Joe Allread, whose engine-building skills ranged from preparing small-block Chevrolets for Junior Stock to Chrysler Hemis for Pro Stock, died Nov. 11 after a battle with cancer.

Allread initially gained fame as one of the elite Junior Stock racers who emerged from the West Coast during the mid- to late 1960s and were known as the “Valley Boys.” His contemporaries from the Southern California region included John Barkley, John Dianna, Marv Ripes, Bob Lambeck, Willard Wright, Gary Glover, Ramon Lowe, Keith Berg, and Jay Hamilton. He campaigned a variety of vehicles throughout the years but was best known for his K/S’57 Chevrolet station wagon that was featured on the cover of Car Craft magazine in 1968.

Allread later built the Hemi engine for Bagshaw’s then-revolutionary ’70 Dodge Challenger, which was the first Pro Stocker constructed by noted chassis builder Ron Butler and won Best Engineered Car honors at the 1970 U.S. Nationals. Allread also prepared the Hemis for the Mopar Pro Stock entries of Butch Leal and Bob Lambeck.

More recently, Allread had been building Hemi powerplants for the SS/AH Hemi Barracudas of California Car Cover Co. team owner Jim DeFrank Sr. Rick Houser drove one of DeFrank’s Allread-powered Barracudas to the Mopar Hemi Challenge title at the 2007 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.

Barkley, who had met Allread at the old San Fernando Dragstrip in 1964, said, “We were partners in 1967 running Joe’s small block in my H/SA ’57 Chevy, and took turns driving. Joe drove it at the NHRA Finals that year and made it to the semi’s before losing to eventual winner George Cureton, who had the only car that could run the number besides ours. He later let me use the fuel-injected 283 from is K/S ’57 Chevy wagon, and that powered my M/SA ’57 Chevy to Stock wins at the Winternationals and Hot Rod Magazine race in 1968. Joe was a great guy with more patience than anyone I ever knew. He took forever to build a motor, but when it was done it was a work of art.” (Bill Holland photo)
 

NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher will headline tonight’s worldwide debut of NHRA Tuesdays, 7-8 p.m. ET (4-5 p.m. PT) on WFO Radio with Joe Castello. To listen live, on demand, or to download as podcast, log on to www.wforadio.com.
 
Castello, the creator of hit satellite radio shows Wide Open on NASCAR Radio and Power Shift, hopes to break new ground in motorsports radio with the debut of WFO Radio. Through a user-friendly, high-quality experience free of charge to listeners, WFO Radio is setting a new standard for Internet-based radio with opinionated coverage of NASCAR, NHRA, Indy Car, Formula One, ALMS, and Grand Am racing.

Schumacher joins Castello Tuesday night for one of the champion's first one-on-one interviews since he earned his record sixth consecutive and seventh overall NHRA Top Fuel world championship. On Sunday at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Schumacher edged Larry Dixon by two points in the closest Top Fuel championship battle in NHRA history.

In addition to Schumacher, NHRA Funny Car world champion Robert Hight and NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Hector Arana will discuss their championships. Veteran NHRA announcer Alan Reinhart will provide expert analysis in the debut of his regular, weekly segment on WFO Radio.
   
For more information, log on to www.wforadio.com.

Antron Brown

NHRA Top Fuel star Antron Brown will be the Newsmaker of the Week on The Race Reporters radio show Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT on www.PowerUpChannel.com.

Host Michael Knight will be joined for the journalists’ roundtable by Bobby Bennett, editor of Competition Plus.com; Corinne Economaki, president and publisher of National Speed Sport News; and Larry Henry, host of Pit Pass USA on the PowerUp channel.
       
The Race Reporters can be heard live, downloaded to an iPod, or accessed for listening on a delayed basis by clicking on the show icon at www.PowerUpChannel.com. Listeners can bookmark the show and sign up to receive a free e-card with news on upcoming guests at the show’s page, www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1549. The show will re-air several times later in the week (check PowerUp’s daily programming listing).

Knight is a 40-year motorsports industry insider and award-winning publicist and journalist. The one-hour show’s format is a “good, hard, honest, Constitutionally protected conversation on the issues of the day.” Previous Newsmaker guests have included Richard Petty, John Force, Ashley Force Hood, Dario Franchitti, Joey Logano, Gil de Ferran, Schumacher, Scott Pruett, Adrian Fernandez, Graham Rahal, Ron Capps, Scott Atherton, and Chris Economaki.
    
For more information on The Race Reporters, log on to
www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1549.

The Race Reporters podcast on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=319558548

Force Hood gave listeners a peek at the songs she enjoys when she was the guest DJ on Santa Monica-based public radio station KCRW (89.9 FM in LA and KCRW.com worldwide). As part of the weekly Guest DJ Project, she picked five songs and discussed the significance with KCRW DJ Raul Campos. This morning, a quick snippet of her guest spot was broadcast by Music Director Jason Bentley during KCRW’s signature music show Morning Becomes Eclectic.

“It was actually harder than I originally thought to pick five songs because I love so many different kinds of music. I tried to pick a variety and songs that I didn’t just enjoy listening to but also that had special meaning to me. It was a fun project to get to be a part of and very different from my usual race car driver duties,” said Force Hood.

The full set is available online and available streaming for download and as a podcast. There is a transcript as well:  www.kcrw.com/music/programs/gd/gd091111ashley_force_hood.

Previous guest DJs have included athletes Brian Vickers, Tony Hawk, Stacy Peralta, Gabrielle Reece, Kelly Slater, actors Tim Robbins, Jorja Fox, and Scarlett Johansson, as well as iconic television producer Norman Lear and comedian Bobcat Goldthwait.
 

The Southern California home shop and museum of 14-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force will be open Thursday (Nov. 12) and Friday (Nov. 13) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The John Force Racing Museum is filled with trophies, race cars, memorabilia, and hundreds of photos spanning the 30-year career of Force as well as all of his drivers, including points leader Robert Hight, 2008 rookie of the year Mike Neff, and daughters Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force, and Courtney Force.

Fans will also be able to see the John Force Racing shop during this midday opportunity. While the teams will be busy at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona qualifying for the 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, fans can see behind the scenes, where Force’s stable of Mustangs are worked on when they travel to the West Coast.

“This is a great chance for our fans to stop by and see some of John’s great memorabilia, winning race cars, including Robert Hight’s LA Dodgers Mustang from last season, and unbelievable photographs. We really only open the shop and museum to the general public a couple times a year. Fans can spend a couple of hours here and then head to the racetrack and see great racing action,” said Craig Hoelzel, manager of the JFR RaceStation.

The John Force Racing shop is at 22722 Old Canal Road, Yorba Linda, CA 92887; 714-921-1651.

The John Force Racing shop and museum are approximately 20 minutes northeast of Disneyland, 20 minutes south of the Wally Parks NHRA Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, and 45 minutes from Los Angeles.

From the 91 Freeway in Yorba Linda, exit Weir Canyon/Yorba Linda Boulevard (north), then turn right at Savi Ranch Parkway. Turn right at Old Canal Road, turn left at Eastpark Drive, then left into the first driveway on the left.

 

Among the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series stars participating in the event were Greg Anderson, “Fast Jack” Beckman, Brandon Bernstein, Gary Densham, Larry Dixon, Jason Line, Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey, Cory McClenathan, Karen Stoffer, and announcer Bob Frey.

Indy car team owner Sam Schmidt finished second in the tournament, which raised more than $3,000 more than the 2008 event. Las Vegas resident Mike Kiney won the tournament.

The tournament was sponsored by the Cannery Casino Hotel, Richard Petty Driving Experience, Nevada Beverage, and Coca-Cola.
 

Baum was best known for his long line of Top Alcohol Dragsters, all raced under the name Xecutioner and all built with his own hands in his one-car garage in Des Plaines, Ill.
 
Baum, known affectionately as "the Bomber" for his tendency to run his equipment all-out, was a perennial top 10 finisher in UDRA competition and at one time was the quickest driver in history at the wheel of a cast-iron Chevy blown Alcohol Dragster. His greatest moment, however, was when he won the overall TAD title in the Olympics of Drag Racing at Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wis., in 1988.

 

Brian Thiel will fly the colors of Speedway Children’s Charities on his Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The body of Thiel’s '02 Chevrolet Camaro will feature a paint scheme created by graphic artist Eddie Hollon. For Thiel, a rice farmer from Pleasant Grove, Calif., the decision to support the charity was an easy one. “It’s all about the kids,” said Thiel. “When I learned of how many children this foundation has helped over the years, I had to be involved. We hope everyone who sees this car will find it in their heart to support Speedway Children’s Charities. It’s a real honor to be involved, and I’m all in.” 

The car will make its debut at the sixth annual Speedway Children’s Charities Cards for Kids Texas Hold ’em poker tournament Wednesday evening at the Cannery Casino Hotel.

Jay Blake's Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car team has named Todd Veney as its driver for the 2010 season. 

"Our whole team is excited to have Todd driving; he’s a great team player," said Blake, who has led the team to multiple national event victories since fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning his own Top Alcohol Funny Car team in 2003. Veney drove that first Follow A Dream car before pursuing his own lifelong dream of fielding a team with his dad, Ken Veney, in 2004.

"It's great to be back with Jay, Tommy [Howell], and everybody," Veney said. "I've seen Jay's entire operation step up every year since he got into the sport, and this is going to be the fastest, best car I've ever raced and the best team I've ever been on."

Veney has been driving since 1995 and grew up in drag racing, working on his dad's cars as a kid and writing for NHRA's National DRAGSTER from 1988 to 2007. Blake's Follow A Dream team will compete from coast to coast, from Englishtown to Pomona, on a 12-race schedule that includes eight national events and a full slate of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events. 

Tuner Howell will be back with Blake, the only totally blind crew chief in all of motorsports, as will the entire Follow A Dream crew from 2009: Charlie and Joe Mitchell, Ed Parker, Scott Osborn, Mike Lupo, Rich Fenwick, and Scott Spencer.

“The whole team is thrilled to have Todd return to the seat, and we’re already gearing up for the 2010 season,” said Blake, who between racing events encourages thousands across the country through motivational presentations delivered at technical schools, colleges, and corporate events to follow their dreams. For more information about Follow A Dream and the team, log on to www.followadream.org.
 

In February, NHRA Funny Car star Ashley Force Hood and her cat, Simba, were photographed by award-winning photographer David Woo for his new book, Top Dogs and Their Pets. The book is now available nationwide in bookstores as well as from the Neiman Marcus catalog. Force Hood is one of four  celebrities highlighted on the cover, which also features dog whisperer Cesar Millan.
 
John Force Racing, in conjunction with Woo, produced a specialty edition that features Force Hood and Simba as the featured celebrity on the cover; it is available exclusively through the John Force RaceStation retail store and online at www.johnforceracestation.com.

“I’m really excited about Top Dogs and Their Pets because it’s a really entertaining, beautifully laid out, and fun book. I’m proud that Simba and I got to be a part of it. The only problem is that Simba is starting to get a big head what with all the publicity and attention he’s getting,” said Force Hood.

