The National Hot Rod Association Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads into New Jersey this weekend, to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the 44th Annual Toyota Summernationals, the ninth of 24 events on the 2013 schedule.
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock-pictured) and Hector Arana Jr. (P/S Bike) lead their respective point standings and will be joined by their fellow racers in this weekend's program at the Garden State facility.
Last year, although intermittent rain showers hampered Sunday's eliminations, Steve Torrence defeated Brandon Bernstein in T/F, Johnny Gray defeated Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps in the F/C final, Greg Anderson outran Summit teammate Jason Line for his fifth P/S win at Englishtown and former Englishtown track manager Eddie Krawiec took P/S Bike laurels over Hector Arana Sr.
Qualifying action begins today and continues through Saturday, with final eliminations on Sunday. ESPN2 will provide qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. on Sunday and elimination action at 4:30 Sunday afternoon. Tickets are still available by contacting the track office at (732) 446-7800
In less than a week, one of the most exciting tours of the season heads east again. The Amsoil USAC National Sprint Cars invade Pennsylvania for the 7th Annual Eastern Storm Series. If you have never experienced wingless sprint cars, make sure you get out to one of the four shows to see some of the most intense wheel-to-wheel excitement you can imagine!
The Eastern Storm kicks off at Grandview Speedway on Wednesday, June 5 for the Jesse Hockett Memorial as the ARDC wingless midgets join the Thunder on the Hill Series card, followed by stops at Pat Valley Speedway on Thursday, June 6, Port Royal Speedway Saturday, June 8 and the final stop at Susquehanna Speedway on Sunday, June 9.
Levi Jones is a three-time Eastern Storm Series champion (2007, '10 and '11), Cole Whitt won the 2008 and 2009 titles, and Bryan Clauson was the champion last year.
A total of twenty-one USAC events make up the six- year history of the USAC Eastern Storm Series with events at Grandview (6), Big Diamond (5), New Egypt (3), Lincoln (2), Hagerstown (2), Mercer Raceway Park (1), Lernerville (1) and Port Royal (1).
Winners include Levi Jones (six), Cole Whitt (three), Jesse Hockett (two), Chris Windom (two), Bryan Clauson (two) and Jon Stanbrough, Bobby East, Hunter Schuerenberg, Chad Boat and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
In other area racing, Big Diamond Speedway offers a very active program tonight following last Friday's rainout. The modifieds will run a 30-lap feature for $3,000 to win, along with the sportsman, roadrunners, 600cc modifieds and 305 cubic inch sprint cars also competing in full programs...,Williams Grove hosts two days of racing this weekend. The 358 and 410 sprint cars are in action tonight, while the popular Saturday Night Series returns tomorrow with the winged super sportsman, limited late models and street stocks....,Selinsgrove Speedway hosts the Roadrunner 20 along with the 358 sprint cars, late models and pro stocks Saturday night...In other Saturday night action, Lincoln Speedway has an open wheel doubleheader of 358 and 410 sprinters along with the All American Outlaw stockers, and Port Royal Speedway honors all military members with free admission with proof of ID for the 410 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and enduro dash cars.
In last week's Memorial Day action, local racers collecting runner-up finishes at Numidia Dragway. Sunbury's Tim Danley had a successful outing in Jr. Dragster and Dave Novinger of Elysburg was a runner-up in Pro Eliminator.