John Gaydosh is incredibly passionate about driving his Gaydosh Performance Pro Stock Camaro. He has a crew of volunteers working hard to get his Maryland-based independent team to as many races as he can. But a damaged motor last week almost forced him to drop out of the of this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

“I’ve probably had an hour sleep in the last 72 hours,” Gaydosh said. “I started working the minute we pulled out of the pits in Englishtown. I started ordering parts and making arrangements to get everything fixed in time for Bristol.”

In Round One of the NHRA Summernationals Gaydosh beat rookie Tanner Gray on a holeshot. The joy of winning was quickly extinguished when a problem was discovered with the motor. It had dropped a valve, broke a piston and destroyed the cylinder among other things. Gaydosh could only watch the second round from the sidelines and start planning for the next race.

“If it wasn’t for my friends, I would not be here. Kenny Delco and Alan Prusiensky offered help right away. Alan let me come to his house at 11 at night to get working on the motor,” Gaydosh said. “We may be competitors on the track, but us small independent teams stick together and we are there for each other.”

Gaydosh is also celebrating his and wife Tina’s 23rd wedding anniversary this weekend. They’ve spent every year celebrating at Bristol and he did not want to break that tradition this year.  (Ron Lewis photo)  [06/15/17]

Wilkerson wasn’t happy with his car’s performance at E-town.   (Ron Lewis photo)

This weekend’s trip to Bristol Dragway for the 17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will provide Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson the opportunity to win at the facility for the first time in his career. Wilkerson, a 20-time nitro Funny Car winner on the NHRA tour, has only four active racetracks where he has yet to claim victory in the category.

He is still looking for his first win of 2017, and in moments this season, Wilkerson and Team LRS have seen great power that comes with great promise. He and his determined crew know it's coming; it's just a matter of getting all their ducks in a row.

For Wilkerson, that means switching to their back-up car ahead of the Thunder Valley Nationals.

"I think our car was bent or maimed, somehow, so I've already talked to [car builder] Murf McKinney. He has a brand-new car for me, it's just not quite done. This one [the car Wilkerson drove in Englishtown last week] is doing things I don't think it should do," said Wilkerson, who made two sub 4-second runs in qualifying at Englishtown but battled a blazing racetrack and argumentative clutch the remainder of the weekend. [06/15/17]

Local hero Andy Jensen  (DRO file photo)

Maple Grove Raceway will host the Outlaws Rumble at the Grove on Saturday, June 17. Local Pro Mod racers will go up against some “reality TV” stars.

Also on the schedule along with the Mid Atlantic Street Outlaws are Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, King of the Street and a special Radial Tire Shootout.  [06/15/17]

On June 6 the ANDRA announced that the CEO of ANDRA recommended a new structure, which the Board approved.

It will see ANDRA concentrating on its role as a sanctioning authority while continuing to manage the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series.

The new structure will be headed by a General Manager in a leaner organization. Current Competition Manager Brett Stevens has been appointed as the acting General Manager to commence in June.

Grant Goodall, the current CEO, has agreed to join the ANDRA Board as an Independent Director commencing in July.

“The streamlining of ANDRA will allow it to concentrate on member services,” Acting Chairman of ANDRA Terry Jongen said. “The Board appreciate that Grant has recommended his own position be made redundant in the best interests of the sport and ANDRA. Grant has been an excellent contributor as the CEO of ANDRA and has achieved a great deal given the role was part-time and in a difficult period.

“The Board look forward to Grant's continuing contributions as a Director and a mark that there is confidence in going forward with the sport and ANDRA into the future. ANDRA remains a not for profit member based organisation.”  [06/15/17]