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Scelzi Crew Member Survives Scare

(4-27-2006) - Don Schumacher Racing mechanic Josh Adams was examined and released from Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee, following a freak tumble Wednesday evening from a second-story hotel balcony.

Hospital and team sources have reported that Adams did not suffer any broken bones.

The team is in East Tennessee for this weekend’s Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Adams, the wheels, tires, and clutch assistant for Gary Scelzi’s Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger Funny Car team, leaned on the railing. According to fellow crew member Rod Centorbi, it “snapped like Styrofoam.”

Hospital House Supervisor Bobbie Clawson said Adams was treated and released.

Rodger Whitworth, clutch specialist for Tony Schumacher’s U.S. Army Dragster, said late Wednesday that Adams “bruised his hip and arm. He has a bump here and a bruise there. He’ll be at the track tomorrow.”

Adams, of Indianapolis, fell approximately 10 to 12 feet to the pavement below.

“He was examined and released. They said everything works - go rest,” said another Schumacher teammate who asked not to be identified. “They told him he’s going to be sore but that if he feels worse than he thinks he ought to, to go back [to the hospital].”

Centorbi was with Adams at the time of the accident, and he stayed with his teammate throughout his ordeal.

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Capps going in circles again

(4-26-2006) - Funny Car points leader Ron Capps clearly doesn't get enough of a jolt driving the Brut Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car at 330 mph in under five seconds in the 23-event NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The California native needs more to satisfy his 24/7 need for an all-consuming adrenaline rush.

So, it's to no one's surprise that he's accepted an invitation for the
second straight year to compete against the best Nextel Cup drivers in the
Nextel Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 7, en route to that
weekend's NHRA event in nearby Joliet, Ill.

Capps will drive a "borrowed" dirt Late Model, owned by Brian Rhulman, on
the famed Eldora one-half-mile clay high-banked oval against NASCAR stars
Mark Martin, Robby Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Mike Wallace, Matt Kenseth, Elliot
Sadler, Tony Stewart (who doubles as the Eldora Speedway owner), Ryan
Newman, Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kenny Wallace, Kenny
Schrader, Dave Blaney, J.J. Yeley, Kyle Petty and Denny Hamlin.

Also in the mix will be the ageless veteran Red Farmer, while Dale Earnhardt
Jr. and Greg  Biffle will be special non-driving guests, each of whom will
have trackside responsibilities.

"Last year was unbelievable to race against some of those NASCAR drivers,"
said Capps, who finished ninth in the main event in 2005. "This year the
list keeps growing longer and longer. It's turned into a pretty big deal. To
see my name even mentioned with these guys is pretty awesome, and to get on
a track like Eldora and race in the dirt with these guys is going to be a
blast.

"Last year I was really conservative. I didn't want to make any mistakes,
which I didn't, and I finished the race. I didn't do anything stupid. So
this year, Brian Rhulman told me I could let it all hang out and not worry
about the car as much, because it wasn't my car.

"It was amazing to see how many NHRA drag-racing fans were there who also
came to the races in Joliet that weekend. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Geared to be a fun night away from the pressures of NASCAR (and NHRA)
racing, the Nextel Prelude to the Dream quickly turns into serious business
for the drivers, who will all be shooting for bragging rights. Drivers will
receive a pair of warm-up sessions in their dirt Late Models, and then be
lined up into qualifying heat races by virtue of their time trial runs. The
heat race finishes, in combination with the time trial lap times, will be
used for the main event line-up.

Eldora Speedway is located in Rossburg, Ohio, less than 20 miles from the
Indiana state line.

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The Jeg's wagon coming together

 

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Northrop is the quickest in the heat of the day at Commerce test session

(4-26-2006) - Dave Northrop was able to stay in the kitchen because he could stand the heat. During a test session at Commerce, Ga., Northrop drove the Mopar normally piloted by Mike Thomas to a 6.797 at 202.61 miles with the track temperature hovering at a little over 122 degrees.

Shaun Carlson may not have been the quickest of the runners, but certainly commandeered the most attention. He posted a 6.839, 202.74 putting him in competitive range.

Carlson's teammate Richie Stevens was the quickest of the day with a 6.76.

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Anderson says, "I wish I could throw that statistic away"

(4-26-2006) - NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point leader Greg Anderson may be leading the points now, but it has been anything but easy to achieve the feat. Traditionally being the leader at this point is something not common to the champion.

Only once in the last three years has he been in the lead at this point and time. That is certainly a stat he would just as soon be rid of.

