CARPENTER’S “WORLD’S FASTEST ‘55” REBORN

(7-10-2004) – The birth announcement would read 16 feet, 2450 pounds. A rather large baby, but that is because this announcement is for the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Pro Mod owned by Charles Carpenter.

Nine weeks ago, to the day, Carpenter wrecked his “World’s Fastest ‘55” at a Quick 8 race at Coastal Plains Dragway in Jacksonville, N.C. It was his first accident in 28 years. Since then, a lot of people have worked nonstop to get Carpenter back on the drag strip, and their diligence is nearly ready to pay off.

“I’m really happy to have my car back,” Carpenter said. “The shop looked really empty with the car out for repair and I’ve been in a grouchy mood since the accident. I’m happy today, though. The only way I would be happier is if they didn’t take all my money (to fix the car),” he joked.

Though the car is currently sitting in Carpenter’s Charlotte, N.C., shop, he still has a weeks worth of work before it will be completely race-ready since the front-end and right side were almost completely demolished.

Carpenter confessed, “I had to call in a lot of favors and the guys at Embee Performance jumped in and got a lot of the pistons and engine parts done quickly. Tommy Mauney Race Cars repaired the chassis, and Performance Auto Crafters was able to get the painting done in record time.

“It (the car) looks like it did before, just not torn up,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter was uninjured in the accident which occurred during first round eliminations. Near the 300-foot mark Carpenter hit the wall hard, punching a hole nearly 25 feet long in the barrier. His vehicle then slid across the track into the left lane and sustained heavy damage in the incident; the front end and right side door were torn off and both right side tires went flat.

Racing a schedule which includes both IHRA national events and Quick 8 races throughout the Carolinas, Carpenter intends to return to competition at the July 17 Quick 8 race at Mooresville (N.C.) Dragway. His IHRA return will come at the23rd Annual IHRA Northern Nationals in Grand Rapids, Mich., starting August 12.

“All my racing budget went to repairing the car, but I’ll be back next week,” Carpenter promised. “I owe it to Embee Performance and Pat Doherty Motorsports, new sponsors who came aboard this year, and for Custom AutoSound and Buddy’s Automotive who have been with me for several seasons.

“I’ve got to thank so many people and companies who rallied behind me when I really needed the help,” he continued. “Without Ronnie Santhuff, Pro Glass, Mr. Gasket Corp., Bryan Knight, and Mike Carpenter I would likely still be on the sidelines.”

G Squared Motorsports Opts to Skip Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals

(7-9-2004) - After experiencing the affect of the 40-pound weight addition imposed on the V-Twins at the Sears Craftsman Nationals, George Bryce and George Smith of G Squared Motorsports announced today that they will not be attending the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, CO.

“It’s obvious that the 40-pounds have had a greater impact than we initially thought the weight would have and we need additional time to prepare as a result of the change,” said Smith. “Prior to George Bryce and I forming G Squared Motorsports, he and Jackie (Bryce) had a remarkable track record over the last 188 consecutive NHRA national event entries with 61 No. 1 qualifiers, 110 final rounds and 67 wins. The reason that the record is so good is Star Racing was more prepared than anyone else to win. We know we have an outstanding package with the G2/S&S/Star Racing Buell and the S&S V-Twin engine has shown great durability and has tremendous potential. I’m not used to losing and neither is George Bryce, and it’s our intent to continue the winning tradition at G Squared.”

Bryce continued by saying, "Big George said it all. New projects take time to fully develop. We are committed to succeeding with this V-Twin. When we finally decided to unveil this new machine, we felt we would be competitive with it, and we are. As Big George said, the extra weight has had a significant impact, and we are continuing to work with the S&S team to maximize the performance of the Pro Stock bike. Upon returning to competition, we will help the class grow as we have several new racers interested in participating in the NHRA POWERade series.”

The two George’s are in Viola, WI this coming weekend meeting with the S&S Cycle R&D Department to discuss options. They will also be present at the Hot Bike S&S 124 VFI Ultimate Challenge Shootout at the Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa, with the 2003 #46 Tribute Street Pro bike doing exhibition runs.

NHRA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL CHANGES FOR TOP FUEL AND FUNNY CAR

(7-9-2004) - NHRA officials notified Top Fuel and Funny Car teams, today, of a minimum tire pressure for rear tires beginning at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and the formation of a task force to evaluate and recommend short-term and long-term performance parameters. In addition, NHRA announced a change to the nitromethane/methanol mix starting at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Seattle.

Last week, a new Goodyear tire was introduced for Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors and NHRA required roll cage shielding for all Top Fuel dragsters. Beginning in Denver, and in addition to those changes, the minimum tire pressure, as recommended by Goodyear, for rear tires will be 7 PSI for Top Fuel and 6.5 PSI for Funny Car.

NHRA also announced it will form a task force comprised of professional Top Fuel and Funny Car team owners, crew chiefs and NHRA officials. The objective of the task force is to evaluate and recommend short-term and long-term performance parameters for the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. The task force will be facilitated by Don Taylor, senior director of national technical operations at NHRA, along with Graham Light, senior vice president, NHRA, and chairman of the NHRA Competition Committee, and Ray Alley, director of Top Fuel and Funny Car Racing.

Beginning in Seattle, NHRA announced that the maximum percentage of nitromethane/methanol mixture used in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories will be reduced from 90 percent to 85 percent. Other possible changes are expected in the near future.
"NHRA always will be committed to refining our unique style of racing to improve the quality of our show for our loyal fan base and improve the safety of the participants," said Light.

Former Drag Review editor Steve Cole named Communications Manager for Flaming River Industries

(7-9-2004) – Jeanette Ladina, President of Flaming River Industries, Inc., has announced that Steve Cole has joined the rapidly growing company in the newly created position of Communications Manager.

Ron Domin, Vice President of Flaming River Industries observes, “For Flaming River to bring this talent in house for media releases, website management and technical writing, is a true win-win situation!”

Cole, a veteran marketing communications specialist, joins the Flaming River organization after a short tenure as Editor of the International Hot Rod Association’s Drag Review magazine. Prior to that, he served as Communications Director for Barry Grant, Inc. for four years. His industry experience includes eight years as owner of In Motion Communications (where Flaming River Industries was a key client), six years as editor of Specialty & Custom Dealer, plus working for Holley Performance Products, Inc. and the Mr. Gasket Company.

“To rejoin the Flaming River organization is an honor and I feel that I am reuniting with family. Over the past several years, I have followed the growth and success of Flaming River. Every award the company earned, I quietly applauded their achievement,” said Cole.

Cole’s responsibility will entail media relations management, oversight of consumer instructional and technical documents, website materials and internal communications. Ray Ricchetti continues to serve as Flaming River’s Creative Director.

Flaming River Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of award winning, quality steering systems and electrical system safety products for street and motorsports applications.

MOPAR BIG BLOCK PARTY BRINGS MOTOWN, 10,000 MANIACS TO GOLDEN

(7-8-2004) - The third annual "Mopar Big Block Party" will take the streets of downtown Golden, Colo., by storm next Thursday evening. The party kicks off the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway and will feature a free concert by the band 10,000 Maniacs. The party is scheduled to start Thursday, July 15, at 6 p.m. MST.

A large Mopar-only car show will line the streets with an assortment of high-performance muscle, street, and race vehicles. Among those in attendance will be numerous professional and sportsmen teams who will compete in the weekend's drag racing events.

"We're excited to bring a part of Motown to 'Gold-town' for the evening of the Mopar Big Block Party," said Christine Cortez, Senior Vice President ‹ Mopar Global Service and Parts. "We're bringing in some of the best examples of 'Muscle, Street and Speed' vehicles from Mopar. We¹ll even have some incredible concept vehicles on hand, including the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve and the Dodge Charger R/T. This party will be a celebration of street performance itself, and it should be a great way to kick off the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere."

Mopar officials will make some notable announcements regarding the Team Mopar lineup at 7 p.m. Mopar drivers including Darrell Alderman, Whit Bazemore, Allen Johnson, Larry Morgan and Gary Scelzi will be available to sign autographs from approximately 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

Capping off the evening will be an energetic performance by platinum-selling rock group 10,000 Maniacs, who are famous for hit songs including "Because the Night" and "These Are Days." The band is scheduled to begin playing just after 8 p.m.

Admittance to the Mopar Big Block Party is free, and drinks will be available for purchase on-site during the event.

ANDERSON, PENNINGTON, AND BENDALL CLAIM GOLD WITHIN BTE SERIES

(7-8-2004) - The latest installment of the BTE Racers Appreciation Series at Huntsville Dragway featured two $5,000-to-win events in Pro, with a weekend points bonus of a free million dollar race entry to the highest points earner of the two-day event. In addition, each days Footbrake winner took home $2,000, with the weekend points champion claiming a free entry to the “Mini-Million” Footbrake event later in the season.

Huntsville Engine and Performance shop foreman, Andy Anderson claimed victory in Saturday’s $5,000 event on the strength of stellar finish line driving and nerve calming focus on the starting line. Anderson, who defeated Tennessee’s David Huckaby in the final round, put together a string of .00 finish line margins in the late rounds to claim his biggest victory of the season.

In addition to Anderson’s success, Lucas Bendall and Jared Pennington had strong showings in the Footbrake category. Both Bendall and Pennington claimed runner-up finishes (Bendall Saturday, and Pennington--who also runner-upped at Lassiter Mountain Dragway Saturday, claimed a second runner-up in Huntsville on Sunday). Bendall also scored the weekend points championship by virtue of adding a quarterfinal finish in Sunday’s event.

Two go to the line and two go home

(7-7-2004) - It's been said that in drag racing, there's one winner and one loser. However, during this weekend's IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals one race single-handedly changed the point lead of a professional category and left a racer on the perturbed side. In the first round of Sunoco Pro Stock eliminations, John Nobile left before the tree was activated and shortly thereafter Robert Patrick followed suit. The incident left both drivers disqualified from competition in the first round. Nobile subsequently fell out of the points lead and Patrick was left to pull out of the muck and mire that had been the end result of constant rain that pounded Budweiser Motorsports Park.

Patrick holds no ill feelings towards the track whatsoever, but feels he got the raw end of the deal in the IHRA's ruling.

"First of all, I love the people up here and I love racing in Canada. But I was very disappointed in the track and the conditions up here for one thing and secondly I feel like I got a raw deal in the first round."

Patrick reportedly took his complaint to the IHRA's Mike Baker.

"As soon as I pre-staged, John went in and put his car on the chip without me being fully staged. He was on the rev limiter. When I went in and staged, he dropped the clutch. As soon as my (stage) light came on he dropped the clutch. A second and a half later when he was past the 60-foot clock, I dropped the clutch but the tree still wasn't on because it was on auto-start. John was only pre-staged when he left. As soon as I lit my stage light, he left. The tree was on auto-start and since 4 lights were not on, the tree never came down. If he is not staged it will not activate.

"They had to override it. It has to be done manually, which they didn't. So I could have sat there until tomorrow and the tree was not going to come on unless they overrode the auto-start, which they didn't do. That is why NHRA has a rule that if both cars leave before the tree is activated, the one who leaves first is the loser. But they haven't changed the rule over here.

Patrick assumes no responsibility for Nobile's early departure and questions what the IHRA officials expected him to do.

"What am I supposed to do? Sit there all day? Blow the rods out of my motor?"

