:::::: News ::::::

KALITTA’S ROASTED EVENING

kalitta_03.jpgThe
ESPN2 censors editing Sunday evening's roast of drag racing legend
Connie Kalitta will earn their money editing the footage. The event was
staged under a special tent on the grounds of O’Reilly Raceway Park in
Indianapolis.

Before a packed house of friends, fellow drag racers and drag racing
fans, Kalitta withstood the heat of a few friends chosen to tell a few
of the not-so-flattering stories from his five decades of drag racing
involvement. The proceeds of the event benefitted Racers for Christ.

NHRA announcer Bob Frey emceed the roast and Alan Reinhart served as
the roving reporter making his way through the crowd gathering random
Kalitta tales.

ROUND-BY-ROUND PRO RESULTS FROM INDIANAPOLIS

Final round-by-round results from the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O'Reilly Raceway Park at
Indianapolis, the 18th of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag
Racing Series:

FINAL NHRA REGULAR SEASON POINT STANDINGS

Final regular season point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional
categories following the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented
by Lucas Oil at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, the 18th of 24
events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The six-race
championship playoffs – the Countdown to 1 – begins Sept. 18 at zMAX
Dragway in Concord, N.C. -

INDY FINAL RESULTS

Tony Schumacher continued his domination of the Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals presented by Lucas Oil Monday, racing to his eighth victory
at historic O’Reilly Raceway Park and tying legendary “Big Daddy” Don
Garlits for the most Top Fuel wins at the world’s most prestigious drag
race.

Ashley Force Hood, Jeg Coughlin, and Hector Arana also were winners of
the final regular season event in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series. The Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs,
begins Sept. 18 with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway near
Charlotte, N.C.

Schumacher, who has been to the last eight final rounds at this event
and 10 overall since he began his career at this race in 1996, powered
to his fourth victory of the season and 60th of his career, with a
performance of 3.861 seconds at 314.17 mph in his U.S. Army dragster to
hold off rival Larry Dixon, who trailed with a 4.208 at 228.58 in his
Al-Anabi Racing dragster.

NHRA MAKES CHANGES OFFICIAL

NHRA to Award National Records in Top Fuel and Funny Car Categories; Bonus Points during Qualifying Sessions 
      
Today, the NHRA confirmed Competitionplus.com's stories as they announced that with the start of the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., it will recognize national records in Top Fuel and Funny Car and create a new bonus point system for pro qualifying sessions. Both programs will instantly make the battle for the NHRA Full Throttle world championships just a little more interesting for professional competitors on the eve of the start of the Countdown to 1, NHRA's six-race championship playoffs.

SUNDAY INDY: IT WAS A LONG DAY

Antron.jpgSunday was a very long day at O’Reilly Raceway Park, but not
necessarily in mere hours.  A four hours-long shower reduced the
qualifying action to a single, last-gasp final session for the
professionals, one that the competitors themselves worried might be
completely washed out.  But, when the water stopped falling the
tireless NHRA Safety Safari set to work, having the track in racing
condition in less time than seemed possible when one viewed the water
collected along the racing surface.

JOHNSON FAMILY DNQ'S AT INDY

Neither Warren Johnson, nor his son Kurt
will race on Sunday at the NHRA U.S. Nationals. Warren’s DNQ eliminated
him from w_johnson.jpgk_johnson.jpgchampionship contention. Kurt had clinched a berth prior to
the event.

"We finally got the car hooked up, and made a smooth run, but we just
weren't aggressive enough," Kurt Johnson said. "You test, and run good
and you come in here pumped up about racing at Indy and this happens.
It's disappointing but I still feel good about the car because we have
the right components to be competitive. We won’t make the mistake again
of being too conservative."

MILLICAN CLAIMS FINAL TOP FUEL PLAYOFF BERTH

Clay Millican qualified and Joe Hartley didn't thus ending the
battle for the final available position in the Countdown playoffs on
Sunday c_millican.jpgafternoon.

Millican, behind the wheel of the Lifelock dragster, landed in the 13th
position while Hartley's 4.025 was only good enough for the 18th spot.
Only the top 16 qualifiers advance into the elimination.

TASCA'S HOT TEMPERED MUSTANG

A decade ago, Whit Bazemore survived so many fiery runs those is the pits starting calling the former photographer turned driver, Whit “Blaze”more.

Tasca_Body_Damage.jpg
Stan Creekmore

If Bob Tasca isn't careful he may soon become knows as Shish-The-Bob Tasca.

For the second time in as many events, Tasca has survived a fiery wreck
which seriously damaged the body of his Quick Lane/Motorcraft Shelby
Mustang Funny Car. Tasca and team were going for broke when issues in
the valve train, two dropped cylinders, lead to a booming explosion and
breathtaking fire.

ANTRON'S BIG DAY STARTS WITH GARLITS WARM-UP

Antron Brown was excited about claiming the top spot for the 55th Annual NRHA U.S. Nationals and the opportunity to garlits.jpgclaim his first U.S. Nationals victory.

“To win Indy is a big deal,” said Antron, but maybe not as big as a
visit from “Big Daddy” Don Garlits as the team prepared to warm up the
car for the final round of qualifying.

“Big Daddy got to warm my car up before that run,” said Brown. “That
was something really special to me. When I grew up as a kid watching
this sport, that was my hero. That moment goes beyond words for me.”

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