Portions of the proceeds from Top Dogs and Their Pets will go directly to the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation, which offers financial support and rehabilitation expertise to pet shelters and rescue organizations throughout the United States.

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel championship contender Antron Brown was among those testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Oct. 21-22 in advance of the Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals. Brown's car also was involved in a commercial shoot for Remacid, a new associate sponsor for the team.

“It’s been going great,” said Brown after making his final pass Wednesday afternoon. “We came out here and did what we wanted to learn – getting the engine combination right and test some other stuff that we wanted to test. When we come back for the race next week, we’re looking forward to it because we’re already ahead of the game. Hopefully we can get some of those qualifying points, which is really crucial for this championship and the position we’re in.”

Brown’s Las Vegas test car may be unfamiliar to NHRA fans. The brown Remacid wrap was used for a future television commercial, but the familiar Matco Tools colors will be back on the car for the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.

“We’ll be back with our full, true-blue Matco Tools car. This also was a video shoot for Remacid, which is coming onboard for next year as a strong associate sponsor. It’s an all-natural, organic product for acid reflux and indigestion relief. They want to prove to the world that it works as fast as our Top Fuel dragster, which it does. It’s great to have them aboard, and we’re giving them a little pump while we’re out here testing.” 

Although he is locked in a heated points battle with just two races remaining, his was the only Top Fuel dragster team to test at The Strip at LVMS.

“We’ve done so well all through the year, and the Countdown came, and we had test sessions left. A lot of other teams have no more left. We saved them for this time of year, and it worked to our advantage. We had a couple of little gremlins bite us in the first two or three races of the Countdown, and we’re using these test sessions to work it out. We got back into the battle, and we’re out here early to get ready for this race. We still have one test session left in case we have to test before we go to Pomona.”
 

McDuffie won the NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals twice and the Southeast Division Driver of the Year award.

A viewing will be held at Sims Funeral Home in Douglas, Ga., Oct. 21-22 from 6 to 9 p.m., and the funeral service will be Friday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. Condolences may be sent to Sims Funeral Home, 201 Peterson Ave., Douglas, GA 31533 or online at www.simsfuneralhome.org.
 

Entry forms and ballot boxes will be available at each of these Midway displays. A drawing will be held prior to the second Professional qualifying session Friday and Saturday. 

The winner’s name will be announced over the track PA; the winner will receive a prize pack valued at more than $1,000 each day. 

Each prize pack contains items ranging from racing parts to apparel items to gift certificates to tools. While at the race, stay tuned to the event PA for information.

 

Lucas Oil Products has assumed title sponsorship of the popular Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge, the charity event that pits NASCAR pros against NHRA drivers to raise money for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project.

The fifth annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering will be staged Jan. 8-10 at the Olympic course on historic Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, N.Y. The brainchild of NASCAR legend Bodine, the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project is a collaborative effort between Bodine and Chassis Dynamics to make the best bobsleds in the world for U.S. athletes.

"We've increased our involvement each year because you can immediately see the positive effect this has for our athletes," said NHRA Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas, the son of Lucas Oil founders Forrest and Charlotte Lucas. "Since Geoff started the Bo-Dyn Project, our bobsled teams have gone from the bottom of the pack to a world powerhouse that has contended and won medals at every world championship and Olympic Games ever since.

"Our commitment to Geoff and the Bo-Dyn Project is a real source of pride for all of our employees, and that feeling is only magnified because the Vancouver Olympic Games are coming up in February. Anything we can do to help our team win medals, we're there."

Each year, the Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge pits a team of NASCAR drivers against a group of NHRA Pros. Two events are actually held over the weekend. The first features all of the participating drivers racing against the clock, regardless of their racing affiliation. The second lines up the best NHRA drivers against the top NASCAR pros.

Last year, Lucas won the NHRA versus NASCAR race, and teammate Jeg Coughlin posted a third-place podium finish in the timed portion of the race. Lucas was the 2008 runner-up in the NHRA versus NASCAR tilt and took silver in the 2007 timed race.

This year's event, which is free to attend, will take place between Team USA training runs as the group prepares for the Vancouver event.

"We got a little taste of the top level of the sport last year because they were holding the U.S. Nationals Bobsled Championships there at the same time we were making our runs," Lucas said. "They were going from the top of the course and hitting speeds of 85 to 90 mph. It was intense.

"The cool part was they were using the sleds from the Bo-Dyn Project, and you could see how trick they were. Plus, all the athletes were so appreciative of what we were doing to help them out. It was pretty special to be a part of it all."

Rising NASCAR superstar Joey Logano was one of the first to volunteer for this year's event.

"Driving bobsleds is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done," Logano said. "It makes me feel great to support such a patriotic event, especially with this being an Olympic year. I'm excited to get back to Lake Placid."

On this year's NHRA squad, Coughlin, Shawn Langdon, and a yet-to-be-named driver will join Lucas. Colorful four-time world champion Gary Scelzi has committed to serve as color commentator for Speed TV's annual coverage of the event.
 

With sponsorship from Kenny Koretsky’s Nitro Fish Wear, former Pro Stock racer Dave Connolly will be attempting to take home a large share of the purses available at the annual Million Dollar Drag Race at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Forced to the sidelines early this season by the country’s economic struggles, Connolly continues to hone the same competitive skills that labeled him a Pro Stock championship contender from 2004 through 2008. He won 21 times in 37 final rounds and finished third in points three times.

“I’m not racing as much as I’d like to,” Connolly said. “Things have been working out pretty well. I am looking forward to this race, or races. There is a $20,000 race Thursday and $30,000 races on Friday and Sunday. The Million Dollar Race is on Saturday.

“That’s a huge one. It’s an expensive race, too. I want to thank Kenny for his support this weekend. I’d like to do well so I could make up some for not racing Pro Stock this year.”

This is the second time in 2009 that Connolly and Koretsky joined forces. Connolly drove the Nitro Fish Pro Stock entry in Houston and Las Vegas early in the season.

Most of Connolly’s Super Comp racing has been on the East Coast. And there’s more to come.

“It gets real busy next month when we have 15 races scheduled over 18 days,” he noted. “That’s a lot of bracket racing, but it will be a lot of fun. But I really want to be back in Pro Stock next year.”

“MPE Motorsports has announced the release of crew chief Lance Larsen,” Pickens said. “Lance is a knowledgeable and experienced tuner and a trusted friend. He is truly one of the good guys in the sport. Having become a close member of our personal family, we wish him the very best going forward.

“The selection of a new MPE crew chief has not yet been made. We will not be attending this weekend’s race at Richmond.”

Millican drove the Hope4ASudan/Motorvation dragster to 10th place in the 18-race regular season, earning the final position in the six-race Countdown to 1 showdown. He is 10th after the first three races.
 

Two-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon will debut a '78 Plymouth Arrow nostalgia nitro Funny Car as a tribute to the late Joe Pisano for the first time at the 18th California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, Oct. 16-18 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Pisano, a drag racer and racing aftermarket pioneer, was instrumental in the careers of many drag racers and especially in the life of Pedregon. Joe P., as friends and competitors knew him, passed away in 1991. He helped Pedregon in his early racing career and introduced him to veteran Top Fuel and Funny Car team owner Larry Minor. In 1992, Pedregon won his first NHRA Funny Car championship in a McDonald’s-sponsored Funny Car owned by Minor. Pedregon looked at this as an opportunity to pay tribute to his longtime friend by asking Joe’s brother, Frank, if he could paint his nostalgia Funny Car similarly to one that Pisano raced in the late 1970s.

As an added bonus, Pedregon enlisted the help of Danny Pisano, nephew of Joe Pisano, who campaigns the Pisano & Matsubara '74 Chevrolet Vega-bodied nostalgia Funny Car to join in this Tribute to Joe Pisano. Both cars will be part of the Cacklefest that officially kicks off the Honorees Ceremony at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bakersfield Friday night, Oct. 16. Both floppers will fire up as the first leg of this tribute. Then on Saturday, plans call for both cars to line up together on the legendary starting line for the first session of side-by-side qualifying for Funny Car eliminator. Veteran nitro tuner Donnie Couch is racing against the clock to finish Pedregon’s nostalgia nitro Funny Car in his Southern California shop.

Pedregon was the grand marshal of the fabled March Meet earlier this year. Auto Club Famoso Raceway is also an important part of the Pedregon family’s history. It’s where Pedregon earned his NHRA competition license and is the same track where his father, "Flamin´ Frank” Pedregon, raced in the 1960s and his brother, Tony, also a two-time NHRA Funny Car champion, earned his NHRA competition license.
 

Since 1981, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has sponsored this official national tribute to all firefighters who were lost in the previous year. This year’s Honor Roll will be unveiled during ceremonies Oct. 2-4 in Emmitsburg, Md.

"This entire sponsorship with FireIce transcends drag racing in so many ways," said Payne, the 1995 season champion who has 11 divisional crowns and 24 national event wins. "We've been honoring various fire departments across the country all year, and the response we've gotten from firefighters has been tremendous.

"For this race, we decided to raise awareness for the National Fallen Firefighters Honor Roll, specifically because one of the men listed on the Honor Roll is Lt. Rafael Vazquez of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, who served the county that protects FireIce’s corporate headquarters located in Jupiter, Fla. Bottom line, this guy was a friend of everyone at FireIce, and he and the other 121 firefighters on this year's Honor Roll should never be forgotten for what they've done for all of us. They are true heroes."

FireIce is a subsidiary of GelTech Solutions Inc., a publicly-traded corporation (OTCBB: GLTC) that supports the Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

"I consider it an honor to salute the National Fallen Firefighters Honor Roll this weekend with Jay's race car," said GelTech CEO Michael Cordani. "It's been humbling to say the least to see how much this race car has positively affected all the firefighters we've met at the various NHRA tour stops Jay has made.

"We should all remember there are 1.1 million firefighters out there keeping us safe. Sometimes, these brave men and women get hurt or even die in the line of duty. It's our obligation as citizens of this country to honor and remember them. The people with the National Fallen Firefighters Honor Roll do wonderful work. and we're happy to help them."

To help spread the word about its product and Payne's race car, FireIce also has teamed with FireRescue1.com, the premier source for firefighter news.
 

Top Fuel racer Hillary Will, sidelined this season because of economic conditions, will be back behind the wheel of a dragster for three races this year, piloting Tom Conway's national championship Top Alcohol Dragster with the backing of Get Screened America and in support of Operation Holiday Hope.
 
Will will be competing at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona as well as the Lucas Oil Series Division 7 event in Las Vegas scheduled for the weekend between the events.
 
"I can't tell you how excited I am to get back in a dragster," Will said. "The Tom Conway-tuned car was my first choice when I decided I wanted to get back in Top Alcohol. Thankfully, the seat was available this year, and thankfully, Roger Burgess agreed to support my comeback.
 
"I'm a very health-conscious person, so I'm glad I have the opportunity to encourage our fans and teams to take care of themselves by getting screened at the Get Screened America pavilion or at their family doctor's office. Taking a few minutes and getting some simple tests goes a long way in saving lives," she said.
 