“I wish I could throw it away,” Anderson said. “It's certainly not how we planned to come at the start of this season.  Just for some odd reason, we struggled to start the season the last couple years.  We came out of the gate actually in good shape this year.  We won Pomona, runner-up at Phoenix.  Since then the wheels kind of fell off, so to speak.  Everybody picked back up.  Now it's a tight race again.”

Why? If you ask Anderson, he’ll tell you the competition is brutal. 
“I don't really have the answer for it other than to say the competition level absolutely has elevated again this year, and there's a lot more good cars out there than there's ever been.  There's a lot of cars that are capable of winning races and contending for the championship.  It's going to be tougher than it's ever been to win the championship this year.  But, like you said, the bottom line is we're still in better shape at this point in the season than we were last year or probably even the year before. 

“It's not time to panic.  Believe me, we don't like losing at all, Mike, no matter what time of season it is.  The last couple three races, we just haven't performed like we have to win those championships.  To win a championship, to win these races, you've got to be pretty much flawless right from the driver through the crew chief through the car engine.  Everything has to be pretty much flawless to win championships and races.  To be honest with you, we haven't been flawless the last three, four races.  It's either been the driver, the car, or something we could control and we didn't get the job done. 

“We're not panicking.  We're not pointing fingers.  We're not nervous yet.  But, you know, we come home from every race after losing and go right back to that racetrack and test.  In fact, we're at the racetrack right now testing.  We go right back to that dyno and try to make more power because it's going to take a perfect effort again to get it done.  We haven't been perfect.  But the best way to become perfect is to practice, practice, practice.  That's what we're doing. 
Anderson leads second place Mike Edwards by 40 points.

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Call him Cool Hand Luke

 

 

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Ronnie Sox services announced

(4-25-2006) - There will be a time to visit with Ronnie's family & friends on Wednesday April 26, 5-8 at Woody Funeral Home, Parham Chapel, 1771 Parham Rd in Richmond, Virginia.

There will also be a visitation at Rich & Thompson Funeral Home, 207 East Elm Street, Graham, N.C., on Thursday and Friday, April 27 & 28 at 2-4pm and 6-8pm.

A Memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, April 29. Interment will be private.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts and memories of Ronnie, with Diane and their family. Ronnie Sox Guestbook Ronnie Sox Obituary

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Melanie Troxel to have new look in Bristol

(4-25-2006) - Starting in Bristol, NHRA POWERade Top Fuel points leader Melanie Troxel will be running the banner of SKULL Shine, the latest car care products from Torco Race Fuels.

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Want to go to England?

(4-25-2006) - For enthusiasts and business people interested in seeing the best of European drag racing for themselves, Drag Racing Europe - The Trip To England will take place in September. Carefully engineered to fit between NHRA's Mac Tools US Nationals and Toyo Tires Nationals, The Trip To England will focus on the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway (Europe's first permanent dragstrip, celebrating its 40th anniversary), when the cream of European drag racers will be in town for the most vital event on the calendar.

FIA championship classes will include Top Fuel, Top Methanol, Pro Stock and a full 16-car field of Pro Mods. There'll be bikes too: UEM champions will be crowned in Top Fuel Bike, Pro Stock Bike and the fabulous Super-Twins ("Nitro Harleys"). Plus, there's a complete supporting program, including Fuel Funnies, spectacular Jets and an array of Sportsman classes.

Trip To England guests will enjoy all the action in the finest style with Santa Pod's official VIP hospitality program.

Guests will be treated to a broader view of Britain's racing heritage with visits to the Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection and the Brooklands Motorsport & Aviation Museum, the historic birthplace of British motorsport and aviation located on the site of the world's first purpose-built auto racing circuit.

The Trip departs the USA on Wednesday September 6th and returns on Wednesday September 13th. The price is from $1995 per person (based on 2 sharing room, excluding flights) and includes ground transportation and hotels -- with two nights in Central London for guests to enjoy the capital city at their leisure.

The Trip To England is being sold exclusively by American Express Travel Services representative, PASSPORT TO TRAVEL, of Modesto, Calif. (contact: Renee Rollins). For more information, please telephone 209 571 5606 / toll-free 800 456 3378 or email renee@passport2travel.com.

To receive a detailed itinerary by email, please request to trip2england@aol.com .

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Mopar extends sponsorship of Mile High Nationals

(4-25-2006) – Mopar, a long-time sponsor of NHRA drag racing, has renewed its multi-year agreement with NHRA to continue as title-rights sponsor of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event held annually at Bandimere Speedway near Denver, NHRA officials announced today.

With this extension, Mopar holds one of the longest continuous title rights sponsorships on the NHRA POWERade circuit.

“Sponsoring an event such as the NHRA Mopar Mile-High Nationals is an opportunity for Mopar to showcase our authentic motorsports programs,” said Kevin Miller, senior manager, Mopar Brand, Performance and Motorsports. “Working with a group like the staff of Bandimere Speedway allows Mopar to give competitors and fans alike a first-class racing product. A premier event like the one at Bandimere Speedway represents what Mopar’s racing endeavors encompass: the longevity and staying power of the sport.”

The 27th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, July 14-16, 2006 is the 13th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The event, which will be televised by ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, is the first of a three-race western swing that always proves critical for NHRA teams chasing NHRA POWERade Series championships in all four professional categories.

“Relationships, trust and results are the key ingredients to the longevity of Mopar’s sponsorship with the NHRA Mopar Mile-High Nationals,” said John C. Bandimere Jr., president, Bandimere Speedway. “We feel blessed to be able to work side by side with our partners at Mopar. It is exciting to have a sponsor that is innovative in all that they do, which includes our race in Denver.”

Mopar also is the primary sponsor for multiple NHRA Pro Stock entries and drivers, including Gary Scelzi, Richie Stevens, Shaun Carlson and Allen Johnson.

 

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Second car for Griffin and teammate for Cowin?

(4-24-2006) -- First-year owner Scott Griffin probably would field a dozen hot rods if he could guarantee every weekend would be as exciting as this one. But long before his Serta Dragster driver Andrew Cowin ended Clay Millican's Rockingham streak to advance to the final round, Griffin was heading in that direction. 

"I've made no secret about it. I'm going to have another car next year, another dragster," Griffin told 1320tv.com. "We're real, real excited about it. We'll probably make an announcement here in the next 30 days about who the driver's going to be. [We] do not have sponsorship lined up, but I feel very confident that will come. We're like everyone else: we're like a squirrel digging for a nut. And every day we turn over a new rock."

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A Friend Remembers the "Boss"

(4-24-2006) – Roy Hill said it the best when he pointed out that drag racing had lost a hero with Ronnie Sox's death Saturday evening. On Sunday, he lettered his Blue Max tribute Mustang with an “In Memory of Ronnie Sox” decal. A moment of silence was observed for Sox prior to the first round of eliminations for the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham, NC.

Sox won six times in IHRA Pro Stock competition dating back to 1971. In 1972, Sox made a clean sweep of events in Rockingham.

Sox won his only IHRA Pro Stock championship during the 1981 season, driving a Dean Thompson Mustang and powered by a Jack Roush engine.

Sox passed away at 7:55 p.m. at his residence in Richmond, Virginia, with his family and friends by his side.

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Bourgeois, Coughlin lead winners at Jegs.com Cajun SPORTSnationals

(4-24-2006) - Racing completed Sunday at the NHRA Jegs.com Cajun SPORTSnationals being held at No Problem Raceway with hometown driver Craig Bourgeois of Metairie, La., taking home the championship trophy in the Comp eliminator category, and Jeg Coughlin of Delaware, Ohio, finishing first in the Top Dragster class.

With a pass of 6.996 seconds at 187.91 mph, Bourgeois held off Dick Maris of Valrico, Fla., who finished with a pass of 7.002 seconds at 167.63 mph. Coughlin earned his first win at the Cajun SPORTSnationals with a victory over Timmy Graves of Denham Springs, La. Coughlin’s pass of 7.502 seconds at 160.84 mph was enough to beat Graves’ pass of 7.765 seconds at 171.69 mph.

“It’s great to win anywhere,” said Jeg Coughlin when asked how it felt to win the Jeg’s.com SPORTSnationals. “We had a great time down here and I’m really looking forward to running the Jeg’s Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus. I was running the NHRA POWERade Series last year and didn’t get to race it.”

In Super Street, Sid Norwood of Brandon, Miss., earned the win in his ’80 Corvette over Bart Dufrene Jr, of Des Allemands, La., with a pass of 10.889 seconds at 151.43 mph. This is the second year in a row that Norwood took home the winner’s trophy.

“Any day you can come down here to Louisiana and beat these guys, you’ve had a great day,” expressed Norwood. “We won here last year and lost in Columbus in the semi-finals. We’re definitely going back to Columbus. We want that Jeg’s Crown!”

The event’s winners in all categories now have the opportunity to win the prestigious Jeg’s Crown if they go on to win the NHRA Jeg’s Northern SPORTSnationals. In 2005, Mike Ashley was the only driver to take home the Crown.

