nitrous-aided Camaro while Mark Billington drove Raymond Austin’s “Magic Dragon” altered.

Riesterer was off the line first with a .063 to Billington’s .107 RT, but by half-track that gap was closed. Billington’s 3.75 at 193 mph drove around Riesterer’s 3.99 at 184, making the record for the altereds 5-1 in the event’s history.

Dates for next year’s match-up back at North Star will be June 28-29.  [07/06/18]

The global presence at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, Dec. 6-8 at the Indianapolis Convention Center, will increase significantly for the 2018 edition.

In addition to the International Lounge and translators that are available each year, Show officials will host international media from key regions of the world to facilitate global coverage.

“Every year thousands of attendees from more than 70 countries attend the PRI Trade Show to see the latest trends and products in the global motorsports industry,” PRI General Manager Bill Miller said. “Because of motorsports’ unrivaled international presence and the growth in racing series and events, such as the FIA World Rally Cross Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Formula 1 racing, we increased our media activities and overall international outreach efforts.”

The 2018 PRI Trade Show will feature over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths and showcasing the latest developments in auto racing technology. In addition, the days leading up to and including the PRI Show, which have come to be known as Race Industry Week, will offer a range of motorsports-related activities in and around the Indiana Convention Center beginning on Monday, Dec. 3.

To register for the 2018 PRI Trade Show, visit pri2018.com.       [07/06/18]