Patrick then said that the IHRA's Director of Race Operations Skooter Peaco informed him that he didn't wait there long enough for them to override the auto-start.

"I was at 5000 on the rev limiter for almost 2 seconds after he had already left. He was almost to 330 when I left the starting line. I was on the rev limiter for almost two seconds and he left before I put it on the rev limiter. I could have come off the gas and just sat there but when you are all psyched up and ready to race, and he takes off, you are ready to go. What they should be able to do is when he leaves, the starter, if he knows that is what to do, is to flip the switch and start the tree. After he left, the starter had almost 2 seconds before I left and he didn't flip the tree on. So I got disqualified because the starter didn't override the auto start.

While Baker considers the situation to be an unfortunate one, he points out that the IHRA has to enforce the rulebook as it is written. He did point out that consideration has been given to changing the rules in the same manner that the NHRA has done. No changes have been made as of this writing although it is clearly on their radar screen.

Peaco added, "Mike and I are going to review that rule. That's an unfortunate instance where we must enforce the rule that is in the rulebook. Its not a judgement call. The last thing I wanted to do was to have a single in the next round."

The most recent double-disqualification came in 2002 during the spring race in Rockingham when both Mike Ashley and Alan Pittman were eliminated in the first round. In that incident, Ashley's entry failed to fire for the first round match and Pittman's car broke on the burnout. Subsequently, neither car could stage and were disqualified.

 

MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS MEMORABLE MOMENTS

(7-7-2004) - In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, a panel of noted drag racing historians and journalists developed this list of 20 memorable moments from the last 49 years of competition at the world's most prestigious drag race. Through a vote on nhra.com in July, drag racing fans will rank the moments and the No. 1 moment will be revealed on Monday, Sept. 6, during a special ceremony prior to final eliminations.

1955: Calvin Rice wins the first U.S. Nationals
The one that started it all: NHRA's first National Champion was crowned in a race that began on the 8,000-foot runway at the Great Bend Municipal Airport in Kansas and finished two months later in Arizona, where 25-year-old Calvin Rice of Santa Ana, Calif., defeated Fred Voight.

1958: Ted Cyr drives outdated 'Old Blue' to winner's circle
Ted Cyr and partner Bill Hopper brought two entries to Oklahoma City, a new lightweight supercharged entry, painted orange, and their old reliable unblown dragster, painted blue with shoe-polished "For Sale" lettered on the nose and driver cowling. The orange car carried the team's primary hopes of winning the "Big Go," while the blue entry was considered spare parts. Cyr piloted both, hopping back and forth between the entries, but it was "old Blue" that carried him to the national championship..

1961: Sneaky Pete's Big Idea
While the majority of his competitors were using horsepower produced from twin Chrysler engines, "Sneaky" Pete Robinson chose the road less traveled and raced to victory in a lightweight Chevy dragster with a single engine.

1963: Introducing the Christmas Tree
Teenager Bobby Vodnik, acting on a tip that revealed the Christmas Tree would be used in place of flag starters for the first time at the '63 U.S. Nationals, was the surprise winner after the 19-year-old driver put months of pre-race practice into perfecting his reaction time to the new device. Ironically, Vodnik's final round opponent, Don Garlits suffered a red-light start in the final.

1966: Snively mirrors the Snake
In the mid-1960s, Indy may have meant more than it does now simply because there were only four nationals per year. Don Prudhomme, driving Roland Leong's Hawaiian dragster, had swept the two biggest races of the season, the Winternationals and Indy, in 1965, then left to form his own Torkmaster team. In 1966, while Prudhomme initially struggled on his own, his replacement in the Hawaiian, the late Mike Snively, defied the odds and duplicated Prudhomme's feat, sweeping both Pomona and Indy in 1966.

1967: Big Daddy Loses His Beard
After failing to qualify at the Springnationals earlier in the season, Don Garlits vowed not to shave his beard until he ran his first six-second run. Garlits used some Indy magic to record his first six-second run (6.77 seconds) when he needed it the most, in a final round win over rival James Warren, who clocked a 6.95. Ironically, it was Warren who gave Garlits a fresh set of tires for eliminations. Before the memorable final, Garlits offered to return the tires, but the confident Warren declined. Following the round, 20,000 fans cheered as Garlits' beard was shaved off in a dramatic winner's circle celebration.

1967: First Funny Car eliminator
Doug Thorley dominates a talented Funny Car field in a true Chevy-powered entry. NHRA used the U.S. Nationals as the backdrop for the first Funny Car eliminator.

1969: Santucci chokes on gum, doesn't choke in final
The late Domenic "D.A." Santucci, a respected Top Gas racer from Pittsburgh who had yet to win a national event, choked on his gum when the chute hit on a qualifying run, and it became lodged in his throat. After surviving that funny but potentially dangerous episode, the future fuel Funny Car independent plowed through a huge field Monday and won the final on former Indy Top Fuel winner Phil Hobbs' foul start.

1970: The Crash
After Don Prudhomme wins a close final round encounter over Jim Nicoll, 6.45 to 6.48, a clutch explosion on Nicoll's car sends debris in all directions as his car was speeding along at more than 225 mph. What was left of his slingshot dragster slid hundreds of feet to a stop. Nicoll emerged from the wreckage with only bumps and bruises.

1971: The Burndown
Steve Carbone and Don Garlits pull to the starting line for the Top Fuel final and one of the most intense staging duels begins. Prior to the final round, Carbone insisted that he would not stage first in response to a Garlits-psyche job that he felt cost him the 1968 Top Fuel final. Carbone out-waited Garlits in one of the most dramatic burndowns in NHRA history. When the race finally started, Carbone's strategy paid off as he rumbled to the victory over the heavily-favored Big Daddy.

