How many of us can remember sixth grade geography and having to memorize all 50 Capitals?

Richmond, Des Moines, Raleigh, Columbia, Tallahassee, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and the list goes on and on. Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car is going one step past memorizing the capitals. Beckman, along with his wife, Jenna and two year old son Jason, is attempting to visit all fifty state Capitals and the nation's Capital, Washington, D.C.

To date the Beckman clan have visited 30 of the 50 Capitals, and one of them twice because they forgot they had been there previously.

Veteran lensman Don Gillespie is at this weekend's California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, Ca., capturing the event through his award-winning camera. Check out the weekend's action by clicking on our photo gallery.

Today and Sunday, the fastest and quickest Doorslammers in the world will descend on Virginia Motorsports Park for the Al-Anabi Shootout featuring over $50,000 in purse money.

Highlighting the list of big names competing is Mike Castellana, the world's quickest and fastest Pro Mod (5.919 at 240 MPH!!).  Due to nearly ideal weather conditions temperature wise, fans may get a chance to see that record broken, resulting in the first ever 5.80 Nitrous Pro Mod pass in history.

Jim Daniels will not only attempt to defend his 2008 title in the Mopar® HEMI® Challenge Race Series Dutch Classic event at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., on Oct. 22–24. He’s also aiming for his second triumph in a row this season after winning the rain-shortened Mopar HEMI Challenge event at Columbus, Ohio, last month.

For the last five years in a row veteran drag racer Jay Payne has hoisted the Top Alcohol Funny Car champion's trophy in the NHRA's Southeast Division. After this weekend's season-ending Division 2 race at Silver Dollar Raceway, the driver of the FireIce Ford Mustang hopes to do it again.

Payne enters the event 53 points behind current leader Mickey Ferro. To clinch another championship, Payne needs to reach the final round and hope Ferro is knocked out early on race day.

In the first rounds of qualifying at Silver Dollar Raceway, Richmond Hill, Ga., racer  Arthur Leong and Charlie Careccia lead the pole sitters after day one of action.

Hill took the pole in the Super Stock class followed by Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., who is a regular among the top qualifiers in his ’91 Calais.  Careccia, Mars, Hill, N. C., out ran the rest of the Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales Top Dragster field with a 6.714 second lap at 202.33 mph.  Ray Miller sits in the No. 2 spot at 6.714, 200.23 mph.

Pro Street drag racing legend Pat Musi has just taken delivery of a brand new Dodge Stratus from Jerry Bickel Race Cars.

Musi was previously scheduled to race a 1953 Corvette but according to him, gave up on the project when construction delays made it apparent he wouldn't get the car anytime soon.

"I had sponsor obligations so I called Jerry Bickel to build a new car," Musi said.

In one of the most anticipated announcements in recent motorsports history, the International Hot Rod Association and Feld Motorsports has announced its plans to completely overhaul its highly popular Nitro Jam series while also helping revolutionize the world of motorsports entertainment.

From a completely revamped professional format, to a reduction in the number of days spent at the track and an emphasis on all things entertainment, the IHRA is getting a long-awaited makeover that will carry the IHRA into 2010 and beyond.

In a upwardly spiking movement that defies current trends in drag racing participation -- and the economy in general -- officials for the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series are reporting a record number of AA/Funny Cars at this weekends 18th California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Raceway, just north of Bakersfield.

When time trials for the vintage nitro-burning coupes begin on Saturday at 4 pm, as many as thirty-two machines will take to the track to will vie for a mere eight spots, with these quickest contestants participating in Sunday’s final showdown.  Indeed, qualifying for the last race this year in the NHRA Heritage Points Series promises to be ruthless, with a legion of fuel floppers duking it out in a field defined by quality as well as quantity. Among those entered: Heritage Series Points Leader, Garrett Bateman in the stout Plueger & Gyger Mustang; 2009 March Meet champ Bucky Austin and his vintage Northwest Hitter machine;  Kris Krabill in bicycle magnate Gary Turner’s Pedaler; Mark Sanders’ Mr. Explosive Nova, and AA/Funny Car’s mistress of the motorway, Mendy “Nitro Kitty” Fry.  In addition to those stalwarts, former NHRA Funny Car champ Cruz Pedregon will debut his just-finished Joe Pisano ‘77 Arrow tribute funny car.

Former IHRA Pro Stock champion turned NHRA Pro Stock regular Steve Spiess will race the final two events of 2009 with help from Billet Specialties, a company that specializes in custom wheels and hot rod accessories.

According to their website [www.billetspecialties.com], Billet Specialties carries over 600 accessory products and 90 plus wheel styles. Billet Specialties boasts a diverse product line and and one that's growing daily. Billet Specialties has produced wheels, interior, exterior and engine dress up accessories to enthusiasts since 1985.