CompetitionPlus.com has confirmed the oval track at Memphis Motorsports Park has released their Vice President and General Manager Jason Rittenberry today and will shut down operations. The status of the NHRA Midsouth Nationals scheduled for August 2010 remains unclear.

In a prepared statement, Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE-Symbol: DVD) announced that it was ceasing all operations at Memphis Motorsports Park and that it would not be promoting any events in Memphis in 2010. The oval track events have been transferred to Gateway International Raceway, another Dover-owned property.

The move doesn't mean GIR will assume the Memphis date on the NHRA schedule.

Within days of parting company with Tony Pedregon, Dickie Venables could have gone to work for John Force, Don Schumacher, Kenny Bernstein and a couple others.

Instead of jumping at the first opportunity, Venables picked up his fishing pole and headed to the lake to catch his breath and a big one or two. When he was done fishing, Venables decided to go to school.

For the two-time championship tuner, the lure of learning from who many have proclaimed as the best drag racing tuner in the business, Alan Johnson, was an attraction to hard to resist.

Honeywell Consumer Products Group has extended its association with NHRA, it was announced today by NHRA officials. In the contract extension agreement, Honeywell has renewed two official sponsorships and will continue to sponsor the FRAM®-Autolite® NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

As part of the multi-tiered contract, FRAM automotive filters has extended its association as the Official Filter of NHRA, while sister brand Prestone will continue its status as the Official Antifreeze/Coolant of NHRA.

Jason Rittenberry, a seasoned motorsports executive with 10 years of experience in the business, has been named president and chief executive officer of Palm Beach International Raceway (“PBIR”) in Jupiter, Florida.  Rittenberry will be replacing Ron Dixon, who will be moving on from the day to day operating role he has held for the past year.

Rittenberry, 34, comes to Palm Beach International Raceway from Memphis Motorsports Park, where he has served as vice president and general manager since 2001 and will report directly to the Management Committee of the partnership group that owns PBIR.  He brings a wealth of knowledge in motorsports and has extensive experience in hosting national motorsports events, including NASCAR, NHRA drag racing, sports cars and road racing, as well as corporate and lifestyle entertainment events.

The R2B2 Racing team of Roger Burgess, Raymond Commisso and Melanie Troxel could leave Las Vegas this weekend with more than $60,000 in prize money, and each of the team members and crew is ready to do their part to make all of that happen. At the top, Burgess is only 32 points behind current leader Burton Auxier, and has a remarkable chance of passing him to take the World Championship title and the $25,000 grand prize.  Burgess and Commisso both have a chance to win the $25,000 prize in the Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash, and all three drivers could take home the event winner's purse of $10,000 in this weekend's Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.
 
With everything on the line, one man feels more pressure than any other - crew chief Al Billes. Formerly a driver and now a key architect of R2B2's success this season, Billes is no stranger to pressure. In fact, he recently shared honors with his friend Kenny Lang who became the IHRA World Champion, all with Billes calling the shots on the car, sometimes by phone, more than 2,000 miles away.  To add another Championship and a Clash win to his year's successes would be icing on the cake for the Canadian national.

Boxing icon and current Welterweight World Champion Sugar Shane Mosley, junior welterweight contender “Vicious” Victor Ortiz and world-renowned boxing promoter Golden Boy Promotions will stage a boxing exhibition at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway pits on Saturday, October 31, the final day of qualifying at the Ninth Annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.

Mosley will be joined by fellow Golden Boy boxer Victor Ortiz and two-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world champion Tony Pedregon for a meet-and-greet with fans from 2-3:30 p.m. that will coincide with a series of sparring sessions by up-and-coming Golden Boy Promotions boxers in a full-size boxing ring in the southeast corner of the pits, near the grandstand.

Rickie Jones and the Quarter-Max® Pro Stock team announce a two race partnership with Elite Motorsports, beginning at this weekend’s NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.

“We’re excited to have Elite Motorsports on board for Vegas and Pomona,” said Jones, who has been absent from the tour since Concord. “They run a quality operation, and they are great people to work with. Elite Motorsports is a one-stop shop for many of your major racing needs. Richard Freeman [owner of Elite Motorsports] has really made a presence for himself within drag racing over the last few years and I’m happy to have Elite Motorsports alongside for these last two events.”

The revived American Hot Rod Association has announced its first five Reunion Tour events scheduled to begin in March and concludes in September.
The series will open on March 26 – 27, at San Antonio Raceway in San Antonio, Tex., before moving to the new Dallas Raceway located in Crandall, Tex.

The second Las Vegas stop on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series has been a cruel mistress for Robert Hight.

In 2007 Hight was vying for his first championship and posted the number one qualifying time only to have his Mustang break during the burnout in the first round. The loss opened the door for eventual champion Tony Pedregon to distance himself from Hight for the championship.

Last season Hight was locked into a tight battle with Cruz Pedregon and Tim Wilkerson for the championship. He once again qualified No. 1 and he raced to the final round where he was defeated by eventual Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon.