Qualifying at the historic U.S. Nationals has eluded John Gaydosh during his Pro Stock career. He has come so close (missing the field the last two years by only .03) but has yet to make the field. He is confident this weekend in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Raceway, will be the year he makes it to eliminations.

What’s giving Gaydosh the extra confidence this year, is what’s under the hood of the Gaydosh Performance Chevrolet Camaro. This season he is running a motor from Harlow Sammons, Southwest Performance & Machine.

"In 10 years of racing at Indy, this weekend is the best chance I've had to qualify. With the help of Chris and Lester McGaha, this is the most confident I have been about making the field," said Gaydosh, who has not raced with NHRA since June.

Gaydosh enters the competition without having been able to do any testing because of the weather, but said, “We have a good game plan and tune up for this weekend.”   [08/30/18]

Rickey House will race his Harley for the first time ever at the U.S. Nationals. This event is the final one for the 2018 eight-race Top Fuel Harley schedule in the NHRA. With the expanded event comes another round of qualifying.

"Usually we only have one qualifying round when it's a little cooler and that's when I put it on 'murder' and see if I can't just put a big number up there. Maybe we'll get more than one chance this weekend,” House said. “The rest of the time I will probably do a few things to calm it down a little. It's hard to say. I have two or three tune-ups I use and it all depends on the weather before I know exactly what I want to do. I just always try to be prepared."

The NHRA yesterday announced 10 events on the 2019 schedule that will include the Harleys.  (Ron Lewis photo)     [08/30/18]

Race Winning Brands has acquired Dart Machinery, producer of engine blocks, cylinder heads, and intake manifolds.

Dart’s founder, Richard Maskin, will continue to play a leading role within the organization as a partner and chairman of research and development. Maskin founded the company in his two-car Oak Park, MI, garage in 1981.

In addition to retaining the current Dart management team, including Vice President Dave Tratechaud, former Dart general manager Ted Keating returns to the organization in a new role as president.

Race Winning Brands is a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries. Race Winning Brands, headquartered in Mentor, OH, markets its products globally through a portfolio of brands that include JE Pistons, Wiseco Performance Products, K1 Technologies, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Rekluse Motor Sports and ProX Racing Parts.    [08/30/18]

Four classes that run on a limited basis with the NHRA will be competing at this weekend’s U.S. Nationals. Pro Stock Motorcycle has 22 entrants, Harley-Davidson has 16, Factory Stock has 29 and Pro Mod has 31.

For the regular pro classes it’s 19 in Top Fuel, 18 in Funny Car and 20 in Pro Stock.   [08/30/18]

We had a photographer but no reporter available for this year’s World Series of Drag Racing and were relying on the IHRA to provide a press release synopsis of arguably the biggest event on the IHRA schedule. Here are some of Scott Bessee’s photos followed by the verbatim press release from IHRA that was posted to the CIR website.

“65th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing Gives Fans Exciting Racing Action

“The 65th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing was held at Cordova International Raceway last weekend in front of a record crowd treated to exciting racing action.

“It is a race that has hosted generations of racers and their families, and attendance for the Aug. 24-26 event showcased high packed energy from the standing-room only crowd during Saturday’s races.

“’The energy of the fans is what makes The O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing the most popular event in the Quad Cities,’ Cordova International Raceway President Dominic Blasco said. ‘Thank you to O’Reilly Auto Parts for helping the entire staff at Cordova International Raceway put on an exciting weekend of racing.’

“Those in attendance were treated to a wide variety of racing machines rocketing down the track and amazing performances from the likes of Larry Dixon, and Del Worsham, whose Top Fuel cars and Nitro Funny Cars were the highlight of the weekend.

“Kamper Korner bracket race winners from Sunday were: Pat McGlynn (Super Pro), Brad Weets (Pro), Mark Rosenbohm (Street), Terry Heller (Footbrake), Steve Agnitsch (Trophy), Jill Pfohl (Novice Jr.), Bobby Ince Jr. (Super Jr.), and Dennis Lund Jr. (Quick 16).”   [08/30/18]

TAFC driver John Lombardo Jr. will again host youngsters from Hoosier Burn Camp  for a “Day at the Races” on Saturday, Sept. 1. Fifty kids, ages 2 to 16, will be at the U.S. Nationals for the day at no expense to their families.

“We are just a few years into hosting the Hoosier Burn Camp at the U.S. Nationals, but it already feels like a tradition,” said Lombardo. “Campers, along with their friends and families, have made the biggest and most prestigious drag race of the year that much more special for our whole team. Last year, we were fortunate to enjoy the win at ‘the Big Go’ and put the Hoosier Burn Camp logo in the winner’s circle.”

Lombardo, car owner Rick Jackson, and the other members of the NAPA Filters/Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro team aim to raise funds for Hoosier Burn Camp and the Racers for Christ Kids Program with an online auction on Facebook.     [08/30/18]

The regular season of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is over and the teams are ready for the dual championship competition.

The qualified teams will compete at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas (Oct. 20-Nov. 2) and the PRI Show in Indianapolis (Dec. 6-8).  [08/30/18]