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​As fans get geared up for the return of the NHRA’s best to zMAX Dragway this fall, officials announced today that DEWALT® has signed on as the sponsor for the Sept. 17-19 DEWALT NHRA Carolina Nationals at the Bellagio of drag strips.

“We are elated to add DEWALT® to the Charlotte Motor Speedway family of blue-chip sponsors who help bring our world-class events to life,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “As leaders in the field of high-quality tools, our friends at DEWALT know a thing or two about power, toughness and innovation – characteristics that are equally vital to success in drag racing – so it’s only fitting that we have them on board as title sponsors for one of the biggest drag races of the season.”

The Wharton Automotive Group, consisting of McLeod Racing and FTI Performance, is owned by NHRA Nitro Funny Car driver and businessman Paul Lee. Lee closed the deal on Silver Sport Transmissions (SST) on July 30, 2021. With the addition of SST, the Wharton Automotive Group becomes the premier destination for aftermarket and performance driveline components and technology in the world.

Silver Sport Transmissions, a TREMEC Elite Distributor, leads the industry in TREMEC 5 and 6-Speed kits. Their in-house engineering department continuously develops and refines complete, turnkey kits for a wide variety of applications – from classic American muscle cars and trucks to four-wheel drives and late model imports. With decades of experience, SST’s powertrain experts can help you transform your vehicle’s drivetrain into a modern and rewarding driving experience.

The Australian Top Fuel championship series has released details of their inaugural calendar that features six meetings and runs from January to June 2022.

Round one is scheduled for Sydney Dragway, followed by Calder Park Raceway, Victoria, in February, then a cross country trek to the Perth Motorplex, Western Australia, for the Westernationals in March. Heathcote Park Dragway in Victoria hosts round four ahead of a return to Sydney Dragway in May for the penultimate round of the series. 

Wes Distefano is having a career-best season, but his work for 2021 is far from complete.

Entering the Aug. 12-14 PDRA Northern Nationals in Mohnton, Pa., Distefano holds a 354-point lead over Daryl Stewart in the Pro Outlaw 632 standings. Distefano has appeared in the finals of all six PDRA events this season, and he’s a three-time winner in those showings in his bid to repeat as champ.

“After the win at Budd’s Creek, we came to Virginia Motorsports Park with a whole different program,” said the 40-year-old Distefano, who lives near Pontiac, Mich. “New intake, new transmission ratios, new gear ratios, different tires on the back.

Drag racing’s winningest organization is pleased to welcome David Davies to its ranks as the team’s third NHRA Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Series driver. Davies will begin his tenure with Don Schumacher Racing starting this weekend at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor in Topeka, Kan. aboard the D H Davies Racing 2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak.
 
Davies joins DSR’s championship-winning Factory Stock team after having made his NHRA debut at the Norwalk, Ohio FSS event earlier this summer. While Topeka will mark only his second foray into the FSS category, Davies is no stranger to straight line racing, having successfully competed in the Modern Street HEMI Shootout, among other series, for the last three years where he racked up six event wins, and five runner-up finishes.

​​​Lucas Oil Products Inc. has signed on as a major associate sponsor of Johnny Pluchino’s Strutmasters.com ’13 Ford Mustang Mountain Motor Pro Stock car for the upcoming Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.   

 
“I'm extremely thankful to the Lucas Oil family for putting faith in us and in our class, Mountain Motor Pro Stock,” said Pluchino, the 2020 PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion. “I think they're going to be rather pleased with the show we're going to put on. We plan on taking home a trophy for everyone at Lucas at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. What would be better than that?!”  

T.J. Zizzo made his Top Fuel debut in September of 2003, and in the last several seasons he’s limited his races but increased his success in the NHRA ranks.

In 2021 he will be competing at two upcoming national events at Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 18-19, and St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 24-26, respectively.

 
Kalitta Motorsports is pleased to announce that CMR Construction & Roofing has joined the multi-time world championship-winning team in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series as an official partner. The strategic marketing partnership will began at the 61st NHRA Winternationals in Pomona and extend throughout the rest of the 2021 NHRA season. All three Kalitta Motorsports race cars will feature CMR branding for the rest of the season. CMR will also be the primary sponsor on one of the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel dragster entries at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals in October.
 
"We are looking forward to introducing NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series to CMR and their corporate partners and guests," said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports General Manager. "We offer a unique race track experience as well as a very active business to business program for all our partners. CMR is a perfect fit with Kalitta Motorsports, and we are looking forward to a long and successful relationship."

It takes one to know one.

Successful independent single-car team owner Josh Hart gave kudos to fellow Top Fuel class newcomer Joey Haas for his final-round performance at Denver last month.

Hart won the Gatornationals to kick off the 2021 Camping World Drag Racing Series – and his Top Fuel career – this March. Haas debuted at last September’s U.S. Nationals. Just the same, Hart appreciated the statement Haas, driving Terry Totten’s Vita C/Strutmasters.com-sponsored dragster, made for the lower-budgeted privateers at the start of this summer’s Western Swing. In his lone appearance of the season and just his fourth overall, Haas fell in the final to Steve Torrence, who has been a tormenter to the rest of the Top Fuel field all year – still.

The most recent Top Fuel winner on the NHRA tour will sport a sweet new look on her 11,000-horsepower machine when the NHRA returns to action this weekend in Topeka, Kan. Championship contender Leah Pruett will begin her quest for a 10th Top Fuel triumph aboard the Cookie Pop Top Fuel dragster when qualifying for the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor kicks off on Friday evening at Heartland Motorsports Park.
 
“I am a big-time Oreo fan, and separately, a huge popcorn fan, so Cookie Pop is the perfect way for me to get the best of both worlds while on the go,” said Pruett of the sweet-and-savory snack which combines popcorn with some of America’s favorite cookie and candy brands, at only 150 calories per serving. “Our team definitely has a sweet tooth, so representing the Cookie Pop brand is right up our alley.”