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Connie Kalitta and nephew Doug had a destiny 41 years apart
(5-1-2006) - Nearly 41 years ago, Connie "The Bounty Hunter" Kalitta established top speed during the NHRA Springnationals at Bristol with a 209 mph that was unheard of at the time.
He and nephew Doug Kalitta added another page to the family drag-racing lore Sunday.
In the final round against Rod Fuller, Doug Kalitta took the Mac Tools Dragster to a speed of 331.56 mph That set the track speed record, trumping Tony Schumacher's 2004 mark of 331.36 mph. Connie, who helps crew chief Rahn Tobler determine the combination, had a major hand in Doug's first victory of the season.
Doug Kalitta showed another dimension to his repertoire of skills Friday night at Bristol Dragway, welding the bottom metal frame rails of his Attac chassis. His car bounced at the end of his 4.647-second, 326.95-mph run and scraped the chrome-moly tubing on the track. That sent out showers of sparks, a spectacle Kalitta said he "probably inadvertently caused" by jumping hard on the brakes.
Kalitta's father, Doug Sr., taught him to weld at an early age, and the 41-year-old airline owner is an accomplished student.
Said Doug Kalitta, "It was a good chance for me to get back in practice and to help my guys fix what I probably caused in the first place."
That's one way to get a win-light
(5-1-2006) – Gary Scelzi has wanted to take the win light plenty of times this season. During the first round, he snagged it literally. In the shut down area Scelzi’s Dodge Charger made an abrupt shift towards the wall as he crossed the finish line. He corrected but not before his parachute ripped the driver’s win-light off of the wall.
“I don’t know what happened down there,” Scelzi said. “I kind of held it in the middle and about a thousand-foot, I had my hand on the parachute levers and it started moving right. I got the chutes out but it shot me over real quick.
“We stole the win-light on that one.”
Scelzi felt a bit remorseful.
“Maybe we’ll get about three more of them this weekend,” Scelzi said. “Maybe we will buy a whole case of them.”
Troxel's final round streak ends at six
(5-1-2006) – We are taught that green means go and stop means red. Melanie Troxel was reminded of that very lesson when her six consecutive final round streak came to an abrupt stop opposite of Rod Fuller in the second round.
Troxel drew a -.034 foul.
“I was trying to cut a good light,” Troxel said. “I don’t know if the tree took longer than usual or what. I was just ready to go.
“I actually thought I had a really good light until I saw the red bulb come on. I am disappointed because I let my crew and everyone at Torco race Fuels and Skull Shine down.
“We still have a good car and we will leave here with the points lead. We’ll come back and try to improve next time.”
NHRA POWERade Points after Bristol
Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Sixth annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q at Bristol Dragway, the sixth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Melanie Troxel, 541; 2. David Grubnic, 402; 3. Doug Kalitta, 387; 4. Rod Fuller, 360; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 345; 6. Morgan Lucas, 332; 7. Larry Dixon, 329; 8. Tony Schumacher, 320; 9. Doug Herbert, 294; 10. Cory McClenathan, 259.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 602; 2. John Force, 480; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., 342; 4. (tie) Phil Burkart, 334; Eric Medlen, 334; 6. Robert Hight, 319; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 315; 8. Del Worsham, 300; 9. Whit Bazemore, 284; 10. Bob Gilbertson, 246.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 466; 2. Jason Line, 415; 3. Erica Enders, 371; 4. Mike Edwards, 361; 5. Jim Yates, 317; 6. Warren Johnson, 303; 7. Larry Morgan, 298; 8. Greg Stanfield, 297; 9. Kurt Johnson, 292; 10. Richie Stevens, 261.
New Pro Modified Cuda coming for Dye
(5-1-2006) - When Dan Dye sold his 10.5-inch tire 1971 Barracuda, he decided that a Pro Modified version would be the best. The New Prague, Minnesota-based Dye commisioned Skinny Kid Race Cars to build the new car which will be powered by a Mike Janis-prepared Hemi.
He will run on the IHRA Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified tour.
