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CIFCA Holds 20th Awards Banquet & Christmas Party

(12-28-2004) - The California Independent Funny Car Association (CIFCA) held their 20th annual Awards Banquet at The River Palms Resort & Casino in Laughlin, NV. There were 2 requirements to get in the door: a ticket and sense of humor. An enthusiastic crowd of nearly 110 teams, sponsors and fans attended the event and were entertained by emcee Pete Mauriello.

Top honors went to the Back in Black team of Dennis La Charite out of Torrance, CA . They won their first CIFCA Championship after finishing second for the past two years in a row. Second place went to AMP Motorsports team of Tom Abbott, Mike Motter & Paul Peterson. Ground Zero owned by Dennis Murphy & driven by "Fast" Jack Beckman placed third. Jim Maher's Good Vibrations team placed fourth while Jim Scott of Fallbrook, CA rounded out the Top Five. The 6th- 10th teams were recognized and awarded with cash and trophies (in order): Tim & Chill Scardino, Sean Dale, Jamie Leppanen, Stephen Romanazzi and Andre Pegues.

Special Awards: The Glenn Powell Sportswoman of the Year was awarded to Jesscifca Lascano while Romanazzi was named the Perma-Cool Burnout Challenge Champion. Beckman staked claim to the Enderle Quick Reaction Time. La Charite took the Good Vibrations Best Package trophy. The 2004 DragParts.com Rookie of the Year went to Leppanen. Race director John Van Houten was honored the Dave McDannel Outstanding Club Member. Val Richards was presented the Hard Luck Award. Nicole Dickerson walked away with a pocket full of cash when she won the 50/50 raffle.

Our deepest condolences...

(12-28-2004) - On Christmas Day, Gary Rowe, owner of RaceWorks.com, lost his 12-year old nephew to a stray bullet fired just yards away while attending a family Christmas party.

Charles Owen Rowe Jr., or "Charlie," as he had been called for years, died from a gunshot wound to the chest as his family witnessed the tragedy. Charlie's younger brother Andrew was also struck in the leg area, but survived with minor injuries. There were five other children in the yard when the shooting began.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting.

The staff at Torco's CompetitionPlus.com is deeply saddened by this loss for the Rowe family and friends. We would like to offer our deepest condolences.

Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum Hosts Living Legends for Panel Discussion on 'Edelbrock - A Performance Legacy'; January 15 Event Provides Chance to Hear From Those Who Made Hot Rod History

(12-28-2004) - As part of its "living history"program, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum will host another in its ongoing series of panel discussions on Saturday, January 15, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Featuring heroes and legends from the early days of Southern California racing and the performance industry, the program will explore the development of the speed equipment industry and how it has influenced American motorsports and automotive enthusiasm.

The panel discussion is an extension of the museum's newest special exhibit, Edelbrock: A Performance Legacy. The exhibit uses rare and historic items from the company's extensive archives, along a rotating display of vehicles from the Edelbrock family's personal collection, to tell the story of this remarkable family and company. Started in a small garage in Los Angeles in 1938 by Vic Edelbrock Sr., it continues today as a $115 million-plus corporation with Vic Edelbrock Jr. at the helm.

Panelists for the discussion include Vic Edelbrock, Jr.; Wally Parks, founder of the NHRA and a contemporary of Vic Edelbrock, Sr.; Alex Xydias, founder of the So-Cal Speed Shop, an early Edelbrock dealer and friend who set numerous speed marks using Edelbrock equipment; and Ed Pink, the highly respected engine builder in fields as diverse as fuel funny cars and USAC midgets. The discussion will be moderated by legendary NHRA announcer Dave McClelland. There will be some surprise guest panelists, and if the event holds true to form, many interesting audience members. The panel portion is followed by plenty of time for one-on-one discussion and around this outstanding exhibit.

The program includes brunch-style food and drink, all for only $20, payable at the door. Those wishing to attend should call Kat Lotz at 909-622-8562 and reserve a space, since seating is limited.

"When it comes to American racing and performance, one name has stood out for nearly 70 years: Edelbrock," said Sam Jackson, executive director of the Parks Motorsports Museum. "Our special exhibits and accompanying panel discussions have been hugely popular so we're going to do it again. Guests are sure to hear some remarkable stories, enjoy a few laughs along with their learning, and, if they like, even collect a couple of autographs."

"This is a rare opportunity to learn how the speed equipment business went from a group of ingenious young men who made parts for their own cars into the multi-billion dollar industry we know today" added Greg Sharp, curator of the museum. "We're extremely fortunate to have been able to assemble this exclusive exhibit of Edelbrock vehicles and memorabilia that has, until now, never been presented in a public forum. Combine this historic gold mine with some of the folks that designed, built and raced, and our January 15 panel discussion is sure to be lively and interesting."
Edelbrock: A Performance Legacy, runs at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum through Feb. 14, 2005.

For more information, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://www. museum.nhra.com.

ANGELA PROUDFOOT TO DISPLAY RACECAR AND SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT THE WASHINGTON AUTO SHOW

(12-28-2004) - Angela Proudfoot Racing, one of the nation's top professional sport compact drag racing teams, will be displaying its racecar at the 63rd annual Washington Auto Show from Sunday, December 26th through Sunday, January 2nd at the Washington Convention Center located in Washington, D.C. This year's show has a 20,000 sq. ft. motorsports area called, "Motorsport Magic -- The Acceleration Celebration," featuring 25 race vehicles and a racing simulator. Over 600,000 consumers are expected to attend the event, in which 700 makes and models of new cars from 37 manufacturers will be on display.

Angela, who has finished 6th in the NDRA -- the NOPI Drag Racing series for the past two years, will be holding autograph sessions on Tuesday, December 28th from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Sunday, January 2nd from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Other motorsports personalities scheduled to appear at the show include Kasey Kahne, Benny Parson and John Force.

What ever happened to earning a reputation by racing on the strip?

(12-27-2004) - It’s often been said that cars and fires don’t mix and that’s exactly what the alleged leader of a street racing club found out the hard way. In order to build a name for his street racing clan, Patrick S. Walsh, 20 years old from Maryland, allegedly concocted a plan that would include an arson spree glorifying the name of the car club, the Unseen Cavaliers. The Unseen Cavaliers are said to be a group of street racers who collected and raced Chevrolet Cavaliers. This is the story being told by the L.A. Times.

According to the L.A. Times article, Walsh was an amusement park worker with experience in pyrotechnics. Walsh is accused of approaching others about participating in his plan which focused on an arson spree through a Southern Maryland subdivision.

Walsh, along with five other men, has been charged with setting at least ten fires in ten unoccupied houses and damaged sixteen others. The report also suggests that revenge for personal setbacks and racial issues may have added to their motives. These fires have reportedly caused in excess of ten million dollars damage.

More on this can be found at L.A. Times Online.

Makes Us Want To Watch QVC

(12-27-2004) - Geno Scali, 2003 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion appeared on cable-TV's QVC channel on December 9, as part of a feature segment on Craftsman tools. Scali¹s Craftsman-themed Suzuki Pro Stock bike was also featured on the 3-hour show.

Scali joined QVC's Dan Wheeler and Rick Domeier in promoting Craftsman 254-piece and 172-piece Mechanic¹s Tool Sets, and also took calls from viewers.

Craftsman has enjoyed a multi-year sponsorship relationship with the Palatine, Illinois rider of Joe Koenig's Trim-Tex Suzuki. A special Craftsman-themed paint scheme is featured at select NHRA events, including
the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals in St. Louis.

Craftsman is the Official Tools of the NHRA and sponsors the annual Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. According to a 2004 EquiTrend survey, Craftsman is rated the No. 1 brand in the nation for
overall quality. Over 1600 Craftsman hand tools are made in the USA and guaranteed forever. If any Craftsman hand tool ever fails to give complete satisfaction, return it for free repair or replacement.

Sears offers Craftsman tools, merchandise and related services nationwide through its Full-line stores, Sears Hardware stores, Sears Dealer stores and Orchard
Supply Hardware stores, as well as through specialty catalogs and online at www.sears.com and www.craftsman.com.

Famed Top Fuel owner Jim Annin passes away at 65

(12-24-2004) - Longtime Top Fuel owner "Diamond Jim" Annin, whose Mike Snively-driven entry became the first to officially record a five-second elapsed time, passed away Wednesday night, Dec. 23, after a long struggle. He was 65.

Annin and the late Snively, who also campaigned Funny Cars in the late 1960s and early 1970s during which time they won the 1970 Division 7 championship, switched to Top Fuel in 1972. Later that year, the duo forever entered the sport’s history books when on Nov. 17, at the NHRA Supernationals at Ontario Motor Speedway, Snively recorded a 5.97 in a losing race with Vic Brown. After retiring from racing, Annin was a tireless volunteer for the NHRA Safety Safari.

"In my opinion, Jim's greatest contributions to drag racing came through his work with the NHRA Safety Safari," said NHRA Vice President Steve Gibbs, NHRA's former competition director. "When we were just getting started with the renewed Safari operation in the early '70s, Jim served as the volunteer director, attending all NHRA events. His dedication and organizational skills in creating what became the best emergency response group in motorsports is still evident today."

No funeral is planned, but a memorial gathering will be conducted at 2 p.m, Sunday, Jan. 16, at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. All are invited to attend. By Phil Burgess, NHRA.com

PRO MODIFIED RACING ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES WEBSITE

(12-24-2004) – The Pro Modified Racing Association now has its website on-line. The PMRA website, www.promodifiedracing.com, offers a comprehensive and informative look at this new drag racing association.

Many aspects of the PMRA are available through the new site, including a history of Pro Modified racing, the 2005 schedule and racing venues, and in-depth profiles of the PMRA teams and drivers.

