Eric Dillard Joining NHRA Pro Mods At Indy
Aug.30

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29) – Eric Dillard will be making his NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series debut on drag racing's biggest stage: this weekend's 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.

"It's going to be a heckuva first race that's for sure," Dillard said. "I'm going to try and treat it like any other race. I don't have any past history with the NHRA, so I'm going to go in there with a clear head, think of it just like any other local race, and do my thing."

Dillard has been a vital member of the R2B2 Racing team this season, just not behind the wheel. He co-owns ProLine Racing, which builds the turbo motors that have smashed records in the Pro Mod Series this season. Dillard, whose company also based in Georgia, tested the team's turbo '53 Corvette in the preseason. Now he gets a chance to see what the team's new turbo 2011 R2B2 Race Cars Ford Mustang can do in competition.

"We've made five or six test runs in the new Mustang and I'm confident we can do really well with it," Dillard said. "Even though this is my first NHRA race, I've driven a turbo heads-up car for the last six years. I feel really comfortable in that kind of car.

"It's also a big honor to drive for Roger Burgess. It's only a one-race deal so far, but I'll take one race over zero."

Qualifying for the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series gets under way with one round of qualifying at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday. Qualifying continues Saturday with two sessions starting at 2:30 p.m. and the last chance to make the U.S. Nationals will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Eliminations begin Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and continue on Monday afternoon.

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Capps Still Waiting For 1st Indy Win
Aug.30

INDIANAPOLIS, August 29, 2011 – Ron Capps drives his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car – one of the hottest on the circuit – onto the drag strip of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis this weekend for the 57th-annual U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil looking to improve his position in the driver standings as the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series regular season winds down.

Two final-round appearances, including a win in Sonoma (Calif.), have propelled the Don Schumacher Racing driver into sixth place of the Funny Car rankings, three points out of fifth and 41 out of fourth.

In addition, the California native turned in the third-quickest time in last week’s pre-race testing, 4.087 seconds at 306.74 miles per hour, all of which he believes indicates good things for the race.

“This year I’m approaching Indy with a little more incentive than in the past,” explained Capps, who has been to four semifinals at the “Big Go.” “We have some unfinished business for the regular season and we feel we can move up two spots before the Countdown to the Championship begins (at the season’s next race in Charlotte, N.C.).

“In past years, I’ve gone to Indy with a car I thought could win and at times with one I doubted could qualify; this year I know, thanks to the changes in this NAPA team since Tim Richards came on board as crew chief (Atlanta, 10 races ago), we have a car which can close the deal. But Indy brings out the best in everyone, so it will be a tough battle.

“Our season started when Tim joined the team. We were hanging on in the top 10 by a thread. There are a lot of teams in top five which may have peaked – I’ve been there – with whatever made them so good in the first part of the season not working now. We’re peaking at just the right time as the Countdown (which will include the top-10 drivers after this contest, with points reset, in a six-race playoff) is set to start.”

Winning the U.S. Nationals, drag racing’s premiere event which begins with a 7 p.m. nitro-qualifying session Friday, carries additional significance for Capps, a historian of the sport.

“I don’t want my career as a driver to be complete without an Indy win,” he said. “I’m so jealous of those who have won it. I’ve felt I’ve deserved it at times, which doesn’t mean anything. Indy makes you work at it. All these years, I’ve come close, had a good car. I have won at Indy (in the all-star shoot out); just haven’t brought home a Wally for my mantel.

“And I really think we have a good shot this year. We had a phenomenal test, putting up great numbers in the heat of the day. Tim didn’t go for an ego shot in testing, but wanted to get ready for this race and for the next three or four. As usual, he just made some unbelievable decisions, like the ones which have gotten us this far and should take us even farther as the year goes on.”

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AJ In Countdown Looking For Momentum
Aug.30

Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5. Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts. “I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.” Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin. “Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.” Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile. Johnson’s Statistics of Note At Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis • Qualified No. 2 and advanced to the semifinals in 2010 at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals • Seized the No. 1 Qualifier Award and advanced to the quarterfinals at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2008 • Advanced to the semifinals in 2005 and 2006 at Indy • Seized the No. 4 qualifying position in 2002 and advanced to the semifinals in the U.S. Nationals 2011 Season • Clinched a spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs • Sixth overall in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings • Posted a 18-14 Round win record through 15 events • Scored a win in the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown • No 1. Qualifier at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals • Advanced to the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals • No. 1 Qualifier at Sonoma, setting a track record • No. 1 Qualifier at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol • Reached the semifinals at the Southern Nationals at Atlanta • Advanced to the semifinals at the NHRA Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol • Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first Pro Stock event • Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock car 2010 Season • Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff standings • Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas, Pomona 2) to end the season • Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race • Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events • Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career • Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events • Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio • Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in Topeka • Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race • Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge Avenger • Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event 2009 Season • Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs • Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka • Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings • Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals • Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching the semifinals • Made eight semifinals appearances • Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season 2008 Season • Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings • One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs • Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000 reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory • Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards • Made eight semifinals appearances • Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals • Racked up 28-24 round win record 2007 Season • Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings • One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff • Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver 2006 Season • Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle Career • Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all five years since NHRA adopted playoff format in 2007 • Claimed nine career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins • Captured 18 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards • Claimed more than 200 career round wins • Has a career best elapsed time of 6.538-seconds and a career best speed of 211.73 mph • Recorded 23 career final round appearances • Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event • Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings • Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in standings • Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger 57th Annual Mac Tool U.S. Nationals The 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is scheduled to take place Aug. 31–Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. Three hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Two additional hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Six hours of eliminations coverage will air on Monday, September 5, beginning at 12 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.

Mopar-First Features Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including: • Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers • Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers • Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format • Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters • 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car • Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot • WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network About the Mopar Brand Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com. More than 70 Years of Mopar When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929. Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

# # # ON THE INTERNET Visit Chrysler’s Media Services Web site at http://www.media.chrysler.com for additional Chrysler and Mopar news. For additional information about Mopar, log on to http://www.mopar.com or http://www.moparspeed.com. Follow Mopar on Facebook – www.facebook.com/mopar

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Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5. Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts. “I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.” Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin. “Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.” Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile. Johnson’s Statistics of Note At Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis • Qualified No. 2 and advanced to the semifinals in 2010 at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals • Seized the No. 1 Qualifier Award and advanced to the quarterfinals at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2008 • Advanced to the semifinals in 2005 and 2006 at Indy • Seized the No. 4 qualifying position in 2002 and advanced to the semifinals in the U.S. Nationals 2011 Season • Clinched a spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs • Sixth overall in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings • Posted a 18-14 Round win record through 15 events • Scored a win in the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown • No 1. Qualifier at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals • Advanced to the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals • No. 1 Qualifier at Sonoma, setting a track record • No. 1 Qualifier at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol • Reached the semifinals at the Southern Nationals at Atlanta • Advanced to the semifinals at the NHRA Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol • Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first Pro Stock event • Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock car 2010 Season • Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff standings • Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas, Pomona 2) to end the season • Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race • Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events • Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career • Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events • Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio • Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in Topeka • Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race • Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge Avenger • Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event 2009 Season • Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs • Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka • Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings • Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals • Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching the semifinals • Made eight semifinals appearances • Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season 2008 Season • Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings • One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs • Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000 reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory • Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards • Made eight semifinals appearances • Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals • Racked up 28-24 round win record 2007 Season • Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings • One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff • Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver 2006 Season • Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle Career • Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all five years since NHRA adopted playoff format in 2007 • Claimed nine career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins • Captured 18 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards • Claimed more than 200 career round wins • Has a career best elapsed time of 6.538-seconds and a career best speed of 211.73 mph • Recorded 23 career final round appearances • Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event • Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings • Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in standings • Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger 57th Annual Mac Tool U.S. Nationals The 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is scheduled to take place Aug. 31–Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. Three hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Two additional hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Six hours of eliminations coverage will air on Monday, September 5, beginning at 12 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.

Mopar-First Features Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including: • Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers • Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers • Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format • Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters • 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car • Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot • WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network About the Mopar Brand Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com. More than 70 Years of Mopar When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929. Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

# # # ON THE INTERNET Visit Chrysler’s Media Services Web site at http://www.media.chrysler.com for additional Chrysler and Mopar news. For additional information about Mopar, log on to http://www.mopar.com or http://www.moparspeed.com. Follow Mopar on Facebook – www.facebook.com/mopar

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Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5. Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts. “I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.” Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin. “Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.” Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile. Johnson’s Statistics of Note At Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis • Qualified No. 2 and advanced to the semifinals in 2010 at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals • Seized the No. 1 Qualifier Award and advanced to the quarterfinals at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2008 • Advanced to the semifinals in 2005 and 2006 at Indy • Seized the No. 4 qualifying position in 2002 and advanced to the semifinals in the U.S. Nationals 2011 Season • Clinched a spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs • Sixth overall in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings • Posted a 18-14 Round win record through 15 events • Scored a win in the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown • No 1. Qualifier at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals • Advanced to the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals • No. 1 Qualifier at Sonoma, setting a track record • No. 1 Qualifier at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol • Reached the semifinals at the Southern Nationals at Atlanta • Advanced to the semifinals at the NHRA Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol • Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first Pro Stock event • Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock car 2010 Season • Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff standings • Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas, Pomona 2) to end the season • Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race • Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events • Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career • Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events • Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio • Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in Topeka • Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race • Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge Avenger • Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event 2009 Season • Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs • Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka • Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings • Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals • Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching the semifinals • Made eight semifinals appearances • Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season 2008 Season • Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings • One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs • Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000 reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory • Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards • Made eight semifinals appearances • Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals • Racked up 28-24 round win record 2007 Season • Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings • One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff • Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver 2006 Season • Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle Career • Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all five years since NHRA adopted playoff format in 2007 • Claimed nine career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins • Captured 18 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards • Claimed more than 200 career round wins • Has a career best elapsed time of 6.538-seconds and a career best speed of 211.73 mph • Recorded 23 career final round appearances • Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event • Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings • Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in standings • Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger 57th Annual Mac Tool U.S. Nationals The 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is scheduled to take place Aug. 31–Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. Three hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Two additional hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Six hours of eliminations coverage will air on Monday, September 5, beginning at 12 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.

Mopar-First Features Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including: • Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers • Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers • Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format • Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters • 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car • Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot • WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network About the Mopar Brand Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com. More than 70 Years of Mopar When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929. Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

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Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5.

Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts.

“I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.”

Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin.

“Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.”

Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals
Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.

Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile.

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Tasca Riding The Bump Going Into Indy
Aug.30

Aug. 30, 2011 – How does it feel to be 'on the bump'? Exactly like you'd expect it to. Uncomfortable...nerve-wracking...the word 'gut ache' comes to mind.

Fortunately Bob Tasca III's a cool customer, and he’s in the driver’s seat.

Tasca enters the U.S Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway 10th in the NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car point standings. He's in the playoffs with one race to go before the Countdown to the Championship cut, when the Top 10 drivers who will be eligible to win the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series titles in all four professional categories are determined and point standings are reset for the playoffs. Once that cut is made, drivers from the 11^th spot down become spoilers for those still in contention for the title.

Enter drag racing’s biggest stage – the “Big Go,” where the focus for Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will be on staying above the cut, with Don Schumacher Racing's Johnny Gray is just 62 points behind in 11th.

“We’re going into Indy in the driver’s seat,” Tasca said. “We’re not necessarily happy we’re going in 10^th, but we are certainly in the driver’s seat. (DSR and Johnny Gray) are not going to Indy to lose it, that’s for sure. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing. If it plays out the way it should play out, we’ll roll into (the next race) in Charlotte and be a championship contender. We’re looking to move up, certainly not move down.”

So far, the 2011 season has yielded a little bit of everything for the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team – a mixed bag of good and bad that always leaves an aftertaste of frustration. Knowing the team is striding in the right direction has been key for the Tasca, Crew Chief Chris Cunningham and Co-Crew Chief Marc Denner.

They continued up the learning curve during the annual testing session at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis last week. They didn’t uncover anything to worry about for Indianapolis, Tasca said, but “we definitely found some things that will pay dividends down the road.”

The atmosphere at the U.S. Nationals, once experienced, is something you can never forget, whether attending as a driver or a fan. Once you’re through the gates, there’s no turning back.

“I think for me, it’s just landing at the airport in Indianapolis (that makes it real),” Tasca said. “That’s when Indy starts for me. At the end of the day, it’s not a race that we try any harder to win because I don’t think there’s such a thing. We go to every race to try to win. But it’s a race you want to do well at. At the end of the day, you have to go out there and do what you do.”

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Napa Auto Pros Step up For Hinbest Racing
Aug.30

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Medlen Tournament to Also Benefit Fair Victims
Aug.30

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 30) – Thursday's third annual Eric Medlen Memorial Golf Tournament at Eagle Creek Golf Club will now partially benefit the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund, organizer Morgan Lucas announced Tuesday.

"We've decided to take a portion of the proceeds and put it towards the families that were devastated by the horrible tragedy at the Indiana State Fair," Lucas said. "My girlfriend Katie and I were at that concert and barely missed being injured by a huge speaker stack that fell right where we were standing. We saw the damage that happened and it was a big shock.

"Our main charity, the St. Vincent Foundation and the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, will remain the primary beneficiaries but we did want to do what we can to help the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund. It's something that has touched everyone in Indiana."

Lucas points out that there are still a few spots available in the tournament, a four-person scramble that has drawn stars from the NHRA, NASCAR, and NFL in the past. Individual tournament entries are $125 per golfer; players of all skill levels are welcome.

Activities at the tournament will include a ball drop, 50/50 raffle, hole-in-one prize, silent auction, and closest-to-the-pin and long-drive contests. The event begins at 10 a.m., Thursday. A cocktail hour, awards, and a live auction will follow the day's golfing

For more information or to sign up for the tournament, contact Kristene Hayden, 317-858-1333; e-mail, Kristene@morganlucasracing.com.

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Morgan Just 32 Points Out Of P/S Top 10
Aug.30

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29) – Lucas Oil Ford Mustang driver Larry Morgan understands the importance of the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at Lucas Oil Raceway.

But this year, the "Big Go" carries more significance for the veteran Pro Stock driver.

Morgan is 32 points out of the top 10, and Indy is the final race before the 10-driver Countdown to the Championship begins. Morgan knows this is his final chance to reach the NHRA's version of the playoffs – all the while driving for drag racing's biggest trophy.

"It is bigger to me, for sure," Morgan said. "I want to get in the Countdown for all the people involved, my sponsors, the people who work day and night on this stuff. I hope we can do it."

Morgan has raced well at Indy in the past and he said he "hopes it's my time again."

"It's just a huge deal," Morgan said. "I've won that thing twice and have been runner-up three or four times. It's a race that's been awfully good to me, so I can't wait to get there. Plus, it's like the Daytona 500 for us. It's that big."

Morgan could at least use a repeat of his performance in Norwalk, Ohio, in June, when he reached the finals, or from Denver in July, when he raced to the semi-finals.To that end, the veteran racer tested his Lucas Oil Mustang in Martin, Mich., last week, and plans to test three more days this week in preparation for the U.S. Nationals.

"I won't be wore out," Morgan said. "I can handle it."

Pro Stock qualifying begins at 4 p.m. Friday.

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LE Tonglet Aiming For 2 In A Row
Aug.30

INDIANAPOLIS – Much has happened since LE Tonglet, his dad Gary and brother GT astounded the tough Pro Stock Motorcycle field by winning the 2010 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and then went on a six-race tear that catapulted the rookie rider, Team Tonglet and Nitro Fish to an improbable series championship.

He won four times and was runner-up once to own the Countdown to 1 and the many accolades that followed.

So, there’s no chance anything LE does during the 2011 edition of the sport’s oldest, most prestigious event will come as a surprise when it begins its four-day run Friday at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. He comes into the final regular-season event on a hot streak and now is third in Full Throttle points (683), one behind Karen Stoffer and 52 behind pace-setting Eddie Krawiec in the quest for the No. 1 seed in the Countdown to 1 that begins Sept. 18 at Charlotte.

Tonglet drove the Nitro Fish Suzuki GSXR to victory at the tour’s last two stops at Sonoma, Calif. and

Brainerd, Minn. He also rebounded from not qualifying at Norwalk, Ohio by winning three of the last four events. He is now 4-0 in final rounds this season, including his earlier title at Atlanta, and 9-2 overall.

“We seem to be getting our act together and winning rounds,” LE said. “We’ve had a lot of bad luck, motor problems and wrong tuning calls on our part. Now we are trying to get back to our old routine.

“The U.S. Nationals means a lot because that’s where we turned around our season last year and then Nitro Fish owner Kenny Koretsky came on board with the sponsorship we needed. Indy is the biggest race of the year . . . it’s the Super Bowl of drag racing, and it is fun to be part of it.”

“I’m proud of the way LE, his dad and brother have worked their way out of the bad times,” said Koretsky. “They are running well, and it comes at a good time. We hope to make it two straight wins at Indy.”

Tonglet, meanwhile, isn’t eager to claim the No. 1 playoff position.

“I heard that in the Countdown, no one from the top spot has won the championship,” he pointed out, “so it might be a jinx. We just want to stay in the top three.”

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Arana Jr. Says "Don't Forget About Me"
Aug.30

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29) – Lucas Oil Buell rookie rider Hector Arana Jr. raced to the finals of a Pro Stock Motorcycle race for the first time in his career in the most recent NHRA national event in Brainerd, Minn.

Now, the 22-year-old from Corydon, Ind., is ready to take the next step on drag racing's biggest stage, the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at Lucas Oil Raceway.

"It's a home race, and it's the biggest race of the year, the most prestigious race," Arana Jr. said. "To get my first win there would be awesome."

Arana Jr. has progressed nicely in his first season riding a Pro Stock Motorcycles, qualifying No. 1 three times and second once in the last five races. His performance in Brainerd moved him up to eighth in the PSM points standings, and a solid showing in Indy will lock down a spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

"I'm a believer in momentum," Arana Jr. said. "I definitely got over my second-round hump, and I felt like I rode well in Brainerd all weekend. We made some great passes. Plus, we got the points we needed. We did well. That should continue."

Arana Jr.'s recent surge has put him in contention for the Auto Club Road to the Future Award, which is given annually to the top rookie across NHRA's four professional categories. Many have already anointed Pro Stock driver Vincent Nobile as the top rookie, given his two victories this season, but Arana Jr. is poised to make a late-season surge that could swing the vote.

"Don't forget about me." Arana Jr. said. "We've still got the Countdown. We're coming on strong."

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Arana Sr. Looking For Repeat Success
Aug.30

(Aug. 29) – Hector Arana, rider of the Lucas Oil Buell, knows what it's like to be the last man standing at drag racing's biggest race, and it's a feeling he'd like to experience again this weekend at the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.

"Indy is our home track," Arana said. "That makes it important right from the start. I won the U.S. Nationals before, and it was a big win for me, so I'm looking forward to doing it again."

Arana, who was Pro Stock Motorcycle winner of the U.S. Nationals in 2009, the same year he won the NHRA championship, said there's a little something extra about racing at Lucas Oil Raceway on Labor Day weekend.

"It’s the granddaddy of them all," Arana said. "When you talk to anyone, the U.S. Nationals is the one they all know as our biggest event. It's the largest attendance we have for spectators and even racers.

"It's special. Everyone wants to be there and participate and most of all, win it."

A win would be a big boost for Arana, who is sixth in the class points heading into the final regular season race. He also said a great weekend would be a fitting tribute to the co-founders of Lucas Oil, who have done so much for not just himself, but for the sport of drag racing at a whole.

"I definitely want to do well there so Forrest and Charlotte (Lucas) can feel proud of us and keep participating in this sport," Arana said. "If you stop and think about it, where else have you seen sponsors so involved in a sport? They do everything they can to promote drag racing. And they go out of their way to promote this class.

"You go to Lucas Oil Stadium and you walk inside there, and you can see everything they support in drag racing. They're trying to educate those football fans about another sport, which is drag racing."

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Red-Light Ends Enders Day
Jul.25

DENVER (July 24) – ZaZa Energy driver Erica Enders' time on the mountain that holds Bandimere Speedway ended way too soon Sunday.

Enders fell in the second round of Pro Stock at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals to Kurt Johnson. After a terrific reaction time of .012 seconds in her first-round victory over Shane Gray, Enders left the start line a tick too soon against Johnson, and was disqualified for the violation.

"It is what it is," a disappointed Enders said. "You learn from your mistakes, and you move on. The good news is we go back to Earth next week, to sea level, and have a normal setup and get to drive normal. We've still got a great race car."

The last time Enders left too soon during a Pro Stock round was in the final in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2005, against Jason Line, a streak of 80 consecutive races for her. Enders hasn't had a red-light in 25 prior rounds this season and is regarded as one of the best at the starting line in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock category. But she offered no excuses against Johnson.

"It just happened," Enders said. "I knew it was red when I let the clutch out. I had the same mindset as I do every round, and it didn't matter who was in the other lane. I can't do anything about it right now so we'll head to San Fran and start over."

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Tonglet To Sport Special Scheme @ Infineon
Jul.25

SONOMA, Calif., July 25, 2011 – L.E. Tonglet, the reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, will ride onto the track at Infineon Raceway here July 29th aboard the unique Autolite Suzuki GSXR for the 24th-annual FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals.

Designed just for this race, the orange graphics will complement those of Spencer Massey’s FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel dragster.

“I feel great about riding the Autolite bike,” said the youngest NHRA Full Throttle champion in history who was 20 years old at the time. “Being able to represent Autolite at the FRAM/Autolite Nationals is awesome.  I just hope we can do well for them.”

According to Sean Lyon, Senior Product Manager, Autolite, the feeling is mutual.

"We are very excited to be able to have such a rising star represent Autolite at our event and look forward to Autolite spark plugs playing a vital role in LE’s quest for a second consecutive NHRA World Championship,” he said.

Last season’s Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future (rookie of the year) Award winner is having a solid season, sitting fourth in the PSM standings with two victories (Atlanta and Joliet) along with two number-one qualifiers (Houston and Atlanta) to his credit in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season

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Massey Wins Third Event Of Season
Jul.25

MORRISON, COLO., July 24, 2011 – Spencer Massey drove the FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel dragster into victory circle here today in the 32nd-annual MOPAR Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway by defeating Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher in a close pedal-fest final round.

The 28-year-old Fort Worth native took home his third Wally of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season and solidified his hold on second place in the Top Fuel championship standings.

It was the third time this season (against one loss) and the sixth time in his two-season career (against two losses) Massey has defeated the seven-time world champion.

“Beating someone like “The Sarge” is obviously very big,” he said. “He’s Tony Schumacher, “The Sarge,” the man – as the saying goes, to be the best, you have to beat the best. I’m not there yet; I have a long way to go, but these are the kind of wins you have to have to get to the top of the pack.

“And I don’t do anything differently whether I’m driving against Tony Schumacher or Larry Dixon or any other Top Fuel driver. I just get in my race car and do my job – get a good light, then stab the throttle and steer.”

Both drivers experienced mechanical and traction issues in the final round, necessitating pedaling and decisions.

“I felt the tires slipping, and then I had to decide whether to keep my foot in it, and chance throwing the blower belt, or back off,” he explained. “I decided to keep going and the Gates belt held; I actually think we picked it up again down the track.”

It was Massey’s fifth win in nine career final rounds (3-1 in 2011), his 58th round win against 32 losses (26-9 in 2011). He qualified fourth on a 4.010-second lap at 303.64 miles per hour to gain a first-round match with Brandon Bernstein.

Massey, who had a streak of 40-consecutive runs without smoking the tires broken in the first round of the last race (Joliet, Ill.), put away Bernstein, Shawn Langdon and DSR teammate Antron Brown in the first three rounds today with clean, drama-free passes.

