Melanie Troxel, who plans to run a limited schedule behind the wheel of an In-N-Out-sponsored Funny Car, plans to test this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The following statement is provided on behalf of Sheikh Khalid Al Thani and Al Anabi Racing.  Please direct any questions to Puvanesan Kay, Aequitas Law LLP (U.K. Barrister ) or Chris Rodi ,Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP,  (U.S. legal counsel) at  info@aequitaslaw.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

It has come to my attention that my and Al Anabi Racing's relationship with Mustafa Atat has recently been the subject of considerable discussion.  The comments centred on Mustafa's involvement in a race in Detroit, Michigan, in 2001 which resulted in the tragic death of an innocent bystander.  As a driver of the other car in that race, I understand that Mustafa has been charged with several serious crimes in the United States.

I did not come to know Mustafa until 2007 when he settled with his new family in Qatar.  I do not know exactly what happened in Detroit, and do not fully understand the details of American law.  In particular, I only recently learned that the murder conviction of the other driver in the Detroit race did not preclude Mustafa's being found guilty of that same crime, an unfamiliar notion in my country.  As such, I do not think it is appropriate for me to attempt to respond to the many allegations that have been made about Mustafa.

The last 20-plus months have been a challenge for the storied Holley Performance Products Inc.

Since February of 2008, the company, which is headquartered in Bowling Green, Ky., has filed for bankruptcy twice.

Despite Holley’s difficulties, Tom Tomlinson, the company's recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, says Holley has a bright future.

Ten years ago, Bruton Smith had a dream. He wanted to build a four-wide drag strip in the desert just outside of Las Vegas. The NHRA nixed that dream. Smith, not to be deterred, built The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as a four lane facility, just without the concrete and asphalt of the second pair of lanes.

With zMax Dragway in Concord, NC set to run the first modern day four-wide National event, Chris Blair, Vice President of Racing Operations at Las Vegas Motor Speedway admits all eyes will be looking to the east come March.

“We're ready,” said Blair when asked if how difficult it would be to add two additional lanes to The Strip. “Everything is in place. All we would need to do, basically, is add the concrete and asphalt.”

Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com, through the assistance of a key group of Pro Modified historians and enthusiasts, have compiled a list of the Top 20 all-time drivers based on their contribution to the class, historic achievements, statistics and fan appeal.

Starting on Friday, January 8, 2010, the electronic magazine began revealing those names on the list, and will announce two drivers per week, until the No. 1 driver is unveiled on Saturday, Mar. 20, during the ADRL Dragpalooza in Houston, Texas.

Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com narrowed the list from hundreds of drivers down to 20. Today, we reveal No. 14 on the list.

Forgive Cruz Pedregon if he might feel a bit confused as he begins his quest for a third NHRA Funny Car championship, including a second in three years.
 
The veteran team owner-driver has the same Toyota Solara with which he qualified for all 24 races last year. It has a bold new look with primary sponsorship from Snap-on Tools: bright red -- "toolbox red," Pedregon calls it -- with a honeycomb design on the rocker panels and a fat, black racing stripe. ("You definitely won't mistake it for any other car," he said.) Yet the car's appearance is comfortably familiar -- "Cruz red," kind of retro, just perfect for this sentimental, history-living drag-racing fan. From a performance standpoint, he said, "our car hasn't changed a lot."
 
Much of the crew is new -- but then, again, it is experienced, with three loyalists from Pedregon's 2008 championship season.

Their dilemma began with a teenager who wanted to race a 1955 Chevy and the inability of both the chassis builder and the customer to find a race body that fulfilled their vision.

This was the inspiration which joined Tim Wallace, owner of Wallace Motorsports in Boise, Idaho, and Bob Mandell of Bob’s Pro Fab in Culleoka, Tenn., in a business venture to supply fans of the 1955 Chevy with an alternative body design, which they both feel better represents the iconic automobile.

“None of the bodies we bought and or even looked at were to our satisfaction, they were all distorted looking and didn’t have that authentic look of a ‘55 Chevy,” said Wallace, whose son Timmy will race the car in Top Sportsman.

Meaghan Henderson is almost your typical 17 year old high school junior. She is planning for college, managing a boyfriend, driving fast and selling candy bars to support her Boulder City High School.

Very typical, unless you consider Henderson's version of going fast involves speed not legal on your local highway. The giddy teenager, with a brilliant smile, sparkling eyes and long blonde hair runs around at 170+ miles per hour and wants more.

“This is what I want to do,” said Henderson as she talked about her racing. “I want to go to college, locally, get a degree in business administration; I want this is be my profession.”

Rick Snavely, Los Angeles, took down Ron Weems, foreground, in the Outlaw 10.5 final round with a blistering 6.637 second, 216.17 miles per hour. Snavely needed every ounce of power from his car after Weems beat him off the line .035 to .042.