Bob Wilber worked in public relations for NHRA stars like Del Worsham, Whit Bazemore and Tim Wilkerson for two decades. He wrote a column for National Dragster for three years and also started a popular blog 15 years ago.

But to become an author for the first time, it required something entirely different.

“I had to learn an entirely new way to write,” Wilber said.

Thus began Wilber’s 16-month labor of love that started on Jan. 6, 2016 and came to fruition on May 22, 2017 with the release of his highly-anticipated “Bats, Balls and Burnouts” autobiography with publisher Outskirts Press, a thrilling 545-page journey detailing Wilber’s unique life.

NHRA Top Fuel star Richie Crampton will drive Alex Laughlin’s Gas Monkey Energy Drink A/Fuel Dragster at this weekend’s Division Three Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Chicago.
 
It is the second time Crampton has driven the Anthony Dicero Racing/Nitro University car this year, having filled in for Laughlin at the rained-out divisional race at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg in April.

Alexis DeJoria will return to the seat of her Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry at this weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.
 
“I’m excited to get back to racing,” said the four-time Funny Car winner, who has been tending to a private family matter. “I want to thank everyone for their support these past few weeks. Missing races is never easy and certainly not a decision that was made lightly. I can’t wait to get back at it and resume the fight for our spot in the Top 10 this weekend.”

Buoyed by a Top Alcohol Funny Car victory in his first appearance in that class, as well as a spin around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the request of auto racing legend Mario Andretti, three-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon is primed for another return to a dragster.
 
He’ll drive one of three Rapisarda Autosport International entries at the 50th Winternationals June 8-11 at Australia’s Willowbank Raceway, near Brisbane, Queensland. With Lee Beard as crew chief, Dixon will race with teammates Wayne Newby and Damien Harris.
Dixon owns the track’s elapsed-time record – 4.503 seconds – which he set in 2012. He last raced for RAI at Sydney Dragway in November 2016, the week between the Las Vegas and Pomona NHRA races.

NHRA Top Fuel team Stringer Performance has announced a partnership with Strutmasters for the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Strutmasters joins the team, which is having its most successful season, as an associate sponsor and the company’s logo will be featured on the dragster driven by veteran driver, Clay Millican.

Strutmasters is a suspension manufacturer founded in 1999 by Chip Lofton. Specializing in air-to-non-air suspension conversion kits, Strutmasters has become an industry leader in the world of suspension. Strutmasters offers affordable total solutions to fixing costly complex air, magnetic, electronic, and hydraulic suspension systems. What began as a personal project to repair a family’s only vehicle, Strutmasters has grown into a nationwide provider of suspension solutions and has truly earned the title “The Suspension Experts”.

Due to recent torrential rains and an inclement weather forecast, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and State Capitol Raceway have postponed the June 1-4 IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship event until the weekend of Sept. 7-10, 2017, the sanctioning body has announced.

The state of Louisiana, and specifically the Port Allen area, have endured many days of heavy rain, and this week's forecast calls for more of the same for several days. In addition, major flooding is expected from the Mississippi River, and the area is under a flood warning through at least June 20.

Travel to Great Lakes Dragaway with staff photographer Bill Swanson as he presents the Memorial Day Weekend Classics event in Photos. 

Matt Hagan, the cattle farmer from Christiansburg, VA, no longer wears the high speed badge of 335 miles per hour.

He wears a faster badge.  

When fellow Funny Car racer Robert Hight upped Hagan's signature showcase speed to 337 miles per hour, the cowboy hat and boot wearing two-time world champion hit an even more impressive stride. 

Hagan raced down the runway of high horsepower fashion with the fastest run in drag racing history, 338.85 miles per hour. 

Tasca Racing is bringing Bob Tasca III and his 10,000-horsepower PPG Ford Shelby Mustang back East, looking for a major win in the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, Tasca’s home track, in Epping, N.H. The event runs June 2–4 as part of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
PPG is supporting Tasca Racing. 

“My family has used PPG products for years, and we have a great relationship with the company,” said Tasca. “PPG has always seen value in NHRA Drag Racing and the company gets the most out of each event. In fact, if it wasn’t for PPG’s support, we wouldn’t be here. It’s exciting to run PPG’s colors and to host more than 300 of its customers and guests during this special homecoming race weekend.”