With his win at the recent Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Reading, Frank Manzo (pictured) clinched his ninth career national championship in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Manzo completed a nearly perfect season with nine wins and one runner-up finish in 10 points-claiming races. Alan Bradshaw, driver of Randy Meyer's injected fuel dragster, joined Manzo as a national champion in Top Alcohol Dragster.

The current leader in Comp is Doug Engels with 597 points, followed closely by Santo Volpe, driver of Norm Laricca's A/SR. Engels has already claimed his allotment of races, and Volpe may earn points at one national event and the final Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Las Vegas. Other drivers still with a title chance in Comp include Dean Carter, Tom Schmidt, Mike Farrell, and former Super Gas driver Jack Slagle.

The battle for the Super Stock title is down to two drivers, both former champions. Peter Biondo is the current favorite, but Jimmy DeFrank can catch him with a strong showing at the final three events of the 2003 season.

Likewise, two drivers remain in Stock: reigning and two-time national champ Kevin Helms, the current leader, and fellow Texan Jeff Hefler. Helms currently has a commanding lead, though Hefler may claim points at all three remaining races.

Super Comp remains wide open among at least a dozen drivers who have a mathematical chance of overtaking current points leader Gary Stinnett. Among those drivers are former champ Mike Henderson and Anthony Castillo, who is currently second.

Bryan Robinson has led the Super Gas points for the last few months, and he currently enjoys a significant lead over second-place Jim Smulligan, but the battle is far from over. Nine drivers remain alive, among them Billy Torrence, Larry Scarth, and reigning champ Todd Stewart.