NHRA announced today that Copart, Inc., a leading provider of vehicle auction services, has been named the Official Online Vehicle Auction of NHRA.  The agreement follows Copart’s designation last September as the primary sponsor of Kenny Bernstein Racing’s Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein.

“Copart is jumping into the sport in a big way, with a comprehensive program that will give them access to NHRA’s core audience at all levels,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA.  “We have the perfect audience to align with their core business and the program will educate our fans about how Copart.com has more than 50,000 vehicles each day for sale online, and is the place for car enthusiasts and do-it-yourselfers to find a great deal on a great vehicle.”

Melanie Troxel is set to go “animal” on and off the race track in 2010.

Troxel, who will pilot both a Pro Mod and a Funny Car this season under the In-N-Out Burger banner, has made it her mission to try out an order of fries “animal style” as soon as possible.

“I'm a fan of the “animal style” burger, but what I have to admit is that I've never had the animal fries,” admitted Troxel, who resides in Indianapolis without a local In-N-Out restaurant. “So, that is at the top of my agenda when I get out there. That is something I just recently found out about.”

Anyone who believed the NHRA would tighten or at the least clarify the testing limits on Top Fuel and Funny Car teams is wrong.

Various teams acknowledged they have been informed the testing policy set in place last year would remain unchanged in 2010.

John Force, admitting he saved money in 2009 because of the policy, hadn't given the repercussions of the NHRA decision much thought, until he was asked.

“It really saved us not testing, but if we need to test we will. It's really about the economy.”

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 11, 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. 16 on the list.

Speedway Motorsports Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith said during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway that he is not interested in buying the National Hot Rod Association.
 
Rumors have floated around the sport for some time that the billionaire track owner wanted to buy the drag-racing sanctioning body, but he said earlier this week the NHRA was not on his radar.
 
“This one? No,” Smith said.
 
That ship has sailed? he was asked.

Today’s NHRA's Greatest Races presented by ProCareRX and hosted by Bill Stephens will focus on the 1979 NHRA World Finals in Ontario.

Leave it to John Force, a 14-time Funny Car Champion celebrating his 25th year with sponsor Castrol, to set the tongues wagging. Force and his tuner – Mike Neff.

Waiting until late in the afternoon, 4:07 pm, Force posted a 4.79 second, 242.06 mph pass after cutting off the engine at the 800 foot mark. At the 660 foot mark Force's speed was 264.96 mph. The fastest speed to that mark clocked all day.

Driving an in-house built chassis, Force was excited about the numbers.

The 2010 picture may get clearer for John Force Racing over the course of this weekend's preseason test event at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Az.

JFR showed up at their first test with only three cars to test. The three Mustangs are the championship-winning Ford of Robert Hight, Ashley Force-Hood and the 14-time champion John Force.