At the recently concluded PDRA Fall Nationals in Darlington, SC, John Montecalvo clinched the PDRA championship in Extreme Pro Stock. We’ll have the complete results from the event in the October issue of DRO.

The final event of the PDRA season will be at the sixth annual Brian Olson Memorial World Finals presented by Pro Line Racing and $hameless Racing, Oct. 17-20 at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, VA.  (Roger Richards photo)  [10/10/19]

Trevor Eman in MMPS action this year at Epping, NH. (Ron Lewis photo)

The NHRA has expanded the schedule for the Mountain Motor Pro Stocks to six of the 24 events next season. They ran at four national events in 2019 (Houston, Charlotte 1, Bristol and Epping).

Dates for 2020 are:

April 24-26: Charlotte, NC

May 29-31: Richmond, VA

July 9-12: Joliet, IL

July 17-19: Denver, CO

Aug. 13-16: Brainerd, MN

Oct. 2-4: St. Louis (Madison, IL)  [10/10/19]

From taking home the first Wally of the season at the season opening Winternationals, to leading the Funny Car class through 18 consecutive events and clinching the regular season championship, Robert Hight is on the threshold of a career best season. And as he heads to the third playoff race in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship back in the points lead with his Auto Club Chevy, he’ll continue his hunt for a third Funny Car championship title.

“We got the points lead back in St. Louis and you know, that feels great. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham and all the Auto Club guys have been working really hard to get this thing running. We took some time testing and when we were in St. Louis that really showed so we’re there and ready to take that into this next one,” said Hight who has tallied five wins, two runner-up finishes and eight No. 1 qualifiers this season. “I’m confident we can head into Charlotte, pick up those little points in qualifying and go some rounds on race day, just keep picking away at this championship. We’re so close.”

Team owner John Force is second in the points just 13 behind Hight.  (Ron Lewis photo)   [10/10/19]

Janette Thornley on her Pro Fuel Harley earlier this season at the AMRA event in Orlando, FL.  (Tim Hailey photo)

Janette Thornley’s focus this week is on guiding her Circle 1 Solar-sponsored Harley-Davidson into the winners’ circle at Rockingham Dragway’s 28th annual Jim McClure Memorial Nitro World Finals – but a year from now, Thornley hopes to join that battle instead of merely watching it.

Already one of the fastest women on two wheels at 185 mph and a three-time AMRA series champion, 52-year-old Janette Thornley is poised to become the first woman to compete in Top Fuel astride a highly modified Harley even more powerful than the one she rode to a Pro Fuel victory earlier this year at Bowling Green, KY.

“After eight years of riding a nitro-powered motorcycle, nothing can prepare you for a Top Fuel Harley except seat time,” she said. “I have nothing but respect for these machines and those who ride them.”  [10/10/19]