The IHRA announced the signing of Palm Beach International Raceway to its family of tracks on Monday.

The state-of-the-art, all-concrete drag strip located in West Palm
Beach, Fla. is the second major track signing in the past month after
Virginia Motorsports Park rejoined the International Hot Rod
Association two weeks ago.

Boasting one of the most beautiful backdrops and facilities in all of
racing, Palm Beach International Raceway will waste little time jumping
into the national event rotation as the facility will host the 2010
Nitro Jam season opener January 29-31.

“We are very excited to have IHRA on board. With our new track and the
quality of the people on both sides we are going to put on some great
events,” said Ron Dixon, President and COO of Palm Beach International
Raceway. “Mutually it is going to be beneficial for everyone involved.
We look forward to showcasing what we have to the world.”

Race fans now have the opportunity to reserve seats for 2010 events at zMAX Dragway.
The Bellagio of drag strips is offering both a season ticket plan and a
NHRA Combo package to fans who don't want to miss a second of fire-breathing, record-setting action at the world's only four-lane, all-concrete quarter-mile dragway.
   
The Season Ticket Plan includes passes to the following 2010 events at
zMAX Dragway, including both NHRA weekends, NMRA/NMCA Nationals, Super
Chevy Show and Goodguys Southeastern Nationals. The total retail price
for these events purchased separately would be $295, but fans can save
27 percent by purchasing a season ticket package with an interest-free
payment program and payments as low as $21.80 per month.

It is safe to say that 2009 has been a banner year for Pro Modified legend Ed Hoover and the Paul Trussell Motorsports team.

With four final rounds, two victories and an incredible 17-6 win-loss
record, you would think Hoover would be thrilled with the season he has
had so far.

But that just isn’t the case.

Despite a career year and numbers any driver would be thrilled to have,
the only number that stands out in Hoover’s mind this season is the
number two – as in second in the IHRA Pro Modified points chase.

Corpus Christi, Texas based C&J Energy Services is putting Bob
Vandergriff Jr. back in the driver’s seat of his Top Fuel Dragster for
the upcoming
NHRA Falls Nationals at Texas Motorplex.  Vandergriff, who raced at the
Southern Nationals in Atlanta earlier this season, spent his summer
being a team owner and letting Hot Rod Fuller handle the driving
duties.  C&J Energy Services works within the oil and gas industry
in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, and is expanding its operations to
Marshall, Texas not too far from the famed Texas Motorplex.  This race
provides a prime opportunity for C& J to entertain its key
customers in a high speed environment.

Vandergriff’s only driving appearance this year was a notable #6
qualifying effort, and quarter-final finish during the sixth race of
the NHRA season in Atlanta.  “When Hot Rod started driving for us
earlier this year I bought him his own car.   My dragster has been
untouched since we ran well at the Atlanta race, and our crew has been
working with some new technology, so we expect a great outing for the
employees and customers from C&J Energy Services” Vandergriff
said.  “The folks from C& J have been great to work with, and their
business is pretty amazing in the oil and gas industry.”

You would expect race car drivers to collect wins, but helmets?

Tony Schumacher is a helmet collector and so, it appears, is another
Tony. Tony Stewart. When Stewart visited the Army drag racing team at
the recent US Nationals, it wasn't just a quick in and out deal to fill
a sponsor obligation. Stewart came to learn, enjoy and to collect
another helmet.

As a fellow collector, Schumacher doesn't just give away helmets. He
trades for them. So it was, when Stewart departed Indy with the helmet
Schumacher wore while winning his record tieing 8th Top Fuel US
Nationals, Schumacher found himself in possession of the helmet Stewart
wore when he clinched his spot in NASCAR's Chase for the Championship.

Two years ago, Hector Arana was just another struggling Pro Stock Motorcycle rider working to find his first win.

This week, Arana is on a streak, capturing his second win in as many
races and the fifth of his career during the NHRA Carolinas Nationals. 

“I would like to make three in a row, now,” said Arana. “I want to stay
focused so that I can have a chance at the championship.”

Arana started the season first in the point standings, with a win in
the Gatornationals at Gainesville in March. Since then, Arana has now
clocked four wins, including the US Nationals and this week's NHRA
Carolinas Nationals.

When CompetitionPlus.com asked
defending Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon how many years were
left on his Advance Auto Parts contract, he made it known that was
nobody’s business.

He did it.

On one weekend in Concord, NC, Pro Stock racer Mike Edwards did what he
couldn’t do in six months of the regular season. The veteran Pro Stock
racer caught and passed Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the Full Throttle
Championship Drag Racing Series point standings.

Save for one qualifying session, Edwards completely dominated the Pro
Stock division from qualifying No. 1 to establishing low elapsed time
and top speed on race day with a 6.594 at 209.52 mph.

Having reached a point in his career where wins haven't come quite as often as birthdays, Cory McClenathan
lit up the candles in his Fram Top Fuel dragster Sunday afternoon
winning the NHRA Carolinas Nationals. McClenathan added icing to the
cake as the win vaulted him to the top of the point standings, a spot
he hasn't been in since 1998.

Racing to his 31st national event win in 57 final rounds, McClenathan
dispatched Morgan Lucas, Larry Dixon and Doug Foley before overpowering
Shawn Langdon in the final round.

The emotion of the win almost overpowered McClenathan.

"You feel bigger than life sometimes and that's the moments that I
think I cherish the most," said McClenathan, who was qualified ninth
coming into Sunday’s eliminations. "You're going down through there and
you want that win light to come on so bad, you're almost willing your
car to the other end, and when it did today, I was just overcome with
Oh, my God, it’s been so long.

Robert Hight felt the best way to answer the critics of his inclusion within the Countdown to 1 battle was to let
his actions speak louder than their words. Hight encountered a
firestorm of controversy over a semi-final race win over team owner
John Force to earn a berth into the NHRA’s Funny Car portion of the
Countdown to 1.

“Just like John [Force] has always said to me you have to let your race
car talk,” said Hight, who now has consecutive final round appearances
on the tour. “At Indy I drove my car,” Hight continued. “I don’t play
into any of the decision-making and I just go out there and try to win
every round. I tried to beat Ashley in the final and she got me. Those
aren’t my decisions and people can think anything they want if we win
this championship but we deserve it if we win it. It’s definitely not
going to be easy there are way too many good cars out there.”

Hight landed in the tenth and final position for the Funny Car
division. His victory at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals vaulted him seven
position from the 10th spot to the third spot in the Countdown.