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

PHOTOS - CUNNINGHAM '10 STANGS

cunningham_03.jpg

Jim
Cunningham plans to debut two of the new 2010 Mustangs this weekend at
the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. The new cars will not be
equipped with the new Ford Hemi engines but the sleeker bodies and
newer chassis should make a significant improvement as well as a few
new parts from Ford. These shots were taken outside of Jerry Haas Race
Cars in Fenton, Mo.

The Mustang driven by Cunningham was built by Haas while Enders'
Mustang was started by Don Ness and completed by Dennie Burnevik at
Sinned Customs. The cars are twins but not identical.

VENABLES OFFICIALLY NAMED WORSHAM CREW CHIEF

Dickie Venables has been named the new crew chief of the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Funny Car driven by Del Worsham, it was venables.jpgannounced
today.  The crew chief change is effective immediately.  Venables
replaces Aaron Brooks who has been in the position since the beginning
of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season.

“Dickie will be a tremendous addition to an already talented Funny Car
team at Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing,” team owner Alan Johnson said. 
“As in most sports, when the playoffs begin each team must prepare for
a run at the championship, and that is exactly what we are doing by
taking advantage of an opportunity that presented itself.

“Aaron Brooks has done a great job creating our Funny Car team from
scratch and securing our spot in the Countdown. His efforts have been
invaluable, and we have all learned a lot in the first 17 races. With
the addition of Dickie’s talents and experience, I am confident we are
in a stronger position and have a better shot at winning the
championship.

4-WIDE NITRO RACING EXHIBITION

For the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny
Cars will race four-lanes, four-wide, unleashing a powerful assault of
28,000 horsepower on spectacular zMAX Dragway, NHRA officials announced
today.

In what is sure to be a must-see demonstration of the ultimate in
high-horsepower performance, four NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and four NHRA
Funny Cars will race in a four-wide configuration during separate races
in a special exhibition event just prior to the final round of the NHRA
Carolinas Nationals, on Sunday, Sept. 20.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, four-lane drag racing was occasionally
conducted at non-NHRA dragstrips, primarily throughout the Midwest,
with a few exhibitions held at tracks in California and Maryland. The
fastest cars of that era were just breaking the 230 mph barrier.

Today’s modern Top Fuel dragsters cover the 1,000-foot race distance in
3.8 seconds at more than 315 mph. Funny Cars travel the same distance
in 4.0 seconds at 310 mph.

INDY GOES ON WITHOUT GLIDDEN

Warren Johnson, Bruce Allen, Butch Leal, Lee Shepherd, and Frank Iaconio were fighting him for NHRA Pro Stock supremacy in the 09_02_glidden.jpg1970s
and '80s. Rickie Smith, Darrell Alderman, Ronnie Sox, Wayne Gapp, Lee
Edwards, and Roy Hill were trying to outduel him in IHRA competition,
as well.
 
Back then, Bob Glidden constantly had to find that extra edge to run
quicker and quicker, even if it was by a mere one-thousandth of a
second. He had to be relentless, honing his tuning and driving skills
with nearly every trip to the racetrack.
 
It paid off, in 10 NHRA series championships, including five straight,
and one in the IHRA. And this man who was voted the NHRA's No. 4 drag
racer of all-time still owns the NHRA record for consecutive
top-qualifying positions at 23, including all 14 events in 1987.
 

DRAG RACING AND DRUG TESTING: THE NHRA'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY

SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY  (Ref. 2009 NHRA Rulebook, pgs 28-31, sec 1.7)
NHRACDR.jpgEnhancing the safety and integrity of NHRA drag racing is of paramount concern to the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).  Substance abuse is fundamentally inconsistent with increased safety and with the integrity of a drag racing program.  Accordingly, NHRA has established this Substance Abuse Policy.

INDY PRO MOD FEATURES UNIQUE GATHERING

Indy-Preview-Scott-Ray.jpgLast minute details and
quick test sessions are being completed as drivers and teams in the Get
Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx prepare to
compete for the crown jewel of drag racing at the MAC Tools NHRA U.S.
Nationals. With just four races left in the season and four rounds
separating the top six drivers, every round will count as drivers
jockey for points and position to claim the title of World Champion.
Drivers are also trying to qualify for the $35,000 Matco Tools Pro Mod
Clash, making the battle for eighth place as fierce as the battle for
first.
 