Will is also racing to bring awareness to Operation Holiday Hope, a charity whose goal is to raise money for children in the inner city who live in poverty. All funds raised buy gifts for kids whose parents are not going to be able to afford to buy them holiday presents.

"I've seen firsthand the hope and love that this organization provides for these kids who need it. They help put smiles on a lot of faces. This means a lot to me, and I want to give back. Helping to raise money for Operation Holiday Hope is just one way I know how."
 
As a spokeswoman for Get Screened America, Will will be involved in several publicity events as well. For more information about her schedule and events, log on to the GetScreenedAmerica.com Web site or to Will's site, www.hillarywillrace.com. For more information about Operation Holiday Hope or to donate, log on to www.metroministries.org/USPrograms/OperationHolidayHope/tabid/2406/Default.aspx.

Coming off his first final-round appearance of his rookie campaign, Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon has picked up the sponsorship support of Mach 1 Global Services, a worldwide industry leader in the overnight freight-forwarding business.

Langdon will race the Mach 1 Global Services/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster at this weekend's 24th annual O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec and will pick up a boisterous group of supporters from the organization's Dallas office as well as a huge group of Mach 1 customers.

The company will also have a presence on team owner Morgan Lucas' GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster.

"We're excited to join Morgan Lucas Racing and be on Shawn's dragster for this event," CEO Jamie Entzminger said. "Dallas is a very important market for us, and to have a chance to introduce our loyal customers to NHRA Drag Racing through a professional race team as highly regarded as this one should only strengthen our position in the DFW area.

"We had a chance to meet Shawn and Morgan earlier this year and have been following them ever since. The synergy between Lucas Oil and Mach 1 is tremendous. We're both family-owned and -operated businesses that strive to be the best in our respective industries. We're very excited about this upcoming weekend and our future with Morgan Lucas Racing."

Mach 1 joins the race team at a perfect time as both Langdon and Lucas are solidly in the fight for the 2009 Full Throttle world championship. Langdon's big weekend in Charlotte at the first of six Countdown to 1 playoff races lifted him to fifth place in the crowded rankings. He's just 49 points off the class lead. Lucas is just a few ticks behind Langdon in eighth place.

"Mike Entzminger [Mach 1 founder] and his daughter Jamie are great people, and it's very cool to have Mach 1 Global Services on Shawn's car this weekend," Lucas said. "Hopefully, he'll have another big weekend, and we can kick off our relationship with Mach 1 in the winner's circle.

"Shawn's car and crew won the Dallas race last year, so they know how to get it done at the Texas Motorplex. Plus, the way Shawn is driving this year, you know they're going to be tough. It should be a great weekend."

“What a group to be with,” Edwards said. “They joined us in Reading, and the relationship has really blossomed and has been beneficial to both sides. It just adds to everything we already have with this team.”

The company’s name and Web site address will adorn the front hood of the red Pontiac GXP, and 800-FOR-VETTE-PARTS will be on the hood scoop this weekend.

Located in Bristol, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia, Contemporary Corvette opened its doors for business in 1990 with three Corvettes and a half-acre called "the Field of Broken Dreams." After tremendous success, the company has expanded to four acres to house nearly 450 Corvettes.

 

Before Antron Brown returns to the cockpit of his Mike Ashley-owned Matco Tools dragster Friday afternoon at zMax Dragway to begin the Countdown to 1, the 23-time NHRA winner will trade his Top Fuel dragster for a stock car. The NHRA points leader will participate in the Richard Petty Driving Experience at nearby Lowe's Motor Speedway Friday morning before qualifying for the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, the first race in the Countdown to 1 six-race playoff.

"This is a really cool deal, and I'm excited to see what this stock-car racing is all about," Brown said. "My boy Jimmy Bruns at Connexions Sports and Entertainment called and asked if I was interested, and I was like 'Are you crazy? Of course I am.' I grew up racing motocross and then Pro Stock Motorcycles and now Top Fuel, so maybe the next move for Antron Brown is to NASCAR. They keep talking about Danica [Patrick] going to NASCAR, maybe A.B. will beat her to the punch.

"Seriously though, this is an awesome opportunity to see what it's like to drive around an oval at 160 mph. I'm sure glad there aren't 42 other cars out there bumping and passing me. I know it's going to be a lot of fun. It would be cool if 'the King' [Richard Petty] was my driving coach. I got to hang out with our greatest driver, Don Garlits, at the U.S. Nationals a few weeks back, and it would be neat to meet Richard Petty in the heart of NASCAR country." 
 

Ashley Force Hood, driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, is contributing a weekly online diary for USA Today. This is the second year in a row that Force Hood will share her racing experiences and off-week exploits with USA Today readers. Force Hood provided USA Today with a preview column that is available at www.usatoday.com/sports/motor..

“Writing the USA Today weekly diary is a fun way for me to share some of the behind-the-scenes experiences I have with my Castrol GTX team. I have the best group of guys, and we have a lot of fun at the races. Last year, I finished sixth in the Full Throttle points, and this year I am hoping for more success in the Countdown to 1. It will be great to share this wild ride with the readers of USA Today,” said Force Hood.

Force Hood has won twice this season, in Houston and Indy, and made seven final-round appearances. She is entering the 2nd annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals in third place in the Full Throttle points standings.

B.R.A.K.E.S., the safe-driving organization founded by NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Doug Herbert, and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament on opening day of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Thursday, Sept 17.

“The Carolinas Nationals will be an exciting time in Charlotte as the NHRA roars into town, and I’m so glad that our fundraising events for B.R.A.K.E.S. will be part of the action,” said Herbert. “We wanted to do something a little different this year, so we decided on a paintball tournament because we thought it would be a lot of fun. The dinner was a huge success last year, and we hope to build on that for an even better event this year.”

The benefit dinner, presented by tiwi, will be held in The Speedway Club at Lowe’s Motor Speedway at 7 p.m. The event will include live and silent auctions and feature keynote speaker Mike Minter, retired football player for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

The PPG Paintball Tournament will be held at Carolina Paintball Park in China Grove, N.C., at 10 a.m. Teams of seven featuring many NHRA drivers will compete in a bracket-style tournament.

“I can’t think of a better way to kick off the Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway than to support this great cause,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway and president of Speedway Children’s Charities Charlotte chapter. “Doug has been instrumental in bringing awareness to the importance of safe driving, and we are proud to be a part of these fundraising events.”

Tickets for the B.R.A.K.E.S. and Speedway Children’s Charities benefit dinner presented by tiwi and the PPG Paintball Tournament are still available. To register or for more information, call Stacy Ellis, 704-732-8950, or log on to www.putonthebrakes.org.
 

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Peggy Llewellyn has been named celebrity spokesperson for Divas For A Cure (DFAC) to promote breast cancer awareness in black and Latina/Hispanic communities. 

"I am honored and excited to serves as spokesperson for Divas For A Cure," said Llewellyn. "It takes two of my passions, which are motorcycles and reaching out to my community, and uses them to raise awareness of breast cancer."

DFAC is a national service-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising cancer awareness through early detection, education, screenings, and supporting research for eradicating cancer among women, specifically black and Latina/Hispanic. The organization is unique in that its African-American and Latina women ride motorcycles across the country to raise funds and awareness throughout the year and participate in their signature fundraiser, Divas For A Cure Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run.  

Led by founder and President and breast cancer survivor Jan Emanuel-Costley, the four-year organization, supported by Harley-Davidson, clocked more than 22,000 miles across the United States for the cause and donated more than $110,000 to MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, where DFAC has a dedicated treatment room.

In past years, Divas For A Cure has enjoyed the support of such celebrities as award-winning, bestselling African-American authors Nina Foxx and Eric Jerome Dickey, international male supermodel and actor Tyson Beckford, comedian and actor Joe Torry, and Hollywood stuntman and former dancer Lionel Douglass.
    
"We are extremely excited to have Peggy Llewellyn as the 2009-2010 Divas For A Cure celebrity spokesperson," said an elated Emanuel-Costley. "Our association will help launch us to a new level. Combining our efforts will truly give greater value to our motto, Passion With A Purpose."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among black and Latina woman, making it the most commonly diagnosed and most likely form of cancer to lead to death in both groups because it is often diagnosed in later stages.

Llewellyn said, "The black and Hispanic communities are less informed; therefore, it is the highest incident rate of the disease. Being of Mexican and Jamaican descent, I want to make sure the message is out there about early detection and education."

Her spokesperson role will begin Oct. 1 and last for one year.

Llewellyn is the first woman of color in the world to win a professional motorsports event. Winning at the NHRA event Dallas in 2007, she earned an appearance in the inaugural Countdown to 4 and Countdown to 1, giving her a finish in the top five in standings.

The three-year professional motorcyclist ran an abbreviated season in 2008 and advanced to the semifinals in Denver, finishing the season with qualifying five of six races. Llewellyn hopes to return to the NHRA circuit for the remainder of the 2009 NHRA season in September.

Named 2009 Female Athlete of the Year by The Elements of a Champion Foundation for displaying extraordinary character on and off the racetrack, Llewellyn is dedicated to her community through actively being involved with Women's Sports Foundation's Go Girl Go! and independently promoting to young girls the sport of motorcycle racing, physical fitness education, and the importance of following dreams.
 

"Fast Jack" Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will appear on the Sept. 17 Pinks All Out show, which airs on SpeedTV.

The segments featuring Beckman were filmed this summer in Maryland, where Beckman presented the Valvoline Coveted Spot award and was invited by the show to present a $10,000 check to the winner of the event in the winner's circle.

An estimated 12,000 fans were at the event, and Beckman signed hundreds of autographs.

Beckman was asked to interview the drivers in the pits and in the staging lanes. He also interviewed the Valvoline Coveted Spot award winner and was filmed in several segments with the Pinks hosts talking about a variety of subjects, including safety and how the show works in general. During eliminations, Beckman, always wearing his instructor's hat as a former Frank Hawley's NHRA Drag Racing School instructor, gave advice to drivers to help pump them up for the race.

"We got there at 9:20 in the morning, and they ran the final at 12:15 the following morning because there were two lengthy rain delays, so it was a long and wonderful day," said Beckman, who will start the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs next week in Charlotte from the fifth position.

"I have to tell you, everybody on the staff and everybody on the crew was phenomenal to me. You don't know going in how it all is going to work out, as I was kind of a third wheel. I was just a guest appearing on the show. Clay Millican is a regular on the show, and to say he was gracious is an understatement.

"As a professional racer, they included me in their deliberations for pairings and which cars to choose for the race. It was great. It wasn't that I showed up and got to spend five minutes on a segment and then left. They actually made me an integral part of the show and the strategy.

"Honest to God, it was really cool," he added. "I was warmly surprised at how great everybody was."

The Valvoline Coveted Spot program offers racers one final opportunity to obtain a competitor slot in a Pinks All Out field. Once pre-event sign-up is complete and the dust settles after each host track’s qualifying races, the Valvoline Coveted Spot is the last opportunity to obtain one of the hottest and most competitive tickets in town. Racers interested in signing up for a chance to win the Valvoline Coveted Spot enter a random drawing that takes place two weeks prior to an upcoming Pinks All Out live production.
 

