VOLUME XX,  NUMBER 11 - NOVEMBER,  2018

NHRA pro classes news and rumors

We’ve already told you that David Grubnic, who tuned the Parts Plus dragster driven by Clay Millican to a third-place finish for the NHRA Top Fuel World Championship, has been replaced as crew chief by veteran Mike Kloeber who was Millican’s crew chief/tuner when he won multiple IHRA Top Fuel championships. Although not yet announced, the Agent's nitro operative says that Grubnic will sign with the John Force organization to tune the Brittany Force Top Fueler that was tuned by Alan Johnson (at far right) in 2018. (Ron Lewis photo)

 

Five-hundred-inch Pro Stock racers are back for 18 races in 2019. The Agent hears that once again the Pro Stock Owners Association guaranteed the NHRA they would have 16 teams at every event.

 

The on again, off again NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock program is apparently off again. The story is that the NHRA wanted the Mountain Motor cars at the six races that won't have the 500" cars, but the Mountain Motor racers couldn't guarantee a full field at those six races.

 

Pro Mod sources tell the Agent that the NHRA has offered to host a 24-race program for the Pro Mod racers, but the Real Pro Mod association would have to fund the program 100% on their own.   [11/13/18]

Litton named NHRA Rookie of the Year

At the NHRA awards ceremony Monday evening, Top Fuel pilot Bill Litton was named the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award with a $20,000 prize. The award recognizes the top NHRA rookie performer of the year.

 

Litton competed in 14 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events during the 2018 season. He defeated Tony Schumacher, Brittany Force and Leah Pritchett to advance to the quarterfinals at Atlanta, Richmond, Sonoma and Pomona. Litton raced to his career best time of 3.901-seconds at the event in Atlanta and his career best speed of 318.17 mph at the race in Dallas.

 

“I am so blessed and thankful for this award,” Litton stated. “I’ve prayed for the opportunity to drive a Top Fuel dragster since I was eight years old and thought for a long time it was a longshot dream. The Worshams and our team deserve the credit for putting me in this position. I am very grateful that two legends of the sport like Chuck and Del have the confidence in me to pilot their Top Fuel dragster.”

 

The other candidates in the rookie class were Kelly Clontz (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Steve Graham (Pro Stock), Kebin Kinsley (Top Fuel), Jim Maroney (Top Fuel), Ryan Oehler (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Mark Paquette (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Wally Stroupe (Pro Stock), Ron Tornow (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Terry Totten (Top Fuel), Richard Townsend (Funny Car) and Audrey Worm (Top Fuel). (Pam Conrad photo)   [11/13/18]

IHRA adds sportsman class to Summit SuperSeries

The IHRA will add a “Sportsman” class to their Summit SuperSeries program beginning next season.  The sportsman class is open to door cars only (12.00 and slower in the quarter mile; 7.50 and slower in the eighth mile). The use of trans brakes, two steps, and delay boxes are prohibited from the class.

 

Sportsman racers who win Summit SuperSeries track championships or Summit Team Finals events will be invited to compete at the Summit SuperSeries World Finals on Oct. 17-19 at Memphis International Raceway for their chance to win the first ever Sportsman National Championship and $5,000.   [11/13/18]

Chevrolet repeats as NHRA Manufacturers Cup winner

For the second consecutive year, fourth time in the past five years and record-extending 23rd time, Chevrolet is the top manufacturer on the drag strip.

 

Chevy Racing was awarded the NHRA Manufacturers Cup during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony Nov. 12 in Hollywood, CA. Chevrolet first earned the award in 1966, and no other manufacturer has won it more times.

 

Overall, 14 different Chevrolet drivers amassed 34 victories in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock during the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Drivers of the Chevrolet COPO Camaro contributed eight national event and nine divisional event wins in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Stock Eliminator and Super Stock categories in addition to the SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown. [11/13/18]

Sunoco Race Fuels named official fuel of 400 Thunder series in Australia

Sunoco Race Fuels has been named the Official Fuel of the 400 Thunder Drag Racing Series sanctioned by IHTA Australia.

 

400 Thunder professional and sportsman series competitors will be eligible for a share of over $50,000 at each event throughout the 2018/19 400 Thunder Australian Championship Series.

 

Each of the six professional categories will have additional contingency money for the racers along with the Sportsman classes. Sunoco will pay a $1,000 Top Qualifier Cash Bonus to any Pro Stock or Super Stock competitor using a Sunoco Unleaded Fuel. In addition, each eligible 400 Thunder Australian Sportsman Championship winner will also receive a 41,000 Sunoco voucher to be redeemed at VPW.   [11/13/18]

Palmer to meet the fans at Springfield, Missouri, car show

Scott Palmer, driver of the Cat Spot Top Fuel dragster, will be one of the draws at the fifth annual Hot Rod Holiday car, truck and bike show held Nov. 17-18. The event (www.hotrodholiday.com) will be held indoors at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, MO. There will plenty of vehicles on display and a special Southwest Missouri Drag Racers Reunion will be held Saturday evening.    [11/13/18]

Nitrous Express acquires Snow Performance

Nitrous Express, Wichita Falls, TX, has acquired Snow Performance of Woodland Park, CO. NX manufactures nitrous oxide systems and accessories and Snow manufactures water methanol injection systems.

 

“Nitrous Express and Snow Performance have been great friends for many years. Both companies have private labeled parts back and forth to ensure their product offerings were the most complete and best quality available. To further strengthen both brands, it just made sense to combine everything into one team and I am extremely honored to carry on my friends’ legacy,” said Mike Wood, owner and CEO of Nitrous Express.

 

Matt Snow and Jake Snow will join the NX team on a consultant basis. Mike Wood and the rest of the NX team will handle the sales and marketing for both brands.   [11/13/18]

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