In other categories, Kevin Helms of Mineola, Texas, in his '95 Achieva, won Super Stock; Ed Stuart of Pensacola, Fla., won Top Sportsman in his ’04 Cavalier; Steve Cohen of Trilby, Fla., put his ’04 Super Comp dragster in the winner’s circle; Jarrod Granier of Labadievelle, La., won with his ’97 Camaro in Stock Eliminator; and Jerry Debusk of La Porte, Texas, took home the Super Gas trophy in his ’92 Probe.

Benny Smith, Jr. of Baton Rouge, La., claimed the “King of the Bayou” title on Saturday with the “best package” in Super Comp edging out Shannon Brinkley of Highlands, Texas, and Bryan Sandlin of Baytown, Texas. Smith won $500 courtesy of Laris Insurance Agency for having the “best package” in Super Comp and received and an extra $1000 courtesy of Southland International for taking the overall “King of the Bayou” title.

In Saturday’s Mopar Hemi Super Stock Shootout, Charlie Westcott Jr., in his '68 Barracuda, took home the Mopar Trophy and $5000 purse. Bucky Hess, in his ’68 Barracuda, outran Westcott but failed to pass post race inspection, disqualifying him from the race.

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Changing Procedure?

(4-24-2006) – The honor system was in effect for Friday's Torco Race Fuels Pro Stock qualifying session. Normally the class, which runs a spec fuel, is fueled in the staging lanes. This time the drivers were given permission to fuel the cars in the pits.

Rumors quickly surfaced suggesting that the IHRA was looking to catch drivers cheating because some had gone as quick as low-6.30s in private test sessions. That scuttlebutt was neither confirmed nor denied by the IHRA's Mike Baker.

Baker said it isn't an "every-race" procedure and will be done periodically.

"We just decided to let them start fueling their cars," Baker said. "We're not worried about anything illegal. We're still checking the cars at the top end, so they can't get anything by us. We have all the measurements and numbers associated with the fuel.

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Gillig newest point leader as Foley, Densham, Kerunsky and Thomas maintain leads

(4-24-2006) - Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the 36th annual IHRA Nicko's NY Style Pizza Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts at Rockingham Dragway, the second of 11 events in the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Doug Foley, 200; 2. Clay Millican, 176; 3. Bruce Litton, 134; 4. Rick Cooper, 131; 5. Cory McClenathan, 121; 6. Andrew Cowin, 119; 7. Louie Allison, 72; 8. Bobby Lagana Jr., 71; 9. Michael Gunderson, 56; 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 55.

Pro Modified

1. Glen Kerunsky, 213; 2. Tommy D'Aprile, 159; 3. Josh Hernandez, 111; 4. Quain Stott, 110; 5. Jim Halsey, 107; 6. Rick Distefano, 100; 7. Carl Spiering, 99; 8. (tie) Mike Castellana, 88; Mike Janis, 88; 10. Dan Rowe, 87.

Alcohol Funny Car

1. Mark Thomas, 195; 2. Rob Atchison, 182; 3. Thomas Carter, 178; 4. Trevor Lebsack, 114; 5. Larry Dobbs, 110; 6. Frederick Tigges, 99; 7. Terry McMillen, 89; 8. Terry Munroe, 73; 9. (tie) Chris Foster, 57; Neal Parker, 57.

Pro Stock

1. (tie) Tony Gillig, 193; Frank Gugliotta, 193; 3. John Nobile, 113; 4. (tie) Rob Mansfield, 112; Steve Spiess, 112; 6. Larry O'Brien, 104; 7. Robert Patrick, 98; 8. Bert Jackson, 96; 9. Jeff Dobbins, 87; 10. John Montecalvo, 79.

Nitro Funny Car

1. Gary Densham, 204; 2. Bob Gilbertson, 138; 3. Jack Wyatt, 130; 4. Vincent Arcadi, 103; 5. Dale Creasy Jr., 100; 6. Cruz Pedregon, 81; 7. Frank Pedregon, 80; 8. Terry Haddock, 72; 9. (tie) Paul Lee, 54; Todd Simpson, 54.

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A kindler gentler Cannon? Only one spat during the GTO rebuild

(4-24-2006) – Scott Cannon fell short of making the Torco Pro Modified field, but he achieved an even larger feat in the weeks leading up to this race. His father, Scotty, a six-time Pro Modified champion, and the team worked long hours in close quarters and only one fight broke out.

The spat was between father and son.

"We had a small one," Cannon the Elder said. "He and I usually have about two or three good ones a year. But, he and I have a great relationship. If I was an outsider and I could see the relationship I have, I'd be jealous. This was what I call a spit-spat.

"He drives the car, painted it and tunes on it. I could sit and brag on him all day long. But that would bore everyone to death."