The new site is a visual reference to this exciting class of cars known as “the world’s fastest doorslammers.” Along with in-depth articles on this exciting division, users will be kept up to date with all the news of the PMRA when its season gets underway next year in presenting some of the best in drag racing at tracks in Ontario, Quebec, and New York State.

The PMRA is a self-governing organization with its own set of technical and safety rules based on the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Pro Modified division. Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class offers a widely-diverse group of race cars with different types of 2000-horsepower engines propelling the cars down the quarter-mile in the 6.20-second range at 230 mph.

MOPAR'S BAZEMORE AND GLADYSZ TO APPEAR ON SPEED CHANNEL'S "SPEEDFREAKS TV"

(12-24-2004) - Team Mopar drivers Whit Bazemore and Pete Gladysz are set to appear on one of Speed Channel's most hardcore racing programs, "SpeedFreaks TV". The duo will chat with hosts Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys, Statt Mann Caruthers and Lugg Nuttz from the Mopar Speedshop, on Monday, December 27 beginning at 8:30 p.m. EST. The program is scheduled to re-air on December 28 at 12:30 a.m. EST and 7:30 a.m. EST.

Bazemore piloted his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus to a sixth-place finish in the 2004 POWERade NHRA Funny Car standings. He was the series' runner-up twice in his career, and he won the NHRA U.S. Nationals two times. Bazemore will return to the cockpit with Don Schumacher Racing in 2005, as the team looks to win the POWERade NHRA Funny Car championship.

Gladysz was part of Mopar's SCCA Pro Rally driving duo in 2004. Along with his partner, Doug Shepherd, Gladysz helped earn the Overall SCCA Pro Rally Series Manufacturer's title. He also captured Co-Driver of the Year honors. Gladysz has five Group 5 victories to his credit, and he helped drive Mopar and Dodge Motorsports to a perfect two-wheel drive season.

A radio version of this program will air Sunday, Dec. 26, from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. EST. Log on to http://www.speedfreaks.tv/ or your local station, or listen live on the Internet.

Three-disc clutch rule for IHRA Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock entries promises quickest season ever

(12-23-2004) - The IHRA technical department approved use of three-disc clutches in Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock entries for 2005. After one test session in Bradenton, Fla., the rewards are very promising for the participants of the mountain motor division.

Pete Berner, winner of last year's shootout, produced the most incredible run to this point by pushing his Mustang to a 6.400 elapsed time on a run that computer readouts show that he shut off 6.3-seconds into the lap.

Fellow Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock competitor Robert Patrick posted a 6.41 with a whopping mile per hour of 217.

The sixty-foot clocking was a .980 on Berner's historic run.

The common denominator for the record runs was a new eight-inch clutch manufactured by RAM clutches. Word has it that a rush of orders have come through since the performances of Berner.

Rulebook available now

(12-23-2004) - The AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge Presented By TLR has released the official rules for the upcoming 2005 season. The information below is a summary of the changes for 2005.

Blown Cars:

Chassis: Must meet SFI Spec 25.1E

Maximum Overdrive: 29%

Minimum Weight: Anything 1973 or newer will be required to weigh 2,700 pounds. Anything 1972 or older will be required to weigh 2,600 pounds with the exception of 1963 – 1967 Corvettes which will be required to weigh 2,650 pounds.

Nitrous Cars:

Chassis: Must meet SFI Spec 25.1E

Maximum Cubic Inches: None

Minimum Weight: Anything 1973 or newer will be required to weigh 2,300 pounds. Anything 1972 or older will be required to weigh 2,200 pounds with the exception of 1963 – 1967 Corvettes which will be required to weigh 2,250 pounds.

Turbo Cars:

Chassis: Must meet SFI Spec 25.1E

Maximum Cubic Inches: 650

Minimum Weight: Anything 1973 or newer will be required to weigh 2,700 pounds. Anything 1972 or older will be required to weigh 2,600 pounds with the exception of 1963 – 1967 Corvettes which will be required to weigh 2,650 pounds.

Maximum Turbo Size: Twin Turbos up to 101mm each. No staged Turbos will be permitted.

Clutch: Three disc clutch permitted.

Intercooler : If running an intercooler the use of alcohol is prohibited. Gasoline/Alcohol permitted if not running an intercooler.

INAUGURAL NHRA NORTHERN SPORTSNATIONALS TO BE HELD
AT NATIONAL TRAIL RACEWAY

(12-22-2004) - Competitors from select categories of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be able to earn national event championship points when National Trail Raceway hosts the inaugural NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals, July 28-31, NHRA officials announced today.

The NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals will feature a guaranteed purse of more than $50,000 with racers competing in six NHRA Lucas Oil Series categories, including Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. NHRA Lucas Oil Series national event points will be awarded to drivers in all categories except Super Street.

The event will be the second all-sportsman event where competitors will be awarded national event points towards 2005 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships. Based on the tremendous success of the 2004 NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La., the NHRA opted to add another event to showcase its sportsman racers.

"With the success we had at No Problem Raceway last year, plus the overwhelming number of positive responses we received from the racers, sponsors, and especially the sportsman racing fans, we felt it was time to add another national event points-earning race to the mix," said Len Imbrogno, NHRA director of sportsman racing. "We hope to continue to expand on this popular trend and build off the precedent that was set at Belle Rose last season with the Cajun SPORTSnationals. Like that event, the inaugural NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals is a chance for the NHRA to showcase the competitors and the exciting action of sportsman racing, which is the foundation for all NHRA drag racing."

An added feature to the national sportsman event will be the running of the AMS Pro Mod Challenge, a exhibition program which competes at a limited 10-race schedule on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

NHRA hosted the SPORTSnationals from 1974-1986 at a trio of tracks, including Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky. (1974-'80; 1985-'86), the old Houston International Raceway (1981-'82) and Indianapolis Raceway Park (1982-'83).

Hardcore Motorsports Team Smashes LS1 Mark in Florida

(12-22-2004) - Bragging rights are a huge motivating force in street-legal drag racing, and no more so in the ranks of the select group of racers who utilize the Generation lll small block GM powerplant known as the LS1.

Among the key players in the quest to elevate the performance level of the LS1 is the team from Flint, Michigan’s Hardcore Motorsports. When their record of 8.52-seconds at 163 mph was eclipsed recently, the team, led by car owner Ronnie Duke, went to work on their 2002 Pontiac Trans Am in an all-out effort to retake the title of “World’s Quickest LS1-Powered Street-Legal Car.”

Their efforts and the outstanding help provided by ProCharger, Kinetics, Hughes Performance and Moser Engineering paid huge dividends at a recent test session at Florida’s Bradenton Motorsports Park. With interested pro drivers Annette Summer, Troy Coughlin and Greg Anderson looking on, driver Jason McNeil paced the team’s beautiful black T/A to a record-smashing run of 8.11, 168.95 to convincingly bring the title back to Michigan.

Next on the team’s “to do” list is a foray into the uncharted seven-second zone, and they are already hard at work refining their program even further in preparation for an attempt at the vaunted “seven” in the very near future.

Hardcore Motorsports is housed in a 50,000 square-foot facility located at 5200 Clio Road, Flint, Michigan. Included are a 10,000 square-foot retail showroom and a complete race and street car fabrication operation. In addition to a state-of-the-art chassis fabrication center, the facility also houses engine building and chassis and engine dyno operations.

For more information, call 810-787-2960 or log on to the Hardcore Motorsports web site at www.weracehardcore.com

Hadman Building New One-Piece-Bodied Top Fuel Cars for Schumacher and Millican

(12-22-2004) - Ever since the debut of a prototype one-piece carbon fiber-bodied Top Fuel car for Joe Amato Racing in 2003, the concept of the new design has slowly but surely been making inroads in drag racing’s quickest and fastest class.

The man who developed the original one-piece carbon fiber body for Top Fuel is Tacoma, Washington’s Brad Hadman. Now, nearly two years later, he continues to refine the design, and as of this writing he is currently building new cars for IHRA champion Clay Millican and his NHRA counterpart Tony Schumacher at his Progressive Metalcraft shop.

Hadman actually built a car with a one-piece body that Millican campaigned successfully in 2004, and the new piece will incorporate all the latest updates and modifications. Schumacher’s one-piece car is one of three that Hadman currently has under construction for the NHRA champ, the other two having the traditional multi-panel configuration. The new design will be thoroughly shaken down by Schumacher during preseason testing.

Mike Dunn to return to the broadcast booth for 2005; turns down offer from Force

(12-22-2004) - Former Top Fuel and Funny Car driver Mike Dunn has decided to return to his color commentary position with ESPN in spite of some tempting offers to strap on a fuel car once again.

Dunn stated that he had been treated very well by ESPN, and he wanted to fulfill the terms of his two-year contract, which runs through the 2005 season. He will join broadcast partner Marty Reid in the booth again when the NHRA season opens in Pomona in February.

The veteran driver, who hails from Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, still has a competitive fire burning in his heart, however, and several offers, including one from John Force, certainly tempted the 48-year-old to give up his seat in the booth for one in a nitro-burning hot rod.

Apparently Force approached Dunn on several occasions last season regarding a job driving the Jimmy Prock-tuned Top Fuel Dragster the team is bringing to the track in 2005. When the commitment from a major sponsor that Force was pursuing for the new venture hadn’t come through by the end of the 2004 season, however, Dunn opted to stay on with ESPN for another year.

With 22 national event victories to his credit – 10 in Funny Car and 12 in Top Fuel – in 40 final-round appearances, Dunn still has a need for speed, however, and he won’t rule out the possibility that he may indeed return to the quarter-mile sometime in the near future.

