Top Fuel racer Andy Carter (centre) is pictured with (from left) wife Sarah, Callum Swinchatt, Paul 'Guv' Wright, Chris Swinchatt and Martin Payne. Martin is the event promoter of the 2009 Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway. Andy said "We were a bit lost yesterday but I am pleased we ran a 4.89 to beat Timo Lehtimaki. We will try to repeat high 4.8s; I have Micke in the next round and while he can go fast I think with today's hot conditions that will be enough. If we meet Risto in the final the race will be important for us securing the championship." Andy did come up against Risto and problems for the Bad to the Bone car meant an easy go for Andy and the prospect of a fourth championship.

Pro Modified racer Bruno Bader qualified 7th with a 6.25 and went to the second round when he was defeated by Andy Robinson. He said "Earlier in the year we broke a lot of parts going quick. We are now looking to complete the season on the limited budget we have. We don't have a spare motor or heads and I am happy to run the engine rich to save parts. We are pleased with the weekend because we only managed one run here last year."

Pro Modified racer Norbert Kuno qualified 13th with a 6.53 and beat Marc Meihuizen in the first round of racing with a 6.29. A red light on a gamble with the tree in round two finished the race weekend for the German racer.

Top Fuel racer Urs Erbacher came good in the night show after some engine damage and other problems in qualifying, running a best for the weekend of 4.948 in the darkness, at lower air temperature than his other runs. His no.5 qualifying position put him against Risto Poutiainen in round one and in that race smoke at the 200ft spelt the end of his race.

Top Fuel racer Risto Poutiainen became the only real championship challenger to Andy Carter after reaching the final. Risto defeated Urs Erbacher in round one and Janne Ahonen in the semi final, running consistent and clean low five second times. Transmission problems prevented Risto from starting in the final.

Top Fuel racer Micke K˚gered located problems in the ignition system before this weekend's race. An ignition box failed under heat resulting in motor damage. Once the parts had been changed, Micke went on to qualify third with a 4.916 in the final session after problems in the earlier sessions. A 5.04 defeated Lex Joon in round one but Micke suffered a broken blower belt in the semi final against Andy Carter. Micke's regular sponsors are joined by Volkswagen.

Top Fuel racer and Eurodragster blogger Lex Joon has suffered from playing 'catch-up' after missing rounds early in the season. Difficulties in dialling into the track continued in eliminations as another tyre smoke-filled run in the previously-oiled right lane against Micke K˚gered in round one spelt the end of this event for the 2008 event winner.

Top Fuel racer Stig Neergaard was no.1 qualifier with a 4.850 and also ran a 5.089 in the spare car with a different fuel setup. Whatever luck Stig had yesterday disappeared early today as the John Smith-tuned car broke a blower belt and he lost to Janne Ahonen by only 0.888s in round one.

Competition Eliminator racer Robin Sattler races an F/D with this injected Ford Cosworth engine, Browell bellhousing and Liberty gearbox. Without other power assists, Robin has the car running in the low sevens, a 9.102 here being well under the 9.60 class index. The twenty year old's PB is 8.93.

Top Fuel racer Janne Ahonen may run a limited schedule but more experienced racers in the class are impressed by his reactions, honed in years of being Ski Jumping champion and also racing in Competition Eliminator with Eagle Racing. At this event he ran a 5.165 to get in the field and defeated Stig Neergaard on a holeshot in round one.

Nitro bikes are running a Cannonball style race with three qualifying sessions and the quickest aggregate Top Fuel Bike meeting the quickest Super Twin racer in the final. Ian King ran 6.296, 6.348 and 6.451 to be the quickest Top Fuel bike. He said "We have been running consistently although we are finding the track slippery in the heat and are spinning the tyre until 3/4 track and the bike is not picking up the front wheel on the launch. We don't want to step up and in the next race in Hungary the track is an unknown quantity and we just want to be able to run a six reliably." Against Ian was Lorenz Stauble who could not start leaving Ian to single for the title.

Pro Mod racer Micke Lindahl said "The car is going well but the clutch is a little loose. Not in my dreams would I have ever imagined the incident we suffered yesterday as the wheelie bar entered the driver's cockpit close to the pedals. Many thanks to Andy Robinson for helping to mend the steering tie rod." In the semi final Micke was against Mats Eriksson who has been the class's star performer in the last two races. Unfortunately for Mats, his oil pressure guage gave a false low reading and he decided to shut off rather than risk losing an engine. So 6.2s won the day for the Kendall Oil team.

Pro Mod racer Rolf Amman suffered damage in hitting the wall in an incident similar to a previous one at Santa Pod. Rolf is investigating with Andy Robinson whether repairs are feasible before the European Finals.

Top Methanol Funny Car racer Jarmo Kuutniemi was pleased to run a new personal best of 5.79. "The car is running quick but is not so reliable and we have had a problem with the burst panel and a broken fuel pump outlet. We have fixed that and are ready." Jarmo met Danny Bellio in the semi final.

Top Methanol Funny Car racer Jurgen Nagel suffered an engine rod failure which windowed the block on both sides so that you could see right through.

Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dan Larsen who was the event winner in a close race with Danny Bellio said "The car feels good and it is important for the championship that we defeat Ulf in the semi final." Dan was running consistent 5.8s this event and is happy that the new car is now dialled in.

Top Methanol Funny Car racer Danny Bellio reached the final but came up short against Dan when he red lit to a 6.09. "This event started off badly but we have been getting better and better ttimes. We had a lot of steering problems and shake and completely changed the setup which produced a 5.9 on the first full pass. Thanks to Ulf Leanders for lending us the wheels that he ran 5.66 on a few years ago, and to Dan Larsen for help repairing our body. We are looking forward to the Finals."

Pro Stock racer Jimmy Ålund said "It is not easy getting multiple championships. The team work incredibly hard and I can't miss a thing against Malmgren and Nixxon. The track is in excellent shape and although I could use a better startline, it is perfect from 40ft onwards. Today is not weather for high horsepower and records require cooler conditions." As to the fifth championship Jimmy is close. "Some say we have almost clinched it but we run race by race and just want to win all of them. Thanks to Bob Ingles for providing me with fantastic engines since I started in Pro Stock.

Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren said "We are not far off where we want to be. Our main problem is we do not have a computer graph from round one. The second round is the most important of the year for us. We are just as good as Nixxon and Jimmy in the second half of the track but the 60ft is the problem. the left lane is better but Nixxon has lane choice." That lane choice proved decisive as Michael was defeated by Richard Sundblom who went on to be runner up.

Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson was runner up after an event that left him in the championship lead by a couple of rounds. "Our semi final is against Urban and he has stepped up so we are not taking him lightly", said team member Jerry Clayton. "The car has aged gracefully (like the driver) and we can do a number if we want to. If necessary we will rely on a driving job and give it our best shot."

Pro Mod racer Marc Meihuizen suffered damage from the startline incident involving three cars yesterday. "The wheelie bar had to be cut free and many thanks to Andy Robinson for repairing the front bulkhead - he is phenomenal. On our next run we had an engine explosion at 150m. There was no warning and it was a bad one, the block was completely destroyed and wrist pins from the pistons were in the sump. Financially we cannot make to to the Euro Finals but we will regroup and come back next year. This is a beautiful car but I have only made 13 runs and it is getting expensive."

Pro Mod racer Robert Koper had two PBs of 6.5s this weekend after solving electrical problems. Crew chief Edwin Elzingu said "We have the potential to run 6.2 and have had a lot of help from trevor Graves this weekend in setting the car up. We plan to run the whole series with the exception of Alastaro next year." Edwin also mentioned that fellow Dutch Pro Mod team of David Vegter is being supported by MPM Oil who are big supporters of the sport and hosted 400 guests this weekend.

Top Methanol Funny Car racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Ulf Leanders said "We have a little iginition timing issue. We shook the tyres and the engine did not run well down the track which affected the clutch action. A spark plug was burnt which affected a piston and ring which we will replace although they weren't burnt themselves. Our run against Dan is a repeat of the final from Mantorp.

This new Camaro in Pro Modified, which did not make a run, is from team G-Force Helvetic. The car was bought from Ike Maier in Ontario, Canada.

Top Methanol Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn's bad luck continued when there was a glitch in the christmas tree. "Timo's pre-stage light stayed on after he had reversed through the beams and Werner Habermann asked us to shut off for the issue and the starter then got involved. Restarting an A Fueler is quite complex as you have to get all the nitro out by 'windmilling' it and changing the plugs. We tried to come back but after we serviced the car we had no oil pressure and couldn't get it sorted in time. So Timo got the bye. It has been quite an expensive year. This weekend the motor broke a wrist pin and we had to replace pistons, the cam and two cylinder liners. We had some carnage early in the season as well as we are getting used to running the A-Fueler. We are still unbeaten in eliminations!"

Top Methanol Dragster racer Dennis Habermann (left), pictured with crewman Shaun Ward, back after active service in Afghanistan, said "As I only qualified no.8 I knew I had to cut a good light in round one. I was only five thousandths too early and it was my first red light in competition. Timo waited as long as he could for the restart and now it is important that he gets into the final to defend his points lead.

Pro Mod racer Mats Eriksson said "I am pleased to be the first into the 6.0s in Europe. The car was not so fast away from the start line and we did not adjust it specially for the record. I just tried to shift more aggressively at higher rpms. There may be a problem with the right lane start line lights as I was waiting for the yellow and still getting reactions of five or six 100ths; it is too easy to get good reaction times. The race director asked if we wanted to re-run but we decided against it as a class. The next race against Micke Lindahl is important for the championship." Mats had to shut off after the burnout when the oil pressure guage gave a false reading, depriving him of the final round appearance.

Top Fuel winner Andy Carter with his team after the win. He said "I was delighted with the weekend which gave me a fourth championship subject to appearing at the Finals." You will be able to read an exclusive Q&A feature with Andy shortly on Eurodragster.com.

Pro Stock bike racer Bousinis Haralambos from Thessaloniki, Greece rode his 1640cc Suzuki GSXR to a qualifying time of 7.724/281.79kph making him no.2 . In round one he faces Lionel Lalague from France, qualified 15th. Bousinis has been on the UEM PSB Bike scene including the Veidec Festival in 2007 and 2008.

Pro Stock bike racer Savvas Tilsisoglou also from Greece is qualified 7th on his Athanis Suzuki 1500cc with a 7.996/267.62 . He is up against Eric Richard from France.

Super Street Bike racer Garry Bowe was through to round two with eight other British riders. He is against Mogens Lund of Denmark who qualified 21st. Garry has been running 7.7s this weekend

Super Street Bike racer Rick Stubbins is also through to round two of the 32 bike eliminator. Rick qualified no.2 with a 7.442/314kph. British bikes occupied nine of the top twelve qualifying slots.

Super Street Bike racer Charly Anasagasti from Zwolle, Holland qualified 15th with 8.38/286kph on his 1999 Hayabusa and is against no. 18 qualifier Stefan Hagenstein from Germany in round two.

Manuel Kreiter runs this unusual Pontiac Chieftan in the Public Race. The car runs in the German Street Eliminator championship.

Super Comp racer René Ehrismann from Switzerland runs a '67 Camaro with a 360cu in SBC engine with nitrous and meets Marina Andersson in round two. René is part of Team Orangli and more information on the car is on their web site. .

Super Comp racer Marina Andersson won the Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award with a perfect 8.900. Marina who came through the Junior Dragster ranks is from Malmo, Sweden and is twenty years old. She races a Mullis Racecars dragster with a 548cu in Chevy.

Super Comp racer Christophe Dubois runs this Probe and faces Peter Ellguth from Germany in round two. The final round of the French drag racing championship at Malbouhans on 11/12/13 september 2009. Malbouhans is near Belfort and Mulhouse, close to Germany and Switzerland and more details on the French series are at their web site. .

Super Comp racer André Müller races this ex-Jegs Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 616cu in engine. André is part of Drag Racing Team Potsdam and more details on the team are at this web site. .