“Phil, Todd (Shuler and Okuhara, co-crew chiefs) and the entire FRAM team have been giving me a great race car all season, especially these last seven races, which means I just have to do my job without screwing up,” he said. “Keeping the car going despite our traction issues was the least I could do in the finals.”

Massey recorded a 4.150-second run at 269.70 mph against Schumacher’s 4.255 run at 266.95 mph, who lost a cylinder at the start before spinning his tires.

He heads to next week’s 24th-annual FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif. less than four-round wins behind points-leader Del Worsham.

“I’m really excited about going to Sonoma,” he said. “Of course I want to do well in the sponsor’s race – but I always want to do well for my sponsor.”

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Force Wins For 6th Time at Mile Highs
Jul.25

MORRISON, CO --- John Force joined his teammates, Mike Neff and Robert Hight, by adding an NHRA  60^th anniversary commemorative Wally to his trophy case winning the 32^nd annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals today. Force took win after Matt Hagan red-lit in the final round giving Force the automatic win light.

It was Force’s 6^th win at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in nine final round appearances and 133^rd of his career. It was Force’s first final round appearance of 2011. The last time Force was in the winner’s circle he was hoisting the NHRA Auto Finals trophy and the Full Throttle Funny Car World Championship trophy at the end of 2010.

“Just like the military it is all about teamwork,” said a nearly exhausted John Force on Sunday night. “We have great guys. (Co-crew chiefs) Dean Antonelli and Ron Douglas have been struggling but they have all the same stuff that (crew chiefs) Jimmy Prock and Mike Neff have. Everybody was helping. Even Robert Hight, president of the company finally spoke up.”

“I said, ‘I don’t know what is wrong. My luck is bad. It could be that my race car is off and the weight is different.’ He said, ‘No it is you.’ Robert told me to get back in the game. He said my head was in Oshkosh at the air show and the Indy 500 and every place I was going. He said you are not in your race car. He said that I had taught him and he knew my head wasn’t right. He reminded me Ihave to live it and I wasn’t living it. It was an eye opener. He was right.”

“I went back to Guido (Dean Antonelli) and Ron and told them they would have everything from me this weekend. It is team work and yeah we did some damage last night but we came back with those Fords.”

“Before the semi-final race Mike Neff looked at me and said get out there and fight like you want this. He told me to kick his butt if I could. He said I was better than I had been showing.”

Force beat Tony Pedregon in the first round then out ran points leader Mike Neff in the second round. In the semi-finals Force had to outrun one of the surprises of the season in Jeff Arend before squaring off with Matt Hagan. Force held a 6-3 record going into the final and the drivers were 1-1 in finals with Hagan winning Dallas in 2010 and Force winning in their last head-to-head meeting in Las Vegas2 last year.

“I went up against that kid Hagan and I really felt good. I said in an interview I went up to Hagan right before the final. He said good luck and I said you and I were the champs last year. You and I fought it out to the wire when nobody else could and now we are in the final. I told him we are back where we belong. He had a big old grin on his face. He said you are right. We want to be there. We miss it. We miss that winners circle.”

“I thought I was dead late. I thought, ‘Oh the whipping is coming.’ You have to be really on your game against Hagan. Sometimes luck is part of it. He was outrunning me. I chased him all the way to the lights. I was hoping he would nose over. I did not know that he red lit. That is how close we were right on that tree. He is a champion. I really like the kid. He is the future.”

The crew chief tandem of Dean Antonelli and Ron Douglas is the third crew chief combination Force has won with in his legendary career. This was JFR’s sixth win in a row this season and it marked the 14^th time in a row a Ford Mustang was represented in the final round of an NHRA race.

Robert Hight had a chance to set up a rematch of last year’s Denver final but he was upended by Hagan in the semi-finals. Hight did move up in the Full Throttle point standings securing the No. 2 spot. He now has a slim five point lead over Jack Beckman.

“I moved up to second which was one of my goals this weekend. Now I have to hang on to it and grow that lead. Going rounds was great and it was awesome to see John get that win. He needed it and the team needed it,” said Hight a four time winner in 2011. “We have a pretty good streak going.  Now all three JFR Fords have wins this season and John has a leg up on the Western Swing. He has won it before so you can never count him out. Jimmy can put his Denver tune up away for a year and we’ll be ready to get after it in Sonoma in a couple of days. I am going up to Sacramento to do some advance media and I’ll be ready to get back in this Auto Club Ford Mustang in a couple of days. Hagan outran us in the semis and it was tough to beat Wilkerson in the second round. We had our hands full today for sure.”

The hottest driver in Funny Car Mike Neff was ousted in the second round. It was just the second time Neff and his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang have lost in the second round in the last eight races including today. In Bristol teammate and eventual event winner Robert Hight beat him and today Force outran him in the second round before going on to his first win.

“We had some clutch wear in the first round that made us drop some cylinders. I wanted to keep that win streak going but if you have to lose to someone no one can hang their head if you lose to Force,” said Neff, a four time 2011 winner. “It was great to see him in the winner’s circle. The fans love him. I think that was like nine wins for us in twelve races. That is pretty incredible. We’ll get off this mountain and head to Sonoma. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”

Neff held onto the top spot in the Full Throttle point standings and secured his spot in the Countdown this weekend. Hight moved up and with Force’s win he put 194 points between himself and 11^th place driver Johnny Gray.

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Stoffer Finally Gets First Win Of The Year
Jul.25

DENVER (July 24) – After finishing runner-up three times this season, Karen Stoffer is finally Queen of the Mountain.

Stoffer and the GEICO Suzuki knocked out Shawn Gann, Gerald Savoie, Eddie Krawiec and Michael Phillips on the way to victory Sunday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

"Hats off to the GEICO Powersports crew," Stoffer said. "We've been struggling with mechanical problems the last few races. This is a tough mountain to come to and race, and to get where with mechanical problems on top of it is very trying. They did a great job, diagnosed everything, and gave me such a phenomenal bike for Saturday and Sunday. Now here we are!"

It's her first win of the season in four Pro Stock Motorcycle final rounds and her first since the Atlanta race in 2007.

"I was hoping everybody would forget that count but it kept coming up over and over again," Stoffer said. "But you know what? Patience, fortitude. This is a tough sport. There are awesome teams out there. We knew we had a good team, we just had to work through a lot of issues. Patience, strength, tenacity – that's what the GEICO team's about.

"I was really not thinking about how long it's been. Our focus has been on consistency, not the numbers, not the points, not the win lights, but just being consistent. And you know what? We've been able to achieve that, and that's props to the team and the bike they give me."

She broke through in the money round against Phillips. Although at a slight disadvantage at the start, Stoffer's Suzuki had more than enough power to overcome Phillips' bike.

Stoffer crossed the line in 7.283 seconds at 182.58 mph, with Phillips more than a bike's length behind in 7.394 seconds at 182.01 mph.

"We came out this season with our main goal being consistency and to go as many rounds as available in the race event," Stoffer said. "Normal goals are to turn on win lights and bring home Wallys and all that. But ours was to be consistent and go down the race track as many times as available. If you do that and you do it right, you're going to get the win lights and the Wallys."

The GEICO Suzuki had been suffering from a rash of mechanical breakages over the course of the last few races, and even into Friday's qualifying at Bandimere Speedway. However, crew chief Gary Stoffer and his team pulled together, got the GEICO Suzuki back to the quick, consistent form it showed for much of the first half of the year and qualified No. 2.

Stoffer started race day on fire, cutting a .012 second light in the first round against Gann and sailing on to a 7.244 at 184.27 mph pass. Gann could only muster a 7.391 at 180.50 mph.

Savoie was the next opponent for Stoffer, and he red lighted by -.003. Stoffer still made a 7.271-second lap at 182.01 mph to gain lane choice in the semis against Krawiec.

Opposite past champion Krawiec, Stoffer cut her best light of the day – a .002 – and finished in 7.271 seconds at 182.01 mph to reach the final. Krawiec went across at 7.325 at 180.98 mph after a .049 second reaction time.

"This was for all the GEICO people out there supporting us – and to all the fans here," Stoffer said. "They came by and said, 'What happened on Friday?' They were giving us so many supporting comments and so many high-fives to get it going on Saturday, and it really helped."

In the process of her victory, Stoffer recaptured the points lead. She is now ahead of Krawiec and can solidify her spot in the season ending Countdown to the Championship playoffs as early as next week.

"I get the double whammy here," she said. "We were able to take home the Wally and also get in front of the points again. And I think we're actually in control of our own destiny running Eddie Krawiec."

The NHRA's Western Swing continues in California wine country with the July 29-31 Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.

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Mechanical Issues Cut Short Beckman's Day
Jul.25

MORRISON, COLO., July 24, 2011 – Jack Beckman lost his first-round race here today in the 32nd-annual MOPAR Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway after his Aaron’s Dream Machine/Valvoline Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car dropped a cylinder and lost traction.

The 45-year-old Californian took the setback in stride, believing it has little bearing on his season as a whole.

“The last time we had a first-round loss was in the first race of the season,” said the Don Schumacher Racing driver. “And since this is the first race of the second-half of the season, we hope to repeat the kind of success we followed Pomona with in the coming races (moving from 10th in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car standings after the first race to second prior to this one).

“More importantly, today’s loss was not a result of any issues with the car. Denver is a unique place, with conditions – a lot of heat and thin air – unlike anywhere else on the schedule. It’s one race a year like this; now we return to racing at tracks for which we have good, consistent data.”

Beckman qualified ninth on a 4.255-second lap at 294.43 miles per hour, earning an opening-round match with Jeff Arend. Arend posted a 4.399-second run, which eclipsed Beckman’s traction-starved 5.144-second pass at 157.03 mph.

The loss allowed Robert Hight to go around Beckman into second place in the standings, but the margin is just five points, less than a race-round win. John Force defeated DSR teammate Matt Hagan in the final round to win today’s race.

“Even though we are getting close to the Countdown (four races remain before the playoffs begin), I’m not overly concerned about points,” he said. “We are now heading to one of my favorite tracks and I’m sure this car will pick up where we left off before coming to Denver.”

The season moves to Sonoma, Calif. for next week’s 24th-annual FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals. Last year Beckman set the track’s elapsed-time, 4.063, and speed, 311.56 mph, records en route to a number-one qualifying position before finishing as the runner up in the race to DSR teammate Ron Capps (who had a .017-second margin of victory).

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Two Final Rounds For Team Mopar @ Mopar Mile Highs
Jul.25

Team Mopar Drivers Johnson and Hagan Advance to Final Rounds at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals

Morrison, Colo. (July 24, 2011) – A pair of Mopar cars paid a visit to the final round at the 32nd Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, as Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson advanced to his fifth straight final at Denver and Matt Hagan also scored a runner-up finish in his Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car today at Bandimere Speedway.

Johnson qualified No. 1 for the second straight year at his primary sponsor Mopar’s headline event and faced Steve Kalkowski in the opening round. Johnson posted a 6.962-second elapsed time (ET) at 198.06 mph to beat Kalkowski, which was low ET of the weekend — until the Team Mopar veteran set the Bandimere ET track record with a 6.955 run paired with a 198.15 speed to knock off defending Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson.

Looking for this third straight Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals win, Johnson bested Kurt Johnson (no relation) in the semifinals with a 6.988/197.48 pass to advance to the 23rd final round of his career and sixth at the Mopar Mile-Highs. Without lane choice in the final round against opponent Mike Edwards, the Mopar HEMI-powered racer would see his quest for four wins in the last five years end with a red-light foul off the starting line. Johnson’s stellar runner-up weekend at Denver moved the Greeneville, Tenn. native to sixth in the standings, just four markers out of fifth place.

“The whole Mopar/J&J Racing team was strong, and we have to be happy with our performance,” said Johnson, who joined NHRA legend Lee Shepherd as the only Pro Stock drivers to advance to five consecutive final rounds at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. “One little boo-boo all weekend, in the semis, and it cost us lane choice and the race. But five straight finals, three wins in five years – I just love coming to the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. It’s great to rub elbows with all the folks from Mopar who help us and support us all year long.

“We’re getting our groove on right now. The Mopar Dodge is working great, the motors are running great. This was an awesome way to start the Western Swing. We’ll see if we can go to two more finals at Sonoma and Seattle and end the trip well into the top-five in points.”

The red-light bug also bit Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Matt Hagan. The Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) driver defeated Melanie Troxel with a 4.373/273.94 pass, fellow Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T teammate Ron Capps on a 4.299/291.70 run and Robert Hight with a 4.285/292.08 mark before losing to John Force on a red-light in the final.

“We have to pick it up and get ready to race again in five days,” said Hagan, who solidified his hold on the fifth spot in the standings with his finish. “No excuses; we just have to bear down and get that first victory.”

Mopar HEMI-powered No. 2 Pro Stock qualifier and Lakewood, Colo. native V. Gaines advanced as far as the quarterfinals before falling to Larry Morgan on a red light foul. Pro Stock rookie Vincent Nobile exited in a first-round loss at the hands of Kurt Johnson. On the Funny Car side, Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T drivers Jack Beckman and Johnny Gray also bowed out in the opening stanza.

Mopar tallied awards in a number of categories at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. Allen Johnson’s Mopar/J&J Racing crew captured the NHRA Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award, Steve Johnson’s 1941 Willys took home Best Appearing Car, Johnny Gray’s Dodge Charger R/T team was honored as Best Appearing Crew, and James Caro’s 2010 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak was named Best Engineered Car. Mopar also provided racing fans with a special treat, as NHRA 60th Anniversary legend Shirley Muldowney took the wheel of a 2011 V-10 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak for a demonstration race against Mopar Viper Comp Coupe driver Cindi Lux.

Next up for the Mopar-powered NHRA stars is the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., July 29–31.

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LE Tonglet advances to quarter-finals at Denver
Jul.25

MORRISON, Colo. – At one point during qualifying, it appeared LE Tonglet would not be among the 16 starters for Sunday’s Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, but the reigning NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock Motorcycle champion rallied Saturday to capture the No. 11 berth.

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Best Appearing Crew @ Mile High Nationals
Jul.25

MORRISON, COLO., July 24, 2011 – The Service Central Racing Team “Lemonator” Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car crew, including driver Johnny Gray, were named “NHRA Best Appearing Crew” for Sunday’s 32nd-annual MOPAR Mile-High NHRA Nationals here at Bandimere Speedway for their Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation uniforms.

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Tough Weekend For The Copart Team
Jul.25

DENVER (July 24, 2011) – The heat, altitude and thin air of the mountain setting of Bandimere Speedway took its toll on the Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart Racing team at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals.

The team qualified 13^{th (}4.155-second e.t. at 275.11 mph), the first time this season that they had not qualified in the top half of the field.

In the opening round of eliminations, Copart driver Brandon Bernstein faced off against Spencer Massey.  Bernstein was first out of the starting gate, but Massey was first to the starting line (4.007/307.16 vs. 4.235/143.26).

“This was a difficult weekend for us,” said Kenny Bernstein.  “We got behind the eight-ball from the start and were never successful in catching up.

“Last year we finished runner-up here and we were able to adjust to the unique tuning conditions of this track.  This year the mountain kicked our backside.

“We are looking forward to getting back to sea level next weekend in Sonoma, Calif.”

The Copart team remains seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

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Pro Classes Results From SuperNationals
Jun.06

Final round results from Sunday’s 42nd annual NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, eighth race in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Funny Car - Mike Neff, Fishers IN, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 4.071, 314.09 def. Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry, foul.

TOP FUEL – Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, FRAM dragster, 3.821, 319.17 mph, def. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Al-Anabi dragster, 3.815, 322.19 mph.

PRO STOCK – Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Mopar Parts Dodge Avenger, 6.689, 210.64 mph, def. Vincent Nobile, Dix Hills, N.Y., Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger, foul.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – Matt Smith, King, N.C., Al-Anabi Buell, 6.900, 191.73 mph, def. Karen Stoffer, Smith, Nev., GEICO Powersports Suzuki, 6.889, 194.74 mph.

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Enders Pleased With Consistency
Jun.06

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 5) – ZaZa Energy driver Erica Enders made the second-fastest pass in the quarterfinal round of Pro Stock eliminations Sunday at the 41st annual NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. But in a cruel twist of drag racing fate, she happened to face the driver who made the best pass of all.

Enders had the top speed of the round at 211.36 mph in the Cagnazzi Racing Chevrolet and ran the quarter-mile in 6.547 seconds. That elapsed time was .015 seconds faster than six of the seven other drivers who raced in the second round.

But Allen Johnson had a monster pass of 6.533 at 211.23 mph to move around Enders and into the semifinals.

"Yeah, we want to win, but once we came back and downloaded the run and went over everything on the computer and did the math on everybody's run – we lit it up," Enders said. "We made a great run. I drove well. The run was beautiful. There's not a whole lot we could've changed for that."

Enders qualified No. 3 at one of NHRA's famed tracks after making four excellent runs in Pro Stock qualifying. She then knocked out Vieri Gaines with a 6.539 at 211.13 mph in the first round.

"We'll leave here with our heads held high knowing that we were consistent," Enders said. "Being consistent will pay off. We beat everybody else on this property by .015 in the second round. It's unfortunate, and we want to win every race we enter, but to come here and do as well as we did and be consistent – if I'd have lined up against anybody but A.J., we'd be going to the semifinals, with lane choice."

And had Enders duplicated her second-round pass in the semifinals, she'd be racing for the Wally.

But she's not frustrated, and neither is her ZaZa Energy team.

"We just need a little luck on Sunday, just a  little bit," Enders said. "We're making good runs, and I'm driving well. It's going to come together. One of these days is going to be our day."

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Lucas Oil Teams Struggle On Race Day
Jun.06

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 5) – Even when a driver is three years into his Top Fuel career, there are lessons to learn from the car on every pass. On Sunday at the NHRA SuperNationals, Shawn Langdon learned a harsh lesson in tire translation from his Lucas Oil/Speedo dragster.

In his first-round matchup, Langdon pedaled the car when he admits he probably shouldn't have in his loss to teammate Morgan Lucas. The move cost him the round.

"There's so much information you have to process in tenths of a second," Langdon said. "It's a seat of the pants thing. I felt like I needed to pedal the car, but didn't have to.

"I'm trying to decipher tire shake. I've got to learn the difference between tire shake that we can make it through and shake that will strike the tires."

It was the first loss in a gremlin-filled day at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the Lucas Oil contingent as Larry Morgan fell in the first round of Pro Stock and Hector Arana and Hector Arana Jr. both lost in the first round of Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Langdon said his 8,000-horsepower rail launched just fine, but when he pedaled the car it opened the door just wide enough for Lucas to step through.

"The pair in front of us both smoked the tires," Langdon said. "So when you feel your car start to rattle, instinct kicks in and tells you that you need to pedal it."

Langdon ran a 3.981 seconds at 306.88 mph as Lucas crossed the line in 3.870 at 316.52 mph.

"It probably could have made it through," Langdon said. "It just makes me made to lose an opportunity to go rounds. We had the car right on the edge and it was going to run a mid-3.85.

"To let everybody down like that doesn't sit well with me."

A slip of the hand on the Lucas Oil Buell cost Hector Sr. in his first round matchup against Jim Underdahl.

"I launched and as I was grabbling the handlebar, I grabbed the clutch lever," Hector St. said. "It was basically like I double-clutched, spun the tire and it was done."

Underdahl ran a 6.925 at 192.91 mph while Hector Sr. sputtered to a 7.040 at 190.48 mph.

Rookie Hector Jr.'s learning curve continues to progress after his matchup with Andrew Hines.

"I knew I had the power to beat him," Hector Jr. said. "At the hit the bike went right. I had to fight it back to the center, and while I was doing that, Hines caught me at the end."

Hines won with a lap of 6.965 seconds at 192.91 mph. Hector Jr. ran a 6.963 at 190.30 mph.

A fouled spark plug proved to be Morgan's undoing against Shane Gray.

"We fouled two plugs this weekend, that never happens," Morgan said. "I left on the guy by .04 seconds and fouled a plug. It's just bad luck. But we're going to pressure check ever plug from now on though."

Gray ran a 6.562 at 210.80 mph as Morgan coasted to a 9.664 at 92.87 mph.

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Tough Weekend For Quick Lane Mustang
Jun.06

MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE FORD SHELBY MUSTANG LOSES BY A NOSE

IN FIRST ROUND IN ENGLISHTOWN

Englishtown, N.J. – Four-thousandths of a second blocked Bob Tasca III from getting out of the first round of eliminations at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Tasca, the defending event winner, hoped luck would swing his way for his hometown crowd – but while his team’s pit area was crowded with guests, luck was not among them.

After beating opponent Jack Beckman off the starting line .072 seconds to .095, Tasca drove the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car to a 4.139-second finish at 305.56 mph. It wasn’t enough, as Beckman clocked a 4.112 at 308.57 to advance. Beckman lost to No. 1 qualifier Cruz Pedregon in Round 2.

“We’ve got everything but luck,” Tasca said. “We just can’t win a close race. It’s not a lack of effort. (Crew Chief and Co-Crew Chief) Chris (Cunningham) and Marc (Denner) made a good call. The close races just haven’t gone our way. We’ve got a consistent car, a great team and the best parts in the world. We just haven’t gotten the close races to go in our favor.

“We clocked five solid runs and on average, we were probably one of the quickest cars on the property. We just lost to a good team in a close race.”

Tasca, who was born and raised in Rhode Island and attended his first race at Englishtown, now heads to Bristol, Tenn. for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Presented by Tri-Cities area Ford Dealers, June 17-19, 2011.

“We wanted to put on a better show for my hometown crowd, but I guess that’s drag racing,” Tasca said

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Troxel Posts 1st FC Round Win Of The Year
Jun.06

Troxel bags first Funny Car round win of the year

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 5) -- Melanie Troxel and her R2B2 Funny Car teammates enjoyed a victory of sorts Sunday by logging their first elimination-round win of the season at the 42nd annual NHRA SuperNationals. Naturally, winning the event is the goal, but after struggling for the first few months of the year, progress is measured in small steps.

"It's exciting to get a round win any time," said Troxel, one of just 14 racers and the only female in history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. "To get the first round win of the year pumped everybody up. 

"I heard the guys on the radio read me the time but I couldn't quite hear what they said. It wasn't until I read the time slip that I realized we ran a 4.07. That's our best ET of the year and my best in two years. To run our best numbers on race day and not the Friday night session when conditions are perfect gives us a great feeling as a team."

After qualifying a season-high fourth on the grid, Troxel posted a 4.071-second pass at 310.27 mph in her defeat of Paul Lee, who smoked his tires. She then got the jump on quarterfinal opponent Matt Hagan only to lose traction herself at 330 feet. Hagan had trouble further down the track but had enough momentum to win with a 4.217 at 241.15 mph against Troxel's coasting 5.011 at 164.25 mph.

"I don't think the plan was to get more aggressive with the car against Matt," she said. "We had a good car and the guys made a few tweaks. We think we hit a bump in the track that upset the car a little bit. Combine that with the little changes we made and it just put the car over the edge. We were trying to play it smart. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

"We would have loved to go another round or two. We're finally excited we've got a race car on race day. You have to get some breaks, but knowing we've got as good of a car as any out there lets you know you have a chance. It's the first time we've felt that way all season."

Up next on the NHRA Full Throttle Series schedule is the June 17-19 Ford Thunder Valley Nationals from Bristol Dragway. Troxel will race both her Funny Car and Pro Mod car at the event.

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Stanfield Moves #2 In Pro Stock Points
Jun.06

Greg Stanfield goes to semifinals, second in points

 

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Greg Stanfield fought his way into the Pro Stock semifinals of Sunday’s NHRA SuperNationals and moved into second place in the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series point standings.

