Michael Knudsen, 27, clutch technician on the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T
Funny Car driven by Gary Scelzi, suffered first- and second-degree burns in a
freak fire today at Maple Grove Raceway, as the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
teams prepared for this weekend's 24th annual NHRA Nationals.

He was
flown by helicopter to the Lehigh Valley Burn Center in Allentown, Pa., where he
will undergo surgery on Friday, with recuperation expected to take up to a week.
He was given pain killers and was able to describe what happened to Mike Lewis,
Senior Vice President, Don Schumacher Racing, who provided this report:

"It happened on the grounds at Maple Grove Raceway at an entry gate,”
explained Lewis. “A temporary food stand was being set up along a fence line.
The people setting it up didn't realize that there was a sliding gate, that when
it opens up would cross the area where they have these propane tanks. And
Michael and Zak Seedroff (also on the Mopar/Oakley team) were moving the tanks
and mounting them properly on some blocks that were there, and somehow or other
somebody who tried to help them pushed the gate while they were in the process
of moving these tanks. The tanks were all fastened together, so the fence made
contact with the first tank and as it fell over it pulled the second tank and
the third tank, and two of them began to discharge. A representative from the
gas company was there and he turned off the first tank and Michael first left
the area and then he felt, well, let me go turn this other one off. And for some
reason it caught fire. No idea why. It was kind of a flash and it struck him in
the lower legs, left hand, left side of his face. He rolled out of the way and
took his shirt off, took his shoes off, and tried to douse himself with water to
make sure he wasn't seriously burned.

Today's classic You Tube video moment features the first win for the
legendary Chi-Town Hustler and famed driver Frank Hawley. In this video from Diamond P's Decade of Thrills video,
you will see the team's NHRA Gatornationals win over Tim Grose and
highlights from the 1982 season.

Three might years not seem like a long time. However, in the past three years
drag racing instructor and former IHRA Rookie of the Year Doug Foley
has developed a reputation that goes well beyond his experience.

While he is still seeking his first NHRA national event win after only
25 events worth of experience, in IHRA competition, Foley has won six
times.

On that side of the fence, he’s been heralded as a championship
contender. Save for a season-ending crash, he could have very well
claimed a title.

On the NHRA tour, he’s a giant killer for his tendency to knock off the
larger, more well financed teams. Save for a devastating sponsor loss,
he could have been a giant this year.

CompetitionPlus.com has confirmed with VP Race Fuels leader Steve Burns
that nitromethane prices will not increase beyond the current price of
$1,822 when the NHRA tour reaches Indianapolis. This statement comes
after multiple sources told CompetitionPlus.com the price of
nitromethane will increase to beyond $2,000 at the event.

Burns added the price is likely to drop after the NHRA Fallnationals in Dallas, Texas.

“The price won’t go above $1822,” Burns said. “Most likely the price
will decline after Dallas. I’m looking at the trends and the prices
don’t appear to be getting any higher.

CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Dexter Tuttle’s Top Fuel team,
although entered in this weekend’s NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals in
Reading, Pa., will not participate. Sponsorship issues with current
major backer Vis Viva Energy Drink appears to be the major factor in
the decision.

Dan Pikarsky, Sr. VP of Sports and Event Marketing for Attitude Drinks
Inc., confirmed the company is going through growing pains at the
present but declined to say whether or not the decision was related to
non-payment.

A lucky fan will have a chance to win an experience of a lifetime as well as a prime piece of drag racing memorabilia.

Tony Schumacher and Don Schumacher Racing will once again participate in the annual Racers for Christ charity action.

This year's prizes includes:

* A helmet worn by Tony Schumacher
* 2 full event tickets to the remaining 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of your choice
* 2 weekend passes to the US Army Racing Hospitality Area
* Stand on the starting line while Tony Schumacher is wearing your helmet in a qualifying run
* Be transported to the top end of the track where Tony will remove the helmet, autograph it for you, and present it to you
* A personalized Hero Card including you, Tony and the US Army Dragster
will be provided by professional photographer Richard Shute

All proceeds from this auction will benefit Christian Motorsports International, Inc / Team RFC

Bid on the auction - CHECK THE BIDS 

Summit Racing Equipment, the world’s largest direct-mail and Internet
supplier of high performance automotive parts and accessories, has
signed an agreement to become the presenting sponsor of the National
Guard ADRL Founding Mem

Steve Earwood, Chairman of the Board of The North Carolina Motorsports
Association, has sent word that an EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR will be held at
Richard Childress Racing, 425 Industrial Drive, Welcome, NC, from 10:00
a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 26, 2008.  Attendees can park
at the Childress Museum and walk a short distance to the race shop. 
The museum is the first building on the left when you turn onto
Industrial Drive and cross the railroad tracks.  Park there and walk to
the race shop just down the street on the left.

Information about the seminar:

NHRA Pro Stock driver Rickie Jones knows all too well that he can use
his youthful exuberance to his advantage. The 21-year old driver only
seeks to have an advantage when reaching a generation of newly licensed
drivers on the value of safe diving on the street.

Jones was reared in a household that educated him early on the
importance of limiting fast driving to the drag strip. This lesson is
one he’s adamant about teaching his generation of young drivers.

Jones has joined the efforts of the Be Responsible And Keep Everyone
Safe Program (B.R.A.K.E.S.). This non-profit organization was started
by Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert after a car accident took the lives of
his two teenage boys in January of this year. B.R.A.K.E.S was formed in
order to teach teen drivers about the dangers of speed and unsafe
driving habits.

Hometown hero and NHRA Top Fuel star Hot Rod Fuller will return home to
Northwest Arkansas where the longtime Rogers, Ark. resident will throw
out the first pitch at Arvest Ballpark on Aug. 21. Fuller will take to
the mound before the 7 p.m. AA baseball game when the hometown
Northwest Arkansas Naturals face the Springfield Cardinals.