His name is rarely is mentioned when talk focuses on those who have advanced drag racing. It was 45 years ago that a corporate executive named Ralph Seagraves took drag racing to another level when few could envision there was such a destination.

Seagraves was the president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Special Events Operations, later renamed Sports Marketing Enterprises, and was responsible for providing drag racing with its first major points fund sponsor.

Seagraves enabled drag racing to become a professional sport for more than just a select few drivers.

Seagraves and his team at SME also succeeded at a once-unbelievable task; i.e., uniting most of the American drag racing scene as one.

Dr. Jamie Meyer has taken the role of President of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show and media company, effective this week. Meyer, who has a long and storied history in motorsports and racing, will lead the PRI team in increasing engagement and support for the industry through enhanced programs and services for the motorsports community.
 
“In addition to providing the industry with world-class trade events and publications, PRI is committed to enhancing resources, advocacy and representation for the motorsports industry,” said Chris Kersting, president and CEO of SEMA. “Dr. Jamie Meyer will be instrumental in leading the team. He has great knowledge and understanding of racing businesses, teams and drivers, and he will be a valued leader to help motorsports and the industry grow.”

DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., an affiliate of leading global automotive supplier DENSO Corp., is sponsoring the first-ever DENSO 3-Wide Doxie Nationals hosted by its NHRA racing partners Angie and Matt Smith to support three animal rescue, adoption and placement organizations. The husband-and-wife Pro Stock Motorcycle teammates will livestream on their Facebook channel from their own backyard in King, North Carolina, on Saturday, May 23, at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

The fun-filled fundraiser will feature the Smiths’ own beloved trio of Dachshund hounds: Coco Chanel, Mocha and Bella. Each will represent a different charity: Coco is racing for the Dachshund Rescue of North America; Mocha is racing for the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in Las Vegas; and Bella is racing for Patriot Paws Service Dogs based in Rockwall, Texas.

The road to recovery following a global pandemic has been a rocky one, but for the Midwest Pro Modified Series, the freeway is getting much smoother. Hot off of a successful launch in Tulsa, Ok., the doorslammer series is headed into the Texas Motorplex with plenty of momentum.

“We made a lot of changes to the Tulsa event to keep the racers and spectators safe, including an online registration process and time slip app as well as social distancing protocols,” said series founder Keith Haney. “I am extremely proud of our people for adhering to these and making it a great kick-off to our 2020 season.”

CompetititionPlus.com is giving away a piece of drag racing history. The iconic Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen Plymouth Duster immortalized in this 18" X 36" banner produced by RedlineShirtClub.com. These banners were used by McEwen as part of his Legends Tour, and are not for sale. It is the perfect centerpiece for your "Man-Cave," or "She-Shed." 

Like most race teams, Kevin Rivenbark and his GALOT Motorsports crew headed into 2020 with eager anticipation and high hopes.

Then the global Coronavirus pandemic hit and everything shut down.

"Yeah, everything ground to a halt. But we're lucky because it don't affect us as much, 'cause we're not relying on sponsorship for each race. Of course we want sponsors, but our team owner, Mr. (Earl) Wells, he's our sponsor, so if we don't go race, we're just not spending his money," Rivenbark explained. "We just pretty much just shut down and when you're not going up and down the road you're not spending money. 

"But, you know, guys like Rickie (Smith), he's not getting paid until he goes racing at certain places for whatever his contract says, right? And I mean, in Top Fuel and Funny Car I guess it's probably the same way. If you don't race, you don't get paid."

Pat Musi Racing Engines continues to involve new companies in its drag racing world, recently announcing a new partnership with ACL Bearing Company. ACL has been involved in drag racing for a number of years but this deal marks their first major American drag racing sponsorship. ACL RACE Series Performance Engine Bearings will be named the Official Engine Bearing of Pat Musi Racing Engines.

Pat Musi worked with ACL to help design and engineer a custom engine bearing for all of his applications, which he used with great success during the 2019 racing season. That relationship will continue on a larger scale in 2020, as Pat Musi Racing Engines will continue using the custom engine bearing set, as well as display the ACL logo on the PDRA Pro Nitrous Dodge Dart and the Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings “Aftershock” Camaro, both driven by Lizzy Musi.

“ACL is a great company with a great product and we’re really pleased to be working with them," Pat Musi said.  “I believe in their engine bearings and they are our bearing of choice. They were very receptive to the input we had, and it’s been exciting for both of us to work together and come up with a great bearing."

Whenever you set about compiling a list of Australia’s all-time top ten drag racers, you need to be fully aware of the challenges ahead and the peril involved.

With Coronavirus wreaking havoc and little happening in the world of drag racing there exists an army of armchair experts and keyboard warriors who can't wait to re-engage with the sport they love and cherish. There is also an element, albeit minor, who has relished the opportunity to vent their spleen on who should or should not be a member of the Top 10.

In assembling the list, some of of the vitriol has been aimed at the inclusion of ex-pats Dave Grubnic and Richie Crampton, the absence of Funny Car ace Romeo Capitanio as well as Santo Rapisarda and his son Louie.

The NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world is dealing with a loss. Veteran racer Shawn Gann passed away May 16. He was 42. Gann competed fulltime in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class from 2000-2015. He won five national events, the last being the 2013 Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver.

Gann’s best season was 2003 when he finished third in the points standings with one win, defeating Craig Treble in the finals at Englishtown (N.J.). From 2001-04, his worst finish in the points chase was fifth twice in 2001 and 2002. He was fourth in the points in 2004 with a career-best two national event wins at Denver and Chicago.

Gann also was known for his flamboyant firesuits which included him dressed as Flash Gordon and Batman.

The Southeast Gassers Association should be headed into its fourth race of 2020, but instead seeks to host its first event headed into June. Postponements of events by local health officials at the first three venues have made a mess of the schedule.

However, on Saturday afternoon in the midst of South Carolina's easing of the stay at home orders, the strictest period correct gasser series managed to get in some track time as part of the popular Steel in Motion event, held annually at Union Dragway, in Union, SC an eighth-mile track located southeast of Spartanburg. The event was an exhibition and not part of the championship series.