1972: The Rookie
Top Fuel rookie Gary Beck surprised everyone with an upset over Jerry Ruth in the final round. Holding his NHRA competition license for only two weeks, Beck promptly entered the biggest drag race of them all and earned his first victory in his pro debut.

1974: Marvin Graham stuns TF field
Marvin Graham, an Oklahoma City television repairman unknown to all but the most hardcore drag racing fans, came from nowhere to win the premier category in drag racing's premiere race. He ran a series of competitive 6-teens and 6.0s to win the rain-delayed race on a Tuesday morning and went on to a distinguished career that included three more wins before his retirement in 1982.

1976: Burgin ends Snake's streak
Gary Burgin, a Southern California veteran who always ran hard but never won any national events or appeared in any final rounds, stunned Don Prudhomme in the Funny Car finale, handing "the Snake" his only loss in what still stands as the greatest season in the sport's history, regardless of category. Prudhomme hazed the tires and suffered what would be his only loss from September 1975 to March 1977.

1978: Mongoose bites Snake
Still shaken by the death of his son Jamie to leukemia weeks earlier, Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen earned the biggest victory of his career, defeating storied Hot Wheels rival Don "The Snake" Prudhomme. Ironically, it was Prudhomme that offered support for the still-grieving McEwen and encouraged him to enter the event as a form of therapy. For McEwen, who clocked a career-best run of 6.05 seconds during the final round meeting, the victory avenged a lifetime of being outperformed by Prudhomme.

1982: Shirley's Revenge
Shirley Muldowney defeated former companion and crew chief Connie Kalitta in this legendary grudge match. At the time, an emotional Muldowney called the victory "the race of her life."

1982: Snake Clocks the Run of All Time
With engine oil trailing in his wake, Don Prudhomme made what most fans still consider the run of all time, regardless of category. He clocked a 5.63-second effort, nearly two-tenths of-a-second better than any Funny Car had run prior.

1984: Big Daddy Returns, Part I
After a lull in his drag racing career which had him contemplating retirement, Big Daddy Don Garlits, 52, returned to form with a final round victory over Connie Kalitta. The win sparked Garlits to earn U.S. Nationals titles the next two seasons and back-to-back NHRA championships in 1985-'86. Garlits won the U.S. Nationals eight times during his storied Top Fuel career.

1988: Glidden Dominates Indy
Bob Glidden earned his fourth consecutive U.S. Nationals victory, and his ninth overall at the prestigious event. The win was Glidden's 12th consecutive final round appearance at the U.S. Nationals, one of the most remarkable final round runs in NHRA history.

1991: The Impossible Double
Dominating Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Pat Austin nearly pulled off an amazing double category win when he entered the U.S. Nationals in both Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Fuel. After winning the AFC title moments earlier, Austin's dragster, which he purchased from the estate of the late Gary Ormsby, broke at the start of the burnout in the Top Fuel final. An emotional Austin climbed from his car and watched helplessly from the guardwall as Kenny Bernstein rolled on for the unopposed victory.

2001: Big Daddy Returns, Part II
At age 69, Big Daddy Don Garlits returned to competition at the U.S. Nationals during the NHRA's celebration of its 50th Anniversary. He accomplished his mission in clocking a performance quicker than five seconds and faster than 300 mph. Paired for the qualifying round alongside another ageless veteran, 71-year-old Chris Karamesines, Garlits steered Gary Clapshaw's dragster to a time of 4.720 seconds at 303.37 mph. Earlier in the weekend, Garlits squared off in another memorable qualifying round with Shirley Muldowney, as the pair were given the green light by original NHRA Safety Safari member and longtime NHRA Chief Starter Buster Couch.

GARY SCELZI TO APPEAR ON WIND TUNNEL JULY 13

(7-7-2004)- Gary Scelzi, driver of the HEMI-powered Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, will appear on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel as guest of host Dave Despain on Tuesday, July 13.

Scelzi is No. 4 in the Funny Car point standings and is the most recent winner, at Gateway International Raceway. He has won two Funny Car events since entering that class full-time in 2003 with Don Schumacher Racing and was the first to break the 330-mph Funny Car barrier, setting the national top-speed record of 330.55 mph.

The three-time Top Fuel champion will appear on Wind Tunnel live from his Scelzi Enterprises offices in Fresno, Calif.

Craig Hospital's 12th Annual Motorosports Day is coming soon

(7-7-2004)- On Wednesday, July 14, 2004 Craig Hospital will host its 12th Annual Motorsports Day, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the vicinity of Girard and S. Clarkson streets in Englewood, Colo., and media is invited to attend all Motorsports Day activities.

The purpose of this annual event is to provide current and former Craig patients with an opportunity to view world class automobiles, vehicles modified for drivers with disabilities, and to meet celebrity guests. Admission is free, and the outdoor BBQ lunch is $6.00 and will be served between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm. Activities and celebrity guests during the day will include:

-Nearly 200 collector vehicles will be on display at Craig, including street rods, antique restorations, race cars, muscle cars, and vehicles for persons with disabilities.

-Included in the activities is the Carrier Boyz/Berryman Products Top Fuel Dragster driven by Cory McClenathan. Cory is one of the sports most victorious drivers; he is currently in 7th place (5 points behind sixth and 37 points behind fifth) in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) POWERade Top Fuel point standings. He has 32 career victories (28 in Top Fuel and 4 in Top Alcohol Dragster) and is ranked 5th on the NHRA all time Top Fuel win list. On May 16th of this year, Cory won the Top Fuel Class at the NHRA race in Atlanta and in mid-May advanced to the runner-up position at the NHRA event in Englishtown, N.J. Cory was the first driver, in 1992, to cover the quarter mile in 4.7 seconds. He was also the first driver in NHRA history to exceed 320 mph for the quarter mile ride. His personal best presently is 332.1 mph in 4.463 seconds. Maurice Blankenship will be present from Berryman Products and Andy Carrier from the Carrier Boyz Race team. Included in the display will be the Carrier Boyz Racing state-of-the-art Featherlite trailer which is making its debut at the NHRA Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., this weekend.

