Reigning world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has built a reputation as a cool customer behind the wheel of his JEGS.com Chevrolet
Cobalt, as witnessed by his dominating performance Sunday at The Strip
at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But just across Las Vegas Boulevard at the
home of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Coughlin admits his nerves
just about got the better of him.

The four-time world champion drag racer became the latest NHRA
professional to soar with the world's top air demonstration team
Tuesday morning but it wasn't without some pre-flight trepidation.

Alan Bradshaw has big plans for 2009 and should they come to pass,
he’ll be back behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster with some
innovative marketing scenarios.

“At this point we are looking to bring in sponsorship to two or three
teams,” Bradshaw explained. “If we get the right synergy between the
companies we might put those together and compete for a 24-race
schedule. If we have to we might look at a three-quarter schedule.”

Only a few things can bring all sides of drag racing together to support a great cause. Rarely do bitter rivals on
the track become team members, such as Dodge, Chevy, Pontiac drivers
joining together, business competitors such as Jeg’s Mail Order and
Applied Racing Technology. But in 2008, these racers and businesses put
that competitive nature toward a good cause as the combined efforts in
the “Team on a Mission” program that is led by Mike Edwards raised more
than $50,000 that will be donated to the Young Life’s “Sending A Kid To
Camp.”

“Right now, I could not be more proud of the racing family in what they
have done for this program,” said Edwards. “Each weekend, we battle so
hard to make sure we get to the finish line first, but so many
understand the bigger pictures and helping the kids is something so
easy to get behind.

For the fourth consecutive year, a group of drivers from the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) will take part in a post-season,
USO-sponsored trip to visit Army/Air Force personnel stationed at the
Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) in Germany. During this year's
tour the drivers' contingent will first stop in Kuwait to visit with
U.S. troops stationed there before flying on to Germany and the second
leg of their goodwill mission.  

Six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson, two-time NHRA Pro
Stock champion Jim Yates, 2006 POWERade Pro Stock champ Jason Line and
Top Fuel driving ace Cory McClenathan will participate in the late
November trip to visit troops stationed overseas in Kuwait and Germany.

For more than 67 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been
providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military
personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable
organization that relies on the generosity of the American people to
support its programs and services. The USO will be providing air
transportation for the group's trip to Kuwait and Germany, and GM
Racing will ship 1,500 souvenir gift bags to the two destinations for
distribution during the visits. The 435th Services Squadron at Ramstein
AB will host the NHRA drivers and provide transportation and logistics
support during the group's stay in Germany.

Former IHRA Pro Stock Champion Exploring Options For 2005

Former IHRA Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick wanted to give the ADRL’s
Outlaw 10.5 class a try during the final event on the ADRL schedule in
Dallas, Texas. He brought his championship-winning Shelby Cobra Mustang
to the event and on not one or two runs blew the tires off. Every time
he dumped the clutch the car would travel several feet and then tires
would literally wad themselves almost into a knot.

The
experience, while frustrating to a competitive racer such as the Purvis
Ford-sponsored Patrick, provided important data acquisition.

“I guess the largest positive is that we found out a lot of things that won’t work,” Patrick said, voice cracking with laughter.

Del Worsham is adamant that he can wait until next year.

The veteran driver of the CSK Auto Parts Funny Car was named driver of
Alan Johnson’s Al-Anabi Funny Car last month beginning in 2009. He
contends that wait isn’t overwhelming and while he works towards next
year’s program, he’s firmly entrenched in fulfilling his obligations
for 2008.

“We’re building cars and getting ready for next season,” Worsham said,
admitting the reality of the opportunity hasn’t fully sunk in yet.

New PowerBoss Sweeper Scrubber arrives at Palm Beach International Raceway

New
equipment deliveries continue to arrive at Palm Beach International
Raceway. A new PowerBoss sweeper scrubber was delivered to the track
earlier this week to complement their rapidly growing arsenal. Kelly
Tractor/CAT delivered the unit to the track, issuing operating
instructions to race staff members Steve DeAngelis, Larry Penny,
Michael Clark and George Case. The new unit will speed up oil downs and
track cleanup during events. Kirk Georgia from Kelly Tractor hands the
keys to PBIR track manager, Michael Clark.

The annual Citrus Nationals, part of the perennial winter series,
attracted much attention last weekend, good weather, good attendance,
and a few useful comments from the NHRA officials who, favorably
impressed, gave the track their thumbs-up.

O’Reilly Auto Parts, one of the largest specialty retailers of
automotive aftermarket parts, has leveraged its recent acquisition of
Checker, Schuck’s, Kragen and Murray’s to strengthen its complement of
NHRA title sponsorships.

Beginning in 2009, the rapidly expanding company will be the title
sponsor of the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals (in Pomona, Feb.
5-8).

“As we transition into the exciting new era of NHRA Full Throttle
Series drag racing beginning in 2009, we are pleased to expand O’Reilly
Auto Parts’ involvement with NHRA through their entitlement of our
season-opener and one of the most storied events on the tour,” said
NHRA senior vice president, sales & marketing, Gary Darcy.

FRAM Top Fuel
dragster driver Cory McClenathan is looking for a strong finish to the
2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing

Series at this weekend’s 44th annual
NHRA Finals at historic Pomona (Calif.) Raceway. He began the year with
a runner-up finish at the season-opener there and would like to end the
2008 tour by taking it one step further and into the winner’s circle
while making a move up in the standings.
 
“We still have a shot at finishing second,” said McClenathan, who
enters the final race in fourth place, 37 markers behind second-place
Hillary Will, in the Countdown to 1 championship rankings. “That’s what
we’re all looking towards right now. We know we have a good race car
and we know how to run in Pomona.”

Top Fuel driver Clay Millican will share his driving experiences with
auto-shop students from El Camino and Ramona high schools from the San
Diego area during the weekend of the Automobile Club of Southern
California NHRA Finals. The students are featured in Drag Race High, a
television program that Millican hosts.

“I’ll be speaking Wednesday morning at the YES program about driving
the Top Fuel car and about Drag Race High, our television show that we
are currently filming,” said Millican. “It is coming up on the Speed
channel. We will have a lot of students out from both high schools who
are competing. That will be a lot of fun.