That’s all she wrote for the 2017 NMRA Keystone Automotive drag racing series. The action has officially concluded after a great weekend of racing and records at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The forecast early on promised perfect weather, and Mother Nature didn’t disappoint. Awesome conditions combined with the hope of winning a championship had every racer on the property pushing for new personal bests.

After a hurried, late-night last-minute engine swap, Manny Buginga of Bridgewater, Massachusetts rallied to take the number one qualifying position in VP Racing Fuels Street Outlaw when he ran 4.342 at 172.06 mph with his Turbonetics turbocharged, MJM Construction Corp ’03 Mustang. Then, in eliminations, he pulled up alongside crewman and teammate Rich Bruder. It was a tight race, and although Bruder got to the finish first, Buginga was still happy with the results as the supercharged Fox-body Mustang Bruder was driving belonged to Buginga himself.

After a long day of racing and a longer night of partying at the Sparco Appreciation Barbecue, Day Last finally came to the Sparco Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries.
 
First up; and an actual first for the ‘Fling; the wedding of Stephen and Kimmy Marinchek with the Minister of Parking, Sally Martini officiating right on the starting line. 

Thanks to our coverage partners at MotormaniaTV, we present to you the live video feed from the Spring Fling at Bristol Dragway. 

Allan Ellis, Tony DeFrank, and Val Torres finished up strong at the first event of the Pacific division’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series double header at Rocky Mountain Raceway.
 
Local Comp Eliminator runner, Ellis of Mapleton, got a quick jump off the starting line and passed John Marottek, Brighton, Colo., for the final round victory. Ellis completed a winning pass of 7.168 seconds, 130.05 mph, Brighton, 8.070 seconds, 140.84 mph.
 
California Stock Eliminator driver, DeFrank of West Hills, brother of 2016 Lucas Oil Super Stock National Champion Jimmy DeFrank, took a slow start but successfully reeled in Will Kelly, Walla Walla, Wash., for the final round win, running closer to his dial- in. DeFrank clocked in at 10.713 seconds, 121.85 mph.
 

The affinity a racer can develop for a race car is amazing. Take Doug Wood, for example, who has been racing his 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass for 37 years.

"It's the first car I bought when I was 16 years old. I paid $800 dollars for it," said Wood, who broke into the racing world crewing and changing transmissions for his brother when he was 13 years old. "Everybody knows that car, from the East Coast clear out West. It's actually still the same color from the factory, Aztec Gold, with the black vinyl roof on it."

From all across the United States and Canada, racers will be flocking to Bristol Dragway’s Thunder Valley this week for the Sparco Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries as part of the Spring Fling brand of high dollar bracket races. 

The original Spring Fling event held every year in Bristol in May has moved to the September date to take advantage of more favorable weather. “While we never had to cancel any of the five days of racing when the Spring Fling was held in May in Bristol,” says ‘Fling co-promoter Kyle Seipel, “there was always the possibility of rain. However, we might have lost a day or two, but we always more than made up for the loss by doubling up the purse the following day. Racers know that when they come to a ‘Fling event, not only do we guarantee the purse but we always pay out every bit of what we advertise.” 

Slate Cummings and Tommy Phillips secured wins in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central division event at Texas Motorplex this past weekend.
 
Stock standout Cummings of Hammond, La., lined up in his Corvette against John Brimer, Burleson, Texas. Cummings initially took the starting line advantage, and Brimer broke out attempting to chase him down. Cummings brought home the divisional Wally trophy at 10.409 seconds, 125.69 mph, Brimer 10.483 seconds, 125.05 mph.

The first wave of 2017 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Champions were crowned this past weekend at Auto Club Famoso Raceway and the Nostalgia Fall Championships.
 
Dustin Lee and Brandon Frye topped the list taking home the championship in Nostalgia Eliminator I and A/Gas.  Lee, Palmdale, Calif., came into the event with a pair of wins on the season and the NE I points lead.  He locked up his championship when he took the win in round one over Rick Nordess, coming off wins at the season opener in Phoenix and the June event in Sacramento.

CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Compulink and BracketRaces.com are going to pay TruSTART Bonuses to NHRA’s Division 1,5, and 6 bracket finals racers.

Bob Brockmeyer, Peter Biondo, and Kyle Seipel are paying $100 each to the first 2 TruSTART 'flips' at each bracket finals in NHRA’s Division 1, 5, and 6.

Sometimes second-guessing can pay off.

For brothers Ben, and Dave Wenzel, they were going to buy a car with the intention of drag racing back in 1967. They were intent on getting a brand-new 375-horse, Chevelle to race in NHRA's Stock Eliminator.

Once the Wenzel's saw the Camaro z/28, a 302-inch, 290-horse, 4-speed combination, they knew this was a dog capable of hunting. Five decades later, it's still bagging ducks.