More than 4,000 fans attended the fourth annual Don Schumacher Racing open house Friday, Sept. 4, all of whom helped raise more than $19,000 for Riley Children’s Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children. The event was held in advance of the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, the 18th of 24 events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Live auctions, raffles, and voluntary donations held at the 100,000-square-foot facility in Brownsburg, Ind., which houses all six DSR NHRA teams, pushed the four-year total north of $80,000.

The gold chrome U.S. Nationals Tony Schumacher helmet fetched $2,800 with a winning bid from Brad Myers, of Elkhart, Ind. Myers also submitted the winning bids for the DSR Stratosphere-Orbitz Las Vegas race package ($1,200) and to be an honorary crewmember on the Fram Tough Guard Top Fuel team with driver Cory McClenathan on Friday in Las Vegas ($450). Myers' personal auction contribution reached $4,450, and the total for the auction portion of the fundraising effort for Riley Children’s Foundation was $7,450.

Visitors were treated to a car show courtesy of the Indy Hi-Winders Car Club and a thunderous “Cacklefest” of vintage nitro cars led by the Justin Grant-owned Don Schumacher Wonder Wagon replica 1970 Funny Car.

“We at Don Schumacher Racing are always happy to open our doors for the U.S. Nationals fans,” said team owner Don Schumacher. “More importantly, with the support of the NHRA fans and our sponsors, families, and volunteers, we are thrilled that we are able to contribute to the Riley Children’s Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children each year. It means a lot to our employees, who take great pride in this event.”
 

The Public Relations Department of zMax Dragway, led by Scott Cooper and Adrian Parker, took advantage of an open weekend on the Charlotte-area sports scene and the marketing savvy of track owner Bruton Smith to fly a contingent of Charlotte media to the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil today.  The group -- five television stations: WBTV, WCNC, WSOC, WCCB, and News 14 and Ron Green, reporter for the Charlotte Observer -- spent time with a variety of NHRA drivers, including Castrol GTX Ford Mustang driver Ashley Force Hood and Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang driver John Force.

“Coming to Charlotte and zMax Dragway is a big deal for us. NASCAR is so big in that area we are excited to bring the excitement of Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in a few weeks. I am looking forward to getting the Countdown to 1 started. Right now, we are No. 3 in points, and we are trying to move up closer to the top of the point standings,” said Force Hood.

Force Hood and Force talked up the excitement level associated with the 2nd annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Sept. 17-20, as the first race of the Countdown to 1 and the interest in the planned four-wide exhibition run prior to the final round Sunday, Sept. 20.
 

“We are very fortunate to have a company like Contemporary Corvette come onboard and help us at this most crucial stage of the season,” Edwards said. “We will do everything we can to make this partnership stronger and more valuable for them as we do with all of our marketing partners. By adding support to our team, it only helps us elevate our entire business model at all levels in promoting Mike Edwards Motorsports’ team message.”

Located in Bristol, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia, owner Ron DeSmedt opened his doors for business in 1990 with three Corvettes and a half-acre of what he calls "the Field of Broken Dreams." Now, after tremendous success, he has expanded to four acres to house the nearly 450 Corvettes that occupy the grounds. The company features an all-inclusive Web site contemporarycorvette.com, where customers can find nearly any part for a Corvette; customers may also call 800-FOR-VETTE-PARTS.

The company’s name and Web site will adorn the front hood of the red Pontiac GXP of Edwards, and 1-800-FOR-VETTE-PARTS will be on the hood scoop in Indy.
 

Fans of the Golden Arches and NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing converged yesterday at the McDonald’s in Greenwood, Ind. They were there to see Castrol GTX Funny Car driver Ashley Force Hood and pick up a variety of discounts for the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil. Force Hood was featured on 1.5 million cups available since mid-August at McDonald’s across Indiana in advance of the largest NHRA race of the season.

“It was great to see so many fans today in Greenwood. I love McDonald’s, and I really appreciate Full Throttle including me in this statewide promotion. It is a little weird to see people drinking Cokes or Diet Cokes out of a cup with my face on it. My crew guys have been joking with me about being on the cup, but it is a tremendous opportunity to promote our sport,” said Force Hood.

“The folks today were so friendly, and this McDonald’s was packed. All the employees were wearing NHRA caps, and it was like a festival of speed during our appearance. There was a radio station here that had a racing game for the kids, and they were giving away tickets and some autographed items. It was really a fun time.”

Force Hood is third in the Full Throttle Funny Car points standings and will begin qualifying for the U.S. Nationals Friday. She will be racing to win her second U.S. Nationals title but first in the Funny Car category. She won in Top Alcohol Dragster in 2004 at the prestigious event.
 

At this year's 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil -- drag racing's most prestigious and longest running event -- Jay Payne will honor the brave men and women of the Brownsburg (Ind.) Fire Department with the FireIce-branded Pro Mod car.

"Just about everyone in racing has needed to be rescued at some point in their career," Payne said. "Whether it's a medical issue or a fire, we all know America's finest are there for us no matter the circumstances. They routinely put themselves in harm's way to make sure we're safe, and for that we're eternally grateful.

"Every since we've been running FireIce on my race car, we've done our best to raise awareness and contributions for the Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Federation of Burn Foundations, two causes that are very close to the hearts of everyone at FireIce. Well, for this race, we decided to single out the Brownsburg Fire Department and salute their tireless work at ORP over the last five decades."

As part of the weekend's celebrations, Payne and numerous members of the Brownsburg Fire Department will meet with the media and take photographs at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the racetrack in front of Payne's '67 FireIce Camaro and several rescue vehicles and fire trucks from the department.

From that point, Payne's FireIce pit will serve as a gathering spot for Brownsburg Fire Department staff members, firefighters, and EMTs. The group also hopes members of the drag racing community and residents of Brownsburg stop by to meet the men and women who keep them safe.

"There are 90 people in the Brownsburg Fire Department, and hopefully we'll get to meet them all over the course of the weekend," said Michael Cordani, CEO of GelTech Solutions Inc., a publicly traded corporation (OTCBB: GLTC) that is the parent company of FireIce. "Obviously, they can't all come at once because a number of them are on duty at any given time, but with Indy being a long event, they should all have a chance to stop by and visit."

Originally, Payne was going to use his FireIce Top Alcohol Funny Car to salute his heroes, but a minor accident at last weekend's divisional race in Topeka damaged the front end of the car, and it is in the chassis shop being repaired.

"I called Michael at FireIce as soon as I saw the damage to the Funny Car and suggested we sticker up the Pro Mod car, and he thought it was a great idea," Payne said. "There was no way we were going to miss this chance to honor the Brownsburg Fire Department."

FireIce is a nontoxic, environmentally friendly fire-suppression gel that firefighters add to water in pumper trucks, helicopters, fire planes, and handheld extinguishers to help extinguish fires drastically quicker than water alone.

A special-edition gold-chrome U.S. Army-themed Tony “the Sarge” Schumacher Impact! Racing helmet will be auctioned during the Don Schumacher Racing open house Friday, Sept. 4, to benefit Riley Children’s Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children.

Schumacher, a seven-time U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner, is eager to showcase the new design, created by Steve Dekkenga of S.D. Enterprises Paint and Graphics in Spring Lake, Mich., who has designed a number of DSR race car and helmet schemes. “This is a great-looking helmet. Steve really did a knockout job with the gold chrome.

“It is a one-of-a-kind helmet, and hopefully when I hand it off on Monday night to the auction winner, it will be a monumental race-winner helmet.” The six-time world champion is looking to tie the iconic Don Garlits for the most Top Fuel U.S. Nationals victories.

The auction winner will also receive two reserved-seat tickets and DSR hospitality for Monday final eliminations at this year’s U.S. Nationals event. The helmet and paint donations assure that 100 percent of the auction proceeds will be donated to Riley Children’s Foundation.

The open house is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a car and motorcycle show, vintage nitro car “Cacklefest”, driver autographs, and a racing-themed memorabilia raffle.
 

This initial foray into NHRA Drag Racing was sparked by a wildly successful venture between BASF's Agricultural Products group and Lucas Oil Motorsports at the recently completed Indy Super Pull event during Lucas Oil Motorsports Weekend at the 2009 Indiana State Fair.

"We were certainly impressed with everything we were able to do at the Indy Super Pull," said Kent Stickler, BASF district manager-crop protection products. "The Agricultural Products group is committed to developing unique and innovative solutions for today's corn and soybean growers to help them produce greater yields and get the most out of every acre. Innovation and technology will be key to the success of BASF for years to come.

"There are many similarities between what we do and the way drag racers operate on the edge of technology to get the most out of their race cars, engines, and equipment."

BASF Agricultural Products certainly has aligned itself with a great race team. Team owner and driver Lucas, the youngest Professional in NHRA's nitro ranks at age 25, is a multi-time national event winner in the midst of a career season. His teammate, rookie Shawn Langdon, has proven to be quite adept at handling a 7,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster and is a contender for rookie of the year.

Lucas' GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster and Langdon's Lucas Oil/Dixie Chopper dragster will both sport prominent BASF signage at this weekend's race.

"I'm extremely proud to bring a corporation of this magnitude into our sport and really introduce them to motorsports in general," Lucas said. "BASF is the largest chemical company in the world with nearly 100,000 employees on five continents and annual revenues in excess of $50 billion. It's awesome to bring them onboard.

"This is a nice byproduct of our successes this year, and it's neat to see people recognize our accomplishments. Everyone we've met at BASF has been awesome to work with, and I can only see great things happening with this partnership as we move forward."
 

The Race Reporters can be heard live, downloaded into an iPod, or accessed for listening on a delayed basis by clicking on the show icon at www.PowerUpChannel.com. Listeners can bookmark the show and sign up to receive a free e-card with news on upcoming guests at the show’s page, http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1549. The show will reair several times later in the week (check PowerUp’s daily programming listing).
 

Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster runner-up Mike Lewis will compete at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, thanks to backing from the International Motorsports Industry Show. Lewis again will be behind the Conway Automotive entry of former season champ Tom Conway. The inaugural IMIS trade show, which takes place Dec. 2-3 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, offers individuals and companies from all facets of the racing business the chance to interact, share ideas and products, build relationships, and attend seminars to improve motorsports around the world, all while showcasing Indianapolis as the Racing Capital of the World.

The event was co-founded and will be produced by Chris Paulsen, owner of Indianapolis-based C&R Racing; Jeff Stoops, owner of Indianapolis-based Stoops Freightliner; Tom Weisenbach, executive director of the Indiana Motorsports Association; and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and Indiana resident Tony Stewart.

“One of the biggest motorsports announcements of the year was when Chris, Jeff, Tom, and Tony announced the International Motorsports Industry Show,” Lewis said. “This group has hands-on involvement with every form of motorsports in the world, and they are committed to making Indianapolis and the state of Indiana the hub of worldwide motorsports. It’s an honor to play a role in their campaign.”

