QUALIFYING ENDS AT 8 PM, EST - 12-18-2009

The competition is fierce and entertaining to say the least. The third annual CompetitionPlus.com War Stories Showdown opens with qualifying on December 16, 2009 and concludes a month later after the competition of sixteen story-tellers whittles down to one person who survives four grueling rounds of competition.

QUALIFYING ENDS AT 8 PM, EST - 12-18-2009

The competition is fierce and entertaining to say the least. The third annual CompetitionPlus.com War Stories Showdown opens with qualifying on December 16, 2009 and concludes a month later after the competition of sixteen story-tellers whittles down to one person who survives four grueling rounds of competition.

Today begins the first phase of the competition -- qualifying. Readers will vote to seed the field for competition on an NHRA pro ladder.

Read the descriptions below and cast your vote below for the person you believe will tell the best stories and win the competition.

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2009 WAR STORIES SHOWDOWN COMPETITOR LIST

Louis Force – He’s John Force’s big brother and lifetime protector. Living with John Force since the 14-time champion was born provides the foundation for stories galore. Louie, also known as Diesel Louie, admits that he taught his younger brother much of what he knows about driving a Funny Car. Most all, Diesel adds, he taught last year’s champion how to tell a good story.

Pat Musi – This New Jersey-based former Pro Stock driver turned Pro Street icon was the king of the pranks in the 1970s. If there’s an unclaimed prank from the 1970s, chances are Musi done. He’s a People’s Court alumni and chances are, Musi’s exploits with close friend Loobie provided the inspiration for the movie Hollywood Knights.

Roy Hill – If you think his stories are tall tales, just ask NASCAR’s Petty family and they’ll tell you he’s being truthful. His stories are outlandish but accurate. If he tells you that he led a ticket counterfeiter around by a set of channel locks attached to the guy’s tongue -- believe him. If he said he used to ride around with a bazooka in the trunk of his car – believe him. Just whatever you do, don’t eat from his grill unless you’ve supplied your own meat.

Rickie Smith – Rickie is no politician, but he campaigned awful hard to participate in this year’s competition. His claim to fame was being part of the trio that terrorized the IHRA communities in the 1980. That trio was comprised of Smith, Roy Hill and Pat Musi. He was a key player in the IHRA’s version of the Three Stooges.

Steve Earwood – Steve Earwood is a three tour veteran of the CompetitionPlus.com War Stories. It’s easy to understand that the current owner of Rockingham Dragway has been there and done that over the last three decades in drag racing. The former Public Relations Manager for the NHRA worked in an era when War Stories were a way of life in drag racing.

Billy Glidden – The eldest son of ten-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Bob Glidden, Billy Glidden saw it all. In two seasons of War Stories, Bob Glidden qualified strong and battled in eliminations, posting a semi-final finish. Billy was responsible for “tuning” his dad in those story-telling sessions. This time he’s behind the wheel and the stories are gonna be good.

Jim Rockstad – He has some stories, many PG13 or some others he vows cannot see the light of day because they might make some blush. The former promoter of Seattle Raceway enjoyed quite the experience in the great northwest. He’s done it all in the sport from becoming a spectator to racing a dragster to becoming a track owner. He’s got a few Ed “Ace” McCulloch stories to tell as well.

T.V. Tommy Ivo – One of drag racing’s most storied characters entered drag racing with a background as a childhood television star. Ivo enters this year’s competition with a colorful drag racing past and intends to share some of his finer moments with our readership. If you will recall, in 2007’s competition, Tom McEwen said Ivo was a nocturnal creature.

Don Gillespie – He’s been at it for a long time. At 14, Don Gillespie rode his bike to Lions Drag Strip, seven miles from his home in Long Beach, Calif. Two years later, his photos were showing up in Drag News, and other newsstand publications. Years of freelance work resulted in employment at Car Craft Magazine among others. He’s assembled a video documentary on Lions Drag Strip. Gillespie came within ten votes of knocking off Force in the first round last year.

Bill Doner – Bill Doner is drag racing’s version of the ultimate promoter. The founder of the Fox Hunt and 64 Funny Car promotions, Doner has been there and done it many times. Sometimes he got the t-shirt and sometimes he left the event with it on his back. He’s a definite threat to win in his first year of the event.

Billy Meyer – Strange things often come out of Waco, Texas, and then there’s Billy Meyer. The former Funny Car standout is in his first War Stories Showdown and brings with him a wealth of stories from the road. You just have to love a man who once played nitro chicken with a Funny Car during an NHRA event.

Ted Jones – When you work alongside of IHRA founder Larry Carrier for as many years as Ted Jones did, you’re bound to accrue a few tales along the way. Jones served as the IHRA Vice President for over a decade and later went on to found the television show Inside Drag Racing. He’s credited with creating the Mountain Motor Pro Stock format as well as helping to pioneer Pro Modified.

Gordie Bonin – They call him 240 Gordie and while the common belief that nickname is based on a speed record, the reality is the 240 may be the number of times he ended up in a no-win situation away from the track. One of Canada’s more famous Funny Car drivers hasn’t settled down in his post-competition years. He’s got a few stories up his sleeve.

Steve Reyes - If there a crash Steve Reyes has shot it. If there’s a scantily clad female chances are he’s photographed her, too. One of drag racing’s more prolific photographers enters this year’s event as a novice with a wealth of experience in being at the right place at the right time, with or without a camera. The self-proclaimed babysitter for Don Garlits worked for many years with Popular Hot Rodding amongst other drag racing magazines.

“Waterbed” Fred Miller - When you’re a crew member for the Blue Max, you quickly develop a cult following whether you’re good or not. Miller was a talented individual but just don’t ask him about his nickname or he’ll smile and spin a yarn. He was there in the 1970s and beyond and has the Blue Max t-shirt to prove it. Toning down Miller’s stories will be similar to placing a throttle stop on an Alan Johnson-tuned dragster and slowing it to run Super Comp.

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