 

Stanfield’s opening-round win over Greg Anderson and a quarter-final decision over Shane Gray enabled him to swap places with Anderson.  Stanfield has 585 points to 571 for Anderson.  Jason Line is the leader with 642.

 

The driver of the Nitro Fish/Coffman Tank Trucks GXP used a strong .019-second reaction time to post a hole-shot decision over Anderson, 6.570 seconds at 210.05 mph to 6.568 at 210.97. 

 

Stanfield left first against Gray and never looked back, stopping the timer at 6.566, 210.70 to Gray’s 6.587 at 211.03.  Allen Johnson ended Stanfield’s day in the semifinals, getting out first and just holding off Stanfield’s 6.559 at 210.87 with a 6.555 at 210.70.

 

“Overall, it was a good day for us,” said crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia.  “We won some important rounds and that made a difference in the point chase.  We were able to try some different things during the weekend and learn from it.”

 

The team’s next outing is at Bristol, Tenn., June 12-14.

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Allen Johnson Wins All Mopar Final
Jun.06

Allen Johnson Wins All-Mopar NHRA Pro Stock Final at Englishtown

• Mopar Dodge Avenger driver defeats Vincent Nobile in all-Mopar final round
• Johnson claims his first victory of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
• Team Mopar veteran earns ninth career win in 22 final-round appearances

Auburn Hills, Mich. —  Mopar® Dodge Avenger NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson earned his first win of the season today at the 42nd Annual NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., defeating teammate Vincent Nobile in an all-Mopar final round to earn his ninth career win in 22 final-round appearances.

Johnson won at the starting line, as Nobile, who also competes with Mopar HEMI® engines supplied by Roy Johnson, Allen’s father, fouled out on a red-light start by a mere 0.006-seconds. Allen Johnson, owner and driver of the J&J Racing Mopar Dodge Avenger, turned in a pass of 6.689-seconds at 210.64 mph with a reaction time of 0.013 in the final round. The matchup marked the first all-Mopar Dodge final in Pro Stock since the Fall 2009 Las Vegas event (Larry Morgan vs. Rickie Jones).

“It feels great to win,” said an exuberant Johnson. “We’ve been close this season. This Mopar Dodge Avenger has been fast, and we always have plenty of power with the Mopar HEMI under the hood. We have been taking a different approach this year and have been working into developing a good product with this new chassis. I think we are almost there, but not quite. We are almost where we want to be with six races left until the Countdown. We are still refining things, and continue to work hard each and every day.”

“All of us at Mopar are proud of Allen’s performance,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “Having two Mopar-powered Dodge cars in the final round serves as a validation of the power and performance of our Mopar HEMI engines in NHRA competition.”

Johnson, the No. 6 qualifier, downed Kurt Johnson (no relation) in the first round with a run of 6.536/211.86 to his opponent’s 6.671/209.43. In the quarterfinals Allen Johnson used a 0.029 reaction time to defeat Erica Enders, recording a run of 6.533/211.23 to Ender’s 6.547/211.36 mark with a 0.031 reaction time. The semifinals found AJ matched up against veteran Greg Stanfield. Johnson’s reaction time of 0.030, followed by a run of 6.555/210.70, helped the Mopar Dodge driver edge Stanfield, who ran a 6.559/210.87 with a reaction time of 0.040.

“It was great to have two Mopar-powered Dodge Avengers in the final, especially with Vincent being the car that we power and help out,” said Johnson. “Once again Mopar power has proven it can get the job done, and that’s our recipe for the rest of the season. Earlier in the year, we almost had a couple of final rounds that would have put Vincent and us against each other, so to do that here today, it felt great.”

Johnson, who moved up to seventh in the NHRA Pro Stock points after the win on Sunday, will look to carry the momentum from his win into the 11th Annual Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol Dragway, his home track, June 17–19. Bristol is just an hour north of the J&J Racing Shop in Greeneville, Tenn., with Johnson seeking his first career win at the venue.

“Momentum in racing anytime is great, but to have some heading into your home race is even better,” shared the Team Mopar veteran. “The car is very consistent right now and we can continue to fine tune it and learn things. We are really looking forward to heading to Bristol and hopefully we can keep it going for Mopar and Dodge, and make it two wins in a row.”
   

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Worsham Leads All Qualifiers Ater Day 1
Jun.04

Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Shane Gray (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also took the provisional top spots in their categories at the eighth of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Hight, who is coming off his third win of the season two weeks ago in Topeka, drove his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a 4.090-second pass at 310.34 mph to become the provisional top qualifier in Funny Car. If it stands, it would be his first No. 1 qualifier of the season, 39th of his career, and second consecutive at Raceway Park.

“Jimmy Prock [crew chief] told me that we weren’t going to get crazy, but we were going to just try to get down the track because that’s what we’ve been lacking,” said Hight. “We hadn’t been consistent until Sunday in Topeka. We’ve had some good luck here in qualifying, but I’ve never won here, and this is one of them that you want to win. It’s as big as Gainesville and Indy because there’s so much history here.”

Points leader and Hight's teammate Mike Neff sits 14th, and defending event winner Bob Tasca III is third after two qualifying sessions.

In Top Fuel, Worsham drove his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a 3.785 at 322.34 mph in the final qualifying session of the day to take the provisional No. 1 spot. If it stands, it would be Worsham’s second of the season and seventh of his career.

“When conditions like that come along, I’m glad that Alan Johnson is the tuner of my car because, man, what a job he and the team did,” said Worsham. “We smoked the tires the first run, and we smoked the tires the last run in Topeka, on E2, and you think they might be conservative, but a guy like Alan just went right out there for the throat. In the words of Alan, 'we went from the [outhouse] to the henhouse in one run.' ”

Defending event winner and world champion Larry Dixon will enter Saturday qualifying fourth in the field, and recent race winner Spencer Massey sits second.

In Pro Stock, Gray raced to the provisional top spot in his Service Central Pontiac GXP just one race after capturing his first win of the season. If his run of 6.510 at 212.46 mph stands, it would be his first No. 1 qualifier.

“Right now, I just think we are on a roll, but it’s like a roller coaster, and right now, we’re on the top of the hill,” said Gray. “A lot of guys have it better than we do. We’re just trying to get better each day.”

Rookie Savoie rode his White Alligator Racing Suzuki to the top of the field in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.836 at 192.74 mph. If it stands, it would be the first of his career.

“After our loss in Atlanta, we stumbled on a couple of things that were not exactly right with the motorcycle,” said Savoie. “Mark [Peiser, crew chief] wanted to come to Englishtown and see what kind of progress we’ve made on the changes we’ve made. I feel very blessed to be here. This is my fourth race, and they’ve all been good. I don’t know if it will hold up, but it’s good for now.”

Melanie Troxel set a national record en-route to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position Friday for the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Troxel drove her ProCare Rx ’53 Corvette to a record-setting run of 5.800-seconds at 258.71 mph to set the national record for both time and speed. If it stands, it would be Troxel’s first No. 1 qualifier of the season in the fifth event of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

“The Corvette had itself figured out,” said Troxel. “Steve Petty [tuner] is doing a great job with that car. We’ve nicknamed it The Silver Bullet. It’s just flying down there all on its own in spite of anything I might be doing behind the wheel.”

Points leader Khalid Balooshi currently sits 13th in the field with a run of 6.030 at 240.04 mph, and Troxel’s teammate and car owner, Roger Burgess, sits 19th with a run of 6.348 at 191.51 mph.

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Troxel Sets New NHRA ProMod World Record
Jun.04

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 3) – In her first weekend of racing the turbocharged '53 ProCare Rx Corvette, Melanie Troxel set the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series NHRA National Record on Friday night at the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Troxel made a best pass of 5.800 seconds at 258.71 mph to reset the bar. That run was backed up by her initial run of the day, which was a 5.808 at 257.33 mph.

"I'm feeling a little guilty because I feel like I haven’t paid my dues in that car yet to go and set the national record on my first and second runs," said Troxel, who is also the provisional No. 1 qualifier. "It's pretty incredible and I'm having a great time in the car. But I'm looking over my shoulder because I'm afraid the boss is going to want to repossess his car."

The boss is R2B2 Racing owner/driver Roger Burgess, who this week switched to a turbo '68 ProCare Rx Firebird, and is on the outside looking in with one qualifying round to go Saturday. Troxel said she's still adapting to racing a turbo car.

"I'm still getting used to the starting line procedure; it's totally different than my supercharged Camaro," Troxel said. "It's going to take me a little time to adapt, but the car is very forgiving and a lot of fun to drive.

"The Corvette had itself figured out. (Tuner) Steve Petty is doing a great job with that car. We've nicknamed it 'The Silver Bullet.' It's just flying down there all on its own, in spite of anything I might be doing behind the wheel."

Troxel said that something special was possible when she arrived at the track Friday morning.

"We knew coming in here we were going to have mid-70-degree weather, and that's ideal for drag racing in general," she said. "I heard the track itself was in excellent condition, as smooth and flat as it has ever been. Everything pointed to that it could happen."

The previous ET record was a 5.817 second pass by teammate Raymond Commisso in 2009. If Troxel leaves the event with the record she will be rewarded with 10 bonus points.

After the final round of Pro Mod qualifying Saturday morning, the first round of eliminations are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

As a bonus, it looks like Troxel's ProCare Rx Toyota Funny Car has worked its way out of its early season funk by grabbing the provisional No. 6 spot on the ladder with a best pass of 4.135 seconds at 307.37 mph.

"We made a very good pass in the Funny Car and it's feeling good," Troxel said. "We've got a lot of guests from PAETEC with us this weekend and it was great that we were able to put on a great show for everyone who is here."

PAETEC is on Troxel's car as an associate sponsor again this weekend. PAETEC is a nationwide provider of voice and data services along with communication equipment to business customers.

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Tony Pedregon's Nitro Fish FC 9th
Jun.04

Tony Pedregon ninth after first day at Englishtown

 

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Tony Pedregon took advantage of cooler Friday evening track conditions and a different combination to jump into the ninth provisional qualifying position for Sunday’s NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

 

Pedregon’s Nitro Fish Funny Car was timed in 4.169 seconds at 292.77 mph under the lights after his opening round 1,000-foot lap of 4.976 at 155.22.

 

“Because we miss-judged the track (conditions) in the first session,” Pedregon said, “we pulled the tune -up back and made a conservative run in session two.  We will look to improve in Saturday’s two sessions.”

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Testing Paying Off For Enders
Jun.04

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 3) – ZaZa Energy Chevy Cobalt driver Erica Enders knew it was a good run after hearing her Cagnazzi Racing crew members' reaction over the radio.

Enders made a best pass of 6.510 seconds at 211.93 mph Friday to grab the No. 2 spot in Pro Stock after two rounds of qualifying for the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Enders' elapsed time matched Shane Gray as the two broke the track record at the fabled drag strip. Gray is currently No. 1 with a slightly better speed, 212.46, with two qualifying sessions remaining Saturday.

"Just to hear the excitement in their voices when the scoreboard lit up, that's what matters to me," Enders said. "That makes it fun when they're happy. To get to hear the fun in their voices is exciting to me."

Enders believes there is more speed in the ZaZa Energy Chevrolet.

"There's definitely some left in that run, which is great," Enders said. "But it stinks because we missed the No. 1 spot by a couple tenths of a mile an hour. There's a lot of fast cars out there, and we're certainly one of them. They know we're here."

Enders and her team tested in North Carolina last week, making 12 runs in an effort to find more speed in the car.

"We worked very hard testing, and this is proving that we learned something," Enders said. "Hard work does pay off, but we've still got a lot of work to do. We're definitely taking steps in the right direction.

"It's a true challenge to get these cars to go down the race track, not only from a driver's standpoint, but my entire crew. It was definitely a team effort."

Qualifying at the NHRA SuperNationals resumes at noon EDT on Saturday.

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Hight Stays On Hot Path
Jun.04

HIGHT BEST OF SHOW ON FRIDAY AT SUPERNATIONALS

OLD BRIDGE, NJ --- Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang picked up where they left off in Topeka, a race he won two weeks ago, racing to the provisional No.1 spot on Friday at the NHRA SuperNationals. Hight closed out the final qualifying session running beside the quickest Funny Car from the first session, Cruz Pedregon, and he was able to post a 4.090 second time at a whopping 310.34 mph as Pedregon smoked the tires beside him. Hight outran fellow Ford driver Tim Wilkerson by four thousandths of a second for the provisional top spot.

“I think everyone was playing it smart tonight. You look at Cruz. That Snap-On Toyota either goes and is No. 1 or he smokes the tires. When he has it right he has the best car right now. He is probably two hundredths better than anyone else out here. He was the one I was figuring was going to get low ET tonight. He made a decent run the first run. I still can’t believe that 4.09 is No. 1. We’ll take it.”

Hight knows that getting a good run on Friday night can be a key to getting a leg up in racing on Sunday. He also recognizes that qualifying efforts sometimes do not equate to Sunday round wins at one of the most historic races on the circuit.

“You really want to be in the top half for Sunday. We made a decent run today in the first session, actually the best run in the right lane. (Crew chief) Jimmy Prock just said we are not going to get crazy. We are going to make sure we go down the track. That is what we have been lacking the last few races,” said Hight a three time winner on 2011.

“We have just not been consistent. Sunday at Topeka we got it together and I really feel like we are on our way now. We are looking forward to these hot tracks. I have had a lot of luck here before in qualifying but I have never won this thing. This is one that when you retire you want to have won. It is as big as the Gatornationals in Gainesville and Indy. There is so much history here. The fans love Nitro and they love Funny Cars.”

While Hight was running away from the field teammates Mike Neff and John Force were struggling with tricky track conditions. Before the second qualifying session Neff took a few minutes to talk with New Jersey News 12 meteorologist Dave Curran about how important weather conditions are to making great runs before he climbed into his Castrol GTX Mustang. The great weather did not play into Neff’s favor as the track conditions derailed a number to teams qualifying efforts.

“The track was 95 degrees. It should have been better. We were even being more conservative than what we normally would. The track didn’t seem very good the first run,” said Neff. “For the little change that we made to get that result is just uncharacteristic. It wasn’t only us. Half the field did the same thing. Not everybody is that stupid. Those are good track conditions and everybody should have been able to go ripping down that race track.”

 “It is very frustrating. You have good track conditions and something is not normal. I know the power is good here and we adjust for all that. We don’t have any more power here than we did at Gainesville or Houston. We correct for that. We went down it the first run. It was running good. We came back and made one little move and it looks like we did three times as much. It smokes the tires like that shows me that there is something weird out there. It happens though. (hears TF smoke tires) See you hear that something is wrong out there. ”

Both Neff and Force will have to use their two sessions tomorrow to get into the show. Their quickest qualifying times today of 5.108 (Neff) and 5.136 (Force) seconds will not carry over into Saturday since they were the 14^th and 15^th quickest of the day respectively.

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Stanfield's 6.532 Good For Ninth
Jun.04

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Greg Stanfield took advantage of cooler Friday evening conditions to turn in his quickest quarter-mile run of 6.532 seconds at 210.93 mph that put him in ninth place as NHRA’s SuperNationals got underway at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

 

“We stepped up and ran better, but it wasn’t as good as we wanted,” said Stanfield, driver of the Nitro Fish/Coffman Tank Trucks GXP.  “We've been working on a new combination and we need to run better on Saturday.”

 

His first attempt came in at 6.657, 210.64 mph.  He has two more runs Saturday.

 

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Career Best For GT Tonglet
Jun.04

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – GT Tonglet made the quickest quarter-mile run of his career Friday evening and was 11th in the provisional starting line-up for Sunday’s NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

 

After fighting mechanical woes for two races, the changes made to the new Tonglet Racing Nitro Fish Suzuki in the last two weeks resulted in competitive runs for the first time in three races.   His best was 6.951 seconds at 191.19 mph.

 

“That was the first time I’ve run six seconds,” he said, but the last time he competed regularly was in 2006.  “The bike is finally showing positive signs.  It’s leaving the line like it should.  I’m very happy.”

 

He started the day with a lap at 7.040 at 187.13.

 

“We made some adjustments for the second run . . . and the bike really like them.  We’ll try to pick up the 60-foot time for Saturday.  The bike feels good going down the track, he said.”

 

He has two more laps on tap Saturday.

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Nitro Fish's LE Tonglet Seventh
Jun.04

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – LE Tonglet was seventh Friday in provisional Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying for Sunday’s NHRA Super Nationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. 

 

His Tonglet Racing Nitro Fish Suzuki GSXR posted a time of 6.893 seconds at 190.83 mph in the cooler evening weather.   His first run Friday was 6.956 at 189.44.

 

“We picked up the pace on the second run, but it wasn’t as much as we wanted,” Tonglet said.  “We’ll talk things over and figure out what we’re going to do for Saturday’s (final two) runs.”

 

He is attempting to win his second straight Full Throttle Drag Racing event.

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Wilkerson # 2 Heading Into Day 2
Jun.04

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Payne Pays Tribute To NYFD
Jun.04

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 3) -- When one thinks of New Jersey they don't exactly think of New York but veteran drag racer Jay Payne does. The 2006 Pro Mod champ knows that running his FireIce Camaro means a lot to firefighters everywhere but there's a soft spot in his heart for the FDNY.

"This is an extra special race for us," Payne said. "We're in Jersey but we're so close to New York City and everyone loves the FDNY and we do especially, so we really love this race."

Payne takes his FireIce Camaro to the 42nd running of the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park with hopes of making his best showing of the 2011 season.

"I'm ready to go some rounds this weekend," Payne said. "We've been struggling so far this season. Honestly, I have fun no matter what the result but winning is always more fun than losing."

The past series champ made it to the final round at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 2007 but has not been able to capture a victory at the legendary facility in his FireIce Pro Mod car. Payne hopes that will all change this weekend.

"Of course I want to win," Payne said, "I want to win every race we show up to. This one is extra special though. If we could seal the deal here it would mean a lot to us and the entire FireIce team."

In Englishtown, Payne will be saluting the nation's 1.1 million firefighters with his FireIce-branded racecar, which carries the logos of the Leary Firefighters Foundation (www.learyfirefighters.org), Angel Faces (www.angelfacesretreat.org), and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (www.firehero.org).

Recently added to the United States Forest Service's Qualified Products List, FireIce is an environmentally friendly fire suppression gel firefighters add to water to help extinguish fires much quicker than with water alone. FireIce was created by GelTech Solutions, a publicly traded corporation (OTCBB: GLTC).

Get Screened America Pro Mod Series qualifying gets under way at 3:15 p.m. EDT Friday at the NHRA SuperNationals. There will be one more round of qualifying at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, which will be followed by the first elimination round at 4:15 p.m. Eliminations will conclude on Sunday.

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Get Screened America Pro Mod Points
Apr.04

LAS VEGAS -- Point standings (top 10) for Get Screened America Pro Mod Series following the 12th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the second of ten events in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series -

1.  Khalid Baloosh  194
2.  Rickie Smith  138
3.  Danny Rowe 137
4.  Roger Burgess   118
5. Kenny Lang, 112
6.  Ed Hoover  88
7.  (tie) Raymond Commisso  87
     Brad Personett   87
9.  Michael Gullqvist   77
10.  Von Smith  76

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Get Screened America Pro Mod Results
Apr.04

LAS VEGAS – Khalid Balooshi raced to his second victory of the season Sunday in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.

Balooshi outran veteran drag racer Rickie Smith in the final round at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In a battle between two nitrous-injected ’68 Camaros, Balooshi posted a 5.983 at 237.13 in his Speedtech entry to power away from Smith, whose car trailed with a 6.012 at 237.71.

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NHRA Professional Points Following Vegas Race
Apr.04

LAS VEGAS -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 12th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the third of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -  

Top Fuel

 1.  Del Worsham, 265; 2.  Antron Brown, 257; 3.  Tony Schumacher, 222; 4.  Larry Dixon, 208; 5. Spencer Massey, 191; 6.  Morgan Lucas, 179; 7.  Shawn Langdon, 170; 8.  Brandon Bernstein, 168; 9. Doug Kalitta, 157; 10.  Steve Torrence, 118. 

Funny Car 

1.  Robert Hight, 289; 2.  Cruz Pedregon, 241; 3.  Mike Neff, 238; 4.  Matt Hagan, 210; 5.  Johnny Gray, 191; 6.  Jack Beckman, 172; 7.  Ron Capps, 157; 8.  Jeff Arend, 156; 9.  John Force, 154; 10. Tony Pedregon, 137.

 Pro Stock 

1.  Jason Line, 290; 2.  Greg Stanfield, 221; 3.  Greg Anderson, 214; 4.  Mike Edwards, 201; 5. Vincent Nobile, 178; 6.  Rodger Brogdon, 172; 7.  Erica Enders, 169; 8.  Ron Krisher, 167; 9. Shane Gray, 135; 10.  Allen Johnson, 128.

 

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NHRA Vegas Reults
Apr.04

LAS VEGAS – Robert Hight continued John Force Racing’s domination of the Funny Car category by racing to victory Sunday at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also were winners at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

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Capps Looking To Improve
Apr.01

LAS VEGAS, MARCH 28, 2011 – Ron Capps is looking forward to this weekend’s SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals here on the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway because to the driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car this is a home race.

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Langdon Looking For A Win and Fun
Apr.01

LAS VEGAS (March 28) -- Unlike most visitors to Glitter Gulch, Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon, the pilot of the Lucas Oil/Speedco dragster, isn't looking for luck when he arrives at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for this weekend's 12th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.

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Hagan Eager To Get Back Racing
Apr.01

MATT HAGAN EAGER TO HIT THE STRIP

FOR THIS WEEK’S RACE IN LAS VEGAS

 

LAS VEGAS, March 28, 2011 –  Matt Hagan enjoyed his time off between races, but is anxious to resume racing his DieHard Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car this weekend in the 12th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals here on the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

 “It was great having time at home with the family and I got a lot done on the farm,” said the 28-year-old cattle farmer from Christiansburg, Va. “But I’m ready to get back to racing. With two off weeks between the last race and now, it seems like we’ve been off for the winter. 

“And once we go down the track for the first qualifying session (scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, April 1), I’ll be back into the groove.” 

Hagan’s desire to resume the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is understandable – he sits in second place of the Funny Car championship following the first two races of the season, thanks to a final-round appearance in the Winternationals followed by a semifinal one at the Gatornationals.

 In addition, he took the pole position and set low elapsed time (4.030 seconds) for the Gainesville race a little more than two weeks ago.

“Tommy DeLago (crew chief) has the DieHard Dodge running really well,” said the Don Schumacher Racing driver. “We’ve done well in Vegas before and we have some great data to work from for this race.”

 He was runner up during the last race here in November 2010 and won the pole en route to a final-round appearance during the 2009 spring race. Last spring he qualified third and reached the quarterfinals.

 “I like racing in Vegas,” Hagan said. “The track’s been good to us and, well, it’s Vegas.”

 

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Edmund Halls' Baby Promod Shootout at Montgomery Motorsports Park
Mar.23

COVERAGE: Edmund Hall's Baby Promod Shootout Invades Montgomery Motorsports Park

Edmund Hall’s Baby Promod event invaded Montgomery Motorsports Park this past weekend, celebrating 12 Years for the event that forever changed Heads Up Racing in the South.

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“Buy Back” Billy, Ashe, and Pruitt among Super 7 Series Season Opener Winners
Mar.14

“Buy Back” Billy, Ashe, and Pruitt among Super 7 Series Season Opener Winners: Event Photos

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Tonglet, Koretsky Receive Champ Rings
Mar.07

LE Tonglet and Kenny Koretsky returned Sunday to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to collect large, diamond-studded rings signifying Tonglet’s NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship.