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Snake Bitten

(4-24-2006) - Billy Harper shook the tires and the force carried him into the left retaining wall during Saturday qualifying at the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham, NC. He was uninjured but complained of a sore rib after the mishap.

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(4-22-2006) - Two-time defending champion Charlie Westcott Jr. again claimed the Mopar Hemi Super Stock Challenge title at the NHRA Jegs.com Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La., after final-round winner Bucky Hess was disqualified after a post-race teardown revealed a carburetor violation.

According to the NHRA Tech Department, the infraction was an “illegal butterfly modification” on the carburetor provided to Hess by an outside vendor. Hess had raced to an 8.741-second lap at 153.07 mph and the apparent win as Westcott broke in the final round.

Troy Coughlin knocked off Greg Lair in the Didier Communications Top Sportsman Shootout with a run of 6.689 seconds at 204.57 mph. Coughlin covered the field throughout eliminations running 6.693 and 6.687 seconds in rounds one and two prior to meeting up with Lair.

“We qualified well and the car was set,” said Coughlin after the win. “Then the weather changed and we had to change some things around. We went to our notebook, did a little homework, and had a great day.”

Coughlin is also the No. 1 qualifier in Top Sportsman for the Jeg’s.com Cajun SPORTSnationals event which will start eliminations on Sunday morning.

Craig Bourgeois held on to the No. 1 spot in Comp Eliminator running 6.889 seconds, 0.651 seconds under the index. The Matairie, La., racer is followed by Michael Johnson of Springdale, Ark., with an 8.722 second lap, 0.638 seconds under.

Westcott’s father Charlie Sr., qualified No. 1 in Super Stock running 9.551 in his ’98 Grand Am followed by Jerry Silveus in second and Donaldsonville, La., resident J. Allen Sherman in the No. 4 spot.

Robert Shaw put his ’85 Chevy on top in Stock Eliminator with a 14.397 second run and Freddie Sandrock finished No. 1 in Top Dragster covering the quarter-mile in 6.800 seconds at 199.64 mph. Michael Kile of Westlake, La., qualified second in the 28-car field full of Louisiana racers.

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New car coming for Hoover?

(4-24-2006) – Torco Pro Modified team owner Paul Trussell has had enough of the 1963 Corvette his driver has piloted for the last three years. Trussell says the car is for sale and that he has purchased the G-Force Race Cars-built 1963 Corvette of Al Billes.

Adding insult to injury, if the rains had not cancelled Saturday's evening qualifying, Hoover would have still been missing in action because of two wounded engines.

 

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Pro Stock legend Ronnie Sox succombs to cancer

(4-23-2006) - After a long battle with pancreatic cancer, Ronnie Sox passed away Saturday evening at his Burlington, North Carolina home with family and friends at his bedside. The memory of Sox will remain always in the minds of the Torco's CompetitionPlus.com staff.

Relive the incredible career of "The Blonde Bomber" by reading - Ronnie Sox.

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Grant Flowers’ Brother Murdered; Reward Fund Established

(4-21-2006) - A shocking murder has shaken a community and devastated a family, and the drag racing fraternity is being asked to help bring the culprit or culprits to justice.

On Tuesday evening, April 18 th, William Flowers, 36, brother of Top Fuel competitor Grant Flowers, was shot in the head and killed as he closed his family-owned gun shop in the small town of Clarksdale, Mississippi. An inventory of the shop’s stock the next day revealed that a number of high-end handguns had been stolen.

Flowers leaves behind his wife, a 10-year-old daughter and two step-daughters, 11 and 17. “This has totally destroyed a family,” said Grant Flowers. “William and his wife just celebrated their anniversary last week, and he was supposed to be in the wedding party with us for my other brother’s wedding this coming weekend. His death has left his family in emotional and financial ruin, as he had no life insurance.”

Police and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents have told the Flowers family that the best chance they have of making arrests in the case is to post a large reward for information.

To that end, the William Flowers Reward Fund has been established, and contributions can be made in care of Covenant Bank, P.O. Box 550, Clarksdale, Mississippi, 38614.

Flowers said that the family would be grateful for any and all help, financially and spiritually, and are confident that their friends in drag racing will rally to their support. Grant Flowers can be contacted at: ggf1320@yahoo.com.

 

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Female Drag Racer Beats Formula 1, Champ Car, NASCAR Drivers in Magazine Poll

(4-21-2006) -- Results of a current online poll at http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/ show readers of the newsweekly are far more impressed with NHRA Top Fuel racer Melanie Troxel’s performance in the first few weeks of the racing season, than with Formula 1’s Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Bourdais of Champ Car, and NASCAR’s current points leader, Jimmie Johnson.

