Swell. It’s supposed to be a scorching 102 degrees today in sunny SoCal, and the hills are ablaze with a wicked set of fires filling the air with ever-so-unhealthy levels of ash. At this point, escaping to the Midwest is vastly appealing, and O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis is waiting for our team with open arms, the promise of fresh air, and at least a 20-degree temperature drop. I love you Indy, I really do, and for so much more than your predicted cooler weather and non-life-threatening nitrogen/oxygen atmospheric blend.

I know that (age aside) I’m still a baby when it comes to the ND staffers, but this will be my third trip to the Big Go, and in the past two excursions, I have accumulated a rather diverse and pleasing plethora of memories. To be front-row center for history in the making never ceases to thrill me, and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil is known for monumental announcements and historical happenings. Last season, for instance, remember when Alan Johnson announced he would be leaving Don Schumacher Racing to partner with His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani to form Al-Anabi Racing in 2009? And then remember when Tony Schumacher, under the tune of Alan Johnson, drove the U.S. Army dragster to a sixth consecutive victory of the year and his seventh Indy win in nine seasons after struggling to even make the field on the first two qualifying passes? Oh, the excitement! We were up, we were down, and we were sitting on the edge of our seats there in the old Indy tower. It was downright exhilarating watching it all play out.

Four-time Indy winner and 14-time Funny Car world champion John Force missed the field last season, and he did so for the second year in a row. Not the most fun thing I’ve witnessed in Indy, but still pretty monumental. Adding insult to injury for the champ last season, all of the John Force Racing stable cars exited early except that of Robert Hight, who went the distance and brought home the trophy, his second U.S. Nationals victory for the venerable team in his third consecutive final round there. With Mr. Hight surprisingly fighting to secure a spot in the Countdown this year, his performance will be no less critical, and it will be every bit as thrilling to watch the drama unfold.

At last year’s event, I was lucky enough to stand at the top end with Jill McKenna from NHRA Marketing for the final round of Funny Car’s U.S. Smokeless Showdown. Balanced on the back of a golf cart was the oversized cardboard check for $100,000 that the victor would hold up for the flashing cameras, signifying the cold, hard cash for a winning effort. The names of the finalists were reverse-printed on stickers for easy application, and Jill held one possible winner’s sticker in her hands, and I held the other, poised and ready to secure in place as soon as we received word of the outcome. Cruz Pedregon beat Tim Wilkerson to claim the Showdown title, and I was remarkably impressed with the skill and efficiency with which Jill smoothed Pedregon’s name onto the big ol’ piece of cardboard. Seeing the whole process made me feel a little bit like the behind the scenes of a magic trick had been revealed, and the energy in those final moments before the name was smoothed onto the check was prickly with electricity and giant question marks hovering overhead: Who would emerge victorious?

I can’t wait to get out there and feel that electricity again. Though the Showdown won’t be held this year, there will be a winner in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle, and drivers will be racing for the Indy Wally in each of the Pro classes - plus seven Sportsman categories. Memories are waiting to be made, history is about to be written, and National DRAGSTER will be there to cover it all. Sweet!

I’m ready to ditch the sweltering and smoky West Coast and head to the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Let’s get this show on the road!