Boise, Idaho. One of Idaho’s largest and oldest sporting events—the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals returns August 13-16, 2009, to Firebird Raceway. Over 400 racers and nearly 50 professional teams are anticipated for the 38 year old major event racing for a combined purse topping a record $182,000 in professional and sportsman prize money.This is also the second leg of the 2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Top Fuel points chase.

Making the long trip to Idaho will be the reigning NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series top fuel champion, Troy Green and the High Speed Motorsports car and current points leader, Brett Harris in the Nitro Thunder entry. Other entrants include the 2008 CHRR winner Rick White in the San Diego based Neal & White car, Jim Murphy in his WW2 Racing entry, Adam Sorokin in the Champion Speed Shop - RB Entertainment Chevy powered "Batmobile", James Gay in Butch Blair's "Fugowie", Mike McClennan in the Mike Fuller Motorsports fueler, and Mark Malde in the Burky Bunch.

New for 2009, the 16-car field will qualify on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Then for the first time in the history of the Nightfire, the dramatic first round of both Top Fuel and Funny Car will take center-stage on Saturday night in conjunction with the Key Bank Saturday Night Thunder. Eliminations will continue to completion into Sunday afternoon and evening.

More information at Firebird Raceway Online

GLENDORA, Calif. (March 23, 2009) - NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series officials announced today that a third event at Sacramento Raceway has been added to the 2009 schedule, while a new affiliate event has been added at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. In addition, it was announced today that the Top Fuel class has been dropped from the Las Vegas Speed Spectacular.
The Top Fuel class event that was dropped from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway event in May will be replaced by a new event on the schedule -- the 40th annual Governor's Cup event at Sacramento Raceway, Sept. 18-19. The Las Vegas Speed Spectacular will continue to present points-earning competition for Groups 1 and 2.

"Due to difficulty in obtaining sponsorship for both the Top Fuel purse and the proper promotion of that category, we feel that it is in our best interest to further develop this event with Group 1 and 2 categories," said Chris Blair, vice president of racing operations, Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "We welcome any nostalgia groups that promote Top Fuel, Funny Car and exhibition category racing to join us for this event and we will work with them and their class supporters to further grow the sport.

"We hope that once the current economic situation improves we can take a major step forward to secure an event sponsor and feature both professional nostalgia nitro classes at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway."

While the Governor's Cup will feature a variety of classes, including Jet Funny Cars and Dragsters, Outlaw Pro Mods, Drag Bikes, CIFCA Funny Cars, 7.0 Pro, Top Eliminator, Top Sportsman, four Doorslammer Gas classes and the Big Bucks ET class, only competitors in Nostalgia Top Fuel can earn points toward the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series championship.

Famoso Dragway, 02-28-22: The second and final test session before the 2009 March Meet saw at least one team that seems more than ready to come out swing. Test driver, Sean Bellemeur ripped off the quickest pass of his career in the High Speed Motorsports Top Fuel car. His 5.78 at just 222 mph told Brett Johansen and the HSMS team what they needed to know. The 1000' run netted a 1.003 60' time and was going 206 at half track. Regular driver Troy Green will be in the car next weekend to defend his 2008 HHRS champion title.

Brad Thompson was in the seat of his new Thompson & Bless fueler for the first time since being released from the hospital last August following his horrific crash in the final round of the 2008 Boise Nightfire Nationals. Reports are that the object was to just make sure Brad was comfortable in the car and make some short squirts. The testing went well on the first count, but resulted in a banged blower on lap two. The game plan it to go for a full pass by the second qualifying session next Saturday.

Adam Sorokin and the RB Entertainment - Champion Speed Shop were out with their new "batmobile" Chevy powered digger. Apparently the car was very soft on the bottom and didn't perform as hoped. However, this is a whole new set up and most expect Bob McClennan to get a handle on it soon.

Mike Chrisman was back in John Rodeck's "Paso Posse" entry trying to upgrade his license to Top Fuel. Unfortunately Chrisman took out the cones on both runs Saturday but The Bulldog got his license passes out of the way on Sunday. He made two mid 6 second passes shutting off at 930 feet on the first and 1120 feet on the second (per instructions).