Coughlin brothers stay busy at Farmington
(5-1-2006) – Brothers John and Jeg Coughlin enjoyed a busy and productive weekend while racing their Team Jeg’s dragsters at Farmington Dragway in Farmington, N.C. The Coughlin’s were in Farmington last weekend to participate in the track’s annual Big Bucks Bonanza, an E.T. Bracket racing event that featured a $50,000 to win main event on Saturday, a pair of $10,000 to win races on Friday and Sunday, and a $5,000 to win Gambler’s Race on Friday.
John enjoyed the most success as he reached the final round of Friday’s Gambler’s Race. He was scheduled to race against local pro Donnie “Hollywood” Urban in the final, but after a lengthy delay due to oil on the racing surface, the two finalists agreed to split the money with each driver leaving with $3,000.
“That was a really nice way to start the weekend,” said John. “It was late and we were both tired so we just decided to call it a night and prepare for the $50,000 race the next day.”
Neither Coughlin appeared in another final but they advanced deep into eliminations on all three days with Jeg posted the best finish when he reached the semifinal round of Friday’s $10,000 race. The Big Buck Bonanza features a unique format that allows competitors to “double enter” and race the same vehicle twice in each event which meant that Coughlin brothers were able to get plenty of track time.
“We each won three or four rounds each day and since we were able to double enter, I made 41 runs and I believe John made runs 38 over the weekend,” said Jeg Coughlin. “We burned through 175 gallons of racing fuel and had a good time doing it. Anytime you can make that many runs, it really helps hone your skills and build your confidence as a driver.
“You get a lot of track time at these races and that’s one of the reasons why I enjoy bracket racing so much,” he continued. “In the last four races, I’ve made more runs down the drag strip than I made during the entire 2005 season. When I made the decision not to race Pro Stock this year, I wanted to be able to attend some of these big bracket races and visit some new and different race tracks and this is exactly they type of event I had in mind. These big bracket races attract some of the best drivers in the country and the competition is second to none. If you’re fortunate enough to win one of these races, you’ve really accomplished something.”
The $50,000 main event was won by Jason Lynch of Chapmansboro, Tenn., while Steve Witherow of Summerduck, Va., and Cliff Shipp of Dallas, Ga., won the $10,000 races on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
CAPPS, KALITTA AND LINE WIN AT O'REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
Ron Capps beat drag racing legend John Force by one-hundredth of a second Sunday at Bristol Dragway to extend his Funny Car lead in the POWERade Drag Racing Series championship chase. Capps was joined by Doug Kalitta and Jason Line in the winner's circle at the $1.5 million O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q, the sixth of 23 races in the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Capps posted a run of 4.793 seconds at 319.52 mph in his Brut Dodge Stratus to beat Force's quicker 4.788 at 310.13 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. The difference came at the starting line when Capps left in .080-of-a-second in front of Force's .104-second start.
"I'm in disbelief," said Capps of his third victory of the season and the 20th of his career. "I got on the radio and said, 'I can't believe it, we won again.' It's not that I don't have confidence in my guys, but it's just so hard to win and when it happens a lot like it has this year it's sometimes hard to believe. I love the competition and I love this class. This is just a great time to be racing right now."
In earlier rounds Capps defeated Scott Kalitta, Eric Medlen and teammate Gary Scelzi to advance. It was Capps' second win at Bristol Dragway, as he defeated Al Hofmann for the win here in 2001.
The final produced a swing of 40 points in the POWERade standings with Capps increasing his lead by 122 points over Force.
Cory McClenathan: "I just grabbed my belts and held on."
(4-30-2006) - Cory McClenathan walked out on Saturday to the starting line and received a standing ovation. That gesture proved two things. First, the "Carrier Boyz," brothers Mark and Andy Carrier, and their driver, McClenathan, have become favorites at the facility. Second, McClenathan cheated fate on a crash that could have easily had disastrous consequences. 
McClenathan said the FRAM Boost Dragster was on a very good pass and nothing was wrong with it. “I went from a point where I was looking down track and then I quickly transformed to a point where I was looking down at the front end of the car from above,” McClenathan said. “I realized I was in trouble at that point. I was no longer a driver. I was just along for the ride.
“At that point, I took my hands off of the wheel and grabbed my belts. I just hoped for the best at that point.”
McClenathan credits the efforts of the NHRA’s Safety Safari for coming to his rescue and the forethought of Bristol Dragway’s staff for preparing a safe facility. He was likewise grateful that he didn’t run into Bob Vandergriff Jr., who was inthe other lane, during the mishap.
“Thank God I didn’t run into Bobby,” McClenathan added. By daybreak Saturday, Drew Olson, son of crewman Brian Olson, and some team members already had loaded the spare car onto one of Don Schumacher’s trucks and driven to
“There’s nothing wrong with Brad Hadman’s cars,” McClenathan said. “He builds a very good race car and tomorrow when I strap in my car, I will feel confident that we can go out and win some rounds.” (Motel 6 Vision/ESPN2 Photos)
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Cory McClenathan in fiery crash during Friday Bristol qualifying
(4-28-2006) - Cory McClenathan, who won the Top Fuel Ironman trophy last Sunday at the IHRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham (North Carolina) Dragway, had said he was eager to compete here for car owners Mark and Andy Carrier because of their rich drag-racing heritage at this facility. And just Thursday, McClenathan won the Darrell Russell Cup (for the second time in three years) in a charity golf tournament that raises funds for Speedway Children's Charities and honors his fallen fellow driver. And his fortune continued through Friday's first session of qualifying, as he was No. 3 with a 4.624-second, 321.81-mph pass.
But his weekend turned ugly in the Friday night session, as his Carrier Boyz/FRAM Boost Dragster, on an outstanding run, bowed up in the middle, broke in half, rolled over, hit the wall and skidded down the track in flames.
McClenathan, 43, was alert and conscious throughout the entire ordeal, and was transported to nearby Bristol Regional Medical Center. The Lake Havasu, Arizona, resident reportedly was set to be released by midnight (Eastern Time).
Carrier Boyz Team spokesman Joe Sherk said McClenathan had complained of a sore ankle but that x-rays proved negative.
Dan Brickey and his Safety Safari staff reported that McClenathan was conscious and trying to free himself from the car when they arrived at the scene. He reportedly was out of the car on his own power within two or three minutes.
Andy Carrier said that McClenathan was "moving all his extremeties" and that he was alert and aware of everything that had happened.
He reportedly instructed his crew, when they reached the crash site, that they should haul out the back-up car and prepare it for Saturday's final two qualifying sessions. He was qualified seventh.
This dragster debuted in March at Gainesville as a replacement for the chassis that broke during the first Friday qualifying session for the Gatornationals.
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Keep him in your prayers
(4-28-2006) - Stevie Hatfield, 13, is fighting for his life at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, Ca. He’s already endured three major surgeries after acquiring a staph infection. Hatfield’s current condition is guarded/critical.
Hatfield is a huge member of the John Force Fan Club and has met the Team Force drivers. He’s even a fan of the Top Alcohol ranks and commands a great bit of knowledge of the classes.
Please join us in offering up prayers for this young man. He would be honored to hear from fellow drag racing fans. Please direct all emails to waterboye@gmail.com.
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Goodguys 9th Pomona Nitro Nationals coming soon
(4-28-2006) - With the subsequent rainout, then cancellation of the 47th March Meet vintage drag races in Bakersfield earlier this spring, the retro drag racing community has been chomping at the bit to get out and race their cars and smell the pungent aroma of nitromethane fuel. They’ll get that chance in spades, May 5, 6 & 7 as the Goodguys 9th Pomona Nitro Nationals thunders into Pomona Raceway east of Los Angeles.
Three big days of hot rodding and drag racing are on tap featuring over 400 1972 & earlier drag racing entries and 100’s of hot rodders in the “show & shine” car show. All the favorite classes will be competing on the famed Pomona drag strip from Top Fuel through Hot Rod Eliminator. This is the first time the event has been held this early in the year and with the cooler day time temperatures, record performances are expected in all classes.
