Brett Jones qualified No. 1 for the Blown Alcohol Thunder group and went on to take the win.  (Brian Losness photo)

The annual Fox Hunt was held over the weekend at Boise’s Firebird Raceway. See all the action at here.   [07/18/18]

Todd Paton  (Michael Butry photo)

A jam-packed crowd was on hand Friday night at Lancaster National Dragway for the annual Nitro Night of Fire. The crowd saw a pair of thrilling match races between the Top Fuel Dragsters of Todd Paton (above) and Dom Lagana plus a battle between the nitrous-powered A-Fuel Dragster piloted by Chuck Getz and the supercharged “Moonshine Express” 1940 Ford of Gary Kraus.

Gary Kraus  (Michael Butry photo)

The Top Fuelers of Paton and Lagana did not disappoint once again with both runs featuring side-by-side action for the length of the eighth-mile dragstrip. Lagana took the first race with a 3.79-second run. For the second pass, Paton wanted to break the track speed and elapsed time records he set in 2016 (3.306 seconds, 233 mph). His determination nearly paid off as Paton nearly broke the ET record with a 3.399 second run at 211 mph. Lagana was also faster on his second run at 3.669 seconds.

There was also a full show of Franco’s Pizza Friday Night IHRA Drag Racing to go along with the Nitro Night festivities. The TNT Super Series was on hand for their second time in 2018.

Veteran racer Billy Leber of Tonawanda, NY, picked up the TNT Series win over Jeff Sobczysnki in the final round as Sobczysnki ran under the 7.00 index.

Alex Noltee of Tonawanda, NY, earned his first win of the season in Top 8 Eliminator. Noltee defeated Scott Winkleman in the finals with a 5.624-second run at 124.61 mph.

In Top ET, Michael Neri of Cheektowaga, NY, ran his 6.12 dial-in to beat Zell Gaymon in the final round for his first win of the year. Joe Karosik of Depew, NY, picked up the win in McGard Mod ET over former Street champion Mason Fix. Karosik overcame nearly 1.5 seconds disadvantage on the starting tree to beat Fix. Mike Peters of Angola, NY, became the sixth different winner of the year in Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sales after Lucas Salemi tripped the red light in the final run.

For the second-straight week in Tread City Tire Street, “Fast Eddie” Semlitsch of W. Seneca, NY, went to victory lane. Semlitsch beat Marc Schifferle in a close race for his third Street win of 2018 and fourth win overall.   [07/16/18]

All six of the Southwest Heritage Racing Association classes will be racing Saturday, July 21, at Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, TX. Due to the Noble, OK, event getting rained out twice, this is the first event for the Alkydigger classes since March.

Classes in competition are NE1, NE2, NE3, Old School Bracket No Electronics, Old School Electronics, and Nostalgia Super Stockers.  (Chris Graves photo)   [07/16/18]

One of the early female pioneers in drag racing, Barb Hamilton-Advey, was named Grand Marshal of the Blue Suede Cruise at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH, during the event on Saturday, July 14.

Barb’s car was on display with the Scott Rods AA/Gassers group.  (Mary Lendzion photos)

A fan of drag racing in the 1960’s, Barb had 20 requests for a competition license rejected in 1962-63, but in 1964 she became the first woman to receive a license to drive a supercharged car in NHRA. She retired from racing in 1971 and was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 1992.  [07/16/18]

Tony Elrod, Howell, MI, and Jacob Elrod, Harrod, OH, celebrated with their family Sunday, after they both reeled in victories during this past weekend's Lucas Drag Racing Series, Burndown at Sundown at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL.

In the Super Comp finale, Tony Elrod squared off against Larry Bernshausen, Manito, IL. Elrod scored the holeshot win running 8.924 seconds, 175.80 mph and took home the divisional Wally trophy. Bernshausen followed up at 8.925 seconds, 177.07 mph.

All six of the Southwest Heritage Racing Association classes will be racing Saturday, July 21, at Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, TX. Due to the Noble, OK, event getting rained out twice, this is the first event for the Alkydigger classes since March.

