Steve Timoszyk drove the “Detroit Tiger” to the A Field win while Mike Smith in the “Nor’easter” won the B Field in the Funny Car Chaos at Central Illinois Dragway near Havana, IL, on Saturday, July 27.

We’ll have the complete race story coming soon.  (Scott Bessee photos) [07/29/19]

Racers in the Chevrolet Performance Challenge Series classes were pushing hard at the 14th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing Presented by FST Carburetors, were jockeying for position in the season points standings with only two more races on the Challenge Series schedule.

Open to owners of LS- and LT-powered machines, the Chevrolet Street Car Challenge offers multiple categories for racers to compete in a True Street-style format. The best part is the first 75 entries are complementary courtesy of Chevrolet Performance.

At Route 66 in Joliet, IL, a wide range of vehicles competed. Louis Truffa (shown) nabbed the overall win in his 1984 Monte Carlo with a 9.22 average, and Kevin Rowand earned runner-up honors thanks to an 11.039 average in a 2008 Corvette. Rounding out the category wins were Robert Peter (2016 Camaro) in the 12-second class, Greg Jessup (2010 Camaro) in the 13-second class, Jeremy Billecki (2014 Camaro) in the 14-second class, and Steve Weigl (2012 Caprice) in the 15-second class.

Designed for vehicles powered by the OEM-sealed Chevrolet Performance DR525 crate engine combined with a factory Chevrolet Performance sealed ECM and installation kit, Chevrolet Performance Stock presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center reins in costs, making heads-up racing accessible by leveling the playing field. At Route 66 Raceway, Jesse Wilson topped qualifying with a 10.19 at 129.94 mph and right behind him Haley Burkhammer qualified her 2010 Camaro in the second spot with a 10.19 at 130.37 mph.

The two would square off in the final round, where Wilson chopped down the tree, but Burkhammer drove around him to take the win 10.23 vs. 10.32 to end his incredible 17-race win streak in the class.

For race cars running 11-second passes and slower, Proform Rumble also focuses on GM LS, LT or LLT (V-6) powerplants, but the cars must be factory appearing with stock bodies. After qualifying in the second spot on the merits of a .041 reaction time, David Rickey came up on the happy side of the tree in each round behind the wheel of his 2002 Camaro.

In the finals, he clashed with number-five qualifier Nicholas Massengale. However, Rickey left first and never looked back, taking the win with an 11.32 on a 10.25 dial-in.

An index class that showcases LS-, LT-, and LLT-powered V-6 and V-8 machines, LME Street King allows any body and racers can’t run slower than an 11.00 index, and the indexes get quicker from there. Al Corda’s hard-launching 2015 Camaro ran right on top of its dial-in through every round. In the finals, he clashed with Jenna Pierce-Wilson’s 2012 COPO Camaro. Corda (shown) got the leave and ran a 10.04 on a 10.00 dial-in to take the convincing victory.  (photos courtesy NMCA)

The next round of the Chevrolet Performance Challenge Series will run at the NMCA All-American Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, from August 22-25.

We’ll have the NMCA and NMRA results from the Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing later in the week.   [07/29/19]

Robert Hight finished off a standout weekend by racing to his 50th career Funny Car win on Sunday at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway. Billy Torrence (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners at the 15th of 24 events during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Billy (near lane) also met son Steve at Virginia.  (Chris Haverly file photo)

Torrence scored his second win this season and third in his career thanks to his final-round run of 3.804 at 320.20 in his Capco Contractors dragster to beat No. 1 qualifier Clay Millican’s 3.842 at 321.65. To reach the final round, the Torrence patriarch beat Steve Faria, Austin Prock and his son, points leader and defending world champ Steve Torrence. It ended Steve’s impressive string of nine straight final rounds in 2019, while Millican beat Brittany Force and Antron Brown to earn his 16th career finals appearance and second-runner-up finish in a row.

Hight has been hot this season.  (Ron Lewis photo)

Hight, the current points leader, qualified No. 1 in his Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS and earned his fifth win in 2019 by going 3.973-seconds at 325.45 mph in the final round against Matt Hagan’s 4.030 at 316.60. With the victory, Hight’s second straight at Sonoma, the two-time world champion became just the third driver in Funny Car history to reach 50 career wins.

To get there, he knocked off Blake Alexander and Tommy Johnson Jr., while Hagan picked up his 58th final-round berth with round wins against J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman and John Force. Hight and Johnson also clinched spots in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

After a slow start, it’s two in a row for Anderson.  (Ron Lewis photo)

Anderson kept his hope alive to sweep the Western Swing after winning his second straight race this season and 93rd of his career after going 6.602 at 208.71 to beat No. 1 qualifier Alex Laughlin in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro in the final round. Anderson, who is the only driver in Pro Stock history to sweep the Western Swing, will have a chance to follow his 2004 sweep next weekend in Seattle.

He reached the final round with victories against Kenny Delco, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and teammate Jason Line, while Laughlin beat Val Smeland, Erica Enders and points leader Bo Butner to reach his sixth career final round. Butner also earned his spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Andrew Hines made it a double-win weekend by earning his seventh victory of 2019 and 55th in his career with a 6.790 at 198.00 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson FXDR in the final round to beat Matt Smith’s 6.822 at 197.36. The seven victories are a career-best in a single season for Hines.

