I'll do my weekly  "Feedback Friday" edition of the blog tomorrow...  Those who come here daily to read this blog exclusively seeking only drag racing related content, you'll have to excuse me today, I just have to comment about what just happened in an Arizona court.  It's pretty screwed up that jurors who spent five months determining that Jodi Arias is guilty of murder, deadlocked when it came time to decide whether she should get life in prison or the death sentence for brutally killing her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, some five years ago. Having the penalty phase result in a mistrial means that prosecutors have to go back to the drawing board to rehash this phase of the case to another group of 12 jurors-- Yep, 12 brand new jurors must be selected, and the penalty phase must be completely retried. This means that Travis Alexander's family has to go through more callous courtroom grief, seeing all the gruesome photos and evidence again, hearing the twisted tales of this morbid murder, absorbing all the ghastly details that make up this genuinely disturbing and macabre case-- It's not fair to them... Look, I know that our justice system here in America, while not completely flawless, is still overall the fairest and most practical in the civilized world, I get that, however, forcing the victim's family to have to endure more horrid heart wrenching emotional pain, and making taxpayers shell out another couple million bucks (or more) in order to start the penalty phase from scratch again seems wrong... Do I personally have a solution to avoid the penalty phase of this case from having to be completely done over? No, I don't, but I do believe that some of the better minds of our criminal justice system should sit down, think long and hard, and come up with one... 

While watching the Jodi Arias trial on TV, Drag Racing Underground's John Gill drew this somewhat unflattering rendering of her. The jury deadlocked on whether she should receive a life term or death sentence for killing Travis Alexander. Now an entirely new jury must be assembled and the penalty phase must be completely done over. It's this journalist's humble opinion that Travis Alexander's family doesn't deserve this additional grief and pain imposed upon their already emotionally distraught souls.

Everyone deserves a fair trial,  I believe that's the way it should be, but I also believe that we should be more considerate of the feelings and mental health of the victim's surviving family members.

Well folks, it's almost here! It's coming NEXT WEEK! The high-horsepower hoopla of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to my home track, historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 30-June 2. The race, which will be televised on ESPN2HD, is the ninth of 24 events in the 2013 season. This wholesome family-friendly and tradition-rich event includes a special offer: Kids 12 and younger will be allowed FREE into general-admission areas with a paid adult.This means that you can introduce your young children to the world of drag racing, a sport that encourages "critical" and "scientific" thinking in their impressionable brains for FREE-- Taking young kids to the drags helps them get the wheels of their minds rapidly turning as they watch the big slicks on the cars rapidly turning at phenomenal speeds, this sort of activity causes many kids to contemplate the mechanical wonderment and innovation of the sport-- Taking a kid to the drags will often spark the kind of mind stimulation that can lead them to pursuing careers in the sciences and engineering fields-- And not to mention the fact that going to the drags is also a heck of a lot of FUN!!... The Summernationals will be an important race for teams that are battling to make the top 10 and qualify for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship because it is the official midpoint in the NHRA Mello Yello Series regular season. The best in professional and sportsman racers will be battling for points, big bucks and bragging rights. If you haven't done so already, make plans now to bring your family to Raceway Park for the 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals!-- BE THERE!!...  For more information visit www.racewaypark.com


It's comin' at ya NEXT WEEK! The 44th annual NHRA Summernationals, May 30-June 2 at Raceway Park. Children 12 and younger will be allowed FREE into general admission areas with a paid adult. Bring your kids to the drags and watch their eyes light up in wonderment as their brains become stimulated with all the scientific & engineering astonishment surrounding them!

Get those young impressionable minds thinking about science at the upcoming NHRA Toyota Summernationals!

Today we have the trusty Stephanie substituting for The Doc. At this time Doc is occupied with her Big Stick related recording responsibilities. We believe Doc will hopefully be back on the clock for tomorrow's blog. Please enjoy Stephanie's Snapshot of the Day... This installment features a photo from my boss's "Elite Automotive Glamour Photography" collection, that is a sideline business of her's here at Drag Racing Underground. Doc's not only a talented musician, artist and respected drag racing journalist, she's also become a critically acclaimed automotive glamour photographer over the last few years too. This is a beautiful 1955 Chevy Bel Air that she shot for a client in a scenic environment. If you'd like your drag car, hot rod, or custom car photographed by Doc, you can use the "Contact Us" link at the top of the page to write her. Sure, it cost money to have your car get this ultra-premium photographic treatment, but it's well worth it because your ride will be preserved forever in spectacular photos for posterity. Doc only takes on a a very limited number of clients each summer season (only about 4 or 5 clients for this summer because she's so busy with other business obligations), so if you're interested, I strongly suggest that you act now.



