Interest continues to grow as this year’s Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge attracted more than 44,000 enthusiasts from around the country to watch and participate in legal street racing on historic Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 11.

"Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge is an absolute larger-than-life event that represents what Dodge is all about: power, performance and excitement,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge//SRT, Chrysler, and FIAT, FCA – North America. “Going beyond the need for speed, this event offers an incredible opportunity for pure enthusiasts to come together and share their passion for classic and performance car culture in a sanctioned environment.”

At this year’s event, 128 street-legal cars hit the specially prepped 1/8-mile drag strip on Woodward Avenue between Rapid Street and South Boulevard to compete in high-powered drag racing for cash prizes. Racing ended early due to heavy rains, so the top 16 total finalists split $20,000. The quickest Dodge cars in both the small and large tire categories also took home $5,000 each.

The car festival also included a chance to check out more than 250 custom and classic cars in a show 'n shine and to watch freestyle motocross dyno, flamethrowers and wheelstander exhibitions. Leah Pritchett in her Top Fuel Dragster and Matt Hagan in his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat NHRA Funny Car wowed the crowd with an exhibition run. (FCA US photos)    [08/15/18]

As the NHRA pros head to Brainerd, MN, this week, Ron Capps and his NAPA team are hoping to make it to their fourth consecutive final round. Even if they don’t, Brainerd is something special.

“(Crew chief) Rahn Tobler and our NAPA team work really hard away from the track to make sure that we are ready for these next two races to end the regular season on a high note,” Capps said. “But I have to say, Brainerd really brings a smile to my face because of not only the success that we've had in the past there with all of the wins and final rounds, but the fact that I'm able to make sure that our guys have a great time while we're in town. Our NAPA group from that area has always taken our team out for a fishing expedition on Thursday prior to the race, as well as a great big dinner at the Power Lodge across the street from the track on Friday night.

“On top of that, my wife's family is from that area, so every year it's like a family reunion, and there's nothing better than having family by your side when you can get in the winner's circle. But the biggest thing about the Brainerd race is, of course, ‘the Zoo,’ and the fans that created ‘Capps’ Corner.’ I'm not sure I've had a better compliment than having something named after me in the legendary Brainerd Zoo.”  (Ron Lewis photo)    [08/15/18]

Mark Fenton Jr. won his first Southern California Pro Gas Association series race in 20 years, 2017 series champ John Ross won for the first time this year, and Greg Ventura and Ryan Houmard won for the first time this season in the SoCal Super Street series held Aug. 11-12 at Fontana, CA.

Brandon Harris (near lane) got off the line just a bit too early, giving the Pro Gas win to John Ross.  (Bob Johnson photo)

Rookie Damon Bustamante ran a 9.902 to qualify number one for the Meziere Pro Gas Cool Down Nationals, followed by Michael Boner, Bob Hefley, and Bob Harris. Quarterfinal racing saw Brandon Harris top Rodney Scarlett, Mark Fenton beat Jim Israel, and Randy Fabbro got a bye. Brandon Harris advanced to the final with a .010 light as Fabbro red-lighted by .002, and Fenton got a bye. Fenton had a .005 advantage at the starting line in the final and took the win with a 9.944 to a losing 9.964. His last Pro Gas win was in March 1999 at L.A. County Raceway.

John Ross opened the quarterfinals with a win over points-contender Kevin McClelland, Brandon Harris used a .004 package to beat Rodney Scarlett, and Ray Cordeiro got a bye. Harris got an easy win in the semifinals as Cordeiro broke at the line, and Ross singled to the final. Harris, in his first year of Pro Gas racing made it to his second final of the weekend, but a .006 red-light denied him a chance for his first win. Ross’ ’63 Corvette ran a 9.919 with a .015 reaction time for the win. K&N Filters and Lucas Oil Products sponsored the race.