Skeet Russell's Mom Passes

(12-22-2004) - The wonderful lady who originally purchased the 1962 Plymouth Sport Fury that her son Skeet made famous has left us. The story of Skeet and the "sixty-too-ugly" is currently a feature on CompetitionPlus.com.

Mrs. Russell suffered a stroke last Friday and succumbed at 6 AM Tuesday. She was 93 years of age. Sadly, it was seven years ago this week that Skeet's father passed away. All of us at Competition Plus send our condolences and prayers to the Russell family.

CANNONS READY FOR NEW SEASON, NEW CAR, NEW JOBS

(12-22-2004) - For both Scotty Cannon and son Scott the 2005 season is going to be a brand new experience. First, Scotty will begin his career as crew chief and tuner for his son, who will take over the driving duties for the Cannonball Racing Pro Mod team. Second, Scott will be driving a 1953 Corvette fitted specifically for him..

For the first time in nearly a decade the Cannons will be campaigning something other than the '53 Studebaker that Scott drove and Scotty tuned for the last part of the 2004 season.

"Were really looking forward to working with Larry (Jeffers) next year. As soon as we put the deal together he flew Scott in to fit him to the car. That showed me that Larry is as serious as we are about racing," Scotty said.

Scotty and Scott plan to have the new 'Vette, which will be equipped with Cannon's supercharged Hemi engine and drivetrain, ready to race in time for the 2005 test sessions in Florida.

"We'll test and, since we were fortunate enough to get an invitation for the opening AMS race in Gainesville, we'll open the season there. We also plan to go after the IHRA World Championship and have committed to going to the IHRA season opener at San Antonio." Cannon continued. "We actually won't know for sure what our schedule will be for the year until we know what kind of sponsorship package we
will have for the 2005 season. Sponsorship ultimately will determine what races and what circuit we compete on in 2005."

While Scotty will be acting as tuner and crew chief for his son, he hasn't completely given up driving. After six IHRA Pro Mod World Championships and a stint in an NHRA Funny Car, he is working on finding a Top Fuel ride and has
some interested parties.

"I'm looking to put together a program for an IHRA Top Fuel car," Scotty said. "I have some things I can bring to an IHRA Top Fuel operation and I'm talking to a few people. I still have something to accomplish in a Fuel Car."

The father and son team of Scotty and Scott Cannon are looking forward to keeping a family drag racing tradition alive in 2005!

New Pro Mod Creations for 2005

(12-22-2004) - There's not much doubt that the car and engine builders are extremely busy at this time of the year, preparing for the quickly approaching 2005 season.

Here are a just a couple of examples of the new cars fans can expect to see when the Pro Modified teams take to the track early in the new year.

The '57 Chevy will be part of Tommy Lipar's growing "Dr. Moon's Rage" stable, and the new "Ragin' Bull" Chevy Cavalier will be wheeled by Mike Castellana.

Robert Curtis George (1971-2004)

(12-22-2004) - Robert Curtis George was one of the most successful rank and file Mopar racers in the Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland area, and his prowess with a big wedge or Hemi engine was exceeded only by his even greater stature as a human being. The son of Bob George, a Chrysler factory racer from the sixties, Curt had developed a very loyal following among the MoPar faithful in the tri-state area.

Since re-entering the racing wars in the mid eighties, Bob George Racing, run by Curt and his father, had built a very good business preparing all kinds of race cars, specializing mostly in Hemi and wedge Chryslers. Bob George engines have been shipped all over the United States, Canada, and even to Europe, as those who had experienced working with Bob and Curt spread the word, and business continued to grow. Customer service was the creed upon which the business was built, and over the past ten years business has flourished.

Bob George Racing, with Curt setting the tone, developed a “fleet” of race cars throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio, and developed a reputation for class and professionalism that is not seen often enough in our sport.. At the MoPar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, the Bob George racing team stole the show, with a variety of ‘Cudas, Challengers, Belvederes and Coronets, highlighted by the wheelstanding flagship '65 Hemi Belvedere of Curt himself. One of the most memorable highlights was Curt making a couple of exhibition runs in Tom O’Brien’s beautifully restored “Yankee Peddler” altered wheel base '65 Dodge of the late Bill Flynn. The crowd was on their feet as the injected Bob George Hemi stood one of the original funny cars on its back bumper, reminiscent of years gone by.

Sadly, this exceptional thirty three-year-old racer lost his life this past fall in an industrial accident, and the world is poorer for it. Curt was a reminder that regardless of the material success any of us will achieve, the biggest footprint we will leave is the influence we have on others. Curt was very successful in the materiel end, but by far his greatest gift was the type of person he was, and his lasting influence.

Curt leaves behind his wife, Melissa, and two children, Curtis Robert and Nolan Zane George. His parents, Bob and Deb, and sister, Lynn, as well as many relatives and supporting family members also survive him in the racing community.

Cruz Pedregon To Compete in Chili Bowl

(12-21-2004) - Cruz Pedregon, who normally drives the Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car Monte Carlo on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series circuit, will take his turn behind the wheel of a midget sprint car during the upcoming 19th annual Chili Bowl at the Tulsa Expo Raceway on Jan. 5-8.

Pedregon will be wielding his own ride, sponsored by Advance Auto Parts and consulted with by West Coast open-wheel standout Cory Kruseman – the two-time and defending Chili Bowl winner.

“I love midget and sprint car racing,” said Pedregon, who started his racing career around the local ovals of Southern California. “I was a track champion in Ventura, Calif., back in the 1980’s – before I got into drag racing. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

“There’s a lot of driving talent in drag racing and I think out sport needs to be represented,” Pedregon added. “It’s definitely a challenge to drive a 380-horsepower race car that weighs only 900 pounds. You have to steer with the throttle, but it’s definitely something I’ve learned through throttling the Funny Car. I have been practicing out at Ventura Raceway, a quarter-mile dirt track, at Cory Kruseman’s Sprint Car Driving School. I’ve made several hundred laps in a sprint car since the NHRA season ended this past November.”

NHRA drivers Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi competed in the Chili Bowl last year. This year’s edition will be star-studded as well, with NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers Tony Stewart & Kasey Kahne, along with World of Outlaws legend Steve Kinser submitting entries.

“There will be a lot of great drivers in this event, so I’m trying to manage my expectations,” said Pedregon, who made four final-round appearances during this last NHRA season. “I’m also a big fan of Steve Kinser and he’s a great guy. He’s a Quaker State Racing teammate and we recently talked about running in the Chili Bowl. I’m really looking forward to this.”

According to Pedregon, this isn’t a one-time activity.

“I would like to run a few more dirt track races when time permits,” Pedregon said. “This will also be an opportunity to allow my step son Josh get started in racing.”

Jeg and Troy Coughlin shakedown their new rides

(12-20-2004) - Professional drag racing brothers Jeg and Troy Coughlin took their new hot rods to Bradenton Motorsports Park near Tampa, Fla., last week for the first round of many planned test sessions leading into the POWERade series opener in mid-February.

It was a productive three days in the Sunshine State for the decorated drag racing duo. Three-time series champion Jeg got behind the wheel of the Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T for the first time and made half a dozen full passes to shakedown the unfamiliar ride. At the same time, Troy logged a bunch more seat time in new teammate Mike Ashley's Corvette as he continues to transition from Pro Stock to Pro Mod.

Under the guidance of 10-time world titleholder Bob Glidden, who will serve as his crew chief in 2005 and beyond, Jeg got acquainted with his Schumacher Racing stable mates and the subtleties of his new car with several test squirts. Mixing in a healthy dose of burnouts and half-track runs, Coughlin took his ride to the other end six times, logging several low-6.7 second passes, including a pair of 6.70s at 205 mph.

"We're very pleased with the car and how it responded," Jeg said. "The conditions were nearly perfect, especially the first few days, and some other teams ran astronomical numbers, but we weren't really trying to do that. We just wanted to get familiar with the car and the tune-up Bob uses and set a baseline we can work from in the future. I think we accomplished that goal.

"Probably the thing I'm most pumped up about is how we all got along as a team. Working with Bob Glidden is almost an unreal experience. I mean, I grew up admiring the man and it's hard to comprehend that we'll be working together as teammates now. I feel very fortunate to have him in our corner."

Across the pit, Troy continued to get his feet wet in the speedy world of Pro Mod. Working with respected co-crew chiefs Chuck Ford and Hugh Scott, his team spent its time in Florida working on the new rule changes for the Pro Mod category, which includes a reduction of 100 pounds to the overall weight of the car and an increase in blower overdrive from 20 to 29 percent.

"We figured we picked up 300 horsepower at least so we had some work to do to figure out the new combination," Troy said. "We didn't make any full runs yet, in fact I don't think I stayed in it past 330 feet even one time, but it is still the coolest sensation in the world to drop the clutch on one of these cars. The acceleration is so much more noticeable than it was in a Pro Stock car.

"The cars are much faster yet they feel more stable when you get out of the groove. Everything is magnified. When you have tire shake in a Pro Mod you can easily end up in the other lane. It's two different worlds."

Troy and Jeg plan to return to Bradenton in early January. By then, Troy hopes to have the Jeg's Mail Order Ford Mustang he'll run during the year.

CLOSE VOTES DECIDE 2004 AUTO RACING ALL-AMERICA TEAM

(12-20-2004) - In some of the closest voting ever for the annual Auto Racing All-America Team, 15 have been chosen in seven categories by members of the motorsports press.

With two drivers selected First Team in each category, it was not the winner but the driver in second place who made it by the thinnest of margins -- one vote -- in two categories and by just three in a third. The driver on the short end of that vote, plus the person in fourth place, make up the Second Team with all drivers receiving at least five percent of the vote receiving Honorable Mention.

