Allan Middendorf drove his “American Outlaw” Nitro Funny Car to his first win at Funny Car Chaos at North Star Dragway in Denton, TX. This was only the second race Middendorf competed in since he started racing the car in the summer of 2018.

Middendorf led the way, going into eliminations as the No. 1 qualifier with an elapsed time of 3.594 at 195.65 mph. This pass also set a new record ET for Funny Car Chaos. Jake Sanders tunes the car.

Temperatures were in the upper 40s on race day as teams were challenged by the track conditions on the eighth-mile length. Middendorf’s car turned in a 5.174 to get the first-round win over Nancy Matter’s 6.587. He managed a 5.470 to Nick Poloson’s 5.959 even after losing the burst panel on his car. In the final, Kebin Kinsley red-lighted away his opportunity. [04/01/19]

After the original March 16 date for the Sydney Jamboree was rescheduled to March 30 due to forecasts of heavy rain, more of the wet stuff followed by heavy winds caused a delayed start and a shortened racing schedule on the new date before the final for the Factory Xtreme bracket was ultimately called off.

Team Bray Racing’s Rod Harvey was declared the winner of the FX, thanks to his consistent results in the passes he was able to complete on the day. Three of his four passes were in the ‘fives.”

Team Bray teammate, Ben Bray, will have his Toyota Solara back at their home track of Willowbank Raceway for testing before heading for the Brisbane Jamboree in August. (Richard Smith photo)

The team will also get their Pro Slammers ready for the penultimate round of the 400 Thunder Series held at the Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder event at Sydney Dragway on May 3-4 ahead of the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank in June.  [04/01/19]

Heath Fountain was the weekend’s biggest winner at the IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular event at State Capitol Raceway in Port Allen, LA With the events tailored to each of the host tracks, Fountain won the $5,000-to-win Super Pro division during Battle Born Batteries Sunday. He also received a $500 certificate towards the purchase of Battle Born Batteries products.

It came one day after rain halted action in the Super Pro and Mod divisions during Moser Engineering Saturday and the prize money was split after round three.

Sunday offered a new day of racing and Fountain was quick at the starting line. The Deville, LA, driver had a .007 reaction time and raced down the track in 4.921 seconds at 134.85 mph. Runner-up Wayne Henry from Central, LA, was .020 at the start before a 4.829-second run at 139.34 mph.

Larry Seguin from Greenwell Springs, LA, earned the $2,500 winner’s purse for the Mod division, plus extra bonus money as an IHRA member. He went down the drag strip in 6.222 seconds at 107.87 mph after a .029 reaction time. Runner-up Cody Pollage from Plaquemine, LA, was the No. 1 qualifier and then had a final-round package of a 7.230-second pass at 94.09 mph, paired with a .012 reaction time.

Three divisions of Junior Dragsters were contested with Dylan Hite from Prairieville, LA, winning in Masters when final-round opponent Velicity Morris from Pensacola, FLA, fouled at the start.

Maddie Chesne was tops in Advanced Jr. Dragster and the Junior Ironman run-off.

Maddie Chesne from Simmesport, LA, won on a holeshot in the Advanced class. Chesne’s run of 9.216 seconds at 71.61 mph with a .049 reaction time bested the package of 9.006 seconds at 70.88 mph and a .089 reaction by runner-up Layne Lewis from Sauicier, MS.

In the Beginners division for the youngest racers, Kane Kern from Pierre Part, LA, had the winning combination of 12.040 seconds at 50.49 mph with a .142 reaction time. Runner-up Slade Olinde from Meraux, LA, had a .037 reaction time, and then went 12.561 seconds at 50.33 mph.

The race also featured a Junior Ironman run-off where Chesne took top honors with a run of 9.205 seconds at 71.56 mph and a .070 reaction time. Hite made it down the track in 7.964 seconds at 80.46 mph with a .061 reaction time.

Chesne’s winning ways started on Saturday when she beat Kern in the Advanced final. Chesne was .059 at the tree and then went down the track in 9.125 seconds at 68.66 mph.

Kern also recorded the weekend sweep, also beating Olinde in the Beginner final. He had a .109 reaction time to go along with a run of 12.060 seconds at 53.48 mph.

Peyton Simoneaux from Napoleonville, LA, won on a holeshot over Ayden Hyatt from Breaux Bridge, LA, in the Masters division. Simoneaux had a .018 reaction time and then made an 8.172-second pass at 78.03 mph.

The IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular returns May 17-19 at Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio.  [04/01/19]

During the chassis certification day at S&W Performance Group held March 27, David Testa was awarded a $100 S&W gift certificate when his Chevelle was named Best Appearing Car. [04/01/19]

Holley announces the release of their Single-Plane Split-Design EFI Race Intake Manifolds for GM Gen 3 LS engines. They're perfect for race and high-performance LS engines and are designed specifically for cathedral-port cylinder heads and 4150-style square-bore throttle bodies. They're lighter than ordinary split race intakes and cost one-third to one-half as much. The two-piece configuration makes them easy to disassemble for custom porting and port-matching; shoulder-bolt locators and captured O-rings make reassembly simple and precise. Race-bred Holley Single-Plane Split-Design EFI Race Intake Manifolds are available in both silver and black and feature an A-B height of 7.32 inches (0-degree carb-flange angle) for plenty of under-hood clearance and cathedral ports 3.28 inches tall and 1.10 inches wide. They're ideal for EFI applications with displacements from 5.3L to 6.2L and deliver optimal performance across your entire RPM range and maximum power up to 7,000 RPM. To ensure a fast, hassle-free installation, the fuel rails, O-rings, and all the necessary fasteners are included. [04/01/19]