Evan Knoll
intends to put his game face on this weekend when the IHRA Torco Race Fuels
Northern Nationals kicks off at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.
However, this time the intensity won’t be as a drag racing fan or a major
sponsor. Knoll is suiting up as a Top Fuel driver this time.

Knoll has unfinished
business when it comes to Top Fuel and Knoll Gas Motorsports Park.
It was three years ago when Knoll began and completed his licensing process and
came within .02 of qualifying on the strength of one run.

IHRA rules stipulate that
a licensing driver must make two short runs before a full quarter-mile pass.
This weekend, he plans to make three full pulls and earn a position in his
first-ever qualified field.

“It has been a tough road
for the last few years,” Knoll said. “It’s nice supporting the sport and
watching everyone else race but there comes a time when you like to play the
game. I got into this sport because I love it. I just love to play the game and
that’s what I plan to do.”

HD Partners CEO and chairman Eddie
Hartenstein met for the first time with owners and drivers here on
Saturday. All interested parties considered it to be a good first
encounter, but the general consensus was the HD Partners purchase of
NHRA Pro Racing is still a wait and see proposition.

"It went well," said owner/driver Kenny Bernstein, who is also PRO
president. "He doesn't have a definite game plan, but basically it's
about getting more awareness for the sport and more exposure. More
exposure means more sponsors and more sponsors means more dollars and
more dollars means better gains...he's got all the right ideas."

But some believe that its not all about giving the HD group and
Hartenstein the keys and let them driving unto the promised land.

"I think the guy can help us," said Pro Stock veteran Larry Morgan. "He
seemed like a very personable guy. We needed that. I just hope
something good comes out of it. We surely need some help out here. If
they open up and help us all, it will be good for the sport. That's all
I can hope for.

 
Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the
20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, the 15th
of 23 events in the  NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -

Top Alcohol Dragster driver Kate Harker suffered a devastating crash during the first round of eliminations in Sonoma.

Harker,
of Gainesville, Ga., was alert and responding to commands as NHRA
officials extracted her from the destroyed dragster. Her dragster went
out of control just after the start, climbed into a wheelstand and
crashed. She was transported by air to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for
evaluation.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SEQUENCE BY BRIAN LOSNESS

ANDERSON RACES TO LANDMARK 50TH CAREER VICTORY AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS 


Schumacher, Force and Smith also win at Infineon Raceway
 
Greg Anderson recorded his landmark 50th Pro Stock victory Sunday to
highlight a spectacular day of drag racing at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA
Nationals at Infineon Raceway.
 
Anderson became just the sixth professional and the 10th driver in
history to win 50 NHRA races. He is the second quickest to the mark,
winning No. 50 in his 189th career start. Legend Bob Glidden won 50
times in his first 139 races.

Final round-by-round results from the 20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA
Nationals at Infineon Raceway, the 15th of 23 events in the  NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series:
 
 
TOP FUEL:
 
ROUND ONE -- Larry Dixon, 4.951, 269.78 def. Mike
Strasburg, 8.303, 102.86; J.R. Todd, 5.327, 240.68 def. Brandon
Bernstein, 5.415, 174.05; Doug Kalitta, 5.242, 293.92 def. Clay
Millican, 7.400, 111.02; Tony Schumacher, 4.542, 327.82 def. Cory
McClenathan, 5.451, 196.67; Bob Vandergriff, 4.618, 320.51 def. Melanie
Troxel, 6.134, 164.43; Doug Herbert, 4.725, 308.00 def. Morgan Lucas,
7.207, 112.80; Rod Fuller, 4.553, 325.92 def. David Grubnic, 5.788,
161.29; Hillary Will, 4.656, 321.58 def. Whit Bazemore, 6.533, 140.15;

QUARTERFINALS -- Herbert, 4.821, 288.70 def. Dixon, 5.251,
243.24; Vandergriff, 4.689, 314.61 def. Todd, foul; Fuller, 4.600,
325.53 def. Kalitta, 4.654, 320.43; Schumacher, 4.537, 327.43 def.
Will, 4.688, 301.87;

SEMIFINALS -- Vandergriff, 4.626, 319.37 def. Fuller, 4.921, 317.94; Schumacher, 4.558, 321.73 def. Herbert, 6.603, 158.71;

FINAL -- Schumacher, 4.534, 329.42 def. Vandergriff, 4.597, 305.84.

Sunday's final results from the 20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA
Nationals at Infineon Raceway.  The  race is the 15th of 23 in the 
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

'SO WEAK IT WADDLED LIKE A DUCK': WILKERSON'S IMPALA BIG QUESTION MARK

Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson is having an out-of-body experience.

His Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala body is parked this Sunday at
Infineon Raceway, for he didn't qualify for the Fram-Autolite NHRA
Nationals. And the culprit, he's pretty sure, is . . . the body.

Based on what happened between Jerry Toliver and Warren Johnson Toyota
body incident following Denver, Bob Gilbertson's crew didn't take any
chances in Sonoma.

ASHLEY, HERBERT, ANDERSON AND SAMPEY CLAIM NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS

Currently third in the POWERade points, Funny Car
racer Mike Ashley took a big step towards securing one of the seven
remaining spots in the Countdown to the Championship field with a top
qualifying performance Saturday at the 20th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA
Nationals.

Ashley (4.743) and Top Fuel leader Doug Herbert (4.556) both used
their Friday night passes to wrap up their No. 1 spots at Infineon
Raceway, while Pro Stock front man Greg Anderson needed to improve to a
6.605 to stay on top. Angelle Sampey shocked the Pro Stock Motorcycle
class with her final-round run of 6.924, which came in the heat of the
day. Final eliminations begin Sunday at noon (PT) with three-hours of
television coverage provided by ESPN2 at 8 p.m. (ET).

This is Ashley's fourth No. 1 qualifying effort of the season and
fourth of his career. His Friday night run of 4.743 at 326.79 mph in
his Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger was completely unchallenged Saturday
with the quickest run of the day John Force's 4.870 in his Castrol
High-Mileage Ford Mustang.