“Mike drove really well at Maple Grove, and we’re hoping he finishes one spot better at the U.S. Nationals,” Paulsen said. “It’s great to have a guy like Mike represent us at one of the biggest racing events of the year. The IMIS show is for hard-core racers only, and Mike is that type of person. He’s heavily involved on the business side of motorsports but also loves to get behind the wheel. He’ll do a fine job helping us get the word out about IMIS.”

Lewis will be participating in the U.S. Nationals during a busy time for Don Schumacher Racing – a fact that is not lost on him.

“I owe a lot to my family, to Bob Albrecht of Albrecht’s Fast Track Motorcycles, which is an associate sponsor on the car, and to everyone at Don Schumacher Racing,” Lewis said. “I’ll miss a lot of the DSR open house and other activities surrounding the U.S. Nationals. I can’t thank them enough for giving me this opportunity.”

More than 375 booths have already been booked for IMIS, but for racing companies and people interested, limited space is still available. For details on how to be a part of the show, log on to www.imis-indy.com.
 

Mail Terminal Services continues to close in on its goal of 125,000 postcards being sent in one season to U.S. troops in war zones overseas through its Mail From Home program promoted at each NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

With 17 events of the 24 scheduled this season completed, MTS can boast that it has shipped 83,000 cards, signed by fans and MTS employees during each NHRA event so far. The prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend is expected to produce more than 7,000 cards. Expectations are high that the program will reach its 125,000 goal by the completion of the 2009 NHRA series.

As part of its support of Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, MTS has set several internal challenges and incentives for individuals and terminals that meet and/or exceed the 7,500 postcards collected for the Mail From Home program at each event.

"All in all, it is a program for which the greatest reward is the knowledge that we will have made soldiers smile at least 125,000 times," said Rodger Comstock, president and CEO of Mail Terminal Services, which operates 16 terminals throughout the U.S.

"The Western Swing was very successful for the MTS Mail From Home program," continued Comstock. "In Denver and Seattle, the volunteer workers from our MTS terminals in those cities exceeded their 2008 collections by an additional 1,000 cards. But the group that was at Sonoma from the MTS San Francisco [SFO] terminal was sensational. This year, a combination of the San Francisco/Sonoma NHRA fans' patriotism and the SFO Mail Terminal Services volunteers' determination combined for a record-setting event. The SFO group collected 6,800 cards from NHRA fans and guests. That exceeded the previous record set by the Brainerd, Minn., volunteers from the MTS-MSP [Minneapolis] terminal of 5,500 at the track in 2008.
 
"We are very proud of all of the efforts from the MTS employees and the NHRA fans to help collect postcards for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," added Comstock.
  
"We have heard back from several of the soldiers who have received the cards and shared them with their buddies. They all have appreciated the knowledge that people other than their families care about what they are doing and wish them well. They agree that it improves their mind-set as they go on patrol and do their jobs."

Soldiers in the war zones receive a package of postcards with individual messages on them, autographed hero cards from the Valvoline/MTS team and other DSR teams, as well as National DRAGSTER and Drag Racing magazines. Fans are asked to sign and write messages on these unique postcards at the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and the U.S. Army kiosk along the Manufacturers Midway at each event.
 
The Mail From Home program has resulted in the shipping of 90,000 cards in 2007 and 105,000 in 2008.

Fans who are unable to visit the NHRA events but would like to participate in the Mail From Home program and send a Mail From Home package to a specific soldier should send the soldier's APO mailing address to mfh.mts@gmail.com. MTS will be pleased to help brighten the day of a soldier.
 

Ron Capps, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car class-best five-time winner this season driving the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge for Don Schumacher Racing, will take to the third-mile oval at Madera (Calif.) Speedway for the second time this year Saturday, Aug. 29. He'll be driving the NAPA/Race for Autism Late Model for Carlos Vieria, for whom he drove in April in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Western Late Model division.

Second in the NHRA Funny Car rankings, Capps will compete in the 100-lap feature of the Race & Ride for Autism night charitable fundraiser under a partnership between Carlos Vieria Racing and PRO-RDS, a motorsports development firm. “Carlos and his professional Late Model team are helping make a difference, and we are always willing to support a good cause,” said the firm's president, Nathan Svoboda.

"I'm excited, because I'm getting to go back and race in Madera in the No. 51 NAPA/Race for Autism car that I drove for Carlos in April," said Capps, who finished sixth at that event. "Carlos has a two-car team with very nice equipment, which reminds me of our team at Don Schumacher Racing. All the equipment is first-class, and every person working for him is incredible. And that was proved when I showed up for the first time driving one of these cars earlier this year and started from the back to finish sixth.

"I had such a great time helping support Race for Autism, and this weekend, the car will feature our sponsor NAPA Auto Parts on the back panel. To be able to drive a race car, which is what I love to do, and raise money at the same time for a great cause is incredible. On top of that, I'll be making a NAPA Auto Parts store appearance the day before the race, and those are always fun.

"Driving a Late Model is so much fun and so demanding, especially on a tight, small NASCAR track like this one. Madera is known as the fastest third-mile in the West, and things happen so fast there. You have cars all around you, and you also have a spotter in your ear talking to you, letting you know that somebody's inches away from you.

"Believe it or not, competing in these races helps me drive the Funny Car, because of the hand-to-eye coordination that is required and, for sure, the car feel. I can always take what I learn on a short-track oval and use it when our NAPA Funny Car goes up in smoke and gets a little loose and I'm having to get it to the finish line."

A new NAPA Auto Parts store will be opening in Visalia, Calif., Friday, Aug. 28, with a grand-opening celebration planned throughout the day, including an appearance by Capps from noon to 2 p.m. with the NAPA/Race for Autism NASCAR Late Model.

For information about the Race for Autism campaign, log on to www.raceforautism.net; for information about Don Schumacher Racing and Capps, log on to www.shoeracing.com.
 

Sweden’s Leif Helander has been driving a Funny Car for more than 30 years and has numerous wins and two Swedish championships. Now, Helander has decided to come back to the United States to compete at this year’s O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec, Sept. 24-27 in Dallas, and the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Oct. 2-4 in Memphis.

Helander will be taking the reins of the Simpson Racing nitro Funny Car. The Ponder, Texas-based team will also be running its Top Fuel dragster at those events. Todd Simpson will make shakedown runs in the team’s new Camaro-bodied chassis this weekend, getting it ready for Helander. Helander’s U.S. tour is made possible with the help of ISS Industry Services, Midvac Contractors, Matfors Industry Services, Hand Machine Services, Wallstroms Printing, and CH Machine. 

Entry forms and ballot boxes will be available at each of these Midway displays. A drawing will be held prior to the second Professional qualifying session Saturday and Sunday.

The winner’s name will be announced over the track PA; the winner will receive a prize pack valued at more than $1,500 each day. Each prize pack contains items ranging from racing parts to apparel items to gift certificates and tools.

While at the event, stay tuned to the event PA for more information.

Carter came into the season as the defending FIA champion but was hungry to add to his three titles (2001 and 2004). In comparison to these three titles, all won by the slenderest of margins with the points chase going down to the wire at the final race of the year, the fourth is the culmination of the most dominant performance seen in European Top Fuel competition since the inception of the FIA championship in 1996; he has already secured a record-setting 11 round-wins this season.

Having won at Santa Pod Raceway (England) and Alastaro (Finland) and been a frustrated finalist at the rained-out meeting at Mantorp Park (Sweden), the Anglo-Swedish-Danish Lucas Oil team will now look to go through the season undefeated, something never achieved in FIA Top Fuel competition.
 

“The tests were extremely successful,” said Carolyn Ashbee, sales account manager for drag racing. “We know now that we have a very competitive product. Our 60-foot times were superior to the competition.”

The tire to be released first, Goodyear’s D4305, is sized at 275/60R15. It is 28 inches tall and 9.5 inches across the tread and is recommended for wheels 8 inches wide.

Ashbee said eight additional sizes for 15-, 16-, and 17-inch rims can be viewed on www.racegoodyear.com and will be announced as they become available for sale.

The tests were conducted at South Georgia Motorsports Park and Arizona’s Firebird Int'l Raceway. On both occasions, the track temperatures reached 140 degrees.

The drivers involved in the tests came from across the radial racing world, from organizations such as the Outlaw Radial Street Car Association, the Outlaw Radial Tire Championship, the National Mustang Racing Association, and the Pacific Street Car Association. Drivers made quarter-mile and eighth-mile passes.

“This is a terrific market, one that has been growing and has room for more growth,” Ashbee said. “The tires will be built at our Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio, and we expect to have them ready for sale by the fall.”
 

For one very special night, an area of the Cagnazzi Racing shop normally reserved for the preparation of 200-mph Pro Stock race cars was transformed into a very special meeting place, with hundreds of people gathering to help a racer in need. The Todd Bevis Benefit, which was held Saturday in Mooresville, N.C., drew friends, family members, and former teammates from as far away as Texas and New Jersey, who enjoyed an evening of music, food, drink, and companionship in support of a well-respected member of the motorsports community.

As part of the event, a silent and live auction was held, featuring items ranging from race car parts and memorabilia from a variety of sanctioning bodies to beach vacations and airplane rides; the proceeds will go toward offseting Bevis’ escalating medical costs. Although the tally has yet to be finalized, it is estimated that more than $27,000 was raised. The highlight of the evening, however, came when Bevis addressed the crowd prior to the start of the live auction. Thanking them for their support and friendship, he showed the wit and humor for which he is so well-known.

With Bevis continuing his fight to “kick cancer’s butt,” donations are still being accepted. For more information, contact:
Gaylene Bevis
E-mail: gaylenefbevis@yahoo.com
Cell: 704-677-5411
Phone: 704-896-0166

For the latest update on Bevis' condition or to leave him a message of support, log on to www.caringbridge.org/visit/toddbevis.
 

Crewmembers from Team Kalitta will be on hand tomorrow to test their turning skills on the .65-mile, 14-turn road course. SMP is also offering NHRA fans a special tomorrow: half-price rentals from noon until close. The track is at 13185 U.S. Highway 12 SW, Cokato, MN 55321. The phone number is 320-286-3200. For more information, log on to the SMP Web site, www.stockholmkartingcenter.com.

Marcum was one of a group of Southern California racers who helped start the Pro Gas class in the early 1980s that morphed into the current Super Gas category. Marcum was the 1981 champion in the Southern California Pro Gas Association. Two weeks ago, Val Torres Jr. drove Marcum's '67 Nova to the Super Gas victory at the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma.

NHRA extends its deepest sympathies to his family and friends. 

Services will be held Sunday evening, Aug.16 with a wake at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, Calif. Visitation will be from 6- 8:30 p.m. The funeral will be Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. at Sky Rose Chapel at Rose Hills, in Whittier.

This weekend, the motorsports community will take time from its busy racing season to lend a hand to one of its own. On Saturday, Aug. 8, the defending NHRA Pro Stock world championship Cagnazzi Racing team will hold a fundraiser to benefit Todd Bevis, the head of the team’s chassis fabrication shop, who was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in May. The event, which will be held at the team’s shop in the Lakeside Park industrial complex in Mooresville, N.C., will feature a live and silent auction (for which donations are still being accepted), live music, and food and drinks. Proceeds will help defray the family’s rising medical costs.