-Sunrise Medical, manufacturer of Quickie wheelchairs, will donate a power wheelchair to Jo Donlin, a quadriplegic. Darrell Gwynn, former top fuel racer paralyzed in an injury in 1990, and his father Jerry Gwynn will assist in the presentation.

-General Motors Mobility in Ann Arbor, Michigan will have a lift-equipped demo van for patients, families, and staff to learn about.

-Ms. Jenny Siegle, Miss Wheelchair Colorado will be present.

-Dan Soloman and Norm Nicoley will have a car on display from the Denver Grand Prix.

-There will be a drawing for two passes to Friday night, July 17th, qualifying at the NHRA/MOPAR Mile High National Drag Race at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado.

-Randy Snow will be present. Randy is the most celebrated wheelchair athlete of all time. As a paraplegic, Randy is a three-time Paralympian in three different sports in three different Olympics, and the only wheelchair athlete to ever be inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame. Darrell Gwynn and Randy will do a motivational presentation to Craig patients at 2:00 pm in the Craig gymnasium on Wednesday, July 14, 2004.

 

 

NRP Thrills Sold-Out Crowd at Annual "Night Under Fire" Extravaganza

(7-7-2004) - On July 3rd, Ohio’s Norwalk Raceway Park presented their famous blow-out, known as the Night Under Fire, to a sold-out crowd that jammed into the flagship IHRA track south of Lake Erie.

Over the years, the annual event has grown to become the sport’s largest single day drag race. This time around, there were at least 700 race cars on the property from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Delaware, Texas, and California, among others.

The highlight of the program was the nitro Funny Car battle, which saw multi-time NHRA champion John Force defeat former teammate and current champ Tony Pedregon in a close final that had some serious personal overtones, 4.89 to 4.90. Force Racing’s Gary Densham ran low E.T. of the meet with a 4.88.

Bob Motz in his Jet-powered Kenworth also blistered the track Jet Truck record with a blast of 7.09, 221 mph.

In other action, Ashley Force lost in both passes to A/Fuel veteran Bill Reichert.

The event was a huge success for the folks at NRP, who treated the assembled fans to a spectacular $100,000 fireworks show to close the night out.

 

Dennis Taylor scores TAFC win in Sonoma

(7-7-2004) - NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Dennis Taylor took home the win from this past weekend's Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. The win moved Taylor within a mere one point of current points leader Doug Gordon, who did not qualify for the event.

Taylor, who runs his racing safety equipment company, Taylor Motorsports Products, in Anaheim, Calif., qualified his Plumbing Concepts backed Camaro second in the tough field with a 5.689, the same elapsed time as No. 1 qualifier Brett Williamson, but Williamson edged Taylor out on speed with a 252.00 mph blast to Taylor's speed of 251.39 mph.

In round one, Taylor defeated former Division 7 Champ Steve Gasparrelli with a 5.720 at 250.88 mph, then took out defending Division 6 Champ Bucky Austin with a 5.719 at 251.11 mph.

In a rematch of last year's final, Taylor took the lead off the line and never looked back, running a 5.695 at 250.27 to defeat No. 1 qualifier Williamson's 5.719 at 249.81 mph.

"This win is just a tribute to this team and Ora Vasquez," said Taylor. "Ora really has this car dialed in. We believe consistency wins drag races and we try to apply that. We are also very pleased in the performance of our AFT lock up clutch we've had in the past few races. This car just goes down the track every time. We just couldn't have planned it better, and now we're right there with Gordon in points."

"With the competition out here in Division 7, it gives us a good feeling to win," Taylor continued. "This race was just as tough as any national event. Our past few races have been at division races, so we're looking forward to our next race, the Seattle national, where hopefully we can get after it."

"We said coming into this race we would love to honor the memory of Darrell Russell, one of our good friends and customers, with a win, and I feel honored to be able to do that. We also feel good to get in the winner's circle for our sponsor Plumbing Concepts and our great group of associate sponsors in Valvoline, invigor8 Energy Drink, Pepsi, Mickey Thompson Tires, Metro Moulded Parts, Shaker Shirts, Ultimate Designs, Bear State Heat and Air, Adam's Polishes and Taylor Motorsport Products."

The win also moves Taylor into third place nationally. The next event for the Plumbing Concepts team will be the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals in Seattle, Wash., July 23-25.

It's a Dog eat Dog world

(7-6-2004) - Let it be known that anyone that references the name "Dog" into their events could be in for a dogfight of monstrous proportions. For the last year, Piedmont Dragway promoter Bob Harris had conducted a series of events catering to Pro Street style cars and gave them the nickname "Big Dog." Nearby Roxboro Dragway decided they would have a similar series and call their machines the "Bad Dogs."

Officials from Roxboro Dragway had flyers printed and listed their event as the answer to the Big Dog Series. Reportedly, Harris responded to their listing with instructions that they could not reference the name Big Dogs because he had exclusive rights to the name.

Reportedly Roxboro Dragway dropped the "Big Dog" reference and redistributed their flyers. Officials at Roxboro Dragway allege that Harris then said they couldn't use Bad Dog either as he had exclusive rights to any "Dog" series in drag racing and threatened to sue as the program is similar to Big Dog.

Cindy Haithcock, marketing director at Roxboro Dragway, reportedly traveled to Raleigh, NC., to the Secretary of State's Office to research the name Bad Dog in reference to drag racing and discovered that no one has trademarked or service mark rights to Big Dog nor Bad Dog.

