NHRA News: NHRA.com Notebook (November)

11/26/03

Lucas Oil joins Jim Dunn Racing: Jim Dunn Racing has announced that Lucas Oil will be a major associate sponsor on its nitro-powered K&N Performance Filters Pontiac Funny Car beginning with the 2004 NHRA POWERade season.

"We're excited about Lucas Oil joining our program starting next season," Dunn said. "In a sport where great sponsors are difficult to find, we feel quite fortunate to now be a part of the Lucas Oil Racing family. We're looking forward to working with Forrest Lucas and the entire Lucas Oil organization to provide them with a winning Funny Car team and a positive return on their sponsorship investment.

"Lucas Oil has long recognized the value of participating in NHRA Drag Racing, and we're extremely proud of the fact that they'll be a major associate sponsor on our K & N Performance Filters Pontiac."

Dunn is one of the original pioneers of NHRA Drag Racing. He began his career in 1950 as a competitor when the popularity of the sport was just starting to take hold on local strips throughout Southern California. Over the years, Dunn has accumulated numerous wins and held performance records as both a driver and a crew chief. He won the 1972 Supernationals in Ontario, Calif., the 1981 World Finals in Irvine, Calif., and was runner-up at the 1981 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Since retiring from driving in 1990, Dunn's career has continued to flourish as a respected crew chief, technical advisor, and car owner. In the last 13 years, Dunn has wrenched cars to numerous victories including the 1998 Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, and the 1999 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Lucas Oil Products was founded by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas in 1989. Given their personal experience in the trucking industry, the husband and wife team started Lucas Oil Products with the simple philosophy of producing only the best line of lubricants and additives available anywhere. Since its inception, Lucas Oil Products has steadfastly adhered to its corporate objective. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as a top selling additive line in the American truck stop industry and the consumer automotive industry.

"We recognized a long time ago the value of the NHRA Drag Racing series, and the wide scope of visibility and distribution that it provides for our products," said Forrest Lucas, President and CEO of Lucas Oil Products. "Jim Dunn Racing has a long and storied history in this sport, and next year, Jim's Funny Car team will provide us with another outstanding tool to reach even more consumers who desire only the best in quality petroleum products."

In addition to its major associate sponsorship with Jim Dunn Racing, Lucas Oil Products is the title-rights sponsor of the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., on Aug. 12-15, 2004, the Lucas Oil Nationals in Reading, Pa., on Sept. 16-19, 2004, and the series sponsor for the 2004 Lucas Oil NHRA Sportsman Drag Racing program.

11/26/03

Infineon Raceway spearheads Toy Drive: Infineon Raceway has joined forces with the Sonoma Police Department, Schell-Vista Fire Department, and the Sonoma Fire Department to help spread some cheer during the Holiday Season.

The four entities will combine for the first High-Powered Toy Drive, which will benefit needy children in the Sonoma Valley through FISH (Friends in Sonoma Helping).

Race fans are encouraged to drop-off unwrapped, new toys during regular business hours at one of four locations between Nov. 28-Dec. 17: Infineon Raceway, 29355 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 95476; Sonoma Police Department, 175 First Street West, Sonoma, 95476; Schell-Vista Fire Department, 23000 Broadway, Sonoma, 95476; and Sonoma Fire Department, 630 Second Street West, Sonoma, 95476. For more information on the Toy Drive, call 707-933-3950.

Recently, Infineon Raceway made a donation of more than 1,300 pounds of non-perishable food items to FISH following the facility's third annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. It was a record amount of food collected in the three years of the food drive.

Infineon Raceway has generated more than 3,300 pounds of non-perishable food items since 2000 for FISH, which will assist needy Sonoma Valley residents during the 2003 holiday season. FISH receives more than 2,500 calls for food requests each year.

11/24/03

Team Superstores to sponsor Div. 7 event: Team Superstores, an automotive dealer with locations in Vallejo and San Rafael, Calif., has agreed to a multi-year sponsorship with Infineon Raceway to serve as title sponsor of the NHRA's annual Division 7 Lucas Oils Drag Racing Series event.

The event will be known as the Team Superstores NHRA Summernationals and will be held July 4-6 in 2004. The five-year sponsorship will span through 2008.

"The NHRA Division 7 drag race is a terrific Fourth of July event for the family," said Tim Schuldt, vice president of marketing and sales at Infineon Raceway. "We are thrilled to have such an enthusiastic partner in Team Superstores to help us grow this event over the next five years."

11/20/03

North Carolinian wins Snap-on dragster: Jon Herring, a construction business owner from Elizabeth City, N.C., was the winner of Doug Herbert's season-long Win This Car contest. One of three finalists from thousands of entries, Herring now owns the Snap-on Top Fuel dragster that carried Herbert to his career-best elapsed time and speed.

"I really don't know what to say," the 31-year-old Herring said. "Only in America could an average Joe like me win something like this. I can't fathom it happening to me. I haven't even thought about what I'm going to do with the car."

