2009 NHRA SUPERNATIONALS - EVENT NOTEBOOK
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SUNDAY NOTEBOOK -
TOP FUEL
UGLY WINS COUNT, TOO - Larry Dixon made a pre-emptive strike on the gathered media following his NHRA SuperNationals Top Fuel 
victory over Antron Brown. He wanted to count his blessings.
“I’m glad I don’t race Funny Cars,” Dixon said, commenting on Tony Pedregon, who posted his second win of the season in four final rounds.
“He is good all the time. Is he ever off?” Dixon asked.
“Never,” Dixon said, answering his own question.
Had Dixon gone first speaking with the media, Pedregon might have asked the same question of Dixon.
Dixon’s fifth career victory in Englishtown pulled him to within one win of all-time track Top Fuel winner Joe Amato. Along the way, Dixon has reached the finals of this race in five of the last eight seasons.
Admittedly this win was pretty, but a win is a win is a win.
While Antron Brown double-clutched on the starting line, drawing a red-light, Dixon smoked the tires early in the race.
“There are never any bad wins,” Dixon said. “I’ve had a lot of great losses. You hope they all balance out.”
The victory marked the third of the season for the Alan Johnson Racing/Al Anabi Racing driver. He is ranked third in the 2009 Full Throttle point standings behind Brown and Tony Schumacher.
PAYING ATTENTION HELPS - A loss of concentration, took away any chance Antron Brown has of beating final round opponent Larry Dixon. Much to his embarrassment, the former Pro Stock Motorcycle rider turned Top Fuel racer turned on the red-light and Dixon sailed to an easy win.
"I didn't do what I always do,” Brown “I had a brain fade. I just wanted it so badly with all my family and friends here and our guests from Matco and Lend America. I just did something stupid.
"It is what it is. It's just going to make me work harder. I'll just be more consistent, that's it. I'll never do that again. I know we had something for them, but it just wasn't meant to be today. I know we'll get some more wins this season. I just threw myself off this time. The delay didn't do anything to me. I just tried two hard; I wanted it so bad. I just need to let it happen and not want so much. That taught me a lesson."
FOR THIS FORMER SOLDIER FREEDOM A LIFELONG DREAM - As representatives of the Army and Schumacher Racing cut the cake 
celebrating the 334th birthday of the United States Army, Eddie Hakim stood off to the side and smiled.
Hakim served in the Army at one time and now he serves the Army through his work with Edison Job Corp. Hakim assists in the preparation of young men who desire to enter the Army but may lack the skills to pass the the recruitment tests.
“We prepare them by getting them tutoring through 'March to Success', Hakim explained.
For his efforts, Hakim was honored by the Army and the racing team by being named the week's honorary crewman. It was an honor Hakim did not seek out, but accepted humbly. For Hakim, he finds honor in every young man and woman he presents to the Army, who then goes on to a successful career serving their country.
Take away his last name and Eddie is American as apple pie. However, the name and his accent gives him away. Eddie won't reveal the country of his birth, somewhere in the Middle East, instead he is quick to point out he is an American citizen and fully supports the Army.
“It means a lot,” Eddie said of his American citizenship. “The place I come from, I always wanted to come to America. All the freedoms you dream about, all the opportunities you dream about you can find in the United States of America. That is why I am very proud to help the military as much as I can.”
FUNNY CAR
AFRAID OF A GIRL OR DEJA VU? – One week ago, Ashley Force lost in the final round to Tony Pedregon in the Route 66 Nationals. 
That race was over early. This week, Force ran Pedregon right to the line but still couldn't move her Ford past Pedregon's Chevrolet.
“I never thought I would be afraid of a girl,” Pedregon said, a smile on his face. “I think that little bit of fear, the fear of losing, the fear of failure, was in the back of my head. I knew we had a good race car. I just knew that Dickie (Venables) was making a lot of adjustments going into that final. I had that feeling that this was going to be a close race. Anytime we feel threatened we try to get any advantage that we can.”
Pedregon got an immediate advantage off the line with a strong .068 reaction time to Force Hood's relatively slow .125 to take his second win of the season, 42nd in 71 final round appearances and claimed the top spot in the point standings, pushing former point leader, Ron Capps, to third behind Force Hood.
Force nearly made up the lost time with an extremely strong, 4.219 seconds, 272.72 mph to Pedregon's fading 4.246, 260.56. The margin of victory a narrow .030 seconds, or just a bit more than half of Pedregon's hole shot advantage.
After making the “afraid of the girl” comment Pedregon was quick to set the record straight. His fear really was not about racing a girl.
“Hey, Ashley she is more than just a pretty girl,” Pedregon said. “I've made some comments before that she gets a lot of media just because she's female, and she does. But, she deserves it because she does a good job in the seat. It's no accident you're first or second in the points. I think sometimes as competitors we have the tendency to try to look at our competitors as the enemy. That's not what it's about.
“It was a heck of a final round. I knew she was going to be out there. I heard her for awhile. My car started revving up; it was spinning the tires because we were a little aggressive. We'd come this far, we weren't going to detune it. I think they had the same problem.
“I know I could feel the g's falling off. I could see the finish line. If it would have been 1320 feet I would have been in big trouble.”
The two competitors were forced to wait through a delay as track officials reset the sand trap fences and water barrels after two alcohol funny cars went into the trap, consecutively.
Pedregon, already comfortable with the run off, spent the time watching a little television.
“When I got here I went to look to the shutdown area and it was a big improvement and it's a lot like what we have seen at other tracks. I went to the end of the track and turned around and made a quick u-turn because that is all I needed to see. I did ask if they were okay. They said it was. So, I watched the NASCAR race, just trying to pass a little time.”
FAST ISN'T FAST ENOUGH AT TIMES - Ashley Force Hood raced to her third final in a row - class leading fifth overall for 2009 - and moved into second place in the Full Throttle point standings today at Raceway Park. Unfortunately she did not drive away with the victory at the storied NHRA SuperNationals. Her Dean “Guido” Antonelli and Ron Douglas tuned Castrol GTX Mustang made a solid 4.21 second run but two-time world champion and former John Force Racing driver Tony Pedregon got a jump start at the starting line and beat her to the finish line.