More than 54% of the magazine’s readers picked Troxel as the answer to the question, “Who has had the most impressive start to the 2006 season?” The online poll has Alonso in second place at around 31%, with Johnson, Bourdais and NHRA Funny Car driver Ron Capps all gathering single-digit percentages.

Troxel, also currently ranked third in the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings, has been to the final round five times in all five NHRA races this season, notching two wins. She is currently leading the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel championship points standings.

To participate in the online poll, visit http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/ and cast your vote. National Speed Sport News has published insider racing news, opinion and exclusive driver interviews since 1934, and covers all types of motorsports.

 

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Glidden says, 'I am not going to Maskin's shop'

(4-20-2006) - A call from Bob Glidden to the Torco's CompetitionPlus.com offices should dispel any rumors that he might be joining forces with Richard Maskin.

"We had talked about this three or four months ago," Glidden said. "We had another conversation on Monday night. After talking with his people, he decided that it just wasn't the right time. I am not going to be involved with Richard.

"He just said it wasn't the right time and I didn't question it."

 

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(4-20-2006) - The NHRA Technical department has amended the ruling that was released during the Gainesville event and on March 19, 2006, regarding attachments to the carburetor.

As was stated in the previous release, the 2006 NHRA Rulebook, page 166, under Hood & Hood Scoop, states: “Sensors, transducers, vents, wiring, hoses, etc. prohibited inside hood scoop."

This prohibition also applies to the carburetors. Along with the fuel lines and throttle linkages, a carburetor pressure line between one of the float bowls and the fuel pressure regulator will be the only other permitted connection to the carburetors. The carburetor pressure line must be one continuous line, with no interruptions or junctions; it may not be attached to any other system (i.e., data recorders) and must be fully visible and traceable. No other sensors and/or lines are permitted.

 

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NHRA, MOTEL 6, BRUT AND NITRO FISH TO SELECT “ULTIMATE NITRO FAN”

(4-20-2006) – The NHRA, official hotel partner Motel 6, BRUT® and Nitro Fish Wear have teamed up to select the Motel 6 “Ultimate Nitro Fan” at 10 events in the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule. In conjunction with the “Ultimate Nitro Fan” experience, the BRUT® and Nitro Fish Wear teams have offered access to their teams. Fans can register for the “Ultimate Nitro Fan” sweepstakes online at UltimateNitroFan.com or link to the registration Web site through Motel6.com, BrutRacing.com, Nitrofish.com or NHRA.com.

“We’ve been involved in many motorsports series, and it seems drag racing fans are the most passionate about their racing,” said Eric Studer, vice president of marketing service for Accor North America. “As official sponsors of the NHRA, our friends at BRUT® and Nitro Fish Wear agreed we should acknowledge this love of the sport. So we designed a racing experience usually reserved only for major sponsors, team members, or VIP’s like Tom Bodett.”

Beginning with the Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment on May 18 in Columbus, Ohio, a fan will be selected in advance as the Motel 6 “Ultimate Nitro Fan.” The “Ultimate Nitro Fan” will receive two tickets for each day of the event; a full, NHRA-guided tour of the track and its facilities; and will meet one of two major professional teams—the Nitro Fish/Werner/ Orange County Choppers /Motel 6 Top Fuel team or the Nitro Fish/Orange County Choppers/ Motel 6 Pro Stock team.

“We are excited to offer this behind the scenes interactive experience to a lucky fan at select NHRA POWERade Series events,” said Glen Cromwell, vice president for national event marketing, NHRA. “At each of the designated events, The Ultimate Nitro Fan will be included in pre-race ceremonies and will be able to enjoy a backstage pass like no other. NHRA POWERade Series fans are the best in motorsports and we are thrilled to be able to offer this exciting program that rewards their loyalty.”

Highlighting Saturday’s visit for the “Ultimate Nitro Fan” will be a trip to the VIP starting line viewing area during a Top Fuel or Funny Car qualifying run. Also, Nitro Fish/Motel 6 professional drivers Clay Millican and Mike Thomas or Ron Capps, with the BRUT® Racing team, will provide a “behind-the-ropes” tour of their team’s pit area. Team drivers will meet with the winner for a photo opportunity and will present the winner with a special Nitro Fish Wear and BRUT® gift package.

To conclude the ultimate motorsports experience, the “Ultimate Nitro Fan” contest winner will also be introduced on-stage with the professional drivers during Sunday’s pre-race ceremonies and will assist in presenting the Motel 6 “Who Got the Light?” award to the winning driver. The introduction and award presentation will be broadcast at the track on the Motel 6 Vision jumbotron.

