In the final rounds of qualifying Bill Reichert and Mickey Ferro grabbed the top qualifying spots for this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Silver Dollar Raceway.

Reichert, the reigning Top Alcohol Dragster National Champion out of Owosso, Mich., clocked in at 5.337 seconds at 268.87 mph for the top spot and is followed by Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., and Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., in the second and third spots respectively.  Shields ran 5.342, 264.86 and Thacker went 5.407, 266.69.  Shields won the last NHRA Southeast Division race at Atlanta Dragway, in September.

Bobby Rowe, a former Funny Car driver from Memphis, Tenn., passed away on Thursday. The cause of death is not known at this time but Rowe had experienced health issues over the last four years.

Due to morning rain and cool afternoon temperatures, the Al Anabi Shootout at Virginia Motorsports Park has pushed both qualifying sessions to Sunday.  Gates will open at 9 AM with the first round of qualifying set for 10:30 AM followed by a second round of qualifying and eliminations later in the day.

A rainy Saturday afternoon of YouTube searching netted us this two-part gem apparently aired on ABC's Wide World of Sports. In the early years of the their broadcasts, the NHRA used this medium as a means of gaining television coverage for its annual Winternationals and in some seasons, the U.S. Nationals.

How many of us can remember sixth grade geography and having to memorize all 50 Capitals?

Richmond, Des Moines, Raleigh, Columbia, Tallahassee, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and the list goes on and on. Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car is going one step past memorizing the capitals. Beckman, along with his wife, Jenna and two year old son Jason, is attempting to visit all fifty state Capitals and the nation's Capital, Washington, D.C.

To date the Beckman clan have visited 30 of the 50 Capitals, and one of them twice because they forgot they had been there previously.

Veteran lensman Don Gillespie is at this weekend's California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, Ca., capturing the event through his award-winning camera. Check out the weekend's action by clicking on our photo gallery.

Today and Sunday, the fastest and quickest Doorslammers in the world will descend on Virginia Motorsports Park for the Al-Anabi Shootout featuring over $50,000 in purse money.

Highlighting the list of big names competing is Mike Castellana, the world's quickest and fastest Pro Mod (5.919 at 240 MPH!!).  Due to nearly ideal weather conditions temperature wise, fans may get a chance to see that record broken, resulting in the first ever 5.80 Nitrous Pro Mod pass in history.

Jim Daniels will not only attempt to defend his 2008 title in the Mopar® HEMI® Challenge Race Series Dutch Classic event at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., on Oct. 22–24. He’s also aiming for his second triumph in a row this season after winning the rain-shortened Mopar HEMI Challenge event at Columbus, Ohio, last month.

For the last five years in a row veteran drag racer Jay Payne has hoisted the Top Alcohol Funny Car champion's trophy in the NHRA's Southeast Division. After this weekend's season-ending Division 2 race at Silver Dollar Raceway, the driver of the FireIce Ford Mustang hopes to do it again.

Payne enters the event 53 points behind current leader Mickey Ferro. To clinch another championship, Payne needs to reach the final round and hope Ferro is knocked out early on race day.