Three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey has announced her departure from the Liberty Motorsports team.

Originally founded two years ago with rider Cory Reed, the Whiteley family operation has added Joey Gladstone late this season. Both Reed and Gladstone will compete full-time in 2019.

Sampey has not had her earlier success since her return to racing in 2014 after retiring after the 2008 season. She hopes to find another team, but as with all racers, funding is always a challenge.  (Pam Conrad photo)    [12/11/18]

Tommy DeLago has been released from Cruz Pedregon’s Funny Car team. Before replacing Aaron Brooks on Pedregon’s team earlier this season, DeLago had been crew chief of Shawn Langdon’s Funny Car for Kalitta Motorsports.

Pedregon’s only win this season came at the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, NC, with Brooks at the helm.   [12/11/18]

Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH, was named NHRA North Central Division Track of the Year during the NHRA North Central Division Land of the Winners Awards Banquet on Dec. 8.

This marks the ninth time the track has received the award at the festive event which honors Division 3 champions in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Jr. Drag Racing League and other series.

Summit Motorsports Park underwent a $1.6 million track reconstruction project early this year. Planning is already underway for next year, which begins with the 38th Annual Spring Warm-Up on April 13-14 and is followed by the 13th Annual Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, May 17-19.  (Cathy Durbin photo)  [12/11/18]

Dart’s Carts has signed a multi-year partnership with the IHRA to become the official golf cart and side-by-side provider of the sanctioning body. In addition, Dart’s Carts, located in Jackson, TN, will award a one-of-a-kind custom golf cart to the Summit SuperSeries World Finals champions in Top and Mod at the finals event held Oct. 17-19 at Memphis International Raceway.   [12/11/18]

The Citrus Nationals has been a regular on the schedule at Palm Beach International Raceway for 37 years. Held the weekend after Thanksgiving, it is one of the last events of year and a good excuse to head to Florida.

There were Funny Cars aplenty, the Southern Slingshots, and Bob Motz’s jet truck.  (Adam Cranmer photos)

SATURDAY, NOV. 24

Box: Matt Buck, Lantana FL, .000 RT, 4.667 ET, 145.75 mph def. Claude Debonis, Ft. Lauderdale FL, .018 RT, 4.675 ET, 143.69 mph

No Box: Jay White, Ft. Pierce FL, ‘67 Camaro, .048, 6.401, 98.54 def. Glenn Guthrie, Kingsland GA, .010, 6.365, 101.02

Jr. Dragster: Tripp McCarty, Hazelhurst GA, .020, 9.010, 53.23 def. Aaron Reynolds, W. Melbourne FL, 1.002, 7.909, 80.53

Quick 16 Door Car: Bill Powell, Stuart FL, ‘10 Cobalt, .072, 4.893, 141.50 def. Johnny Hollis, Miami Gardens FL, ’06 GTO, -.007, 6.429, 74.22

SUNDAY, NOV. 25

Box: Tom Dauber, Medford NJ, ’11 Phantom, .019 RT, 4.750 ET, 142.88 mph def. Claude Debonis, Ft. Lauderdale FL, ’11 Worthy, .032, 4.826, 135.99

No Box: Ben Reaves, Lake Worth FL, ’93 Mustang, .084, 7.383, 85.73 def. Ethan Doty, Margate FL, ’83 Cougar, .016, 9.370, 72.69

Jr. Dragster: Carline McCarty, Hazelhurst GA, .089, 8.253, 77.31 def. Camryn Hawkins, Rock Hill SC, .246, 7.900, 81.60

Quick 16 Dragster: Steve Dweck, Hollywood FL, Undercover, .003, 4.982, 146.28 def. Keith Russell, Jupiter FL, Undercover, .031, 4.831, 136.63

Outlaw 632: Dillon Voss (shown), Royal Palm Beach FL, ’17 Corvette, .037, 4.295, 166.62 def. Ken Kershaw, Boynton Beach FL, ’15 Camaro, .037, 4.314, 163.79  (Adam Cranmer photo)    [12/11/18]

A re-creation of a famous Ed “Big Daddy” Roth custom car was sold for $246,400 by RM Sothebys at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles last weekend. Roth was an artist from the 1950’s and ‘60s perhaps best known for his “Rat Fink” cartoon character. He also painted, pinstriped and designed custom cars. He was part of the design team for the “Yellow Fang” streamliner slingshot dragster owned by George “Bushmaster” Schreiber.

Built in 1962, the original “Mysterion” was parted out and no longer exists. Jeff Jones, a petroleum engineer and admirer of Roth, decided to build an exact functioning replica. See more details at Rod Authority.    [12/11/18]