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Hight Credits Special Coin As Lucky Charm
Mar.06

YORBA LINDA, CA ---Minutes after Robert Hight and his Jimmy Prock tuned Auto Club Ford Mustang raced to a season opening win at the 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals Hight was giving some of the credit to a lucky charm he picked up from a fellow Ford teammate last season. In honor of the Wood Brothers dominating performance at the Daytona 500 Hight raced all day with a commemorative coin Eddie and Len Wood gave him at Charlotte’s zMax Dragway in 2010.

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Schumacher Offers Special Hospitality
Mar.06

zMAX Dragway takes Fan Accessibility to Another Level with Limited Number of Don Schumacher Racing Hospitality Package 

CONCORD, N.C. (March 1, 2011) - NHRA fans are already used to the unmatched accessibility to the drivers of their sport, thanks to every ticket to an NHRA event being a pit pass, but that experience will be taken to the next level with the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality package at the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

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Gainesville Always Emotional For Bernstein
Mar.06

GAINESVILLE AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER FOR BRANDON BERNSTEIN

 GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Tire Kingdom Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway March 11-13 marks the second stop on the NHRA 60th anniversary tour.  As the Kenny Bernstein-owned Copart Top Fuel team prepares for competition, he and his son Brandon open the vault to some of their memories.

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Stanfield Happy With Winter Nats R/up
Mar.06

Greg Stanfield runner-up at Winternationals

 Three weeks ago, Greg Stanfield didn’t think he would be racing in NHRA’s Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals at Pomona, Calif.   

On Sunday, he came within a few ticks of the timer of winning the Pro Stock title at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.  

Stanfield, driving the Team Safety Sentry Motorsports Pontiac GXP in its debut with Yonke Motorsports and Coffman Tank Trucks, was on his way to victory on a cold night in Southern California.  He left the starting line two-hundredths of a second ahead of rival Jason Line. “Unfortunately, the tires spun off the line and shook and there wasn’t much I could do.” 

Line won with an elapsed time of 6.529 seconds at 211.89 mph to Stanfield’s 6.595 at 211.70. 

“We are excited about our performance, considering the sponsorship only came together three weeks ago.  We worked hard to get everything together in time to come to Pomona.” 

Stanfield eliminated Buddy Perkinson, Ron Krisher and Ronnie Humphreys to reach the finals.

 

 

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ADRL Returning To Memphis In 2011
Mar.06

ADRL Adds Memphis International Raceway to the Schedule as 10th Race for 2011 Tour 

O’FALLON, MO (March 4, 2011) – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is bringing big crowds, breathtaking racing, world-record speeds and a grand opening back to Memphis International Raceway in 2011.

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Parts Plus To Sponsor Millican
Mar.06

Parts Plus to sponsor NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican for 12 races

 Popular Top Fuel driver Clay Millican, the pride of Drummonds, Tenn., is returning to NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series action with primary sponsorship from Memphis-based Parts Plus.

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Gainesville NHRA Div II Results
Feb.22

FINAL RESULTS ARE IN FROM GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (February 21, 2011) – In the second of six races in NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division, two drivers have started off the season with two wins each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Super Gas.

Al Moeser, Hilltown, Pa., won last week at Bradenton Motorsports Park and continued his winning streak all the way through the weekend at Gainesville Raceway with a win in Top Alcohol Dragster.  Moeser’s 6.519 second victory at 221.09 mph was enough to defeat John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., who ran 7.538 seconds at 242.19 mph.  Peter Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., also extended his winning streak over the weekend.  Last week, he took home top honors at Bradenton in Super Gas and did the same yesterday at Gainesville in Super Gas and Super Stock.  Driving his ’63 Corvette for 9.918 seconds at 154.55 mph, he defeated Carl Freeman, Fernandina Beach, Fla., in his ’90 Trans Am in Super Gas.  In Super Stock, Biondo drove his ’00 Firebird for 9.729 at 134.91 mph, and defeated Jerry Silveus from Van Buren, Ohio.

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ADRL Releases Its 2011 Competition Licensing Policy
Feb.22

ADRL Releases Its 2011 Competition Licensing Policy
by Agent DC on February 22, 2011

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Safety Sentry Motorsports teams up with Greg Stanfield and Angie Smith
Feb.22

Safety Sentry Motorsports teams up with Greg Stanfield and Angie Smith

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Long adds Cancer Foundation to '63
Feb.22

Moncks Corner SC* - For Carol Long the 2011 season in her 63 Corvette is looking very bright. The team based in Moncks Corner SC, will be representing The World Motorsports Breast Cancer Foundation all season."I am very excited to be associated with such a worthwhile foundation, millions of women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and it it a honor to be able to spread the word about this disease with my racing." Long said.

"The foundation got in touch with Carol though Facebook when I had decided it was time that we expand into the racing industry.  Since there are few NASCAR female drivers I started looking at Drag racing. 

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Lamb Kicks Off 2011 Season with Double Victory
Feb.15

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New Racing Facility Coming To Americus GA
Feb.12

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - A $12-million motorsports complex is coming to Americus. The developer says it will rival an Atlanta track.

 

Star Racing's George and Jackie Bryce released a site plan for the complex that will include a quarter mile concrete drag strip, a road racing circuit similar to Road Atlanta, and a technology park for Motorsports related businesses.

 

The complex will also include a training facility for drivers education and law enforcement training.

 

The Sumter County Commission approved a zoning change that allows Star Racing to build the complex across from South Georgia Technical College near Carter Regional Airport.

 

Construction is expected to begin later this year.

 

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Nitro Fish To Sponsor Chrisman In T/F
Feb.07

Steve Chrisman joins Nitro Fish Racing team for 2011 season

 Steve Chrisman was born to be a drag racer.  One of his earliest memories is watching his father Jack win the inaugural NHRA Winternationals in 1960.

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Wilkerson Ready For 2011
Feb.07

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (February 7, 2011) -- While many of the top professional teams on the NHRA Full Throttle tour have recently been testing in Florida, making lap after lap of "spring training" runs prior to the start of the 2011 season, fans of Levi, Ray & Shoup driver Tim Wilkerson may have noticed that things are "all quiet on the Wilkerson front."  Too quiet?  Not according to the popular Funny Car contender from the Land of Lincoln.  For Wilkerson, it's simply a matter of following the plan and not deviating from the norm.

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Royal Purple Raceway's Ultimate Experience
Feb.03

HOUSTON (Feb. 3) -- Following a tradition of delivering the best possible experience for its guests, Royal Purple Raceway (formerly Houston Raceway Park) will offer fans attending the 24th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals a special once-in-a-lifetime ticket package.

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Service Central Racing 2011 Roster
Feb.02

Service Central Racing 2011 Roster Includes Talent, Youth, Experience
Plus High-Profile Team Ownership in NHRA, IndyCar Series 

Graham Rahal, Johnny Gray, Shane Gray,
Dom Lagana to showcase Service Central Racing colors

JUNO, Fla. (Feb. 1,  2011) -- TBC Retail Group, which operates the popular tire and automotive service centers, Tire Kingdom®, NTB - National Tire and Battery®, Merchant's Tire and Auto Centers® and Big O Tires®, today announced that it has its primary-sponsored, four-driver Service Central Racing® team roster in place and ready to contend for victories in 2011.

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NHRA History: A Snake is born
Feb.02

NHRA History: A Snake is born
by NHRA on February 2, 2011

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Nitro Jam and IHRA coming to Tucson
Feb.02

After a few weeks of deliberation culminating with a unanimous vote by the racers, the International Hot Rod Association and Feld Motor Sports is proud to announce that Tucson, Ariz. based dragstrip Merles Southwestern International Raceway has joined the IHRA family of member tracks.

Merles Southwestern International Raceway has confirmed that the venue will be sanctioned by the IHRA and, according to new owner LJ Motorsports and CEO Bernie Longjohn, the IHRA affiliation will bring with it many racer friendly programs including the Summit SuperSeries and Teen Championship Racing, culminating with the southwestern United States debut of the fastest growing motorsports event in the country as Nitro Jam comes to SIR the weekend of March 25-26 with one of the biggest shows of the year.

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Thornton welcomes Lucas Oil for 2011
Feb.02

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Nitro Jam Season Opener at Palm Beach International Raceway
Feb.02

Nitro Jam Season Opener at Palm Beach Results

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ADRL Adds Ford Safety Truck and Staff For 2011 Season
Feb.02

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MMP Super 7 Series New Structure
Jan.31

The Super 7 series at Montgomery Motorsports Park in Alabama will be revamped for 2011 first we have a few rule changes for this year.

1. Double entry rule: Two people can drive the same car in one class but one driver CANNOT drive the same car twice.
2. Door cars will run each other in elimination until completion of third round. After third round they will fall into next round with rest of field.
3. Non-Electronics class this season will be No-Box IHRA rules. Transbrakes will be allowed.
4. New Purse Stucture

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Janis to Run VP Race Fuels in 2011
Jan.31

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RJ Race Cars, Quarter-Max Named Major Sponsor For 2011 ADRL Tour
Jan.31

by Agent DC on February 2, 2011

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Performance by Fisher Announces New Limited Production Weld Racing Dragster Front
Jan.31

Performance by Fisher Announces New Weld Racing Dragster Front
by Agent DC on January 31, 2011

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Bob Elliott to be Inducted into Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame
Jan.31

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60 Greatest Moments in NHRA's 60-year History
Jan.31

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Wes Collier named General Manager of Indy
Jan.31

GLENDORA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2011) —Wes Collier has been named general manager of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, it was announced today by NHRA.  Collier had been serving as acting general manager of the historic facility since August 2010.

 “Since taking over as acting general manager, Wes has shown strong leadership capabilities,” said Peter Clifford, executive vice president and general manager of NHRA.  “Wes has gained the trust and respect of sponsors, marketing partners and the racing community at Lucas Oil Raceway and has demonstrated a desire to expand the facility’s offerings and services.”

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ADRL's new 2011 Rainout Policy
Jan.31

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DC Congratulates all 2010 Champions
Jan.27

DragCoverage Congratulates 2010 Champions
by TJ Pruitt on January 27, 2011

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Kentucky racers dominate at Hangover Nationals
Jan.27

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Ashley Pregnant, Neff Back In Seat
Jan.27

Ashley Pregnant, Neff Back In Seat
by NHRA on January 27, 2011

In the most dramatic development in a day of announcements at John Force Racing Inc., Ashley Force Hood, the two-time reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil champion and one of the brightest young stars on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour, revealed that this year she is giving up one family car for another. 

After she was introduced as the new president of John Force Entertainment, a JFR subsidiary that will develop TV, film, and book projects from new video production facilities at the Yorba Linda, Calif., compound, Force Hood announced that she and husband Dan are expecting their first child in August.

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Bogacki & I-57 Spring Door Car Shootout
Jan.27

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Mike Janis’ New ADRL Ride Coming out of Andy McCoy Race Cars
Jan.27

Mike Janis’ New ADRL Ride Coming out of Andy McCoy Race Cars
by Mike Janis Racing Inc.on January 27, 2011

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NHRA Announces 3 Additional Index Classes
Jan.27

The 2011 Division 2 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events will feature an addition of 3 select “index” classes to the program.  All three index classes will be running for the coveted Wally trophy and will be collecting points toward the 2011 Division 2 Championship title.

Rules will parallel the popular NHRA Unleashed program and are available at www.nhraunleashed.com. 

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It's Official...The Million at Montgomery
Jan.27

It's official...The Million Dollar Race Weekend will be at Montgomery!

BRADENTON, Fla. – (January 20, 2011) – The 16th Annual Million Dollar Race Weekend has officially been scheduled for 2011. It will be held October 19th thru 23rd at the Montgomery MotorSports Park in Montgomery, Alabama. This year's car count is projected to be at 300+ with a combined pay‐out forecasted to exceed the $600,000.00 mark over the four day racing schedule.

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Monroe Awarded Division 3 Driver of the Year
Jan.27

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Johnny Gray moves over to Funny Car and DSR
Jan.27

Johnny Gray moves over to Funny Car and DSR
by Agent DC on January 27, 2011

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New combination for McMillen in 2011
Jan.27

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Carpenter Honored as Hall of Fame Inductee
Jan.27

Carpenter Honored as 2011 North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductee

Emerging from the most difficult period of his life, Charles Carpenter’s hope for 2011 is that it improves dramatically over a devastating 2010. The year will kick off on a high note this weekend when Carpenter is inducted into the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2011.  The Hall of Fame inductions will be the focal point of the 9th Annual Shriners Drag Racing & Hot Rod Expo, to be held this Friday and Saturday, January 21 & 22, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. The induction ceremony will begin at 1:30 PM on Saturday.

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Holzhauer to team up with Speir for 2011 Midwest Series; Testing Successful
Jan.27

Holzhauer to team up with Speir for 2011 Midwest Series
by DragCoverage.com on January 27, 2011

One of the fastest tuners in Outlaw 330 racing , Jim Speir, will tune the Whaley powered Halfscale dragster of Brendan and Brad Holzhauer in 2011.  The team, along with Jim and his son Will Speir, completed 4 test sessions this winter, between Montgomery and Valdosta, and are ready for the Midwest Jr. Super Series 330 Outlaw Class. 

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Musi joins B1 Racing to tune Khalid
Jan.25

DOHA, Qatar (January 12, 2011) - For B1 Racing's Khalid Mohammed, the news that veteran engine builder and eight-time Pro Street world champion Pat Musi was joining the team as the crew chief on his Pro Nitrous entry came as great news on many levels. It's well known in the Pro Mod world that Pat Musi builds great engines and can generate championship-winning horsepower, and that alone would make most drivers ecstatic. But for Mr. Mohammed, there's history here.

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New TMRC Promod for Mike Knowles
Jan.24

New TMRC Promod for Mike Knowles - '68 Camaro
by Agent DC on January 25, 2011

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Kurt Busch earns NHRA Pro Stock license and ready for Gainesville
Jan.24

Kurt Busch earns NHRA Pro Stock license and ready for Gainesville
by NHRA on January 24, 2011

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Lucas Oil Products Acquires Naming Rights to Historic NHRA Facility in Indianapolis
Jan.24

Lucas Oil Products Acquires Naming Rights to Historic Indianapolis
by NHRA on January 24, 2011

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Schedule change for NHRA Pacific Div.
Jan.24

GLENDORA, Calif. -- (Jan. 7, 2011) – NHRA announced today that the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event previously scheduled for Oct. 7-9, 2011 in Tucson, Ariz., has been moved to March 24-27 and will be held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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Tom Orr ready Quick 32 with NEW Stratus
Jan.24

SHAWVILLE, QUEBEC (January 7, 2011) – Veteran drag racer Tom Orr will not only return to the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts for 2011 with his Top Sportsman entry, he will be heading up a two-car team with his son Lance driving a Top Dragster.
 
“I’ve raced all over, and this is the best Series I’ve ever raced in,” said Orr, who drives a 2008 Dodge Stratus in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Top Sportsman class. “We’re not changing the car a great deal for this year, except that we have a new motor to go into the car.”
 
Orr explained he damaged the engine in the Stratus during the IHRA Nitro Jam event at Epping, NH late last year, but was able to take the runner-up spot in the Top Sportsman class.

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Enders Back Home At Cagnazzi Racing
Jan.21

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 21) -- Drag racing superstar Erica Enders began her Pro Stock career at Cagnazzi Racing in 2005 and quickly became the most prolific female driver in class history. In 2011, the 27-year-old from Houston is returning home to Cagnazzi Racing to hopefully add to her already impressive resume with one of the top teams in the sport.

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Million Dollar Race To Be Held At Montgomery Motorsports Park In 2011
Jan.20

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Geico Dragster On "How It's Made" TV Show
Jan.20

A crew from the popular Science Channel TV program How It's Made visited Morgan Lucas Racing last year to film a special show entitled "Dragsters" that will air for the first time at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21.

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U.S.19 & Holly Springs Now NHRA Sanctioned
Jan.20

U.S. 19 DRAGWAY BACK ON BOARD AS NHRA MEMBER TRACK; HOLLY SPRINGS DRAGWAY ALSO JOINS SOUTHEAST DIVISION 

GLENDORA, Calif.  NHRA recently announced the return of U.S. 19 Dragway in Albany, Ga., and the addition of Holly Springs Dragway in Holly Springs, Miss., to the list of NHRA sanctioned dragstrips.

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Romine brings ‘Man-O-War’ to Palm Beach
Jan.19

NORWALK, Ohio (January 6, 2011) – In 2010 the Nitro Jam series not only took the drag racing world by storm, but it established itself as the hip place to race for nostalgia nitro funny cars.  

In 2011, Nitro Jam will take that fact one step further. 

With an incredibly talented lineup of Prostalgia Nitro Funny Cars making headlines across the nation last season, Nitro Jam will take its funny car competition to another level this year with several new faces to compliment the already talent-laden list of drivers currently making up the tour. 

Romine brings his championship experience to the new class in 2011

And headlining the list of new faces in 2011 is three-time IHRA Top Fuel champion Paul Romine. Known around the country as one of the best in the sport today, Romine will join the Nitro Jam tour at the season opener in West Palm Beach and may participate in more events down the road. But for now, the event at Palm Beach International Raceway is shaping up to be one of the biggest of the year with

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Tigerflow and K&N to back Phillips for 3rd Season
Jan.19

Tigerflow and K&N to back Phillips for 3rd Season

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Vote for DragCoverage.com!
Dec.23

Vote for DragCoverage.com!
by Agent DC on December 22, 2010

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Art Peterson's Super Clean 1969 GTO SS
Dec.23

Feature: Art Peterson's Super Clean 1969 GTO SS
by Agent DC on December 23, 2010

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Troxel adds full Pro Mod schedule in 2011
Dec.22

Troxel adds full Pro Mod schedule to 22-race Funny Car slate

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Mark Sanders joins Prostalgia championship
Dec.22

In the world of nostalgia drag racing, car nicknames are often times a common place among the competitors.

From “Jungle Jim” to “Bullet Bob” and everything in between, car names can be anything from a reflection of the cars capabilities on the track to a random and sometimes off the wall nickname that stuck. But for some, a car nickname can be a direct reflection of the man sitting behind the wheel.

And that is where “Mr. Explosive” Mark Sanders comes in.

A relatively new face to the drag racing scene, Sanders has made quite a name for himself over the past few years as one of the most exciting men in drag racing. Drawing dozens of comparisons to famous straight-line racers such as John Force, Sanders has already taken the nostalgia scene by storm.

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Dream Ride Continues For Hunnicutt
Dec.22

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Merry Christmas from DragCoverage.com!
Dec.22

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Chad & Cory Hedgecock Represent Eagle Racing Engines with Phenomenal 2010 Season
Dec.21

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Moroso Investment Partners plans 2 Million in Memphis Motorsports Park Improvements - IHRA Facility in 2011
Dec.21

MOROSO plans 2 Million in Memphis Motorsports Park Improvements
by Agent DC on December 19, 2010

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19 Year Old Buddy Perkinson makes jump to NHRA Prostock
Dec.21

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RPM TECH ARTICLE: The Air that I Breathe
Dec.20

RPM TECH ARTICLE: Altronics - the Air that I Breathe
by RPM Magazine on December 20, 2010

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2010 ADRL Events Streamed Live
Dec.20

All ADRL Events From 2010 Season To Be Streamed Live on ADRL Website

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JEGS to partner with Kalitta Motorsports in 2011
Dec.20

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Williams Dominates the BTE Power Rankings
Dec.19

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VIDEO: Fast and Finchum
Dec.19

VIDEO: Fast and Finchum
by TJ Pruitt on December 19, 2010

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Rickie Jones to debut 1969 Camaro in 2011
Dec.19

Rickie Jones to debut 1969 Camaro in 2011
by Agent Dc on December 15, 2010

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Pro Slammers Are Back And Ready in 2011
Dec.19

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HOT ROD Magazine Power Tour Coming to Montgomery Motorsports Park
Dec.18

HOT ROD Magazine Power Tour Heads to Montgomery Motorsports Park in 2011
by Agent DC on December 18, 2010

Montgomery Motorsports Park is excited about the 2011 HOT ROD Magazine Power Tour which is coming to the track on Monday June 6, 2011. This is an exceptional event that you do not want to miss. Early registration ends Wednesday, May 25, 2011.

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Hinbest Racing donates to charity program
Dec.15

ORANGEVILLE, ONTARIO (December 15, 2010) – The Hinbest Racing team certainly enjoys racing its Top Dragster in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, but the team also gave to charity through its racing this year.
 
In a coordinated program with sponsor Ideal Supply, the team donated $50 to charity for every round win on the dragstrip during regular competition in 2010, and Ideal matched the team’s contribution.
 
“This was something we decided to do earlier,” said team driver Mike Hinbest. “The goal was to help raise money for charity while adding an extra incentive for me to win.”
 
With six round wins, Hinbest Racing and Ideal Supply contributed $600 this season to the Canadian Cancer Society.

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Joe Lubeck, Florida investor, bids $1.9 Million for Memphis Motorsports Park
Dec.15

Joe Lubeck, Florida investor, bids $1.9 Million for Memphis Motorsports Park
by Agent DC on December 16, 2010

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Davis Dominates Snowbirds to Double-Up at End of Season
Dec.15

Davis Dominates Snowbirds to Double -Up at End of Season
SUWANEE, GA (Dec. 14, 2010)

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Over Kill Motorsports Partners with DragCoverage.com
Dec.15

Over Kill Motorsports Partners with DragCoverage
by Agent DC on December 12, 2010

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Suburban Chevrolet Sponsors NHRA TS
Dec.15

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Jon Kaase Racing Engines On Board As ADRL Sponsor For 2011 Season
Dec.15

Jon Kaase Racing Engines On Board As ADRL Sponsor For 2011 Season 
ORLANDO, FL. (December 12, 2010)

Already the producer of engines for some of the top drivers in the highly-competitive Extreme Pro Stock (XPS) class, the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to announce that Jon Kaase Racing Engines will be a sponsor for the first time starting in 2011.

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Shorty Rader-2010 NHRA Super Pro Champ
Dec.12

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JR Todd to Debut PX '57 Chevy
Dec.09

JR Todd set to Debut Pro Extreme '57 Chevy
by Agent DC on December 10, 2010

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PHOTOS: Brand New Racing Surface at Holiday Raceway, Woodstock, AL
Dec.09

PHOTOS: Brand New Racing Surface at Holiday Raceway, Woodstock, AL
by Agent DC on December 10, 2010

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Bogacki’s Season Ends with a Pair of Division Titles, 2nd place National Finish
Dec.09

Bogacki’s Season Ends with a Pair of Division Titles, 2nd place National Finish
by Agetnt DC on December 10, 2010

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NHRA Hot Rod Heritage 2011 Schedule
Dec.09

NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series officials announced today the 2011 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing schedule, which includes affiliate events at Beech Bend Raceway Park and Maple Grove Raceway.

The Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion will be held June 16-18 at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky. and the Geezers at the Grove will be held July 2-3 at Maple Grove Raceway, in Reading, Pa.

In total, the 2011 schedule includes 11 events and will begin with the Arizona Fuel & Gas Nationals, March 5-6 at Speedworld Dragstrip in Wittmann, Ariz.

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Vegas Phenom Lamb Enjoys Another Successful Season
Dec.09

Vegas Phenom Lamb Enjoys Another Successful Season
by Luke Bogacki on December 10, 2010

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Cummings Team Wraps Up Extremely Successful Season
Dec.09

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Silly Season Begins! Massey Joins DSR for 2011 Season
Dec.09

Silly Season Begins! Massey Joins DSR for 2011 Season
by NHRA News Nuggets on December 10,2010

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UNOH To Sponsor McMillen's T/F Dragster
Dec.02

INDIANAPOLIS (December 2, 2010) -  The University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) and Terry McMillen's Hoosier Thunder Motorsports announced a unique year-long partnership today that will make UNOH the Major Associate sponsor on McMillen's Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season.