“(Reaching three finals in a row) will matter in about an hour and a half. Then you will get it into a little more perspective. We had a good weekend. It is frustrating. You never want to lose on a hole shot. You never want to lose period,” said Force Hood. “For a driver (hole shots are) particularly hard to swallow. When your car stumbles a little or doesn’t run as quick you’ll see my crew chiefs upset and I am the one pepping them up. It works the same way for the driver.:
“It is amazing how important the reaction times were in the pro finals. My husband Dan told me that before me the Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock classes were won on hole shots and then Antron (Brown) red-lit in the Top Fuel final. This final round for the pros was all about the start and the first couple of feet.”
200...201...AND COUNTING – Tim Wilkerson, driving the Levi, Ray and Shoop Shelby Cobra Ford, posted round wins 200 and 201 before losing to Tony Pedregon in the semi-finals. Wilkerson's loss wiped out the possibility of an all Ford final round.
NOW WAIT A MINUTE BOSS – To say that Robert Hight has struggled this season might be an understatement. High has struggled to qualify and to get past the first round until lately. Good runs at Topeka and Joliet bode well for the fourth year driver until he met up with the boss in the first round at Englishtown.
Both drivers pedaled through the run, but it was Hight's father in law who prevailed at the finish line.
MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE ASSOCIATION WORKING - The Motorcraft/Quick Lane association with Bob Tasca Racing represents an
Darryl Hazel, President of Ford Customer Service Division and Senior Vice President of Ford Motor Company, visited Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., to make a hands on appraisal of the program.
“I'm really impressed,” said Hazel, when asked about what he had seen so far. “The guys have done of a great job. The fan involvement, the level of interest; you look at the people who are here at the races are the type of people who buy are cars and buy are parts. It's exactly what we should be doing.”
What Hazel says both Motorcraft and Quick Lane are doing is pushing forward with a program that puts them directly in front of both loyal customers and takes great advantage of new marketing methods.
“I actually believe that in this type of climate, this type of activity increases in importance. The reason I say that, is people have all sorts of choices as to what they do. Television and radio is not nearly as effective as it use to be. So, you really need to market more to people who have already demonstrated an interest in your product. And, that's exactly what we are doing. These people are here because they want to be here and they're interested in the sorts of things we do and it leads to a much better long term relationship.”
For the program, Tasca's victory in Gainesville wasn't nearly as important to Motorcraft and Quick Lane as it was to Ford Motor Company.
“We were ecstatic to see him win, but it was more for the crew, the team that he works with, because we've already done a really good job of interacting with customers. It certainly provides more credibility and the motivation to continue to do better. Earlier this week, Bob, III and the car were featured in the Wall Street Journal and an event they did in lower Manhattan right outside the stock exchange and I suspect if he hadn't won they might have picked somebody else.
“All in all, we are in it because we think it's good business.”
Geoff Smith, Motorsports Manager Quick Lane/Motorcraft, has noticed a surge in popularity following the win that translated into increased interaction at the company displays at the track.
“One thing I noticed being at the race was the increased number of fans that came to our trailer. Obviously, the more popular Bob becomes, and we think he is a tremendous spokesperson for the company and our brands, the more brand recognition we get and that is what we are after,” said Smith.
“I will say this, the higher you qualify the more traffic you get in that event,” added Hazel. “So, qualifying higher is certainly a good thing and the highest form of qualification is winning the race.”
The efforts of Motorcraft and Quick Lane go beyond reaching out to loyal Ford fans. Fans are not the only individuals who make choices. When a customer goes looking for a part, its very important for Motorcraft for the salesman behind the counter to push the Motorcraft part over another manufacturer. Which is completely separate from the racing.
“The program we have here, which is Motorcraft/Quick Lane, is sponsored by the business unit. The racing is sponsored by the corporation and its more of a general corporate sort of thing. So, it really is two different management streams, two different budgets and what have you. Clearly we want to coordinate, but in this particular venue with this car, which you'll notice there is nothing on the car other than Quick Lane and Motorcraft, because its a partnership between Tasca Racing, and Tasca is totally Ford, and Ford Customer Service Division.
“What we are trying to do is figure out how to not only go deep with the marketing effort that we have here. But now we have 24 races, we are not all 24 races yet, the next thing you'll see from us is breadth. You'll see us do more, but still with this venue. We may try to figure out how to open other audiences to it, as well.”
As the program progresses, Bob, who is quick to push the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday' attitude, is also out there selling the daily message to buy Motorcraft parts and service your vehicle at Quick Lane outlets. And, the more parts and services Tasca can help sell, the more successful the program.
PRO STOCK
ANOTHER RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT FOR JEGS - You can call him the champ. You can call him the winner. But the way he has beat a
heavily-favored opponent time and time again, you can logically call him Houdini. Aside from 2000, when he won six of the first seven national events on the NHRA schedule, four-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has never had a start like he's enjoying in 2009.
Sunday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey, Coughlin collected his NHRA-leading fifth trophy of the season by stopping a quicker Mike Edwards. The win, 46th of his career, expanded his point lead in the Full Throttle rankings to triple digits with 11 races gone in the season.
"It's really incredible," Coughlin said. "We're just finding ways to get it done."
Just as it was a week ago in Chicago, Coughlin had to figure out a way to beat Mike Edwards and his slightly quicker race car to get the win. Seven days ago, Edwards crept through the staging beams and was disqualified for leaving the starting line too soon. This time, Edwards was just late enough for Coughlin to take the victory on a hole shot in his gleaming yellow and black JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt.
After Coughlin left with a .025 to .038-second reaction time advantage, Edwards began a valiant chase but the wily Coughlin was able to hold off his charge to win with a 6.598 at 209.49 mph to Edwards' quicker but losing 6.587 at 209.82 mph.
"I knew we probably needed a hundredth or two to even things up a bit and give ourselves a chance against Mike," Coughlin said. "I got a little edge and then just did everything I could to make a perfect run. We had just enough to hold him off.
"They told me I won by less than a foot so it was very close down there. Talk about exciting! I could sense that he was out there next to me and we all know what Mike's car is capable of running so I didn't dare peek over. I just wanted that win light to come on and it finally did."
Earlier in the day, Coughlin beat Jason Line, Ron Krisher, and Allen Johnson, all of whom struggled to keep their race cars straight at the launch. As usual, Coughlin jumped on his opponent's miscues and turned on the win light each round."Every round is such a battle," said Coughlin, who has now won three times this year when starting from the No. 8 qualifying position. "You know Jason has a great horse. Ron was the No. 1 qualifier so they're running good over there. Allen has been right in the thick of it all year, and Mike has the best racecar at the moment. Nothing comes easy, that's for sure.