So intent were the voting members of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association on the top candidates that in two categories no Honorable Mention was named, which has not happened in more than 30 years.

Vote totals are not released until after the AARWBA banquet Jan. 15 in Pomona, Calif., on Jan. 15. At that time the driver receiving the most votes, regardless of category, will be announced as the 35th winner of the Jerry Titus Award -- on an All-America team it is racing’s Heisman Trophy.

In a record-shattering year the Drag Racing category produced an extremely tight duel. John Force, on the strength of his record 13th NHRA Powerade Funny Car championship, managed to maintain about a 10-vote margin over the champions of the other two NHRA pro categories, each of whom had record years of their own. It is also Force’s 13th time as an All-America, his 12th on the First Team.

When the dust had settled, Tony Schumacher was one vote up on Greg Anderson. Schumacher, in his second time on the team (both First Team) had set a new Top Fuel victory mark with his 10th win at the season finale, but Pro Stock racer Anderson had rewritten the NHRA standard for all pro categories with his 15 victories, 16 poles, 19 final-round appearances, 76 round wins and a 742-point championship margin. Sharing Second Team with Anderson is another champion, IHRA Top Fuel king Clay Millican.

Foley & Lewis Add Second Top Fuel Team Dragster for 2005

(12-19-2004) - Top Fuel driver Doug Foley and partner Tim Lewis have announced the addition of a second Top Fuel Dragster to campaign in the IHRA for the entire 2005 season.

“We have always kept an open mind to opportunities to enhance our team. After a third place finish and winning three events in our first season, the encore wasn’t going to be an easy one,” said driver and team co-owner Doug Foley. “Our goals for 2005 are to put two competitive top fuel cars in the field.”

With the signing of Doug Kuch as a full time crew chief and the addition of Glenn Camp to their team, they feel this is an obtainable goal. “We have seen in the past that multi-car teams learn twice as much in qualifying and become an asset to each other on Sunday. We also hope the addition of a second car builds stronger relationships with current sponsors and entices new marketing partners, who want to get in on the ground floor of the next generation of drag racing in the IHRA, to sign with us,” stated Lewis.

Foley & Lewis signed Torco Racing Fuels in November for the first car and are extremely pleased to announce the company’s involvement in the second team car as well, making Torco Racing Fuels a Major Associate Sponsor. M&R Drywall will continue their support with the addition of Seacoast Supply and Grabber Drywall Products on Doug’s car.

Sophomore driver Rick Cooper of Boise, ID, will drive the second team car. Rick, an avid drag racing enthusiast and pro golf instructor, launched his professional career in Top Fuel racing in 2004, qualifying at half the events while getting some quality seat time.

“I am excited about the opportunity to come on board with Foley & Lewis Racing,” Cooper said. “Their accomplishments in 2004 speak for themselves. I knew after considering all of my options, this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Rick said the team will continuously attempt to acquire additional sponsors for the two cars and utilize Doug’s Drag Racing School along with his golfing background to make sponsorship packages more exciting. “Whether it’s on the race track or the links, you’re going to learn to drive from the best; our sponsor programs go far beyond a weekend of racing. I hope to assist in the growth of the Foley & Lewis team and look forward to racing with them well into the future,” said Cooper.

Foley & Lewis plan to do some early season testing with the second car at Bradenton Motorsports Park, Florida and have an exciting match race against Bobby Lagana in Aruba this February.

NHRA Announces New Technical Specifications for 2005

(12-19-2004) - NHRA announced new technical specifications for 2005 as part of the worlds largest sanctioning body’s ongoing effort to combat escalating costs to compete in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories at NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events, as well as improving the margin of safety and maintaining the quality of the show for its ever-growing fan base.

NHRA announced for 2005 that all cylinder blocks must be forged and a blower overdrive maximum of 50 percent. NHRA also announced the mix of nitromethane on Top Fuel and Funny Cars will remain at 85%, and will introduce at the Gainesville race a fixed RPM timing controller to be set within the current range obtained by the top teams in the respective classes. For consistency purposes, NHRA will allow the use of electronic timers to be used for fuel and clutch management systems, in addition to the pneumatic system currently in place. NHRA will maintain a moratorium on engine development and require teams to use only one style of NHRA-approved nitromethane fuel engine.

"The cost to compete, not only in NHRA, but all other forms of motorsports, has escalated significantly in the last few years," said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations and chairman of the NHRA Competition Committee. "As a result, and as the sanctioning body, we must maintain a balance between all competitors in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories while focusing on providing entertaining and exciting side-by-side racing for our fans.

"The measures being taken are designed to continue the trend we saw over the last part of the 2004 season to provide fans with close racing and place the outcome of the race not solely on technology, but on the ability of the team to tune the car and the drivers ability to navigate the track," said Light.

At a recent conference in Detroit, the heads of the worlds major motorsports sanctioning bodies Formula One, NASCAR, IRL, SCCA and NHRA discussed the pressing need to control escalating costs in motorsports while improving and maintaining the quality of the show. The steps being taken address some of the most important issues facing all of motorsports, including NHRA Drag Racing.

In addition, NHRA also will budget research and development dollars to look at other ways to maintain parity in the sport, while working with teams to develop methods to improve safety. Among the things to be tested in 2005 include carbon fiber driver enclosures in Top Fuel vehicles, as well as mono-strut wing technology.

"We are working with all of our current manufacturers to find ways to provide exciting, close racing for our fans, while emphasizing and developing a vision for the future to improve the margin of safety and manage the inherent costs associated with racing in NHRA," said Light.

Friday Recap From Bradenton

(12-17-2004) - With a number of the Pro Stock teams having left for home, just five drivers, four NHRA and one IHRA, remained at Florida’s Bradenton Motorsports Park on Friday as a week-long open test session wound down.

Among the highlights of the day was the return of Erica Enders to the track just a day after rolling her Cagnazzi Racing Chevy Cavalier. Stating that she wanted to get back in the car before she had too much time to think about her accident, she belted herself into the back-up car that her team had worked all night to prepare, and jumped back into the game.

After making pass after pass in his Summit-liveried Pontiac all week long, NHRA Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson made an appearance on Friday afternoon in a car painted in the familiar green and white scheme of Mike Edwards. The car, built by North Carolina’s Wally Stroupe, was recently purchased by Anderson from Edwards, and this was his first time behind the wheel. Much to the delight of his crew, Anderson piloted the car through the top end in 6.72-seconds at 203.61 mph. Later, Anderson said “man – that was a surprise – they’re not supposed to go that fast the first time out!”

On the IHRA side, it looks like the once-vaunting 6.30 barrier is now living on borrowed time. On Wednesday, Pete Berner charged to a 6.40 behind the wheel of his Mustang and backed it up with a 6.41 on Thursday. Fellow Ford driver Robert Patrick notched a pair of 6.42s and a 6.43 on Thursday and improved to 6.41 on Friday. It’s now only a matter of time.

Also on hand this week in Bradenton was former Pro Street champion Annette Summer, preparing her turbocharged 1963 Corvette for the upcoming AMS/TLR Pro Mod season in the NHRA. 2005 will see the inclusion of turbo cars in Pro Mod for the first time in the history of the class, and Summer intends to make the debut a noteworthy one. Her monster ‘Vette is capable of churning out copious amounts of horsepower, and should give the traditional blown and nitrous-injected cars a serious run for their money.

The Gotham City Racing team of New York’s Mike Ashley was also pounding the pavement in Bradenton, with new driver Troy Coughlin making a number of shake-down passes in the team’s supercharged ’63 Corvette. He’ll eventually move up to one of Gotham City’s two ’67 Ford Mustang 500Es which are durrently under construction in South Carolina.

One of the coolest, and quickest, street-legal hot rods on the planet was on hand in central Florida this week as well, coming all the way from Michigan for the express purpose of reclaiming the title of “World’s Quickest LS1-Powered, Street-Legal Car.” The late-model Pontiac Firebird, owned by Ronnie Duke and campaigned under the Hardcore Motorsports banner, ripped off a great pass of 8.11, 168.95 on Thursday to shatter the former mark of 8.29, and added some back-up on Friday with a mark of 8.22, 165.86. Driver Jason McNeill and the team are now shooting to put the car into the seven-second zone on Saturday to seal the deal once and for all.

To view a photo gallery, click on: Bradenton Test

Tim Lynch & Steve Petty Receive Precision Turbo Achievement Award

(12-17-2004) - Race careers are often defined by a handful of special moments. The team of driver Tim Lynch and Steve Petty had one of those when received Precision Turbo & Engine’s first ever Customer Achievement award at the recently completed PRI Show in Indianapolis, IN.

“This was one of the last great barriers in street car racing history to be broken”, said Harry Hruska, President of Precision Turbo. “It’s great to share in their accomplishment.”

Lynch & Petty, known affectionately as the “Lynch Mob” by racers and friends, won this award when they became the first real 10.5 tire team to break the 6-second barrier at Englishtown with a 6.96 at 207.43 MPH. The team, which won the 2004 Fun Ford Street Outlaw championship, looks to return to FFW competition in 2005 with their Shredder II Mustang running twin Precision turbos.

Precision Turbo & Engine is a premier manufacturer and distributor of turbo, intercooler & EFI products to the entire race industry.

Enders Unhurt in Bradenton Testing Crash

(12-16-2004) - A great weekend of testing turned upside down, literally, for Pro Stock newcomer Erica Enders at Bradenton Motorsports Park on Thursday afternoon.

Enders, 21, was driving the Chevy Cavalier owned by Victor Cagnazzi when it became airborne just past the halfway mark on the track. The car rolled onto its roof and then righted itself, causing considerable damage to the car but leaving Enders unscathed.