The University of Northwestern Ohio is located in Lima Ohio and grants master's, baccalaureate and associate degrees through their Colleges of Technologies, Business, and Distance Learning. The College of Technologies has a storied racing history with its involvement in ARCA, NASCAR, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 contested at the Bristol Motor Speedway and the UNOH Southern Slam 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Now UNOH joins McMillen on the NHRA tour to add drag racing to its list of racing involvement.

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Safe Is Fast Symposium Dec 11
Dec.01

RISING RACING STARS EXTOL THE VIRTUES OF THE RRDC/FIA YOUNG DRIVERS SYMPOSIUM

HILLIARD, Ohio  – An array of rising stars from the world of auto racing have praised members and officials of the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC) and the sport’s worldwide governing body, the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), for their efforts in staging a series of FREE seminars. The "Safe is Fast" concept is aimed at helping young drivers raise their awareness of safety by teaching them to effectively manage their racing vehicles and themselves in all aspects of their careers.

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John Force Holiday Car Show
Dec.01

YORBA LINDA, CA (November 30, 2010) --- This weekend at the John Force Racing headquarters and museum in Yorba Linda newly crowned 15-time Funny Car world champion John Force will welcome all of Southern California to his 13th annual Holiday Car Show. The event will once again benefit California Highway Patrol’s “CHiP’s For Kids” toy drive.

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IHRA Launches NitroJam Website
Nov.30

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Force & Dixon Nominated For Economaki
Nov.30

YORBA LINDA, CA (November 30, 2010) — 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force was announced as one of eleven finalists for the Economaki Champion of Champions award today. The award presented by National Speed Sport News will announce the winner in its year-end issue due December 15. Force is one of two drag racers nominated. He is joined on the finalist list by fellow Full Throttle champion Larry Dixon.

“This is a huge honor. Anytime your name is mentioned along with a name like Economaki that is a big deal. I am excited to be nominated with Larry Dixon. I know he had a great season so did Jimmie Johnson who just won his fifth NASCAR championship in a row. I saw Jimmie in Homestead and I wished him luck before the race. He is a great champion and when you look at the list of finalists National Speed Sport News has a tough call to make. I am glad they are making the decision and not me,” said Force.

The award is annually given to the North American racing champion judged to have had the best season on and off the track. It is named after legendary motorsports journalist and publisher Chris Economaki who began editing National Speed Sport News in 1950. National Speed Sport News is often and accurately described as “The bible of Motorsports.” It is the weekly must-read for serious fans, drivers and crew, and industry leaders alike.

The NSSN staff selected 11 deserving finalists for this year’s honor, which goes to the champion who is judged to provide the best combination of on-track success and dedication to the sport.

NASCAR 2010 Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson is the only former winner of the award nominated this season. NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher is the only two-time winner of the honor and other winners are Johnson, J.J. Yeley, Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz and Kyle Busch.

The eleven finalists are presented below:

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Spencer Massey To Drive DSR Top Fueler
Nov.29

SPENCER MASSEY JOINS DSR FOR 2011 NHRA FULL THROTTLE SEASON

WILL DRIVE PRESTONE/FRAM TOP FUEL DRAGSTER 

            INDIANAPOLIS, November 29, 2010 – Spencer Massey, 2009 NHRA rookie of the year, will join Don Schumacher Racing to drive the PRESTONE/FRAM Top Fuel dragster for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and provide a three-driver challenge for the championship.

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Happy Thanksgiving from DragCoverage
Nov.24

We hope our  DC readers have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

The staff will take off Thursday but look for updates on Friday.  

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Dixon,Cory Mac & Brown Build A House
Nov.23

DIXON, McCLENATHAN, BROWN HELP BUILD A HOUSE WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Just days removed from earning his third NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel world championship, Al-Anabi Racing driver Larry Dixon, along with fellow Top Fuel drivers Antron Brown and Cory McClenathan and Firestone Indy Lights drivers Dan Clarke, Charlie Kimball and Martin Plowman, lent their construction skills to help Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis. During the event, the drivers worked on a home being constructed just north of downtown Indianapolis

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Pro Racers Visit Military In Germany
Nov.23

  Just one week removed from the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, former Pro Stock world champions Jason Line and Warren Johnson, along with Pro Stock driver Rickie Jones and legendary Bigfoot monster truck driver Dan Runte, have begun a three-day Thanksgiving Week visit of the KaiserSlautern Military Community in Frankfurt, Germany. The group will distribute 1,500 souvenir gift bags and sign autographs during the visit before heading back home on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day. On the first day of the trip the group visited Ramstein Air Force Base, then moved on to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on the second day of the visit and met with troops being treated there as well as doctors and medical personnel working there. “Having served in the Air Force, I know how much it means to have any contact from home, so we’re going to do our best to put smiles on the faces of as many people as possible,” said Line. “I want to thank Summit, the USO and the Army Special Forces Association Chapter 64 for putting this together, and feel very honored to be chosen to make the trip.” A blog of their activities will be posted on NHRA.com throughout their visit.

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15X Champ Force Honored At Ford 500
Nov.22

HOMESTEAD, FL (November 21, 2010) ---- Newly crowned NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car champion John Force enjoyed two days of NASCAR racing and great hospitality from Ford Motor Company during the Ford 400 weekend in Homestead, Florida. Force spent time with NASCAR fans, talked with motorsport media members from all over North America and also was presented with one of Ford Motor Company’s highest honors.

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2011 Million Dollar Race at MMP
Nov.21

It hasn't been officially released, but the word is that the Million Dollar Bracket Race will be held at Montgomery Motorsports Park in 2011.

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"Team Frantic" Ford Funny Car Announces 2011 Team
Nov.21

"Team Frantic" Ford Funny Car Announces 2011 Team
by Al Liebmann on November 21, 2010

We are extremely pleased to release the following information pertaining to our return to professional drag racing in 2011. Through numerous discussions and well thought out planning, Team Frantic Ford has charted a course of attack that will afford us the opportunity

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MMP Super 7 Series New Format
Nov.21

Montgomery Motorports Park has released the new format for the 2011 Super 7 Series. Door cars and dragsters will be separated until after 3rd round.  Several other rules have changed from the 2010 format.

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Force Addresses Coils Departure
Nov.20

        FIRED UP BY GARLITS LETTER

15-Time NHRA Funny Car Champ Excited to Be at Ford 400

  HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Drag racing icon John Force will deal with mixed emotions this weekend when he attends the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, final event in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a guest of Ford Motor Company.

  Coming off a scintillating victory last week in the Auto Cub NHRA Finals at Pomona, Calif., that delivered his 15th Funny Car championship and his team’s 17th in the last 21 seasons, Force is having to deal with the unexpected departure of friend and crew chief Austin Coil, who submitted his resignation on Tuesday.

  “There are highs and lows in life,” said the driver of the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang.  “Winning my 15th Funny Car championship was a high and I received a letter from Austin Coil two days later that was a low in my life.  It hurt me.  I tried to call him, but he didn’t want to talk.  I told him I would respect that.  We had 26 great seasons together and that is what I will remember.”

  “I also got a letter of congratulations this week from Don Garlits that I am carrying with me,” Force said.  “It means a lot because it recognizes what my team, my sponsors and I accomplished this season.  Life goes on.  All I can do is thank Austin Coil for his contributions to JFR and get my team ready to chase another championship in 2011.”

 

 

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Lagana. Manners Capture Nitro Jam Awards
Nov.19

With the 2010 season officially over, Nitro Jam officials are pleased to announce the winners of the top awards in Nitro Jam professional competition.

Topping that list is Pro Fuel racer Michael Manners who has been selected as the 2010 recipient of the Sportsman of the Year award recognizing the person that most embodies the Nitro Jam spirit, while Bobby Lagana Jr. has been named the Professional Driver of the Year for his championship season in Top Fuel.

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De Joria Realizing Her Dream
Nov.19

Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Alexis De Joria has confirmed her plans to transition into the nitro Funny Car category in 2011. She will receive assistance from the Kalitta Motorsports team.

Kalitta

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Troy Williams Jr. crowned the 2010 PBIR 5-Day Bracket Champion
Nov.19

Troy Williams Jr. crowned the 2010 PBIR 5-Day Bracket Champion
by T.J. Pruitt

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World Champ's Race Rig Burns
Nov.18

According to local news reports, 2010 NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Greg Anderson's race trailer was a total loss after catching fire on the 10 Freeway in Fontana CA early Thursday afternoon.  There was no report of injuries or whether the trailer contained any race cars.    

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ADRL Co-Founder Kenny Nowling Steps down as President and CEO to Take Expanded Role in Company’s International Development
Nov.18

ADRL Co-Founder Kenny Nowling Steps down as President and CEO

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Bradenton 5-Day Winter Series Coverage and Winner Circle Photos
Nov.18

Bradenton 5-Day Winter Series Coverage and Winner Circle Photos
by T.J. Pruitt on November 15, 2010

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WOW ! Youngblood's Best Work Ever?
Nov.18

I scared myself on this one; "The Mother Of All Race Car Paintings"! It's certainly the best I've ever done and the culmination of my fifty years of painting hot rods. The hand-painted image on canvas original of World Champion Tony Schumacher at the hit, at Pomona 2010, was created with few "artistic license" changes from an amazing reference photo taken by veteran Tim Marshall. The flames were all arced out exactly as depicted. To get the desired effects, Jesus showed me how to employ techniques and proprietary materials never before done or used in any painting. - Kenny Youngblood

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Cory Mac Finishes Third In Final DSR Season
Nov.18

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2010) - Cory McClenathan raced the FRAM Top Fuel dragster to third place in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series class championship today at the 46th annual NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. "Cory Mac" reached the quarterfinal round after defeating T.J. Zizzo in the opening stanza, then was dismissed by Morgan Lucas in the second round.

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B.R.A.K.E.S. Visiting Tennessee High School
Nov.17

Johnson and Herbert Team Up to Bring Tennessee High School Students to B.R.A.K.E.S. Driving School
 

 
Team Mopar’s Johnson will sponsor B.R.A.K.E.S. school at zMAX Dragway for 36 Greeneville, Tenn. high school students

Johnson and Herbert will come together on Nov. 18 to stage presentations and outside demonstrations (weather permitting) for 1,200 Greene County Schools students at Tusculum College, 60 Shiloh Road, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each principal from the four Greene County High Schools will select seven students to participate in the free Dec. 4 trip to the B.R.A.K.E.S.  school. The duo will also give a presentation at Greenville High School, 210 Tusculum Blvd., that same day from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., with eight students being selected for the trip on a first-come, first-serve sign-up basis.

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Coil resigns from John Force Racing but eyes possible 2012 return to racin
Nov.16

Coil resigns from John Force Racing but eyes possible 2012 return to racing
by Phil Burgess, National DRAGSTER Editor

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OTG Racing Celebrates Being Fastest
Nov.16

MOSELEY, VA (Nov. 16, 2010) — When Chris Patrick covered the eighth mile in 3.93 seconds at 189.76 miles per hour last month at the Texas Motorplex, near Dallas, OTG Racing owner Brian Shaw pumped his fist in celebration because it meant his car had just become the quickest and fastest nitrous-oxide-boosted 1941 Willys on the planet.

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Stanfield Happy Sporting #2 Next Year
Nov.16

All of the good fortune that had been eluding Greg Stanfield and Kenny Koretsky’s Nitro Fish/Indicom Electric Pontiac Pro Stock team showed up Sunday for the Auto Club Finals in Pomona, Calif.

All it took for Stanfield to officially sew up the second-place finish the team coveted coming into this event was a first-round victory over Ron Krisher.  To make it official, however, he needed Mike Edwards and Jason Line to exit in the opening round.  And they followed Nitro Fish script.

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L.E.Tonglet Captures Rookie of the Year
Nov.16

One day after he became NHRA’s youngest world champion, LE Tonglet picked up two prestigious post-season honors – the $20,000 Automobile Club of Southern California’s Road to the Future Award and the Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award – during Monday night’s awards ceremony in West Los Angeles

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Coil Resigns From JFR
Nov.16

According to NHRA.com Austin Coil has resigned from John Force Racing after 25 years and is planning on sitting out the 2011 season. While the article is full of political correctness there appears to be an underlining reason for Coils unhappiness. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.   

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Allen Lowery's New Ride
Nov.15

DragCoverage.com member Allen Lowery has a new ride!
Mullis Race Cars!


 

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CP Has Banner Year At Home In Bracket Racing
Nov.15

CP Has Banner Year At Home In
Bracket Racing
by DragCoverage.com on November 15, 2010

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Jeg Coughlin Jr. will not return to Pro Stock in 2011
Nov.15

Jeg Coughlin Jr. will not return to Pro Stock in 2011
by Agent DC on November 16, 2010

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Sportsman Results From NHRA World Finals
Nov.15

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Michael Manners def. Shawn Cowie

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Mickey Ferro def. Mark Woznichak

Competition Eliminator -- Dan Fletcher def. Vinny Barone

Super Stock -- Brett Brown def. Jody Lang

Stock Eliminator -- Jody Lang def. Dallas Glenn

Super Comp -- Matt Constant def. Bart Hiatt

Super Gas -- Randy Balough def. Chris Newman

Summit Super Pro -- Shorty Rader def. Phillip Owens

Summit Pro -- Butch Weinreich def. Jeff Hefler

Summit Sportsman -- Jeff Hefler def. Chad Isley.

Summit Bike -- Dale Hamilton def. Mike Lakoskey

 

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Bios: 2011 NHRA World Champions
Nov.15

2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPION BIOS

FULL THROTTLE TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION

Name: LARRY DIXON

Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1966    

Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.      

Residence: Indianapolis

2010 car: Al-Anabi Racing dragster

2010 wins: 12 - Pomona 1, Houston, Las Vegas 1, Atlanta, Chicago, Englishtown, Norwalk, Sonoma, Brainerd, Indianapolis, Charlotte 2, Reading

2010 Runner-up finishes: None

2010 No. 1 Qualifying positions: 8 - Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Norwalk, Sonoma, Indianapolis, Dallas, Reading

Crew chief: Jason McCulloch     

Team Manager: Alan Johnson     

Team Owner: Sheik Khalid Al Thani

Season summary: Dixon won an NHRA record 12 races in 12 final rounds and led the points standings for most of the season. Three of his victories came in the playoffs and he clinched the title after his first round win at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona.

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2011 LODRS Schedule Released
Nov.15

GLENDORA, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2010) – NHRA released its 2011 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series schedule today, which features 41 events, with a minimum of five races conducted in each of NHRA’s seven divisions and four series specialty events.

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2009 IHRA Division 2 Champion Closes Out Season with 4th Straight Final Round Appearance
Nov.14

2009 IHRA Division 2 Champion Closes Out Season with 4th Straight Final Round Appearance
by Agent DC on November 14, 2010

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NHRA World Finals Pro Results
Nov.14

Shane Gray picked up his first career Pro Stock win and John Force capped of his 15th World Championship with victories today in Pomona CA. Antron Brown and Eddie Krawiec added to their impressive resumes with victories, as well.

PSM. Eddie Krawiec (6.811) defeated Hectora Arena (redlight)

Pro Stock. Shane Gray (6.566) defeated Jeg Coughlin (6.568)

Funny Car. John Force (4.085) defeated Jeff Arend (4.109)

Top Fuel. Antron Brown (3.840) defeated Shawn Langdon (4.185)

 

 

 

 

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Anderson Captures Fourth Championship
Nov.14

After defeating teammate Jason Line two weeks ago in Las Vegas, Greg Anderson entered the season finale with a 115-point advantage, pretty much ensuring him a fourth world championship. He made it official in qualifying at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Anderson just needed to qualify and hold a 100-point edge entering eliminations to officially clinch. He easily accomplished the feat, earning four bonus points and outqualifying Edwards to extend his advantage heading into Sunday to 122 points.

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Dixon 2010 NHRA Top Fuel Champion
Nov.14

After falling just two points painfully shy of the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel championship last year to decade-long rival Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon and the Al-Anabi team finished the job on their second try, concluding a dominating 2010 season by locking up the championship Sunday at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

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Force and Tonglet Clinch Championships
Nov.14

Two drivers at opposite ends of the career spectrum -- John Force, a 30-plus-year Funny Car veteran and rookie Pro Stock Motorcycle rider LE Tonglet  -- clinched Full Throttle championships with second-round victories Sunday at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Individually, they are the oldest and youngest Professional champs in NHRA history, Force at 61 years, 6 months, and 10 days and Tonglet at 20 years and 11 months.

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Schumacher #1, Still Has Hope
Nov.13

Schumacher kept alive his flickering Top Fuel championship hopes with a dramatic 3.794-second run at a track record speed of 322.88 in the U.S. Army dragster.

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AJ Qualifies Number 1 Fourth Race In A Row
Nov.13

Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2010) – Another race, another No. 1 spot for Mopar® Dodge Avenger NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson. The Team Mopar veteran powered to his fourth straight No. 1 Qualifier position and eighth of the season in the final qualifying session today at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Johnson will attempt to earn his fifth final-round appearance and second victory of the year in eliminations tomorrow.

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Hagen Leads Force By 38 Points
Nov.13

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2010) - Immersed in a fierce battle for his first Funny Car championship against 14-time titlist John Force, DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car racer Matt Hagan snagged No. 4 in qualifying for the 46th annual NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.

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Lucas Oil Racers Hopeful Going In To Sunday
Nov.13

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 13) – Lucas Oil teammates Shawn Langdon and Hector Arana believe they are in prime position to bring home their first victories of the season Sunday at the 46th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals.

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Cory MAC Qualifies 5 In His final DSR Race
Nov.13

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2010) - Cory McClenathan, No. 3 in the point standings, earned fifth place in Top Fuel qualifying for the 46th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, posting his quickest pass of 3.848-seconds at 318.32 mph in his final attempt to earn those valuable qualifying bonus points. He collected one of those points in the third round, when he recorded a 3.935/268.49 (No. 5).

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JFR Racing Finish Qualifying 1-2-3
Nov.13

POMONA, CA – On the final day of qualifying of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle season the pressure was ratcheted up with every pair of Funny Cars. Heading into eliminations at the 46th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals John Force Racing will lead the charge with a 1-2-3 qualifying effort led by Ashley Force Hood. John Force and Robert Hight round out the top three and championship contender Matt Hagan stepped up to the No. 4 qualifying spot.

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Mickey Ferro’s Mission ‘Vegas’ Accomplished
Nov.13

Mickey Ferro’s Mission ‘Vegas’ Accomplished
by Agent DC on November 13, 2010

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Witherow wins Main Event at Rockingham
Nov.13



Congratulations to Steve Witherow for winning the Main Event - Top at the 2010 IHRA SUMMIT "RADIERS" TEAM FINALS at Marland International Raceway. Witherwow, representing MIR, defeated Harold Walton in the finals. Congratulations from DragCoverage.com!

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Bogacki’s Fate Rests in the Hands of Others
Nov.13

Carterville, IL: Luke Bogacki’s 2010 NHRA Super Comp season is over, and the noted sportsman competitor has left his mark on the 8.90 category in his first pursuit of the NHRA Lucas Oil points series.  Bogacki picked up three Lucas Oil Divisional victories, plus a runner-up and semi-final finish for a massive divisional total of 482 points.  That total has already earned him the title of Division 2 Super Comp Champion.  His national events were less than stellar, as a pair of third round losses along with a second round defeat leave his national points total at 622. 


 

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JE Piston gets on board with Bluebaugh Racing
Nov.13

“Bluebaugh Racing will soon round out another racing season and the second year of being fortunate enough to have JE Pistons aboard our racing program.” Crew Chief for Bluebaugh’s racing operation, Deborah Woodard explained  “JE Pistons is one of few company’s that has not only maintained their standards through tough times, but is also improving them on a regular basis. JE Piston’s has one of the most rigorous standards of manufacturing and quality control out there today in the piston business. I know that when new pistons arrive, that I can depend on them being right.”

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Morrell Becomes First Female Champion In ADRL History With PXM Victory
Nov.13

Morrell Becomes First Female Champion In ADRL History With PXM Victory
by Agent DC on November 13, 2010

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Michael Beard named 2010 IHRA Sportsman Driver of the Year
Nov.13

Michael Beard named 2010 IHRA Sportsman Driver of the Year
by Agent DC on November 13, 2010

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Hagan #1, Extends Points Lead
Nov.11

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2010) - Every point earned until the end of Sunday's eliminations at the 46th annual NHRA Finals is like gold in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship chase.
And class points leader Matt Hagan collected three valuable qualifying bonus points today in the first round of qualifying, while his antagonist for the crown, second-place John Force, earned none.

Hagan qualified the DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car in No. 1, posting a 4.139-second lap at 293.86 mph in the single qualifying run scheduled today. Force came in fourth, with a 4.170/297.68, garnering no bonus points.

Entering tomorrow's single qualifying round, Hagan is now 40 points ahead of Force in the championship. Two more rounds on Saturday will determine the 16-car field for Sunday's eliminations.

"That's huge," said Hagan. "That sounds great right now, but we have a lot of racing left and a lot of qualifying left. Anything can happen with these cars. I'm just proud of (crew chief) Tommy DeLago and the DieHard guys. They're doing a great job of putting the car together well. We go up there and the thing fires up every time, so that's a plus.

"The DieHard Charger is running good, and I'm just happy to be out there driving it. I was watching everybody make their runs (and) not a lot of cars were sticking out there. I had a lot more confidence when Jack (Beckman) went that 4.14. I knew that our car was capable of running that or a little better .

"I just double-checked with Tommy over the radio and I said, Hey, man, do you feel good? And he said, 'I feel great.' He was up there backing some stuff down. And I think we went up there to run an .0 and as we went through it you could see him turning stuff down and calming it down. He did everything right.

“We have a lot more qualifying left and I doubt that it will stick for No. 1. We'll just have to go back up there and still be aggressive and try to pick up every little point we can."

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John Fastest Of The Force Cars
Nov.11

POMONA, CA – 14-time Funny Car champion John Force led the way for his trio of Mustang Funny Cars on a tough first day of qualifying at the 46^th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. During the lone qualifying session of Thursday the left lane gave Funny Car crew chiefs fits as only one car made it to the finish line under power. Force’s Mike Neff, Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly tuned Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang  was that lone Funny Car and reached the finish line under power tripping the timing lights at 4.170 seconds which was good enough for the fourth quickest run of the session. He narrowly missed grabbing some valuable qualifying bonus points.

“That is a positive but tomorrow they will make a lot of runs so the left lane will come around. We pulled it back to where we thought it would go and I don’t think it (the left lane) would have taken much more than that,” said the seven time Auto Club Finals winner. “He (points leader Matt Hagan) picked up some points. It is four rounds of qualifying and he could get them all and it only helps him get one round on me. We have never had to count points before and this is making it exciting. I never even looked at the deal before. Race day is another animal. Conditions should be pretty good.”

Force is not worried after one day of qualifying. He has won 56 rounds of racing at the famed Auto Club Raceway at Pomona during just the Auto Club NHRA Finals. The veteran driver will stick to his game plan and come out swinging tomorrow.

“I am staying positive. I have a great Ford with great sponsors. The fans have been great and they are counting on us to deliver.  We have the same conditions as all the other teams. We are going to stick to our strategy every round. We are just going to keep going and going. We are going to try and get those points back so it is only two rounds and not three rounds. He could win the next two but that won’t get him another round. We took it in Vegas and we’ll take it here.”   