“We should have 24 funny cars ready to run in Pomona,” said an elated Jeff Gaynor, himself a funny car race from Riverside. Drag Racing Online West Coast Editor Darr Hawthorne echoed Gaynor’s sentiments. “Without a doubt – the pits at Pomona will resemble a fiberglass forest! The Funny Cars, along with all the professional classes are scheduled to get three qualifying runs at the Pomona Nitro Nationals over the course of Friday and Saturday. The extra run should give teams plenty of track time to get their mounts dialed in. Final eliminations are slated for 10am Sunday morning, May 7th.
Both Rick White of San Diego (Top Fuel) and Larry Pettit of Hawthorne (Funny Car) have some catching up to do in Pomona. Both failed to qualify at the March Meet – though it was dismissed as a fluke being that all teams had one shot and one shot only to dial in their cars in Bakersfield.
One top fuel team that will take some beating is the bright orange Bless Concrete machine driven by Visalia’s Brad Thompson. Thompson charged to Low ET of the rain-shortened March Meet and looked like the car to beat. Another top fuel hitter – Brett Harris of Utah, looks to rebound in Pomona after being shut off on the starting line in the first round of the March Meet. Defending event runner-up Lee Jennings has retired the driving chores to Aliso Viejo’s Mendy Fry this year and based on her March Meet outing, she stands a good chance for a victory – which would be her first Goodguys event win, here in Pomona.
The Street Rods Forever car club, based in will be out in force at the 9th Pomona Nitro Nationals hosting the rod & custom show & shine. There’s plenty of room to park your ’72 or earlier rod, custom or classic right in the pits at Pomona! Bring your ride and have some fun!
The weekend will be filled with celebrity appearances, led my Ed “The Camfather” Iskenderian of Gardena. Iskenderian will be on hand at the Nitro Nationals greeting his fans and friends and will sign autographs Saturday from noon to 3pm. The patriarch of world famous “Isky Racing Cams”, Iskenderian spent over 50 years of his life grinding specialty racing cams for all forms of auto racing. Today Isky cams is still going strong in Gardena. Iskenderian is also credited with being the first ever promoter to print up silk screen tee shirts. Back in 1948, he silk screened his company logo on white tee shirts for a Bonneville Land Speed racing team.
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TORCO EXTENDS PRESENTING SPONSORSHIP OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONALS
(4-28-2006) – IHRA announced today that Torco Racing Fuels has renewed as presenting sponsor of the CARS RV, Marine and Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals June 23 – 25, 2006, at the recently renamed Castrol Raceway.
“We sponsored the event in 2005. It was such a big success and we were very happy with the results,” said Evan Knoll, President/CEO of Torco Racing Fuels. “It’s a great facility, great track, with great owners, so we’re excited about the opportunity to do it again.”
“This is now our second year with Torco presenting the Rocky Mountain Nationals, and its proving to be a very important component to one of the biggest events in Edmonton,” said Castrol Raceway President Rob Reeves. “Evan and the Torco team are truly great people, not only supporting this event, but their entire involvement with the sport.”
“Torco’s sponsorship of the Rocky Mountain Nationals is another example of their continued commitment to drag racing and the eMax Drag Racing Series,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “As with all IHRA national events, they provide fuel at our three Canadian events, sponsor our Nitro classes and a number of other events. And that’s just touching the surface of what they do for the sport.”
The CARS RV, Marine and Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Torco Race Fuels will be the fourth event of the 11-race eMax Drag Racing Series. This season, Edmonton fans will witness the return of one of the most popular classes in all of drag racing, the Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Cars.
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‘Brian Olatunji and Leadfoot Motorsports set to Colorize the Planet with the Von Dutch Racing Team at Milan Dragway’
(4-28-2006) - Brian Olatunji is eager to get back behind the wheel of the Leadfoot Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Von Dutch to do battle. The Leadfoot Motorsports team has been hard at work preparing a completely new combination as well as the announcement of a barrage of marketing partners who have joined the Leadfoot Motorsports family.
“The Skinny Kid Race cars heads-up race at Milan Dragway is the ideal venue to debut for our 2006 racing campaign. This is my home track and I look forward to the thousands of fans that I know will turn out to see the fastest door-slammers in the Midwest compete. This venue gives all of my family and friends the opportunity to come out and enjoy what is sure to be a great time,” said Olatunji.