Herring did get another wish fulfilled before heading home from the season-ending 39th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. He squeezed into the driver's seat of Herbert's current car when the Snap-on crew warmed up the engine on nitromethane fuel.

Since the race has ended, Herbert's crew dutifully delivered the 25-foot, 2,100-pound dragster to Herring's Elizabeth City home. In his spare time, Herring competes in truck pulling.

The other finalists, all flown to Pomona on Herbert's tab, were Gregg Scott, El Cajon, Calif., and Emil Dusek, Katy, Texas

11/13/03

Anderson on CompetitionPlus.Com Thunder Chat: After completing one of the most prolific racing campaigns by a driver in the 52-year history of the NHRA, Pontiac's Greg Anderson will be the featured guest for a two-hour Thunder Chat with fans on CompetitionPlus.com beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 20.

It's been quite a season for the recently crowned POWERade Pro Stock champion, and to say the 42-year-old Anderson will have a lot to chat about would be an understatement. In what is arguably the most competitive racing category in all of motorsports, Anderson drove his Pontiac SC/T Grand Am to 12 national-event victories in 15 final rounds (both Pro Stock single-season records), 67 elimination round wins (an NHRA record), 14 No. 1 qualifying positions, and both ends of the track record at eight events including national-record runs of 6.670 seconds at 207.18 mph at Englishtown (N.J.). Anderson's Pontiac also set individual track records in either elapsed time or top speed an astounding 21 times.

In 2003, Anderson's Vegas General Construction Pontiac SC/T Grand Am started 19 races qualified second or better, and 22 races third or better. His average race day starting position this year was an incredible 1.826, and using the NHRA's modern scoring system (inaugurated in 1995), Anderson's 2,217 points (22,170 using the old method) are the most ever accumulated in a single season by a professional driver.

To join Anderson during Thunder Chat, visit CompetitionPlus.com.

Pontiac is the Official Car of the NHRA and the title sponsor for the 40th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, on June 10-13, 2004.

11/8/03

Nitto 1320 Challenge backs Skuza for one race: Funny Car driver Dean Skuza signed Nitto 1320 Challenge, a free online drag racing game, as a primary sponsor for this weekend's 39th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway.

Nitto 1320 Challenge has over 700,000 users worldwide whom race against the computer or online opponents. The game and site allow for users to create teams, buy and modify performance vehicles, and race for simulated purses, pink slips, and to build rankings against other users across the globe. Hundreds of fan-created websites and message boards bring users together to create tournaments and make the experience part of their daily lives.

"Our involvement with Skuza Motorsports allows us to take a concept from the virtual reality world and turn it into a reality," said Justin Choi, president of Choice Internet, creators of the Nitto 1320 Challenge. "The game has been the first exposure to drag racing for thousands of young car enthusiasts, and we can't wait for NHRA fans to join in the online drag racing experience. A Dean Skuza Funny Car will be available in the game by December 1, so this sponsorship will be a chance for all of our participants to go faster than ever."

"I'm a fan of the game and met the folks from Nitto Tire during my involvement in Popular Hot Rodding Television," said Skuza, whose television show airs on cable's Spike TV. "Since we are still searching for a primary sponsor for 2004, this opportunity not only fills a gap for us but creates exposure for our team with an entirely new audience. This should be fun."

11/6/03

Prock has appendectomy: Jimmy Prock, crew chief of Gary Densham's Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, had an emergency appendectomy Wednesday.

The operation will hamper Prock during the 39th annual NHRA Finals, but he was onhand for Densham's first pass Thursday. The rest of the crew chiefs that work for John Force Racing, including Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, John Medlen, and Dickie Venables, will all assist him and help tune Densham's car.

11/4/03

Worsham spends the weekend with the NASCAR boys: Del Worsham, driver of the red Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Pontiac Funny Car, his father Chuck, blue team crew chiefs Marc Denner and Chris Cunningham, team manager Bob Wilber, and their wives spent Sunday in Phoenix at NASCAR's Checker Auto Parts 500.

Worsham was included in most of the pre-race ceremonies, and spent an hour signing autographs at a special display that included his Team CSK show car. All in all, it was a memorable day for the popular drag racer, who was stunned by the reception he received from NASCAR fans and drivers alike.

"I really didn't know what to expect," he said. "We were walking toward the show car display, and I was wondering if these fans would care at all about some drag racer sitting behind a table. I said something out loud about whether we'd even sign a dozen autographs, then one of the CSK guys walking with us pointed out that fans were already lined up waiting for me. I absolutely couldn't believe it."

Worsham signed photo cards until his supply ran out, then headed to the infield to meet the NASCAR drivers.

"They took us to the driver's meeting, and introduced me and my wife Connie,"Worsham said. "Then they gave us a ride around the track in one of the pace cars. Then we went up on stage to shake hands with all the drivers as they were introduced to the crowd. I'll be honest, I didn't know if these guys even knew who we were. Almost every one of the NASCAR drivers had something nice to say, something specific about NHRA POWERade Drag Racing, or our team. They were great, and I was very pleased to get the chance to share a word with them. It was pretty amazing what fans they actually are. A lot of them said 'We watch you guys every Sunday night on ESPN'."

