During the 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals, there is a racing family competing in the Super

Once
upon a time the Abbott Family focused on Top Fuel dragsters but a new
generation competes with a Super Comp entry. Johnny Abbott Sr., was
once a Top Fuel trailblazer in his Jet-X Dragster. (Dave Wallace Photo)

Comp division with a very historic past, a solid present and a promising future.

The past is represented by Division 5 Hall Of Fame member and 1981 US
Nationals Top Fuel Champion, Johnny Abbott Sr. He is also a member of a
very select group of Top Fuel Drivers who have won National event
titles in the NHRA, IHRA and AHRA. His racing days are over, but now,
his greatest joy comes from watching his children and grand children
compete in the same sport he has always loved.

The present is the husband and wife team of Johnny Abbott, Jr. and
Sondie from Elizabeth, Colo., have been competing in the 9.500-second
index class for the better part of ten years. 

Journeyman Funny Car driver Phil Burkart hopped behind the wheel of
"Nitro" Nick Boninfante's U.S. Male nitro Nostalgia Funny Car Saturday
night at the Summer Motorsports Spectacular at Raceway Park in
Englishtown, N.J. and picked up right where he left off by running
another five second run in front of a capacity crowd.

On July 16-19, both the NMRA and NMCA will be descending upon Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL for the 4th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA
Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag racing. In the points chase, this race
is crucial, as it is the last race before the mid-season points
adjustment kicks in.

The
only match for the searing hot temperatures at The Strip at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway June 19-20 was the Pacific Street Car Association’s
hottest Pro Street driver, Randy Walker.

As he’s already done several times this season, Walker used a series of
blistering mid 6.30 passes and double-oh reaction times to lay claim to
the PSCA MagnaFuel Summer Nationals Pro Street crown under the lights
in Vegas.

After struggling with ring & pinion and clutch issues during
qualifying, Walker and his flat-black ’74 El Camino ended up in the
fourth qualifying position with a solid 6.460, 217.74 MPH effort.

At every stop on the NHRA's 24-race circuit, Tony Schumacher, the
driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster, picks a hometown hero,
playing host to that person throughout the event.

Sgt. Gregory S. "Scott" Ruske of the Army Reserve was chosen as the
Hometown Hero at the NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals hosted by Bandimere
Speedway, located outside of Denver, Co.

Ray Wilson,  owner of Wilson Auto Collision Inc., a Colorado Springs-based paint and auto body repair shop, has been enjoying a bit of notoriety over the past week leading into the NHRA Mile High Nationals outside of Denver, Co.

Wilson and his WACI Racing Super Comp Dragster, were featured in the
Colorado Springs Gazette, because of his switch one year ago to PPG
branded aqua-based paint products.

In a state where being ‘green’ is a way of life, the Gazette decided to
send photo journalist, Kevin Kreck to Wilson’s shop chronicling  his
environmental change in product.

Racing continued today at Bristol Dragway as more than 600 racers
compete at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals. 
Despite a rain delay early in the day, eliminations got underway and
will culminate Saturday by crowning one team champion and individual
champs in eight age categories.  Racers, aged 8 to 17 years wheeling
half-scale dragsters-some of which reach speeds up to 70 mph, are vying
for a share of the purse worth nearly $100,000.

One aspect of the event that the rain did not affect was the naming of
special awards recipients.  Robbie Hamilton, Severn, Md., (racing for
Capitol Raceway) has the Best Overall Appearing Car; the award for the
Best Appearing Theme Car went to Carrie Wilson, Powerhaton, Va.,
(Virginia Motorsports Park); and Anthony Cable, Waldorf, Md., (Virginia
Motorsports Park) officially has the Coolest Car at the event.  The
team from Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park earned the Best Appearing
Track award.

In the first rounds of qualifying at Woodburn Dragstrip, Top Alcohol
Dragster pilot Justin Davis of Murrieta, Calif., and Top Alcohol Funny
Car driver Jay Payne from Claremont, Calif.,  took the No. 1 qualifying
positions in their classes. This weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing
Series event, which runs through Sunday, is the fifth of seven in
Northwest division competition

Davis jumped into the top spot by running a 5.498-second, 260.49 mph
pass.  The division six competitor has been battling his way through
the season, but is still looking for his first win.  Joey Severance of
Spanaway, Wash., grabbed the No.2 spot going into Saturday’s final
qualifying runs.

Larry Schmidt and Brent Hajek currently rank No. 1 in Super Stock and Stock Eliminator qualifying for the 30th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Co.

Schmidt, of Grand Island, Neb., drove his 1955 Chevrolet to a
12.533-second elapsed time, 1.407 seconds under his SS/PA index. James
Caro, who made the trip from Houma, La., secured the second qualifying
spot in his SS/BM 2005 Dodge Stratus. Ironically Schmidt’s classic
Chevrolet recorded the slowest elapsed time of the 34 cars who
attempted to qualify for this weekend’s race.

Cory
McClenathan raced to the qualifying lead Friday at the Mopar Mile-High
NHRA Nationals at scenic Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

The veteran driver posted a performance of 3.882 seconds at 317.05 mph
in his FRAM Tough Guard dragster to lead the Top Fuel category, finally
bringing to a close a long first day of qualifying prolonged by several
rain delays.

“It was unbelievable how many fans stuck around to watch us after the
delay,” McClenathan said during a midnight visit to the media center.
“It was so cool to hear how many people were cheering when the first
pair of fuelers pulled up after the track dried. This track is killer,
and the FRAM guys did a great job. You always wonder how your car is
going to run on ‘the hill.’ (Crew chiefs) Phil (Shuler) and Todd
(Okuhara) looked at the conditions and said they were going to get
after it, so I can’t say I’m surprised by how it ran. I never would
have thought I’d see a car go 276 mph to 660 feet at this place,
though.”