NHRA would like to make its members, fans, and the general public aware
of a fraudulent act against NHRA. NHRA has learned that consumers are
receiving a letter indicating they are a lucky winner of an unclaimed
cash prize. Included with the letter is what appears to be, but is not,
a check from NHRA. Further, the letter asks to call a number.

Hight knows the time to act is yesterday if he hopes to win title …

This
season has been very good to championship contender Robert Hight. He’s
won three races including the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

In addition, Hight has also reeled off four No. 1 qualifying efforts thus far in 2008.

He could have gained even more had it not have been for an opponent’s
miraculous reaction time in one race and then by .003 of a second in
another race.

Would have. Could have. Should have.

HALSEY RIDES WAVE OF MOMENTUM TO WINNER’S CIRCLE; SMITH UPSETS CANNON IN PRO MOD BLOWN FINAL

All Jim Halsey wanted to do was record a five-second run with his
nitrous car as he headed into the Al Anabi Shakedown at E’town
presented by Speedtech Nitrous. The Street, Md.-based Pro Mod Nitrous
racer did so much more.

Halsey was joined by a score of jubilant winners as Von Smith (Pro Mod
Blown), Joe Newsham (Outlaw 10.5), Steve Lazzaro (Heavy Street), Dave
Hinzman (Drag Radial) and Bill Cannon (8.50 Index) scored victories at
the 6th annual event hosted by Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in
Englishtown, N.J.

Despite entering the event as a dark horse, Halsey clearly established
himself as the driver to beat early in qualifying. Halsey ran the
first-ever nitrous run under six seconds on Saturday to qualify No. 1
and on Sunday, he never left the zone en route to pocketing the $20,000
winner’s purse in a convincing victory over Rickie Smith.

Blown Pro Mod racer Scott Filkins emerged uninjured after a second session qualifying accident.

Filkins crashed his 2006 Pontiac GTO into the right guard wall just
past the finish line. He crawled out of the car and walked away under
his own power.

Watch the video.

Bobby Martindale, 65, of Glen Allen, Va.,
suffered fatal injuries in a high-speed racing accident Saturday during
the NHRA Southeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race.  Preliminary
reports are that his Top Alcohol Funny Car experienced engine failure
and continued down the racetrack at a high rate of speed.

SCOTT CANNON JR. THUNDERS TO QUICKEST & FASTEST ABSOLUTE DOORSLAMMER PASS; HALSEY RUNS FIRST NITROUS “FIVE”

No performance barrier was safe from the assault of over 100 ferocious doorslammers during qualifying at the 6th annual Al Anabi Shakedown at E’town presented by Speedtech Nitrous in Englishtown, N.J.

On two occasions the performance barriers for doorslammers, regardless
of classification, and of the nitrous-injected variety created drag
racing history.

ADRL
VP of Competition “Bubba” Corzine expects the ADRL’s new test-n-tune
schedule will make Friday afternoon more predictable and less stressful
for ADRL race teams.

Nobody likes waiting in line only
to be told time’s up before it’s their turn at the front.
Unfortunately, that’s happened during Friday-afternoon’s test-n-tune
sessions at the last couple of national events staged by the Flowmaster
American Drag Racing League (ADRL) presented by the National Guard. The
staging lanes have been crowded with racers from all four ADRL pro
classes when the inevitable cut-off finally comes in order to start the
opening round of qualifying on time.

So, ADRL Vice President of Competition “Bubba” Corzine is instituting a
change for the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals
scheduled for Oct. 24-25 at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. He
expects the change will speed up the process and reduce the number of
teams affected when the lanes close to testing.

At
its annual National Event Track Operators meeting on Tuesday, September
30, the  President of the International Hot Rod Association Aaron
Polburn recognized Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood as its
“Promoter of the Year ” for 2008.

On presenting the award, Polburn said, “as a former track owner and
promoter of indoor motorsports events, promotions and press relations
are very close to me. I realize the constant effort it takes to
publicize our business.  Earwood is certainly deserving of this award
that recognizes his success at promoting our events”.

Team Mopar® motorsports coverage “with an attitude” will premiere next
week on MavTV, courtesy of SpeedFreaks®. The first half-hour of
SpeedFreaks’ new “reality” motorsports program is scheduled to air on
the MavTV cable and satellite network (U.S., Canada and the U.K.) on
Monday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m., prior to the kick-off of Monday Night
Football (check local cable or satellite provider for MavTV in your
area). Immediately following the MavTV network debut, the entire
SpeedFreaks “webisode” will be exclusively available for download at
www.MavTV.com on the SpeedFreaks page.

A new Mopar-centric SpeedFreaks webisode will launch each Monday at 8
p.m. for five consecutive weeks starting with the inaugural MavTV
network broadcast. The SpeedFreaks trio of Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys
and Statt Mann Caruthers will document Team Mopar drivers both at and
away from the track to give fans a unique “peak behind the curtains”
look at the life of a Mopar-powered race car driver.

If ever a racer saved his best for last, Ronnie Gardner's performance at Thursday's Big Dog shoot-out would be hard to top. Held
monthly at Piedmont Dragway, the October 2 event was the season-ending
gathering, and also the decider of the Big Dog Championship. Ronnie
Gardner arrived at the Julian, NC facility with a 42 point lead over
Jason Harris, a 2-time event winner in this his rookie season with the
series. After qualifying, Gardner's point lead was extended to 48, but
still hadn't clinched the championship. Harris could still
mathematically pull off a tremendous upset, if he won the event and if
Gardner lost in round one.