(Scott Bessee photo)

(Chris Haverly photo)

The pair before Justin Schriefer had his big boomer that we told you about yesterday, Bob Bode also had a fire in his Funny Car. Bode smoked the tires followed by a big back-fire and fire. Bode was out of the car and the Safety Safari put out the fire. No oil-down for this one.   [09/05/19]

After our note yesterday about Justin Schriefer’s concussion and lack of treatment at the U.S. Nationals, Schriefer tells DRO editor Jeff Burk that he received a call from the NHRA’s physician who promised the sanctioning body would do a better job of checking for unseen injuries in the future.

A tip of the Agent’s fedora to NHRA for keeping the racers’ safety paramount.   [09/05/19]

Our dedicated photographer Chris Haverly got to Indianapolis on Tuesday and he finally gave up on Monday evening about 6:30 p.m. and so we don’t have any final-round photos. We were told the last sportsman elimination round was at about 10:30 p.m. That’s a l-o-n-g time.

Top Alcohol Dragster: Megan Meyer, 5.250, 270.64 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Red Light.

Top Alcohol Funny Car: Jay Payne, Chevy Camaro, 5.563, 264.86 def. Chris Marshall, Camaro, 5.565, 261.93.

Competition Eliminator: Frank Aragona, Bantam Roadster, 7.602, 174.01 def. David Billingsley, Chevy Camaro, 8.061, 165.44.

Super Stock: Tyler Cassil, Chevy Camaro, 9.346, 138.67 def. Dave Dupps Jr., Chevy Cobalt, 8.342, 158.99.

Stock Eliminator: Austin Williams, Chevy Camaro, 11.058, 116.50 def. Matt Antrobius, Camaro, 11.043, 119.49.

Super Comp: Lynn Ellison, Dragster, 8.923, 171.79 def. Rock Haas, Dragster, 8.922, 168.49.

Super Gas: Nathan Vrooman, Chevy Beretta, 9.919, 164.37 def. Steve Hoyt, Chevy Corvette, 9.920, 161.25.

Top Dragster: Rusty Baxter, Racecraft-Chevy (0.015) 6.13 6.117 -0.013, def. Peter Biondo, RaceTrech-Chevy (0.014) 6.10 6.083 -0.017

Top Sportsman: Larry Demers, ’10 Cobalt (0.019) 6.75 6.752 0.002, def. Belva Brinegar (shown), ’03 Mustang (0.021) 6.65 6.669 0.019

We are sending Haverly a giant tube of Lotrimin Ultra to work on the foot fungus he got from being in wet shoes and socks for four days as he gets a well-deserved rest.    [09/05/19]

Bobby Cottrell and Bucky Austin celebrate with crew and friends at the NHRA Heritage Nitro Summer Nationals at Spokane, WA.  (Brian Losness photo)

The United Nitro Funny Car series will hold the final event of the season on Sept. 6-7 at Tucson Dragway.

Bobby Cottrell driving Bucky’s Austin’s “Northwest Hitter” Camaro has a 419 to 245 point lead over second place Ryan Hodgson. Tim Boychuk, Billy Morris and Jim Maroney fill out the top five spots.  [09/05/19]

Emcee Ralph Sheheen (top left) of Speed Sport magazine will lead the breakfast discussion at the Grand Opening Breakfast for the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show on Thursday, Dec. 12. Don Schumacher Racing drivers Antron Brown, Jack Beckman, Leah Pritchett, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. will be special guests. The three-day trade show in not open to the general public.   [09/05/19]