The winner of the Sportswoman
of the Year award will be determined via an online poll and sports fans can vote
for Troxel or one of the other nine finalists at www.sportswomanvote.com.

Voting ends midnight Aug. 31, 2006.

One week after his triumphant
return to the driver’s seat, Kenny Koretsky is sitting out this weekend’s
O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals. Replacing him in the blue Nitro Fish/ISC Racers
Tape Pro Stock Dodge is Dave Northrop.

“Everything went well for me last
weekend,” said Koretsky, who made his first driving appearance since his
on-track accident with Bruce Allen in October. “I was pleased with the way I
drove and everything, but I just need to devote more time to my businesses right
now.

Flatout Gaskets has signed on to
sponsor Tom Carter’s Jawbreaker IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Team.

Carter has been drawing a lot of attention this year on the IHRA
circuit garnering three wins so far and sitting solidly in second place, just 46
points out of the lead. With only five events left, Carter has become a serious
threat to win the IHRA Championship. With the talented efforts of Jeff Fowler
and Dale Cannister making tuning calls for the team, championship level
performance is almost second nature.

“Flatout has been involved with Fowler Racing Engines and
Cannister Motorsports for several years and their input on product development
has been key to many innovations in our line-up” said Mark Adelizzi, President
of Flatout Group. “Rejoining this group of dedicated racers has been in our plan
for awhile and we hope to support and see Laurie Cannister back out there and
racing a second car for this team in 2007! This is just the beginning!” added
Adelizzi.

Mike Ashley and Knoll Gas - Torco
Race Fuels join Team RFC offering you a chance to experience the thrill of
racing as an Honorary Pit Crew Member for a Day at the Mac Tools US Nationals at
Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN on August 30- Sept 4, 2006!

Pro Stock driver Mark “Cowboy”
Pawuk is the “featured performer” on today’s popular BackInThePits.com website
where he appears in on-air journalist Rik Anthony’s “Daily Pit Report” headline
story.

By clicking on the photo of Anthony and Pawuk you’ll be taken
directly to a 90-second interview in which Pawuk outlines his beginnings in the
sport, and where he is today.

“I was honored to be a part of Rik’s show, and on the web site,”
he said. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been interviewed for Rik’s Back In The
Pits radio program, and I certainly hope we can do it again. Rik asks ‘good
questions,’ but then he lets his subjects tell their stories, so it’s a lot
easier than some of the interviews I’ve done over the years.”

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
driver Melanie Troxel, who has advanced to a Top Fuel-best seven final rounds
this season, has been nominated by the Women’s Sports Foundation as a finalist
for its prestigious “Sportswoman of the Year” award, it was announced today.

She will join nine other finalists at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in
New York City on Monday, Oct. 16 for the WSF Awards Dinner, where the 2006
Sportswoman of the Year will be announced.

The other finalists include: Cindy Klassen (Speedskating), Janica
Kostelic (Skiing), Jessica Long (Swimmer), Amelie Mauresmo (Tennis), Chellsie
Memmel (Gymnastics), Sanya Richards (Track & Field), Annika Sorenstam
(Golf), Laurie Stephens (Skiing), and Hannah Teter (Snowboarder).

With one race to go, Funny Car
driver Del Worsham is ninth on the list for the Sept. 3 Skoal Showdown bonus
race's eight-car lineup. Considering his high-powered performance last year at
Indianapolis, in which he won $225,000 as winner of both the specialty race and
the U.S. Nationals, the Checker Schuck's Kragen Chevy Monte Carlo driver said he
"can't really think about it at all."
 

Whit Bazemore’s failure to qualify for the Lucas Oil Nationals at
Brainerd International Raceway left he door slightly open for the defending
Skoal Showdown champion to join the elite eight.However, at this weekend’s
O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis, Worsham will need to qualify fifth or
better -- and Bazemore would have to DNQ again, a scenario highly unlikely.

Worsham said he didn't expect any help from current No. 7 seed
Tony Pedregon, either. "They're running awfully well over there, so I don't
really see them messing up and handing it to us. If they run like they're
capable, we probably have no chance of catching them," he had said before
Brainerd, when Pedregon was No. 8. Pedregon and Bazemore since have traded
places.  

Calvary Baptist Church and God
Speed Ministry are hosting Vacation Bible School at Norwalk Raceway Park during
the World Nationals.  Calvary Baptist Church has been doing VBS every year at
the national event at Norwalk on the Pro side of the drag strip.   This year
Calvary Baptist Church and God Speed Ministry have joined forces to make this
the largest Vacation Bible School Norwalk has ever seen!!  

Pastor Jo Grof and his ministry team from Calvary Baptist Church
have exciting things planned for this year’s VBS. Pastor Jo has great love and
enthusiasm for children.  All children are invited to be a part of the fun and
excitement of this year’s event.

Tim Henson, a longtime IHRA Stock
eliminator racer, was murdered Saturday afternoon in Greenville, South Carolina,
during a robbery of his pawn shop. An employee was shot during the commission of
the crime but their injuries were not fatal. A $20,000 reward is being offered
for information that leads to the arrest of the individual responsible for this
cowardly crime.

Longtime Lee Callaway crewmember
and family friend Kenny Ruthart, 33, was killed Saturday in a work related
accident at a Houston chemical plant. Ruthart, also known as 'Mini Me' by his
friends, was the bottom end specialist for Callaway since he entered the TAD
ranks in 1993.