Olatunji and Leadfoot Motorsports are ecstatic about the upcoming season and rightfully so with the addition of Von Dutch Originals as the teams primary sponsor.
“Von Dutch is the most awesome company in the world to be associated with. I have to give Kai at Von Dutch credit because he has believed in me and my program from day one. Besides that the apparel represents the true racer and is the hottest on the market!”
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Terenzio/Lionetti Racing has Big Plans For 2006
(4-28-2006) – Second-generation drag racer Gene Terenzio is going against the family tradition of altereds and Funny Cars.
“I tossed the idea around of doing up a Funny Car and keeping up the family tradition, but deep down I love door-slammers and someone spotted [what would become] my car when it was up for sale on the Internet.
After a year's absence from driving Terenzio has big plans for Pro Modified this year.
Terenzio and partner/engine-builder, Teddy Lionetti, have been testing in the last few weeks in preparation for the Northeast “Outlaw” Pro-Mods season-opener at Atco Raceway (Atco, NJ) April 29th and 30th. The team will be taking their orange and blue, McAmis-bodied, Jeffers-built, Keith Black with BAE cylinder heads and intake-powered 1968 Camaro to Atco with an IHRA legal blown-alcohol set-up to take on the outlaws. Having the car legal is going to be very important to the team this year as they look forward to IHRA and NHRA competition.
Just getting to the point of being ready to test has taken a lot of time and hard work, “Everything from the firewall up to the tanks is all Teddy’s and my labor of love.”
Is he ready? You bet.
“We finished it and fired it up mid-October and been itchy as hell to get it to the track.”
The new season also marks another significant change for Terenzio who will be learning to stage with a Lencodrive transmission for the first time. Their first test session at Atco Raceway proved successful, as Terenzio had no problems staging and launching his Pro Mod. “I made a few shakedown runs and I will never go back to a clutch.”
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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.
Adams, a five-year Funny Car crew veteran, previously worked for Don Prudhomme Racing on Ron Capps’ Skoal Chevy.
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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
(4-26-2006) - The '67 Chevy II Wagon of Jeg Jr keeps rolling on. The car returned to the Team JEG'S R&D facility today from Jegster, where Roger Burket and his staff handled the fabrication work for the build. The car is scheduled to be taken to Custom Motorsports Painting in Mansfield, OH this week where JR Hill begin prepping the car for paint.
The vehicle is being built using parts from the 250-plus page JEG'S Mail Order catalog.
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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
(4-26-2006) - Twenty-Four year old Luke Bogacki drove his 2005 American Race Cars Patriot Series Swing Arm Dragster to his second $10,000 final round appearance in recent weeks, falling to Mark White in the Saturday finale of the Capital City Nationals at Montgomery Motorsports Park. Bogacki, who rolled through a talent-laden field with victories over Scotty Richardson, Chris Johnson, Jonathon Jones, Cliff Shipp, Sunday winner Stacy Carpenter, and others, fell to White’s .009 induced dead-on 6.397 run with a .006 light and 4.866 on his 4.85 dial.
The runner-up marks Luke’s second big dollar bridesmaid of the season, as he advanced to the final round of a Tenn-Tuck Series event in March before falling to Greg Coffman.
“I’ve been really fortunate so far with the new American Race Cars Dragster,” said Bogacki. “I really haven’t raced it a whole lot, I’ve been busy with my new business, Bogacki Marketing Solutions, and the majority of my racing has been in my Mickey Thompson backed Vega close to home. Runner-Ups suck, but to be able to advance to back-to-back finals gives me a lot of confidence, and says a lot about the new car.”
Bogacki was stellar on the starting line throughout the event, compiling a .007 average for the day. His worst reaction was a .014 in his second round loss, his second worst was an .010. His best light came in the form of a .001 opposite Chris Johnson in the quarterfinals, which Bogacki backed up with a dead-on 4.870 for a .001 package.
“The car was good, too” said Bogacki. “In fact, if I hold the darn pedal to the floor like I told myself to, I think I’d have snuck past Mark in the final by a couple thousandths. I just rode down there and my foot got to twitching I guess.”
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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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