On Thursday, Oct. 31, Bob Tasca broke the sound barrier in an F-15 Eagle. Tasca was flown by Brig. Gen. Robert G. Novotny, 57th Wing Commander at Nellis Air Force Base. Tasca is also a pilot and now flies approximately 100,000 miles a year to NHRA races in a TBM 900. He more than doubled his usual ceiling of 31,000 feet in the F-15.

Bob Tasca gets a few instructions from Brig. Gen. Robert G. Novotny. General Novotny will warm up Tasca’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang Funny Car Friday at the Las Vegas Dodge NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil. The Agent can’t help by wonder what he’ll think of the nitro fumes?  (Ron Lewis photos)   [11/01/19]

If it hasn’t been getting dark early enough for you, just wait until Sunday. It’s time for most of the U.S. to move those clocks back an hour when Daylight Saving Time ends. The Agent must admit he’s puzzled as to why we even do this anymore. Seems the older he gets, the more likely he is to nod off when the sun goes down.   [11/01/19]

It came down to the final event of the year as Pete Maduri Jr. won the 2019 Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series championship. The group runs at western New York and southern Ontario tracks.

Along with co-driver and dad Pete Maduri Sr., the team came into the weekend with a mere one-point lead over second place, having just taken the lead the race before. Maduri Jr. dropped himself into the #1 qualifying position with a perfect 10.900 to get maximum points. If that wasn't enough, he made it to the semi-finals that day which gave him a 32-point lead over Tyler Halleen. Young Halleen was on a mission of his own, winning Saturday and putting himself in serious contention for the championship going into Sunday.

On day two, rain was in the forecast. Halleen qualified third and Maduri 7th, shrinking the points lead. When the skies opened up after round one and the event was cancelled, the title was clinched and the Maduri team were TNTSS champions with Halleen second.

Maduri Jr. also was the TNT Super Series champion in 2010.  (Ted Barnes photo)  [11/01/19]

Greg Anderson is hoping for the Pro Stock win this weekend. Not only is Las Vegas the home track for KB Racing team owners Ken and Judy Black, but one more win at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will give him the record for wins at the track. Currently Anderson is tied with Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher with eight Vegas wins, more than any other professional driver in any category.

With two races left in the season, Anderson is 99 points out of first place and still looking to move up.

“When you leave Las Vegas, you have to be within 80 to 100 points of the lead, and that number is only because it's points and a half at Pomona,” explained Anderson. “It's still realistic, if you're within 80 to 100 points, because anybody can beat anybody in this class. So that's the goal. My guess is that there will still be eight teams alive when we leave Las Vegas."  (Ron Lewis photo)  [11/01/19]

Todd Tutterow (near lane) and Steven Whiteley at Charlotte. Whiteley was runner up to Stevie Jackson in the final. (Chris Haverly photo)

“Stevie Fast” Jackson has sewn up the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series championship, but the 12th and final event of this season will be this weekend at Las Vegas.

There have been eight different winners this season. Heading into the final event, Todd Tutterow is second in points followed by Mike Janis, Rickie Smith and Mike Castellana as the top five.  [11/01/19]

Steve Ham was the Pro Slammer top qualifier on Thursday.

With the drag racing season winding down in the U.S., it’s just heating up in Australia. Competitors in the Atlantic Oils East Coast Thunder will brave the heat and humidity at Sydney Dragway through Saturday, Nov. 2.  [11/01/19]

In 1996 the original Sparrow concept vehicle made its debut at the San Francisco Auto Show. Heralded as both "quirky" and "brilliant,” the overall positive reaction led to the production of the World's First Single Passenger EV.

The Original "Bug Eyed Sparrow" is being donated to Petersen Museum for the viewing enjoyment for all to see for generations to come. The Sparrow is and has been an inspiration for the modern day electric car.

The Sparrow was invented at the Corbin World Headquarters in Hollister, CA. Corbin is a maker of motorcycle saddles.  [11/01/19]