National Dragster: From The Director's Chair

We are nearly halfway through the 2005 calendar year, and things have just begun to happen in the Northeast Division. The Sony/PCRichard.com National Open Series events at Atco Raceway, Maple Grove Raceway, and Mason-Dixon Dragway have been completed, and we are looking forward to the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Maple Grove Raceway. Participation in the Sony/PCRichard.Com National Open Series has continued to grow, and Mother Nature has been fairly kind so far: Two of the three events had no weather issues. Unfortunately, the Mason-Dixon event wasn't completely dry, but those who didn't take a chance on the weather missed a fantastic event. Elmer and Cathy Wachter continue to make improvements to an already very nice facility. The growth in the sport has us convinced that we will have another tremendous year in the Northeast Division.

The Foxwoods Casino & Resort Top Sportsman program is also growing. So far, this year's winners (drivers of the fastest qualified car who have not already received the award) of an overnight stay and dinner at Foxwoods are Jose Garcia (Atco Raceway), John Prime (Maple Grove Raceway), and Tom Daras (Mason-Dixon Dragway).

Sunoco Top Stock has been well received by racers in A/, B/, and C/Stock as well as the fuel-injected classes of A and B. The class is run heads-up on a fivetenths Pro Tree based on 8.25 pounds per NHRA factored horsepower. At the Atco and Maple Grove Sony/PCRichard.com National Open events, Tom Baird and George Fitzpatrick took home the awards.

The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will begin Memorial Day weekend at Maple Grove Raceway, where Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car eliminations are set for Saturday. After the alcohol finals, Maple Grove will present a fireworks display. Based on last year's show, this year's should be fantastic.

The Northeast Division Bounty Hunter program will begin at the Maple Grove Lucas Oil event, where bounties will be placed on the 2004 NHRA Northeast Division champions. Drivers who defeat those racers will receive $100 from the program sponsors. If the driver with the bounty placed on him or her wins the event, the bounty will carry over to the next event, and $100 will be added. This year's sponsors are ATI Performance Products, Bob Newberry Racing, Boucher's Racing Engines, G-Force Transmissions/Long Shifters, Moduline Modular Aluminum Cabinets, Moroso Performance Products Inc., Precision Chassis, and Rydin Decal. Please remember these sponsors when considering purchases.

We have a new division logo, which has been incorporated into new division T-shirts and other memorabilia. The shirts have been ordered and will be for sale at Northeast Division events or the division office as soon as we receive them. Soon, hats, pins, and patches with the logo will also be available for purchase through the division office.

with Bob Lang, Northeast Division director