The NHRA has its Countdown.

Australian drag racing has its Showdown.

Acknowledged as one of drag racing’s greatest photographers, Tom Schiltz will forever be remembered for his business acumen, affable personality and genuine friendship to virtually everyone he met throughout his life.

A lifelong resident of North Canton, Ohio, Tom first discovered drag racing at the Derby Downs and Akron-Fulton Airport tracks in the 1950s. He began chronicling his trips to the races through photography and quickly developed a notable skill. Schiltz attended the NHRA U.S. Nationals for the first time in 1961, the year it came to Indianapolis Raceway Park, and the sport’s biggest meet became a tradition for Tom over the next fifty-five years.

It will have been more than two months since the NHRA Pro Mod class last raced by the time they enter the lanes for this weekend’s U.S. Nationals in Indy.

But points leader Mike Castellana has stayed very busy in the downtime, in part because he sees a certain yellow Corvette coming on strong.

Former Rookie of the Year and U.S. Nationals champion Richie Crampton has been named as the driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta Motorsports, effective immediately. He will begin his tenure for Kalitta Motorsports at the historic U.S. Nationals and will remain in the seat for the balance of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.

"It was a huge honor to get the call from Jim O (Oberhofer) asking if I could finish out the year with the team,” said Crampton. “Connie Kalitta is a legend, and for me to get an opportunity like this is unreal. I am excited to jump into the SealMaster Toyota dragster and see what we can do. I never knew if I was going to be able to drive a Top Fuel dragster again, so I am extremely grateful for this opportunity."

Things will become very real for Ashley Sanford this weekend. The California native will make her Top Fuel debut when she competes at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis beginning Sept. 1 with the first qualifying session at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Sanford will be piloting the Nitro Ninja dragster owned by the Lagana family.

Troy Coughlin Jr. has removed himself from the seat of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster, citing a desire to get more experience in the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks. The third-generation driver has been racing the Kalitta Motorsports entry for the first 17 races of the 2017 season.
 
"I want to thank everyone at Kalitta Motorsports for such an incredible opportunity," Coughlin said. "It was a dream come true to race for Connie Kalitta and Jim Oberhofer. My teammates, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Alexis DeJoria and JR Todd as well as everyone at SealMaster have been extremely supportive.
   

Bruno Massel didn't have a good day at Beech Bend International Raceway, the iconic drag strip in Bowling Green, Ky.

During a run at the Lucas Oil NHRA Division 3 event, Massel's Factory Showdown Camaro made an abrupt turn into the retaining wall, incurring significant damage and all but ruling out participation in next weekend's Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals. He suffered no apparent injuries from the accident. 

Billy Glidden has found his purpose ... built.

Glidden, the son of iconic Pro Stock racer Bob Glidden, made his return to the drag strip after an accident during testing at Orlando Speed World Dragway in February left him both injured and without a race car. 

Glidden made a triumphant return to the strip on Wednesday at Lucas Oil Raceway, right down the road from his Whiteville, Indiana, shop and made his first runs down the drag strip in a former Jim Halsey 1968 Camaro purposely built for Pro Modified. His previous car, which was originally skinned as a Pontiac GTO and then a Ford Mustang, was originally built as a Pro Stocker. 

Jack Beckman led the Funny Car category during the second and final day of testing for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Tony Schumacher improved upon his time from Wednesday to lead Top Fuel.

Beckman, the 2015 event winner, ran a time of 3.827 seconds at 337.07 mph in his first run of the day. Beckman has two wins, two runner-up finishes on the season, and is using the test to prepare his Infinite Hero Foundation Charger R/T for the coming event.

Believing you can achieve a dream is one thing, delivering is another.

And for 22-year old Top Alcohol Dragster freshman Justin Ashley, he has been busy accomplishing what he sat out to do. 

Just to provide the Cliffs Notes version, Ashley in just four national events behind the wheel of the Randy Meyer A/Fuel Dragster has reached the finals in three of his first four national events, winning twice. He's also qualified No. 1 in his only Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event.