Hot Rod Racers #4

Scot Jackson brings his Plymouth-powered dragster to the AHRA Winter Nationals, where he qualifies for the Top Eight eliminator bracket and faces off against increasingly competitive rivals. As he works his way through the elimination rounds with his crew, the Rod Masters, Scot must carefully calibrate his fuel mixture and driving strategy to contend with the legendary Big Daddy Torque—a driver with unbeatable reflexes and the fastest dragster on the strip. The battle of the "Fabulous Fuelers" unfolds as Scot pushes his machine and himself to the limit in pursuit of the top eliminator title.

Tommy Tarino dreamed of racing at Sicily's legendary Targa Florio ever since his grandfather first inspired him as a boy, and eight years later, that dream is finally within reach when a British racing engineer invites him to join an international team. From drag strips to road courses, Tommy's earned his shot as an alternate driver—and when he arrives in his grandfather's mountain village with a real Targa Florio car, the old man's greatest wish seems about to come true. But on race day, with the finish line in sight, Tommy faces a choice that will test everything he's learned about what it means to be a racer.

When Wayne Kruger's shoulder injury forces him to sit out the National 400—a grueling high-speed race—his younger brother Al, an eighteen-year-old hot-rodder, steps in to drive the Plymouth under Wayne's name, hiding the swap from their rivals who'd exploit the secret. Al's got the reflexes and the hunger to prove himself, but he's never raced anything like this, and aggressive competitor Lomax is watching for any weakness to exploit on the track.

Lew Older arrives at Wide River Drag Strip with his cunningly engineered Dodge 440 to compete in the Super-Stock Automatic elimination rounds, taking on increasingly fast competition while his friend Jeanie watches nervously from the sidelines. Over three rounds, Lew's strategic driving and smart machine work prove unbeatable—he keeps his true speed hidden until it matters most, ultimately claiming the S/SA championship title with a 12.01-second pass at 117.79 mph. It's a satisfying reminder that raw horsepower means nothing without a driver who knows how to use his head.