Just Wondering ... Whatever happened to the track reporter? There used to be a track reporter and/or photographer at most dragstrips who helped promote the track, its racers and the sport by sending out words and photos to Drag News, National Dragster, SS&DI, and so on. There are still tracks and racing series that do it, but far fewer than in the past.

How do you attract new fans if you don’t get the word out? And how are racers going to serve their sponsors without some publicity and if no one knows what happened?   [08/12/19]

Los Angeles-area native Scott Oksas (shown) benefitted from some first-round luck against Stevie “Fast” Jackson and then rode a string of three straight incredible runs between 5.86 and 5.88 to claim victory at the third annual Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by J&A Service, Elite Motorsports, Big O Tires and benefiting One Cure at Bandimere Speedway.

His turbocharged RJ Race Cars Ford Shelby Mustang ran the event-winning blast of 5.882 seconds at 247.38 mph in the final round against Doug Winters’ blown ’69 Chevelle.

Oksas got the first-round win when Jackson turned on the red light and then went on to beat Rick Snavely and Rick Hord while Winters defeated Terry Haddock in the opening round and then had two byes into the final.

“We said, ‘Let them come beat us,’” Oksas said. “You can’t ask for anything better than how we ran. It’s just a tribute to Jeff (Pierce, tuner) and this entire team.”

In addition to the Pro Mod main event, the World Series of Pro Mod included competition in a handful of other classes, including the addition of the PSCA’s Xtreme Drag Radial class.

ProStar 16 Shootout: JB Strassweg, 6.29 dial, 6.288 ET, 211.63 def. EmiLee Novak in an electric dragster, 6.30 dial, 6.269 ET, 220.66

QuickStar 16 Shootout: Greg Lair, ’15 Camaro, 6.90 dial 6.883 ET, 200.44 def. Mike Candelairo, ’57 Bel Air, 6.283 ET, 226.50

One Cure Shootout: Tony Stark, 6.70dial, 6.716 ET, 185.97 def. Ethan Conyers, 8.08 dial, 8.107ET, 166.31

Xtreme Drag Radial: Brandon McBride, 4.784, 167.26 def. Lance Knigge

XDR B Field: Chris Dauray, 5.764, 121.07 def. Eric McEwan

King Street: Chris Warner, 10.76 dial, 10.79 ET def. Kipp Smallwood, 11.08 dial, 11.102 ET

7.90 Shootout: Dalton Allendorf, 8.306, 65.18 def. Jay Everhart, 12.211, 31.06  (Joe McHugh photo) [08/12/19]

Mendy Fry is the 48th Pepsi Nightfire Nationals Top Fuel Champion. Fry won with a 5.62 ET at 254 MPH in the High Speed Motorsports Hemi against Adam Sorokin, who turned a 6.08 ET at 204 MPH in the Champion Speed Shop small block Chevrolet. The weekend saw Fry break the Firebird Raceway track record with a 5.62 ET for number-one qualifier and then break it again with a 5.59 ET in a semi-final bye run.

Jeff Arend drove the “California Hustler” to the Funny Car win

DRO Nostalgia Editor Brian Losness will have the entire race report coming soon. In the meantime, check out his terrific DRO Facebook coverage including interviews with Fry and Arend.  [08/12/19]

Brian Losness tells the Agent that NHRA president Glen Cromwell and Idaho governor Brad Little were at Boise’s Firebird Raceway for the Nightfire Nationals.

A tip of the Agent’s fedora to a couple of guys who were just hanging out and enjoying the races. [08/12/19]

Jim Young won in Top Fuel, defeating Shawn Bowen, whose dragster crashed in the final.

This year’s Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park featured a four-car field of Top Fuel Dragsters, eight-car qualified field of Nostalgia Front Engine Top Fuel Dragsters, eight Nostalgia Alcohol Funny Cars, and Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars.

We didn’t have a reporter at the event and can’t find the all the results, so we’re waiting for some info from the track.

The US 131 Funny Car Nationals will be held on Sept. 6-7 with the Funny Car Chaos racers as part of the action. [08/12/19]

John Force takes a ride on Hayden Proffit II’s jet truck.  (Mary Lendzion photo)

The 42nd Annual Kelly Night Under Fire on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH, played to a packed house.

“I could not be more proud of how hard our team worked or appreciative of the overwhelming response from our fans,” said Bill Bader Jr., Summit Motorsports Park president. “It was the largest-attended Kelly Night Under Fire in the event’s 42-year history. Great weather, great performances and perhaps the best Kelly Night Under Fire we’ve ever produced!”

Among the major draws were NHRA Funny Car drivers John Force, Robert Hight, Ron Capps, Tim Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr., and when it was time to ratchet up and race, Robert Hight took the win with a 3.91 in his Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro over Ron Capps, who was right there with a 3.96 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger RT Funny Car. [08/12/19]

The running of the Lucas Oil Super 64 presented by American Race Cars on the eve of the Kelly Night Under Fire has become an annual tradition at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH. The runoff-style race features Summit Motorsports Park Edelbrock Super Series Finish Line Club members who are in the top sixteen in points in Edelbrock Super Pro, Edelbrock Pro, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation and Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike as of Aug. 1.

For this year’s race, which took place Aug. 9, $48,800 was on the line, with winners earning $10,000 each, runners-up earning $1,000, semifinalists earning $200, quarterfinalists earning $100 and eighth finalists earning $50.

As family, friends and fans cheered them on, Rick Schneider secured the win with a 4.76 on a 4.76 dial over Wayne Baker, who had trouble and couldn’t complete his pass in Edelbrock Super Pro, while Brian Cireddu (shown) collected the win with a 6.35 on a 6.34 dial over Chad Sweitzer, who broke out with a 6.35 on a 6.36 dial in Edelbrock Pro.

Nick Hastings hauled to the win with a 7.74 on a 7.73 dial over Gordie Stevens, who turned in an 8.37 on an 8.35 dial in Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation, and Eric Harmon was victorious with a dead-on 5.22 on a 5.22 dial over Ed James, who broke out with a 5.32 on a 5.33 dial in Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike.  (Moto Lenz Photos)  [08/12/19]

Jason Arbery was the Top Sportsman winner. (Jeremy Horvarth/HighRPM photo)

Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series competitors have impressed at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Drag Strip this weekend for the NT Nationals – round two of the 2019/2020 Series.

After a day of qualifying on Friday, Saturday hosted eliminations racing for all of the championship series brackets and when all was said and done, it was Aiden Abel getting the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster win over Tommy Turic; Levi Addison defeated Al Henry (Modified Bike); and Michael Giannaros defeated Claude Petrilli (Super Street).

In Super Sedan Chris Lioulios was the winner over Darren Mallison; Christine Steffens took the Supercharged Outlaws win over Jon Ferguson; and it was Jason Arbery over Vlado Turic (Top Sportsman) who emerged victorious with ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies.

The 2019/2020 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will now travel to Mildura’s Sunset Strip for its third round of the season, to be held September 21-22.    [08/12/19]

JEGS Electric Jr. Dragster is offered Turn Key or as a Conversion Kit to upgrade your old chassis. No more engine, clutch or carburetor rebuilds. No oil changes or engine overheating worries. Zero fuel consumption. Weather changes do not affect ET. NHRA approved. [08/12/19]