Sweepstakes races include: the Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals (May 18-21), O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals (May 25-28), the Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals (July 21-23), the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals (Aug. 18-21), the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals (Aug. 30- Sept. 4), the O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals (Sept. 21-24), the ACDelco NHRA Las Vegas Nationals (Oct. 26-29) and the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Nationals (Nov. 9-12).

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Australia’s Newest Five-Second Hero Gearing up for Winternationals

(4-20-2006) - There are still seven weeks remaining before the start of Willowbank Raceway’s Castrol Edge Winternationals but a strategic plan of attack is already being hatched by Australia’s newest International star of the quarter-mile strip, Brisbane-based driver Aaron Lynch.

Just two weeks ago, during Queensland’s QT Tin Top Titles, Lynch became the World’s fastest ever driver in the Top Doorslammer category and along the way became Willowbank’s first ever individual to secure a sub-six-second pass in the hotly contested bracket.

His 5.97-second effort at 245.77 miles per hour was on the back-end of a total team effort, typified by dogged determination and a willingness to commit many hundreds of hours in the pursuit of sporting excellence.

Such an overriding desire to succeed is bound to hold the 32 year-old in good stead as he aims up to the Castrol Edge Winternationals assignment on what has become one of the biggest stages of drag racing on the planet.

“I took 10 months off from the sport before this season and during that time I was able to evaluate where I wanted to be in the sport and it’s all starting to fall into place for us now,” said Lynch.

“Within the B&L Steel Racing team we are all mates and together have put in the hard yards to make sure we can be competitive in one of the fiercest Tin Top competitions in the world.

“It’s got to a point now that you have to be running in the low teens just to make the eight-car field and that’s exciting for racers and the fans towards the Winternationals.

“When we made the decision to race in Top Doorslammer we didn’t want to start behind the eight ball, so during the past year we’ve spent a lot of money on test and tune sessions at Willowbank to get as much data on the car as possible.

“That won’t change between now and the Winternationals. We’ll try and do another 10 or 15 passes by then.

“The five-second pass wasn’t a fluke but I’m not about to talk up my chances of doing it again in 50 days, but hopefully we’ll be able to remain consistent and put together a good effort.”

Lynch’s enthusiasm for drag racing was grown out of a genuine childhood passion for the sport that developed into a dedicated tinkering around with street cars.

From there the many friends he met instilled a confidence to elevate himself into the professional ranks and with initial assistance from Group One heavyweight Brett Stevens, the Brisbane driver took a punt.

He and team crew chief Paul Rook then set off on a fact-finding mission to the United States and came back with a wealth of knowledge courtesy of American drag racing father and son, Ralph and Spike Gore.

“I was initially reluctant to go into Top Doorslammer but once I knew I had the people around me to do the job I got stuck into it,” said Lynch. “You learn from your mistakes and we had to learn fast as we tried to get up to speed with the top teams.

“Once we got back from the States we tweaked our fuel system and totally revamped the car. The input from Ralph and Spike proved a major learning curve and last December Spike came over to Queensland. We spent four solid days testing at Willowbank to see how we could extract more power and speed from the car.

“Initially it was a tough slog but the persistence paid off and now we’re continuing our research and development in the hope of even bigger gains at the Winternationals.”

Another unique feature of the B&L Steel Racing team is their adventurous approach to testing.

Lynch and his entire crew have become regulars at weekly test and tune sessions, rubbing shoulders with grassroots drivers in order to pick up on every trick of the trade in their pursuit of quarter-mile glory.

As recent results have shown the strategy of testing on less prepared surfaces and then saving that little bit extra for events seems to be working a treat and for many drag racing supporters that mix may very well provide an extra special 2006 Castrol Edge Winternationals on June 9-11.

Photos courtesy of www.dragmania.com.au

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1320 TV's 'Quarter-Mile Confessions' Tells It All At IHRA's Rockingham, NHRA's Bristol

(4-20-2006) - The debut of "Quarter-Mile Confessions" will highlight 1320 TV's coverage as International Hot Rod Association action resumes this weekend at Rockingham, North Carolina.

The 20-minute show during the Nicko's N.Y. Style Pizza Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway will air each night after Friday and Saturday qualifying sessions and Sunday's final eliminations. It will be taped in front of a live audience at the Scott Griffin Motorsports/Serta Top Fuel Dragster pit.

A series of two- to three-minute video clips posted throughout the race weekend will accompany the "Quarter-Mile Confessions" shows at each IHRA and NHRA race.

The network's Southeastern swing also will include coverage of the National Hot Rod Association's O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals April 28-30 at Bristol (Tennessee) Dragway and Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals May 4-7 at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia.