"This was a nice one to win for our team owner Victor Cagnazzi because he's a New York guy and had a bunch of his friends and family out this weekend. It was nice to give them something to get excited about. I know we're plenty excited in this JEGS pit."
CLOSE MOMENTS – Coughlin and Edwards almost made contact in the shutdown area when miscommunication from the shutdown traffic control brought the two within two feet of one another.
“It looked like they had their hand out to Mike and pointed to me,” Coughlin explained. “I thought he was pointing at me and I started to come over. Then I saw Mike on my door and I hit the brakes and tugged it over.”
Coughlin explained that Pro Stock drivers run blinders and that cuts down on their peripheral vision. While Coughlin prefers to stay away from the Days of Thunder style driving in the shutdown area, he’s not lost on the idea that rubbing is racing.
“We race dirt cars at home, farm cars and all kinds of stuff, [running the close] that was nothing out of the ordinary,” Coughlin said with a smile.
ECKMAN’S BIG WIN - Timing means everything in drag racing and for Jerry Eckman timing has worked against him and worked in his favor. The former Pro Stock racer has moved on from the negatives but the most positive experience came at Englishtown 22 years ago when he and former team owner Bill Orndorff won the Pro Stock title at the 1987 NHRA Summernationals at Raceway Park.
Winning the Pro Stock title at Englishtown for the Rodger Brogdon crewman remains one of the highlights of his career.
Out of money and out of luck, the team was on the last leg of a racing effort and down to their last ounce of hope when Eckman drove the team’s Camaro to the winner’s circle. Had they lost early their season could have been finished.
Instead Eckman’s final round victory over Bruce Allen not only ensured that he left Englishtown with the trophy and a much needed cash influx, but also major sponsorship from Pennzoil.
Eckman had been fishing hard for a sponsorship for three seasons, anything to keep the team out of the financial red and on the race track. Down to his last dollars, Eckman reached out.
“I contacted a friend of mine, Dean Tait who worked for Pennzoil, and I told him to see if they could give us any help,” Eckman recalled. “He said that Pennzoil was thinking about getting back into racing after that long stint they had with Rick Mears and they were coming to this race. They came to this race and I won it, so the timing was perfect and a week later we signed that contract with Pennzoil.”
Pennzoil was pleasantly surprised. Eckman was just surprised.
Two years earlier the team had run completely out of money and left the 1985 NHRA Springnationals in Columbus, Ohio without their race team as Orndorff sold the race team lock, stock and barrel to former racer Stan Mizell. A year later Orndorff called Eckman suggesting they try Pro Stock one more time with his new Willie Rells car.
Eckman won the race and crossed the finish line just as rain began to fall.
“It just started, big drops,” Eckman said. “It didn't last long but big drops. It was just significant to me to hit the finish line, saw the big drops hit the windshield, saw the win light and I was really excited. My whole team was excited. It was fun to collect the trophy, the championship hats. We had never experienced anything like that; it was really great.”
It was the first time he’d ever cried as he drove past the finish line too. Timing will do that to a drag racer.
AVENGER UPDATE – On June 10, 2009, Chrysler completed the sale of assets to Italian manufacturer Fiat. For factory-backed, Mopar
Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson, the change in ownership shouldn’t affect his program. In fact, he believes the company’s dedication to racing should help his cause.
That doesn’t mean he’ll be racing one of those classic Fiat Topolinos. It does mean there’s a strong likelihood that he’ll have the eagerly awaited Dodge Avenger to test and run in competition just in time for the Countdown to the Championship.
“This is a fresh beginning for Mopar and Fiat, a clean slate to start with,” Johnson said, enthusiasm permeating his voice. “They are all confident in moving forward that motorsports will remain a strategic part of their plan to rebuild the company.”
The timing couldn’t be better for Johnson who scored his sixth career victory two weeks ago in Topeka, Kan.
Johnson also hopes rumors suggesting Fiat will implement the Dodge Avenger body into road racing are true.
“Anything they can do in racing is good,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we can contribute to keeping them in the forefront of Pro Stock. Right now we are tickled to death with what we are hearing.”
Johnson would have preferred to have had a Dodge Avenger earlier in the season, however late is better than never.
“We would have loved to have had it because we feel like the Dodge Stratus is the worst car out here versus the GMs,” Johnson admitted. “Timing is everything and sometimes it all works out for the best.”
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
WINNING WITH FRIENDS - Craig Treble has an exceptional amount of experience racing in Englishtown, so much so that he can read
the barometer like the back of his hand. Only this time, to borrow a quote from Joe Cocker, Treble got by with a little help from his friends.Treble worked the weekend with a makeshift crew, comprised mainly of members of Michael Philips’ crew and any of their friends he could pick up. His bike didn’t have a performance advantage as it is ten years old and the engine is one borrowed from Philips.
Once Philips was eliminated in the first round he also joined the Treble group.
“We have worked together before,” Treble said of Philips joining in the mix. “Without that guy I wouldn’t even be racing. He’s keeping me alive. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to that guy.”
“I didn’t have a .90 in that bike,” Treble admitted. “I just had to be on the tree.”
With the exception of Berry, Treble out-reacted everyone he faced and by his own admission “got medieval on the tree” in the final round against Krawiec. The final round was a payback for Treble who received the same treatment from the defending world champion earlier this season at St. Louis.
“He went .009 on the line in St. Louis, so [Krawiec] touché,” Treble said with a smile.
Treble expects his cash-strapped budget to benefit from his second victory of the season. He believes the victory will provide enough money to overhaul the engine and afford a trip out west to the one event in Sonoma, Ca.
“We’re looking good,” he concluded.
MISC
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WORK AS PLANNED - The Top Alcohol semi-finals made for tense moments as Marty Nothstein and Alexis DeJoria both tested the new containment system at during the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown, N.J.
Nothstein’s parachute didn’t fully blossom and he slid into the first of the two nets.
DeJoria’s Top Alcohol Funny Car parachutes tore away from the car just past the quarter-mile following a 5.555 elapsed time at 260.06 mph winning effort. Her car didn’t appear to scrape off much speed until it the sandtrap and went past the first net, into the second net and three rows deep into four rows of water barrels.
Both drivers were cleared by medical personnel, walking away from their respective incidents without assistance.
