Please make no mistake; Bob Tasca is doing some housekeeping before his big coming-out party. 

And as Tasca sees it, everyone is invited. Tasca sent out his preliminary invitations during Friday's lone qualifying session at the Lucas NHRA Nationals at Brainerd, Minn.

John Force learned a valuable lesson some 44 years ago, a lesson some of his foes would be wise to pick up on as they face the 72-year old, 17-time Funny Car champion. Some seem to forget in 1985; the relentless Force scored what some might call a meaningless American Drag Racing Association Series championship.

But not Force, the unheralded championship was part of his learning regimen, just like the McEwen lesson where the champ got schooled embarrassingly.

The Goose gooched him in a stunning example of how assumptions can lend terrible results.

Veteran chassis builder Jerry Haas has developed a stellar reputation for his talents in building championship-winning doorslammers. Haas has stepped outside his norm and has built one of the more exquisite No Prep race cars ever. This beautiful 1969 Chevelle of Mark Winger, of San Angelo, Tex., will soon hit the track with a procharged big block Chevy.

For now, Gary Pritchett feels content running alongside a Top Fuel dragster instead of behind the wheel of one. 

Pritchett proudly plays his role as a crewman on the multi-time championship-winning dragster driven by Steve Torrence. 

However, this doesn’t mean he won’t take a lap when the opportunity presents itself. 

Paul Lee made a concerted effort to step up his Funny Car program, starting last season. However, it all pales in comparison to what he is doing in the business world. 

Last week Lee announced his Wharton Automotive group had acquired Silver Sport Transmissions, a TREMEC Elite Distributor, which leads the industry in TREMEC 5 and 6-Speed kits.

Lee, who owns McLeod Racing, a leading supplier of clutches and other driveline products now for five decades, started forging his expanding empire when he purchased the iconic brand back in 2008. After an influx of Lee's determination, McLeod and its associated companies are on the path to developing a one-stop-shop for the driveline.

Clay Millican had a lot of fun at the recently completed NHRA Heartland Nationals in Topeka, Kan. However, it paled in comparison to the week before.

Millican admittedly entered the 11th stop on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule inspired. 

A few weeks ago, he was not enthused watching another driver behind the wheel of his race car. On Saturday, the driver of the Parts Plus-sponsored dragster got to be that guy.

Pardon Bob Tasca if he’s not really in tune with how to react these days. In the first seven events of the season, the Motorcraft-sponsored driver reached three finals, winning twice and grabbing hold of the point lead from April until July. 

Then came the Western Swing, where Tasca won only two rounds in three races and dropped to second in the regular-season championship chase. He didn't fare much better in Topeka, but early season momentum enabled him to secure a Countdown berth the earliest he's ever done so in his career.

Please don’t feel bad for Tasca; he’s not in a natural slump. He’s just in uncharted territory. 

A new-look Rust-Oleum Rocket race car will be unveiled for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. 

The Top Fuel dragster will be highlighting 100 years of Rust-Oleum. The long-time Zizzo Racing sponsor continues to maintain a strong business to business and promotional relationship with Zizzo Auto Body and Zizzo Racing.

Cameron McMillen, son of veteran Top Fuel driver/owner Terry McMillen, took centerstage Aug. 8.

Cameron, 7, won the beginner class at Bunker Hill (Ind.) Dragstrip’s Iron Man Jr. Dragster Championships. It was his first career Jr. Dragster victory.

“It was pretty cool,” Terry said. “It’s amazing when you look at it. He grew up around racing as all my boys have, but when my other boys grew up, we didn’t have Jr. Dragsters. To participate in a professional way in motorsports is amazing. For him to be so young and go out and get his first win is amazing. It seemed like it took me 90 years to get my first win.”