Cruz Pedregon and team are motivated by a quarterfinal showing and two 300+ mph runs to prove the same consistency in the upcoming final NHRA race of 2019.

"Overall I believe we've been plagued by mechanical issues in the piston department. Chasing scuffing problems for more than half of the races made us feel like we had an anchor around our ankle. These issues meant we weren't really able to show what our car is capable of," said Pedregon. "We resolved that in the last few races, but later found a problem in the clutch area where the surface of the disks weren't as they should be and that hampered our motor situation.

"Together with Nick (Casertano), Jay (Ryskey) and the rest of the team, we have really worked our tails off to bring our car back to the high-performing quality it should be. We plan on showing in Pomona that we can finish strong and are heading in the right direction for the 2020 season…ahead of the curve, ready to go."

Pedregon said that part of that direction includes adding Eric Lane to the team, "He's already helped some on the car and has great experience that includes the rebuilding of a race team. We appreciate the work Glen (Huszar) did for us over the season and wish him well."   [11/12/19]

John Hale, former funny car driver for Jim Dunn Racing, former nostalgia funny car team owner/driver, and the owner of Best of Texas Barbecue Sauce, has entered his first NHRA race since selling his nostalgia funny car this past year.

Hale will be at the wheel of Del Worsham’s Toyota Camry Funny Car at the season ender. The Worsham family has made recent changes to the car, including the addition of the latest cylinder head. They had Ray Martin driving the car at Indy where they qualified well and won a round of eliminations.

The car will carry Hale’s Best of Texas Barbeque Sauce on the side as the brand expands into multiple chain grocery stores. [11/12/19]

After seemingly ignoring drag racing for a time, the Agent is happy to see that Ford corporate is getting more involved. In a recent press release, the automobile manufacturer summed up their year in NHRA and NASCAR.

On the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series side, Bob Tasca III reset both ends of his career bests this year in a brand-new Ford Mustang Funny Car designed by Ford Performance. His personal records for time and speed on the 1,000-foot track now sit at 3.855 seconds (St. Louis) and 335.32 mph (Reading, PA).

Tasca also broke the sound barrier during a ride along in an F-15 at Nellis Air Force Base in October just days after bringing standout crew chief Mike Neff in house fulltime. He shares tuning duties with Jon Schaffer, whom he’d worked with before.

Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team have two wins, two runners-up and four semifinal finishes so far this season in the NHRA Mello Yello Series. They are currently fifth in the playoff standings.

“When we look back, this is going to be a breakout year for us,” Tasca said. “The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang is running on rails. I have all the confidence in the world in (Neff and Schaffer). Ford Performance did such a great job on this new Ford Mustang Funny Car body and we’re consistently going rounds on race day. I’m already looking forward to next year. I’ve never been so excited to be part of it.”   [11/12/19]

Audrey Worm this season at Bristol. (Chris Haverly photo)

With Erica Enders taking the 150th win by a female at Las Vegas, followed by Brittany Force at 151, it seems time for a drag racing team led by women to join the NHRA ranks.

Audrey Worm, one of the few female owner/drivers in NHRA Top Fuel history, has announced that she will field an all-female-led team in 2020. Ashley Fye will be crew chief for the 2020 season. Fye previously served as a crew chief for Top Fuel racer Scott Palmer. Jenna Drake, perhaps better known better to fans as Jenna Haddock, will be car chief.

Worm also has purchased the dragster formerly driven by Drake during her time behind the wheel in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The car is an ex-Antron Brown/Don Schumacher Racing chassis. Strutmasters.com will be major sponsor of the team.

The team currently plans to run nine NHRA Mello Yello events next year, mostly on the East Coast.   [11/12/19]

After the close of the SEMA Show last Friday night, the Real Deal Steel trailer was stolen from the oversize parking lot of the Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas. The 2010 20-foot Arising Industries dual-axle trailer contained the red oxide painted Gen2 Camaro body that was in the booth. The booth display items were also in the trailer.

The body is the only reproduction Gen2 Camaro in existence (body no. 2 is under construction in Sanford, FL) so anyone possessing a 1970-1973 Camaro reproduction steel body has the stolen item. The trailer had Florida license plate KERC86 on it when stolen.

Real Deal Steel is offering a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to a full recovery. If you have information on the trailer or its contents contact Real Deal Steel at 407-585-1957 or the Las Vegas Police Department at 702-828-3204.   [11/12/19]