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.

There's a good rumor floating around which suggests a former NHRA award-winning driver and championship-winning crew chief could be headed back to the show for 2022. It's all a big rumor now but we have our fingers crossed. 

The rumor mill has been churning and we hope it spits out a couple of facts in the end. CompetitionPlus.com has learned two drivers, who were out of the game in 2021, one a Top Fuel driver and the other a former Pro Stock series champion are leaning heavily towards returning to the tour in 2022 - at least on a part-time basis. 

From what we hear, the news on at least one should hit the market in the next month or so. 

While NHRA has remained mum on the subject of the Factory Experimental format becoming the next incarnation of its Pro Stock division, some of the drivers in the Camping World Drag Racing Series are starting to throw their hat in the ring. The word has made its way to us that Rodger Brogdon, who recently announced his intention to run all NHRA Pro Stock events in 2022, has already put in his Factory X order for a new COPO Camaro with Jerry Haas. 

Word has it that longtime tuner Tommy DeLago is headed back to nitro racing in 2022. The former crew chief for Matt Hagan and later with Kalitta Motorsports is reportedly headed to Dustin Davis Motorsports to serve as assistant crew chief to Mike Green. Nothing official has been released but we have heard from multiple sources close to the situation that it's a done deal. 

UPDATED 12-2-21 - According to multiple sources, the bid to purchase New England Dragway has failed. We are told the board voted against a bid to purchase the property for a significant amount of money thus keeping the property as an operating drag strip. 

The word floating around the pits is that veteran journeyman Aaron Brooks will be tuning this weekend on the Doug Kalitta-driven MAC Tools Top Fuel dragster at the NHRA Midwest Nationals outside of St. Louis, Mo. He will likely replace Rob Flynn. There's not likely going to be an official statement as many teams prefer not to announce crew chief replacements in mid-season. We'll see if the gossip making its rounds plays out on Friday. 

Could another prominent NASCAR team owner be on the verge of throwing his hat in the ring with drag racing team ownership? That's the banter making its rounds at zMax Dragway during the Carolina Nationals. If this indeed plays out, a technical space race could be in full swing amongst the Pro Stock fraternity.