A photo taken by my boss "Doc" of a beautiful '55 Chevy Bel Air as part of her "Elite Automotive Glamour Photography" sideline here at Drag Racing Underground. You can see more of her pristine photography work by clicking on the "Photo Gallery" link at the top of this page.

Photo by Doc as part of her critically acclaimed Elite Automotive Glamour Photography series.

Oklahoma is a place that's truly dear to my heart. The monstrous tornadoes that just roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs caused unimaginable death and destruction. When touring with my music thing (Big Stick), I've played the Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-- I'm not exaggerating when I say that the folks in Oklahoma are among the friendliest, selfless, and most humble and accommodating people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting during all my travels. The people are so genuinely hospitable. When you're in Oklahoma, the folks who live there make you feel like you're right at home. The great folks of Oklahoma definitely aren't deserving of the hellish grief that they're now being forced to endure. Block after block have been flattened by brutal tornado winds reported to have reached 200 miles per hour... Children in schools are now gone, officials say the death toll keeps rising, all the fatalities and injuries are difficult to comprehend, for those directly affected, it must be so terribly traumatic. All this devastation has my thoughts and prayers directed to all the good people of Oklahoma. All you Oklahomans reading this have my sincere and deepest of sympathy-- I hope with all my heart that you can muster the strength to endure and get through this tragedy. Please try to keep your sanity so that eventually you can return to some form of normalcy. I am so sorry for your loss and pain, so sorry... Please try to hang in there...

A photograph from far better times for the good people of Oklahoma. This is the DIAMOND BALLROOM in Oklahoma City. I performed here with Big Stick, and I can honestly say that the folks from these parts are among the friendliest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. They don't deserve the grief they're currently having to go through. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those dealing with extreme hardship in Oklahoma. I am so sincerely sorry for your loss and pain.

Diamond Ballroom of Oklahoma City photograph from the Big Stick photo archives.

I was asked by my friends in Red Bank, NJ, to help spread the word about a couple of shows coming up this Summer at the Count Basie Theatre... First of all, on Saturday, June 22nd at 8pm, it's The Fab Faux with The Hogshead Horns & the Creme Tangerine Strings performing The White Album. I know what some skeptics are thinking, Oh Lord! Another Beatles cover band?!-- Well, I assure you that this outfit is probably the best "true to form" representation of the orig "Fab Four" (They successfully replicate every sound and nuance of The Beatles' music) , and they feature our friend and Big Stick guest horn player Tom Timko (Tom plays on our upcoming Big Stick LP)-- And heck, The Beatles' White Album is a pretty decent piece of work... Then on Friday, June 28th, David Byrne & St. Vincent roll into the Count Basie Theatre to perform. David Byrne is well known as the guy who co-founded the Talking Heads. St. Vincent began her music career as a member of The Polyphonic Spree and was also part of Sufjan Stevens' touring band before forming her own band in 2006. She released her debut album "Marry Me" in 2007. In 20012 Byrne and St. Vincent released "Love This Giant". They are an incredible duo with an ultra-talented ensemble of musicians. The Count Basie Theatre is located at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, NJ... And now a quick Big Stick update-- Yours truly was in the studio yesterday, where I recorded a brand new drum track for a song that we're going to be bringing in guest vocalist Groovie Mann from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult to perform on. We toured with "Groovie" and the band several years ago and became good friends. Groovie Mann is one of my all time fave voices (and people) in the music world. (I'm sure lots of folks remember their mainstream hit "Sex On Wheels" and their appearance in the orig "The Crow" movie). I also told you recently that we recorded a new track with Jerry A from Poison Idea. And of course other guest musicians on our upcoming LP include Fred Schneider from the B-52s, Johnny Kelly from Type O Negative, Paula Henderson, Dave Smoota Smith, Tom Timko and a host of other talented people...


David Byrne & St. Vincent will be bringing their refreshing brand of music to the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ on Friday June 28th. I also tell you about The Fab Faux with The Hogshead Horns & the Creme Tangerine Strings coming to the venue. Plus I give you a brief Big Stick update. It's all in today's special "all music" edition of my blog.

These two ultra talented chums are coming to The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank NJ. Can't wait to see them.

