First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Fourth annual Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, the 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Racing is complete for the day at the NHRA Summit Racing Series South Central Division Finals at Texas Motorplex.  Competitors had one time trial before beginning first round of eliminations.  
The top points earners from each track also ran in the Race of Champions, a race within a race.

John Nobile proudly proclaimed his switch to Ford in 2010 during the NHRA Virginia Nationals outside of Richmond, Va.

The NHRA continues to allow the practice of crewmen standing in front of Pro Stockers despite the obvious danger that is present. One series has already outlawed the practice. Some wonder if the NHRA will adopt a rule against the standing in front of cars burning out before or after someone gets hurt.

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NHRA Virginia Nationals fans witnessed the world ET record broken not once, but thrice today in last session qualifying and round-one action in the Get Screened America Pro Modified Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at Virginia Motorsports Park.  Brad Personett broke the previous record held by Raymond Commisso by blasting to a turbo-powered 5.843 at a monster 253.28 mph, only to have Rick Stivers barrel down the track with an unprecedented 5.837 to take the pole in qualifying. Stivers then proceeded to back up the number and surpass his mark in first-round eliminations with a 5.835-second shot.

Commisso, who had been the record-holder since Englishtown, said, "Records were made to be broken, but we'll see if we can do any work on that." Commisso ran a 5.843 in his first round victory over points leader Burton Auxier - a number that can be used as a backup if Commisso can pass Stivers Sunday and re-claim bragging rights.

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John Force pulled up to the starting line for the final NHRA Virginia Nationals qualifying session and at the hit of the throttle his Mustang immediately blew up.

Second-place Larry Dixon closed the gap between himself and Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher with his fourth straight No. 1 qualifier on Saturday at the NHRA Virginia Nationals.

The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 22nd of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock).

The NHRA Virginia Nationals is the fourth race in NHRA’s six-race playoff, the Countdown to 1. The playoff concludes with races in Las Vegas (Oct. 29-Nov. 1) and Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 12-15).

Dixon, who notched his eighth No. 1 qualifier of 2009 and 39th of his career in the Al-Anabi dragster, sliced his deficit behind Schumacher from 54 to 47 points with a 3.783-second pass at 311.27 mph.

NHRA Funny Car racer Ashley Force Hood and her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang team are featured in the new music video by rising country star Krista Marie for her next hit single “Tomboy.” The video footage was shot at zMax Dragway before the NHRA Carolinas Nationals this year. In addition to the pit footage, race footage from Ashley Force Hood’s historic win at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is also included in the video.

According to the team, the new Ford “Hemi” engine to be used in Pro Stock is currently slated to make its debut at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals in three weeks.

There will be a closed, family service for Darryl Jackman.

Don Ewald

His family would like to convey their appreciation for all of the love and memories that his friends have shared by e-mail.