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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - SATURDAY NOTEBOOK: ETOWN NOT GOING AWAY AND FORD PRO STOCK RUMBLINGS …
ETOWN HERE TO STAY – David Napp, track operator, has heard all the rumors and while there does exist an inner frustration, Napp 
laughs off the talk that Old Bridge Township Raceway Park is closing.
Napp tries to keep track of the tales in his mind, even though he knows the day will come when he will have to write down those tales, just to keep an official record of all the rumors.
“We've heard neighbors are shutting it down, it's sold, it's for sale, it's for rent, it's up for grabs, the town's shutting it down; we've heard it all,” Napp said, smiling and shaking his head.
“We've heard it probably for the last 25 years nonstop and we're still here and we're not going anywhere.”
A quarter of a century of hearing the same rumors and squelching the mistruths can make one weary and even frustrated at times. Some days he just shrugs off the talk and others he’s angered. No matter how he feels Napp admits, “It just comes with the territory. You just have to let it roll off your shoulders.”
The famed facility opened for business in 1965 originally as Madison Township Raceway Park by brothers Vincent and Louis Napp, and Vincent’s sons Richard and Vincent. The drag strip was described by a local newspaper as bordered by acres and acres of untouched woodland. It was the perfect location for what is a very noisy sport.
Urban sprawl has changed the complexion of those same woodlands as it is estimated nearly 25,000 now live within three miles of the track.
Napp, the third generation of family ownership, has watched as the track has faced limitations on when they could operate the drag strip and acceptable noise levels, among others. There have been town meetings with opponents of the facility lobbying for its closure or overwhelming regulations.
Still OBTRP stands open for business and the tensions with the neighbors has certainly eased with a peace offering of free tickets.
“That certainly was a way to reach out,” Napp explained.
Napp believes to make a drag strip a welcomed member of the community one must be a good neighbor. That’s why OBTRP has been active in sponsoring local little leagues and the schools, whether it’s backing incentive programs or something as simple as a school calendar.
“You just do community outreach and through that, I think, we were able to bring people from the community that maybe had thought our facility was one thing and they came with their family and saw what it was and now they have a different outlook – that this is a quality top notch facility,” Napp said. “We're good neighbors. We're good business. We're good for the community and the area businesses. All that was needed was a little bit more community outreach to convert some people into realizing drag racing isn't something dangerous that kids are doing on the street, it's a well organized professional sport.”
Napp’s belief is that communication is king in Englishtown.
“Everything begins with communication,” he explained. “If you are not communicating your point no one is hearing it. You have to be the first one to pipe up and not wait for the knock on the door. Be the first one to put your hand out before they can slap it away.”
That’s why Napp believes the track is here for the long haul, regardless of the rumors.
ARMY STRONG, EVEN WET – Rain showers at the NHRA SuperNationals guaranteed Tony Schumacher his first No. 1 qualifier of the 
season and the 57th of his career.
Schumacher recorded a 3.818 second pass at 314.46 miles per hour during Saturday afternoon’s lone qualifying session to take the top spot and also ensure a first round bye run due to a 15-car field.
“We’re certainly happy to get our first number one of the year, especially since we get a first round bye run,” Schumacher said. “We can always use the free 20 points whenever we can get them. We have to take advantage of that opportunity when it presents itself.”
The first round bye run bodes well for Schumacher who had a 35-race first round winning streak snapped last weekend against Terry Haddock.
“That really left a bad taste in our mouths,” Schumacher admitted. “This gives us an opportunity to start a new one. Even better, I’d like to leave here with the points lead again.”
Schumacher has only qualified No. 1 at Englishtown twice in his career with the last coming in 2007.
THE REST OF THE ARMY – Ashley Force Hood retained her top spot from Friday Funny Car qualifying on the strength of her 4.071 
second run at 303.37 miles per hour. She races Jack Beckman first round in a rematch of the Atlanta final round.
Ron Krisher and teammate Edwards finished one-two in Pro Stock qualifying, separated by .085 of a second.
Gainesville champion Hector Arana took advantage of improved weather conditions on Saturday afternoon to ride his Buell to the top spot of Pro Stock Motorcyle. He ran a 6.965 elapsed time at 189.87 miles per hour.
Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday morning at 11 A.M.
GET OFF MY BANDWAGON – Jim Cunningham wouldn’t exactly
describe his mood as enthused to hear banter floating around the pits suggesting that he’ll have company in running a Ford Pro Stock program in 2010.
“I’ve run Fords since 1988,” Cunningham said. “I’ve had about six Pro Stockers since then and I’ve spent about $6 Million and now everybody wants to get on the bandwagon. Everyone says I have partners, but I don’t have any partners. The only partner I have is my wife, and I can’t get rid of her. It would cost me too much money.”
Most recently Larry Morgan announced a switch from Mopar over to Ford for 2010 and reportedly at least three teams are rumored to be ready to follow that same path.
Cunningham understands that more chefs in this kitchen will not necessarily spoil the broth but it’s still frustrating to see others adopt a combination that he never gave up on and inevitably funded the rebirth of the brand in Pro Stock.
Cunningham won’t discuss how much money he’s spent in the development of a new Ford Pro Stock engine configuration, but he adds it’s been a healthy amount with Ford Racing to upgrade the manufacturer’s fifteen-year old technology in the class. He’s also in the formative stages of developing an engine lease program once they get the new parts tested and proven.
Cunningham also has a pair of revamped and more aerodynamic Mustangs coming from Don Ness and also Jerry Haas to go along with the new parts.
The Ness Ford will debut first.
“Hopefully before Indy we will have new cars, blocks and heads,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham’s team, with driver Erica Enders, was absent at the NHRA events in Topeka and Chicago because they had wounded their primary engine on the dyno. The team owner said his team was exploring a significant horsepower gain with their older combination.
“It’s one of those things where the cylinder wall gave way,” Cunningham explained.
Cunningham is drawing impatient with sitting on the sidelines.
“I really want to get our new cars out here so I can go back to racing,” Cunningham admitted. “I’m tired of watching everyone else race.
HADDOCK’S CHARITY TOUR – Terry Haddock told CompetitionPlus.com at the beginning of the season that he planned to run two nitro 
cars in 2009, focusing on each event to determine which provided his team the best opportunity to qualifying and win. The defending IHRA World Champion who has become an NHRA regular opted to run both cars, one dragster and one Funny Car, in Englishtown because the events provide an excellent opportunity to win.
