The motorsports world in general and drag racing in particular lost a dear and dedicated friend this week when Norm Froscher passed away.  The long-time motorsports editor of the Gainesville Sun, Norm was the first sports writer I ever prodded into covering drag racing.  That was back in 1972 when my brother Terry and I were operating Gainesville Raceway.  It was an honor when NHRA press agent Dave Densmore and I, years later, dedicated the new Norm Froscher press room at the track where Norm was a fixture for more than 35 years.

Let’s acknowledge that Attitude Apparel’s CompetitionPlus.com is largely devoted to the professional categories of drag racing.  Let me also acknowledge that my primary areas of interest are those same pro classes and participants.  That does not mean, however, that I don’t have the utmost respect for sportsman racers, because by and large, it’s considerably more diffi

Dean Goforth wasn’t about to let a little matter like a shattered ankle get in the way of driving his Extreme Pro Stock Pontiac GXP.

A bad fall off the step outside the door of his motorhome last month sent him to a local hospital from the ADRL race in Martin, Michigan. After telling doctors there that he planned to get back in his race car the next day, Goforth woke up from sedation after having his dislocated right ankle reset, only to find a temporary cast on his leg that reached from foot to hip.

His race weekend over, a frustrated Goforth headed home to Oklahoma, where he soon underwent surgery to have a rod and plate permanently affixed by four screws to a broken bone on the right side of his ankle. This time he woke up with an incision that took 14 staples to close and a bright orange cast surrounding his leg below the knee.

Norm Froscher, a longtime friend and supporter of NHRA Drag Racing, who worked for several Florida newspapers including the Gainesville Sun and later as a freelance writer, died July 29 at the age of 79. The media center at NHRA's Gainesville Raceway, where Froscher tirelessly worked to cover nearly every edition of the NHRA Gatornationals, is named in his honor.

“Everyone at NHRA is saddened by today’s news of the passing of Norm Froscher,” said Jerry Archambeault, NHRA vice president of communications and public relations. “Norm was a constant fixture at Gainesville Raceway, treating the facility as though it was his second home.  He was not just a reporter, but a friend to every racer that went down the dragstrip and everyone at NHRA.  We will miss him, but his spirit will always be with us.”

Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH® Enterprises, was transferred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Wednesday evening.
 
Following surgery Tuesday night related to the facial damage sustained in the accident, he remains in serious, but stable condition. Roush was injured in a plane accident at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., on Tuesday. He will continue to be treated at Mayo Clinic for his facial injuries.

OPTIMA® Batteries recently announced its sponsorship of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Full Throttle Drag Racing series as a Major Contingency Sponsor for the remainder of the 2010 and the entire 2011 season. OPTIMA has long been the battery of choice of many automotive enthusiasts looking for better power, longer life and greater resistance to the use and abuse of extreme applications.  Now, OPTIMA is bringing the “Ultimate Power Source®” to the ultimate name in Drag Racing – the NHRA. 

Get Screened America point leader Von Smith is more than ready to get back to work behind the wheel of his ’68 Camaro at the upcoming Mac Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

“Honestly, the summer lay off in the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, while it comes at a good time of the season – in the heat of summer – it’s still a bit of a bummer,” says Smith with a laugh. “Maybe it’s just me, but I just can’t wait to get back on the drag strip, back in competition. I’ve been counting the days till Indy ever since we left Norwalk.

Racing kicked off on Thursday for hundreds of kids and the 2010 NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals at Bristol Dragway.  The facility, located in Bristol, plays hosts to nearly 600 kids ages 8 to 17 years old and their families for the annual event presented by Viperizer Racing.  Competitors in eight categories race in half-scale dragsters at speeds up to 85 mph on the eighth-mile track in search of both team and individual honors and a share of nearly $100,000 in savings bonds.

Tony Pedregon and Kenny Nowling, founder of the American Drag Racing League (ADRL), have formed a unique partnership, one that has Pedregon promoting the ADRL through his NHRA nitro Funny Car.

“I have always been a big fan of Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous classes and am very impressed with the growth and appeal of the ADRL,” said Pedregon, the NHRA Funny Car champion in 2003 and 2008.

Nowling founded the ADRL in 2004 and helped create and administered the NHRA Pro Mod Series from 2002-2005.  His series does not include Top Fuel and Funny Car.

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) announced yesterday that its wholly owned subsidiary, Gateway International Raceway had notified NASCAR that it will not seek 2011 sanctions for its two Nationwide Series and one Camping World Truck Series races. The announcement sent shockwaves through the motorsports community and those ripples reached the drag racing community almost immediately.

The NHRA has an event scheduled at Gateway for the 2011 season. According to a media spokesperson, the event is still planned and will go forward until further notice is given.