Greg Ventura and Dave Gotts qualified number one and two for the Mountain View Performance Super Street race and that’s how they finished the day. Gotts ’67 Camaro beat Jimmy Galante in the quarterfinals and advanced to the final on a 10.900 bye run in the semifinals. Ventura beat ’16 champion Mike Blodgett Sr., in the quarters and Dennis Blehm in the semifinal.

Ventura (near lane), fresh off a Super Street win at the Sonoma Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, picked up his first SoCal victory of the year with a .004 reaction time and 10.970, 13.18 pass as Gotts lost with a 10.922.  (Bob Johnson photo)

The 2018 Southern California Pro Gas and Super Street Assoc., series will conclude on Sept. 15-16 at Auto Club Dragway.   [08/15/18]

Don’t let those pants fool you, he knows what he’s talking about.  (file photo)

Jok Nicholson has had plenty of experience as a bracket racer and a track manager. In his latest Dead-On he gives tracks and racers some ideas to put more spectators in the seats and make the racing more enjoyable for them.   [08/15/18]

(file photo by Tim Marshall)

With four of five races completed in the 2018 Good Vibrations Motorsports United Nitro Funny Car Championship Series, Bobby Cottrell, driver of the “Northwest Hitter” for Bucky Austin & Mike O’Brien, has taken a sizable lead in the UNFC point standings.

Cottrell won the first three UNFC events, starting with the season opener at Tucson Dragway, posting a total of 292 points to Tim Boychuk’s 195 in second and Jason Rupert in third place with 186 points.

Cottrell piloted the Bardahl-backed Camaro to wins in the Northwest Doubleheader in Spokane and Seattle in July and Boychuk was the winner at the next event in Edmonton, Alberta - tightening the point gap.

Nightfire Nationals champ Jason Rupert set low elapsed times in both Spokane (5.684) and Seattle (5.627) and an amazing 5.600 in the Boise Nightfire finals against Matt Bynum.

As a plus, Jason Rupert’s starting line reaction time of .049 has the lead in WELD Wheels Perfect Light competition, where the closest driver to a .000 reaction time in competition will be awarded a set of WELD 16x16 beadlock wheels.

The 2018 Good Vibrations Motorsports/UNFC Series has a Total Payout of $25,000, with $10,000 to the Series Champion, $6,000 to the second-place finisher, $4,000 to third, $3,000 to fourth and $2,000 for the number five position.

At the Spokane County Raceway “Double Point” Good Vibrations Motorsports/UNFC series finale this weekend (Aug. 17-18), gates open at 3 p.m. Friday and at noon on Saturday, with nine nitro funny cars expected, under the lights.    [08/15/18]

A couple of weeks ago ex-IHRA/DRO nostalgia Funny Car racer and the IHRA record holder Mike McIntire recorded a 5.51 ET at Martin, MI. His “McAttack” car was not NHRA Heritage Series legal with an MSD mag ignition system and a "big" fuel pump. Earlier this year Rick Gauci’s “Nitro Express Outlaw Nitro Funny Car recorded a 5.37 at 270+ mph in Australia with Graeme Cowin as crew chief. Aussie rules allow dual mags and a 30+ gal fuel pump.

So, the Agent has to ask, are the NHRA/UNFC nitro floppers the last true Nostalgia Funny Cars? Yep!  (DRO file photo)   [08/15/18]

The National Muscle Car Association will hold a full Thursday Test & Tune on Aug. 23 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH, in advance of the All-American Nationals running through Sunday, Aug. 26. There is an additional fee for the test and tune.

This street-legal special event will host the Ford Performance 50th Anniversary Cobra Jet Reunion, the Chevrolet Performance Challenge Series, and the Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout in addition to the regular NMCA classes.   [08/15/18]

Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park held a Drift N Drags event put on by GoFast Entertainment featuring no-prep drag racing on Saturday, Aug. 11. Shutdown Showdown 2 featured three classes: Big Tire, Small Tire, and Motorcycle. Classes ran from 6 p.m. to midnight. No prep, no names, no times.  (Brad Baker photo)   [08/15/18]