Since the U.S. Nationals finale was shown on Monday, we had to wait a bit longer than normal for the rating numbers to come out. The numbers for the FOX network broadcast were 950,000 viewers and a .61 rating. That is the biggest viewership and ties the highest rating of the year so far.  [09/10/19]

Ryan Diosdado had a near-perfect day Sept. 8 at Auto Club Dragway as he and Brian Fischle met in the final round of the K&N 890 Series presented by Blaster with the winner not only grabbing the event title, but the 2019 championship. Diosdado got the win and the series title.

 

Points leader Joe Lucas could have locked up the title in the second round of eliminations, but drew a red-light against Matt Fischle, opening the door for Diosdado and Brian Fischle with a shot for the championship, if either won the event. That is exactly what came about. Brian Fischle defeated David Wolf in his semifinal and Diosdado advanced to the final with an 8.902 to Summer Richardson’s too quick 8.891. In the final Fischle left the line with a better reaction time, but it was Diosdado’s win light that came on, 8.918, 158.97 to a losing 8.891, 168.62, for his first series title.

In the Sunday non-points racer appreciation event, Les Matsukado of Honolulu defeated Gabriel Torres in the final round.  (Bob Johnson photos)  [09/10/19]

The “A team” from Eddyville (IA) Raceway Park won the IHRA Midwest Division Summit Team Championship at their home track. See all the event results at here.

 

The IHRA Summit Team Finals heads to Darlington Dragway Sept. 11-15 for Division 9 (Raiders) and to US 131 Motorsports Park Sept. 12-15 for Division 5 (Thunder).     [09/10/19]

Janie Palm of Bunker Hill, IL, won the Pro Motorcycle class and Street Motorcycle class on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the United Black Drag Racer Association's annual "Black Sunday" event. Palm also finished fourth in the final point standings for World Wide Technology Raceway's Motorcycle bracket racing series. (John Bisci photo)

 

Other Saturday winners included: Brandon Carter (Small Tire No Time), Eric Nelson (Big Tire No Time), Mike Solomon Jr. (True Street No Time), George Atchinson (Super Pro), Kevin Corzine (Pro) and Jason Phillips (Sportsman/Street).

 

Sunday's UBDRA finale was canceled by event promoters due to weather and will not be rescheduled this year.   [09/10/19]

Cruz Pedregon will have a special guest in his pit Saturday, Sept. 14, when he welcomes one of his favorite athletes, boxing legend Larry Holmes. Holmes is a former WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Heavyweight Champion of the World and the founder of the Heart of a Legend foundation. The foundation's mission is to help the underprivileged by supporting and assisting local cities and communities. Holmes and his family will be in Pedregon's pit for qualifying and will have two signed boxing gloves to auction off to benefit the Heart of a Legend foundation. Holmes drag raced in years past, but this will be his first time to attend an NHRA event.

 

Pedregon and team have been busy in the shop and will be trying out several new parts on the Snap-on Dodge this weekend in Reading. "Our focus as a team for the rest of the season is to win races and make sure the car is running its best. I'm really proud of Glen (Huszar) and Nick (Casertano) and the solid young team we've built," Cruz said.

 

Crew Chief Huszar said, "Nick and I have been working with Cruz and the team on the engine/clutch combination. It's performing well, but still needs some work. We're trying out some additional new parts, and we believe it’ll all work well together for the rest of the season and be a positive for the 2020 season ahead."  (Ron Lewis photo)  [09/10/19]

Tim Wilkerson starts the Countdown as No. 10 in Funny Car standings.  (Ron Lewis photo)

 

The Agent was gratified to see that there are full fields for this weekend’s Reading, PA, Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals (16 in Top Fuel and 17 in Funny Car).

 

"We're happy to be able to get in there again, and now we have to keep beating on the drum,” Tim Wilkerson said. “We haven't had a whole lot of luck lately, but this is the right time for it to turn around. The first part of the year has been up and down, but we've had a lot of new things we've been working with, including this great new Ford Mustang Funny Car body. We're about to turn the corner, and hopefully, in the Countdown we'll really shine. Last year, we took off when we got into those last six races. Hopefully, we can win some rounds and get ourselves up in the middle. If we can do that, we'll have a real chance to fight for the championship."

 

Billy Torrence slid into the No. 10 spot in Top Fuel. All point re-set in the Countdown with 10 points separating each of the top 10 racers.   [09/10/19]

Series young gun Drew Beale won his first Victory race recently at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova, IL, and is planning on bringing the Dan Driscoll-owned Pontiac to St. Louis to go for win number two.   (Dennis Mothershed photo)

 

The coveted Victory Nostalgia Super Stock series championship has always been a hard-fought battle going into the finals, but this year it has gone to a new level. The sixth and final points race in the series will take place this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14, at the Monster Muscle Car Weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.

 

More than 40 of the classic Super Stocks are expected, with five racers within one round of the #1 position now held by Tom Hoffman and more than five others having a shot at the crown. Past champions Jim Hagenhoff, Clay Kossuth and Russ Berens are going for the championship as well.

 

The Victory cars will make qualifying runs on Friday with eliminations and the fight for the championship on Saturday afternoon.   [09/10/19]

Andrew Hines leads the PSM points. The class will take part in all six Countdown events this year, but only five next season.  (Jim Kelso photo)

 

The NHRA has released the 2020 schedule for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The class will once again compete at 16 of the 24 events on the schedule although they will be competing at several new locations in 2020.

 

For the first time in NHRA history, Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete in all three events that make up the Western Swing. Additionally, fans will get to check out the two-wheelers in Houston as well as in Bristol, TN.

 

Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete in five events in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Points will be adjusted accordingly.

 

2020 NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock Motorcycle Regular Season

March 12-15: AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL

April 3-5: DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Las Vegas

April 17-19: Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals, Houston

May 15-17: NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta

May 29-31: Virginia NHRA Nationals, Richmond, VA

June 19-21: NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, TN

June 25-28: Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, OH

July 17-19: Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Denver

July 24-26: NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Sonoma, CA

July 31-Aug. 2: Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Northwest Nationals, Seattle

Sept. 2-7: NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis

 

2020 NHRA Mello Yello Countdown To The Championship

Sept. 17-20: Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals, Reading, PA

Sept. 25-27: NHRA Carolina Nationals, Charlotte

Oct. 2-4: AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis

Oct. 29-Nov. 1: Dodge NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas

Nov. 12-15: Auto Club NHRA Finals, Pomona, CA   [09/10/19]