Jerry Toliver remembers a more primitive era for drag racing. He was
there in the early days tagging along with his uncle, the legendary
Jack Chrisman.

He glances over the paved pits at ZMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., and
takes note of the large rigs and hospitality areas. Toliver remembers
when the Top Fuel cars parked in the dirt.

After showing significant signs of improvement in the past week, Pro
Modified racer Steve Engel died suddenly at 5 p.m. Sunday at Methodist
Hospital in Indianapolis. Engel was involved is a serious one-car
racing accident during the recent 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
 
Engel's Diamond Heavy Haul Corvette swerved wildly near the top end of
the track and he impacted the retaining wall head-on. He was airlifted
to Methodist Hospital where doctors discovered six broken vertebrae in
his back. Two were fixed immediately, but then excess fluid developed
in his lung doctors had to wait to fix the other four. That procedure
was done Friday and physicians were diagnosing a long but full recovery.

Steve Johnson may be winning Pro Stock Motorcycle races, back-to-back as a matter of fact, but he’s not carrying a measure of dominance.

At least that’s how he sees it.

He may win with a Suzuki in a class dominated by Harley-Davidson and V-twin Buells but that’s on account of his riding talent.

Want to set him off?

Tony Schumacher had better hope that Kyle Busch never decides to drag race. It seems the NASCAR heavy-hitter is the only one who can beat the five-time champion these days.

Before a packed house at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Charlotte, N.C., Schumacher drove his U.S. Army-sponsored
dragster to his 53rd career victory, passing the legendary Joe Amato
for the role of winningest Top Fuel driver ever.

Just days earlier Schumacher proclaimed jokingly about Busch, “I only know the guy for two hours and I already hate him.”

Speedway Motorports Inc's Chairman Bruton Smith still dodges the rumors of a possible NHRA purchase.

Bruton
Smith [left], SMI President and son Marcus Smith watch as Tom Compton
speaks during the ZMAX Dragway ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Bobby Bennett
photo)

“I’ve heard that rumor before,” Smith confirmed, with a smile on his
face. “I just say it’s a rumor and move on. I think this gentleman [Tom
Compton] is doing such a good job in running the company that I don’t
think anyone should come in and disturb it.”

When a guy named Stumpy has to tell you that you’ve won, something’s wrong.

Steve Johnson doesn’t necessarily agree.

Stumpy is the lead ESPN2 camera man in charge of filming the winners.

Johnson lost focus in the shutdown area after winning his second
consecutive NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle event at the NHRA Carolinas
Nationals, and instead of bringing his
bike to a stop; he became mesmerized with the camera crew headed his
way.

He realized he needed to stop just feet from the sand trap.

He’s Pro Stock’s most stunning example of the reluctant winner.

Justin Humphreys singles to his first career Pro Stock victory. (Roger Richards)

Justin Humphreys scored his first career Pro Stock victory in an odd scenario that would leave even the most seasoned veteran scratching his head.

As the call was issued to fire the Pro Stock final, the unthinkable happened. Kurt Johnson’s car wouldn’t fire.

In a scene reminiscent of the Keystone Cops, crews from both teams push started the car. NHRA officials ordered Johnson to shut off his car and re-fire; starting line officials instructed Humphreys to stage.

Before Saturday's third round of
qualifying at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord,
N.C., Connie Kalitta, Kalitta Motorsports team owner, presented Doug
Herbert a $50,000 check for his charity organization BRAKES.

"For Connie to do this to help BRAKES is really awesome," said
Herbert.  "Scott and I were friends and he was good friends with Jon
and James from the time they were little.  Scott would have wanted to
do something to help people so it's really neat that did that.  The
money they donated will help us save some kids lives."

Drag racer Rick Kopp may race his car regularly at 225 mph, but he’ll have it parked on University Avenue in Toronto on Friday morning demonstrating some of its features at the Hospital for Sick Children.
 
As part of its mandate as the largest center in Canada dedicated to
improving children’s health, special guests from a variety of walks of
life speak to the children and provide demonstrations.
 
And seldom will the hospital see such a vibrant colorful demonstration
as Kopp’s rear-engined dragster with its huge rear tires, sleek orange
body, and 2000-horsepower engine.

Frank Mazno clinched his 12th Lucas Oil Alcohol Funny Car championship, won
his 78th career national-event victory and his seventh of the season when he
drove the Lucas Oil Chevrolet to a final-round win over Marc White.

"When you have a great team we seem to work out the problems together, and at
the end of Sunday night we're back here on the stage," Manzo said.