Anne Proffit

As this is NHRA's 75th year of competition, being formed by Wally Parks in 1951, different stars of the sport are being celebrated at each individual race. Central California's Gary Scelzi was the chosen star of this event, and it's doubtful anyone else could have repped the series better. As is the case this season, Scelzi was trotted before the media on Friday afternoon before the late afternoon and evening qualifying sessions. Scelzi being Scelzi, he talked about his career, about the competitors he faced as he notched both Top Fuel and Funny Car titles.

NHRA'S 37th visit to Seattle Raceways is the 12th event in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, as it barrels towards the close of its “regular” season when initial championships in the sanction's 75th anniversary season take place. In the meantime, battles for the top slot and money in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock continue, with the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals. The funding is not inconsequential for these racers.

Darryl Cuttell's quick assumption of IHRA assets, his added venues, added classes and pretty much added everything made this writer think about other series takeovers and how long they lasted.

There are now only two races left to determine the winners of NHRA's Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season championships, the participants in its six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs and to crown victors in both the Brainerd and Indy drag racing contests.

INDYCAR has been talking about a new chassis for at least half a decade. The new tub was due in 2024, 2025, 2026 and finally, 2027. Now that it will definitely be a 2028 model, the vehicle has been shown to its users and, of course, everyone is weighing in with praise for the Italian constructor who has offices and manufacturing capability in Speedway, IN, just a stone's throw from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Summit Motorsports Park's vaunted 49th Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire takes place this Saturday, inaugurating the month of August with quarter-mile and 1,000-foot thrills. Fans can access the Norwalk, Ohio track beginning at 8am on August 1; those that can't attend will, for the first time worldwide, be able to watch via FloRacing's live stream, as 60 of the fastest racers prep and race under the lights.

The resurgence of Elite Motorsports in NHRA's Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock category has been slow and determined. It has a lot to do with the difference between one chassis designer and another – and has been in process for more than a year.

The World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) has a new home. Begun in 2017 by the founder and CEO of magazine, Wes Buck and first run at Bandimere Speedway outside Denver, the stand-alone event has since been run at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

As NHRA rushes to finish its 14-race regular Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, first with this weekend's 44th annual Brainerd NHRA Nationals and two week later at the Big Go, the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, there are many positions available for the taking in the series' six-race playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship.

Anyone that loves straight-line racing will be on-site or glued to their devices this week, as the 72nd Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S.