On Monday, and prior to the start of
eliminations at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, NHRA was surprised and
disappointed to learn that Ray Alley, director of Top Fuel and Funny Car racing,
was leaving the organization to work with Kenny Bernstein and his newly-formed
Funny Car team for the 2007 season.

With the 2006 eMax IHRA Drag Racing
Series schedule entering the home stretch, Pro Modified competitor Alan Pittman
feels that the knowledge and experience he and his team have gained this year
will see them through to a solid, top-ten finish.

Currently sitting in the No.

World War IV is coming to Montgomery
Motorsports Park in October! The battle royale, presented by Comp Cams, TCI and
George Howard Racing, will be played out over the October 14-15 weekend and will
feature nothing but heads-up, Pro tree racing. Classes that will be contested
include Outlaw 10.5, Outlaw 4.70, Outlaw 5.30, Limited Street, Real Street and
6.0 and 7.0-indexed classes.

Roy Johnson, Allen’s father, told
Competitionplus.com that he’s been told (by Mopar, we assume) to have an engine
ready for Richie Stevens’ use at the Maple Grove race.  This would tend to
confirm the rumors that Stevens will be “traded” to the Johnson team immediately
following the U.S. Nationals.  At this juncture it may be pure speculation, but
it would appear that Schumacher’s relationship with Daimler-Chrysler is becoming
increasingly strained.

Patti Barrett, who along with
husband Bill Barrett sponsors Scott Weis' dragster, shared with Torco's Competition Plus
an explanation of what caused the explosion with the car near the starting line
this past Sunday during the final Top Fuel qualifying session at
Indianapolis.

Torco’s Competitionplus.com has learned that
Ray Alley informed NHRA president Tom Compton of his decision to leave to join
Kenny Bernstein’s Monster Funny Car team during the Indy weekend.  Compton was
reportedly stunned to hear the news, but wished Alley well, and also told him
there’d be a job waiting if he decided at the end of a year to return.

Oil and debris not only filled Dave
Grubnics lane, but also hit the left lane as well. (Roger Richards)

Numerous sources report that GM drag
racing honcho Fred Simmonds, one of the most highly respected and well-liked
corporate representatives active on the quarter mile, is less than pleased with
the move of the Pontiac Nationals from Columbus to Norwalk Raceway Park. 
Simmonds was reportedly informed of the move via a voice mail on the day of the
announcement, and if true, this would be far from the first instance in which
NHRA has handled a delicate matter in this manner.  The rumor mill is churning
with some wild ones on this subject, including the po

Point standings (top 10) for
NHRA professional categories following the 52nd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
at 'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, the 18th of 23 events in the $50
million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel