After two days of rain delays at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
at Pacific Raceways, Sunday’s eliminations went off without a hitch. 
And for Top Alcohol Dragster racer Shawn Cowie it was worth the wait. 
The Delta, B.C., resident won his fifth race in as many tries.  Steve
Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., didn’t mind the setbacks, either, as
he wheeled his Top Alcohol Funny Car to the winner’s circle for the
first time this year.

Cowie went into eliminations from the No. 1 qualifying spot and squared
off against No. 2 qualifier Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., in the
final.  Cowie laid down a 5.370-second, 268.81 mph pass which was more
than enough to cover Severance who slowed to a 16.152-second run at
52.69 mph.  Severance was also runner-up to Cowie at the division’s
race last week at Spokane County Dragway.

Gasparrelli, who claims the NHRA Pacific division as his home, took on
Clint Thompson of Klamath Falls, Ore., in the final.  Gasparrelli made
the best run of the weekend, a 5.585-second, 257.38 mph effort, against
Thompson.  Thompson ran 5.651 seconds at 252.19 mph.

As witnessed by his NHRA-leading five national event victories this
season, reigning Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. loves race
day. This weekend at the 12th of 24 races on the Full Throttle
schedule, Coughlin should be twice as happy as the most successful
racer on the '09 tour because he will have two chances to race for a
trophy in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt.

Aside from the national event itself and a chance to improve on his
NHRA-best, 109-point lead in the world rankings, Coughlin will compete
in the 25th annual K&N Horsepower Challenge, a special
race-within-a-race for Pro Stock's top eight drivers.

"I love race day; it's what I get up for," said Coughlin, who turns 39
a few days before the race begins. "To have two chances to win this
weekend, in my home state, no less, obviously makes this a very big
event for us. I can't wait to get started."

Greg
Anderson will lead the K&N Horsepower Challenge field as the No. 1
seed for the sixth consecutive year as the lucrative special event
takes center stage June 27 during the third annual Summit Racing
Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

A purse of $76,000 is available for the eight drivers competing in the
K&N Horsepower Challenge. The winner of the 25th annual K&N
Horsepower Challenge will earn $50,000. The runner-up will earn
$10,000, the two semifinalists $3,000 each, and the four first-round
finishers $2,500 apiece.

Anderson, from Charlotte, N.C., qualified No. 1 at six of the 24 NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events where drivers could earn
K&N Horsepower Challenge points. It is Anderson’s seventh career
appearance in the bonus event.

As surprising as it sounds, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
hits its official mid-point race this weekend – No. 12 of 24 – and Pro Stock superstar Greg Anderson is still looking for his first victory of the season.

Anderson’s 2009 campaign hasn’t started in the fashion that the
three-time Pro Stock world champion has grown accustomed. By this point
in most seasons, he’s usually won a handful of events, advanced to a
bunch of final rounds, claimed several top qualifying efforts and is
working on plans to extend his series points lead.

Not this year.

Dark clouds usually dissipate after
a brief storm. However, if you’re Jerry Eckman, those clouds are still
lingering - a painful reminder of the relentless storm he’s weathered
for more than a decade.

Eckman’s wearied eyes speak without
his lips moving. If they could convey a message, more than likely they
would utter, “Enough.”

He used to bite his lip, opting for silence.

Now Eckman is ready to talk. Friendships be damned, political correctness be damned. He wants his life back.

In the final rounds of qualifying at the Grease Monkey Thunder on the
Mountain event, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at
Bandimere Speedway, Grand Junction, Colo., racer Jim Whiteley moved to
the top of the Top Alcohol Dragster class while Roger Bateman,
Winnipeg, Manit., stayed at the top of the Top Alcohol Funny Car field.

Whiteley took the top spot away from Earlville, Iowa’s Richard Putz who
failed to improve on Friday’s initial qualifying pass of 5.610 seconds
at 253.66 mph.  Whiteley laid down a 5.527-second, 259.21 mph pass to
take the lead.  Denver’s Eugene Tumbarello is the No. 4 qualifier.

Bateman did not improve on his first qualifying run but the
5.912-second, 244.43 mph pass was enough to keep him atop the field. 
Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, moved up to the second spot with a
5.948-second pass at 241.54 mph.  Firestone, Colo., resident Paul
Anderson is the No. 4 qualifier.

After several days of researching alternatives, the management at
Summit Motorsports Park, home of the upcoming Summit Racing Equipment
NHRA Nationals, will replace the asphalt from the eighth-mile to the
finish line to alleviate drainage problems that have occasionally
plagued the track the last year.

Officials first detected a problem during last weekend's Super Chevy
event at the facility as water was seeping up through the track
surface. The Bader family, which owns the track, consulted with NHRA
Senior Vice President-Racing Operations Graham Light and facilities
consultant Wayne McMurtry and numerous engineers to determine the best
course of action.

Core samples were taken and it was determined that the root of the
problem was the high level of sand in the top inch and a half of the
asphalt mixture, which was retaining water and not allowing it to seep
down into the earth.

To add to your Father's Day relaxation, we have compiled a few videos
for your viewing pleasure. We found these gems on YouTube.com which
feature the early years of drag racing. This two part documentary
focuses on the early years of drag racing with a large focus on Stock,
Super Stock and Pro Stock. Classic footage from Indy, Beeline and other
historic venues. As an added bonus, we've also included the 1971 NHRA
Winternationals in Pomona, Ca.

In the first rounds of qualifying at Bandimere Speedway’s Grease Monkey
Thunder on the Mountain event, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Richard Putz of Earlville,
Iowa, and Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot Roger Bateman, Winnipeg, Man.,
took the No. 1 qualifying positions in their classes.

Putz laid down a 5.610-second, 253.66 mph pass to take the top spot. 
The No. 2 qualifier, Jim Whiteley from Grand Junction, Colo., was just
a couple of ticks behind with a 5.636-second, 257.28 mph run.  Reigning
division champion Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., is in the No. 3 spot
and Denver’s own Eugene Tumbarello is fourth.

Bateman set the pace in Top Alcohol Funny Car with a 5.912-second,
244.43 mph lap.  Racing veteran Vern Moats of Des Moines, Iowa, is in
the No. 2 slot with a 5.967-second run at 244.56 mph.  Firestone
resident Paul Anderson is in the No. 4 spot and Conifer’s Robert
Kanenwisher is No. 6.

The first rounds of qualifying at The Olympics of Drag Racing, a round
of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, at Pacific Raceways were
delayed by rain.  Racing finally got under way late in the day
prompting NHRA and track officials to cut qualifying runs to one per
class. In Top Alcohol Dragster, Shawn Cowie, Delta, B.C., grabbed the
No. 1 spot and Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., set the pace in
Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Cowie outran the field with a 5.389-second, 268.12 pass that was just
enough to put him ahead of No. 2 qualifier Joey Severance.  Severance
ran 5.401 seconds at 264.70 mph.  Currently there are 10 Top Alcohol
Dragsters vying for a spot in the eight-car elimination field.