Two-time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Funny Car winner Ashley Force Hood and 2009 Funny Car champion Robert Hight were also slotted in the left lane and neither was able to keep their respective Ford Mustang Funny Cars hooked up. Force Hood will go into Friday’s second day of qualifying with the 7^th quickest time of 4.982 seconds and Hight made the 8^th quickest run in his Auto Club Ford Mustang with a 5.560 second pass.

“The last few months of the Countdown everyone has been a little on edge. Every round matters and every point matters. I think the biggest pressure is that the whole season is coming down to one race. This race will be the sum of our season. We have also been around enough years to know that you know anything can happen,” said Force Hood.

“You can only do the best that you can do. I think it is an advantage for us because we have been around through thick and thin. It helps us put things in perspective. I don’t know Hagan and his team but I can image the excitement those guys have over there to be leading the points coming into this race. I am sure it is very different than how we feel. Dad has won many, many championships and we are used to the extreme swings of emotion.”

In addition to the battle at the top of the Funny Car point standings there is a tight race between Force Hood and Jack Beckman to see who will wind up third or fourth. Currently Beckman has a slight advantage over Force Hood.

“A lot of different rounds combined together to figure out the championship or whether I finish third or fourth. I don’t know the difference in points and I don’t want to know. I know dad and Hagan’s difference and I am stressing out more about those two. I have an actual number in my head. I know I just ran Beckman and he ran better than me. I don’t know if that did anything to our point standings but I am not worried about that,” said Hagan.

“I know when dad and Hagan ran Hagan got those extra points. That is not something I should be thinking about. It doesn’t help me to know that. Worrying about points doesn’t help me be a better driver. If we do really well I know I can move into third. I am going to focus on doing our best and not put extra pressure on myself. I can’t control how Beckman, Hagan or dad do. We just need to do our best.”  

The second round of qualifying will get underway tomorrow in Pomona at 2:30 p.m. with the nitro session being started by the Top Fuel Dragsters followed by Funny Car. The trio of JFR Ford Mustangs will take to the track in the right lane with hopes of improving their qualifying standings. 

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Tonglet Qualified Last After Round 1
Nov.11

This was not the way LE Tonglet wanted to open Thursday’s qualifying for Sunday’s Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif. – the last of 23 Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers that made quarter-mile runs. 

 

The good news is there are three more sessions on the docket – one Friday and two Saturday – before the 16-bike lineup is solidified for eliminations.  That’s when LE hopes to squeeze past Andrew Hines in NHRA’s tight Countdown to the Championship battle. 

 

“We had a carburetor problem,” said a disappointed LE after the Nitro Fish Suzuki GSXR produced an elapsed time of 12.187 seconds at 63.12 mph.  “We’ll try to do better Friday.  It’s too bad we didn’t have two runs today.  We might have been able to sleep tonight.”

 

“We’ve struggled during qualifying at the last few races,” said GT,” and it looks like the trend is continuing this weekend.”

 

Things could turn out very well for the Tonglets if that trends plays out as it has in the last five races. LE has won four of the five and was runner-up in the other as he moved within 34 points of Hines.  Hines, however, added two qualifying bonus points to his total Thursday with his No. 2 time of 6.874 seconds.

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Lucas Oil's Arana Enjoys Early Edge In Pomona
Nov.11

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11) – Hector Arana, rider of the Lucas Oil Buell, is looking to fill two holes in his trophy collection at one event – the Auto Club NHRA Finals.

"It would be nice to finish up the season with a win here in Pomona," Arana said. "I don't have one for this track so it would be nice to add to my shelf."

Arana also hasn't won yet this season, so walking away with the trophy on Sunday would end the season on a high note. On Thursday, Arana made a strong step in that direction by qualifying No. 1 during the day's lone qualifying session by running a 6.870 second pass at 194.35 mph.

"I'm going to try to win this weekend," Arana said. "We now have the performance so I just have to do my job at the light."

The performance had been hit or miss a various points during the season. Arana's bike would ride like a rocket one round and then run like a rock the next.

After tearing the bike apart several times, Arana believes that the Lucas Oil Buell is back the way it needs to be.

"We started wondering about ourselves and losing confidence in the middle of the season," Arana said. "But we never gave up and kept on working and look at our performance now."

Getting a good number on Thursday give Arana some wiggle room to get started on getting the NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle championship back into his hands in 2011.

"This is going to be great for the next year," Arana said. "Now we can do some research and figure out what we can improve on since we found what we were missing."

Qualifying at the Auto Club NHRA Finals continues with a single session on Friday afternoon and two sessions on Saturday. Eliminations will be on Sunday.

 

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.Wilkerson Not Happy With Thursday
Nov.11

19 Funny Cars made qualifying attempts here in Pomona on Thursday, and 14 of those teams went back to their pits grumbling about incomplete laps.  Whether it was early shake or mid-track smoke, the tricky surface gave up little in Q1, although championship contender Matt Hagan made the most of his run by leaping up to the No. 1 spot, which earned him three precious bonus points in his fight to hold off John Force for the crown. 

Tim Wilkerson's Levi, Ray & Shoup Shelby Mustang lost traction early, as part of the larger group who didn't make it from A to B.  His 8.724-second run left him well down the list and outside the top 12, meaning he has no official time for Thursday.  For the record, he made the 17th-quickest lap in Q1.

"Well, either that track wasn't as good as we all thought it was going to be or a whole bunch of us got pretty dumb overnight," Wilkerson said.  "This track is usually so good it will hold low 4's but Hagan was low with a 4.13 and most of the rest of us couldn't do anything.  We just need to get a better feel for what the track will hold tomorrow, and since we run after Top Fuel we'll get a chance to watch them, so we'll pay attention up there.

"This is the one part of the Pomona schedule I don't like, because now we have to wait a whole day to run again, instead of having a chance to go right back up there.  It's just the way it is, though, and we're all in the same boat so we'll make the best of it.  Tonight, we're part of the Summit Racing National Champions banquet over at the museum, so my plan is to go over there and enjoy the evening with some fantastic sportsman racers.  They're good people and it's a lot of fun."

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Thank A Veteran Today !
Nov.11

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Bradenton 5-Day Winter Series Coverage - presented by Overkill Motorsports
Nov.11

Bradenton 5-Day Winter Series Coverage and Winner Circle Photos
Results and winner circle photos from the 25th Annual 5-Day Winter Series at Bradenton Motorsports Park have now been uploaded on DragCoverage.com. T.J. Pruitt also has a blog that was updated often during the event.

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Ball Has Plenty Of Fun Winning T/S Tile
Nov.10

Scott Ball didn’t have your average championship season.Ball had several great outings and wrapped up a third place finish in Division 4 on the Summit Pro-Am Tour, but didn’t put together the kind of season you would normally associate with a World Champion – which is exactly what makes the Tournament of Champions so much fun.

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Corker Wins Second Top Sportsman Title
Nov.10

Steve Corker has certainly been here before, just not under these same circumstances.

In 2008 Corker was the last Top Sportsman world champion to be crowned under the old point’s format and it was one of the biggest moment in the career of the North Carolina based driver. Now, two years later, Corker is back in victory lane, this time as a World Champion under the new Tournament of Champions format.

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Evans Dominates Prostalgia Nitro Class
Nov.10

If consistency wins championships, then Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car driver Steve Nichols should get used to hoisting championship trophies at the end of the season

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Who Won First Pro Fuel Championship?
Nov.10

In 20 years when the trivia question is asked who won the first of everything in Nitro Jam’s Pro Fuel class, that answer will be Bill Evans.

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Lagana Wins First Career Championship
Nov.10

It was an event 12 years in the making.

After a spectacular crash in 1998 that nearly took his life, millions of dollars spent pursing his dream and always being known as a great racer, just not championship caliber, Bobby Lagana Jr. finally broke through at the World Finals Nitro Jam earlier this year with the win of a lifetime and in doing so came away with his first career championship in Top Fuel.

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Oil Down Fines Reinstated For NHRA Finals
Nov.10

NHRA ANNOUNCES OILDOWN PENALTY POLICY FOR AUTO CLUB FINALS: NHRA will immediately implement an oildown-penalty policy for the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The penalties will be in effect for the final race of the 2010 season, the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 11-14, at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. In Pomona, teams depositing oil on the racetrack surface during any qualifying or elimination rounds will result in loss of the elapsed time and miles per hour for that run. In qualifying, the time will be voided for all purposes (qualifying position, performance points, national records, low e.t/top speed). On Sunday, the time will be voided for the purpose of lane choice, run sequence choice, national records, and low e.t./top speed. However, should the violating team win the round, it will advance in the bracket, be deemed the round winner, and maintain the points earned. In addition, each oildown will result in a monetary fine. The first violation will be assessed $2,500, and the second violation will be assessed an additional $5,000 fine. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

 

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Cory Mac Looking To The Future
Nov.10

A CHANGE AT SEASON’S END

 Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan after it was announced that he would be released from Don Schumacher Racing at the end of the season: “I am not retiring. I have had a wonderful relationship with Don Schumacher, both personal and professional. I am grateful to him and to Honeywell for all they had done for me. Right now, I have to focus on trying to win the 2010 championship, which I want to do for DSR, for Fram, Prestone, and Autolite, and, of course, for myself. After this season is over, I will pursue other opportunities to continue racing in the NHRA Full Throttle Series.”

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It All Comes Down To This
Nov.10

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS! HAGAN AND FORCE BATTLE FOR THE WORLD TITLE AT AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS: After 22 races and over 330 rounds of racing; after traveling all across the country, from the West Coast, to the East Coast, and back again over the span of nine months; after picking up national records and round wins by hundredths of a second, the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car world championship comes down to this: Matt Hagan vs. John Force at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Youth vs. Experience. DSR vs. JFR. The Country Boy vs. the Truck Driver. And there’s only 37 points separating the two.

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Ford Giving Away 2011 Mustang GT
Nov.10

Race fans have three weeks left to enter Ford Customer Service Division’s “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes and win an all-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT.

 One grand prizewinner will drive away in an all-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT equipped with Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Custom Accessories.  The all-new 5.0-liter V-8 Mustang uses advanced technology to deliver 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lb. of torque and class-leading highway mileage of 26 mpg.

The sweepstakes ends on November 23, 2010. Entry forms will be available at the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Experience NHRA display in Pomona on November 11-14. 

Fans who can’t make it out to the track will also have the chance to enter online at www.racefanoffers.com. The ”Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes is open to all licensed U.S. citizens over the age of 18. Restrictions apply

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Stawicki Wins 2010 PMRA Championship
Nov.10

MEDINA, NEW YORK (November 9, 2010) – After supporting the PMRA Series for its entirety of six seasons, Mike Stawicki returned to racing in the Pro Modified Racing Association for the 2010 season, and captured his first PMRA Championship in the Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts and Patio Passport.

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IHRA Bracket Finals at Montgomery Motorsports Park
Oct.24

IHRA Bracket Finals at Montgomery Motorsports Park
Eight tracks invaded Montgomery Motorsports Park for the IHRA Division II team finals. Those tracks include the 2009 Division II Champions – Alabama International Dragway, Chilton County Dragway, I-40 Dragway, Middle Tennessee Dragway, Mountain Park Dragway, Montgomery Motorsports Park, Mobile Dragway, Bluegrass Dragway, and London Dragway.

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Bogacki Looks To Extend Hot Streak At NHRA LODRS Events
Oct.18

Bogacki Looks To Extend Hot Streak At NHRA LODRS Events
NHRA Lucas Oil championship contender Luke Bogacki has been making noise outside of the NHRA tour in the last month.  Bogacki, who is chasing NHRA Lucas Oil Series points for the first time in a career that includes a myriad of big dollar bracket victories and championships, has enjoyed a great deal of success along the big dollar bracket tour of late. 

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JC Apparel Official Uniform of the ADRL
Oct.04



O’FALLON, MO (September 29, 2010) — The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to announce that it has named JC Apparel Industries as its official uniform provider.

The 15-year apparel company has signed on to be the official uniform provider for the rest of the 2010 season.

“We are very excited about this relationship and we hope to continue to build on it,” said Eric Cody, the Director of the Motorsports Division for JC Apparel. “The ADRL is one of the fastest-growing sanctioning bodies in drag racing and we are pleased to be a part of the ADRL and its future growth.”

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Henry R/U at Governor's Cup; 198 MPH
Oct.04

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Doug Winters wins at Bristol Super Chevy Show
Oct.04

Doug Winters wins at Bristol Super Chevy Show
by Doug Winters on October 4, 2010

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Brooks hired as Troxel's crew chief
Oct.04

Effective Immediately; Brooks hired as Troxel's crew chief
by Agent DC on October 4, 2010

Talented tuner Aaron Brooks, one of drag racing's most promising young crew chiefs, has been hired to take over Melanie Troxel's In-N-Out Burger Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, R2B2 Racing team owner Roger Burgess announced Sunday. The change will take place immediately.

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Blake Johnson Crowned Alabama International Track Champion
Oct.04

Blake Johnson Crowned Alabama International Track Champion
Birmingham, AL racer Blake Johnson captured his first track championship in the IHRA Summit Super Series at Alabama International Dragway on Saturday. Johnson, who also led the season points,  won the track’s end of the season shootout on Saturday, crowning him the season champ. 

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Lowmad hits 200 MPH at Montgomery Motorsports Park
Sep.26

Lowmad hits 200 MPH at Montgomery Motorsports Park
by Agent DC on September 27, 2010

Joey Martin and the Russell’s lit the score boards up with a 200 mph during qualifying at the Southern Outlaw Tour at Montgomery Motorsports Park two weeks ago.  This YouTube video catches the action as the team celebrates the 200 mph pass.

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Watch ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags
Sep.25

Watch ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags
by Agent DC on September 25, 2010

Watch the ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags live! The Dragstock Rain-out race was contested on Friday and the event is currently in action.  View the event live by visiting http://www.adrl.us/live/        

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Todd Tutterow wins Dragstock VII Rain-Out Race in Ohio
Sep.25

Todd Tutterow wins Dragstock VII Rain-Out Race in Ohio
Just moments after watching his son, Ty, win in Pro Junior Dragster at the completion of the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Simpson Dragstock VII on Friday, Todd Tutterow had only one thought before his Pro Extreme final.

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PHOTOS: P.W. Bishop's Wreck at EC
Sep.22

Local grudge racer P.W. Bishop, Bay Minette, AL, lost control of his Monza at Emerald Coast Dragway, Holt, FL, on Sunday during "Grudge Sunday." Fortunately, Bishop walked away with only scratches. Photos below posted by DC user "lil bit."

 

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ORSCA/Southern Outlaw Tour, Montgomery Motorsports Park, Event Coverage and Photos
Sep.22

ORSCA / Southern Outlaw Tour Event Coverage & Photos

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PBIR 5-Day Bracket Champ Flyer
Sep.22

Win a $30,000 American Race Cars Dragster at the PBIR 5-Day!
 
West Palm Beach, FL: The PBIR 5-Day Bracket Championships has been a longtime staple of big dollar bracket racing.  The event, formerly known as the Moroso 5-Day, has been the signature event of the annual Florida Winter Series for over two decades.  This years 5-Day Bracket Championships will not only play host to five days of great bracket racing boasting $10,000 winners purses, the event will also feature a special 32-car shootout for a new American Race Cars dragster valued at over $30,000.  The PBIR 5-Day event will be contested at beautiful Palm Beach International Raceway November 16-20. 

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Shorty Rader Wins NHRA Division 3 E.T. Finals
Sep.22

Indianapolis, IN: Jim “Shorty” Rader earned the biggest win of his decorated racing career on Sunday when he drove his Racecraft Chassis dragster to the Super Pro title at the NHRA Division 3 E.T. Finals at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.  Rader, a machinist by trade, is a three-time track champion (twice at ORP and once at Wabash Valley Dragway) and was appearing in his eighth consecutive Division 3 E.T. Finals event competing as a member of the Lyons Raceway Park team.


 
A massive field of over 250 Super Pro entrants proved only to be a showcase for Rader’s skill and his cars consistency.  He made his way through nine rounds of competition, spread over two days to claim his first NHRA Division Championship.  Rader opened eliminations on Saturday with a scant .005 victory over Mark Hancock, then advanced past Don Stahl by posting a dead on 4.874 ET.  That earned him a berth in Sunday’s third round of competition where he admittedly got his biggest break of eliminations when Jenni Zednicek red lighted.

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ADRL.us Named Title Sponsor For Eighth Annual Shakedown At E’Town
Sep.22

ADRL.us Named Title Sponsor For Eighth Annual Shakedown At E’Town
by ADRL on September 22, 2010

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Don O’Neal is First U.S. Army Active Duty Soldier to Appear in NHRA National Event Final
Sep.22

O’Neal first Active Duty Soldier in National Event Final
by Luke Bogacki on September 22, 2010

Don O’Neal has a pretty good gig.  As a soldier for the U.S. Army, O’Neal uses a unique method to gain interest from potential recruits, he has a 1,000 horsepower Super Comp dragster.  With Army backing, O’Neal attends roughly 30 racing events and makes over 50 recruiting appearances a year.

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Mike Henry Wins Quick 8 at Pinks All Out
Sep.22

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30th Super Chevy Show @ Bristol
Sep.22

 Fans of the Bowtie Brigade unite during the 30th Annual Super Chevy Show at Bristol Dragway, September 24-26. For 30 years, the Super Chevy Show has been known for some of the most exciting bracket and exhibition racing in the country and this year is no different.

This season, the show gets even hotter as Fas Mart Thunder Valley Mayhem presented by JanPak moves from its traditional May date to Saturday night, September 25.

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Team "O" Motorsports at Texas Motorsports
Sep.22

Jeff Benham racing for Team "O" Motorsports unloaded his Texas Automatic Pro Mod car for their second race in competition at Houston Motorsports Park Saturday night, September 11th.

After hurting the motor in the first qualifying session at a race in Midland, Texas, the team was ready to try again. Qualifying didn't go as planned with a broken blower belt in Q2 leaving them on the outside of the Quick 8 field. Crewchief Jeff Owen rallied his driver/car owner Jeff Benham and the crewmembers to keep their heads up. "It's got less than 10 runs on it and we are going to test!"

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Michael Henry has the camaro "Back in Action"
Sep.22

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VP's Popular T-Shirt Available in Three New Colors
Sep.22

VP Racing Fuels' "Mad Scientist" T-Shirts - Bad to the Bone!
by Steve Scheidker on September 22, 2010

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Keith Szabo's domination of L/S
Sep.22

Keith Szabo continued his domination of the Aerospace Components Limited Street category during the NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil event held at National Trail Raceway.  Szabo defeated Eric Dillard in the finals to claim his third consecutive category win.  Szabo has wins at all three NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil events.

Szabo, a resident of Gainesville, GA., posted a pass of 4.721 seconds at 169.87 mph with a .031 reaction time to the losing run of 4.612 seconds at 170.61 mph with a reaction time of .147.

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Dan Aitken Jr captures final event in Quick 32
Sep.22

Waiting a week was well worth the trouble for Dan Aitken Jr as the Belle River Ontario driver picked up not only his class win but the overall win in the final round of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

This sixth and final event had been delayed from a week previous at the Grand Bend Motorplex, and the continuation of the final rounds was held at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park.

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Dan Millen Becomes Final Member of Mickey Thompson 3-Second Club
Sep.22

Dan Millen Becomes Final Member of Mickey Thompson 3-Second Club
by Agent DC on September 10, 2010

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Bogacki wins at Bowling Green
Sep.22

Bowling Green, KY: Luke Bogacki drove his ThisIsBracketRacing.com backed American Dragster to it’s second NHRA Lucas Oil Series Divisional title of the season last weekend at the Division 3 event at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, KY.  There, Bogacki outlasted a monster field of over 100 Super Comp entrants, besting a number of the top racers in the nation en route to the title.


 
“I feel really good about the weekend,” said Bogacki.  “The car was awesome, like it’s been all season, and I finally ended up on the winning end of some close races.”
 
After rolling through the opening two rounds, Bogacki squared off with Division 3 ace Shannon Mingee in round three.  There, he used a .013 reaction time and perfect 8.900 to narrowly best Mingee’s excellent .015 initiated 8.904.  In round four, he matched that performance with a .012 reaction and near perfect 8.901 to top Super Gas national points leader David Tatum.  Bogacki then used a .006 reaction time to defeat Thunder Valley Nationals runner-up Trevor Denton and set up a semi-final matchup with defending NHRA World Champion Jim Perry.

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GSA Pro Mod Friday Qualifying Results
Sep.17

PERSONETT TOPS GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES QUALIFYING FRIDAY AT O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS

CONCORD, N. C. – Brad Personett led the field following two rounds of qualifying for  the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.

Personett, who sits fifth in the points, was able to take his Big Stuff 1968 Camaro to the top of the pack with a time of 5.843 seconds at 249.26 mph.

Holding down the number two qualifying position was Rick Stivers in his Brad Anderson tuned 2006 Dodge Stratus with a pass of 5.941 seconds at 241.97 mph.

"The amazing thing about that run," said Stivers after catching his breath, "is that there's even more left in her.  It spun and shook a little, and I had to pedal it to keep it going straight - but, I'll take that '94 right now. I think Brad was even impressed with my driving on that run, and I'll tell you, it's hard to get that man to smile."

Current point’s leader in the category, Von Smith and his Dr. Moon / Al-Anabi 1968 Camaro, sits in the third spot with a pass of 5.942 seconds at 244.52 mph.  Smith has three wins this season and leads the second place racer in the category by 74 points.   

The Gets Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series racers will get one more qualifying session at 11 a.m. on Saturday with first round of eliminations to start at 3 p.m.

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CoryMac Leads NHRA Friday Qualifiers
Sep.17

CONCORD, N. C. – Cory McClenathan continues his push for his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Championship with a strong run to lead the Top Fuel field during the first day of qualifying at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMax Dragway. 

Other provisional number one qualifiers were Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) at the 19th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship. 

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Schaefer Named NHRA Division 2 Director
Sep.17

GLENDORA, Calif. -- (Sept. 15, 2010) – Longtime motorsports veteran Richard Schaefer has been named NHRA Southeast Division Director (Div. 2), it was announced today. Schaefer comes to NHRA following three seasons at Gateway International Raceway (GIR), where he served as drag racing events manager.

 “Rich has all the skills necessary to become a strong division director,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations, NHRA. “He has extensive experience in event management, sponsorship and event operations.” 

Schaefer, who will join NHRA in early-October, will be responsible for overseeing all NHRA activities in the Southeast, serving as a liaison between NHRA, NHRA member tracks in the southeast division and the racing community. Prior to his current role at GIR, Schaefer was owner and general manager of an event promotion company that produced major live events throughout North America.  He has also worked as vice president of events for B.I.G., Inc., in St. Louis, a touring company with more than 500 live events annually, and prior to that, as director of series operations for SRO/Pace Entertainment.

 “I’m excited about this new chapter in my professional motorsports career,” said Schaefer, who, along with his family, will relocate to Gainesville, Fla., the current location of NHRA’s Southeast Division office. “I am anxious to meet with the NHRA Member Tracks in the area, as well as the racing community, and work together to develop programs to benefit both.”

 NHRA’s Southeast Division is responsible for conducting and overseeing drag racing activities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Currently, there are 14 NHRA Member Tracks in the region. Schaefer will be attending the upcoming Division Two NHRA Summit Racing Equipment E.T. Finals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Ga., Sept. 30 – Oct. 2.

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Frankie Taylor Runs 3.596
Sep.10

Quickest 1/8 mile door slammer pass in history

3.596/210.64

At the Rock

ADRL Dragstock

WOW !

