Brent Hajek already has a passion for living, but that passion burns
brightest when he’s talking about racing, racing history and his love
of all things Ford. Fortunately for fans of Ford, Hajek’s passion has
prompted the Ames, Oklahoma native and owner of Hajek Motorsports to
pursue his own place in racing history.

Hajek Motorsports has been around since the 1970s, and over the years
Brent Hajek has amassed an impressive collection of historical race
cars, predominantly Ford, that once carried some of the biggest names
in racing.

Those vehicles include a NHRA Gas Ronda '66 Ford Mustang, Bob Glidden’s
'88 Ford Thunderbird, Parnelli Jones’ '63 NASCAR Mercury Marauder,
David Pearson’s '69 Ford Torino Talladega, and Bill Elliott’s ’87 Ford
Thunderbird, which is the all-time NASCAR speed record holder.

Ron
Capps, the Funny Car points leader in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag
Racing Series driving the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge, has accepted his fifth
straight invitation to drive in Tony Stewart's Fifth Annual Prelude to
the Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossubrg, Ohio, on June 3, 2009. The
event held on the half-mile clay oval will air on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Having finished ninth, fourth, 24th and 17th, respectively, in the
first four events, Capps is ready to improve on his 2006 fourth-place
finish and will take to the Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway this weekend
in a Super Late Model to prepare for the Prelude.

"Honestly, every year to get the phone call from Tony Stewart to be
invited to run in the Prelude to the Dream is an honor," said Capps,
who has won three of the first seven NHRA events of 2009. "And to watch
it unfold the last four years into a high-profile racing event is
incredible. What's also neat is Tony's writing that million-dollar
check last year to Victory Junction Gang Camp II in Kansas City. This
year, four military-themed charities will benefit from the proceeds.
It's a privilege for me to compete in support of our injured and fallen
heroes.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) confirmed that the
United States Congress is resuming its pursual of Cash for Clunkers
legislation.

David McGee, a Bristol, Tenn.-based journalist, will be at next weekend's NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals signing copies of his Bristol Dragway book. Details of the book signing will be released soon.

McGee
released his book in July 2007 and has become a fan favorite for its
in-depth photo history of the famed drag racing facility built in the
mountains of western Tennessee by Larry Carrier.

Rhonda
Hartman-Smith grew up in a drag racing family and because of that she
was always aware the sport could present some tough choices. Four years
ago she faced one, or so it seemed.

On one side of the debate was driving a 300 mile per hour Top Fuel dragster. On the other was motherhood.

Motherhood trumps driving in Hartman-Smith’s world.

“Motherhood is something that has always been important to me … having
a family,” Hartman-Smith, the mother of two young children said. “I
always wanted to be there for my children and I raced for as long as I
could. It just got to a point … with John and I racing … it got
difficult.

NHRA Get Screened America Pro Modified driver Harold Laird said he wouldn’t wish his recent experience on anyone.

Laird was one of three Pro Modified drivers who crashed at the recently completed NHRA
O’Reilly Midwest Nationals in St. Louis.

The veteran doorslammer driver from Pride, La., lost control of his
supercharged 1963 Corvette just shy of the finish line, crossed into
the opposite lane ahead of opponent Kenny Lang and rolled the car on
its roof. He made contact with the retaining wall before sliding to a
stop.

The Pro Modified Racing Association will begin its fifth season when it headlines the Victoria Day Weekend Challenge at Toronto Motorsports Park’s Cayuga Dragway May 16 and 17.
 
Several new Pro Modified teams will be ready to do battle on the Cayuga
quarter-mile for the first of seven events on this season’s tour. This
popular drag racing series features some of the best Pro Modified teams
in Ontario, New York, and Michigan, and provide lots of excitement with
wild body styles and close to 3000-horsepower engines propelling the
cars down the drag strip at speeds up to 240 mph.
 

In an effort to enhance its status as the premiere Sportsman event of
the year, organizers of the 25th annual JEGS Allstars race will
randomly select two lucky racers to carry ESPN2 in-car cameras for as
long as they survive in the event, slated for June 5-7 at Route 66
Raceway near Chicago.

The blind drawing for the winners of this special privilege will take
place Friday evening during the special bar-be-que dinner for the 64
JEGS Allstar participants, which will be held in the hospitality
village.

Darren Morgan Racing capped a triumphant return to WSID, the track where Morgan survived a horrific accident in December, by claiming their maiden ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree.

Top Fuel was intense at the Karcher Nitro Champs, presented by Shannons
- and it was the man from Mildura that stood proudly atop of the Nitro
heap.

“What an amazing weekend,” beamed an elated Morgan in a post-race television interview.

On Thursday, May 14, it will be more important than ever for some of
the NHRA’s top stars to make sure they drive straight in Bristol. 

They won’t be driving their powerful machines to the finish line in
Thunder Valley, but making sure their opening shots land on the fairway
during the Sixth Annual Bristol Dragway Celebrity Golf Benefit at the
Country Club of Bristol.

The tournament, which sees many NHRA racers compete for the coveted
Darrell Russell Cup, benefits the Bristol Chapter of Speedway
Children’s Charities and takes place the day before the first round of
qualifying for the Thunder Valley Nationals.

Last year’s tournament featured 20 drivers and raised more than $25,000
for various charities throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest
Virginia.