The wins Haddock have in mind have little or any impact on whether he lights up the scoreboards. The real victory he seeks is in awareness.
The Top Fuel dragster he drives this weekend carries the logo of the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children while his Funny Car, driven this weekend by Cory Lee, spread the message of the veteran’s group Fueled by the Fallen.
Lend America backed the Dream House dragster while actor Kevyn Major Howard, who starred in the movie Full Metal Jacket, covered the Funny Car.
“These are both good causes and we are trying to help out with some exposure for them,” Haddock said.
Haddock can relate to children charities having lost a newborn daughter a few years ago.
“I’ve actually donated money to several children’s charities over the years,” Haddock said. “Anytime we can raise money or awareness for kids, we do it.”
Lee was responsible for spearheading the effort to bring the Fueled for the Fallen Funny Car into existence. Over the last three years, he’s kept busy racing both nostalgia and through limited stints on the IHRA tour.
“I had a chance meeting with Kevyn Major Howard last October and we hit it off as friends right away,” Lee said. “He told me about the program bringing in assistance for the veterans with a heavy emphasis on the Marines because of my family background with them, so I had a warm spot in my heart.”
RINGING THEIR BELL – Ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and driving a Top Fuel
dragster can both bring a rush. Morgan Lucas, one of seven racers who participated in the prestigious opportunity on Wednesday afternoon, was an eye-opener for Lucas.
“It’s definitely not like watching [the movie] Trading Places and seeing how people work,” Lucas explained. “It was an incredible opportunity to witness that and to know that 40-percent of America’s wealth goes through that building.”
The team effort Lucas witnessed among the traders on the floor of the NYSE wasn’t that different from what many race fans witness while watching the nitro teams between rounds at NHRA Full Throttle drag racing events.
“It compares a lot but the computer technology at the NYSE has helped a lot,” Lucas said. “I think their pit areas are less volatile than they used to be but they are still pretty crazy. You walk through there and those people are extremely serious about their job.”
Lucas’ experience as a professional drag racer has opened him to many extracurricular activities but this one ranks atop the list, for now.
“If I could ever go back and do it again, I wish that I could take a camcorder next time,” Lucas said. “It’s probably one of the coolest things I’ve gotten to experience as a drag racer.”
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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK: A YEAR LATER, REVAMPED ETOWN AND EMOTIONAL MOMENTS
NHRA OFFERS SAFER ETOWN SHUTDOWN - One year after the tragic death of NHRA Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, a concerted effort 
on behalf of the NHRA and Old Bridge Township Raceway Park officials has resulted in the Englishtown, N.J. facility implementing a run-off area similar to those in Pomona, Indianapolis and Charlotte.
A wider and more elevated safety net spans from one side of the track to the other and is clearly visible from 2,243 feet away. That is just one of the more noticeable improvements to a part of the track that has been relentlessly criticized over the last year.
“It was a combination of our efforts, Wayne McMurtry (NHRA) and the University of Nebraska,” said Graham Light, NHRA Vice President of Operations. “They have done a phenomenal job here and did exactly what we asked of them. We’re very happy with what we see.”
Kalitta’s death occurred during the final session of qualifying when his Funny Car exploded an engine. The parachute failed to deploy and when the car hit the sand trap at a high rate of speed it vaulted into the air striking a pole securing a catch net and then struck an ESPN boom truck parked on the other side of the sand trap. According to the New Jersey State Police, blunt force trauma was the cause of death.
Light believes that not only was it important to create a safer shutdown area in Englishtown, but at all tracks on the tour. He knew that in the year following Kalitta’s accident, Raceway Park's efforts to improve the shutdown area would be scrutinized under a microscope.
“I stood before a group of team owners, drivers and crew chiefs [in Norwalk] with a list of short-term and some long-term plans,” Light said.
The first item on the list of the short term was in containing the explosion of the car. Second on the list was addressing the parachute failure and the ineffectiveness of the brakes.
Third, but certainly not the least important, was in improving the run-off area.
“We addressed, analyzed and implemented new rules with the short-term items,” Light said. “We also constructed new run-off areas at almost everywhere we go.”
Light understood the programs which have been implemented couldn’t be done overnight but a year later he’s proud of the progress everyone involved has made in the name of safety.
“I’m very proud of our track operators, our people internally that work very hard, manufacturers, as well as the race teams who were willing to test cars … I think collectively the whole community banded together and got to the point we are at,” Light said.
“Is there more to do?” Light continued. “Sure there is. As new technology comes along, new things we experience that we haven’t seen before, it’s going to [continue to] be a work in progress. It always will be.”
PEACE AND TRANQUILITY – Ever wonder why Ashley Force Hood has been so dominant in 2009 NHRA Funny Car qualifying? The No. 1 
qualifying efforts provide the second generation drag racer with her most peaceful moments during an event. During the cart ride from the pits to the press room for the post qualifying press conference gives her time to decompress.
Knowing qualifying number one gives her that moment is why Ashley had a broad smile on her face when she nailed the throttle of her Castrol GTX-sponsored, Ford Mustang. Her intuitions were rewarded with a 4.071 elapsed time at 303.37 miles per hour to land atop the field headed into Saturday.
“When I left the starting line, I felt it pull harder than it usually does,” Force Hood admitted. “It’s nice when what you felt in the run matches what the crew chiefs are doing. They had told me that they were trying to push the car harder earlier in the run since down track wasn’t taking as much.”
Among those who smoked the tires down track were her 14-time world championship winning father John Force, who rests in the No. 12 perch with two sessions remaining in qualifications.
Force Hood noticed an unusual amount of tuning activity with each run ahead of her. Her crew chiefs Dean “Guido” Antonelli and Ron Douglas made constant adjustments in the lanes, likely backing down the horsepower.
“They were making a lot of decisions and talking a lot,” she admitted. “Usually we don’t talk a lot on the radio before a run. They have a decision in their mind and usually don’t let the cars ahead of them change their minds. They were chatting right up until made the run. That can either mean it’s going to be a monster run or right on that edge.”
So did her team back into the edge of the envelope?
“Yep,” she admitted.
EMOTIONAL MOMENT - Drag racing is an emotional sport and Friday during qualifying at the NHRA SuperNationals, a single nitro run 
testing the limits of those emotions.
Jeff Arend, who succeeded Scott Kalitta as driver of the DHL Toyota Funny Car, opened Friday’s nitro session with a single run in honor of the driver who lost his life at Englishtown last year.