“Todd Bevis is not only a vital part of the Cagnazzi Racing family, but also a well-known and respected member of the racing community,” said team owner Victor Cagnazzi.  “Therefore, we thought we would take advantage of a rare weekend off to hold a fundraiser to help Todd and his family through this difficult time. We ask you to keep them in your prayers and invite everyone to come out on Saturday to have a good time while showing their support for one of the truly good guys of our sport.”

Todd Bevis Benefit
Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009
6 to 10 p.m.
Cagnazzi Racing
312 Rolling Hill Road
Mooresville, NC 28117

Admission: $10 (includes food and soft drinks)

For more information, contact:
Gaylene Bevis
gaylenefbevis@yahoo.com
704-677-5411
704-896-0166
 

Open to the public, the Parade of Power will feature race cars from all of the motorsports events occurring this fall at zMax Dragway and Lowe's Motor Speedway. Coughlin’s car will be used to promote the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Sept. 17-20 at the Bruton Smith-owned property. The event marks the first of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to 1 playoffs.

The Parade of Power route is from 3rd Street to the corner of Trade and Tryon. All of the race cars will then be parked on the street at Trade and Tryon for public viewing. Once the cars are parked, a press event will take place in front of the Bank of America building.

“I am excited about the sponsorship with Akuma Helmets for a couple of reasons,” said Llewellyn. “One, they are San Antonio-based, and secondly, they are extremely dedicated to high standards for safety, which is most important. I am truly excited to race wearing an Akuma helmet.”

The helmet sponsorship will take Llewellyn through her comeback in September for the remainder of the year and half of the 2010 season.

“This is an awesome opportunity to showcase our sport of NHRA Drag Racing and our MAR Matco Tools team to a vast motorsports audience,” Brown said. “Dave is a cool dude. Like me, we’re both bike [motorcycle] guys. I was on his show after we won at Houston last year, and it’s an honor to be back on Wind Tunnel after the great run we’ve had out West.”

Brown, who has 23 NHRA wins, is the only driver in NHRA history to win races and lead the standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The former college track star at Mercer [N.J.] Community College has been arguably the hottest driver on the NHRA tour this season. Brown has a category-best five wins, eight final-round appearances, five No. 1 qualifying awards, six low elasped times of the meet, and seven top speeds of the meet. He also clocked the fastest 1,000-foot pass in Top Fuel racing (319.75 mph) in Bristol in May. Last Sunday in Sonoma, he joined NHRA standouts Joe Amato, Cory McClenathan, Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher, John Force, and Greg Anderson as the only Professional racers to win all three of the Western Swing races (Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma). Brown also won in Phoenix and Madison this year.

With three races remaining before the Countdown to 1 playoffs begin at zMax Dragway, Brown owns a 199-point lead over six-time series champion Schumacher.

S&S Cycle acquired Crane’s intellectual properties, patents, trademarks, camshaft masters, inventory, and some equipment in April 2009. S&S is best known for its broad line of components for V-Twin motorcycle applications. The 50-year-old company boasts extensive R&D and manufacturing capabilities, including a complete in-house 50-state Emissions Certification Lab.

Crane Product Manager Terry Johnson, a 12-year veteran of the company, said, “We have already ramped up production of the motorcycle valvetrain and ignition products as well as the automotive ignition line. Many of the top NASCAR teams use Crane ignition products, so maintaining continuity for these customers is top priority.”

Production of automotive valvetrain components may take longer. Chase Knight, who has more than 40 years of Crane experience, has resumed his role as valvetrain product manager. According to Knight, “While we know the market is very hungry for our cam and valvetrain product lines, we want to make sure the parts we ship exceed the quality and performance expectations of our customers. At this point, we can’t put a firm timeline as to when everything will be fully up to speed. We want to be sure to get this right!”

To contact Crane Cams, call 866-388-5120 or 386-628-0197.
 

Hosted by noted TV personality Brett Wagner, Pass Time pits two contestants against the show’s “resident expert,” Ken Herring, in a winner-take-all format as they try to predict what a wide variety of cars will run down the quarter-mile. Although certainly more comfortable behind the wheel of their race-winning Pontiacs, the KB Racing stablemates acquitted themselves well and are looking forward to seeing the finished product.

“Ever since we taped the show in May, people have been asking us when it was going to air, and it couldn’t have worked out better, coming on right after Greg and I met in the final in Sonoma,” said Line, who took home his fourth win of the season. “Hopefully, you’ll be able to see just how much fun we had doing it. All in all, it was a very cool experience, and I really want to thank everyone involved.”

“We had an absolute blast filming the show, and I can’t wait to see how it looks on TV,” added Anderson, who powered from the No. 1 qualifying position to the final round in California. “It’s been hard not telling people how things turned out, but I believe everyone will get a kick out of the final result, especially coming off our all-Summit final in Sonoma. Thank you, Pass Time and Speed for having us on. We’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
 

Ron Barr, host of the Sports Byline USA radio show that originates in San Francisco, returned Thursday evening, July 23, from a two-week tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Barr was in Mosul, Iraq, he was talking with a group of soldiers from the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division who asked if he knew Brandon and Kenny Bernstein.

When Barr told them he was going to see the Bernsteins upon his return to the U.S., they gave him an American flag that they had flown on a Stryker vehicle. In honor of those men and all those who are serving that country, that flag is flying from the Budweiser/Lucas Oil tow vehicle this morning.

Barr said, “When they handed me the flag, they said, ‘Thanks for bringing some normalcy to our lives. Please give this flag to Kenny and Brandon Bernstein.’ ”

“We are very humbled that these brave soldiers would send us the United States flag that meant so much to them,” said Kenny Bernstein. “We are honored to fly the flag in their honor.”
 

Spokane, Wash.-based Nitrocat Pneumatic Tools is supporting local Top Fuel driver Terry Haddock during this weekend's NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways. Haddock is attempting to earn a spot in the prestigious Countdown to 1 but understands that the clock is ticking to get into Top Fuel's top 10 before the playoffs start in September.

"I know it's a long shot," Haddock said. "But we still have an outside chance of making it if we have a couple of good weekends. When we started the season, I was going to continue to run Funny Car, so I let someone else drive the dragster in Pomona. I also skipped a few other races because of prior commitments. I sure hope those missed rounds don't make the difference between being in the Countdown or not."

The Seattle resident hopes his hometown track will be the site of his first NHRA victory.

"You always want to do good at home," Haddock said. "All your friends and family are here, and you want to make them proud. Also, Nitrocat really stepped up to help us with some sponsorship for this race, so we want to make a good impression on them, too. I can't think of a better place to win my first NHRA trophy."

Haddock has been a longtime user of the Nitrocat brand of tools and is excited to be carrying the logo on the side of his 300-mph dragster.

"They have been helping me out for years with tools," Haddock said. "I know everyone always says how great their sponsor's product is, but it's really true with these tools. These things are unbelievable; not only are they quiet, but they are also stronger than any other tool I've ever used. If you've never tried a Nitrocat, you need to."
 
Haddock's final two attempts to qualify will take place Saturday, and final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday.

Longtime Division 7 Top Alcohol Dragster driver Larry Miersch recently made a trip overseas to work on his former A/Fuel Dragster that he sold to Derek Flynn’s England-based Gold RV team. To say that the trip was successful would be a bit of an understatement. Racing in Top Methanol Dragster, which is equivalent to NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster class, the team made FIA history. It won the event in Alastaro, Finland, and became the first A/Fuel winner in a category that had been dominated by blown alcohol dragsters.

Miersch spent a great deal of time on the phone with notable A/Fuel tuner and past Division 7 TAD champion Jim Rizzoli despite a 15-hour time difference. Miersch e-mailed Rizzoli a copy of the onboard data recorded from each run and discussed it with him between passes.

Flynn qualified No. 5 in an eight-car field at the event with a 5.61 when rain shortened qualifying to two sessions. Flynn did his job in the opening round by winning on a holeshot before Miersch and comapny got the tune-up down for the semifinals with a 5.48. Flynn won the historic final by defeating Timo Habermann, 5.47 (low e.t. of the event) to 5.55.

Miersch, a multi-time BMX racing champion before he pursued drag racing, kept followers up to date on the event via Twitter (www.twitter.com/larrymiersch).

NHRA Funny Car points leader Ashley Force Hood is used to going from point A to point B as quickly as possible in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. For the next three weeks, however, Force Hood and her husband, Dan, will be taking their time as they tackle the daunting NHRA Western Swing behind the wheel of an El Monte RV.

“This will be quite an adventure for Dan and me. A lot of the other drivers take their families on the road for the Western Swing, so we thought it would be a lot of fun. Plus, we can bring along our cat, Simba, which is a huge bonus since when we are on the road, he really misses us. I haven’t really traveled in an RV that much, but this El Monte RV is like driving a dream house. It is so comfortable and easy to drive,” said Force Hood.

“I am looking forward to being able to stop and see all the neat sites along the way. We used our AAA TripTik Travel Planner to map out the best route for us as well as where all the gas stations, restaurants, and, most important, where the Starbucks are located,” added Force Hood.

The pair set off for Denver, site of the 30th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Monday, July 6, from the John Force Racing headquarters in Yorba Linda, Calif. After the Denver race, they will hit the road for Seattle, where Force Hood will be racing at the 22nd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways July 17-19. The next-to-last leg of the trip will take them to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma for the 22nd annual Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals July 24-26 before they return to Yorba Linda at the end of the month.

The couple will travel approximately 2,115 miles in style behind the wheel of an '09 34-foot Class A Bounder by Fleetwood. It is loaded with luxury amenities and is the same type of vehicle being driven in the new TV show The Great American Road Trip on NBC. In addition to providing the couple with a dream ride, El Monte RV Rental is offering John Force Racing and NHRA fans an exclusive discount for a limited time (Sept. 8, 2009-Nov. 20, 2009) to the first 100 fans who rent their RV from any of the 60 El Monte RV locations. To receive the special discounted rental rates, call 888-337-2213 and mention “Force.”

"We were thrilled when Ashley and Dan approached us about renting an RV from El Monte RV Rental. As America's premier RV and motorhome rental company since 1970, we knew we would have something that would be perfect for them to tackle the NHRA's Western Swing. We also wanted to do something for the fans of John Force Racing and really everyone in the NHRA, so we put together a special discount rental offer. Fans can call our call center and ask for the Force discount for a limited time. I know Ashley and Dan will have a great time traveling in an El Monte RV, and I want to encourage anyone with a question about traveling in an El Monte RV to give us a call or visit our Web site," said Joe Laing, El Monte RV director of marketing.
 

“Michael brought this foundation to my attention, and I thought it was really doing some great work. This kind of cancer, the kind that attacks kids, really gets me. We see a lot of kids and families at the races that have been affected by cancer. If putting a decal on my Ford Mustangs will help them get more attention and maybe some more donations, then that is the least I can do,” said John Force, president and owner of John Force Racing Inc.

“We are talking with Bogart about doing something more than just the decals, too. I know my girls Ashley, Brittany, and Courtney have talked about going and touring the facility and visiting some of the kids soon,” added Force.

