by Ian Tocher Wed, 2022-03-02 11:50
The inaugural Blake Copson Best Sportsman Award went to Duck X Productions X275 racer Kenny Hubbard.
In a brief presentation ceremony prior to eliminations starting for Lights Out 13 at South Georgia Motorsports Park, Hubbard accepted the award and cash prize courtesy of Copson's family and Duck X promoter Donald "Duck" Long.
"Sadly, we lost Blake Copson to a (non-racing) accident last year and his dad, Joe, along with the rest of his family just wanted to do something to honor his memory and recognize a fellow racer who represented the spirit that Blake himself brought to the track every time," Long said.
by Ian Tocher Wed, 2022-03-02 08:12
From qualifying through eliminations Feb. 24-27, at South Georgia Motorsports Park, Mo Hall was at or near the top of the elapsed-time list for each round of Pro 275 competition at Lights Out 13. And when it was all over, he had successfully defended his 2021 Lights Out 12 title and recorded his third major Duck X Productions win within a year after also prevailing at the Sweet 16 event last spring.
After piloting his Switzer Dynamics nitrous-injected '07 Corvette to a first-place 3.74 at 198.88-mph pass in qualifying, Hall set low ET for three of the five elimination rounds, ultimately finishing with a 3.77-seconds pass to beat Eric Dillard in the final.
His weekend was far from stress free, however.
by Ian Tocher Tue, 2022-03-01 20:44
As always, the premier Radials vs. the World class drew heavy hitters from across the country and even a couple of Canucks to South Georgia Motorsports Park Mar. 24-27, for Lights Out 13, the first of three major Duck X Productions events at the track this year.
No stranger to the Duck X winner's circle at SGMP with a couple of Outlaw 632 wins in his past, and even a Magic 8 win over the top eight RVW qualifiers for No Mercy 12 just last fall, Ken Quartuccio finally broke through with his first Duck X Radials vs. the World win on a 32-car ladder at Lights Out 13.
Tue, 2022-03-01 18:00
Over the past year Kalitta Motorsports has been supporting A Kid Again to make a difference for the nonprofit organization that fosters hope, happiness and healing for children facing life-threatening conditions and their families. Kalitta Motorsports’ support at NHRA national events over the past year has helped A Kid Again further their mission of giving families the opportunity to take a time out from illness by attending ongoing Adventures together while they work through significant medical situations.
“We have enjoyed hosting families for A Kid Again and look forward to hosting even more people in 2022,” said Chad Head, Kalitta Motorsports general manager. “Being able to see the smiles and have the families meet out drivers, get into race cars and watch the races has been a real pleasure for everyone at Kalitta Motorsports. This program has been embraced by our team and our sponsors and we are thrilled to see the impact we have been a small part of making for A Kid Again across the country.”
by Susan Wade Tue, 2022-03-01 10:31
It’s impressive enough that longtime Funny Car owner-tuner-driver Tim Wilkerson scored a provisional No. 3 spot in the qualifying line-up Friday night at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, near Phoenix.
But probably more remarkable is that the one-man-band from Springfield, Ill., has turned into an elite-level drag-racing powerbroker.
For years he has been considered a privateer, sticking to his own operation that has been funded for nearly a quarter-century primarily by IT consulting and solutions firm Levi, Ray & Shoup.
But he has evolved into a kingpin in the nitro pro ranks, giving career boosts and tuning guidance to Top Fuel racers T.J. Zizzo, Keith Murt, and Buddy Hull and Funny Car racers Chad Green, Bobby Bode, and son Daniel Wilkerson.
by Susan Wade Tue, 2022-03-01 10:18
Pro Stock racer Dallas Glenn was expecting to travel just a half-mile Saturday, twice down the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park course. But he ended up taking a detour to the finish line – by way of a Phoenix-area hospital.
The jack accidentally fell onto his foot – his throttle foot – in the KB Racing pits in the morning as the RAD Torque Camaro team prepared for the second overall qualifying session.
His team considered putting crew chief Dave Connolly in the car for that early-Saturday session. But had they done that, Glenn would not have been allowed to race Sunday. Rules dictate that teams can change a driver during an event but may do that only once. So the team waited for results from Glenn’s hospital visit and passed on the Q2 opportunity.
By Susan Wade, photos by Roger Richards Mon, 2022-02-28 18:10
Nitro tuning wizard Alan Johnson left Mike Salinas and his Scrappers Racing NHRA Top Fuel operation at the end of last season to work with Salinas’ Top Fuel competitor Doug Kalitta.
Never mind that Johnson also left Tony Schumacher and Steve Torrence, both of whom went on to win championships, and Brittany Force, who remains a perennial title contender. But many felt sorry for Salinas, figuring his dreams of a championship were dashed.
By Tracy Renck; photos by Roger Richards Mon, 2022-02-28 18:05
This Pro Stock gig is working out pretty well for Aaron Stanfield.
Stanfield, who signed to drive for Elite Motorsports for the final six races of 2019, has since proved he’s one of the best drivers in the class.
By Tracy Renck; photos by Roger Richards Mon, 2022-02-28 18:05
Make it two-for-two for Robert Hight.
The veteran NHRA nitro Funny Car for John Force Racing won his second race to start the 2022 season, the latest being the Arizona Nationals Sunday.
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