"It's hard to believe this will be our 10th race," Susan Wade, owner of 1320 TV (http://www.1320tv.com/), said. "We've had a pretty ambitious agenda for our first few weeks of existence, with five NHRA races, one IHRA race, and three American Drag Racing League events. And we're just getting started."

A 1320 TV crew also will be at the National Street Car Association season-opener this weekend at Atco, New Jersey. Videos from the Precision Turbo & Engine NSCA Nationals at Atco Raceway will be posted Tuesday, April 25.

Drag racing's first and only all-video, Internet-based news and entertainment network, 1320 TV will film its NHRA "Quarter-Mile Confessions" programs in the Kalitta Motorsports hospitality area in the pits. Kalitta Motorsports fields three Top Fuel dragsters -- those of Doug Kalitta (Mac Tools), Dave Grubnic (StriVectin-SD), and Hillary Will (Ken Black Racing LLC) -- and Scott Kalitta's Kalitta Air Funny Car.

 

 

(4-19-2006) - Don Schumacher Racing has taken delivery of another new carbon-fiber Dodge Charger body. While it may look like this car is destined for Gary Scelzi because of the red color chances are this one will belong to Ron Capps.

Schumacher has three new bodies en route, two will be the red carbon fiber and a third will reportedly be the blue hybrid version. While there was a shortage of carbon fiber some time back, the manufacturer of Schumacher's bodies purchased this material which was original destined for surfboards.

Capps will have his new Charger body no later than Columbus.

 

Hardcore Racing Holds Open House

(4-19-2006) - Hardcore Racing is throwing a big party at its Flint, Michigan location and calling it an Open House. The cause for their celebration is to celebrate two distinctive 2005 drag racing world records, the drag team and support staff will be present on April 29, 2006 for the occaison which will be held from 11 AM until 7 PM.

The community is invited, and among the special events planned are:

• The jumping of the “General,” one of numerous Dodge Chargers used in the filming of the

•    television series “Dukes of Hazard” (The Discovery Channel will be on-site, filming the jump).

• Lots of wonderful and delicious food.

• A disc jockey, rocking and rolling with music favorites.

• A car will be real-time tested periodically on Hardcore’s Chassis Dynamometer.

• An engine will be real-time tested periodically on Hardcore’s Engine Dynamometer.

• An on-going shop tour—lets visitors see what each department does.

• A “Chopper Raffle,” with the prize being a cool, custom made mini-motorcycle.

• Door Prizes.

• A race car challenge—who’s up for it?

• The gorgeous Hardcore Girls, smiling pretty, will be signing autographs.

• A bounce house and face painting for kids of all ages.
  

MOPAR HEMI CHALLENGE TO EXPAND IN 2006 

(4-19-2006) - Mopar is proud to announce the expansion of the Mopar HEMI Challenge for the 2006 season. The highly popular event, which has headlined the Friday night racing action at the NHRA U.S. Nationals for the past five years, will feature a three-event schedule this year. In addition to adding two dates to make the event a series, Mopar will crown both a series champion and event champion in Indianapolis for the first time in event history.

“The expansion of the Mopar HEMI Challenge represents Mopar’s commitment to the growth of this authentic event,” said David Hakim, Marketing Manager, Mopar Performance Parts. “The 1968 and 1969 Plymouth Barracudas that compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge represent the high water mark of the production super stock package cars. This event helps to preserve the legendary status of these machines while, at the same time, implementing modern technology to further their status in the sport of drag racing.”

Featuring events at the Jegs.com Cajun SPORTSnationals, the Jeg’s Northern SPORTSnationals and NHRA U.S. Nationals, the Mopar HEMI Challenge will offer over $25,000 in prize money in 2006. The Jeg’s Sports Nationals and Northern Sports Nationals events will feature a $5,000 purse, while the NHRA U.S. Nationals event will continue to feature $10,000 to win. A yet-to-be determined cash prize will also be awarded to the series winner at the conclusion of the Indianapolis event.

The 2006 season will also see the Super Stock AA (automatic) vehicles compete head-to-head with the newly formed Super Stock A/HEMI Class. Former winners of the Mopar HEMI Challenge event include Buckey Hess (2001), Richard Beshore (2002), Jerry Jenkins (2003), Jeg Coughlin Jr., (2004), and Charlie Westcott (2005).

The first event in the 2006 Mopar HEMI Challenge event will be held at the Jeg’s Sports Nationals on April 21–23. The second leg will be run at the Northern Sports Nationals on July 28–30. The series finale will be held at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind., on September 1, 2006. The finale will be featured on ESPN2’s coverage of the NHRA U.S. Nationals.