Said Sherman, "I became involved with the Bogart Program after my own daughter, Dr. Courtney Sherman, was a summer medical-school intern in the pediatric brain-cancer program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The work done at the Bogart Laboratories is inspiring, and I am so excited that John Force Racing has joined the Bogart team to help kids beat pediatric cancer," Sherman said.  

The Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program raises vital funds to support early-stage pediatric-cancer research at Bogart Laboratories at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. These funds are matched many times over by government and private dollars to allow the maximum support for this important research. The Bogart Program is dedicated to supporting "bench to bedside" research to find cures and treatments for these diseases and to enhancing the quality of life of the children who survive them. For more information, log on to www.bogartfoundation.org.

NHRA rookie of the year contender Matt Hagan will be seeing red this weekend as Don Schumacher Racing introduces a bright-red design on the shelor.com Dodge Funny Car he drives at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver. The scheme will also feature Gates belts and hose prominently on the rear wing panel to show the team's appreciation of the Denver-based company's longtime support of DSR in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Hagan, new to DSR this season, will race at mile-high Bandimere Speedway for the first time in his short rookie career as he looks to move up in the standings. He's tied with Cruz Pedregon in 10th.

"I've never been to Bandimere before," said the 26-year-old Angus cattle farmer from Christiansburg, Va., "but we're going to treat it like any other race and try to put this bright-red shelor.com Dodge in the winner's circle, especially for Gates belts and hose, who have been so supportive of this team for so long."
 

Erson, an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, worked for Iskenderian Cams in Los Angeles after the war, serving as shop foreman until opening Sig Erson Racing Cams in 1963. Erson was a founding member of SEMA (Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association, now Specialty Equipment Market Association).

Erson was an avid drag racer, motorcycle trials participant, and outstanding off-road racer, competing in the Baja 500 and 1000 many times. He also was a great sport fisherman and private pilot.

After selling Sig Erson Racing Cams in 1982, he and his wife spent many years in Huntington Harbor, Calif.; Kona, Hawaii; and the Florida Keys.

Erson is survived by his wife of 26 years, MaryAnn; daughters, Ginny Brumley, Barbara Storm, and Lynda Rubly; and son, John, of Hawaii. He leaves five grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held later. Donations can be made to the Hospice of Okeechobee.
 

Top Fuel veteran Doug Herbert and Dr. Ginger Southall tied the knot during the Fourth of July weekend at a small, ocean-side wedding on the North Carolina coast.

“The whole weekend was so special,” said Herbert. “I was glad that my daughter, Jessie, and a lot of our family were able to join us for this incredible occasion. With all that’s happened lately, losing the boys and then my father passing away, Ginger has been there for me through it all. It’s nice to have something so good take place in my life.”

“Barefoot, on the beach, fireworks, and a total surprise to our families,” said Southall, who is a nutrition expert, recent health book author, and the former director of corporate wellness for Bruton Smith’s Sonic Automotive car-dealership conglomerate. “It was absolutely perfect, and I’m pretty sure Doug won’t ever forget our anniversary date: July 4!”

The happy couple will reside just outside of Charlotte. 

Standing in the winner’s circle at this past weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Jason Line was quick to point out that the victory was the biggest of his six-year NHRA Pro Stock career. Therefore, it would stand to reason that the trophy he received would be among the most cherished in his collection, forever occupying a prime location in his personal display case.

However, within moments of his defeat of Mike Edwards in the final, the Summit Racing GXP racer already had plans for the little brass man mounted on a wooden base.  This particular Wally would be given to Dean Lewis, a KB Racing crewmember who would be leaving the team after the race, in recognition of and thanks for a job well done.

“Dean Lewis has been a member of our Summit Racing team for a couple years,” said Line. “I may be the guy up there getting the Wally, but this is definitely a team sport. I couldn’t do this without the hard work of our KB Racing crew both here on the road and back at our shop in Mooresville [N.C.]. This was a big win for our team, and everyone, including Dean, played a part in it. 

“Unfortunately, he’s leaving us to move on to other projects, and Norwalk was his last race. Since we were fortunate enough to win, I couldn’t think of a better way to thank the big quitter than by giving him the trophy. We wish him well in the future.”  
 

For Casey Pekarek of Chesterland, Ohio, her dream of giving her husband, Dale, the ultimate wedding-anniversary gift began when she read in the newspaper about the Rocky Rocks! poster contest being held by Kalitta Motorsports and Rocky Boots at this past weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk.

Team Kalitta fans who attended the event were asked to create a poster that contained the phrase “Rocky Rocks!” in commemoration of Rocky Boots’ primary sponsorship of Doug Kalitta’s 7,000-horsepower No. 50 Top Fuel dragster at the event. All contest participants were given a special-edition Rocky/Team Kalitta hat, but the Pekareks also won the grand prize, to be honorary pit crewmembers for Team Kalitta during Sunday’s final eliminations at Summit Motorsports Park, after their design was deemed the most creative by Team Kalitta/Rocky Boots dragster crewmembers.

“I read an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer last Friday about the contest,” Casey said. “I immediately accepted the challenge; however, my motivation for creating a poster for the contest came from my heart. I wanted to create a poster that would hopefully give my husband the chance of a lifetime as a pre-anniversary gift. We will be celebrating our third wedding anniversary July 29.

“I started working on the poster at 4 p.m. on Friday, and I didn’t finish until well after midnight. Our first stop Saturday morning at the racetrack was at the Team Kalitta hospitality area to turn in the poster. We were so excited about the opportunity to enter and possibly win the poster contest, but we were also excited just to be at the races as our trip to the Norwalk event is always one of the highlights of our year. Then as we were getting ready to leave the track Saturday, Dale got the call that our poster had won the contest, and we were both thrilled!”

Sunday morning, the Pekareks arrived at the Team Kalitta pit area to receive their bounty of exclusive gifts. Dale and Casey were both given a Rocky/Team Kalitta crew shirt, a special-edition Rocky engraved race car piston, a gift certificate for a free pair of Rocky boots, and unlimited access to the Team Kalitta pit and hospitality areas, but a one-on-one chat with a drag racing icon during an unexpected delay in racing before the first round of eliminations became the highlight of the day and a lifetime for Dale.

“I can’t even begin to tell you what an honor and thrill it was to share a long conversation during the rain delay with Mr. [Connie] Kalitta [team owner and drag racing legend],” Dale said. “What a humble and real man he is. Let’s face it: No one at the racetrack has raced as long, as hard, or as successfully as he has, and he is still going strong and is more committed than ever. His commitment to continue his hard work in racing, business, and family is over the top by today’s standard.

“We talked about racing, life, business, politics, employees, and friends. From the bottom of my heart, I will never forget talking with him and sharing that time with him. I will tell the story of that talk with Mr. Kalitta for the rest of my life. Casey and I can’t thank Mr. Kalitta, Kalitta Motorsports, and Rocky Boots enough for the lifetime memories you provided us.”

"We at SpongeTech are very excited to get involved with Mike Ashley Racing and the NHRA," SpongeTech's COO, Steven Moskowitz, said. "We feel our product and the NHRA demographics are very complementary to each other. Our marketing focus is such that we want to reach the do-it-yourself car-care product user, and we feel this is a perfect fit. We are looking forward to seeing the SpongeTech logo in high-speed action on Antron Brown's dragster and capitalizing on his performance."

SpongeTech's sponges are specially configured with an outer contact layer and an inner matrix, the latter of which comes preloaded with specially formulated soaps and wax that are released when the sponge is soaked and applied to a surface with minimal pressure. The current SpongeTech product line is designed for car, pet, child, and home care.

"SpongeTech is a fantastic product that fits in perfectly with the NHRA demographic," Ashley said. "NHRA fans are hands-on people, and fans that clean their own vehicles will love the product. Like our race team, SpongeTech is a company that is growing very quickly, and they have taken an aggressive marketing approach; it's a great fit for our racing culture. If you watch ESPN or Major League Baseball games, you've seen SpongeTech a lot lately, and our goal is to help the SpongeTech's product line continue to grow."

Nitro Fish Wear owner Kenny Koretsky will continue his sponsorship agreement with NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car leader Tony Pedregon at this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk.

“I’m going with the hot driver in Funny Car,” Koretsky said. “I said Tony was a winner before our last race at Englishtown, and he proved it on the track. He has all the tools to win, and he’s a great driver. His team is consistent, and that’s what it takes to win the championship.

“We would like to see Tony win his second straight race with Nitro Fish — and his third straight overall — on Sunday.”

The back-to-back wins thrust Pedregon into the series lead with 818 points. He’s 20 ahead of Ashley Force Hood and 26 in front of Ron Capps.

“We set the bar pretty high after winning in our first weekend with the Nitro Fish brand,” said Pedregon. “The only goal for us now is to try to repeat. Nitro Fish fans had a very positive reaction to our Funny Car. Kenny and I are excited about extending this promotion, and we are looking forward to this weekend’s race at Norwalk.”

Officer Henry Canales of the Houston Police Department, who raced in the popular Beat the Heat program at Houston Raceway Park, was shot and killed during an undercover sting to buy stolen televisions in southwest Houston June 23. He was 42.

"It's a sad day for the entire Houston Raceway Park family," said General Manager Seth Angel. "Henry was a great man and an even better father. Both of his kids raced in our Jr. Dragster program, and they are here all the time, always as a family, and always having fun. This is like a second home to them.

"His daughter Stephanie was our track champion in 2007 in her Jr. Dragster, and now his son Henry Jr. is real active in the program.

"This was stunning news. Our prayers are with the Canales family. Henry will always be remembered at HRP, and he'll be missed, there's no question about that."

"He was not only an outstanding officer but an outstanding individual," said Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt. "He cared a lot about the people that he worked with. He cared a lot about the citizens of the city of Houston. And he was a hero to his family."

NHRA extends it condolences to the family and friends of Canales. Beat the Heat is one of the approved NHRA in the Community charities.

On Saturday, June 27, members of Beat the Heat, in conjunction with Houston Raceway Park, are planning a memorial pass down the quarter-mile at 1 p.m. in honor of Canales. The event will be a drag racing form of the missing-man formation. Canales’ Beat the Heat race car will be on display for the event.

Beat the Heat and Houston Raceway Park invite everyone to this event to help honor the life of a man who was dedicated to helping and serving others.

Fans will need to visit the Manufacturers Midway displays of Ringers Gloves, Mac Tools, Goodyear, K&N, CSR, Quick Fuel, and Auto Meter to register for the prize pack. Entry forms and ballot boxes will be available at each of these Midway displays. 

A drawing will be held prior to the second Professional qualifying sessions Friday and Saturday. The winner’s name will be announced over the track PA; the winner will receive a prize pack valued at more than $1,000 each day. 

Each prize pack contains items ranging from racing parts to apparel items to gift certificates and tools.  While at the event, stay tuned to the event PA for more information.
 

Longtime National DRAGSTER photographer Eric Brooks, who for more than three decades greeted class winners to take their photos at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, died June 18 as the result of cancer of the esophagus. He was 66.