On occasion I like to discuss a very important aspect of drag racing that doesn't always make it to the forefront of "casual" drag racing related conversation... I'm talkin' about safety. It's a topic that for some reason makes some folks "uncomfortable", I'm not sure why that is, maybe it's not "Fun" enough of a topic for 'em, I dunno-- But truth be told, it's a subject that's important to me, as well as important to many people in this business who take their drag racing seriously... One thing that I often stress to drivers is the importance of doing everything humanly possible to STAY IN YOUR LANE. Anyone familiar with the great Carol "Bunny" Burkett's Funny Car incident back in September of 1995 knows that when a car "switches lanes" the results can be devastating. When Carol's competitor swerved out of his lane and bumped her car, it resulted in her crashing and sustaining very serious injuries... That said, I want to express how proud I am of Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett for what she did after accidentally getting out of her lane during qualifying at this weekend's NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka... Leah publicly addressed the incident on the ESPN2 broadcast, and for that I give her oodles of credit. Leah swerved frightfully close to Steve Torrence when her dragster switched lanes and wound up directly behind his. Leah publicly said that instead of keeping her focus on "looking straight ahead and down track" like you're supposed to do as a driver, she changed her field of vision for a slight microsecond to focusing on the cones, and that's when she dangerously moved into the wrong lane right behind Torrence... Thankfully she didn't hit him (she was just inches behind him)-- And I'm sure that she'll never do that again... I certainly commend Leah for admitting in public her driving error and bringing attention to the importance of drivers making every effort possible to stay in their lane. Hopefully more drivers got the message and it will result in safer racing in the future. I know that "Bunny" would be proud of Leah for humbling herself by admitting her error and speaking up about it-- I know that a less courageous and morally compromised (or embarrassed) driver would have simply shrugged their shoulders and said something dumb like, "Uh, I dunno what happened, the car just moved on me." (Duh)--- I'm definitely proud of Pruett for doing the right thing by properly addressing the incident and putting it out there publicly for the drag racing community to digest and learn from... Leah Pruett's a class act... 

Drag Strips are two lanes and drivers should do everything humanly possible to stay in their respective lane and out of their opponent's path. That's the important topic I frankly discuss in today's "strip smart" and safety consciousness blog...

Photo by yours truly. From the Drag Racing Underground video and image archives. Now the largest in the world.

For all my racing readers who are local to my neck of the woods, please be advised that due to facility upgrades required for the upcoming 44th Annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park will be closed for 1/4 Mile Drag Racing today, Saturday, May 18th. The fine folks at E'Town apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and look forward to seeing everyone when Drag Racing re-opens tomorrow, Sunday, May 19th... For all my readers who reside in the swell state of Michigan, I want to take this opportunity to give you a heads-up regarding some important info that was recently brought to my attention by Jim Matuszak, my friend who owns the thoroughly restored Ramchargers Demon Funny Car that I told you about a short time back. Jim says that he'll have the fabulous Ramchargers flopper on display at the 25th Annual Lane Automotive Car Show on Saturday, May 25th. This incredible gathering of muscled-up high performance machinery happens at the Lane Automotive Grounds, I-94 Exit 41 in Watervliet Michigan. The show starts at 9:00 AM and runs until 3:00 PM. The Car Show includes an Engine Builder Challenge, Nitro Noise Fest, Manufacturer's Marketplace, and Facility Tours. Lots of cars, spectators and FUN! Please do not bring pets or alcohol. If you're in the area don't miss this chance to see this raucous Ramchargers car with your own peepers, it's an unbelievably pristine restoration of drag racing history. The 25th Annual Lane Automotive Car Show is always a bona-fide blast for the entire family. For more information please visit www.laneautomotive.com 

See this dastardly Ramchargers Demon Funny Car in all its perfectly pristine restored beauty at the 25th Annual Lane Automotive Car Show on Saturday, May 25th, and please don't forget that it will ALSO be appearing at the National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY on June 13th to 15th!!... I strongly recommend both events for providing fulfilling family fun.

Photo by Tom Fedrigo.