In fact, the incident left Enders more mad at herself and embarrassed than anything. “There’s a slight bump down track here at Bradenton, and I had felt the car wiggle a bit when I hit it on earlier runs,” she said. “I had always been able to gather it in and had no real trouble until this afternoon. The car got out of the groove, and even though I tried to ease it back, it made a quick right turn and when the air got under the car it was all over.”

Anxious to get his young driver back behind the wheel as quickly as possible, Cagnazzi dispatched team members to North Carolina to pick up a back-up car, which is expected to arrive in Bradenton Friday morning.

To view a gallery of photos from Bradenton, click here: Bradenton Thursday

BURKART "BACK IN BLUE," RETURNS TO TEAM CSK FOR 2005 SEASON

(12-16-2004) - Phil Burkart Jr., who drove the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen blue car to two race wins and a POWERade Top Ten finish in 2004, will return to the team in 2005 to drive for co-crew chiefs Marc Denner and Chris Cunningham. Though he's been driving nitro funny cars since 1998, Burkart enjoyed his first full season behind the wheel in 2004, and he made the most of it by completely rewriting his personal record book.

Burkart joined Worsham Racing in late 2003, taking over the seat in the team's third car after Arnie Karp was injured and unable to continue. Two races later, after Johnny Gray resigned as driver of the blue CSK car, Burkart was shifted within the organization and named blue team driver. After a successful 2004 campaign, during which he compiled a 21-21 round record while also establishing himself as a popular pro, Burkart will remain with the team for the 2005 campaign.

"I'm very excited to get back to racing in the blue Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Monte Carlo," Burkart said. "My first full season as a professional was a great experience, in terms of the positive things we did and some of the things we learned the hard way. All those lessons were valuable, because I think you need to experience these things first hand. As a team, we felt the thrills of standing in the winner's circle, and we felt the disappointment of losing in round one. All of the things we learned made us a better team."

Burkart's support group will stay mainly unchanged for 2005, with Denner and Cunningham returning for their third season as co-crew chiefs. Only one new crew member will join the team in the new year, keeping the core group in place.

"It's really an advantage when you not only have a good talented team, but you also keep them together from season to season," Burkart said. "Experienced crew guys know how to put the parts and pieces together and make sure everything is tight, but they have to learn how to work with each other and that just comes through time and good chemistry. It's like a football team, because just learning the plays is only part of the challenge. The key part is learning each other, knowing where the other guys will be and how they work. This group got better all year, and we'll hit the ground running in January."

Co-crew chief Denner agreed with his driver about the value of consistency, and sees the same value in maintaining the man at the controls.

"Phil's been around long enough that people think of him as a veteran," Denner said. "The truth is, he really didn't have that much seat time until he joined our program. He was only attending six or eight races a year, so he actually raced in more rounds this past year than he had his whole career put together up until this season. He did a great job for us, and now he's learning some of the subtle things that separate good drivers from great ones.

"Just like that football team analogy he was using, I think being an NHRA funny car driver is like being an NFL quarterback," Denner continued. "They say it takes five or six seasons for those guys to really figure it out and understand the game. I don't know if it takes that long here, but it certainly takes a few full seasons for a driver to get beyond the basic task of cutting a good light and getting the car to the other end. Once you've mastered that, you move on to feeling the car, anticipating what it's going to do, and being in charge. Phil is in that stage right now, and it's been great to watch him develop."

Burkart himself recognizes the course of his development, and points across his team's pit area to his greatest source of knowledge and skill. Teammate Del Worsham is roundly regarded as one of the best in the business, so Burkart reaps the reward of learning from an expert.

"Del is unbelievable," Burkart said. "Most fans probably see things like hole shots and back-pedaling as examples of what great drivers can bring to the team, and those are important things to master. But there's so much more that Del does, and most of it probably goes unnoticed by anyone other than his crew and, maybe, other drivers. To have the chance to race with him has been great for me, and great for my career. You can learn so much just watching what he does and how he does it. He's a pro, and I think he's the best."

Looking forward to 2005, Burkart is confident his team is ready to move up the ladder within the POWERade Top Ten, and he looks forward to additional trips to the winner's circle. Though 2004 was a career year by any method of evaluation, Burkart sees '05 as the year he and his team will move to an even higher level.

"One thing we need to improve upon the most is consistency," he said. "We have a fast car and we have the ability to put four great rounds together on Sunday. What we weren't able to do last year was string four or five great races together. The next step for us is to move up to the middle of the top ten. To do that, you need to get past the first round almost every week. We look back on 11 first round losses in 2004, and we know that's where we have to get better.

"As a two-car program sharing the same great sponsor, Team CSK is one unit and both crews are here to help the other. Del has to be one of the absolute favorites to unseat John Force for the championship, but he'll have a tough time doing that if we don't step up and take some people out for him. We have a responsibility to contribute to the overall Team CSK mission, and we showed in 2004 that we can beat guys like Force, Scelzi, Bazemore, Medlen, and many of the other great teams in the class. We have to do even better this year. We have to pull our weight, and when we do that we're going to be successful and Del is going to be successful."

Burkart also made a mark for himself outside the cockpit in 2004. In today's landscape, being a professional sponsor representative is as critical for a driver to master as quick reaction times and win lights. Burkart not only developed further as a driver in '04, he also spent his first full year with a major sponsor, and he earned the respect of both his boss and his team's corporate backers.

"Phil does a fantastic job with our sponsors," Del Worsham said. "He's a total pro and he's very down-to-earth, and those are things the people at Checker, Schuck's, Kragen really appreciate. There's no ego, no attitude, and no pretense. He's great with the fans, great with the media, and great with all of our sponsors, from CSK right down the list to our parts suppliers. He's a real asset to this program, and we're thrilled to have him back again in 2005. It's going to be a great year for him and the blue team."

For Burkart, improving on his 21-21 round record, two race victories, and 10th place finish will go a long way toward making it a great year. And when that happens, it's liable to be a great year for Team CSK as a whole. Burkart is "back in blue" and Team CSK is ready to rock.

Quick Times for NHRA Pro Stocks in Bradenton during Wednesday testing

(12-16-2004) - NHRA Pro Stock racers V. Gaines and David Connolly essentially fell into a mineshaft during Wednesday testing in Bradenton, Fla. With air registering 500-feet below sea level, the duo each recorded 6.67 laps. Rookie Eric Enders blasted out a 207.94, which surpassed the current established world record.

With a pair of 6.67-second passes, Vieri Gaines and Dave Connolly grabbed low E.T. honors Tuesday as the adjusted altitude readings dipped to 500 feet below sea level, while newcomer Erica Enders cranked out a would-be national record top speed of 207.94 mph during her best run.

Jeg Coughlin, Jr. was testing his new Team Schumacher/Jeg's Stratus and failed to make a full pass.

Special gift for CompetitionPlus.com's Roger Richards; New Face headed to Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified

(12-16-2004) - Bryan Seward and Brent Hickman of Hickman Promotions and crewmember on the Bryan Seward Motorsports racing team presented Roger Richards of CompetitionPlus.com with a truly nice leather jacket embroidered with the magazine’s logo.

Seward, a licensed NHRA Pro Stock driver, added, “We just wanted to say thank you to CompetitionPlus.com for their efforts in publicizing our efforts in NHRA Pro Stock in 2004.

Seward continued, “We were able to live a dream to line up in the staging lanes with names like Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden and all the great teams currently running. It has been my life long desire to run in the professional ranks. Although we were only financially able to run 3 events during 2004 and we were unable to qualify, it was still a great year for me. Just to be with those teams made it worth it.”

“However, we made a reality check and realized that without sponsor backing, there was no way we could compete on the level it takes to run Pro Stock. With the money we invested just to attend and run the qualifying rounds, we decided that we could build two Pro Mod cars and have four complete motors and all the support equipment. So that is the direction that Seward Motorsports will head for the 2005 season. All of the Pro Stock equipment is for sale at this time. The Escort and everything associated with the Pro Stock program is for sale and we are actively searching for the right nostalgia car to build in Pro Mod.

“Our plans are to build two cars at this time. I will drive one and provide the second car to someone that doesn’t want to hassle with the maintenance of a Pro Mod team. If some one has the sponsor and wants to run the car without the headaches, we will have a ride for them.

“It is an exciting time of the year for the team right now. We really came together as a team and are looking forward to our new endeavor.”

Invitation List for AMS TLR Pro Modified Klash

(12-15-2004) - The following is the official list of invited drivers for the 2004 AMS TLR season.

1. Mike Ashley
2. Zach Barklage
3. Cody Barklage
4. Scott Cannon
5. Mike Castellana
6. Troy Critchley
7. Troy Coughlin
8. Dale Brinsfield
9. Joshua Hernandez
10. Ed Hoover
11. Shannon Jenkins
12. Glenn Kerunsky
13. Chip King
14. Kirk Kuhns
15. Mike Moran
16. Thomas Patterson
17. Jay Payne
18. Shelly Payne
19. Von Smith
20. Quain Stott

Tuesday Testing in Bradenton

(12-15-2004) - Bradenton, Fla., continues to be the hotbed of testing action and if yesterday's laps are any indication of what is to come, we had better look out. Among those eyebrow-raising runs was IHRA Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock runner Pete Berner, who recorded a 6.40. If what we're hearing about Dave Connolly running a 6.68 as well as rookie Eric Enders pans out to be true, 2005 might be the quickest season-ever season for NHRA Pro Stock.

AMS TLR champion Mike Ashley was in attendance, but couldn't seem to shake the tire-rattling blues. Troy Coughlin was also testing behind the wheel of a Gotham City Racing entry.

