As part of Papa John's sponsorship, Papa John and Leah have teamed up to create the Charity ChallengeSeries throughout the NHRA season, in which Papa John races his gold 1971 Camaro Z28 down the drag strip against Leah in a Dodge Challenger. The series has raised $40,000 so far this season for the InfiniteHero Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes awareness and provides resources to help combat the mental and physical issues that returning military heroes and their families may face. The next Challenge race will be July 8 at the Fallen Patriots at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. (Steve Gruenwald photo)

A new commercial for Papa John’s Pizza began airing Monday, June 26. In the spot, Leah Pritchett shares the story of how her pursuit for better track performance parallels Papa John's own belief in a better pizza. The commercial will run on cable sports and entertainment outlets including ESPN, MLB Network, TBS and others.

The TV spot is accompanied by a new national pizza box featuring Pritchett and her gold Papa John's dragster alongside Papa John and his prized 1971 Camaro Z28. His iconic gold Camaro is the same car he bought at 15 years old, and then sold to both keep his dad's tavern out of bankruptcy and start the very first Papa John's pizzeria. In 2009, he was reunited with his cherished Camaro and fit it for racing.

Accompanying the new television spot is a limited time offer of Papa John's Double XL pizza, which features 10 big slices topped with extra-large Italian sausage and deli style pepperoni, then another layer of traditional Italian sausage piled on sixteen inches of hand-tossed crust with cheese made from mozzarella. Papa's Double XL pizza is available June 26 through July 23 for only $12. Double the fun and try Papa John's bigger chicken poppers, which includes ten pieces and a choice of dipping sauce for $6. Order online at www.papajohns.com, through Papa John's mobile ordering app for iPhone and Android devices, or through the Apple TV.   [06/27/17]

James Stevens and John Lombardo Jr. took home wins from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park alongside Mallori Rodgers who powered her ’08 dragster to the winner’s circle in Top Dragster.

In Top Alcohol Dragster, it was a great side by side race with No. 1 qualifier Stevens, Gothenburg, NE, taking out the No. 2 qualifier Megan Meyer Olathe, KS, on a holeshot. Stevens left the starting line first then ran 5.358 seconds, 269.03 mph, holding off Meyer’s 5.349 seconds, 264.75 mph just long enough.

Reigning NHRA Central Region Champion Lombardo of Brea, CA, eliminated Scott McVey, Ile Des Chenes, Manit. The Canadian driver let off the throttle early, 6.478 seconds, 165.80 mph, as Lombardo blew past him at 5.548 seconds, 267.11 mph, continuing his championship defense. (Aaron Anderson file photo)

Local standout Rodgers out of McAlester yielded a perfect light to Ross Laris, Raceland, LA, but was able to recover and finished closer to her dial to take home the Wally trophy in the SDPC Raceshop Top Dragster final round.

In a battle of classic versus new age Camaros, Doug Woody of Independence, MO, separated himself from Bob Gulitti, Tomball, TX, in his ’67 Camaro after a close start in the final round of the SDPC Raceshop Top Sportsman. Woody scored the Wally trophy at 7.518 seconds, 185.84 mph. Gulitti ran 6.666 seconds, 201.22 mph in his ’11 Camaro.

After giving up the starting line, Michael Nash, Texarkana, TX, ran down fellow Texan, Ricky Kay of Humble to take home the win in the Sportsman Motorcycle final round. Nash registered a victory pass of 8.011 seconds, 147.50 mph.

The other drivers visiting the Lucas Oil Winner’s circle were Terry Ticel in Comp Eliminator; Scott Wagner in Super Stock; Brett Candies in Stock; Gary Stinnett in Super Comp; Jason McClure in Super Gas; and Val Harmon in Super Street.

The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is scheduled to visit the South Central Division next Sept. 15 at Thunder Road Raceway Park.  [06/27/17]

Impact Racing, Inc. and its associated brands (MasterCraft Safety and MasterCraft Defense) have been wholly acquired by Sparco S.p.A. Daily operations and manufacturing, sales and customer service, as well as the management structure and staffing of Impact, will be consistent in all locations with former owner Robbie Pierce remaining in a consulting role.

Headquartered in Volpiano, Turin, Italy, Sparco’s line of exclusive safety products are distributed worldwide and can be found on top tier teams such as McLaren’s Formula 1 and Team Peugeot’s Dakar efforts as well as renowned drivers such as Fernando Alonso, Stephane Peterhansel, and this year’s Indianapolis 500 champion, Takumo Sato.

The addition of Impact to the Sparco family adds eighty U.S. based production specialists as well as strategically located customer sales and service representatives in California, Indiana, and North Carolina.  [06/27/17]

Despite yet another round of executive roulette for the venerable International Hot Rod Association and a year of no IHRA "national events,” sources within the IHRA told the Agent that their very successful IHRA Summit Super Series for sportsman racers will be around for some time to come.

The source said Summit is very happy with their IHRA sportsman program and is just waiting to see what the new IHRA CEO has planned for the series.

The Agent bets an International Top Fuel class won't be part of the new management’s plans.   [06/27/17]

We told you yesterday about Troy Coughlin breaking the long-standing NHRA Pro Mod speed record. Melanie Troxel, driving for then NHRA Pro Mod benefactor Roger Burgess, set the record in 2011. What you might not know is that Troxel also had a turbocharged big block for power.   [06/27/17]

Jeff Lane and Jody Lang led the list of racers that added wins to their career totals at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event presented by Les Schwab Tires at Pacific Raceways.

Lane, North Bend, Wash., scored this 53rd win and Lang, Puyallup, Wash., notched his 45th as the two took home NHRA Wally trophies in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock respectively. Lane and Ryan Warter had identical reaction times with Lane running the quicker 8.013 second lap to Warter’s 8.767 in his ’10 Cobalt.

Tom Gaynor was out first on Lang (shown) but gave it back with a break out as Lang took the win in his ’81 Malibu at 10.948, 116.03 mph.

Cal Method took his win total to 25 and Michael Dalrymple upped his to 12. Method, Kennewick, Wash., took a big head start on Joe Sorensen who raced back only to break out by .008 seconds giving Method the win by about nine inches. Trevor Harkema used a .004 second reaction time to get out on Dalrymple but Dalrymple ran 8.902 on the 8.90 dial for the win by just .006 seconds.

Local racer Steve Beggerly, Seatac, Wash., ran dead on 10.900 in his ’68 Firebird for the win in Super Street over Dustin Ward and James Rutherford used a nice .021 package to win his first NHRA Wally defeating Eddy Plaizier in the JBS Top Sportsman.

Chris Cannon and Paul Nero both won their fifth as Cannon beat out Kyle Colletti in Super Gas and Nero won over Ryan Carlson in the Rig Rentals Top Dragster. Paul DePeel was better at both ends of the track to take the Sportsman Motorcycle win over Dan Patridge.

Rounding out Sunday’s winner’s circle were Dale Green in Super Pro who put Jeff Havens on the trailer and Al Chinn who beat Greg Steen in a double break out in Pro.

In Saturday’s specialty events it was Dalrymple taking the Super Gas Shootout while Nero won in Top Comp. Andy Morris beat Brian Preszler in the Super Comp Shootout and Tony Brothers ended Brad Vinje’s day in the Super Street Shootout.

Northwest division racers head south to Woodburn, Ore., for their first of two stops at Woodburn Dragstrip, July 14-16, before returning to Pacific Raceways for the NHRA Northwest Nationals, Aug. 4-6.  (Tim Marshall file photo) [06/27/17]