Arend ran after a video tribute to Kalitta played on the ACDelco Vision big screen.
A large group of those paying tribute included Kalitta’s dad, Connie, the Oberhofers, Hillary Will, Tom Compton and Graham Light. Many of the race fans in the grandstands stood in support of the Kalitta team.
Unfortunately for the team, the car struck the tires shortly at the hit and Arend aborted the run.
"Obviously, we miss Scott a lot," said Arend after the pass. "We would have liked to have run better on that run, but we will this weekend."
MR. MOJO’S RISING – Nothing says mojo like a No. 1 qualifier.
Allen Johnson scored an impressive Pro Stock victory at the NHRA Summernationals two weeks ago and proclaimed that he’s found his mojo. He’s so proud of it that he showed it off in first day qualifying at the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J.
Johnson covered the quarter-mile in 6.607 seconds at 208.23 miles per hour to beat out this season’s strongest qualifier, Mike Edwards, who was only .003 off of Johnson's Mopar-sponsored Dodge Stratus. If the run holds it will mark his first of the season and the seventh of his career.
Johnson admitted that he outperformed Edwards the old fashioned way. He rolled the dice and gambled.
“Mike’s been qualifying so good that we had to just go for it,” Johnson said Friday evening in the post-qualifying press conference. “We changed some chassis stuff around and hit it down low.”
He didn’t just hit it down low. Johnson murdered the mark with a .964 sixty-foot clocking, .24 quicker than Edwards.
“My dad is doing an awesome job with the motors and the guys are giving me an incredible car,” Johnson said. “Tonight we just rolled the dice and got aggressive. There was cloud cover and the car really worked good.”
LAY YOUR BETS DOWN – There’s nothing like a little Vegas action in the staging lanes, even if you are in Englishtown, N.J.
Tony Schumacher’s crew gambled on themselves and their wager was whether they would run over or under the 4.83 Dixon Line.
Larry Dixon laid down a 3.83 in the pair ahead of Schumacher and that determined which way he was going to bet.
“We had an over/under bet going. “One of the guys on the crew said 3.83 and above' and one guy said 3.82 and below.'
“We were all wondering what it was going to be. When Dixon goes out and runs a 3.83 we didn't have much of a choice but to go out for a 3.82. It was just a perfect run.”
Schumacher’s 3.818 elapsed time at 314.46 spoke volumes about not only the quality of the track but also about his tuner Mike Green, a man who many didn’t give much of a chance to succeed as the tuner to follow Alan Johnson.
“The track is outstanding. The track itself, it's a great surface area. The concrete area is fantastic, the asphalt is great. You gotta watch the weather. When you see cars going out there, and knowing there are 15 cars which very seldom happens at a race, knowing the number one guy has that bye we knew everyone was going for it.
“I don't think people give him the credit he deserving off. He's a great guy. He does a fantastic job. He has some big shoes to fill with Alan Johnson leaving. He's done a great job. I am happy to drive; happy to be part of this team.”
A PERFECT UNION - Hondas and Suzukis are living in perfect harmony. At least on Craig Treble’s ageless Pro Stock Motorcycle they 
are.
Treble, of Harvey, La., rode his Kingston Honda-sponsored Suzuki to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position at the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J. His run of 7.008 seconds at 198.43 miles per hour topped all sixteen bikes in attendance.
“The conditions got a lot better for us out there in the second session,” Treble said. “We were a little soft on the clutch and over-jetted for the first session. We saw that on the computer, leaned it out [the engine] and tightened up the clutch, the track and the air came to us.”
That was a good thing for Treble, who is running the 2009 season on lean funding.
Treble continues to beat the odds astride a ten-year old bike and a borrowed motor from fellow Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Michael Philips.
“I try not to run up and down the track with that engine and I baby it,” Treble admitted. “I hug and kiss it every night, tell it I love it and caress it. That’s my only bullet.”
Making his low budgeted effort even more impressive is the fact he’s running this weekend with a pickup crew.
“My regular help, my brother and Scott Williams, couldn’t make it this weekend,” Treble explained. “I have borrowed help in Johnny Thompson and Malcolm Philips, Michael Philips’ nephew. We’ve got a bunch of vagabonds over there.”
WITH A FINE-TOOTH COMB - Lance Larsen, crew chief, has been sleeping a lot better lately. He says that’s a byproduct of a good 
running hot rod.
Lately that’s the best way to describe the Mark Pickens Enterprises/Motorvation dragster driven by Clay Millican. On the strength of a runner-up and a semi-final finish, the five-time IHRA champion turned NHRA regular has pulled into the top ten of points.
“There have been several little things,” Larsen said, taking time from studying his computer graphs. “Our car has ran pretty good all year. It just hasn’t left the starting line. We found some maintenance issues that we were doing incorrectly.”
Larsen cautions that one shouldn’t blame the crew because they were only doing what they were instructed to do.
“There were a lot of things that we needed to change around that didn’t make a lot of common sense,” Larsen said.
Credit the Mike Ashley Racing Top Fuel team with providing direction to sorting out the problems.
“They told me some areas to look into,” Larsen said.
After the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, TN, the team returned to their Memphis shop and scrutinized every single move they made when starting the car. They started the car five times to straighten out an issue.
The extra scrutiny paid dividends for the team in Topeka.
“It made the car more predictable,” Larsen said. “The guys were doing their jobs and I thought I was doing mine, but I was wrong.”
Larsen pointed out the team’s morale remained high because the car always made it to the finish line under power. The car was qualifying well enough to earn lane choice more times than not, yet something was missing.
“It wasn’t like we were idiots, there was just one little thing we were missing and didn’t catch it,” Larsen added.
Larsen declines to say what the problems were, opting only to say, “We fixed it”, after a group effort by Millican, Mike Ashley Racing and the rest of the MPE Motorsports.
It seems the MPE team has found their groove at the perfect time by pulling into the top ten in Full Throttle Top Fuel points halfway through the first phase of the of the Countdown to the Championship. Larsen tends to disagree.
“I’d say we’re about eight races too late,” Larsen admits. “I guess I shouldn't say too late because we are certainly capable of getting in the Countdown and staying in there because of the fact that this is a good team. Our engine program is doing well and we have a driver who is absolutely one of the best who has ever lived.”
