Word has it that Bachelorette-star Jordan Vandergriff will soon be married to a Top Fuel dragster. We are told he will be aligned with a crew chief who has championship and milestone experience, but nothing is official. Rumors suggest the team is gunning for a U.S. Nationals debut. They reportedly haven't made it to the track yet but parts are being purchased.  

This is the kind of news we like. The rumor mill is churning in certain circles, and the talk seems to be around a Comp Eliminator race who plans to give Top Fuel a try. From what we hear, this racer could put in about five races this season, with a possible debut at the NHRA U.S. Nationals over the Labor Day weekend. We'd float the name out there but there are some details which need to be worked out before its a done deal.

From what we hear from reliable sources, the NHRA's schedule will take on a new look in 2023, at least from the start. We are told NHRA will begin the season at Gainesville in March before heading to the west coast for Phoenix, Pomona, and Vegas. With rising fuel costs, the game plan allows the teams to test on the east coast before the season-opener and then head west. 

The absence of Route 66 Raceway from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series creates a big void in the Chicago market. We are told the NHRA's Div. 3 sportsman event scheduled on the weekend of August 5 - 7, 2022, is a test run for possibly returning the stadium-style facility to the big show. Unfortunately, this return is not likely to happen before 2024, but things can change quickly. 

Word has it that Funny Car racer Paul Lee will return to competition this weekend at the NHRA Springnationals in Houston with not only newly appointed crew chief Dustin Heim, but now will be assisted by up-and-coming nitro tuner Jason Bunker, most recently with Tony Jurado and Justin Ashley Racing. The team will also be racing at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, NC.

From what we hear, one of the top ten Top Fuel teams will be in Vegas with a new crew chief who recently parted ways with a Funny Car team. Still a lot of moving pieces in this one, which is why we are not naming names with this posting. 

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Either Hell has frozen over, or popular Mountain Motor Pro Stock driver John Montecalvo has hit his head. The rumblings floating around suggest the drag racer from Center Moriches, NY., who was to our knowledge the only large displacement Pro Stock driver getting factory support from GM while racing IHRA in the early 2000s, is going to be in a Ford Mustang this season. As if that might not be enough, what if he ends up in a 500-inch car as well? 

They are not speaking about it publicly and that's fine, we will do it for them. As for the NHRA Winternationals, we are told the mandates including limited attendance per government agencies has been lifted for the Fairplex. 

If it looks like the professional racers have a bit of pep in their step during this weekend's season-opener, apparently the points fund has gotten a 15% raise. In addition, the race purses have reportedly gotten a bump too.