That trend is about to change. The normally cool temperatures in the Northeast in mid-September should have Pro category crew chiefs hungry for a return to the exciting numbers that were produced on the track from February to May. No doubt, teams will have their machines set for maximum performance.

Gary Scelzi

Not only will national and track-record performances be in the spotlight at the 15th annual True Value Hardware Keystone Nationals Sept. 16-19, but select teams will be tightly focused on their respective points chases.

Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Bike will feature intense battles between multiple drivers for Winston championship glory, and Funny Car competitors will be trying to reel in season-long standout John Force, who has produced a substantial lead behind the wheel of his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.

Gary Scelzi, Dean Skuza, Kurt Johnson, and Angelle Seeling are the defending winners at the $1.6 million race in their respective Professional categories. The Maple Grove Raceway event is the 17th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Scelzi, two-time defending Winston Top Fuel champion and driver of the Team Winston dragster, defeated Mike Dunn here last year in the final round and moved into the points lead for the first time of the season. Scelzi and Dunn will return to the Pennsylvania quarter-mile with championship implications surrounding the event. However, they have plenty of company in the title chase - Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta, and Doug Herbert are also top challengers for the Top Fuel championship.

Dean Skuza

Skuza, driver of the Matco Tools Dodge Avenger, claimed an emotional Funny Car win here one year ago, defeating childhood hero Force in a close final. Force has been the class of the category this season with eight victories, and his eyes are set on a ninth championship. Skuza, meanwhile, has yet to claim his first victory of the season. Whit Bazemore, Ron Capps, Scotty Cannon, and Del Worsham are candidates for victory.

Johnson, driver of the AC Delco Chevy Camaro, outran Mike Edwards for the last season's Pro Stock win. This season, Johnson is battling his father, Warren, for the Winston Pro Stock championship. With his win in Indy, W.J. has six victories; K.J. has three, and 209 points separate the Pro Stock points leaders. Other top contenders in this competitive category include two-time Winston champion Jim Yates, Richie Stevens, and Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Seeling, rider of the Team Winston Suzuki, claimed a popular Pro Stock Bike victory here last season when she cruised to the win over Matt Hines' Suzuki, which suffered mechanical problems at the starting line. Seeling leads the Pro Stock Bike standings this season with four victories. Championship challengers Antron Brown and U.S. Nationals winner Hines need a victory at the event to catch Seeling's points lead.

Fox Sports will televise two hours of final-round coverage and race highlights on Sept. 19 beginning at 5 p.m. (local time). SpeedVision will televise two hours of first-round coverage on Sept. 19 beginning at 2 p.m. (ET) and one hour of qualifying highlights on Sept. 18 beginning at 8 p.m. (ET).