If you couldn't be in two places at one time last weekend, don't
fret because we at Torco's CompetitionPlus.com pulled off the feat.
Up-and-coming photog Kelly Pelrine covered the NMRA Columbus event
while we were off playing at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in
Indianapolis.

PHOTO GALLERY 

PEAK Antifreeze, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Herculiner announced today that an
agreement was reached with Zizzo Racing to join Race News Magazine as sponsors.
PEAK, O'Reilly and Herculiner will become the primary sponsor on the Zizzo
Racing Top Fuel Dragster for the remainder of the IHRA season. The announcement
comes on the heals of a career best performance for Zizzo at the 53rd annual Mac
Tool U.S. Nationals. Zizzo remains the points leader in a tightly contested
battle with veteran Bruce Litton for the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series
Championship.

Brian Bohlander, Brand Manager for SplitFire and Herculiner
looks forward to the partnership. "After TJ's success at the U.S. Nationals we
couldn't think of a better way to continue the PEAK Antifreeze 60th anniversary
celebration than by becoming a partner with TJ as he competes for the IHRA
Championship," he said.

PEAK and Zizzo renew a partnership that began in
2004. "We're excited to be involved with PEAK and O'Reilly," Zizzo said.
"They've been a friend to our team and a great marketing partner. As the Fall
season approaches we want drag racing fans to think about replacing their
antifreeze with PEAK from O'Reilly Auto Parts."

We caught up with Pro Stock and Top Fuel team owner Ken Black to ask him
about the latest involving Gary Scelzi’s possible return next season. 
He said, “Well, all I’m going to do for next year is that I’ve agreed to
fly him to and from about 10 races next year to help him spend more
time with his family  For next year that’s all we’ve got going.
 
“Our other deal fell through, so we’re just puling back and
regrouping.  I met with Don Schumacher this morning and we discussed
it, and he’s willing to help me with anything he can in pursuit of a
Funny Car team that we’re probably going to put on hold until 2009. 
That was my original plan.
 
“My understanding is that Gary will continue to drive for Don, with
Todd Okuhara tuning the car, and in the meantime we’ll try to put our
own team together for 2009 with Gary driving and a certain other party
as crew chief that fell through.”

AOL Sports today announced that NHRA Driver
Ashley Force has been named the winner of the First Annual “Hottest Athlete”
Poll (http://sports.aol.com/photos/hottestathletes.)  AOL Sports
users voted on the best-looking sports guys and gals over the last several weeks
and Force came out on top.  Force, who is
the daughter of NHRA racing legend John Force, beat out football hunk Tom Brady,
as well as fellow motorsports sensation Danica Patrick, for the nod as the
hottest athlete in sports.

Defending IHRA Pro Stock champion Peter Berner was
spotted walking around the U.S. Nationals pits, which immediately brought a
question to mind: Is Berner considering a move to NHRA Pro Stock, and taking notes
from fellow IHRA racer Rickie Smith?

“It would be pretty
interesting to give this side a try,” said Berner. “I just couldn’t afford to
run the 23-race schedule over here in addition to the 11-race schedule in
IHRA.”

Pro Stock legend has
converted his versatile Jerry Bickel-built Chevy Cobalt from a mountain-motor
Pro Stock car over to a 500-inch machine for this weekend’s race. Berner thinks
his car could do the same thing.

Morgan Lucas confirmed that he will be driving a Top
Fuel dragster for his parents but the second car sponsored by Evan Knoll is up
in the air.

“We owe it to the great
sponsors like Evan Knoll and Dixie Chopper to keep things going and give them a
great season instead of the crappy one we’ve had,” Lucas said. “We’ll chase the
points and do it the right way. We have two teams that could actually pursue
and finish in the Countdown. We can contend for the championship. That’s a big
statement to make, but I think we that have that. I think we have shown that in
the last few races. Right now, I can say that I am as excited as I have ever
been and having stability is important.

“I am the kind of person
that hates not knowing what is going on. My dad is finally starting to come
along because of the ups and downs we’ve had. It has been hard for him because
of the money he’s got invested. He’s finally stepped in and got more involved.
It has shown a difference lately. The more he’s involved means the better this
is going to get. The more excited he gets is going to mean the better it is for
everyone in the long run.”

Earlier in the weekend,
Lucas received a gut-punch with the announcement of teammate Melanie Troxel’s
defection to the Funny Car ranks to drive for Mike Ashley’s expanding team.

Larry Dixon, Jr. told Torco's CompetitionPlus.com said that he's
uncertain at this time about his future in the sport because of
Skytel’s involvement beyond the 2007
season.

“I have no idea on that
stuff but Snake says we will be just fine,” Dixon said. “My contract option runs out
October 1, so I am sure I will find out soon. Thirty-days from now I will know
what my plan is for the future.”

Dixon confirmed the Skytel sponsorship was a one-year
deal.

We asked Dixon if he felt Prudhomme would run the car
without a sponsor in 2008 as was speculated for 2007 prior to the announcement
of Skytel.

“Would you run a website
with no sponsors?” he asked.

When more than 500,000 car enthusiasts roll into San Bernardino for the
18^th annual Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous, it’ll be only natural
to think of Wally and Barbara Parks. After all, Wally founded NHRA – now the
governing body of the world’s largest motorsport – and the two nurtured the
sport together, making drag racing one of the most popular spectator sports in
the country today.

For that reason and many others, Wally Parks and
his late wife will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the
Cruisin’ Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Brunch presented by The Gas
Company, at 9:30 a.m. on September 15 at the Hilton Hotel San Bernardino, 285
East Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, Calif.

Accepting the award on the couple’s behalf will
be Dick Wells, member, Board of Directors, NHRA.

“I am particularly pleased (to receive this
honor), as it was in following the planned route of 66, in the 1920s, that I
came to California from Kansas with my parents, in a Model-T Ford,” Wally Parks
said. “I have always had an affection for Route 66 since then – that and the
fact that our NHRA headquarters are within a stone’s throw of 66, and our
National Dragster publication’s offices are right on it. I am proud to accept
this Lifetime Achievement award at such an important venue for true automotive
enthusiasts.”

– Throughout his Hall of Fame career, drag racing legend Warren Johnson
has served many roles.  Engineer. Racer.
Pioneer. Teammate. Champion. Mentor.  However, this October, the man universally
acclaimed as “The Professor of Pro Stock” will add yet another entry into his
distinguished racing resume, as he serves as the Grand Marshal of this year’s
inaugural GM Performance Parts LSX Shootout, which will be held on October
11-14 at Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, TN.

Johnson, 64, is a six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion and the
leader in all-time wins among the “factory hot rods” with 96.  In addition, he has played a key role in the
design and development of modern Pro Stock technology, including all three generations
of the legendary GM Drag Racing Competition Engine (DRCE).  Although still competing on a full-time basis
in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO, earlier this year he became only the
seventh drag racer inducted into the prestigious International Motorsports Hall
of Fame in Talladega, AL. 
With a rare off weekend in his racing schedule, he looks forward to
attending the Tennessee event named after the block he helped design.