Another issue that has dogged the team is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“We could have a great light and the guy in the other lane ends up having a little better,” Larsen laments. “We’ve raced Alan Johnson’s team three times and he’s beat us every time but we’ve been right there in the picture. My philosophy has been to go to the finish line because I don’t know how to run like he runs. I know how to run like I run and eventually he’ll falter and I’ll get him. I’ll walk over, smile and shake his hand.”
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THURSDAY NOTEBOOK - KALITTA TO BE REMEMBERED AT ETOWN
The two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion will be remembered first on Friday during the first Funny Car qualifying session. Jeff Arend, who is now piloting Kalitta's DHL Toyota Solara, will make the first qualifying run as a single in the left lane in honor of Kalitta. Before Arend's single pass, NHRA will show a Kalitta video tribute on the ACDelco Vision big screen video display.
On Sunday prior to the start of eliminations, NHRA will observe a moment of silence to honor Kalitta during pre-race ceremonies and will again show the video tribute.
Kalitta, the son of NHRA legend Connie Kalitta, earned 18 victories during his career and claimed back-to-back Top Fuel world championship titles in 1994 and 1995. He is one of 14 drivers in NHRA history to earn victories in both premier nitro categories.
NHRA ON FOX BIZ - Representatives from the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series performed the prestigious task of ringing The Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday morning, June 10.
More than 20 NHRA sponsors and/or partners who are listed on the New York Stock Exchange were invited by the NYSE to take part in the event, which serves as a kickoff for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, which will be hosting the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals June 11-14 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series remains the only major motorsport to host a race in the New York Area, the nation's No. 1 DMA.
NHRA President Tom Compton was joined in ringing The Opening Bell by Coca-Cola North America Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing Beatriz Perez, Coca-Cola North America Director of Motorsports Marketing Ben Reiling, and George Pyne, President of IMG's Sports and Entertainment Group.
The contingent on the podium also included drivers Antron Brown (Matco Tools), Ashley Force Hood (Ford, BP/Castrol), Bob Tasca (Ford), Tony Pedregon (Quaker State), Eddie Krawiec (Harley-Davidson), and Morgan Lucas and Karen Stoffer (GEICO) - as well as Marci Brand, Regional Vice President for the Automotive Americas (Castrol); Darryl Hazel President, Ford Customer Service Division
(Ford); Tim Gilmore, Vice President Sales (Matco Tools); and GEICO executive Eric Vaden.
The Opening Bell was shown around the world on the four major business channels (CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg and CNN) and also was simulcast on the giant flat screen on the W Hotel in Times Square.
NHRA was featured on CNBC, as well as on Fox Business, where Compton, Perez, and Tasca were interviewed. NHRA also will be featured on Fox Business' America's Nightly Scoreboard at 7:40 p.m. ET Wednesday, where GEICO-sponsored racers Morgan Lucas and Karen Stoffer will be interviewed.
NHRA also hosted a fan fest in front of the NYSE featuring the Matco Tools dragster, Geico Powersports dragster, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, and the Geico Powersports Suzuki. Full Throttle Energy Drink was represented on a themed NHRA Full Throttle Series banner on the façade of the NYSE.
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WEDNESDAY NOTEBOOK - RACERS PREPARE FOR EMOTIONAL WEEKEND
A BITTERSWEET RETURN - Returning to the NHRA SuperNationals this weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway in Englishtown, N.J., will 
be a bittersweet time for Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Last year at this event, Beckman was in the "water box" preparing to perform a burnout before his final attempt to qualify when, on the track in front of him, Scott Kalitta lost his life in a tragic accident.
It was Beckman's last chance to qualify for the event and he failed to do so. He returned home to California the next day with a heavy heart.
"We didn't qualify last year for the SuperNationals, as the NHRA cancelled the rest of the qualifying that day when Scott had his accident," said Beckman, a cancer survivor and former Air Force sergeant. "It didn't matter to me. It's the first time that I could ever think of in my racing career where qualifying didn't actually seem all that important.
"It's never going to be the same," he said following the loss. "It's not like one day we went, OK, well, we're over that. You'll never get over it. There is a time frame when it hurts almost constantly. And then when you get past that it's a memory and a tugging at the heart when you think of the people we have lost.
"It's going to be bittersweet going back to Englishtown," he said. "We'll have a chance to honor Scott amongst all the crews and the teams and remember him for the great racer and person he was."
THE CHAMP'S MIXED EMOTIONS - Defending NHRA SuperNationals champion Tony Schumacher is not sure how he’ll react when he first 
arrives in Englishtown.
“For sure, it’s going to be tough for everyone in the NHRA family,” said the six-time world champion. “It’s hard to believe, but it’s already been a year since we lost (Funny Car driver) Scott Kalitta.”
It was at Raceway Park last year when Kalitta was killed in a Saturday qualifying crash. In response to the incident, the NHRA changed the race distance for the Funny Car and Top Fuel classes from the traditional quarter-mile to the 1,000-foot mark.
“And, we’re still going to 1,000 feet,” added Schumacher. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s fine. I still believe we needed to make the change for safety reasons. I certainly don’t think the show has been impacted in any way. In fact, we’re still seeing some great side-by-side racing.”
Schumacher clearly recalls what was a very somber race day following the news about Kalitta’s passing. While he went on to claim his first career win in Englishtown, he was definitely not in a celebratory mood.
“Under normal circumstances, we would’ve enjoyed the victory, but that was not the time and place for such a thing,” he added. “We lost a member of our extended family and remembering him was of greater importance. That’s why I made it a point to give the event trophy to the Kalitta Motorsports team.
23 - Noted actor Jim Carrey starred in a movie called The Number 23 where he played the role of Walter Sparrow, an animal control officer, who reads a booked titled The Number 23 and becomes obsessed with the number.
Walter would have a tough time with this weekend's event because it also has its own 23.
23: That’s the number of different drivers in Top Fuel that have won at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Of the 23, only seven have won more than once at the historic track and out of that seven, Larry Dixon (2007, 2005, 2004, 1995) and Doug Kalitta (2003, 2000) are the only active drivers to have repeat wins at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
THREE TIMES A BRIDESMAID - Cory McClenathan is targeting his first NHRA SuperNationals win at this weekend's event at historic Old 
Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.
The driver of the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing has been a runner-up three times at this event (1992, 1998, 2004) but cannot list it under the heading of his 30 career national-event victories.
