:::::: News ::::::

AUSSIE TOP DOORSLAMMER RACER JUDD CONFIDENT AFTER RECORD-SETTING PERFORMANCE

Robin_Judd-10TAMedResPerth-based Chartered Accountant, Robin Judd, is confident of taking the outright lead in the Australian Top Doorslammer championship series at the Perth Motorplex on November 13-14, after running Australia’s quickest-ever Doorslammer pass.

Judd will go into the 38th annual Goldenstates after recording the record-breaking 5.822-second pass at the Perth Motorplex on October 31 and fresh from winning the Australian Nationals at the Western Sydney Dragway in September.

Judd and archrival John Zappia are currently locked together on 165 points after two rounds of the 2009/2010 ANDRA Pro Series drag racing championship series.

SECOND-GENERATION SMITH WINS CAN-AM SS TITLE

Victoria Smith won the 2009 Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Championship on Sunday, October 18. In a points chase that came down to the final race, the VSmithtop eight racers all had a chance at winning. This marked her second championship since 2006.

"This was the tightest points battle the series has ever had. I was nervous going into the last race, knowing so many racers would be ready to take advantage of any mistake I made," said Smith, who is the daughter of Canadian Super Stock legend F.J. Smith.

"The series has gotten incredibly competitive, so this is very rewarding," she continued. "In fact, in our 11 events, we had 20 different racers make final round appearances.

ADRL ANNOUNCES 2009 RACER AWARDS GALA DETAILS

ADRL_Kepner_GalaThe National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to announce its Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala II will be held Dec. 12, in the Citrus Ballroom at the luxurious Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. The semi-formal event punctuates the final day of the massive three-day Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show at the Orange County Convention Center just down the street from the newly renovated resort.

“All season long our race teams put on a great show for National Guard ADRL fans and I really look forward to the one night a year we get to return the favor,” series president Kenny Nowling said. “Celebrating the accomplishments of our five world champions is a real honor for me, as is handing out a few special awards to some very deserving people.”

GULITTI NAMED IHRA SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Gulitti_2When Chris Gulitti began the 2009 racing season he knew he had a car that could be competitive.

What he didn’t know, however, was that he would have the kind of season that would garner him national attention and one of the most prestigious awards in IHRA sportsman competition.

Gulitti, behind the wheel of his ’98 Firebird Top Sportsman machine, did all that and more this season with two national event victories, a win in the Summit All-Stars race and a second place finish in the Renegades Division on the Summit Pro-Am Tour. And all of that has led to Gulitti being named the 2009 IHRA Sportsman Driver of the Year.

SCHUMACHER ON SUNDAY'S WIND TUNNEL

Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher will appear on the popular show “Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain” Sunday night (11/8). The show airs on SPEED from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

Advertisement

WILL, HARKER LEAD QUALIFYING, REICHERT, WHITELEY FACE OFF AT NHRA DIV. 7 LODRS FINALE

In the final rounds of qualifying for this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout presented by Torco Fuels event it was a pair of ladies taking the No. 1 and 2 spots in Top Alcohol Dragster.  Hillary Will, Ypsilanti, Mich., leads the field with a 5.644 second lap at 256.21 mph with Brittney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., in second at 5.6576, 254.04.

Round one will feature a championship match up with point’s leader Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., taking on No. 2 in the points Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo. Whiteley is in a must win situation to over take Reichert.  Reichert is looking to hold off Whiteley and Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., who is qualified in eighth and would face off against Reichert in the semifinals if they both advance.

RICK STIVERS: THE UNTOLD STORIES OF HIS CRASH

10_30_2009_stiversRick Stivers believes it’s the injuries you can’t see that can hurt most.

The veteran Pro Modified racer from Lexington, Ky., endured a devastating accident during the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. He emerged from the crash with no apparent injuries and was moving and speaking coherently as soon as he exited his significantly damaged Dodge Stratus.

Stivers, a racer in the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Modified Challenge, had experienced accidents before – but this one was different. Not only did his car strike the opposite lane retaining wall head on, but it also vaulted into the air and slammed down onto the track.

Stivers will attest that once a car begins a crash, the driver is usually just along for the ride, and that was the case in this accident.

UPDATED - GLIDDEN IN SURGERY

Bob Glidden successfully completed his heart procedure yesterday and by all indications it was a success. He is resting comfortably and could be home as early as today.

NHRA ANNOUNCES 2010 SCHEDULING CHANGE

Affording fans in the greater Phoenix area a chance to partake in two of the biggest sporting events in the region in the month of February, NHRA has announced, in cooperation with the owner/operator of Firebird International Raceway, that the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals will be moved up one week to Feb. 19-21, 2010, which is historically Firebird’s traditional date for this event.

THE REJUVENATION OF THE NITROUS COMBINATION

pm_finalsThe leading Pro Modified nitrous engine builders agree this weekend’s Shakedown at E’town outlaw drag race will produce some of the quickest and fastest nitrous doorslammer passes in the history of doorslammers. The cool, sea-level conditions at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ, are expected to be conducive to possibly the quickest and fastest lap in nitrous-injected history.

David Reher, engine builder for the Awesome/Al-Anabi Pro Modified team, had two of his clients win titles [ADRL Pro Nitrous, NHRA GSA Pro Modified] in what has been arguably the quickest and fastest season for the nitrous doorslammers. If the track conditions are present at this weekend’s Shakedown, the nitrous cars could reach uncharted territory.

“I think you’ll see 5.80s,” Reher predicted. “I can already see where just a good run can get you a 5.88 or 5.89 in NHRA trim and then you know with some of the things that are in progress I'm thinking you're gonna see another .03 or .04 basically.”

Pages