Jason Harris, track manager at Piedmont Dragway, points out the name "Big Dog" is federally trademarked and their use is through the clothing manufacturer Big Dog and they pay a royalty each year to the manufacturer for use of the name in drag racing applications.

Sources indicate that after not finding a trademark linked to Harris in Raleigh, Haithcock immediately started the process of getting trademark/service mark rights for Bad Dog and Big Dog.

Reportedly, Roxboro Dragway has planned a Bad Dog Queen contest. Recently, there was a Miss Big Dog contest and the winner won $500 and a trophy. This was after Piedmont Dragway had already hosted one.

Oh and it gets better. Roxboro Dragway then asked their Internet website host(who also provides services to Piedmont and Farmington Dragways) to post the Roxboro "Bad Dog" flyer to the Roxboro Dragway website. The webmaster then called Harris and told him what he was about to do. Harris then reportedly told him if he did that he could kiss the Piedmont and Farmington accounts "good-bye." Needless to say, he did not post the flyer and Roxboro dropped their services with him immediately.

Harris added, "There's a lot of reported conversation for just two phone calls. It all has been put in the lawyers hands. If our webmaster hadn't brought our attention to it, we never would have known.

"We don't run bracket programs on top of them or try to cut their throats, but they keep doing this stuff to us. We're not in competition with them and we don't try to collect off of their misfortunes. They are not going to take something we've worked for and allow them to benefit from it. We've spent a lot of money doing this the right way with trademarks."

Calls to Roxboro Dragway's offices were unanswered on Tuesday.

Word has it that Haithcock and a fellow Roxboro employee plan to attend the Thursday test & tune at Piedmont to pass out Roxboro flyers. Smart money says they will be escorted off the premises by security.

Enders is going NHRA Pro Stock Racing

(7-6-2004) - After the rumors in CompetitionPlus.com's Unsubstantiated Rumors section began to create much speculation, NHRA.com announced the ascension of Erica Enders into Pro Stock. The former Junior Dragster turned Super Comp standout will drive one of two Pro Stock entries fielded by team owner Victor Cagnazzi. Enders was profiled in the movie "Right On Track."

This opportunity is something that Enders has longed for.

"I'm excited beyond words," said Enders, a junior marketing major at Texas A&M University. "I literally can't wait to get started." The team has already picked up a Jerry Haas-built Chevrolet Cavalier and Enders will begin testing immediately, while also continuing her quest for the 2004 Super Gas and Super Comp national titles.

The decision to put Enders behind the wheel came from the team's driver Stevie Johns. Johns will serve as a mentor to Enders in her bid to become the latest female Pro Stock driver in NHRA since Lucinda McFarland in the early-Nineties.

"Steve's the one that suggested we hire her after he read that story on NHRA.com," said Cagnazzi. "Obviously, she's a talented driver and her marketability should be great because she's genuinely a great kid and a role model. She has fun out there and for a 20-year-old kid, she already has quite a racing history."

FRIDAY "NIGHT OF FIRE" ADDED TO FIVE HOOTERS IHRA NATIONAL EVENTS

(7-6-2004) - Fans of the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series now have the opportunity to experience two back-to-back "Night of Fire" shows at select national events. Identical to the Saturday show, IHRA announces the addition of a Friday "Night of Fire," featuring professional qualifying under the lights, the jet-powered and wheel standing exhibition vehicles and a huge fireworks display.

The Friday "Night of Fire" will be held at five of the remaining Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series events:

Motor City Nationals, Milan Dragway, July 16 - 18
Northern Nationals, U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, August 12 - 14
Sunoco World Nationals, Norwalk Raceway Park, August 25 - 28
President's Cup Nationals, Maryland International Raceway, September 24 - 26
IHRA World Finals, Rockingham Dragway, October 22 - 24

This second 'Night of Fire' offers fans two night qualifying sessions and the professional drivers benefit by receiving a night qualifying session in each lane at Milan, Maryland and Rockingham.

The professional qualifying session originally scheduled for Friday at 2:00 pm at Milan and Rockingham will be moved back to the "Night of Fire" time. At Milan, the Friday pro session will be moved back to 7:30 pm. The Friday pro session at Rockingham will be at 7:00 pm. All other pro sessions remain as originally scheduled.

HAROLD MARTIN, JEFF BURNETT CLAIM FIRST CAREER IHRA WINS CLAY MILLICAN DEFEATS EDMONTON'S TERRY CAPP

(7-5-2004) - Harold Martin in Pro Modified and Jeff Burnett in Funny Car earned their first career event wins Sunday during the Second Annual Western RV Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Northern Provincial Pipelines and Edson Chrysler at Budweiser Motorsports Park in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Top Fuel and Brian Gahm, Lucasville, Ohio, were winners in
their respective categories.

Our same day news page is at IHRA Edmonton News. Visit our photo gallery at IHRA - Edmonton Photos.

IHRA Points Standings following Edmonton

(7-5-2004) - Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Second Annual Western RV Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Northern Provincial Pipelines and Edson Chrysler at Budweiser Motorsports Park, the fifth of 12 events in the 2004 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Clay Millican, 670; 2. Bruce Litton, 465; 3. Tim Cullinan, 376; 4. Chris Karamesines,
284; 5. Todd Paton, 263; 6. Bobby Lagana Jr, 256; 7. Rick Cooper, 243; 8. Doug Foley, 240;
9. Grant Flowers, 204; 10. John Sipple, 175.

Pro Modified

1. Harold Martin, 363; 2. Rick Distefano, 303; 3. Shannon Jenkins, 269; 4. Quain Stott, 264; 5. Mike Castellana, 255; 6. Al Billes, 247; 7. Mike Janis, 245; 8. Von Smith, 220; 9. Glen Kerunsky, 210; 10. Mitch Stott, 198.

