Terry McMillen has named Richard Hartman crew chief for the team's 2010 NHRA Full Throttle campaign. Hartman joins McMillen after leading Bruce Litton as crew chief or co-crew chief to 14 IHRA victories, including Litton's 2007 IHRA Championship.
 
"We're excited about having Richard on our team," McMillen said. "He's proven himself to be a consistent tuner over the years. Drag racing is all about consistency and getting a car from point A to point B. I'm confident he'll give us the best opportunity to make an impact early in our quest to make the Countdown."

Troy Coughlin took notice of the November 1, 2009 announcement proclaiming the NHRA would recognize the Get Screened America Pro Modified would be considered a professional division in 2010 and beyond. That bold announcement was enough to play on his inquisitive nature.

“Do you think my car would run well over in the NHRA Pro Modified?” Coughlin presented that question about his Pro Street Pontiac GXP to noted doorslammer legend Rickie Smith who had a larger plan. Little did the seven-time drag racing champion know that Coughlin did too.

“I’d be interested in running, if you were available,” Coughlin added.

Pro Stock racer Rodger Brogdon will be the NHRA headliner on Saturday's Sammy and Bob Show on Houston's ESPN Radio 97.5 FM.

In addition to Brogdon will be master promoter George Howard, whose forthcoming Outlaw Doorslammer Series will headline a $100K-to-win Outlaw 10.5 shootout. He'll be on hand to discuss the ins and outs of his new series partnership with Roy Hill.

Pro Street champion Troy Coughlin will also be on the show to discuss not only his championship but his forthcoming NHRA Pro Mod venture.

Is it just me or is there an inherent flaw in holding a playoff during the regular season?

Twelve drivers vie for the Sprint Cup Series championship in a ten race run that just happens to include 31 other drivers at the same time. Likewise, 10 drivers vie for the NHRA Full Throttle Championship with six additional drivers in the mix.

Confirming a report that first appeared on CompetitionPlus.com yesterday, Ford has named Jamie Allison, a 22-year Ford veteran with experience in engineering, product planning and marketing, as director, Ford North America Motorsports, effective January 1, 2010.
 
Allison will replace current director Brian Wolfe, who has been named to a new position in global product development.

“I’m excited about the challenge of helping take Ford’s racing program forward,” said Allison, who has been part of the Ford Racing management team for just over six years.  “For a kid who wanted to work for Ford Motor Company, to help carry forward a tradition that Henry Ford himself started is something special.

It’s one thing to read about history. Another to watch accounts of it on the History Channel. But nothing quite compares to hearing stories from the men and women who actually lived and breathed the history.

The NHRA community, from race fans to sponsors, from drivers to crew members, will be afforded that rare opportunity when NHRA hosts the Legends Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 in the Avalon Room at the L.A. County Fairplex as part of its weeklong celebration of the 50th running of the iconic Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline, which will be held Feb. 11-14, 2010 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Top Alcohol/Pro Comp racer Don Woosley passed away at his home in Winchester, Ky.

Woosley, 63, was a ten-time NHRA national event winner and a seven time Division 3 champion, while racing a Blown Alcohol Dragster.

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CompetitionPlus.com has confirmed that recently crowned NMCA Pro Street champion Troy Coughlin will return to NHRA competition within the GSA Pro Modified series in 2010. Coughlin will be joined by nitrous doorslammer legend Rickie Smith, who in addition to serving as crew chief will also race his 1968 Camaro.

Smith confirmed that he will serve as Coughlin’s crew chief for the first official season of the NHRA GSA Pro Modified as a professional division.

“I’m excited about this,” Smith confirmed. “I’ve been friends with the Coughlin family for a while and we’ve shared some good times. They are a family that’s into racing and serious about.”

They claim to still hate each other and in 2010, they claim they are going to showcase their disdain.

A handful of prominent drag strips have expressed a serious interest to book in longtime Pro Street rivals Pat Musi and Tony Christian for match races.

A call to Musi on Tuesday revealed that at least one track has sent a letter of intent and Musi says he is in the process of contacting Christian’s representatives to see if the agreement works for his long time adversary.

“I’m trying to reach him,” Musi said. “There’s a 99.9-percent chance that this thing is going to go down.”

Representatives of Ford Motor Company are serious about their increased involvement in NHRA racing, specifically the introduction of the 2010 Ford Mustang into the Pro Stock ranks.

Mose Nowland, Ford Motor Company engine engineer, who has been with Ford since 1955, is happy to report the project is on track and exceeding expectations. Leading Ford back into Pro Stock racing is important to Nowland.

“Well, this project had a little special place for me because it’s something I thought was good for the company, and we hadn’t been doing it,” said Nowland just prior to a recent engine test. “We hadn’t been involved since the Glidden retired, and that was my last involvement.”