Austin Prock, son of JFR crew chief Jimmy Prock, got some advice from John Force himself and a trip down the track in Courtney’s Funny Car on Monday after the Las Vegas event. Austin spoke with a group of ladies, including his mother, Jill (brunette).

The next-generation driver made a strong burnout and a very straight and smooth half-track pass. (Pete Ward photos)   [04/10/18]

Race Director Randy McIlrath tells the Agent that 2018 dates have been firmed up for the Midwest Pro Outlaws group.

Iowa’s Eddyville Raceway will host the group on May 26, June 9, and July 15.

On Aug. 4 the group will be on the new eighth-mile track in Onawa, IA. September sees them at MoKan on Sept. 1 and Havana, IL, on the 22nd.

For more information on the group go to here.  [04/10/18]

Jack Beckman had a special mission in the fourth qualifying session at the Las Vegas Four-Wides. He dedicated that run to photographer Tim Marshall, who died in January. Beckman carried one of the Terry Chandler Challenge Coins on that run and gave the remembrance to Jamie Shores-Fraijo, Tim’s girlfriend.

The Agent and the entire staff of DRO want to thank Jack Beckman for this special ride. It means a lot to us.   [04/10/18]

The NHRA/FS1 crew had this virtual reality video setup in use Friday at Las Vegas. The Agent can’t help but wonder what they plan on doing with it?  (Ron Lewis photo) [04/10/18]

The NHRA South Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Double-Header weekend takes place at Texas Motorplex, April 12-15. The double-header is two of six events in the NHRA South Central division and of the 44 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events scheduled across the country where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships, as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000.

Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division’s Top Sportsman, Top Dragster and NHRA Sportsman Motorcycle Series are also in competition.

Saturday’s action will be highlighted by the NHRA Moser Sportsman Shootout with racers from seven different classes battling it out for a posted purse of $15,000. Defending South Central Division Moser Sportsman Shootout Champion Slate Cummings (shown) has once again qualified for the 16-car field and looks to defend his title against the stacked field.  (DRO file photo)  [04/10/18]

Kin Bates, Dan Schrokosch and Ed DeStaute each snagged their second win of the year this past weekend at the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Nostalgia Reunion – Funny Car Fever event at Sacramento Raceway.

Kin Bates at the 2017 March Meet.  (Tim Marshall file photo)

Bates, Anderson, CA, qualified No. 1, then took out Sabrina Kumre and Dennis Allen to take home the trophy in his A/Fuel nostalgia dragster. Bates beat out Kumre in round one, then laid down a 5.983 second, 236.22 mph lap for the win over Allen in the final. Allen crossed the line in 6.194 at 225 mph for his runner up finish.

It was Schrokosch in Nostalgia Eliminator I taking home his second win in as many races coming off a season opening win in Bakersfield last month. The San Marcos, CA, racer beat out Sabrina Pekora of Sonoma, CA, running 7.927 at 138.54 while DeStaute ended Wes Anderson’s day in the final of NE III. Anderson, La Mirada, CA, qualified No. 1 but DeStaute took the starting line advantage and held on for the win in 9.646 seconds at 126.90 mph.

Jerry Espeseth rounded out the Nostalgia Eliminator winners taking out Miguel Lomas in NE II while Alan Hull and Aaron Wardell took the honors in Jr. Fuel and 7.0 Pro. Espeseth took the holeshot and forced Lomas to breakout. Hull, Arcadia, CA, outran Wayne Willemsen, Walnut Creek, CA, with a pass of 7.205, 186.98 and Wardell, Mather, CA, ran down Brad Denney at the stripe with a 7.022 second run to Denney’s 7.077.

In Funny Car action it was Bill Windham, El Dorado Hills, CA, winning over Wes Morris at 5.004, 222.77 to Morris’ 5.678, 139.49.

Tony Trimp last fall at Tucson.  (Brad Baker file photo)

Tony Trimp took the win in the CIFCA Funny Car as he ousted James Maher, La Habra, CA. Trimp and Maher were 1-2 in qualifying as Trimp was just a tick better in the final as well posting a 7.543, 175.68 mph run to Maher’s 7.570 at 178.76.

Terry Newton, Camarillo, CA, led the Gas class winners as he knocked out Tom Fowler, Paso Robles, CA, for the win in A/Gas in his ’53 Studebaker. Former Heritage Series Champion Jim Finn posted the win in B/Gas out of Rancho Cordova, CA, with his ’76 Vega. Fin went 8.601 on the 8.60 index over James Black, Paso Robles, CA.

Mike Rabener, Steve Stancil and Bryan Franks rounded out the winners on Sunday night. Rabener, Paso Robles, CA, drove his ’67 Camaro past Scott Morgan’s ’67 Camaro in C/Gas and Stancil, Bakersfield, CA, went 10.602 to outlast Ed Carey in D/Gas. Franks, Elk Grove, CA, and Henry Roberson, N. Highlands, CA, left the line together in Hot Rod but Franks was better at the end running 9.759 in a double breakout.   [04/10/18]

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge’s fifth event of the season was held at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC, on March 31. A total of four schools from Georgia and Virginia fielding 11 teams competed, with seven new teams advancing to the 2018 Dual National Championship Playoffs where they’ll have a chance to win thousands of dollars in College scholarships at the SEMA Show and PRI shows.

The first-place team over all was Burton Center for Arts & Tech from Salem, VA, team Vibrant Performance, with the time of 19:17. (Team Vibrant had already qualified at the Summit AutoRama with a 18:12 time). Burton Center for Arts & Tech #3 - team Magnaflow qualified with a 26:04 time.

Americus Sumter High School from Americus GA fielded two teams and has one going to the playoffs, Team Aeromotive clocking in with a 32:35 time.

Forsyth Central High School from Cumming, GA, fielded six teams total with five qualifying for the playoffs and the sixth just missing out by 50 seconds. Team RHS Heads placed second with the time of 21:18, Team Allstar Performance placed third with 24:57. Teams Moroso, Scat and McLeod Racing all qualified with times of 26:31, 31:20 and 32:42 respectively.   [04/10/18]

Reuters reports that Tenneco said it will buy Federal-Mogul, a maker of powertrain components and other auto parts, from Icahn Enterprises for $5.4 billion. Tenneco also said it would separate its combined businesses into two independent, publicly traded companies.

Federal-Mogul includes the Champion and Fel-Pro brands among many others.  [04/10/18]