Mike Janis raced to the qualifying lead Friday in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.

Janis powered his Eaton ’69 Firebird to a leading performance of 5.919 seconds at 243.55 mph to pace the 16-car field.

The Texas Motorplex will play host to the Super Chevy Show, May 21-23 and will have a little of everything to offer fans, participants and anyone looking to have fun. There will be an eye-pleasing car show, the sound of outlaw nitro drag racing, a 1957 Chevy truck that runs on jet engines, a Texas BBQ, live music, a professionally designed autocross and more.

Just call it a Texas-style block party.

"This year’s Super Chevy Show at the Texas Motorplex is absolutely going to be the most entertaining one we’ve ever had,” said Gabrielle Stevenson, Texas Motorplex general manager. “We are getting a lot of positive feedback on the event already because people can already feel a difference in the excitement and investment by the new owners. Our goal was to make this an event that families would want to attend even if they weren’t racing or car show enthusiasts. With the additional entertainment like the band, the ’57 Jet Truck and everything else, we have something to entertain everyone."

As torrential rains and tornado watches swept through the Permian Basin today leaving a wake of flash flooding and water damage, AHRA Officials announced that the first ever Nitro Showdown will go on this weekend at Desert Thunder Raceway in Midland, but the schedule will be changed to support the community.
 
Early Friday evening, AHRA Chief Executive Troy Moe said, "We know that the local community will need some time to recover from today's storms, so we've decided to give them something to enjoy on Sunday after they've taken care of things at their homes. We're keenly aware that homes take priority over anything else, and we want our fans to be safe and secure before coming out to enjoy our show."

In the re-scheduled NHRA Arizona Nationals from February, Mera Silvia  and Mike DeCarolis took the wins in Top Dragster and Super Street respectively.  Silvia of nearby Upland, Calif., took on Tony Jardino, San Dimas, Calif., and held on with a 199.94 mph run in 6.757 seconds to Jardino’s 6.816 at 197.65 mph.  The win was Silvia’s first of her career for an NHRA national event.

DeCarolis, Chandler, Ariz., drove his ‘72 Nova past Virgil Dallugue, Redlands, Cailf., and his ’72 Duster.  DeCarolis ran 10.917 on a 10.90 dial in for the win.

Today was also opening day for the NHRA JEGS Pacific Sportsnationals presented by K&N at Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway as Silvia’s dad, Wayne Silvia, also of Upland, took the No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Sportsman with a lap of 6.772 seconds at 207.11 mph.

Even as Pro Stock standout Jason Line competes at this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, GA one of his favorite off-track projects will be receiving attention, as the build-up of the 557 big block for his 1968 Biscayne hot rod wagon will be featured during Saturday’s airing of HorsePower TV.
 
Taped at the KB Racing shops in Mooresville, NC last December, the piece will show Line, his teammate Greg Anderson and the entire crew working together to assemble and dyno the power plant for what promises to be an extremely quick “grocery getter”. The half-hour show is currently scheduled to air at 10:42 a.m. on Spike TV (Eastern – please check your local listings for the exact time in your area.)

Not long after winning the 2009 Pro Stock Motorcycle title, Hector Arana II, got a call from Forrest Lucas telling him the two needed to talk. Arana was sweating bullets. Could it be his dream was coming apart? Would he suddenly find himself unable to defend his championship?

When David Rampy arrives at a dragstrip, he has nothing to prove.

The Piedmont, Ala., native has won 72 national sportsman event titles and six world championships – three each in the NHRA and IHRA.

Rampy, however, who has been competing since the 1970s almost had to go to the sidelines this year because of a lack of financial backing.

“What happened was is we thought we had to have some sponsorship deals and the problem was that we didn’t have anything to start the year with,” the 55-year-old Rampy said. “Finally, we got some deals put together and got everything so we could go racing. The main sponsors are Roger Brogdon at The Racers EDGE, and Lee Sharp at Sharp Motorsports. We also have a lot of smaller sponsors helping us.”

A late arriving part usually causes problems for drag racers, but in the case of Bolt, West Va.’s Rick Nicolau, an IHRA Super Stock racer, the tardy component saved his life.

Nicolau wasn’t awaiting a part for his SS/Production E 1964 Chevy II. Instead he was at work and the part was intended for machinery in his workplace.

Nicolau works as the maintenance chief at the Upper Big Branch Coal Mine owned by the Massey Energy Company.

On April 5, an explosion killed 29 workers, making it the worst mining disaster in the United States since 1970.

Houston Raceway Park is throwing a Texas-sized party on Friday, June 11, for racers attending the upcoming Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event at Houston Raceway Park.

"We want our racers to have a great time and remember this event," said Seth Angel, general manager and co-owner of Houston Raceway Park. "This should be a race the teams circle on their calendar each year. We know everyone in Division 4 races hard, but we also know they really enjoy one another's company. By throwing this 'Texas Pit Party' on Friday night, we think we're going to start a great tradition."

At the conclusion of Friday's racing action, Angel and his staff will open the doors of their brand-new, state-of-the-art Top Eliminator Club for a night of live music, dancing, and socializing. The party is free to enter, with a full service cash bar available for adults. Additionally, a fajita dinner catered by Houston's own Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurant can be purchased for $5.

Nearly two dozen NHRA competitors will sign autographs and meet with fans during Bristol Dragway’s Fan Fest, set to take place after the conclusion of Pro Qualifying on Saturday, June 19.

Fan Fest has become a favorite attraction in Thunder Valley, as it gives race fans even greater access to the biggest names in the sport. Among the drivers currently scheduled to appear are Larry Dixon, Antron Brown, Morgan Lucas, Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, Allen Johnson, Jeg Coughlin and Melanie Troxel.