Today is "FEEDBACK FRIDAY", meaning I deal with emails that my assistant Stephanie and I receive from readers regarding my most recent blogs... Let's get right to your feedback... This is sort of a monumental day, because In regards to my recent blog titled "SANDY RECOVERY NEED LESS "SHOWBIZ" & "PHOTO OPS" AND MORE "REAL HELP" FOR "REAL PEOPLE", the blog where I made a point of insisting that Hurricane Sandy victims in "low profile" New Jersey towns like Sayreville and South River are just as desperately in need and deserving of government help as the "high profile" places like Seaside Heights, well, evidently somebody was listening, 'cause it was just announced yesterday morning that both Sayreville's AND South River's Sandy victims will now get government buy-outs for their decimated and unsellable homes!  Eugene from Sayreville wrote me last night and said, "Dearest Doc, I don't know how to thank you for writing your compelling argument for us forgotten and little people of Sayreville. I had all my friends and employees copy your editorial and email it to every possible politician, including the governor in Trenton (Trenton is New Jersey's State Capital). I also had my kids go door to door and give a copy of your editorial to each one of my neighbors, asking them to do the same. I believe your editorial was instrumental in getting Trenton to change their mind and finally come through with the buy outs for us little people, because it did get an immediate response from several Trenton bureaucrats. The residents of Sayreville are forever thankful for your strong advocacy! You are a real life saver!"--  Eugene, I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that you folks in Sayreville are now going to receive the attention and financial relief you justly deserve. I've been advocating, along with a close attorney friend of mine to get those politicians in Trenton to do the right thing, I am so thankful that justice will now prevail!... My blog promoting the upcoming E'Town GM SHOW & GO event (June 8th & 9th) prompted this response from Richy in Neptune, NJ, "Doc, I'll be bringing my Buick to the GM race. Thanks for letting us know about it."-- You're welcome, Richy. I am sure Raceway Park is going to make this shindig a fine celebration of GM high performance machinery... Keep those emails comin' (by using the "Contact Us" link atop the page), whether you agree or disagree with my opinions, I'm genuinely interested in your feedback... I just ask that you please keep your emails short and to the point, no rambling please, and please also include where you're from, I often find the location of where folks are writing me from to be sort of interesting. If you want to remain anonymous you can do that too (just write that you want to remain anonymous in the body of your email, and I won't disclose your identity in the event I choose to make a reference to your particular opinion)... Thanks...

 It's "FEEDBACK FRIDAY" here at DRAG RACING UNDERGROUND. That means I print excerpts from some of the emails that you readers write in with. I always appreciate you folks who sit down at your keyboard and type me your thoughts and opinions.

Illustration courtesy of Drag Racing Underground's John Gill. Copyright 2013

Whenever I post a blog about my neigbors suffering in the aftermath of what happened in this area as a result of Hurricane Sandy, I realize and acknowledge that there's folks who read this blog regularly from other parts of the country (and world) who have their own problems that "Mother Nature" has unceremoniously delivered to their doorsteps... Today I'd like to show some compassion for my readers in North Texas who experienced a terrible onslaught of strong tornadoes last night. Residents in Hood, Tarrant, Dallas and Parker counties were pummeled by the incredible force of merciless tornadoes that were "hopscotching" through their region... It's believed that at least six people died and hundreds of others were injured. In the town of Granbury, it's reported that homes were flattened while families were inside. I've toured through Texas with Big Stick and made a lot of friends there. All you people and your families in North Texas affected by this tragedy are in my thoughts and prayers...

Natural disasters strike all over our country and globe. We need to have compassion for victims of these disasters whether they're our neighbors or from parts far away. We're all in this together. My heart goes out to the tornado victims of Texas.

What do cars manufactured under the brand names Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac and Oldsmobile all have in common? They're all brands that are part of the General Motors (GM) family of automobiles... Saturday and Sunday June 8th and June 9th Old Bridge Township Raceway Park presents the ALL GM SHOW & GO!!... That's right, a weekend of all GM cars showing off and going fast on the historic E'Town strip. On Saturday June 8th there's a huge car show and drag racing for muffled vehicles, then on Sunday June 9th there will be race classes for both muffled and unmuffled vehicles. There will be special challenge race classes including a BUICK QUICK 16. A special "Beat one opponent - Win a trophy" policy will be in full effect, and GIANT TROPHIES will be awarded to ALL drag winners and runner ups. Let's face it, the General Motors stable of cars are a big part of our nation's car culture, and that means you're going to see a whole lotta bold and beautiful GM machinery in the pits and on the strip at this very special event! It's going to be fast family fun for everyone! I highly recommend making plans to be part of this mammoth-sized celebration of GM high performance. For more information please visit www.racewaypark.com


It's an all General Motors celebration at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park's ALL GM SHOW & GO on Saturday and Sunday June 8th & 9th. Lots of bold and beautiful GM cars will be packing the pits and storming the strip. You'll see "Big Oldsmobiles Comin' At Ya!" like this classy beauty and much, much more.

Photo of this fabulous Oldsmobile 442 by yours truly. From my elite automotive glamour photography series.