Nitro Dogs Racing

Justin Humphreys’ RaceRedi Motorsports Pro Stock team finds itself in a frustrating predicament, one that is not easily resolved. His Pontiac GXP is without race motors and, therefore, will not be competing at this weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX inTopeka.

Humphreys said Richard Maskin, who had been the engine supplier, “called us and said he didn’t want to do this anymore and asked us to send his engines back (from the team’s Maryland shop to

Detroit).  We had no forewarning … and we don’t have any other engines available to us, so we won’t be in

Topeka.”The dilemma comes at an inopportune time. Humphreys slipped out of the POWERade Series top 10 for the first time this year when the car’s performance faltered at the last two NHRA races (Madison and

Bristol) and he did not qualify. He is now 11th overall.“We only got down the track once [in four attempts] during qualifying at

Bristol [May 17],” added Humphreys. “We are looking for other alternatives. Good Pro Stock motors are in high demand, and there aren’t many available.”

UP DATE:  Justin Humphreys will be among the Pro Stock contingent at the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals Presented by Castrol GTX after all, thanks to an offer from Allen Johnson and Don Schumacher Racing. “We’ll definitely be at

Topeka,” said Humphreys, who 24 hours earlier had abandoned hope following the unexpected departure of the RaceRedi Motorsports team’s engine supplier. “Allen Johnson and his team are good friends of ours, and he and Schumacher Racing stepped up and offered us a ride in one of their Dodge Stratus R/Ts.  “They are good people, and we are excited to be able to work with them. We definitely appreciate it. It will be exciting to have the horsepower to run with everyone.”

The agreement, for now, is for the Summer Nationals and next week’s race in

Chicago. 

“This is a good thing for us,” added Humphreys, “because it gives us a chance to do what we need to do to keep earning points and get back in the top 10. And this gives us time to get another engine program for our Pontiac GXP.”

The second-year Pro Stock competitor and former NOPI and Sport Compact champion was a fixture in the top 10 through the first seven races, but he dropped out after two successive non-qualifying events.  He’s 11th with 296 points, 31 out of 10th place.  

“I’m just glad to be going to the races,” Humphreys concluded.