The 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads East this weekend for the ninth of 24 national events, the 45th annual Toyota Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J..
The Summernationals is the third consecutive race on the 2014 Mello Yello Series, following last weekend's 26th annual Kansas Nationals at the Heartland Park Topeka facility. The Kansas event proved to be memorable as Courtney Force, the youngest of the daughters of 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force, scored her first win of the 2014 season in her TRAXXAS/Ford Mustang and fourth of her career in the Nitro F/C ranks. Courtney's win was the 100th victory by a female driver in the NHRA professional classes over the years.
Other winners in the Kansas Nats at Heartland Park were Spencer Massey taking the Top Fuel crown over Shawn Langdon and Allen Johnson, who outran his MOPAR teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the Pro Stock final.
Heading into this weekend's Summernationals, the professional class point leaders in their respective classes are Doug Kalitta-T/F, Robert Hight-F/C, Erica Enders-Stevens-P/S and Andrew Hines-P/S Bike.
ESPN2 will provide 90 minutes of qualifying action Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and three hours of eliminations Sunday at 4 p.m.
Last year's winners were Langdon (T/F), Matt Hagan (F/C), Mike Edwards (P/S) and Michael Ray (P/S Bike).
Arguably one of the most exciting series to come east and race has to be the USAC AmsOil National Sprint Car Series, which makes its 8th annual Eastern Storm tour, beginning Tuesday, June 3, at Grandview Speedway with the Jesse Hockett Memorial.
Included are five events, including Grandview, Lincoln Speedway, Wednesday, June 4; New Egypt Speedway, Thursday, June 5; Port Royal Speedway Saturday, June 7 and Susquehanna Speedway Sunday, June 8. The ARDC midgets will join the stars of USAC at Grandview and New Egypt, and the URC sprint cars will share the card at Lincoln.
The top names of USAC are expected to make the Eastern Storm swing including the top five in the 2014 points chase: Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, Bryan Clauson, Tracy Hines and Chase Stockton.
Do yourself a favor and get out to see a wingless sprint car show during the Eastern Storm. It really is an awesome show.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Numidia Dragway hosted a special show, presenting the Bob Mackey Memorial in the street eliminator class. Picking up the popular win on Saturday was his son, Mike of Paxinos. Shamokin's Jeff Krushinskie grabbed the win in Monday's $5,000 Foot Brake Shootout.
In racing action around the area this weekend, many tracks look to rebound after weather conditions wiped out last weekend's programs. Big Diamond Speedway hosts a five division show tonight featuring the DIRTcar 358 modifieds, sportsman, roadrunners, limited late models and an outlaw enduro series event....Williams Grove has action planned for tonight and Saturday. The 358 and 410 sprint cars share the card tonight, and the popular Saturday Night Series of winged super sportsman, limited late models and street stocks take to the Mechanicsburg oval tomorrow night....Selinsgrove Speedway returns to action Saturday with the 13th Annual Pro Stock 20 along with the 360 sprint cars, late models and roadrunners....Port Royal is in action Saturday night with 410 sprint cars, 355 late models, extreme stocks and All American Outlaw stock cars. The Juniata County oval returns to action on Monday night as part of the Appalachian Mountain Late Model Speedweek Series, with the super late models and limited late models.
Grandview Speedway hosts a three-division show of NASCAR 358 modifieds, sportsman and limited late models....Lincoln Speedway features the 358 and 410 sprint cars along with the 4 cylinder stock cars....Also on Saturday, Mahoning Valley Speedway presents twin-30's for the modifieds. also in action at the tight 1/4-mile asphalt track will be the late models, street stocks, dirt modifieds, pro 4 cylinders stocks and hobby stocks.
(Kaminski covers auto racing
for The News-Item)