He beat Kelly Clontz, Scotty Pollacheck and Jerry Savoie en route to the final round, while defending world champ Smith beat Jianna Salinas, Ryan Oehler and Hector Arana to advance to his 53rd final round. Eddie Krawiec, Smith and Hector Arana Jr. all clinched berths in the Countdown to the Championship this weekend.    [07/29/19]

Drag racing historian and DRO Editor at Large, Bret Kepner, gave us some information to correct one of the Agent’s notes from last week. Relying on information provided to us, the Agent did not know that Brian Hurst's father was not Fred Hurst of Gasser fame, but Jeff Hurst of dragster fame, who died in 2011. Fred Hurst was Brian's grandfather. Now we all know.  [07/29/19]

Andrew Hines added another achievement to his dominant 2019 season, racing to his third NHRA Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle win during the 32nd annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals on Saturday, July 27. Hines earned a $25,000 payday in the all-star bonus race that featured eight top riders in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Hines knocked off teammate Eddie Krawiec in the final round with a run of 6.912 seconds at 193.24 mph on his new Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson FXDR the team debuted a week ago in Denver. Hines, who also won last weekend, beat Hector Arana Jr. and Smith to reach the finals against Krawiec.

“Racing through this year and racing here at the Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle, I had my focus,” Hines said. “We had a tune-up we could rely on. I’ve always been the guy to put too much pressure on myself, and you take the points out of the equation (for a bonus race), and it always seemed to work out for me and today was no different. Mickey Thompson supporting this for the past three years has been phenomenal. They’re a great partner for the entire class and do so much great promotion for us.”  (Ron Lewis photo)  [07/29/19]

Jake Howard won on a holeshot (.013 to .048) to capture the Pro division win. He had an elapsed time of 6.558 seconds at 104.90 mph against a 6.55 dial-in, while runner-up Kevin Martin from Springtown, TX, finished in 6.094 seconds at 111.83 mph against a 6.10 dial-in.

The event also featured a 500 race with Bruce Dodson from Grand Prairie, TX, getting the win after Steve Wang from Norman, OK, redlighted in the final. Dodson posted a 4.97 elapsed time at 137.11 mph, while Wang finished his run in 5.742 seconds at 138.21 mph.

Bobby Bates from Paris, TX, won on a holeshot in the 550 race. His start of .007 eclipsed the .040 posted by runner-up Steven Hanson from Red Oak, TX. Bates went down the track in 5.517 seconds at 114.13 mph, while Hanson ended in 5.525 seconds at 124.04 mph.

Kenny Teer from Roanoke, TX won the Street race after finishing in 7.578 seconds at 88.01 mph against a 7.52 dial-in. Brandy Ray from Blooming Grove, TX had the better start .107 to .131, but came up short with an elapsed time of 10.342 seconds at 68.43 mph against a 10.38 dial-in.

In the Quick Open class, Don Boulware from Irving, TX won with a 4.648 elapsed time at 146.06 mph against a 4.62 dial-in, coupled with a .026 reaction time. Runner-up Bryce Self finished in 4.687 seconds at 146.87 mph against a 4.67 dial-in with a .040 reaction time.

Addyson Owen from Corsicana, TX, ruled the Junior Dragster ranks with a holeshot win .030 to .102 over Logan Atkins from Lewisville, TX. Owen also had a winning pass of 7.908 seconds at 82.19 mph, while Atkins had an 11.921-second run at 52.64 mph.

John Stepan was quick at the starting line with a .005 reaction time and solid down the track to win Sunday’s Super Pro final. The Grand Prairie, TX driver recorded a 6.158-second run at 109.97 mph against a 6.15 dial-in. Runner-up Ronny Crow from Justin, TX had a .019 reaction time and went 5.858 seconds at 117.37 mph against a 5.83 dial-in.

Scooter Hamlin from Tomball, TX won a closely contested Pro final with a 6.757-second pass at 100.31 mph against a 6.75 dial-in, along with a .034 reaction time. Ian Dunaway came up just short with a package which included a 6.082-second run at 112.90 mph against a 6.08 dial-in, along with a .040 reaction time.

Owen’s hopes for sweeping the weekend in the Junior Dragster ranks were dashed by redlighting at the start on Sunday. Justin Miles from Gilmer, TX took the trophy with a 7.692-second pass at 80.37 mph. Owen finished runner-up with a 7.915-second run at 83.80 mph.

The IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular returns for a season finale August 23-25 at Maryland International Raceway.  (photos courtesy IHRA)  [07/29/19]

New RHS® 24-Degree Aluminum Intake Manifolds for BBC Applications are designed for maximum airflow and power with a 4500 Dominator-style carburetor flange. Engineered to fit most 24-degree style race cylinder heads, RHS® took additional efforts to ensure excellent port matching when paired with RHS® Big Block Chevrolet cylinder heads. These manifolds are available in both carb and EFI versions. Featuring a single-plane design, they utilize individual runner dividers for excellent throttle response and exceptional torque. Available for both short and tall deck blocks, all versions utilize a standard BBC distributor – there is no need for a slip collar distributor or special distributor for tall deck engines. They feature auxiliary water ports, an integral water crossover and dual distributor hold-down pads. Ports for water lines are also provided at all four corners.  [07/29/19]