The latest from the IHRA Funny Car pits is that Rislone has dropped the sponsorship of the J&B Motorsports Nitro Funny Car driven by Paul Lee. We'll have wait to see if the yellow and black Rislone paint scheme will still be on the car at Martin this weekend.

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Phil Burkart will return to competition at the Toyo Tire NHRA Nationals in
Reading , PA, later this month. Once again driving the Funny Car owned and tuned
by veteran Paul Smith. As in Gainesville earlier this season, we understand that Burkart will
receive support form FX Caprara KIA.

Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com has learned from an unimpeachable source that Brittany and
Courtney Force’s foray into Top Alcohol Dragster is a precursor for Top Fuel.
In years past, Ford had no qualms about declining a Top Fuel team because,
simply put, dragsters didn’t sell Ford cars. The key to this scenario is Force’s
development of the Ford motor for nitro racing. Reportedly, the highly
anticipated Ford motor will run in the A/Fuel Dragsters.

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Eddie Hartenstein (HD Partners) will be in Sonoma to meet with the professional team owners and drivers. The sole purpose of this meeting, from what we hear, is to have a face-to-face meeting with the drivers, something that hasn't happened yet since the proposed acquisition of the NHRA assets.

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has learned that a major sponsor shuffle will go down next season in the Don Schumacher Racing camp. Sources tell us that a current major sponsor will scale back to major associate status to pave the way for a new sponsor to come into the team. This one should be very interesting.

A source tells Torco's CompetitionPlus.com that Connie Cohen is still nursing injuries from her Englishtown Pro Stock Motorcycle accident but is doing considerably better. We are told that she could be ready to return as early as the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indinapolis.

A source close to the situation tells Torco's CompetitionPlus.com that Evan Knoll, once a competitive Top Alcohol Dragster before headed Top Fuel, will drive at the forthcoming Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park. From what we hear, his car will be a clone to the one driven by Scotty Cannon and his tuning will be done by a multi-time champion within his his camp. If you will recall, Knoll licensed for Top Fuel in his first outing and missed qualifying at the 2004 event in Martin, Michigan, by .01.