In a day and age when the closing of drag strips is more common than some would accept, Wild Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) offered data on how much a drag strip can impact the local economy. In 30 days they recorded their contributions of 30 days from September to October, including five days when the strip was repurposed for road racing. 

“This was a tremendous month with a diverse offering of racing on so many levels,” said Chris Blair, WWTR’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. “To accomplish so much in such a brief period of time demonstrates what World Wide Technology Raceway and its dedicated staff is capable of. Once again, we have proven to the motorsports industry that WWTR is the place to host important events.

There's going to be a championship battle decided this weekend at the Mid-West Drag Racing Series' final, starting on Friday at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas. Multiple series championships are up in the air as the action kicks off Friday, October 20. 

This weekend, Pro Modified veteran Steven Whiteley and Keith Haney will duel in the season's final battle as the two head into the event, separated by only one round of competition. The battle tightened last weekend as the two faced one another in the first race of a doubleheader race weekend at Tulsa Raceway Park's Throwdown in T-Town. In the second event, Haney beat Ed Thornton. 

"We knew we had to buckle up and finish these two races in just three days," said Haney of the rain-delayed event. "With the points battles this tight, every single round counts."

Nothing says friendship, like helping a friend win a championship. 

Top Alcohol Funny Car standout Doug Gordon just won his second consecutive and third overall NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championship in the quarterfinal round of competition at the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex. He went on to win the entire event, securing his sixth national event victory of the season.

Gordon pulled it all off, thanks largely in part to help from his friends. 

The team at CompetitionPlusTV has a new series you are bound to love. Each month we will deliver a top ten listing of certain topics, with honorable mentions. The Peanut Gallery, comprised of various drag racing figures, will react and comment on them.

The hilarious debut episode focuses on the top ten wild rides and crashes in the era of 1970 through 1987. These videos are primarily ones where the driver walked away, but some do have non-life-threatening injuries.

Our Peanut Gallery for this episode features drag racing television personality Brian Lohnes, past nitro champions Antron Brown and JR Todd, and the tuning duo of Nicky Boninfante and Del Worsham.

Two of Competition Eliminator's more seasoned drivers gained an experience they hoped would never come during the second round of the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals.

Clark Smiley lost control of his BB/Altered Grand Am as he chased down Keith Hall's C/Super Modified entry. He caught Hall and posted a 7.190 before his entry abruptly turned left and went into the other lane. Smiley made impact with Hall before crashing into the retaining wall. 

Both cars came to a stop in the shutdown area, where the drivers emerged from their race cars under their own power.

Sometimes, rumors take a while to become reality. Today, the longrunning rumor suggesting Jeg Coughlin Jr will return to NHRA Pro Stock became a reality thanks to a joint venture with SCAG Power Equipment and Elite Motorsports. 

Coughlin will be breaking in a new Camaro five-time champion Erica Enders is expected to race in 2024. Having the accomplished drag racer Coughlin, who is also considered one of Enders’ mentors, is a feather in the cap for the Wynnewood, Oklahoma-based team. 

“Our friends at SCAG Power Equipment helped make this a reality along with all of our supportive partners involved in our program,” said Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman. “Getting runs on the new RJ Race Cars Pro Stock Camaro before the end of the season was something we wanted to do, and having Jeg Jr. driving the car in real competition is about as good as it gets. Who knows, maybe the planets will align and Jeg Jr. can return full-time in a cat’s-eye-gold SCAG Power Equipment hot rod in 2024.”

For the second consecutive year, Tyler Hilton reigned supreme in Top Fuel in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series as he held off Jim Murphy on the final day of the season to capture his second Top Fuel crown. 

"It feels real good," Hilton admitted. "Just to be able to do so well this year. We won three races in a row. We were on a pretty good streak right there. So, to be able to finish it off with that championship really made it worth it.

"We work so hard. All those wins. It's just so much work on these nitro cars, and it's nice to have it pay off for you in the end." 

Doctors have not given injured Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Angie Smith a timetable for her return to competition, but husband Matt Smith said, “Right now, we’re trying to have her maybe come back at Vegas.” That is the next race on the schedule, the Oct. 27-30 Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “She wants to just come back and hang out, not ride, but my goal is to try to have her come back for Pomona and hang out and show everybody and then go to the banquet. So we'll see how things go,” he said.

Aunt Martha would have been proud. 

That's precisely what Competition Eliminator racer Chase Williams was shooting for when he rolled through the gates for the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. He wanted to win for her. 

On Saturday evening, Williams won $100,000, more money than any NHRA Competition Eliminator racer has put in their pocket when he secured the Rooftec Competition Eliminator D4 Bonus Fund championship, edging series founder and driving force Rodger Brogdon, who finished second. 

Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex.