The racing weekend that was

In NHRA:
Everybody loves Vegas, especially Robert Hight (F/C), Spencer Massey (T/F) and Allen Johnson (P/S) after this weekends' races at the strip.

Robert Hight drove his Ford to a win over Bob Tasca III to earn his 26th career victory with a 4.154 at 312.93 mph.

Top Fuel teammates Spencer Massey and Antron Brown met each other in the finals with Massey taking the win light with a 3.83 at 323.89 mph in his Fram sponsored dragster. Runner-up Brown now leads the series while Massey's win propelled him to third in the points.

The BK boys started the season with a bang and Line qualified #1, but that all ended with an all-Dodge Pro Stock final, when Allen Johnson defeated Vincent Nobile with a 6.648 at 207.3 mph. This is Johnson's tenth career win. Both Johnson and Nobile use engines by Roy Johnson (Allen's father).

Erica Enders had her best race of the season but lost to the eventual winner in the Pro Stock semi-finals. She has been beating everybody on the tree though! It is just a matter of time!

The next race is scheduled for April 13-15 at Charlotte, N.C., with the always exciting Four-Wide racing.

In ADRL:

A couple of first time champs dominate at the season's first ADRL event, the CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII. Here follows the first-time winners list:

Rickie Jones (Pro Nitrous),
Alan Pittman (Extreme 10.5),
Casey Stemper (Pro Extreme Motorcycle),
John Pluchino (Extreme Pro Stock),
Marco Abrussi (Top Sportsman),
Mike Castellana (Pro Mod).

The new and revolutionary SuperCar class made its debut and was an instant hit with the fans. Bo Butner went 5.862 at 119.46 in his Ford Mustang.

Next race: April 20-21 at Bristol Dragway.

In NASCAR:

What a race! Longtime race leader Jeff Gordon ran out of fuel following the first attempt at a green-white chequered flag when Clint Bowyer "dive-bombed" down the inside line and took out Jimmie Johnson.
The wreck resulted in several drivers with cut tires, spins or wrecking into the wall, including Kyle and Kurt Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, Travis Kvapil and Dave Blaney.

At the end, Ryan Newman emerged victorious at the end of the 500 laps at Martinsville Speedway. To go to a race recap video, please click here.

Next race: April 14 in Texas, Sat 7 pm on FOX

In WRC:

Mikko Hirvonen wins the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, but after scrutineers find irregularities he is disqualified. Pending his appeal, Ford privateer Mads Ostberg is named the winner.

The scrutineers found differences in the car's clutch and turbo. However, Yves Matton, the teams's race director, claims the penalty handed down was too severe and is appealing the decision.

For the highlights video of this race, please click here.  In the words of a driver, "so much mud... so much fog."  Lots of slipping and sliding. Don't miss it!

Thanks for reading.

Source: NHRA, Fast doorslammers.com, ADRL, Nascar, Crash.net.