Torco Race Fuels CompetitionPlus.com's Brian Wood will be in Bradenton today to bring reports and photos.

Weis Nails Down Another Big Sponsor

(12-14-2004) - Scott Weis and his Virginia-based, family-owned Top Fuel race team got a huge financial shot in the arm Monday when construction giant Barrett Enterprises joined Weis Racing as a co-title sponsor with RaceGirl International clothing line. Sharing space on the car will be LobsterGram.com, which joined the group at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals.

The addition of Barrett Enterprises, Chicago's largest employer of union carpenters, will allow Weis to reach a new level of performance. For starters, his all-volunteer crew will now be paid employees that can stay on the road. They also have a new Attac chassis on the way and will add a shop in the Midwest to help them repair parts during the season.

Company founder Bill Barrett is a fifth-generation carpenter with 35 years of experience. He launched Barrett Enterprises in 1986 and has grown it from a one-man shop to a construction empire. Based in Fox Lake, Ill., Barrett Enterprises specializes in the installation of siding on all new construction single and multi-family homes. They currently employ more than 150 workers.

Through his partnership with Weis Racing, Barrett hopes to attract skilled non-union tradesman from across the nation to Barrett Enterprises so they can enjoy successful careers as part of his ever-growing construction juggernaut.

"My wife Patti and I are as excited as a kids on Christmas morning," Barrett said. "We can't wait to see Barrett Enterprises represented by such a terrific racing family. The Weis family has an impeccable reputation and we feel honored to contribute to the team's future success. The level of professionalism they display is phenomenal.

"We got involved with NHRA POWERade drag racing for business reasons, but if you visit with us you'll discover we're big fans. We plan on being more than just a sponsor of the team. We're going to take the same principals that have led to our success in the construction industry and apply them to drag racing. We are going to take a proactive role in ensuring that Scott has what he needs to be a championship contender. This year is just the start of what we believe will be a long and successful relationship with the Weis family. We're absolutely dedicated to the success of Scott and the team."

Weis was thrilled with the chance at working together with the Barretts.

"I couldn't be happier," Weis said. "I'm ready to head to Pomona tomorrow. This year is going be phenomenal. Union carpenters, RaceGirls, and a bunch of LobsterGram.com live lobsters, if we could just sign a beer company we'd have the wildest hospitality area in all of drag racing.

"All kidding aside, our whole program is changing. No more fly-in guys, although we're not changing personnel. We'll have the crew we started racing Top Fuel with three years ago. I think that speaks volumes about the commitment of our crew members."

One of the things Weis and company are very excited about is the centrally-located race shop they'll be occupying in the Chicago area. It will eliminate thousands of miles for the RaceGirl/Barrett Enterprises team.

"Having the 12,000 square feet to work out of in addition to our Richmond shop should really improve our program," Weis said. "Last season our only shop was in Richmond, Virginia, so we only got the car back once or twice during the year. Now we'll have a road crew and a place to stop and service the car in between most of the races. Instead of trying to cram a week's worth of maintenance into Friday at the track we'll be able to bring in a car that's ready to run. That'll let the team concentrate on race set-ups, rather than service details. Hopefully, they'll be no more 24-hour days at the track."

The changes won't stop with salaries and race shops. Weis plans to update his current Attac Race Cars chassis with new pipe featuring some experimental tweaks from his debut Attac chassis, which was first campaigned by Weis and then adopted by Kalitta Motorsports around mid-season last year. Gradually, the team also plans to phase in new technologies like the setback blower and six-disc clutch setup.

"We're going to stay busy and that's exactly the way we like it," Weis said. "I've got more appearances scheduled already than I had the last three years. At the Chicago event alone we're expecting over 2,000 guests of Barrett Enterprises.

"I'm also looking forward to spending a little more time with the fans. I've felt bad in the past because I'd be repairing cylinder heads or blowers and wouldn't be able to meet the fans as much as I would've liked. Our family has always believed that you can never have too many friends and I make a new friend every time I get to shake a fan's hand or sign an autograph. Don't think I'm retiring my wrench though. I've worked on every car I've driven and there is no way they'll be able to keep me from jumping in and thrashing on the motor."

In addition to the aggressive public relations program, Weis Racing and its marketing partners are finalizing plans for an elaborate pit-side hospitality area for the 2005 NHRA POWERade season that'll likely include a LobsterGram.com live lobster tank.

"I'd be remiss if I didn't extend my heartfelt thanks to Robert Chestnut of RaceGirl International," Weis said. "Robert has sacrificed over the last three seasons to make sure we could field a good competitive team. If it hadn't for been for him and RaceGirl's involvement we could never have achieved a top 10 finish this season and attracted strong major sponsors like Barrett Enterprises and Lobster Gram.com. RaceGirl has been the catalyst of our success and hopefully Robert will always be a big part of our family and our race team."

Pro Modified Racing Association Announces Roster for 2005

(12-14-2004) - The Pro Modified Racing Association is thrilled to announce that the following PMRA series drivers and teams will be competing in the inaugural five-race 2005 season:

Ralph Andreacchi, Al Billes, Bruce Boland, Joe Boniferro, Raymond Commisso, Dave Earhart, Jack Grainy, Kasey Janzen, Mike Janis, Joe Lilienthall, Mark Neilson, Don Pocock, Tony Pontieri, Larry Sinke, Carl Spiering, Rob Sporing and Mike Stawicki.

All of the above members will be on hand in presenting some of the best in drag racing at tracks in Ontario, Quebec, and New York in the class known as “the world’s fastest doorslammers.”

The PMRA is a self-governing organization with its own set of technical and safety rules based on the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Pro Modified division. Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class offers a widely-diverse group of race cars with different types of 2000-plus horsepower engines propelling the cars down the quarter-mile in the 6.20-second range at 230 mph.

Additional event dates and details, along with more PMRA competitors, will be presented in the near future. A comprehensive and informative website will also be available soon.

Museum Reaches out to Leaders and Legends with "Winner's Circle" Program

Exclusive Opportunity for Racers and Performance Industry Executives to Support Their History and Legacy

(12-13-2004) - The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum has unveiled details of an exclusive program that will give automotive aftermarket leaders and racing greats the opportunity to preserve and celebrate a history they helped make, America's unique brand of automotive enthusiasm and motorsports.

"The new Winner's Circle program represents both an honor and a commitment for corporations in the automotive performance business," said Sam Jackson, executive director of the Parks Museum. "The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum was created by people who love fast cars and American ingenuity, and these are the people who will enjoy participating in our new Winner's Circle program."

The Parks Museum's mission is to celebrate the impact of high-performance and motorsports on American culture. "We collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the stories, artifacts and vehicles that represent the influence of automotive speed and style," said Greg Sharp, curator of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. "We are the place to view and learn about hot rods, customs, race cars and speed record vehicles, and the West Coast's role as the historic center for their development."

In introducing the Winner's Circle program, Jackson said, "The story of American automotive performance begins with hot rodding, drag racing and the growth of the performance industry. Without the insight, passion and investment of these companies and individuals, the history would be dramatically different. That's why we're inviting these folks to participate in the Museum in this special way."

NHRA founder and Museum chairman Wally Parks added, "None of us could have predicted where our love of cars and motorsports would take us. From a humble hobby that used castoff cars and backyard engineering, many successful companies have been established, along with a history that is followed around the world.

"For years my dream has been to preserve and interpret this wonderful story. This Museum and its programs are the culmination of that dream. Commitments from companies and individuals who join the Winner's Circle will help insure that the amazing story of American automotive performance will be appreciated for generations to come."

There are four Winner's Circle levels of support for the Winner's Circle, each involving a three-year commitment.

Champions commit to an investment of $10,000 or more annually, Sustaining members $5,000 annually, Supporting members to $2,500 annually while Patrons contribute a $1,000 each year. Each level comes with unique benefits. Winner's Circle funds will be used to:

* Fund Museum acquisitions, including vehicles and artifacts
* Enhance and expand programs and exhibitions
* Develop an archive research library and educational programs
* Improve the Museum complex

With its current exhibit, Edelbrock: A Performance Legacy, the fourth in an on-going series, the Parks Museum continues its active "living museum" strategy. In addition to the revolving exhibits and special in-museum programs, the Parks Museum also produces two "road" events, the National Hot Rod Reunion every June in Bowling Green, Kentucky and the California Hot Rod Reunion every October in Bakersfield.

Named for the founder of the National Hot Rod Association, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles spanning American motorsports history are on display, including winning cars representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds.

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST. Current NHRA members are admitted free. Admission for non-members is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 60 and older, $3 for juniors six through 15, and free for children under the age of five.

The Museum is also available for private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings and special group tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com .

Arend releases 2005 paint scheme for the CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car

(12-13-2004) - Veteran Funny Car driver Jeff Arend has released the preliminary renderings of the new Chevrolet Monte Carlo that he will be driving during the 23-race NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series schedule in 2005.

Arend, a former NHRA Funny Car national event champion, will officially unveil the striking new CMKX Monte Carlo at the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals Feb. 10-13. Arend has also been fitted for a new Murf McKinney chassis and the team plans to test the new car prior to the beginning of the season.

Arend's extensive background in drag racing includes driving in a variety of different classes as well as serving as an instructor at Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School in California. Arend competed in 19 events last season, qualifying for 16 races and finishing the year 16th in the final point standings, ahead of several teams who raced the full schedule.

The 2005 POWERade Drag Racing season will be Arend's first full season on the NHRA tour and the native Canadian, who now resides in California, is eager to get back to racing. NHRA Southeast Division Hall-of-Fame driver and crew chief, Paul Smith, will once again be calling the tuning shots on the new Monte Carlo and Arend is looking forward to a successful season.

