“...With ever-increasing interest from racers, fans and manufacturers, the SamTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series features the best of American muscle. Competitors line up against each other for a heads-up contest showcasing drag-racing ready, factory-built vehicles including Ford Mustang Cobra Jets, Dodge Challenger Drag Paks and Chevrolet COPO Camaros. To win requires an elegant combination of technical tuning and superior driving.”

Just Wondering ... Based on the way the above NHRA press release announcing a qualified 32-car field at Indy for the Factory Stock Shootout was written, I would say that sooner rather than later the Factory Stock class will become the premier NHRA Pro doorslammer class especially with SamTech as a sponsor and direct Detroit involvement.

I’m thinking the future of both the 500 inch and Mountain Motored Pro Stock classes will be similar to what Pro Mod is now and NHRA will force the teams to find money and fund their class 100% if they want to play. – Jeff Burk (jeffburk@dragracingonline.com)   [08/08/19]

The third annual Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, Aug. 9-10 at Bandimere Speedway will also feature a $5,000-to-win One Cure Shootout presented by On Track Performance, John Low LPD and Corridor Collision, race officials announced.

The all-run shootout is designated for drivers who don’t qualify for the $10,000-to-win MagnaFuel ProStar 16 (Top Dragster) and QuickStar 16 (Top Sportsman) Shootouts presented by Menholt Auto Group.

The pre-entry lists for this year’s race, which is presented by J&A Service, Elite Motorsports, Big O Tires and will benefit One Cure, are made up of more than the 16 drivers that each Shootout will accept, prompting race officials to add a second-chance shootout.

After two qualifying sessions on Friday and one final shot on Saturday, the 16 quickest Top Dragster entries will go into the MagnaFuel ProStar 16 Shootout and the 16 quickest Top Sportsman drivers will race in the MagnaFuel QuickStar 16 Shootout. The remaining drivers in both classes will face off in the One Cure Shootout.  [08/08/19]

Jacobsmeyer was last year’s winner at the Funny Car Nationals.  (DRO file photo)

St Louis area racer Greg “Jake” Jacobsmeyer took his All-Star Dodge/Hotshots Dodge Challenger AA/FC to Grand Bend Motorplex in Ontario, Canada, and in his first qualifying run down the track lit up the scoreboard with a 5.55 at 266 mph, a best for the team.

Unfortunately, during routine servicing after the second round of qualifying, Jacobsmeyer’s team found a broken rocker stand and with no spares, the racing was over on what had been a very promising day.

Next event for the team will be the Funny Car Nationals Sept. 6-7 at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI.  [08/08/19]

Cometic Gasket announces a new MLX head gasket for the 2003+ Dodge Neon SRT4 (PN C15449-040). MLX Head Gaskets have active combustion seal embossment located on the outer layers of the gasket. The center layer "stopper" seal is a fold over design that is typically .006" thick. This layer limits full compression (yielding) of the combustion seal embossments while increasing stress in a small (.060" wide) cross section around the combustion chamber. No sealants or re-torquing required.  [08/08/19]