Funny Car

1. Mark Thomas, 552; 2. Rob Atchison, 414; 3. Terry McMillen, 316; 4. Jeff Burnett, 275; 5.
Ronnie Midyette, 270; 6. Chris Foster, 237; 7. Terry Munroe, 145; 8. Dan Roman, 133; 9. Neal Parker, 127; 10. Larry Dobbs, 118.

Pro Stock

1. John Montecalvo, 435; 2. Brian Gahm, 414; 3. Elijah Morton, 385; 4. John Nobile, 378; 5.
Pete Berner, 344; 6. Rick Jones, 277; 7. Frank Gugliotta, 221; 8. Steve Spiess, 219; 9. Tony Gillig, 206; 10. Ron Miller, 190.

C.J. Hart, Legend in Drag Racing, laid to rest

(7-3-2004) - C.J. Hart, the father of drag racing as we know it, was laid to rest in a beautiful funeral service on Thursday. He was 93 years old.

Hart helped to grow drag racing as a very quiet and hard working man in the 1950s. C.J. wanted to prevent street racing and actually got into racing cars after the competing with quarter horses.

Hart decided that cars should race a quarter mile and as a result started the first commercial drag strip in the United States in Santa Ana Ca. He then went on to run Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, Ca.

Hart introduced a lot of friends to his venture and they began working at the drag strip with him. One of those was Dave Wallace, Jr., noted motorsports journalist. Many stories were told by his friends at his funeral service held on Thursday.

Hart, over the years, proved very helpful to others in designing there drag strips. He worked with the Safety Safari at Steve Gibbs urging after the death of his wife Peggy Hart.

Hart will be sorely missed in the drag racing community. - James Drew

The Bad, The Good and the not quite Ugly:

(7-2-2004) - The other night at Piedmont Dragway I witnessed one of the most amazing incidents in my life. I've been around drag racing for many years and I've seen two other fires like the one Donnie Kruinski was involved in. I was on the starting line in St. Louis when Mark Tate's Camaro had a nitrous expolsion and watched in horror as almost 15 seconds went by before anyone thought to turn off the power or grab a fire extinguisher, and it took almost a minute to get him out of the vehicle. Mark was critically injuired in the fire, but is still alive today to talk about it. I was also in the stands in Rockingham when Harold Martin's car exploded in a ball of flames and he got out relatively unscathed.

From the video replay, just as the car is beginning to leave the starting line, there is a big expolsion and fire erupts instantly. Within two seconds the entire driver's side of the car is engulfed, and two more seconds pass by and the car is a huge ball of flame. Photographs from the passenger side vantage point even show an orange glow from inside the car shining through the door jambs. I've never seen a car engulfed at this speed. A nitrous line was shooting flames from near the firewall area forward like a blow torch and the fuel lines had been severed and were feeding the fire.

Yet this wasn't the most incredible sight - it was the track crew's response and Donnie's cool-headedness that prevailed. The flames were so intense and it happened so fast that 2 photographers and the videographer didn't know Donnie was out of the car until the fire was extinguished and we reviewed the photos and footage captured.

Looking at the timers on the video and photo cameras, the track crew had picked up extinguishers within 3 seconds and were beating the flames back within 5 seconds from 3 different sides. In the middle of the most chaotic moment in Donnie's life, he somehow maintained his composure, unstrapped himself, opened the door and rolled on the ground. Donnie's son saw him get out and with no fire protection ran up and helped pull his dad to safety. The entire incident lasted 30 seconds.

The moral of this story is that there is no substitute for having the proper safety equipment in the car, on the driver, and on the starting line. There is also no replacement for a driver knowing (and practicing) emergency egress. I have no idea how often the crew at Piedmont Dragway does any type of emergency drills, but I have to say that for 3 people to locate and begin using fire extinguishers within 5 seconds is amazing as it is.

For all the drivers out there, think about this next time you strap into your car without a fire suit or even a jacket on. Is being a little cooler for a few minutes worth your life? Donnie had all the proper safety equipment on and it saved his life. For crew members (both track and race team), do a survey the next time you're on the starting line just so you know exactly where emergency equipment is. Racing is a sport of risks, but it's a matter of minimizing them to the best of our abilities to make this dangerous sport as safe as possible.

My hat's off to Donnie and his crew, the track crew at Piedmont Dragway and the EMT's who responded. While the car isn't in the best of shape, it's the only piece that can be rebuilt. There is no replacement for a human life. - David Anderson

NHRA ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGES EFFECTIVE PRIOR TO NEXT NATIONAL EVENT

(6-30-2004) – NHRA officials notified Top Fuel and Funny Car teams, today, of two rule amendments effective immediately. The first race after this change will be the Mopar Mile-High Nationals, July 16-18 at Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

The rule changes include specifying a new tire for Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors and requiring roll cage shielding for all Top Fuel dragsters.

The cause of last weekend’s tragic accident at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis is still under investigation and no conclusions have been reached. These rule changes are interim steps that NHRA believes are appropriate to take at this time. NHRA will evaluate additional steps as the investigation continues.

 

 

CARQUEST Auto Parts Signs Two Race Associate Sponsorship With Carrier Boyz Racing

(6-30-3004) -- CARQUEST Auto Parts has agreed to a two-race associate sponsorship of the Carrier Boyz Racing Berryman Products Top Fuel dragster, owned by Mark and Andy Carrier and driven by 28-time NHRA national event winner Cory McClenathan.

The Berryman Products Top Fuel dragster will carry the CARQUEST Auto Parts colors at the two CARQUEST-sponsored NHRA events, July 23-25 in Seattle, Wash. and Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 in Chicago, Ill.

