Do you have an extensive collection of National Dragster newspapers, going back 10 years or more?

Would you be willing to assist us in a research project?

In conjunction with preparations for the Sept. 15-17 NHRA Carolina Nationals, Charlotte Motor Speedway will open its Rock City Campground beginning at 7 a.m. Friday morning for evacuees heading north or inland from Hurricane Irma.

With severe weather in the forecast for other southeastern states, accommodations will be available as long as possible prior to potential landfall. Evacuees should access Rock City Campground off Bruton Smith Boulevard through Entrance Z and will have access to bathhouse facilities on speedway property.

Dave Connolly has proven himself as an NHRA driver in Pro Stock and Top Fuel and as a crew chief for the Gray Motorsports Pro Stock car team, specifically Tanner Gray.

Gray has had an outstanding rookie season, winning four races and becoming a viable contender to win a world championship.

Connolly had plenty on his plate last weekend as Johnny, Shane and Tanner Grayall raced the Pro Stock class at the U.S. Nationals.

 Veteran nitro tuner and consultant Lance Larsen has a new project: helping organize a Funny Car team that plans to debut next season in a limited run.

“A group of friends of mine from the nostalgia side of things has decided to race what they a ‘big show car.’ They bought what was left of Tony Pedregon’s car stuff – no engine stuff. They proceeded to go to the Lucases and buy some more stuff. And we’re slowly but surely putting it together. The plan is to finish it toward the end of this year and test and get the licenses done. The two gentlemen who own it are Richard Townsend and Dustin Davis, Central Californians who have raced nostalgia Funny Cars for five or six years. They really have a passion for the sport, and it’s something they want to do,” Larsen said.

Bob Vandergriff is beginning to rebound from his unfortunate and awkward exit last spring from the Top Fuel scene. Josh Comstock, his close friend and primary sponsor, passed away suddenly, forcing Vandergriff to dissolve the team that showcased Leah Pritchett and Dave Connolly.

He’s back on track intermittently this season, rekindling his business skills – and making progress toward another thriving operation.

Terry McMillen, wanting to leave nothing to chance after making the Countdown to the Championship in his 11th year of trying, said Sunday morning that he had debated whether to run his car at this event.

“I’m in [the six-race playoff]. I know I’m in. The decision was whether we were going to run the car here. Why take a chance on an oildown?” McMillen said. “So when I came here, the decision was I’m not good at parking my car. I’m here to race. But when you start looking at it from a business side of it, for the first time I said to myself, ‘Maybe I can’t afford to run my car here, because if I have a couple of oildowns, everybody else can go around me.’ And I can’t take that chance. It was a tough decision, but I’m here to race. That’s what I do.”

The Amalie Oil Xtermigator Dragster owner-driver said, “We’ve had good luck. The car’s staying together well. It’s just come out here and do what we do, and it has paid off.”

 When Top Fuel rookie Ashley Sanford headed home to Fullerton, Calif., the left rear tire from her Lagana Brothers-owned K1 Speed/805 Beer Dragster headed in the opposite direction, to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company at Akron, Ohio.

The big slick deflated during her early Saturday qualifying run, and public-relations representative Lee Elder said the tire revealed a cut from an unknown source.

Alexander Rossi knows IndyCar racing – he won the ultimate event, the Indy 500 in 2016.

Drag racing, however, not much at all – until Sept. 4 at the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.