Photo Courtesy ADRL.us

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Hancock Returning At The Rock
Sep.07

2007 ADRL Battle Of The Belts Champion Jamie Hancock is planning on returning to the ADRL Nitrous wars  at Dragstock 7 coming up at Rockingham Dragway.

                 Jamie looks on as father James makes a test shot

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NHRA U.S. Nationals Results
Sep.07

CLERMONT, Ind. – Larry Dixon kept his perfect final round streak alive Monday by racing to his 10th win of the season at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

Ashley Force Hood, Greg Stanfield and LE Tonglet also were winners in their respective categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship event, the first of six playoff races.

 

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Personett Wins U.S. Nat's Pro Mods
Sep.07

CLERMONT, Ind. – Brad Personett raced to his first career victory in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series Monday at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

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PSCA Racer Passes In 'Copter Accident
Sep.02

The Racing Community Loses One Of The Good Ones....

From PSCA Racer Jimmy Mock "We lost one of our own yesterday to an unfortunate accident. Perry and I had become friends over the last 3 years through a mutual love of 51 Chevy race cars. He had recently been improving the performance of his race car and was extremely excited to be a part of this years Street Car Super Nationals. R.I.P. Good Friend!" Perry raced his '51 Blown Chevy in the West Coast Pro Mod Association.. 

Rebecca Boone Associated Press
BOISE - A helicopter chartered by a state wildlife agency plunged into a travel trailer and crashed Tuesday on a downtown street in he small Idaho town of Kamiah, killing two biologists and the pilot.

Officials suspect mechanical failure caused the aircraft to flip over before it plummeted from the sky just a block from Main Street. Debris was scattered along several blocks, but no one on the ground was injured.

Witness Jim Emmert saw the crash from his house. "I saw white parts coming off of it," Emmert said of the helicopter. "It made a crumpled sound - like paper being crumpled - and then a loud crash and an explosion. And then nothing."

The Fish and Game biologists on board were identified as Larry Barrett, 47, and Danielle Schiff, 34. The pilot was Perry J. Krinitt, 43, of Belgrade, Mont.

The Department of Fish and Game had chartered the aircraft from Clarkston-based Leading Edge Aviation to count salmon spawning nests on the Selway River.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Lewis County Sheriff's Office were investigating the crash.

Photo Credit Nick Johanns & Don Chavez

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Diedrich new Promod MPH Record
Aug.31

Diedrich - the new Pro Mod MPH record holder for Bandimere Speedway



Jay Diedrich left his mark in Morrison, Colorado at Bandimere Speedway with a huge 237.09 speed in the final qualifying session Saturday night for the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association while headlining at a Super Chevy Show event. The speed isn’t very fast compared to his quickest ever 249 MPH shot earlier this year at Sacramento, but considering it was made at “the mile high raceway” with a corrected elevation of 8,800 feet it starts to pack more of a punch.

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NHRA pro Foley relocating to NASCAR country
Aug.31

NHRA pro Foley relocating to NASCAR country
by Agent DC on January 31, 2010

Top Fuel driver and noted drag racing instructor Doug Foley is moving to a much racier neighborhood. Foley recently signed a contract for a 12,000-plus square foot shop in the heart of NASCAR country in North Carolina. The new shop will house Foley's race team and the world renowned Doug Foley Drag Racing School. 

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Contrary to Rumors, Alan Pittman Race Cars Open for Business
Aug.31

Contrary to RUMORS, Alan Pittman Race Cars Open for Business
This Monday morning, the bay doors at Alan Pittman Race Cars swung open at 8 AM just as they do every weekday. In the face of recent rumors that his renowned chassis fabrication business was closing, Alan Pittman would like to set the record straight:

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The Number four "4"
Aug.31

4: That’s how many drivers have won the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil in more than one NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series category. Below is the list along with their wins:

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WFO Radio/CompPlus US Nats Coverage
Aug.31

WFO Radio, Competition Plus Provide Unprecedented U.S. Nats Coverage

WFO Radio with Joe Castello and Attitude Apparel's CompetitionPlus.com are combining forces to provide drag racing fans with unprecedented media coverage of this week's 56th annual Mac Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.
 
Coverage begins with WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday at 7 p.m. featuring a U.S. Nationals preview with CompetitionPlus.com's Jon Asher and the NHRA's Alan Reinhart.  On Friday at 10 a.m. ET, WFO Radio's live coverage from Indianapolis begins with a two-hour show featuring racers, media members and newsmakers from the world of drag racing.   Coverage continues Saturday with back-to-back shows, including the debut of the "Attitude Hour".  The broadcast schedule culminates with a special post-race show featuring the newly crowned U.S. Nationals champions.

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Mopar Thunder at Bristol Sept. 1 - 3
Aug.30

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Monday, August 30, 2010) -- For some car enthusiasts, it is Mopar or no car. For those people, the September 3-5 Mopar Thunder at Bristol Dragway is the perfect opportunity to see their favorite rides in action.

Several racing classes will give drivers the chance to race their Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler or other Mopar-badged vehicles on one of drag racing’s premier tracks. Racing action includes Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Slant 6.

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Delehay Wins 2010 WCPMA Championship
Aug.30

SPOKANE, WA – In what was a great come from behind story, Joe Delehay and his PM Motorsports Inc. team went into the final West Coast Pro Mod Association event of 2010 sitting in the Third position in the championship points standings.

"We went into this race thinking we were out of the hunt" said Delehay, "Our plan was to try to finish the year off with a win". Not only did the PM Motorsports Inc. team get the win, they won their Fourth West Coast Pro Mod Association Championship (2006,2007,2009,2010).

Delehay and team did just that and more, after the points leader Tommy Johanns failed to qualify, Delehay and team qualified with a 6.22 @ 230 mph (Track MPH record).

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New BTE Powerglide Transbrake Valve Body
Aug.30

New Product: BTE Powerglide Transbrake Valve Body
by Agent DC on January 30, 2010

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Bickel delivers Balooshi’s new car to track on flat bed trailer
Aug.29

Bickel delivers Balooshi’s new car to track on Flat Bed Trailer
by Agent DC on January 29, 2010

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VIDEO: Dina Parise scrapes the wall
Aug.29

VIDEO: Dina Parise scrapes the wall
posted by Agent DC on August 29, 2010

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NEW PRODUCTS from JEGS
Aug.29

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Nick Folk Caps Summer Swing
Aug.29

Nick Folk Caps Summer Swing with Stock Victory at US 131 Nitro Jam



Durand, IL: The Folk Family Racing team spent much of the last month on the road, attending a pair of big dollar bracket events in Atco, NJ and Stanton, MI and the annual IHRA Nitro Jam event in Martin, MI.  The family, which includes team patriarch Ron Folk and his sons Brian and Nick, has become accustomed to winning at the highest levels: each of the three have claimed IHRA World Championships, they’ve combined for nearly 40 national event victories, and countless big dollar bracket wins.  It’s no surprise then that the family has continued their winning ways in the summer of 2010.

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Message from Jim Howard
Aug.29

"Just to let everyone know. You must have a IHRA Super Series Number to be eligible to participate in the race of champions race at the Team Finals in October. Anyone in the points series can race in the Team Finals as long as you have 3 points races but you can be the Super 7 Points champion and still not be able to race in the ROC race for Montgomery Motorsports Park (MMP) or any other track unless you have a Super Series number from IHRA."

"Here is the deal. You have until next week to get your IHRA number. At this point there are very few racers in the Super 7 Series that have a IHRA number. My point is that just because you are the track champion a racer that buys a IHRA number and finishes well Labor Day could in fact be the Super Series Track Champion without winning the Series! I was just informed of this and I am sorry to get this info out so late but I just wasn't aware. I you have any questions please feel free to call me at the track and I will explain it in more detail." - Jim Howard  (334-260-9660)

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Dale Armstrong inducted into Hall of Fame
Aug.29

Legendary NHRA crew chief and mechanical wizard Dale Armstrong was one of seven icons from the world of motorsports inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Wednesday evening during the organization's annual induction ceremony at the Fillmore Theatre.

Long recognized as one of the sport's greatest innovators, Armstrong was the first Funny Car crew chief to use wind-tunnel testing and data recorders. He also is credited with the development of the lockup-style clutch, dual-source fuel-delivery system, and dynamometer testing for nitromethane-burning racing engines.

As crew chief for Kenny Bernstein, Armstrong earned five NHRA world championship titles, including four in Funny Car and one in Top Fuel, and helped the team make history by posting the first 300 mph speed in NHRA history. Following his record-breaking run with Bernstein, Armstrong continued his successful career tuning Don "The Snake" Prudhomme's Top Fuel dragster.

Armstrong, who also had an outstanding career as a driver with 12 NHRA national event victories including the prestigious U.S. Nationals, was inducted alongside famed daredevil Joie Chitwood, NASCAR champ Alan Kulwicki, AMA SuperCross champion Jeremy McGrath, television announcer Ken Squier, Trans Am champion Jerry Titus and USAC champ Rich Vogler.

Marty Reid, former NHRA television announcer and current lead for ESPN's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series telecasts as well as the Indy 500, presented Armstrong for induction. 

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Jones Paint & Design Completes Randy Folk's 2010 Mullis Dragster
Aug.29

Jones Paint & Design Completes Randy Folk's 2010 Mullis Dragster
by Agent DC on August 29, 2010

Jones Paint and Body is at it again with the design and paint on Randy Folk's new Mullis Dragster. Jone designed the theme by scratch, using a computer program, and then put his imagination to work.

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New look for Lagana Jr.
Aug.29

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Hartman pilots ‘Bullet Bob’ to emotional victory in front of huge Maryland crowd
Aug.29

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Edmund Hall Rebounds after crash with Mike Hill
Aug.29

Edmund Hall Rebounds after crash
posted on August 29, 2010 by DragCoverage.com

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NEOPMA Invades Maple Grove This Weekend
Aug.17

(8-16-2010) Mohnton, PA - Get your fill of quarter mile Pro Modified action this weekend. The Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods will roll into Maple Grove Raceway this upcoming weekend on Saturday August 21st, 2010.

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Promod Racer Lands Big Money with Thoroughbred Horse
Aug.16

Promod Racer Lands Big Money with Thoroughbred Horse
by Agent DC on August 16, 2010

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ADRL Announces TV Deal with MAVTV
Aug.16

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Superman wins Farmington
Aug.16

Superman wins Farmington
by Karon Woodward on August 16, 2010

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Williamson looking to keep points lead
Aug.16

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Did You Know....Brainerd Facts
Aug.16

Did You Know; Most wins in Prostock Motorcycle
by Agent DC on August 16, 2010

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Biondo Enjoying Another Stellar Season
Aug.16

Maspeth, NY -- Two years ago legendary sportsman competitor Peter Biondo made the conscious decision to scale back his personal racing efforts to a degree, in an attempt to focus on other interests.  While one could certainly argue that the five-time NHRA world champion and multiple big dollar bracket winner has nothing to prove behind the wheel, Biondo says that isn’t necessarily the reasoning behind his decreased on track schedule.


 
“Racing has been very, very good to me and my family,” he said.  “But I chased points and big dollar events, and I raced nearly every weekend during the season for nearly two decades.  I had a lot of other interests that I put on the back burner for so long I felt like it was time to re-prioritize.”

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DC Profiles: Bounty Hunter '87 Mustang
Aug.15

DC Profiles: Bounty Hunter '87 Mustang
by DragCoverage.com on August 15, 2010

Join DragCoverage.com Speed Forums today and create a profile to show off your Hot Rod.  DragCoverage will be publishing profiles often on the front page and yours could be next.  Check out user “Bleach Box’s” profile. 

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Vauxhall signs up with the Redvictor1 racing team
Aug.15

Vauxhall signs up with the Redvictor1 racing team
by Agent DC on August 15, 2010

We are proud to announce a partnership between Vauxhall Motors and the Redvictor1 Racing Team to support the MSA Pro Modified campaign with the new Redvictor 3 Street Legal Pro modified Car. The team will be running under the VXR banner to promote the flagship Vauxhall performance range with, what will be again, the fastest road going Vauxhall on Planet Earth 

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New Nitro Jam A Hit At U.S. 131 Motorsports Park
Aug.15

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Upton wins Moser Axle-Mania Sportsman Showdown
Aug.15

Upton wins Moser Axle-Mania Sportsman Showdown
MARTIN, Mich. (August 14, 2010)
Just four months ago Bo Upton was just another ordinary racer with a dream and a racecar. Upton loved to race, but knew he didn’t have the means to chase a championship. Upton loved to win, but knew that his hobby would never be much more than that.

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NHRA Pro Points Standings
Aug.15

BRAINERD, Minn. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 29th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 17th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel
1.  Larry Dixon, 1,639; 2.  Cory McClenathan, 1,359; 3.  Tony Schumacher, 1,346; 4.  Doug Kalitta, 1,243; 5.  Antron Brown, 1,180; 6.  Brandon Bernstein, 1,109; 7.  Shawn Langdon, 815; 8.  Morgan Lucas, 758; 9.  Steve Torrence, 704; 10.  David Grubnic, 682.

Funny Car
1.  John Force, 1,250; 2.  Robert Hight, 1,249; 3.  Jack Beckman, 1,155; 4.  Matt Hagan, 1,136; 5. Ron Capps, 1,048; 6.  Tim Wilkerson, 1,035; 7.  Bob Tasca III, 1,016; 8.  Ashley Force Hood, 984; 9.  Del Worsham, 929; 10.  Tony Pedregon, 764.

Pro Stock
1.  Mike Edwards, 1,631; 2.  Allen Johnson, 1,303; 3.  Jeg Coughlin, 1,227; 4.  Greg Anderson, 1,095; 5.  Jason Line, 931; 6.  Shane Gray, 857; 7.  Ron Krisher, 847; 8.  Greg Stanfield, 804; 9.Johnny Gray, 792; 10.  Rodger Brogdon, 728.

 Pro Stock Motorcycle
1.  Andrew Hines, 903; 2.  Hector Arana, 890; 3.  Michael Phillips, 778; 4.  Matt Smith, 759; 5. Steve Johnson, 699; 6.  Eddie Krawiec, 597; 7.  LE Tonglet, 584; 8.  David Hope, 574; 9.  Karen Stoffer, 543; 10.  Craig Treble, 508.

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NHRA Brainerd Elimination Results
Aug.15

Bode reaches first career final, wins first career race

The other winners at the 17th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Series season – and final race in the Countdown to 10 regular season – were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

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NHRA Brainerd Final Qualifying
Aug.14

BRAINERD, Minn. – Surging Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta earned his second No. 1 in the last four races Saturday at the 29th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

The other No. 1 qualifiers at the 17th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Series season – and final race in the Countdown to 10 regular season – were Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

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Sciba and King Take Wins At NEOPMA Event
Aug.09

Fredy Scriba Wins Nitrous Pro Mod Class and Steve King Wins Blower/Turbo Pro Mod Class and a Track Record Falls at the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod “1320 Pro Mod Warrior Series” at Maryland International Raceway this past weekend.

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Grand Bend PMRA Final Round Rained Out
Aug.09

  

Latest round of PMRA racing postponed due to rain at Grand Bend
 
Finalists Mike Stawicki and Sam Andreacchi will duke it out for event title during Labor Day event
 
GRAND BEND, ONTARIO (August 8, 2010) – The final round in the latest Pro Modified Racing Association race was postponed due to rain, and the event winner and Series Championship will be determined at Grand Bend over the Labor Day weekend.
 
The two finalists are number one qualifier Mike Stawicki of Medina, NY, and Sam Andreacchi of Toronto, Ontario, who qualified in sixth position.
 
Both Stawicki, who drives the G-Force Race Cars 1968 Firebird, and Andreacchi, driver of the Paul Wolf Electric & Lighting Supply Inc. 1969 Chevy Nova, are previous PMRA event winners.
 
Stawicki, who set a new Canadian Pro Modified time record with a 5.7379-second pass in qualifying, eliminated Paul Noakes of London, Ontario in his 1963 Corvette to advance to the final. Andreacchi won his semi over Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario, in his 1963 Corvette.
 
Gary Irving of Toronto, who qualified the Al Hinds 2004 Corvette in second spot, had some problems getting down the track, losing to Hawker in the first round. Number five qualifier Vito Montesano of Maple, Ontario, gave Noakes a good battle, but his 6.362 at 219. 24 was not quite enough for the 6.272, 219.08 of Noakes.
 
In other first round action, Jeff Roth of New Dundee, Ontario got the call to face Andreacchi. Roth was second alternate as neither number three qualifier Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario nor first alternate Terry Brown of Caledonia, Ontario could make the elimination rounds. Roth, driving the 1941 Willys, fell victim to handling problems while Andreacchi motored to a win and the next round.
 
And number eight qualifier Eric Latino of Port Perry, Ontario was taken out by Stawicki. The driver of the 1938 Chevy coupe ran a 6.372 but it was not enough for the 5.879 of Stawicki.
 
The fifth and final round in the 2010 PMRA tour will take place at Grand Bend during the Teamsters “Thunder by the Beach” September 3-5.

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Stawicki Continues PMRA Domination
Aug.08

GRAND BEND, ONTARIO (August 7, 2010) – Mike Stawicki continues to dominate in Pro Modified racing.

 
The Medina, NY driver of the G-Force Race Cars 1968 Firebird not only set the pace as top qualifier in the latest round of the Pro Modified Racing Association during the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex, he once again broke the elapsed time record for the class in Canada

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Rowe Wins Unleashed Pro Mods
Aug.08

Danny Rowe took top honors in the Pro Mod class at the inaugural NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil event held at O’Reilly Raceway Park on Saturday night.  In the finals it was Rowe, who is currently second in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod category facing up against rival Roger Burgess.  At the start Burgess red lit by .008 seconds and handed the win to Rowe in his 1968 Sterling Bridge Camaro who went on to run a pass of 5.991 seconds at 244.52 mph.

 “We are extremely excited about the win and running in the NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil event and we feel that is not only good for the sport but also good for the Pro Mod class,” said Rowe following the race.  “I love this sport, I’m very fortunate to be able to do this for a living, the win is great and this is huge for everybody.  It is good to be in the seat and I really enjoy it.”

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Last Race To Make NHRA Countdown
Aug.08

DRIVERS PREPARE FOR FINAL COUNTDOWN PUSH:

 With only one race left in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series regular season, the Countdown to 10, whether they’re first or 15th in the point standings, drivers are preparing themselves for one last chance to pick up as many points as they can next week at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., before the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and the start of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Of the drivers, 30 of the 40 spots have been clinched, with two drivers, Top Fuel’s Larry Dixon and Pro Stock’s Mike Edwards, clinching the No. 1 spots in their respective categories and securing that 20-point bonus that comes with being No. 1 entering the Countdown to 1. “Today wasn’t our day,” said Dixon, after a semifinal round loss to Brandon Bernstein at the just completed Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. “The consolation prize is the Al-Anabi Toyota team locked in the No. 1 seed for the Countdown, and getting those extra 30 points (10 ahead of second place, plus the 20-point bonus) over whoever ends up No. 2 when the Countdown begins is big. I’ve said before that we sure could have used those extra 30 points last season so I’m glad to have them this year.”

While Dixon and Edwards are locked into the field at the top of the point standings, an all out battle is taking place for the 10th-place spot in all four categories. With the final race of the season just one week away, only 33 points in Funny Car separate 10th place and two-time world champion Tony Pedregon from 11th place Jeff Arend, and only 19 points in Top Fuel separate 10th place David Grubnic from 11th place Terry McMillen. A first round loss in Brainerd for any of these drivers could spell the end of their 2010 world championship campaigns. And while the competition for the final spot heats up in the two Nitro classes, nearly half the field in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class awaits its fate heading into Brainerd. With the regular season schedule for the bike class being six-races shorter than that of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, only the top five drivers in the point standings have clinched their spots in the Countdown, leaving five openings, the most of any of the four classes, still up for grabs at Brainerd in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The upcoming Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway should prove to be one of the most exciting and instrumental races of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. For tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, call (866) 444-4455 or online at brainerdraceway.com..

 

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2nd Annual Moser Engineering Great American Bracket Race Same Day Coverage
Jul.23

2nd Annual Moser Engineering Great American Bracket Race; Same Day Coverage

Team DragCoverage.com has arrived at No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose, LA, for coverage of the 2010 Great American Bracket Race. Follow us right here for same day coverage of the 3-day bracket race that pays over $100,000 in prize money.

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DragCoverage.com to cover Great American Bracket Race this Weekend
Jul.20

DragCoverage.com to cover Great American Bracket Race this Weekend
by TJ Pruitt

We have taken a few weeks off here at DragCoverage.com, but it's time to hit the pavement again and cover the Great American Bracket Race this weekend in Bell Rouse, LA.  DragCoverage.com will be posting photos and hourly updates of one of the biggest bracket races to hit the south. Coverage will be brought to you by TindleRacing.com. Team DragCoverage.com will arrive on site Thursday night and coverage will begin on Friday morning. Be sure to stay tuned to DragCoverage.com

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Shorter's Bob Dennis Wins Super Stock
Jun.20

LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Sunday's final results from the 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the 12th of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:  

Super Stock -- Bob Dennis, Olds Calais, 11.018, 119.45  def. Joe Santangelo, Pontiac Trans Am, 10.013, 130.35.  

Stock Eliminator -- Slate Cummings, Pontiac Firebird, 10.792, 116.46  def. Russell Johnson, Ford Fairlane, 11.368, 116.08.  

Super Comp -- Lloyd Parfait, Dragster, 8.873, 173.81  def. Trevor Denton, Dragster, 8.878, 168.18.  

Super Gas -- Ed Apple, Chevy Roadster, 9.927, 148.66  def. Billy Upton, Chevy Corvette, broke.

 

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Cannon Once Again Looking For Sponsorship
Jun.18

June 17, 2010 Lyman, SC-Scotty Cannon and team find themselves again without sponsorship in the middle of the 2010 season. “I got a phone call from Bennie (Alfonso) saying that he would no longer be racing. We had planned to run the Northeast Outlaw Pro Modified Association’s schedule this year said Scotty Cannon.” Cannon Sr. and his son Scott Cannon Jr. had teamed up with Alfonso last year to race in the NEOPMA Series. “We thought we had a secure deal to race again this year. We have been thrashing at the shop to order all of the right parts and pieces. Now we need a deal to use all of this stuff we purchased said Cannon Sr.”

Cannon would like to see a deal where his son can drive and he can tune. “We have all of the things we need to run fast. If we can’t secure sponsorship, we would be willing to tune someone else as well said Scotty Cannon Sr.” The Cannon team has all of the equipment to run and be competitive in any of the many pro modified categories. “I can tune a car to run in any of the current sanctioning bodies that have a Pro Modified Class. We could run the ADRL or NHRA’s events, it doesn’t matter to us said Cannon Sr.”

 2007 IHRA World Champion Scott Cannon Jr. would love to return to the driver’s seat. “I have spent a lot of time preparing the shop and car to be competitive this year. I hope soon I can return to competition said Scott Cannon Jr.”

Parties interested in sponsorship or hiring the Cannon team can call Scott Cannon Jr. @ 864-444-6502 or email joelcampbell@bellsouth.net.

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Mickey Thompson Continues Support
Jun.18

 

Mickey Thompson continues involvement with PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series

Race tire giant provides contingency funds for drag race series

STOW, OHIO (June 18, 2010)  – The Pro Modified Racing Association and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series is pleased to have the continued involvement of Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels for 2010.

 
The iconic drag racing tire company is once again providing contingency awards for both the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the PMRA.

“This is an excellent outlet for our teams to compete,” noted Carl Robinson, Motorsports Manager for Mickey Thompson. “It’s a pleasure to work with our customers in Canada.”

