Kenny Bernstein confirmed with CompetitionPlus.com that nothing is
final either way regarding his Monster Energy drink sponsorship for
2009. The six-time NHRA world champion said he’s waiting for an answer
before he can make a decision regarding next year.

He’s talked about a two-car Top Fuel team as well but until the answer comes through, he’s not elaborating.

If Bernstein does continue with the Monster Energy drink sponsorship,
changes in the grandfathered marketing rules will allow him some
latitude in how to present the sponsorship.

Tony Schumacher is sure that Alan Johnson has a long list of drivers seeking to join his forthcoming Al-Anabi
Top Fuel team. The five time champion says the line will be just as
long with those seeking the role as tuner for the U.S. Army team.

Who wouldn’t want the gig considering Schumacher drove his way to his
54th national event victory and eighth in the last ninth races?

“We’re not going to slum, we are going to have the cream of the crop,”
Schumacher said. “We already have some great people within our team.”

Tim Wilkerson appeared to be the angriest winner in Memphis.

There was barely a smile on the face of the six-time 2008 winner as he entered the post-race press conference.

The devil is in the details.

Wilkerson was docked 15 points for putting oil on the racing surface
after stopping Ashley Force in the final round. Such a penalty left him
with less points than the driver he beat in the final round.

Nevermind the fact he almost single-handedly dismantled the entire John Force Racing juggernaut on race day.

This weekend was a good one to be a Don Schumacher Motorcycle rider. Craig Treble knows that what he lacks, teammate Chip Ellis makes up for and vice versa.

In the final round at Memphis, Treble lacked for nothing as he scored
his first win of the season and 26th overall by defeating Eddie
Krawiec, whose Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson broke in the final
round.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of this team,” Treble said in a
post-press conference. “Chip Ellis is an awesome rider but struggled on
the tree today. He’s a great rider and pretty darned good racer.

Jack Beckman moved from third into second place following his quarterfinal finish.

“My hat is off to NHRA for making this Countdown exciting, but they're
killing us," Beckman said, with a laugh. "We were hoping it wasn't
going to be quite this exciting here. This championship is going to
come down to the final race in Pomona.

Even when he loses, Jeg Coughlin Jr. gains.

Sunday at Memphis Motorsports Park wasn't the best day in Coughlin's
career, but it might turn out to be one of the more pivotal in the 2008
title chase as the driver of the JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt managed to
increase his lead in the championship standings from 14 to 32 point
with his quarterfinal finish.

"It was an exciting round throughout the pro ranks, just watching who
was advancing and who was going home early," Coughlin said. "We've all
been pointing to the Countdown to 1 since the start of the year and now
it's here and every round seems so big. Huge swings can happen and you
know the rounds remaining are slipping away fast. It's intense."

Coughlin would square off with the event's top qualifier, Allen
Johnson, in the quarterfinals. Continuing the theme of the opening
session, Coughlin was fortunate enough to have run quicker than Johnson
in Round 1 and therefore carried lane choice into their Round 2 race.

John Force Racing had a near record day almost advancing four Mustangs
to the semi-finals at the NHRA Mid South Nationals in Memphis.

Ashley Force was the last line of defense against the Wilkerson juggernaut in Memphis.

Wilkerson had dispatched team leader John Force in the second round and
Robert Hight in the semis before the sophomore driver pulled up beside
him in the final. In their last head to head race Force ended
Wilkerson’s day in the first round at zMax Dragway in Charlotte at the
first Countdown to 1 race dropping the points leader from first to
fourth. In Memphis she made a strong run at Wilkerson but in the end it
was not her day.

SCHUMACHER, WILKERSON KEEP THEIR POINTS LEADS WITH WINS; EDWARDS, TREBLE MOVE CLOSER TO CHAMPIONSHIP IN MEMPHIS

Top
Fuel pilot Tony Schumacher and Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson
strengthened their points leads as many Countdown contenders fell early
Sunday at the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

Pro
Stock’s Mike Edwards and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Craig Treble joined
Schumacher and Wilkerson in the winner’s circle with three races
remaining in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the
21st annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil at
Memphis Motorsports Park, the 21st of 24 events in the  NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1.  Tony Schumacher, 2,409; 2.  Cory McClenathan, 2,243; 3.  Antron
Brown, 2,230; 4.  Larry Dixon, 2,219; 5.  Hillary Will, 2,218; 6. 
Brandon Bernstein, 2,208; 7.  Doug Herbert, 2,169; 8.  Rod Fuller,
2,146; 9.  Doug Kalitta, 2,111; 10.  David Grubnic, 2,058.