Steve Johnson sent out a video Friday through social media, laughing that “What are you going to do?!” kind of laugh and showing his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle and team and friends all huddled under his small pop-up canopy tent in the pits while the rains poured down on Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park near Norwalk, Ohio.

Johnson always makes the most of any situation, turns wild and seemingly unpleasant occurrences into a party or some sort of positive. So he did what he could during the rainstorm, then went out and staked himself Friday night to a provisional No. 11 position in the qualifying order for the Summit Equipment Nationals.

Small-tire racing star Daniel Pharris raced to victory in Penske/PRS Pro Boost presented by WS Construction for the first time in his career Saturday night at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X at Maryland International Raceway. Pharris defeated two-time Pro Nitrous world champion Jason Harris in a side-by-side, 3.71-second final round. 
 
Pharris was the only first-time winner in the pro classes, as Jim Halsey (Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous), Chris Powers (Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock presented by AED Competition), Wes Distefano ($hameless Racing Pro Outlaw 632), Chris Garner-Jones (Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle) and Jesse Lambert (Drag 965 Pro Street) added to their PDRA trophy collections.

Three-time defending Top Fuel world champ Steve Torrence made the quickest pass in all three qualifying sessions at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, rolling to the No. 1 spot on Saturday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 in their respective categories at the seventh race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Top Fuel points leader Steve Torrence saw Brittany Force put a 3.722-second elapsed time on the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park scoreboard Friday as qualifying kicked off for the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series’ first visit here since 2019.

Then he saw his father, Billy Torrence, make a 3.724-second pass at what turned out to be the class’ fastest speed of the meet so far, 325.37 mph.

After a seven-and-a-half-hour rain delay Friday at Norwalk, Ohio, that included 30 minutes between the first and second runs in the class’ lone session, Ron Capps surfaced at the top of the Funny Car leaderboard for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

The NAPA Dodge Charger Hellcat driver covered the 1,000-foot Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park track with a 3.888-second elapsed time at 329.34 mph.

After suffering through an inner ear infection and slight dizziness during the first round of qualifying Friday night at Summit Motorsports Park, Clay Millican has been replaced by Austin Prock in the Stringer Performance Parts Plus dragster at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk.

“Earlier this week Clay went to the doctor for a normal checkup and they checked his ears and they found out that he had a slight inner ear infection. His hearing hadn’t changed much, so we didn’t think too much of it,” said Doug Stringer, owner of Stringer Performance. “Then on Friday he got in the car and he hit the button and he got dizzy. He got out of the gas and came back and told us and at that point, we said let’s not push the envelope and let’s take the opportunity to go get it checked out. The report I just got back is that Clay is all good. He does have an inner ear infection and he is going to have to let it run its course and we will be good to go.”

Maryland’s own Jim Halsey scored his fourth consecutive Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous low qualifier award at the fourth race on the Professional Drag Racers Association’s (PDRA) eight-race tour, the North vs. South Shootout presented by Line-X on Friday night. Halsey recorded a 3.672-second pass at 206.13 mph on the historic Maryland International Raceway eighth-mile strip. 

During the first round of Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, rider Kelly Clontz fell off her motorcycle. She stood up under her own power and was seen by the on-site medical team.

One of the leading drag administrators in Australia, Peter Beaumont, has been appointed CEO of Willowbank Raceway.

Beaumont previously served as General Manager of Sydney Dragway until February 2021.

“This is an enormous and exciting opportunity,” said Beaumont. “Willowbank Raceway is the true home of Drag Racing in Australia. I’m looking forward to working with the team and the Board in developing and implementing plans to grow the venue, attract new events, expand our sponsorship base and alternative business hires.”