So, he's aiming to change that this weekend. "Englishtown has been good and bad to me," said McClenathan, who stands fifth in the overall class rankings, with two runner-up finishes this season. "We've been in the final round there and we've done pretty well. But there are also times when we've not even gone a round or two there. So, it's been feast or famine for me in Englishtown, for some reason.
"I think the FRAM Tough Guard guys and crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler really have something right now that will run well for next weekend. I'm excited about that. It probably depends a little bit on the weather, but I think we have a good tune-up for the heat, as we do for the cool conditions.
THE LEGEND OF E-TOWN - This weekend, the last leg of a three races in three weeks run comes to an end at historic Old Bridge 
Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. for the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals. For many drivers, a trip to Englishtown is a trip back through drag racing history:
“The history at Englishtown is almost unparalleled. It’s a track that my grandfather performed very well at and had countless match races over the years. There are magic moments in everyone’s life and for me, one of the greatest magic moments was Englishtown when I won that first national event in my alcohol funny car and my entire family was there.” --Funny Car driver Bob Tasca
“There are NHRA race tracks that I consider PGA TOUR major championships, and Englishtown is one of them. Englishtown ranks up there with Indianapolis, Pomona and Gainesville; they are all places I used to read about as a kid, and I hoped that someday, I’d get to race there. Racing at Englishtown, and especially winning four times there, is definitely a highlight of my career.” --Top Fuel pilot Larry Dixon
“I listened to my dad talk about racing in Englishtown for years. If you were a drag racing fan, you probably attended an event at Englishtown, it had and still has, a place of prestige on the NHRA circuit.” --Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein
A WIN WOULD BE NICE - At last year’s NHRA SuperNationals Mike Neff had the car to beat at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. He 
raced to his third career final round but lost to red-hot Tim Wilkerson. Last weekend in Chicago Neff had the most consistent Funny Car on the property as he made seven consecutive laps with an average elapsed time of 4.116 seconds. Once again he ran up against a red-hot driver this time it was teammate Ashley Force Hood in the semi-finals and her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang had a little more than Neff’s Ford Drive One Mustang.
“We had a really positive weekend (in Chicago). The Mustang ran well every run which is nice. We are able to learn a lot more when you are going down the track. You get a chance to make seven runs in a weekend instead to four or five. It feels good for all of us at John Force Racing. Robert (Hight) ran well. John (Force) ran well. It feels good to feel like we made some forward progress. I am looking forward to going to Englishtown,” said the 2008 Auto Club Road to the Future Award winner.
Neff and crew chief John Medlen know the winner’s circle is calling their name but they just need a break or two to go their way. They are cranking out enough power from their BOSS 500 motor to power a city block and Neff has been doing a masterful job of driving – solid reaction times and keeping his Mustang in the groove – the second year combo has not captured their mojo yet.
For the world champion crew chief turned driver he knows that all it takes is a little momentum to race up the point standings. His Ford Drive One Mustang is sitting in 11th place in the Full Throttle points standings a mere 14 points behind 10th place Cruz Pedregon. In Chicago they picked up a few points by out qualifying the 2008 Funny Car champion but they both raced to semi-final finishes. Neff just needs to go one more round than Pedregon to muscle his way into the Top Ten.
In the second round of Chicago Neff had to race teammate and boss John Force. He admitted that even though they work together and race together there is still something special about pulling up beside the 14-time champion on race day.
“There is nothing like racing John Force. Boss or no boss. We are racing straight up. It is just awesome to be able to pull up next to him. He has so much determination and drive it just is just a highlight to be able to race him,” said Neff, who has a 3-1 record versus the winningest driver in NHRA history.
MCMILLEN RACING ETOWN - When Terry McMillen bumps his Amalie Oil / Wolverine Boots and Apparel Top Fuel Dragster into the staging beams at Old Bridge 
Township Raceway Park it will mark his fifth start in NHRA competition. While McMillen holds a perfect 5-0 qualifying record as owner/driver, he's looking for a little more this weekend.
"It's time for us to step up and get our first round win," McMillen said as he drove the team transporter into the Garden State for the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals "We've missed a few opportunities, but we can't make excuses. Our first priority is to get this car into the show and then take it one round at a time."
This will be McMillen's first appearance at Old Town Raceway and it's a race he's been waiting for. "As soon as Amalie marked this on our schedule last winter we started counting the days until this event. This region is home to some of Amalie's best and oldest distributors and I'm looking forward to spending time with them this weekend. I can't think of a better group of people to be around when we get our round win."
TREBLE'S WEEKEND BACKER - Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Craig Treble has signed a one-race agreement with Morehead Honda in Newburgh, N.Y., for next weekend’s United Association NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J. Treble, the winner of the NHRA Full Throttle Series event in Houston, will carry the Morehead Honda logo on the sides of his Vance & Hines-powered Suzuki during the Englishtown event.
“As most people know, I am out here racing on my own this year without a major sponsor and I’m trying my best to stay in the Countdown to the Championship,” said Treble. “Fortunately, I’ve been able to make all of the races thus far and with the help of Ron Morehead and Morehead Honda, I’ll be racing in Englishtown.”
Morehead, along with his younger brother, Lincoln, are both NHRA national event champions in Super Stock eliminator.
CUTTING RACE EXPENSES WITH FORCE - Freehold Ford of Freehold, New Jersey, is providing support vehicles the weekend of June 11-14, 2009, for John Force Racing drivers, crew chiefs and executives including John Force and his drag racing daughter, Ashley Force Hood as part of a multi-faceted marketing partnership.
In addition to the Forces, who drive 310 mile-an-hour Ford Mustang Funny Cars sponsored by Castrol GTX and Castrol GTX High Mileage on the pro drag racing tour, John Force Racing also features Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Mustang, and Mike Neff, driver of the Ford Drive One Mustang.
John Force, the 14-time NHRA FULL Throttle series champion, is a eight-time finalist and three-time winner at Old Town Bridge Raceway Park, in Englishtown, New Jersey, site of the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals, this is the eleventh event on the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle tour and Force was excited to make this partnership happen in these economic times.
“We wanted to find a way to work with local Ford dealers this year,” Force said, “because in these hard economic times, we need to help out our sponsors in any way we can. We are proud to be a part of the Ford family and we want to encourage all our fans to go out to Freehold Ford this week and test drive a new Mustang, Flex, Edge, Fusion or other great Ford car or truck before they come out to the track to see us.”
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