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

FINAL ROUND PHOTOS FROM ROCKINGHAM

Sunday's final results from the Spring Nationals presented by Advance
Auto Parts and Castrol at Rockingham Dragway.  The  race is the second
of 11 in the  2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

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Top Fuel -- Spencer Massey, 4.712 seconds, 313.51 mph def. Bruce Litton, 4.764 seconds, 310.13 mph.

ROUND-BY-ROUND PRO RESULTS FROM ROCKINGHAM

Final round-by-round results from the Spring Nationals presented
by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol at Rockingham Dragway, the second of
11 events in the  2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:


TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Mike Strasburg, 4.735, 316.23
def. Kevin Jones, 4.947, 283.79; Spencer Massey, 4.765, 309.91 def.
Scott Palmer, 4.855, 265.43; Bruce Litton, 4.682, 300.20 def. Terry
McMillen, 9.574, 83.63; Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.691, 323.27 def. Michael
Gunderson, 12.749, 76.38;

SEMIFINALS -- Massey, 4.709, 315.34 def. Strasburg, 5.037, 228.23; Litton, 4.724, 315.27 def. Lagana Jr., 4.902, 254.81;

FINAL -- Massey, 4.712, 313.51 def. Litton, 4.764, 310.13.

CANNON'S UNKNOWN BUYER

The popular rumor circulating throughout Rockingham Dragway suggested
six-time IHRA World Champion Scotty Cannon had sold his newly
constructed Vanishing Point Race Cars-fabricated 1968 Pontiac Firebird.
Cannon confirmed the rumor as truth.

So who did he sell his car to?

“We sold it to an unknown guy,” Cannon responded.

“An unknown guy?” we asked.

“When he pays you it's his, regardless of his name and who he is,”
Cannon explained. “He just doesn't want his name revealed yet. I guess
it's sort of a surprise. We did some testing with it at Darlington; he
did some driving with it and he's happy and all good. Everybody will
know pretty soon who it is. It won't take long, I'm sure.”

SUMMIT ALL-STARS RESULTS

Two Carolinians Among Summit All-Star Winners in Rockingham – North
Carolinians Scott Macy of Randleman and Brett Nesbitt of McLeansville
were among the winners of the IHRA Summit All-Stars Pro-Am event
contested Saturday in conjunction with the 37th annual IHRA Spring
Nationals at Rockingham Dragway.

Macy won an all-Plymouth Volare final round with Michael Beard of
Seagrove, N.C., to win the Stock Eliminator title while Nesbitt drove
his dragster past the similar machine of Rusty Cook of Cynthiana, Ky.,
to claim the Quick Rod title.

ROCKINGHAM FINAL QUALIFYING

Huge Crowd Sees Lee Jump to Top of Nitro Funny Car Qualifying Sheet at Rockingham Dragway

Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Laurie Cannister (Alcohol Funny Car),
Mike Janis (Pro Modified) and Pete Berner (Pro Stock) also claim #1
qualifying spots at IHRA Spring Nationals

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Paul Lee hadn't planned to come to Rockingham and after changing his mind, drove to the top spot.

Paul Lee, whose weekend participation at Rockingham Dragway was almost
an afterthought, drove Paul Smith’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo Funny Car to
a track record Saturday and, as a result, will start Sunday’s 37th
annual IHRA Spring Nationals from the No. 1 starting position.

Lee covered the quarter mile in 4.797 seconds at 315.34 miles per hour,
shattering the Funny Car record of 4.877 seconds set last October by
Charlotte’s Bob Gilbertson.  As a result, the Wynnewood, Pa., driver
will start from the No. 1 position for the first time in his pro career.

DSR'S LETTER TO NHRA

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com obtained a copy of the letter recently
submitted by Don Schumacher Racing legal counsel Cory Watkins to NHRA
President Tom Compton regarding the recent fine levied against the team
for having unapproved fuel in their pit area. This letter was on
official DSR letterhead.

 

Dear Tom:

 
It
appears that a series of errors occurred this past weekend at the
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, which lead [sic] the NHRA
to fine DSR $100,000. In its Statement of Action Against Participant,
NHRA indicated the fine was based upon DSR's alleged possession of
nitromethane from an unauthorized supplier. Unfortunately, NHRA did
only a cursory investigation of the facts before releasing a public
statement and sanction regarding this situation. While DSR did nothing
improper, the allegation has caused great embarrassment to us and our
sponsors. For the reasons set forth below, I ask that you correct this
situation immediately.

THAT'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK ...

near_miss_russo.jpg

Roger Richards captured Chris Russo's scary qualifying run on
Friday. In this picture, Russo appears headed towards a really bad
fate. Check out the full sequence. You will be shocked.

COMPLETE SEQUENCE 

SOUTH CAROLINA STRIP PROGRESSING

The new ownership of the Union County Motorsports Park in Union, South
Carolina continues to progress at a rapid rate. Under the leadership of
Curtis Teems, the facility is expected to complete in the fall with a
full schedule for 2009. The facility, located in the upstate of South
Carolina, is expected to be in operation for the 2009 season.

ATCHISON'S FORTHCOMING ADDITION

Three-time IHRA Alcohol Funny Car champion Rob Atchison is about 19 days away from being a father.

“Looks like I’ve got to grow up and get a real job,” Atchison joked. “I
think I’m more nervous about that than I am about making the car go to
the finish line. I’m sure I’ll figure it out. The baby doesn’t know
that I’m a rookie.”

MCBRIDE GETS THREE-RACE DEAL

NHRA Pro Stock
Motorcycle rookie Angie McBride and Indicom Electric have signed a
sponsorship deal for the next three NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
races. McBride, who sits seventh in the POWERade Championship point
standings, has been searching for a sponsor for the 2008 season in an
effort to continue her first full season in the NHRA.

Not only is Indicom Electric sponsoring McBride, but her teammate, 2007 champ Matt Smith, as well.

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