Sources indicate the legendary drag strip in Baytown, Texas, originally known as Houston Raceway Park, will make a major announcement this upcoming week announcing a new title fsponsor for the popular stop on the 24-race Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. 

There's a lot of hushed-tones rumors floating around the nitro ranks and one of those apparently has to do with a major sponsor in the Funny Car ranks. We keep hearing banter which suggests this major sponsor in Funny Car will instead be on the side of a Top Fuel dragster. We expect the word to be handed down in the next two weeks, just ahead of the PRO Winter Warm-up later this month in Phoenix, Az.

During last season's NHRA U.S. Nationals, the NHRA invited eight of the nations top Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars to come to the series most prestigious event to perform an exhibition. The intention of the display was in advance of the NHRA's technical department seeking common ground for the large displacement engines to be integrated into the 500-inch Pro Stock division.

The rumor making it's way around the Pro Stock Motorcycle circles suggests the Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle two-bike team will expand to three bikes for 2019. Yes, Chip Ellis rode a third SEHD bike during the 2018 season, so it's not uncharted territory. What could be new is the rumored third rider could be a female pilot. It's just a rumor but from what we hear this banter could become reality soon. Time will tell. 

Word has it there are two moves in the nitro ranks soon to come to light. Reportedly, Mike Green is headed over to the Bob Tasca III Funny Car team, which is not officially a Don Schumacher Racing team but since Tasca buys parts from Schumacher Racing is considered a satellite team. 

With the announcement of Danny Rowe parking his Pro Modified team, there has been much speculation as to the future of teammate Steve Matusek. We are told the driving force behind the Aeromotive brand will continue racing. From what we heard it will be a blast from the past. Stay tuned. 

As the crew chief carousel begins turning again, we have caught wind about a crew chief with significant successes in the past will join the Clay Millican team to pair up with Mike Kloeber in a run for the 2019 NHRA Top Fuel title. Our sources tell us the announcement could come as early as Friday at the PRI Show in Indianapolis.

UPDATED: With Mike Kloeber returning to his former driver Clay Millican, could it be that David Grubnic, once a driver for Kalitta Motorsports, is headed back to his former team? Kalitta Motorsports denies it, as does Don Schumacher Racing. Could it be John Force Racing?