Although the entire 2019 schedule has not been finalized, the NMCA has announced that they will return to Memphis International Raceway next year. The “Memphis Homecoming” will be held May 2-5, 2019.

“The Memphis drag strip, led by Pam Kendrick and with support from IRG chief operating officer Royce Miller, are doing a tremendous job in enhancing the facility,” said Rollie Miller, general manager of the NMCA organization. “There are capital improvement projects that have recently been completed and more are coming in the next few months. Additionally, the track has secured new equipment to provide a better racing environment. These guaranteed upgrades will provide a wonderful experience for our racers.”

The history between the organization and the race track began in 1992 when Hot Rod Magazine selected the Memphis track to host its inaugural street race shootout.   [08/08/18]

After 110-plus degree temperatures forced the postponement of the scheduled mid-July races at Fontana, the Southern California Pro Gas, Super Street, and the SCEDA associations resume racing this weekend Aug. 11-12, at Auto Club Dragway. Weather forecasts predict high temps for the weekend in the mid-90s.

Hollis Colleasure holds a narrow lead in the Pro Gas series going into the fifth race of the eight-race schedule, with Paul Wiechmann, Kevin McClelland, Mike Lang and Aaron Kinard within a couple of rounds from the lead.

Leaders in the Super Street series include Fred Murphy (shown), Mike Blodgett Sr., Brenden Herem, and David Butler. In the SCEDA classes, Wayne Taylor holds the lead in the DNB Engineering/Calvert Racing Stock/Super Stock class, William Paolino is the leader in the Meziere Electronics class, Gary Moreno heads the Non-Electronics bracket and Amanda Sheldon is the Sportsman points leader. SCEDA Terminator Junior dragster class leaders include Carlie Ball, Dylan Hegwood, and Haley Morris. (Bob Johnson photo)

After racing “down under” most of this year, Frankie “Mad Man” Taylor returned to his native state and pulled his flat-black ’05 Corvette out of storage just in time to win the monthly O’Reilly Auto Parts Outlaw Pro Mod race Aug. 4 at the famed Texas Motorplex. It made the Dickinson, Texas-based driver the fourth different Texas Outlaw Pro Modified Association winner in as many TOPMA events staged at the Motorplex this summer.

Taylor and his brother, Paul, who also serves as crew chief, spent the previous week reconfiguring their car from a legal Pro Extreme car to a legal TOPMA Pro Mod but also to a car that is legal for the MWPMS. The Taylor brothers adjusted the screw-type blower atop their Hemi engine to run at just 75-percent overdrive down from the 125+ overdrive allowed for Pro Extreme, installed a new transmission, and added weight to the car until it weighs 2,405 pounds.

In the final round at the Motorplex, opponent Tony Strachan’s nitrous-boosted ’69 Camaro left with a slight .004 advantage off the start, but severe tire shake slowed him to 5.57 at just over 87 mph while Taylor made a tire-chattering, 4.01-second run to the victory.

Also scoring wins at the Texas Motorplex on Aug. 4 were Rog Britain with a bye run in the 5.50 final, Jay Casey with his third-straight monthly 6.0 title, and Ryan Gleghorn in 7.0 Index action. Dylan Smoot took his second consecutive 8.90 Jr. Dragster win, while top qualifier Brody Tigue also claimed his third-straight 11.90 Jr. Dragster final.

NHRA Pro Mods will return for the first time in nearly 15 years Oct. 4-7, to run the full quarter mile at the Texas Motorplex, during the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. The Motorplex will then host the inaugural Elite 16 event Nov. 2-3, featuring $50,000 to win, the largest winner’s purse in eighth-mile Pro Mod racing nationwide. (Randy Curtis photo courtesy Texas Motorplex)   [08/08/18]

MAHLE Aftermarket will continue as a parts sponsor for the eighth consecutive year for the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology.

The manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of performance automotive aftermarket products including Clevite® and MAHLE Performance bearings, MAHLE will supply the vocational school with bearings throughout the year. New this year will be the addition of bearings designed specifically for imports and sport compacts.   [08/08/18]

Bully Dog® announces new custom tuning support for the BDX Performance Programmer. Custom tuning is now available for the 2019 Power Stoke 6.7L and the 2019 Mustang 5.0L. Preload Tunes and additional Options will be available in the near future. The Bully Dog BDX updates easily over WiFi; no computer connection is required. Select “Program Vehicle” on the device and then retrieve the latest tune files available, including your custom tune through the Cloud. [08/08/18]