Classes in competition are NE1, NE2, NE3, Old School Bracket No Electronics, Old School Electronics, and Nostalgia Super Stockers.  (Chris Graves photo)

Local runner, Matt Sackman, of Channahon, IL, made his debut in Top Alcohol Dragster, and made it count, earning his second career victory by scoring the holeshot against Julie Nataas, Santa Barbara, CA. Sackman ran 5.357 seconds, 273.83 mph while Nataas runner upped at 5.414 seconds, 275.17 mph. (Nate Van Wagnen photo)

In the Top Alcohol Funny Car finale, Tyler Scott, Exeter, Ont., ran 5.791 seconds, 255.34 mph to cruise past Todd Robertson, Harrison Twp., MI, for the final round win. Harrison followed up at 6.068 seconds, 235.47 mph.

Danny Waddle Jr., Pickerington, OH, eked out the Top Dragster final round win with a double breakout over fellow Ohio racer Joe Fisher, of Brookville. Waddle ran 6.309 seconds, 222.91 mph, Fisher; 6.258 seconds, 215.03 mph.

Mike Sowards, Clarkston, MI, ran 6.797 seconds, 201.01 mph in his '68 Camaro to hold off Tim Molnar, Seville, OH, for the Top Sportsman Wally.

COMP ELIMINATOR: Troy Galbraith, Indianapolis, IN, '14 Spitzer, B/DA, 6.751, 183.05 def. Chad Voges, St. Peters, MO, '32 Bantam, K/AA, 7.598, 163.24.

SUPER STOCK: Jeff Dona, Gordonville, MO, '98 Formula, SS/HA, 9.872, 131.90 def. Greg Meyer, North Aurora, IL, '91 Firebird, GT/KA, 10.135, 125.33.

STOCK ELIMINATOR: Ryan Rudrick, Fredericktown, OH, '70 Duster, D/SA, 10.807, 121.56 def. Larry DeForrest, Ramsey, MN, '10 Mustang, FS/D, 9.783, 130.02.

SUPER STREET: Dalton Deffenbaugh, Lebanon, IN, '69 Nova SS, 10.910, 134.91 def. Jim Unum, Anna, OH, '69 Firebird, 10.913, 142.97.

PRO STOCK SNOWMOBILE: Glenn Hall, Gordon, WI, '18 Arctic CAT, 8.267, 153.84 def. Matt Ernst, Clinton, IA, '11 Z1 Turbo, 8.254, 154.42.

DRAW/RFC SUPER COMP SHOOTOUT: Marty Brown, Mt. Pleasant, IA, '11 A & E, 8.899, 150.80 def. Devin Isenhower, Lebanon, IN, '14 American, 8.896, 173.07.

DRAW/RFC SUPER GAS SHOOTOUT: Doug Kroft, Wabash, IN, '68 Firebird, 9.919, 152.83 def. Tom Hack, Valparaiso, IN, '89 Trans AM, foul.

DRAW/RFC SUPER STREET SHOOTOUT: Philip Smida, Canfield, OH, '88 Cavalier, 10.865, 150.18 def. Jerry Spoor, Van Wert, OH, '62 Thunderbolt, foul.  [07/16/18]

The NHRA’s Jr. Drag Racing Eastern Conference Finals presented by Huddleston Performance will take place at Thunder Valley Bristol Dragway Thursday through Saturday, July 19-21.

A 330-foot race, Jr. shootouts, and fun race will fill the days leading up to the Finals. The event will feature more than 500 drivers, from 6-17 years old, in eight racing categories piloting half-scale dragsters powered by five-horsepower motors.   [07/16/18]

We told you earlier about Randy Seward’s cross-country drag strip tour when he stopped at Gateway Motorsports Park on June 13. Seward was at Rockingham Dragway on Saturday, July 14, where he covered the quarter mile in 9.39 seconds at over 156 mph.

The Orlando, FL, resident drives his 1991 turbo Ford Mustang to each of the 42 tracks on his “Pony Express” tour that began May 18. By the time he got to The Rock (track 32 on the list) he already had driven 11,000 miles. He expects to be home around the end of July.  [07/16/18]