With Tony Schumacher not racing (so far) this year, Steve Torrence was poised to break Schumacher’s straight-win record. After winning the six straight events of last year’s Countdown, if Torrence could win at the Winternationals he would tie Schumacher with seven straight tour victories.

However, that was not to happen as the defending champion and No. 1 qualifier could not go all the way to the final-round win, finishing runner-up to Doug Kalitta.

The Capco team will now focus on eclipsing Schumacher’s record for victories over three consecutive seasons. Schumacher won 26 races over the course of the 2007-2009 seasons. Torrence has 19 victories since the start of the 2017 season.

Seems like even when Schumacher is not driving, he is still in competition.   (Ron Lewis photo) [02/12/19]

Can you name the racer who has won under three different names? Angelle Seeling (far lane) won Pro Stock Bike in 1999 (seen here against John Smith), in 2003 she won as Angelle Savoie, and as Angelle Sampey in 2006.

See more of Part 6 (1996-2000) of Steve Gruenwald’s retrospective of 50 years of the Gatornationals   [02/12/19]

After a productive offseason in the Elite Motorsports camp, Erica Enders debuted a new Chevrolet Camaro from RJ Race Cars in impressive fashion, going a Friday-best 6.528 at 212.09. She ended up qualifying No. 2 after Elite teammate Rodger Brogdon took the top qualifying spot, but Enders quickly found out she has a championship-caliber car.

“It feels awesome to start the year off with a great racecar,” said Enders, who has 23 career wins and 46 career final rounds. “We were confident after testing in Phoenix, but now we know we will have multiple championship contenders under our (Elite Motorsports) umbrella.”

The umbrella includes five-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., No. 1 qualifier Brogdon, and Alex Laughlin.

Enders dispatched Jeff Isbell in the first round and Matt Hartford in the second only to fall to eventual winner Butner in the semifinals. Laughlin got wins over Coughlin and Val Smeland before losing to Line in the semi.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for Rodger Brogdon’s return to Pro Stock. He qualified in the No. 1 spot with a 6.522 at 212.03 mph, but turned on the red light in the first round against Val Smeland.

“You go from being on top of the world to feeling like crap, but that’s racing,” Brogdon said. “It’s very disappointing, but things will be fine. Things like that are going to happen to you in racing, but I would rather it happen in the first race than happen later in the season.”

With the number of races for the Pro Stocks reduced by NHRA to 18 this season, there seems to be an increase in participants with 18 entrants for the Winternationals. Top Fuel had only 15 and Funny Car 17. And while we’re comparing, TAD had 13 entrants, TAFC 12 and Comp 14. (Ron Lewis photos)  [02/12/19]

The Summit Racing Midwest Drags has added two diesel classes making a total of 12 categories at the three-day, three-track event. Racing will be held Wednesday, June 5, at Wagler Motorsports Park in Lyons, IN, then June 6 at Muncie (IN) Dragway, and end Friday, June 7, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH.

The racing on the Indiana tracks will be eighth mile with the quarter mile used at Norwalk. All registered vehicles must be driven on public roads between each event.   [02/12/19]

It's been 10 months since Keith Haney last raced "Enigma," his nitrous-boosted, drag radial-equipped 2016 Camaro. Regardless, he's hoping to capture one of the sport's crown jewels with it this weekend (Feb. 14-17) at Lights Out 10, the radial-racing season opener from promoter Donald Long at South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP).

Haney won the Mid-West Pro Mod Series radial race his last time out with Enigma last April at his home track. But heavy business demands combined with racing a second Keith Haney Racing (KHR) Camaro and getting started in NHRA Pro Mod kept him away from the small-tire world.

That ends this weekend, though, as Haney seeks to finish one position higher than last year's outing when he qualified eighth for the 32-car Radials vs. the World field, then beat four tough opponents before finishing just a few thousandths of a second behind "Stevie Fast" Jackson in the final round.

"You know, Stevie and I have got a great rivalry going and we've got a big grudge race locked in for Thursday night. But that rivalry goes all the way until Sunday as we bet and call each other out. And we do it not just at the beginning of the race, or not just during the race; it's all the way throughout the whole event. We make a lot of different bets and people love it," Haney said. "I mean, we had a grudge race last year and it was probably the biggest watched drag racing show that's ever been on the Internet. The starting line was plum full and the whole scene was just crazy."

DRO’s own Tom McCarthy will be at the event to bring us the action.  (Ian Tocher photo)   [02/12/19]

Moroso introduces a Dart/Rocket small block Drag Race 8-1/2" deep Power Kick Out Aluminum Oil Pan, Part No. 21247. Fits Super Stock/Bracket Cars, Dragsters, Roadsters or Body Cars. This aluminum fully fabricated oil pan clears 4.25" stroke with steel or aluminum rods. The double kick-out design ensures large stroke clearance, wide main cap clearance and maximum horsepower. Billet end seals ensure consistent sealing surface to billet front covers and rear main caps. Comes with a full length solid louvered windage tray with main cap partitions for maximum power and oil control. Includes O-ring magnetic drain plug, two -8 AN drain backs and dipstick bung. For use with 168-tooth flywheel combinations.   [02/12/19]