When the 2010 racing season began, Steve Nichols was just like everyone else in the new Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car class. He was the new guy in a new classroom just looking to find his footing.

Now, eight months and nine events later, Nichols has risen to the head of the class and looks poised to claim his first ever funny car championship when he takes his “Mill Road Boys” 1970 Camaro to the World Finals Nitro Jam October 15-16 at Virginia Motorsports Park.

caption - Nichols began the season with a win in Palm Beach and now looks poised to wrap up his first championship

“We certainly knew we had a car that could be competitive this season, but what we didn’t know was whether or not we could put it all together and stay out front,” Nichols said. “Obviously we started the year strong and ended it even stronger and now we are just one weekend away from winning the inaugural Prostalgia championship with the IHRA. It is a pretty neat deal.”

And what a year it has been for the “Mill Road Boys” team.

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has released the matchups in all six classes for the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VI and the prestigious Speedtech “Battle For The Belts.”

The innovative, eight-spot elimination tournament to determine a world champion in every ADRL class (Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Junior Dragster) takes place on Oct. 22-23 at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, TX.

Those who believe their classic cars are safer than today’s automobile might want to watch this video.

Gary Scelzi has been watching and likes what he sees in rookie Pro Stock Bike rider LE Tonglet. He’s not even concerned the youthful rider’s success might take a measure of his own unique history away.

Scelzi is the only driver to win the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future [Rookie of the Year] award and a professional world championship in the same season.

“I haven’t watched many races but this kid is bad-a**, I like his style,” said Scelzi, who achieved the memorable feat in 1997.

Tonglet entered the Countdown to 1 in Indianapolis as the seventh seeded rider and has pulled into second place, just 44 points behind Hines on the strength of 12 consecutive round wins. He is the only competitor out of 40 playoff finalists still undefeated at the halfway point.

Darrell Gwynn remembers how much of a lift he got when he visited Reading in 1990.
 
It was just months after a serious crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, and Gwynn was moved by the thousands of spectators at FirstEnergy Stadium to see NHRA and NASCAR racers play a softball game for his benefit.
 
The record crowd of more than 13,000 helped raise $150,000 for Gwynn’s medical bills. It was an unforgettable night, one that’s still talked about 20 years later.
 
With that anniversary at hand, Gwynn wants to return the favor to Berks County.

V. Gaines understands his desire is outside of the norm.

The Pro Stock racer wishes there were a few more hot months left in the season and for him, the hotter the better.

Gaines embarked on a new in-house engine program last season spearheaded by his Madcap Racing Engines shop. This season the effort has shown considerable promise – in the warmer conditions. How the engine will perform in the cooler conditions in Reading, Las Vegas and Pomona is  unknown.

“The last two races, our engine has run really, really well in the hot weather,” admitted Gaines, who was the sixth quickest after Friday’s 95-degree qualifying.

Gaines, by his own admission, is not a media hawk and shies away from extra attention. But even he has to admit, the way his engine program has come around in the last few months is worth talking about.

Tilcon, an aggregate materials company, is joining John Montecalvo at his home stop on the MMPSA tour- the legendary Shakedown at E-town. Based in New England, the heart of the Shakedown, Tilcon is a division of Oldcastle, Inc, one of the world’s leading building products and materials companies.
 
“Tilcon is a great company and we’re very proud to have them on the side of our car for E-town,” told Montecalvo. “We’ve done business with them for many years and have been a very loyal customer. We’re excited to partner with them for this event, especially since Tilcon is based in this area.”

Due to increased racer demand for entry into the Oct. 1-2 PINKS All Out in Thunder Valley, Bristol Dragway officials received permission today to open 50 additional entry slots for this weekend’s event.
 
Competitors must be at least 18 years of age. Entries are non-transferrable and each racer is allowed one spot. Race cars must run 12.99 or faster and must follow NHRA safety guidelines. All cars must be door cars. Rail dragsters will not be accepted.
 
Entry fee for racers is $60 and includes the Friday test and tune session, as well as Saturday’s racing action with PINKS All Out host Rich Christensen and his famous arm drop start.

Cool weather combined with a fast track paves the way for record breaking numbers at this weekend's MMPSA event at the Shakedown at E-town. Sonny Leonard of Sonny's Racing Engines is adding extra incentive for his Pro Stock customers to go fast. The Sonny's customer who goes lowest in the sub 6.20 range will receive an added bonus for making it to the teens: $500 if he runs Sonny cylinder heads, or $1000 if the run is made with a complete Sonny's engine.

In some cases, the more things change, the more they stay the same. That will be the case for Russell Racing and team driver Joey Martin.

Arguably the most recognizable car in Pro Modified racing, the venerable Lowmad has made its last pass. The current car will give way to a new version, fabricated by Joey Martin Race Cars. Wagon fans not to worry, the new car will continue to be a ’55 Chevy Nomad, bearing the familiar moniker, the Lowmad.

The original creation was fabricated by legendary chassis builder Tommy Mauney as a Top Sportsman ride in 1991. Many milestones have been reached throughout the years including top qualifier honors at the inaugural NHRA Top Sportsman event at Bristol in 2002 with car owner Toney Russell behind the wheel. Many years of Outlaw eighth-mile passes followed, with Russell reaching the 3-second zone in 2005.