Burton Auxier has led the field with his nitrous-assisted '67 Camaro
since winning the race at Bristol in May, swapping places with his Al
Anabi-sponsored teammate Mike Castellana who led the standings after
winning the first event in Gainesville. The whole team, which also
features 2001 Pro Mod World Champion Rickie Smith, is hoping to
maintain their stranglehold on the lead heading into the final stretch.
 

ROUSH MUSTANG AUCTION AT LMS

NASCAR team owner and legendary car builder Jack Roush only produced
151 P-51A Mustang coupes in 2008, but one of the rare 2008ALLRoush P51A 01_md.jpgsuper-ponies will
cross the auction block during the Sept. 10-13 Food Lion AutoFair at
Lowe's Motor Speedway, with proceeds from the sale benefiting Speedway
Children's Charities.
   
Combining his love of aviation with an ability to get maximum
performance from a Ford V-8 engine, Roush created the P-51A Mustang - a
510-horsepower road rocket named for America's most-powerful World War
II-era fighter plane.
   
Starting with a standard Mustang GT, the Roush crew in Livonia, Mich.,
went to work improving its 4.6-liter V-8, which already produces a
healthy 300 horsepower from the Ford factory. After stripping it to the
block and modifying it with a motorhead's dream list of exotic parts,
including a ROUSHcharger supercharger, technicians were able to boost
output to 510 horsepower. The aircraft-inspired supercar also received
Roush's Stage 3 suspension upgrades, competition-grade four-wheel disc
brake rotors, and 18-inch chromed alloy wheels. Aerodynamic Roush body
panels were fitted to the exterior, and the passenger compartment
received leather sports seating and other equipment specific to the
P-51A model.

CRUNCH TIME FOR IHRA CONTENDERS

Simply put, after seven Nitro Jam national events, the 2009 IHRA season
is heading for a thrilling three-race shoot-out, beginning with Cox.jpgthe Amalie Oil North American Nationals at New England Dragway the weekend of September 11-13, 2009.

The event, presented by Wolverine Boots and featuring the New England
Dodge Dealers Night of Fire, will provide the backdrop for the stretch
run that will determine the 2009 champions of Top Fuel, Pro Modified
and Elite Motorsports Pro Stock.

It’s now or never for those with championship aspirations, and heading
into New Hampshire the points battles in all three IHRA professional
classes are extremely close.

ANDERSON + INDY = GREAT CHEMISTRY

It seems like just yesterday, although it was 2001, when Greg Anderson earned the first of five U.S. Nationals victories 

Greg Anderson's most recent Indy win came in 2006 at the expense of Dave Connolly.

He sat there in the media center at what was then named Indianapolis
Raceway Park, not accustomed to all the attention. He looked almost
stunned at his success. After all, he had just won his first NHRA Pro
Stock race that April 29 at Bristol, Tenn.
 
"How did this happen?" Anderson said several times.
 
Well, Anderson got used to winning and interviews pretty quickly. By
2003, he was winning 12 races, then 15 the next year, taking the class
by storm and generating talk of dynasty and domination as the Minnesota
native and North Carolina transplant reeled off three straight
championships.
 

NMCA MILAN FINAL RESULTS

The NMCA returned to Milan, Michigan, this weekend for the Third Annual JE Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals this weekend, just Felton.JPGthree
short weeks after the Concord, North Carolina stop on the tour. After a
difficult Friday that was rained out thanks to Mother Nature, the skies
lightened up for Saturday and Sunday, and we got some great racing into
the books.

In the Scorpion Performance Pro Street class, eight competitors showed
up to take their shot at the Milan Dragway 1320, highlighted by Troy
Coughlin’s 6.35 shot during qualifying. As racing action progressed,
heavy favorite Coughlin went out in semifinal action, thanks to a
starter that wouldn’t start in the burnout box, opening the door for
Chris Rini and Noel Felton to do battle in the final round. In an
anticlimactic final, Rini popped through the carburetor and didn’t
re-fire the car, giving Felton a single pass. Felton took the run,
turning in a 6.53 before the hood flew off through the traps, handing
Felton his very first NMCA Pro Street class win.

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