"The new paint scheme is absolutely stunning and I'm sure it will draw plenty of attention with its striking graphics," said Arend. " We will also have a matching paint scheme on the transporter so I'm sure we'll turn some heads as we travel across the country this year."

Arend's new McKinney chassis is the first Funny Car specifically designed for his exact physical specifications. " I'm very eager to begin the 2005 season," stated a busy Arend from his San Dimas, Calif., home. "The new Monte Carlo body should make a significant difference in our performance and having a new Murf McKinney chassis that has been designed specifically for me will definitely increase my comfort and confidence behind the wheel. We plan to be a major contender with the CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car beginning with the very first lap in Pomona and we expect to be a significant factor in the fight for the Funny Car championship all season long."

DAN SAITZ TO BUILD 2005 MUSTANG PRO 5.0 CAR FOR AMS TLR COMPETITION

(12-12-2004) - Dan and Jim Saitz of Hyperformance Motorsports Racing have contracted with Jerry Haas Race Cars of Fenton, MO to construct a 2005 Ford Mustang, to be completed in Mid-2005. The car will feature a Jim Kuntz-Built Small Block Ford aided by dual Precision 76MM Turbos. The car will be Pro 5.0 and AMS Pro-Mod Legal and will be campaigned in the Fun Ford Weekend Series, as well as various Outlaw races in 2005. The team will campaign their 1997 Haas-Built Ford Probe at the start of the season.

The Quickest with a D.O.T.

(12-12-2004) - Todd Tutterow ran an eighth-mile 3.990 elapsed time at 193.12 mile per hour on DOT street tires and blown small block at Farmington Dragway outside of Winston-Salem, NC. The quickest and fastest pass ever on a DOT legal race tire was done using the Hoosier 35x22.5x16 Quick Time Pro.

DON SCHUMACHER RACING AND JEG'S SET FOR 2005 NHRA POWERade PRO STOCK SERIES RUN

(12-10-2004) - While it's no secret that Don Schumacher Racing and Jeg Coughlin, Jr. have joined forces for the 2005 racing season, the solidification of the new team was completed today with the unveiling of the Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis.

Led by legendary Pro Stock champion-turned-crew-chief Bob Glidden, this latest addition to the Don Schumacher Racing stable will enter the 2005 racing season with the experience of 12 NHRA Pro Stock Series Championships behind it. Glidden is a 10-time series champion, and Coughlin won both the 2000 and 2002 series' titles.

While the Glidden/Coughlin combination is sure to be a driving force behind the team, the 2005 season will also mark a manufacturer transition for Coughlin and Jeg's Mail Order, as the team will join the Dodge Motorsports family in 2005.

"Our goal is to challenge for a world NHRA Pro Stock title this coming year," Schumacher said. "By fully implementing and utilizing the research and development technology that Dodge Motorsports and Mopar can offer us, as well as the expertise of the chassis engineers, we'll be able to prepare for the upcoming season. We're also looking to involve the resources that Dodge Motorsports has on the NASCAR side. Hopefully, we'll be able to incorporate that knowledge into our Pro Stock program."

A well-known presence in the NHRA Pro Stock ranks, Coughlin's experience will also help to boost the team's effort. In addition to winning two NHRA Pro Stock Championships, Coughlin's resume also includes the 1992 Super Gas Championship and the 2004 Super Stock Hemi Challenge title. With his sights set on his third NHRA Pro Stock Series Championship, Coughlin is also looking forward to becoming a part of Team Mopar.

"I have seen the relationship, from a distance, that Mopar has extended to the NHRA and Don Schumacher Racing and I know the partnership between us all should be pretty powerful," Coughlin said. "The key is to get the team acclimated with one another. With that said, we look to have the focus on the success of the program as we start the season. Our goal is to win races and accumulate enough points to be crowned the 2005 POWERade Pro Stock Champions."

Pre-season testing is scheduled for mid-December, and the Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T team will make its debut at Pomona Raceway at the season-opening 45th Annual Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals, February 10-13.

The unveiling took place at the Mopar display at the Performance Racing Industry Trade show at the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The Mopar display is located in the B-Hall at Peninsula 1105.

Torco Racing Fuels announces the Torco Racing Fuels High Octane Team for 2005

(12-10-2004) – Torco Race Fuels announced a major package a month ago that included official fuel status of the International Hot Rod Association as well as sponsorship of two professional categories and as many national events. The Decatur, Mi.-based racing fuel company continues its support of the racing community with the formation of the Torco Racing Fuels High Octane Team. The Torco Racing Fuels High Octane Team will consist of nine different professional and pro sportsman teams running both the IHRA Hooters and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Headlining the team will be Torco Racing Fuels President Evan Knoll in his Top Fuel dragster and he will be joined by three other Top Fuel teams, a Nitro Funny Car, the Pro Modified entry of Mike Ashley, the 2004 NHRA AMS/TLR World Champion, three Top Alcohol Funny Cars and the Alcohol Dragster of Jeff Wilson.

Knoll, the founder of Torco Racing Fuels, is confident that sponsorship of race teams is the perfect way to compliment the programs that his company already has in place.

“I know what it’s like to be on the racing side of the fence,” said Knoll. “Marketing partnerships are what makes this sport function the way it does. Each team that we have brought under our umbrella brings to the table a significant program that enables us to build our brand awareness.”

Knoll, who licensed his Top Fuel racing efforts during the 2003 Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals in Martin, Michigan, is expected to run a limited schedule for the upcoming season. He will be joined on the IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series by Doug Foley, a two-time national event winner in 2004, as well as Bruce Litton, who won one event. Litton and Foley finished second and third in the final IHRA Hooters point standings.

Running a limited tour in 2005 on both the NHRA POWERade and IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series will be T.J. Zizzo. Zizzo carried major backing from Torco Racing Fuels during last year’s NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Also joining Zizzo at Indy under the Torco Racing Fuels banner was veteran Funny Car pilot Dale Creasy, Jr. Creasy, a second-generation nitro racer, will once again fly the Torco Race Fuels livery into battle during six NHRA POWERade events in 2005.

Providing the tuning expertise for Knoll’s Top Fuel dragster will be veteran wrench Larry Meyer and crewchief Brian Pfiefer.

Top Stock continues in 2005

(12-10-2004) - IHRA announced that the Top Stock category will be contested in 2005. A sponsorship package has just been secured within the last several days which will enable the category to compete for this season. The program and event schedule will be similar to the format that was contested in 2004 with minimal competition adjustments.

“I am pleased that Top Stock will continue to be a part of our National events in 2005. The competitors have continued to raise the bar and add to the diversity of our entertainment package, stated Mike Baker IHRA Director of Competition.

The class will continue to be showcased during the professional qualifying sessions and conclude during the Saturday “Night of Fire”.

World Championship Car Hits Dow Jones Business Wire

(12-7-2004) – Ebay is quickly becoming a place that one can find anything they need – including the quickest and fastest Carroll Shelby-endorsed machine on the planet. Mike Ashley, newly crowned NHRA AMS Pro Modified Champion, put his championship winning ’67 Shelby G.T. 500E up for sale on the popular online auction venue. Ashley’s proposition attracted more than just a tire-kicker or two. It caught the attention of editors for Businesswire.com, the official news source for Dow Jones.

Ashley was blown away with the inclusion on the page.

“This is pretty incredible when you think about it,” Ashley, a New York mortgage banker said. “I think it just goes to show you the popularity of a man like Carroll Shelby and the reach that drag racing commands.”

The bid started at $395,000.00 and could reach the seven figure mark before bidding is closed December 17th.

The car is the drag race version of the 67 Shelby Mustang GT500E featured in the movie “Gone in 60 Seconds”. Carroll Shelby himself was at the finish line when Mike Ashley pulled the parachutes and stopped the 230 MPH World Championship Shelby to accept the 2004 Championship trophy.

“I believe marketing our World Championship car on Ebay would provide us with the deepest market penetration and the highest level of exposure for this transaction”, Ashley added.

Ten percent of sale proceeds will be donated to the Carroll Shelby Children’s foundation.

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Two former IHRA National Tracks defect to NHRA sanction

(12-7-2004) -- NHRA officials announced, today, that four drag racing facilities have joined its member track program. NHRA’s Southeast Division has signed member track agreements with two tracks, while the South Central and Pacific divisions have each signed one new racetrack.

The Southeast Division’s newest tracks are Bradenton Motorsports Park, a quarter-mile facility located approximately 35 miles south of Tampa, Fla., and Sunshine Dragstrip, an eighth-mile track, just west of Tampa. Bradenton Motorsports Park will host a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in February and both facilities will participate in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League.

In the South Central Division, Red River Raceway is the latest member track. The quarter-mile facility, located 20 miles north of Shreveport, La., will hold a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and will participate in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League.

Albuquerque (N.M.) National Dragway is a quarter-mile track in the Pacific Division and will run the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League.

“We are pleased to welcome these great drag strips into the NHRA member track family,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “Preserving the right to race is extremely important to NHRA and cultivating member track participation has been one of our most important initiatives during the past five years. NHRA will always take great pride in supporting facilities that embrace, conduct, and showcase NHRA's grassroots race programs."

Corteco Gaskets to Debut Doorslammer Drag Racing Show

(12-06-2004) - Beginning on February 5, 2005, Corteco Gaskets, the aftermarket business of Freudenburg NOK, will debut a weekly drag racing television show dedicated to showcasing some of the finest doorslammer competition in North America

The show, to be called Corteco Gaskets Hole Shot TV, is the combined effort of Jimmy Biggs Productions, Powerhouse Video Workshop, and RPM/NSCA Street Shootout Magazine.

The show will have 45 episodes for 2005. The goal of this show is to showcase the racers and their cars as well as provide low cost television/magazine advertising opportunities. The shows will feature Corteco Gaskets-sponsored racing events, including action from the National Street Car Association, Canadian Fastest Street Car Shootout and Pacific Street Car Association.

Show segments will include "Tech Talk Lite" with Patrick Budd and "Shop Tour." Executive Producer Jimmy Biggs promises that the show will have something for everyone, from kids right up through the most hard core fans and racers. More info can be found on www.streetshootoutmag.com or www.corteco-na.com after January 1, 2005.

“We’re looking to offer an action-packed, fun-filled and informative program,” said a spokesperson for RPM/NSCA Street Shootout Magazine. “At the same time, we want to showcase racers from various organizations and give them the media attention they deserve. The heads-up doorslammer racing industry is growing every day, and we are looking to enhance the exposure possibilities for sponsors, advertisers and racers alike with this programming opportunity."

SUPER CHEVY celebrating 25th anniversary

(12-06-2004) - AutoStar Productions the producers of the AutoZone Super Chevy Show announced today the 2005 schedule marking the 25th Anniversary for the series. From a single Super Chevy Sunday in 1981 to the current nineteen events national tour, the AutoZone Super Chevy Show is a touring series of Drag Race / Car Show events held throughout the United States. “We are very excited to begin the 25th year of the Super Chevy Show ”, stated Roger Gustin AutoStar Productions, Inc. President.

New to the series this year is the addition of the Top Sportsman class to the very popular bracket race series. Top Sportsman, first created more than a decade ago is the world’s fastest bracket race for full-bodied cars. The Top Sportsman series will be a sixteen car qualified field with two qualifying sessions Saturday and elimination rounds on Sunday held in conjunction with the proven Nitro Coupes and Jet Car Pro Show. Any team that does not qualify will automatically be entered in the Bracket One class with no additional entry fee. In addition Gustin announced that all GM cars can now compete in all classes of the FLOWMASTER Bracket Racing Series as well as Top Sportsman in 2005.

The TREMEC Transmissions Car Show Series remains an integral part of the Super Chevy Show. Hundreds of beautifully detailed Chevy bodied or powered vehicles are entered in each event, providing the car show enthusiast with hours of viewing enjoyment.

Don’t forget about the Mickey Thompson Tires Nitro Coupe Challenge. The Nitro Coupe is a professional racing category exclusive the AutoZone Super Chevy Show series. Reminiscent of early Funny Car match racing and nitro barnstormers. The Nitro Coupes can dart around like Fuel Altereds on the track and often will lift the front end a healthy chunk of the strip before coming back down on all fours for gear changes.

Whether you are a car show fan, a drag racing fan, enjoy an automotive swap meet, or more interested in new products in the comprehensive marketplace, the AutoZone Super Chevy Shows offer the complete package for the enthusiast or the casual fan.

For additional information please visit the Super Chevy web site at: www.superchevyshow.com.

PMRA ANNOUNCES CONFIRMATION OF FIRST EVENT FOR 2005

(12-06-2004) - The recently-established Pro Modified Racing Association is pleased to announce its first race venue for the upcoming 2005 season.

The PMRA has confirmed it will hold an event July 1-3, 2005, at Luskville Dragway, situated just outside of Aylmer, Quebec.

“I think this is great thing for drag racing and for Canadian drag strips,” said Luskville owner/promoter Arnie Malcolm. “This event will help bring us to the next level.”

Malcolm, who has operated the NHRA-sanctioned strip for 25 years, added his track has been continually upgraded over the years to present the best in drag racing, and the scheduled PMRA event will provide the stimulus to continue improvements at the track.

“We’re very pleased to get our first race,” stated Bruce Mehlenbacher, PMRA Director of Operations. “We’re looking forward to working with Arnie and his people.”

Over $21,000.00 in guaranteed prize money has been posted, with $5,000.00 to the winner of this event. Only PMRA members will be allowed to compete.

Mehlenbacher, who has been instrumental in the formation of the new series, added the Luskville date is the first set PMRA race to be held in 2005. A five-race series at tracks in Ontario, Quebec, and New York is planned and the list of confirmed PMRA series teams will be announced this week.

The PMRA is a self-governing organization with its own set of technical and safety rules based on the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Pro Modified division. Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class offers a widely-diverse group of race cars with different types of 2000-horsepower engines propelling the cars down the quarter-mile in the 6.20-second range at 230 mph.

Troops armed with Drag Racing in Iraq

(12-4-2004) - From our buddy U.S. Navy Master Chief Lee McKinney come these photographs of our brave troops showing off care packages sent by such teams as Jeg's, Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing and Tommy Lipar Racing. Soon we will have addresses so that we can send well-wishes and gifts to our troops. Stay strong ladies and gentlemen in the field, we are 110% behind you at CompetitionPlus.com.

David Baca's plans for 2005 season

(12-4-2004) – Coming off a sophomore season that began with high expectations, followed by disappointment, then ended with a show of great potential for 2005, David Baca announced plans for next year for Baca Motorsports.

After a respectable showing during his rookie season in 2003, a season which saw the Brentwood, Calif., driver nominated for the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award and finish No. 7 in the NHRA POWERade point standings, Baca felt he could contend with the well financed teams in 2004. But early exits from events in the spring, coupled with pressing business commitments forced Baca to leave the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at Topeka, Kan.

During the self-imposed hiatus, the Baca family, including his father Dennis, a former drag racer, got together and decided to reincarnate the previous racing program, this time as a family racing operation. Thus was born the D. Baca & Family Top Fuel Dragster, which made its debut at Seattle and ran a limited schedule the remainder of the season.

After a short learning curve and an adjustment to the new 85 percent nitro rule, the team came on strong, especially during the final two races of last year.

“Yes, we were disappointed that we had such a bad beginning to 2004,” said Baca. “We regrouped after the middle of the year and for the balance of the back half of the season we were in test mode. It took us a while to understand the new fuel rules. But tuner Rick Henkelman stayed with it and we began to show that our performance had come back. I think in the last three or four races you saw the potential of our team.”

At Las Vegas in October, the D. Baca & Family Dragster ran it best time of the season when it covered The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway quarter-mile in 4.526 seconds at over 325 mph.

Then at Pomona, site of the season-ending Auto Club of Southern California Finals, Baca ran a career best elapsed time of 4.487 seconds down Pomona Raceway in the opening round of qualifying on Thursday to earn the third spot on the qualifying ladder. He then advanced to the semifinals before a malfunctioning mag ended his day.

“We’re very excited about going into the ’05 season. My father and I have decided to run the entire 23-race POWERade schedule. We’ll continue to run as a private enterprise but we would like to believe that we are going to get the help that is needed financially and enable us to contend for the championship,” said Baca.

“With the rigorous schedule and demands of running a Top Fuel dragster, my longtime friend Rick Henkelman has elected to spend some time at home taking care of personal business. Rick and I go back to the 80s together. We raced against each other in both the alcohol funny car and dragster classes. If it wasn’t for Rick, I probably wouldn’t be in Top Fuel today. I wish him and his wife Linda the best in their so called retirement, but my guess is he’ll be back at the track before too much longer.”

“We’ll miss Rick, but in his absence Larry Meyer, who joined the team in 2004, and my Dad, an icon in the sport of drag racing, will handle the tuning duties. An unsung hero and jack-of-all-trades, Kevin Poynter, will continue as crew chief. Kevin, who is currently undergoing his licensing procedures for his Top Fuel license, will also handle the testing duties. In addition, Kevin and I will be in charge of all administrative duties.”

Baca pointed out that his program continues to evolve and feels that the changes will strengthen the team in 2005.

“Since my father has got involved with our program it has evolved quite rapidly. I think you can see some of the results by our performance over the final races of 2004. For 2005, I think we’re in great hands. Dennis Baca and Larry Meyer will do just fine. Our performance will continue on an upward path. And I can’t say enough good things about Kevin Poynter; he has been a gem overseeing the mechanical end of our program since we moved forward in the middle of 2004,” concluded Baca.

MOPAR, JEG'S RACING AND DON SCHUMACHER RACING SET TO UNVEIL 2005 PRO STOCK RIDE AT PRI TRADE SHOW

(12-3-2004) - Mopar, Jeg's and Don Schumacher Racing are set to unveil the 2005 Jeg's Mail Order/Mopar/Dodge Stratus R/T during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Ind., next week. Scheduled for Friday, December 10, at 1 p.m. EST, the unveiling will
give the industry its first look at the machine that driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. will pilot in his chase for the 2005 NHRA PowerAde Pro Stock Championship.

Team personnel scheduled to address the media are Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Brand Strategy and Performance Mopar Parts; Don Schumacher, owner of Don Schumacher Racing; and driver Jeg Coughlin Jr.

FIDANZA SPONSORS TEAM TITAN/TITAN MOTORSPORTS FOR 2005 RACE SEASON;
Signs on for 3rd year with Orlando-based import performance shop

(12-2-2004) - For the third year in a row, Fidanza has signed as a sponsor for Team Titan/Titan Motorsports as it prepares for the 2005 race season.

"Sponsoring Team Titan is a great way to both exhibit the
horsepower-increasing benefits of our flywheels and other component parts as well as promote our brand," said Bob Scheid, vice president, Fidanza. "The team has achieved record-setting results and we enjoy working closely with Titan in supplying products that help them continue to push the performance envelope."

Titan Motorsports, an active Fidanza distributor, has found its home state of Florida to be an excellent, growing market for Fidanza products. Titan's racing team utilizes those same products in competition.

"Fidanza provides leading-edge race components and that's what counts to our customers," said Nero Deliwala, owner Team Titan/Titan Motorsports.