11/4/03

It's another boy for Schumacher: Tony and Cara Schumacher have welcomed their second child into the family. Cara gave birth to Michael Donald Schumacher on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Both mother and baby, who weighed in at a whopping eight-pounds, six-ounces, are doing well.

"It worked out perfect," the beaming father said. "I caught the red-eye out of Las Vegas, slept all day Monday, and we had the baby Tuesday. It's the most awesome thing in the world. Everything went great and we couldn't be happier."

11/3/03

Bazemore says his piece: Whit Bazemore, driver of the Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T and runner-up to Tony Pedregon for the 2003 NHRA POWERade Funny Car championship, weighs in on his 2003 campaign and the ultimate loss to Pedregon.

"Tony is a very, very good race car driver and he and his team beat us," said Bazemore, who briefly held the points lead as recently as the Memphis event in late September. "We have a lot of respect for that team. You have to be a good loser, I think, before you can be a good winner. We did almost everything that we had to do. We did the best we could. We lost. That's it. They're a great team. They deserve it. They won more races than we did all year.

"We also have a great team. I'm very, very proud to be associated with the people on this team. The effort that they made this year to win this is just unbelievable. The way our team came together is something I am very proud of and very proud to be a part of."

11/1/03

Hogue to debut 9-second diesel truck in Vegas: To say Greg Hogue and the Dr. Performance Diesel Accessories team are daring to be different would be an understatement. At this weekend's NHRA Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series closer at 'The Strip' at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hogue will debut the team's new nine-second diesel-powered race truck in the Super Street category.

The truck is a former Pro Stock Truck chassis owned by Dr. Barry Sadler of Dr. Performance, who specializes in aftermarket diesel performance add-ons. To prove the value of their products, the truck is powered by a 200,000-mile 'wrecking yard' Cummins Turbo Diesel engine out of a '98 Dodge Dually with no modifications other than the Dr. Performance fuel injectors. Last weekend at the Drag Truck Wars in Tucson, Ariz., the truck ran a best of 9.92 seconds at 131 mph, making it the quickest automotive diesel powered truck in the world.

Hogue, a firefighter from Aledo, Texas, a veteran Competition Eliminator driver, feels that the truck will not only be different, but competitive in NHRA's 10.90 index Super Street category.

"We went 9.92 our first real weekend out with it, and we think there is a lot more left in it," stated Hogue. "Rather than slow the truck down with a throttle stop like most gasoline cars do, we're just going to tune it down. Since it is a diesel, we can control how fast it goes just by the amount of fuel we feed it through the injectors. Needless to say, we're all pretty excited about this project."

11/1/03

Gilbyplex is born: Funny Car driver Bob Gilbertson has broken ground on a new 25-acre site in Blacksburg, S.C., that will house his race team and eventually his manufacturing plant. Gilbertson is president of both Truck Equipment Manufacturing Company and of Trick Tank.

"The first building going up will be 25,000 square feet for the race team," Gilbertson said. "It will big enough to give them all the room they need to work on the car over the winter and park all our rigs inside, something they haven't had since I stole their space in our Charlotte plant to add another tank line.

"We currently operate out of a 60,000 square foot facility in Charlotte and we're quickly running out of room. This property will allow both TEMCO and Trick Tank to be able to expand as needed in the future. The coolest thing is that the land is flat and level and I've got 1,300 feet that I'm planning on building an eighth-mile drag strip on the property for a test track.

"My 10-year old son Jake is really into Motocross and we travel all over the east coast to race so I'm also going to build him his own test track to practice on.

"Once we get the infrastructure up and running we're going to move the complete Trick Tank operation to the site which will free up more room in Charlotte for steel tank manufacturing, our core business."

The site is on the N.C./S.C. state line at exit 104 of Interstate 85 and is adjacent to the freeway.

"You'll know where it is when you drive by because I'm going to take the blue 'Jungle Jim' tribute car and put it up on a sign 40 feet in the air," Gilbertson said. "Over 80,000 people a day drive by the site and they're all going to see a Funny Car flying through the air. It will be cool."

11/1/03

DVD trading card features Force's 100th win A mini DVD trading card commemorating John Force's 100th win will be released during the 39th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. The NHRA-licensed disc features Force's Castrol High Mileage Ford Mustang screaming down the track as well as an adrenaline-charged Force talking about what goes through his mind when he pulls to the line.

Packaged in a standard trading card sleeve for the traditional collector, CyberDISC's revolutionary mini DVD and CD-ROM's are packed with statistical and personal information never seen before in a trading card. Each card carries complete career statistics, exclusive taped interviews, footage from key moments throughout the season, as well as in-depth looks at the sports star, his equipment, and the pit crew cranking wrenches on his 8,000 horsepower nitro beast.

To purchase the John Force 100th Win Limited Gold Edition DVD, get a glimpse of upcoming cards, or trade with other collectors and fans, go to cyberdisctradingcards.com.

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