"We are proud to have Mark and Andy Carrier and Cory McClenathan represent us at our two CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals," said Scott Ginsburg, director of advertising and communications for CARQUEST. "The Carrier Boyz team already has one win and a runner-up finish in 2004 and we look forward to having them carry our colors to additional wins at our two events."

"We look forward to carrying the CARQUEST Auto Parts banner and will do everything we can to promote CARQUEST and direct the consumers we reach through NHRA drag racing into the CARQUEST Auto Parts stores," said Andy Carrier on behalf of Carrier Boyz Racing. "Our common interest to be leaders in our respective businesses is what binds this relationship
together."

 

Need a job?

(6-29-2004) - Flatout Gaskets is in search of a qualified individual to work at their manufacturing facility.

The qualified candidate must possess knowledge in CNC machining, CAD design and be willing to learn all aspects of the Flatout Aftermarket Performance gasket business.

Interested candidates may e-mail their resume to Madelizzi@aol.com or fax: 847.837.9628.

Doug Herbert Plans to Move His Performance Center to Lincolnton, N.C.; New Site Boasts 100,000 Square Feet, 70,000 More Than Current Location

(6-29-2004) - Businessman Doug Herbert is moving his Doug Herbert Performance Center into a 100,000-square foot building in Lincolnton, N.C., in July, more than tripling the size of his current location.

"This is a good time for the Doug Herbert Performance Center and our Snap-on Racing Top Fuel team," said Herbert. "It's great to be able to expand our parts warehouse, have a new 10,000-square foot showroom and a new 30,000-square foot shop for our drag racing operation, all under one roof.

"While relocating is never much fun, once we're in our new facility we'll be able to display more of the parts we carry from all our manufacturers in our new showroom," Herbert continued. "That will allow our customers to see more of what we have to offer."

Herbert also plans to open a racing museum he hopes will raise drag racing awareness in North Carolina, the heart of stock car racing.

"I want my new shop to be a destination for our customers and fans, and to help show new fans some racing history with a drag racing museum," said Herbert. "I still have the car that was the second to run over 300 mph back in 1993 and I'm planning to restore it the way it was when it made that pass. In addition, I have a few other nostalgia race cars that will be very interesting for people to see."

2004 DRO / NMM Cup Points Standings
(Effective 6-28-04)

1) Al Billes 1,418 (3 Wins)
2) Mike Ashley 1,233 (1 Win)
3) Zach Barklage 1,017
4) Von Smith 928
5) Fred Hahn 723
6) Danny Rowe 707 (1 Win)
7) Ed Hoover 617
8) Mitch Stott 615
9) Mike Janis 516
10) Mike Castellana 507 (1 Win)
11) Rickie Smith 306
12) Scotty Cannon 207
13) Thomas Patterson 207
14) Shannon Jenkins 206
15) Jim Halsey 106
16) Chip King 102
17) Billy Harper 101

AMS Pro Mod Challenge Record Holders
(Effective 6-28-04)

6.169 June 2004 Mike Janis Madison, IL
231.91 June 2004 Fred Hahn Englishtown, NJ

2004 AMS Pro Mod Shootout Points Standings*
(Effective 6-28-04)

1) Mike Ashley 38 (1 Pole)
2) Von Smith 36 (2 Poles)
3) Fred Hahn 23 (2 Poles)
4) Thomas Patterson 19
5) Al Billes 18
6) Zach Barklage 17
7) Ed Hoover 17
8) Shannon Jenkins 17
9) Mike Janis 16 (2 Poles)
10) Mitch Stott 15
11) Rickie Smith 14 (1 Pole)
12) Mike Castellana 11
13) Chip King 9
14) Danny Rowe 7
15) Scotty Cannon 7
16) Tim McAmis 7
17) Jim Halsey 6
18) Dennis Radford 5
19) Kirk Kuhns 2
20) Rick Distefano 2
21) Scott Ray 1
22) Billy Harper 1

* The Top 8 points earners will compete in the 2nd annual AMS Pro Mod Shootout which will be held during Qualifying at the 4th annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals October 28th – 31st 2004. The #1 Qualifier at each event will earn 8 points the #8 Qualifier will earn 1 point and so on. Points will be earned through the 19th annual O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas, TX October 14th – 17th 2004.

 

TOP FUEL DRIVER RUSSELL FATALLY INJURED DURING NHRA NATIONAL EVENT AT GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

(6-27-2004) – Top Fuel driver Darrell Russell was fatally injured today as a result of a crash during race eliminations at an NHRA National Event at Gateway International Raceway.

Russell, 35, of Hockley, Texas, was competing in the second round of eliminations when his dragster went out of control and crashed just past the finish line. Russell was extracted from his dragster by NHRA emergency services officials and transported by air to the St. Louis Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

Russell, driver of the dragster owned by NHRA legend Joe Amato, was the event's top qualifier and was coming off a victory recently in Columbus, Ohio. During his four year career he had earned six victories in 17 final rounds. He posted a career-best fourth place points finish in 2003 and was currently fourth in the Top Fuel points standings.

NHRA deeply regrets that this tragic accident occurred and sends its thoughts and sentiments out to the Russell family.

KALITTA, SCELZI, ANDERSON AND JOHNSON EARN VICTORIES AT SEARS CRAFTSMAN NHRA NATIONALS

(6-27-2004) -- Doug Kalitta moved into the Top Fuel points lead with a victory Sunday at the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.

Gary Scelzi, Greg Anderson and Steve Johnson also were winners at the $1.8 million race, the 12th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

The event was marred by a second round crash involving Top Fuel driver Darrell Russell. Russell's dragster went out of control and crashed just past the finish line. He was transported to St. Louis Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

Visit our same day coverage at NHRA St. Louis. The event photo gallery can be accessed at St. Louis Photo Gallery.

 

 

Rowe continues his St. Louis magic with his second career victory