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Stawicki & G-Force Return To PMRA
Jun.18

MEDINA, NEW YORK (June 16, 2010) - Veteran Pro Modified racer Mike Stawicki has returned to the Pro Modified Racing Association for the 2010 season, and the New York native plans to run as many PMRA events as possible this year.
 
“We will run as many as we can,” mentioned Stawicki, who is presently second on the PMRA win list with four outright wins and a tie between 2005 and 2008. 
 

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NEOPMA Returns To MIR May 15
May.11

 

 

Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods “1320 Pro Mod Warriors Series” Returns to Maryland International Raceway’s (MIR) “32^nd Annual Outback Steakhouse Mountain Motor Nationals May 15th”

 

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Huntsville Outlaws are Back Results !
May.09

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PMRA/IHRA Racer Spiering Stepping Aside
May.03

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PSCA Adds New Race Day Staff
May.03

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2009 PMRA Champ Ready To Defend Title
May.03

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Parker Wins Dixie Opener
Apr.13

Parker Wins Dixie Opener

Dan Parker, substituting for a vacationing Lynne Milner-Baxley, driving Big Daddy Ellis Milner's 1957 Chevrolet survived a race of upsets and won the Dixie Pro Mod Association season opener at Phenix Dragstrip in Phenix City, AL.

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Folk Team Opens 2010 with Successful Tour
Apr.02

Folk Family Racing Team Opens 2010 with Successful Southern Tour

The Folk Family Racing team made their first two on-track appearances of the 2010 racing season far from their Durand, IL home at the opening IHRA Division 4 event at Dallas Raceway (near Dallas, TX) followed by the NHRA JEGS Cajun Sportsnationals at No Problem Raceway Park (near New Orleans, LA). The team enjoyed a successful trip South, highlighted by a pair of final round appearances at the Dallas event.
 
There, in their first event of the season, defending IHRA World Champion Nick Folk showed why he wears the number 1 on the side of his familiar Folk Race Cars Stock Eliminator Camaro. He once again waded through five rounds of divisional competition to earn the divisional iron man, and take the early lead in the 2010 points standings. Nick’s starting and finish line prowess were on display at the season opener, as he posted reaction times varying from .009 to .035, and rolled final round opponent Jacob Pitt through for a win margin of just .003 of a second.

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DragCoverage.com Publisher takes Ten to Win Race
Apr.02

DragCoverage.com Publisher takes Ten to Win Race at MMP
by Goodyear Racing Media

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Brown Takes Deliver of 2010 JMark Dragster
Apr.02

Brown Takes Deliver of 2010 JMark Dragster
Jim Brown took deliver of his new 2010 JMark Rear Engine Dragster this past weekend. The Monroeville, AL racer plans debut this beautiful ride at next week’s King of the Coast event at Gulfport Dragway, MS. 

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Spectator wins 2010 Ford Mustang GT at zMax
Apr.02

Spectator wins 2010 Ford Mustang GT at zMax
by Susan Pollack on April 2, 2010

During the 2009 NHRA Drag Racing Full Throttle Racing Series event at zMAX Dragway, Faye Curtis of Pilot Mountain, NC, entered to win a 2010 Ford Mustang GT at the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Experience display as part of Ford Customer Service Division’s national sweepstakes program. A few short months later, Curtis received a call from Ford Customer Service Division informing her

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EOPM team with Thompson Custom T's
Apr.02

The Extreme Outlaw Pro Mods are very proud to announce a renewed alliance with Larry Thompson of Custom T's Racing.  "We have had a long standing relationship with Custom T's of DC as a sponsor, and are thrilled to team up with Larry to put on a event in 2010" said Stuart Williams of EOPM. 

On August 14th, the Extreme Outlaw Pro Mods will compete in the Custom T's Shootout at Capitol Raceway as the outlaw portion of the event.  The 2010 season will be the first year of Larry T, starting his own racing organization which is dedicated to keeping an even playing field for the Custom T's Shootouts throughout the season.  Larry will have a 4.40 breakout for his heads up doorslammer action. 

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Fisher Signs deal with Dragon Racing Fuels
Apr.02

Kevin and Kathy Fisher of Performance by Fisher Racing are proud to announce their association with Dragon Racing Fuels, manufacturer of some of the finest racing fuel blends available.

The newly formed partnership will allow Performance by Fisher Racing to expand their competition schedule to include more events and venues than in seasons past with immediate plans to compete in both NHRA and IHRA. Kevin will begin his first full season in the team’s Ohio Crankshaft powered Top Dragster while former IHRA top ten finisher Kathy Fisher, looks to build on past successes in her Super Comp/Quick Rod entry. Both will be claiming division three.

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Bluebaugh Racing Improves Chassis for 2010
Apr.02


Bluebaugh Racing’s Team Magna Fuel is taking a brief reprieve to rethink and prepare for the 2010 racing season yet ahead. Last September Bluebaugh and Crew Chief Deborah Woodard took a late mid-season leap of faith changing a proven combination in the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo with a bigger engine. Bluebaugh said it’s been quite a challenge to harness the new power. We are taking a step back for a minute to rethink after several events spent with difficulty. We want to come back to the competition prepared. Adding horsepower to the mix is just not as easy at it sounds. It changes everything about the car.

Crew Chief Woodard said we have spent countless hours studying chassis dynamics for this project and days at a time on the garage floor with a tape measure and calculator. Our 1995 model chassis has now undergone a complete transformation with additional bracing, a 180 degree turn in the scaling, and changes in the four link set up. During the process a crack was also located. Woodard said this is the second time a crack has been discovered just following difficulties with getting the car to respond correctly and may have been contributing to the problem. Crack inspections have become a more frequent part of our routine.  Preliminary testing is showing we are headed in the right direction with a rough but encouraging 1.01 60ft. time. We should be ready by May to give the competition a good run. We feel this new set up has the potential to compete in the low 6 second range now needed on the West Coast.

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"Speck Daddy" Videos on Horsepower TV this Weekend
Mar.25

"Speck Daddy" Videos on Horsepower TV this Weekend
by T.J. Pruitt on March 26, 2010

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Irwin Tools Teams with Doug Herbert
Mar.25

Likeable Local Veteran to Sport IRWIN’s Blue and Yellow Colors
IRWIN® Tools, a world-class manufacturer and marketer of a broad line of professional hand tools and power tool accessories, today announced it will be the primary sponsor of veteran Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert for 2010 NHRA races taking place at zMax Dragway, just outside of Charlotte, NC.

Herbert, a fan and media favorite, will first showcase the famous blue and yellow colors of IRWIN Tools on his “Top Fuel” dragster this weekend during the inaugural NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.

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First Time Ever - 4-Wide @ zMax
Mar.25

For the first time ever in NHRA national event history, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will hold an entire event, qualifying and eliminations, using four lanes instead of the traditional two. At the very special and history-making inaugural event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first of two races in the season held at zMAX Dragway, drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag racing series will go head-to-head-to-head-to-head, to compete for valuable points toward the Full Throttle world championships and a chance to hoist the coveted Wally at the end of eliminations on Sunday. With all the excitement that an event like this brings it’s only understandable that the drivers are pumped and ready to end their week off and hit the track in Concord, N.C. “We’re going four wide. Wow,” said Top Fuel dragster pilot Antron Brown. “We experienced it already last year and we made a good showing in the four wide exhibition even though we didn’t have the results we were looking for during the regular race.”

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Pro Mod Teams gear up for Spring Nationals
Mar.25

As the  Innagural Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod, 2010 season gets  ready to begin the excitement for the new show is peaking.  With the first event, the first annual Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod Spring Nationals being held at Roxboro Motorsports Park its very encouraging to hear about the northern teams, who are expected to invade the south.

Troy Henderson in his Charlie Buck powered, Tom Tillman Race Cars 68 Camaro, is looking forward to starting off the season just as he ended the 2009 season, where he won King of the Beach.  Marc "the Truth" Hayes in his Fulton powered, Vanishing Point Cavalier looks forward to returning to Roxboro to show the fans how he earned his nickname.  Bill Meadows, a 2007 Champion, in his Kaase powered 2006 Grand Am looks forward to returning to his winning ways.  Alot of people will be keeping an eye on the results from this race to see what Mr. Andy Jensen in his Jensen Technologies Turbo powered, Tim McCamis 68 Camaro will accomplish next.  Woodrow Clark in his Bob Mach powered Firebird, and Ricky Walton in his small block powered Cavalier plan to also be on hand for the EOPM season opener.



Ford fans hold on one second, as you will have at least  one bad pony to cheer for at Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod races in 2010.  Steve Drummond of Delaware, in his awesome Twin Turbo powered Mustang plans to make his debut at the Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod Spring Nationals, and has informed me that testing is all over, its time to race.  Many of the north teams plan to not only attend, but look forward to bringing the Spring Nationals trophy back north, along with the first win of the season.   The games have begun as the talk hits the right ears.  Stay tuned for the South Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod Teams gear up for Spring Nationals.........

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Team Aruba Achieves Career-Best in Houston
Mar.25

After enduring a long day of qualifying at Baytown’s Houston Raceway Park, Trevor Eman and the Team Aruba crew achieved a career-best qualifying effort with an elapsed time (ET) of 4.090 at 177.30mph in the fourth qualifying round at the 2010 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Universal Technical Institute Dragpalooza VI, presented by Safety-Kleen. “We were making better and faster runs every time we made it to the starting line,” commented Eman, on the team’s performance.  Team Aruba’s efforts placed the team in the #5 spot in the Extreme Pro Stock (XPS) category.



Fans excitedly awaited the qualifying rounds of the 2010 ADRL Dragpalooza VI, only to miss out on the final elimination rounds as a discouraging storm front moved across Baytown, Texas. With impending rain and strong winds quickly approaching, a final decision to reschedule the remaining qualifying and eliminations rounds was made for late July.

Eman credits Team Aruba’s crew for their successful qualifiers. “Carl Baker, our crew chief, was making good calls and Tommy had the clutch completely under control. Ken had his hands on all the other 'in-between round' maintenance and Bobby was taking good care of everybody that came by our www.Aruba.com 'free information booth' and the Autism Speaks donation box.” After Friday’s events, Team Aruba hosted a cook-out to celebrate Aruba’s National Anthem and Flag Day, featuring a variety of tasty foods in Texas-sized portions. “It isn’t often that the XPS teams get to spend time together at races, because races are usually so hectic,” Trevor mentions. “We were happy that a lot of ADRL officials and teams were able to take some time off and stop by.”

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Super 7 Series This Weekend!
Mar.25

Team DragCoverage.com will be attending Montgomery Motorsports Park's Super 7 Series This Weekend, Montgomery, AL

The race will feature three $10,000 Super Pro races for only $300 and three $2,000 Footbrake races for only $150.

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Results from Jegs Sportsnationals
Mar.25

BELLE ROSE, La. (March 21, 2010) – The first of three JEGS Sportsnationals for 2010 is in the books with three Louisiana racers taking big wins at this weekends 7th Annual NHRA JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La.  Just under 500 racers from across the country made the trip to No Problem in search of the coveted NHRA National Event Wally Trophy.

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First Summit ET Race Results at Atlanta Dragway
Mar.25

First Summit ET Race Results at Atlanta Dragway
by Amy Glover on March 29, 2010

Inclement weather stamped out the first scheduled points race of Atlanta Dragway’s 2010 season, but racers were met with perfect conditions this time around. The spring breeze cooled off the black top and kept racers comfortable throughout the rounds.

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Life-Time Contract with Al-Anabi Racing
Mar.25

In an unprecedented move for drag racing, 10-year-old American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Jr. Dragster star K.J. Nowling has signed a lifetime performance contract with Al-Anabi Racing.

“I had the pleasure of hosting K.J. at two of our recent Arabian Drag Racing League events in Qatar and found him to be an incredibly bright young man who clearly understands the mechanics of racing,” Al-Anabi team owner Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani said. “Being a two-time ADRL national-event winner, he’s obviously a talented driver, so I thought I’d better get him under contract now before someone beat me to it.”



In the debut of a new Mike Bos-built Pro Jr. Dragster car, Nowling is racing under the Al-Anabi banner for the first time this weekend in the ADRL’s season-opening Universal Technical Institute Dragpalooza VI presented by Safety-Kleen at Houston Raceway Park. Long-term plan calls for him to remain in the Pro Jr. Dragster ranks until his 16th birthday, at which time he will begin making test passes in a full-size car before making his ADRL Pro Extreme debut in 2016 in the Universal Technical Institute Dragpalooza XXII.

“This is hard to believe and I can’t thank Sheikh Khalid enough for this opportunity,” said Nowling, a fifth grader from Dardenne Prairie, Missouri. “I had so much fun watching him win the Pro Extreme championship in Qatar, but even more fun playing soccer with him on PlayStation 3 at his house. We’ve become good friends and I feel very proud to become his Al-Anabi teammate.”   

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Jody “Cool” Wins First National Event
Mar.25

The headline may come as a surprise to many: Jody Simoneaux wins first national event. The Louisiana based racer has been a standout competitor for years; first behind the wheel of various bottom bulb bracket machines, and in recent years as a member of the Cummings Motorsports team, flying the Moser Engineering colors in Stock Eliminator. Since teaming with the Cummings family, Simoneaux has enjoyed great success in the Stock Eliminator category. He’s won a handful of events at the divisional level. He was the NHRA Division 4 JEGS All-Stars representative last season, and he’s been a contender for the Division 4 Stock Championship in both NHRA and IHRA. But, a win on the national stage had proven elusive--until the IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals two weeks ago.
 
Simoneaux drove the Moser Engineering Chevy II for the Cummings family into the winner circle of nearby State Capital Dragway at the IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals. “Cool,” as he’s known by many for his laid back demeanor, posted his best run in the most crucial round of eliminations: using a telepathic .003 reaction time and dead-on 11.246 for a great .009 package in the final round. Touring professional competitor Mark Faul posted a respectable .010 reaction and 11.649 on his 11.63 target, but it simply wasn’t enough to deny Simoneaux his first national event win. Looking back, Simoneaux finished the event much like he started it: he opened in round one with a stellar .008 reaction time to defeat three-time Stock World Champion Kevin Helms. He then worked his way thru the Stock field, defeating Sam Lusco, Jr., Dempsey Pendarvis, and Danny Doughty before earning a bye run into the final round.

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Bear on Top at Rockingham Dragway
Mar.25

FOOTBRAKE REGULAR BEARD CLAIMS TOP ELIMINATOR AT ROCKINGHAM

ROCKINGHAM, NC – Seagrove, NC’s Michael Beard, who over the years has won dozens of bracket races in the Footbrake class, defied conventional wisdom Sunday at Rockingham Dragway where he moved up in classification, driving his venerable 1980 Plymouth Volare past a host of dragsters to win the Top Eliminator title.  His IHRA-legal Stocker is powered by a Sloan Racing Engines-prepped Mopar 360 Magnum crate motor, which has held the I/CM class 1/8th mile World Record for the last two years.



Beard was a picture of consistency in outlasting a field made up primarily of full-body Top Eliminator cars with only 11 of them dragsters.  Appropriately, he beat the driver of another “door car,” Kevin Crawford of Pageland, S.C., in the Sunday final. The win marked Beard's 148th career victory, and the second time he has footbraked to a Top Eliminator win.

Beard’s worst package (reaction time plus the difference between his actual time and target time) of the race was .048.  His reaction times ranged from .001 to a final round .044 that was offset by a dead-on 6.954 eighth mile time against a 6.950 target.  Beard also advanced to the 5th round of Footbrake competition with the same car on the same day, making for a total of 14 runs, whose 330' times only varied .018 from 11am to 5pm.  

"The car has been unbelievably consistent," said Beard.  "That's a testimony to Mopar power, and the other fine products that help me find the winner's circle:  Mickey Thompson, CAM2 Blue Blood Racing Oil, K&N Filters, Sunoco Race Fuel from Bearden Oil, as well as REM'd and Cryo treated parts from Jim Bailey's FINISHED."

Beard also thanked Duck Tape brand duct tape, Bradley Auto Parts, Scotty Richardson's BottomBulbRacers.com, Luke Bogacki's ThisIsBracketRacing.com, Macy Motorsports, Billy Nees Race Cars, Stephen Beard, Matt Zapp, Terry Knott, and his wife Jill.

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Passing of Shirl Greer
Mar.25

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM BRISTOL DRAGWAY ON THE PASSING OF SHIRL GREER

There are examples out there of champions who, beyond talent, earned their way with grit and determination. Shirl Greer was one of those champions. The cars may be different than they were 30-plus years ago, but the elements it takes to win a championship are not, and he put those elements together.

Shirl was a great friend to Bristol Dragway and always was there to lend a hand in helping promote drag racing. Whether it was through allowing us to put his Funny Car on display or to attend an event, Shirl loved the sport of drag racing.

He will be missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the 1974 NHRA Funny Car World Champ.

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New Sponsor for Charles Carpenter Racing
Mar.25

DMP Awnings, a division of Minnesota-based Dubbin Racing Products, has teamed up with Charles Carpenter Racing in an associate sponsorship role for the 2010 season. Not only will the DMP logo appear on Carpenter’s unmistakable Pro Nitrous ’55 Chevy, but a new DMP Awning will be outfitted to the Carpenter team’s rig.

The partnership was initially brought to life shortly after Carpenter’s devastating crash at the season-opening ADRL Dragpalooza V a year ago. Dubbin was one of the first to pitch in and offer to help Carpenter get back on track anyway he could, despite having never met him.

Now that Carpenter is back and poised to make a run at the ADRL Pro Nitrous championship in 2010, Dubbin has stepped up his support to help him achieve that goal. During their first face-to-face meeting at December’s Performance Racing Industry trade show, the two came to an agreement for DMP to become involved as an associate sponsor.

“We’re thrilled to have formed a relationship with Dean and DMP Awnings,” Carpenter said. “He’s a hard working small business owner much like myself, so we share a lot of common ground in both business and racing. He understands the commitment it takes for the working man to do this, so we hit it off right from the start and I couldn’t ask to be involved with a better individual or company. On top of that, DMP Awnings produces one of the highest quality awning systems available and we can’t wait to get ours installed.”

Dean Dubbin founded DMP Awnings in 1994, and when he’s not out racing his record-setting Top Dragster, he’s at DMP producing one of the strongest, most affordable, and hassle-free awning systems available anywhere.

“We weathered the economic storm in 2009, and in 2010 we’re swinging for the fences to try to make it our best year ever,” said Dubbin. “We’re already off to a great start by entering this partnership with Charles Carpenter Racing and I’m excited about the exposure this will bring to our product. DMP Awnings are perfect for the fast doorslammer racer who wants top quality and a quick, easy setup in a durable awning system custom made for their trailer.”

For more information about DMP Awnings, call (320) 584-8013 or visit www.dmpawnings.com.

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Hill Vs Hall THE VIDEO
Mar.10

The Crash VIDEO & TIME SLIPS: Mike Hill VS Edmund Hall Part II - Crash
by Agent DC on March 11, 2010

The Agent has received a copy of the crash video that happened between Mike "The Hitman Hill" and Edmund "Mr.5 Speed" Hall. The Agent also has a copy of the time-slips. It took quite a bit to get the popular demand video, but here it is. The Agent was told that Hall has already been in contact with Jerry Bickel inquiring about repairing the GTO.

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Whitehead to debut SB2/LENCO 67 Camaro
Mar.10



Jimmy Whitehead - Since the death of my cousin/partner Jerome Knotts its been hard to keep on track and continue with the tradition,but in 2009, Knothead Racing (Jimmy Whitehead and crew) will start a new program, the 67 Camaro will be running a 502 to compete in the 5:30 and 6:0 heads up class and the 92 Beretta will run a 406 to compete in the 7:0 heads up class. If all goes well both cars will have female drivers, Mother and Daughter.

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Synder Crashes while test @ SGMP
Mar.10

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Jones Paint and Design Completes Kenny Acree’s Promod Camaro
Mar.10

Jones Paint & Design Completes Kenny Acree’s Promod Camaro
By Agent DC on March 10, 2010

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John Sullivan Gets a New Ride
Mar.10

PHOTOS: New Hot Rod in John Sullivan's Stable; Dodge Stratus
by TJ Pruitt on March 10, 2010

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Solid Rock 1971 Mustang Mach I Nostlagia Funny Car Complete
Mar.10

PHOTOS: Solid Rock 1971 Mustang Mach I Nostlagia Funny Car Complete
by TJ Pruitt on March 10, 2010

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More Technology Launches MoTecOnline.com
Mar.10

Will Bringing New and Innovative Tools to Motorsports

More Technology, MoTec, was created to facilitate the implementation and distribution of new, innovative, and useful tools to the motorsports industry. With the slogan, putting More Technology in your hands, MoTec will do just that.

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Beal Racing Engines team up with EOPM
Mar.10

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A Pro Mod dream becomes a reality
Mar.10

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 8) -- After a decade of existence as an exhibition class, the Pro Mod cars are now a fully sanctioned NHRA class, and team owner/driver Roger Burgess couldn't be happier.

"A lot of people contributed a lot of time and effort to make this happen," Burgess said. "By becoming an official class it legitimizes everything we've been doing. Racing for Wally (trophies) is going to be very exciting. Everyone wants one of those little gold men. They are the NHRA's iconic symbol of success.

"Being on ESPN2 also will help tremendously, especially with bringing corporate sponsors to the table for all of our competitors. This is big year for us."

Since the announcement of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, the requests for a spot in the elite field have gone off the charts.

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NHRA LODRS Results from Atlanta
Mar.10

COMMERCE, Ga. (March 8, 2010) – In the final results from Atlanta Dragway and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Duane Shields, Bolder City, Nev., and Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif. took home the wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car respectively.

COMP ELIMINATOR
Frank Aragona Jr., Freehold, N.J., dragster, F/ED, 8.193, 159.72  def. Grant Lewis, Jesup, Ga., '05 Grand Am, H/AA, 8.606, 155.65.

SUPER STOCK
Mike Tueffel, Browns Summit, N.C., '98 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.658, 159.36  def. Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., '95 Camaro, SS/JA, foul.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Craig Marshall, Canal Winchester, Ohio, '74 Dart, E/SA, 11.197, 98.64  def. Luke Bogacki, Woodville, Ala., '69 Nova, AA/SA, foul.

SUPER COMP
Ray Miller, Spring Hill, Fla., dragster, 8.931, 171.90  def. Larry Roberts, Laurens, S.C., dragster, 8.958, 179.73.

SUPER GAS
David Tatum III, Palmetto, Ga., '05 Cavalier, 9.945, 163.87  def. Bruce Duncan, Crawfordville, Fla., '03 Cavalier, 9.925, 160.65.

SUPER STREET
Donnie Gibbs Jr, Mooresville, N.C., '71 Nova, 10.920, 124.82  def. Bobby Taylor Jr, Orlando, Fla., '89 Camaro, 10.947, 128.64.

TOP DRAGSTER
Phillip Oakley, Owensboro, Ky., dragster, 6.849, 181.81  def. Steve Furr, Harrisburg, N.C., dragster, 7.138, 183.89.

TOP SPORTSMAN
Billy Vaughn, Knoxville, Tenn., '95 Monte Carlo, 7.025, 193.43  def. Jeff Pittman, Conover, N.C., '68 Chevelle, 7.035, 190.59.

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Pro Slammers, On Fire with $5000 Payout
Mar.10

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Kurt Busch to compete in the Gatornationals this Weekend
Mar.10

Kurt Busch is Drag Racing This Weekend
by Agent DC on March 10, 2010

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Mike Hill Vs Edmund Hall Part II Coverage
Mar.10