Everyone wants to be the 2005 NHRA Lucas Oil Champions or NHRA POWERade Champions. The defending T/F Champion Tony Schumacher, with Alan Johnson tuning, will be looking over his shoulder at the Kalitta Air Force, the Beer Wagons, Doug Herbert, Scott Weis, and David Baca. In testing, team Shoe had the quickest car again, but team Air Force was right there with them. Dick LaHaie and "son in law" Tim Richards will both have teams in contention, too!

Morgan Lucas and the Joe Amato Lucas Oil Machine team have joined forces with Doug Herbert’s Snap On Tools team. These two crew chiefs -- Wayne D. and Rob Flynn -- will be able to combine info, which should make both dragsters run better. The Lucas Oil Amato team has to be one of the hardest working groups in T/F. They are there in the pits first in the A.M. and the last to go home in the P.M.

Super Gas and Super Comp Racer "Hot Rod" Fuller in the David Powers team with Chris Russell calling the shots will be a car to watch. Could their combo be getting help from another team!

One thing we noticed during testing is that one team is running a different combo. Could it be the clutch or the fuel system? We know, but we were told to destroy the photos.

The Weis Family will debut a new look (it will fit right in at the beach!)

In AA/FC, the team to beat will be the defending 13 time NHRA Winston and POWERade Champion John Force Racing. Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly tried a few things during their two outings in testing. Robert Hight was very impressive during testing and Jimmy Prock has the AAA Ford Mustang Rocket Ship Thundering. Let’s not forget Eric Medlen and his Dad in the Castrol Syntec 'Stang.

The Pedregon Brothers seem to have a handle on their funny cars. Tony in the Quaker State Oil and Cruz in the Auto Zone Chevy Monte Carlos should be threats at every race. Cruz was the quickest at LVMS # 2 Last Chance Testing. Frankie did not do any testing in the ex John Lawson racing operation.

Team shoe with their fleet of funny cars. Gary Scelzi and Whit Bazemore welcomed new teammate Ron Capps to the team. Zippy had the Oakley machine running great at Firebird and Beard had Whit and ESPN’s Mike Dunn running well. The Ace had Capps and test driver Dale Pulde running well at Firebird also. Dale said, "Man I was going to hang up my helmet, but these cars drive like Mercedes Benz smooth. Now if I can get Plueger's car to drive like these cars!"

Jim Head purchased the last Dodge Stratus body that the Skuzas had and has a 2005 Stratus on order. Can we say goodbye to the Toyotas? On that note, Jerry Toliver is not on the entry list!

Team Snake with TJ, Jr. will have tuning calls made by Johnny West and Mike Green and the Skoal Blue team should be a threat.

There will be plenty of teams with plans to dethrone Force, but again with his brain trust, I predict the Force team will again be wearing number one at the end of the season.

Sorry, I have no info to pass on in Pro Stock, but Driver of the Year Greg Anderson and teammate Jason Line will have to keep a look over their shoulders. The Professor will be gunning for this team. WJ has said, "It may be my last year in Pro Stock, but I am not going to lay down. I got my butt kicked last year and I have something to prove to myself and son Kurt should be a threat." Could this be Kurt's last year with AC Delco? There are plenty of strong cars and it will be a battle in Pro Stock. Will Greg win 15 races this year? The other racers hope not!