Holley’s LS Fest West, a traditional event hosted by The Strip at Las Vegas has become the latest casualty of 2020’s global pandemic.

Most recently scheduled for June 12 - 14, the event was cancelled because of uncertainty surrounding live events held in Nevada. The state of Nevada is taking a phased approach to reopening, and at this time, there is still no indication as to when large crowds will be permitted to gather.

Race officials have confirmed pre-registered participants and spectators that pre-purchased tickets will be fully refunded as soon as possible.

There was no doubt that sometime, at some point, someone was going to be the first NHRA Pro Stock driver to break into the six-second zone on a quarter-mile pass. 

The question was who would be the driver to secure that spot in drag racing history.

Good ol’ conventional wisdom thought it would come down to a pair of Dodge drivers, Darrell Alderman and Scott Geoffrion, or Warren Johnson, a.k.a., “The Professor,” in his Georgia-based Oldsmobile.

In near-perfect conditions on Friday night, May 20, 1994, Alderman, Geoffrion and Johnson took their shots and came up short by several hundredths. 

Just over a week away from the delayed start of the 2020 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season, the series announced Wednesday night its revised schedule. Six other PDRA races will join next week’s East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at GALOT Motorsports Park, which was announced on May 8, on the 2020 PDRA “No Warning Labels” Tour. The seven-race revised schedule replaces the PDRA’s original eight-race schedule that was affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
 
“We know our racers are eager to get this season started, and we’re thrilled to finally have a full season schedule to announce,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “The PDRA team has worked closely with the track operators and state and local officials to develop a realistic schedule.”

Todd Horner is set to unveil this new beauty during next weekend’s PDRA season-opener at Galot Motor Sports just outside of Durham, NC.

The Jerry Bickel-built beauty sponsored by the Zarella Family is powered by an 826 cubic inch Sonny Leonard powerplant.

Additionally, Hoerner is sponsored by TT Motorsports, and carries associate sponsorship from Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Jegs, Total Seal, GRP, Big Stuff, PSI Springs, Maxima Oil, Sonnys Racing Engines, Reeve Trucking, and Buxton Engineering.

nd carries associate sponsorship from Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Jegs, Total Seal, GRP, Big Stuff, PSI Springs, Maxima Oil, Sonnys Racing Engines, Reeve Trucking, and Buxton Engineering.

It's always a thrill to buy a new vehicle. It's dramatically more so if you have the chance to actually drive your new vehicle right off the assembly line. That's exactly what six-time world champion drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. got to do in 2018 when he purchased a new Jeep that was assembled in Toledo, Ohio.
 
"It was truly an amazing experience and made that particular Jeep very special to me," Coughlin said. "I was the first butt in the seat, as they say, and I feel a real connection to my Jeep. I keep it down in Florida, where it's the perfect cruiser for the beach."

When it comes to tractors, Stan Shelton is a star.

The New London, N.C., native is a standout in the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League.

Now, Shelton has pretty much passed the tractor pulling baton to his children, boys, Grayson and Reese and daughter, Camille and now he wants to try his hand at Pro Mod racing.

His name is rarely is mentioned when talk focuses on those who have advanced drag racing. It was 45 years ago that a corporate executive named Ralph Seagraves took drag racing to another level when few could envision there was such a destination.

Seagraves was the president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Special Events Operations, later renamed Sports Marketing Enterprises, and was responsible for providing drag racing with its first major points fund sponsor.

Seagraves enabled drag racing to become a professional sport for more than just a select few drivers.

Seagraves and his team at SME also succeeded at a once-unbelievable task; i.e., uniting most of the American drag racing scene as one.

Dr. Jamie Meyer has taken the role of President of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show and media company, effective this week. Meyer, who has a long and storied history in motorsports and racing, will lead the PRI team in increasing engagement and support for the industry through enhanced programs and services for the motorsports community.
 
“In addition to providing the industry with world-class trade events and publications, PRI is committed to enhancing resources, advocacy and representation for the motorsports industry,” said Chris Kersting, president and CEO of SEMA. “Dr. Jamie Meyer will be instrumental in leading the team. He has great knowledge and understanding of racing businesses, teams and drivers, and he will be a valued leader to help motorsports and the industry grow.”

DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., an affiliate of leading global automotive supplier DENSO Corp., is sponsoring the first-ever DENSO 3-Wide Doxie Nationals hosted by its NHRA racing partners Angie and Matt Smith to support three animal rescue, adoption and placement organizations. The husband-and-wife Pro Stock Motorcycle teammates will livestream on their Facebook channel from their own backyard in King, North Carolina, on Saturday, May 23, at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

The fun-filled fundraiser will feature the Smiths’ own beloved trio of Dachshund hounds: Coco Chanel, Mocha and Bella. Each will represent a different charity: Coco is racing for the Dachshund Rescue of North America; Mocha is racing for the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in Las Vegas; and Bella is racing for Patriot Paws Service Dogs based in Rockwall, Texas.

The road to recovery following a global pandemic has been a rocky one, but for the Midwest Pro Modified Series, the freeway is getting much smoother. Hot off of a successful launch in Tulsa, Ok., the doorslammer series is headed into the Texas Motorplex with plenty of momentum.

“We made a lot of changes to the Tulsa event to keep the racers and spectators safe, including an online registration process and time slip app as well as social distancing protocols,” said series founder Keith Haney. “I am extremely proud of our people for adhering to these and making it a great kick-off to our 2020 season.”