Wally Parks, the driving force behind the formation of NHRA, has died
at the age of 94. It was Parks’ vision, goals and unconditional
commitment to the need for speed and side-by-side racing in a safer,
more controlled environment that created what is today the world's
largest motorsports governing body.

"Today is a sad day in the world of NHRA and the sport of drag racing,"
said Tom Compton, president of NHRA. "Words simply can't describe the
immeasurable impact Wally has had on the sport he created and the
millions of people's lives he touched along the way. The name Wally
Parks is synonymous with drag racing, and his vision and direction will
guide NHRA for years to come.  Everyone in drag racing, and the
industries formed to service the sport, will forever be indebted to
Wally, his vision, his focus and his desire to create, build and grow
NHRA."

Brian Gahm Shocks Pro
Stock World at Maryland International Raceway

Sets both
ends of the world record in moving to the top of the qualifying sheet; Scott
Cannon also claims both ends of the Pro Mod record in Saturday evening
qualifying

While the Nitro classes usually headline the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam, Saturday
evening at Maryland International Raceway the door-slammers took center
stage.

There was a reason that most every drag racing fan wanted a Lee Edwards t-shirt
in the 1970s – he was the driver to beat. Edwards dominated the class with an
iron fist in the formative years of the mountain motor
program.

Edwards
was considered one of the more prolific runners in those formative days of the
movement. He earned a living Pro Stock racing under both the NHRA and IHRA
banners throughout the 1970s.

“It
suited me well because I already had some big motors,” Edwards said. “I just
kind of fell into running the new style. Most of us had those big motors sitting
around for match races and it played right into our hands.”

The
new format fell into Edwards’ hands more than any other driver. He claimed the
first two world championships in convincing fashion, winning the 1977 title by
905 points and following up the next year winning by a whopping 3,111 points.

Edwards
is credited with 17 career finals, fourteen of which came after the mountain
motors were implemented. He only ran three years in the mountain motor
competition.

The third edition of the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals kicked off Friday at
National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. The event, which features hundreds of
the best amateur drag racers from across the country, will continue through
Sunday, Sept. 30.
   
After one day of qualifying, Pro Stock racer Larry
Morgan is the surprise leader in Competition Eliminator. Morgan, a resident of
nearby Newark, Ohio, entered his Lucas Oil Dodge in the B/Altered class and
posted a run of 6.998, .672-seconds under the index. Morgan, who is one of the
eight Pro Stock qualifiers in NHRA’s  leads a field that includes former NHRA
champions Jeff Taylor, Bo Butner, David Rampy, and Sal Biondo. Other qualifying
leaders are Jeff Gilman (Super Stock), Rob Lloyd (Stock), Tommy Turner (Top
Sportsman) and Tom Elliott (Top Dragster).
   
Gillman, of Marne, Mich.,
posted a run of 8.82-seconds in his Pontiac Sunfire to lead the Super Stock
field. Team JEGS driver John Coughlin is currently seeded second in Super Stock
with his Chevy Cobalt. John Coughlin is also racing in Top Dragster and is
qualified 20th after one qualifying round.
   

Roger Richards, Director of Photography for Torco's
CompetitionPlus.com, is under the weather this weekend. The tireless
lensman for this publication since 1999, suffered a stroke earlier in
the week and has been hospitalized for the past few days.

Roger is itching to get back to the races and refuses to set his laptop aside as long as a race is going on.

With that said, get well wishes can be sent to GET WELL ROGER .

"Fast" Jack Beckman, who so far this season in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series has driven the Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to two
victories in three final rounds and is third in the Countdown to Four
championship playoffs, will be honored this Saturday in downtown Cumberland,
Maryland.

En route to the Oct. 5-7 weekend's final event of the Countdown
to Four - the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals outside of Richmond, Va. -
Beckman, with wife Jenna and son Jason Russell, will visit his father Bob's
hometown, where he is expected to receive a proclamation from Mayor Lee Fiedler.
He will also be appointed an honorary citizen of Cumberland.

"'Fast' Jack
Beckman Recognition Day" will be held at the City's Town Center from 4-8 p.m. on
Oct. 6 and will include a display of competition and specialty automotive
vehicles.

"My uncle Ted (Beckman) must have been the hub in this whole
thing," said Beckman. "I think it was supposed to be a surprise initially, but
because our travel plans had changed, he had to make sure that I would be
available.

Torco Racing Fuels will be among
the more than 2,000 manufacturers showcasing new and innovative products at the
upcoming Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada,
October 30 – November 2, 2007.

The SEMA show is the only one of
its kind, featuring thousands of products that make it possible for drivers to
personalize and enhance their vehicle’s appearance, performance, comfort,
convenience, safety and fun. 

“The SEMA Show is a virtual
playground for industry enthusiasts,” said Janna Beebe-Price, Chief Marketing
Officer of Torco Racing Fuels.  “We’re
certainly no stranger to the marketplace, it seemed only natural for Torco to
get involved this year.”