This year's Nationals would have marked Brooks' 40th in the secondary winner's circle near the finish line at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, where he photographed thousands of happy class winners throughout the decades.

Brooks began his photography career at Suffolk Raceway in Virginia in the early 1960s and was befriended by National DRAGSTER's late Photo Editor Leslie Lovett. Much to their surprise, they discovered that they had been born on the same day. That relationship covered more than just class-winner photos; Brooks also contributed to National DRAGSTER event coverage during the years and remained a true and loyal friend to the staff.

"Eric's been everywhere and done everything, but the greatest legacy he could ever leave was the amount of friends he acquired during those 40 years of racing," said his wife, Annette.

Brooks is survived by his wife, Annette, children Dodd and Kris; grandchildren Jenna, Chase, Kent, and Sara.

He will be missed.
 

With a roster of drivers that's expected to top 400 this year, Coughlin will compete in his Jegs.com dragster and his Chevy II wagon during all four days of the race. Up first is the Thursday warm-up, worth $10,000 to the winner, followed by Friday's and Saturday's main events, which will pay $20,000 each, and Sunday's $10,000 race.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of my dragster and my Chevy II wagon," said Coughlin, who leads all of the Professional drivers with five victories this season. "It's been exactly one year since I've done any bracket racing, ironically, at this very event. We had some great success last time through, so if we can repeat our performances on this trip, we could really have some fun.

"People think I'm crazy following up our first three in a row of national events by going back out and racing some more, but I love it. I certainly don't think it hurts to keep your driving sharp, and I know I'll need to be perfect every round to beat the guys and girls that will be in Indy this weekend because this race always brings out the very best."

Coughlin did well at last year's event, taking Saturday's main pot and leaving town with $25,000. At the same time, race organizers got to know firsthand that having someone with Coughlin's credentials in the field was a huge plus.

"Jeg is a true competitor who loves to race no matter what the stakes are," said Ron Anderson, general manager of O'Reilly Raceway Park. "To have a racer of his stature at the Jegs U.S. Open Bracket Racing Championship shows the incredible popularity of the event and brings an added level excitement for the fans in attendance and those who will be racing against him on the track."

Aside from having the family business as the title sponsor of the race, Coughlin is revved up about spending the weekend with his nephew Troy Coughlin Jr., or T.J., who will also compete in the event in his own Jegs-branded rail.

"T.J.'s becoming quite the racer himself, and it will be fun to pit with him and spend some time together at the races," Coughlin said. "Personally, I love the racetrack. As a Division 3 racer, I've competed there on a number of occasions, and, of course, we have the U.S. Nationals there, so it's a place I know very well.

"We took home a nice paycheck last year, so we'll try to win some more this time around. This is classic, single-elimination drag racing, and it's intense. You run what you brung and hope you brung enough. It doesn't get any better than that."

The two-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car world champion is teaming with Nitro Fish Wear owner Kenny Koretsky for this event, and it includes a very colorful paint scheme for Pedregon’s race car.

“We are happy to be working with Tony as an associate sponsor this year and proud to be the primary sponsor on the car for this race,” said Koretsky, of Richboro, Pa. “I’ve always considered Englishtown one of my two home tracks, and we wanted to give the great fans here a good show. Tony has a great team. They win races and championships. He won last Sunday at Joliet [Ill.].”

“This is a great opportunity for us to team up with Kenny,” said Pedregon. “I respect his experience in the sport as an owner and racer. Besides developing a friendship, we are leveraging his Nitro Fish brand with our racing program. It’s very exciting to take his brand and tie it in with my partners – Quaker State, Snap-on Tools, and Herzog. 

“I’ve always paid attention to detail and always believed that NHRA has a great product. Racing is not just about speed, horsepower, and entertainment, it’s about color. And I think that over the years, I’ve had very successful paint schemes on my cars, but I have to say this is going to be one of the brightest we’ve ever done. I think our fans will love it. The car will be unveiled for Friday’s first qualifying session Friday afternoon.”
 

Terry Haddock Racing will sport the colors of Dream House on both the Haddock-driven Top Fuel dragster and the Cory Lee-driven Funny Car, which Haddock owns, during the event. Haddock has long been involved with children's charities and has donated more than $100,000 to benefit children's charity organizations.

"I am thrilled to have this opportunity," Haddock said. "Mike Ashley and Lend America have supported our team throughout the years, especially last year while we competed for the 2008 IHRA Funny Car championship title. Without that support, winning the championship would have been difficult.

"It's an honor to be able to represent such a wonderful organization as Dream House this weekend, a charity that Mike takes personal interest in. We look to put on a good show for them and possibly draw some more attention to their program and the miracles they make happen for children in Georgia. We are into this race on a high, having our first-round win against Tony Schumacher in Chicago last Sunday. We hope to continue improving on our performance by going rounds on Sunday for Dream House."
 

Prior to the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, the drivers of John Force Racing spent Thursday at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. The event was a comprehensive day of vehicle education, employee interaction, and, most important, hands-on experience for every Ford driver and team owner from NHRA and NASCAR.

In addition to 14-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force, Funny Car drivers Ashley Force Hood, Robert Hight, and Mike Neff from John Force Racing, Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson represented NHRA. NASCAR team owners and drivers Jack Roush, Len and Eddie Wood, Greg Biffle, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Max Jones, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, David Ragan, and Paul Menard were also involved.

“It was good for us to hear from the top guys at Ford as far as their vision for the future and how we can play a part in continuing to help Ford grow their business. We all know the economy has its problems, but Ford is being aggressive and making smart moves to make their new cars and trucks even more attractive and fuel efficient. I am excited to be a part of the Ford family and to be able to spread the Ford gospel. Ford is about good gas mileage and being fun to drive,” said John Force.

“The highlight for me was getting the opportunity to spend time with Jim Farley from Ford, Jack Roush from the NASCAR side of Ford Racing, and Ken Crain with Crain Communications. We told some stories that were fun and talked about the fact that Ford is taking steps to make itself stronger. I learned a lot about how they are doing business and how I can do some things differently with my race teams. We talked about all the new technology Ford is putting in their 2010 models and some of their new cars like the Fiesta that my daughter Courtney is driving now for the Fiesta Movement,” added Force.

The day began with a Ford Motor Co. Town Hall Meeting where Ford employees asked the drivers and owners a variety of questions about their racing experiences as well as their thoughts about being associated with Ford Racing.

Following the Town Hall Meeting, all drivers and owners were shuttled to the Dearborn Development Center for a working lunch and welcome by Ford Racing and Ford Motor Co. management. During this event, drivers and owners were offered comprehensive walk-arounds of each Ford vehicle by a Ford product specialist. There were static car displays of the F150 Harley, '11 Mustang, and the Mustang FR500S.

In the afternoon under rainy conditions, the drivers and owners were split into two groups and participated in a Driving Experience to test steering and handling. They also conquered the straightaway tracks to experience each Ford’s acceleration power and maneuverability. Drivers got behind the wheel of a variety of Ford vehicles, including the '10 Mustang Shelby, '10 Mustang GT, Taurus SHO, MKT w/ EcoBoost, SVT Raptor 6.2L, Fusion Sport, Fiesta, and Super Duty Diesel.

“It was neat to drive and have an expert explain about each different Ford vehicle and its specific features. I actually favored the Raptor SVT. I guess that is just part of my truck roots going back to my F150. It was fun to ride up off the ground. I still have my truck, but I also have an MKS, which I drive a lot. Of course, my Castrol GTX Mustang is real low, so it is fun to be up high,” said Force Hood. “They all felt good, which is great since you will always find yourself driving in the rain. They all handled really well especially considering we were on a road course and going pretty fast.”

While one group was on the track, the other received a vehicle DNA review or vehicle showroom presentation. The drivers were shown a wide variety of enhancements and unique elements about each vehicle. At the conclusion of the day, all the drivers and team owners had a better understanding of how their on-track success translated into real-world applications for Ford.
 

Force, the 14-time NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car world champion, is an eight-time finalist and three-time winner at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, site of the 11th event on the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle tour. 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.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Craig Treble has signed a one-race agreement with Honda of Kingston in Kingston, N.Y., for next weekend’s United Association NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown. Treble, winner of the NHRA Full Throttle Series event in Houston, will carry the Honda of Kingston 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 Honda of Kingston, I’ll be racing in Englishtown.”
 
Morehead and his younger brother, Lincoln, are both NHRA national event champions in Super Stock.
 

In support of its unprecedented engine guarantee announced this week, Valvoline is working with its NHRA and NASCAR teams to build awareness with consumers and support high school vocational programs this fall.

Three teams will take to the track this weekend with special Valvoline Engine Guarantee paint schemes. In the spirit of the guarantee, the teams need only to qualify for their respective races for Valvoline to commit educational materials in the amount of $300,000, coinciding with the 300,000-mile engine guarantee available to registered consumers.

The special paint schemes will be featured on Jack Beckman’s Funny Car and Cory McClenathan’s Top Fuel dragster at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago and Reed Sorenson’s No. 43 Sprint Cup car at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

The Valvoline Engine Guarantee is the latest innovation by the iconic racing sponsor. Consumers can register their vehicle at Valvoline.com, use Valvoline motor oil regularly, and they can guarantee their engine — up to an industry-shattering 300,000 miles. Detailed benefits and limitations of the Valvoline Engine Guarantee are available at Valvoline.com.

“The common theme for our Valvoline Engine Guarantee and vocational programs is great car care,” said Rob Clendening, Valvoline brand manager. “Consumers can register for a 300,000-mile guarantee, and now our race teams can guarantee $300,000 for vo-tech classrooms.”

Shawn Gann has piloted some flashy rides during his career as an NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle racer, but the new paint scheme on his XTreme Rebellion/RumBum Buell for this weekend’s United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway is likely to turn many heads.

The bike was painted at Performance Auto Crafters in Locust Grove, Va., by Barney Squires and designed by Gann, whose love of psychedelic design and the Grateful Dead is evident in the final product.

“Man, I’ve been telling people about this paint scheme for a while, and we finally got it finished a couple weeks ago,” said the 31-year-old North Carolina native. “It’s gonna look good when we get back to the winner’s circle, and with the way we’ve been running, that’s gonna be sooner than later.”
 

Marvin Rifchin, founder of M&H Tires and a man whom Don Prudhomme described as the “Godfather of drag racing slicks,” died June 3. He was 94.

Rifchin got into racing after World War II as the owner of midget cars and later became involved with stock cars. Frustrated with the difficulty in getting good racing tires, he formed M&H Tires.

Intitially, Rifchin was better known for producing circle-track slicks, but after legendary Top Fuel racer "Big Daddy" Don Garlits tried a set of Rifchin's tires at a race in South Carolina and won Top Eliminator, the die was cast.

“I knew about this man [Rifchin] who was into stock car races,” said Garlits before Rifchin's 2003 induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2003. “He said that I needed a tire that’s not recapped. Marv had these tires that had the same mold but softer rubber. They were narrow, about 6 1/2 inches wide, but he said that wouldn’t matter. I didn’t know that much about tires back then and listened to what he had to say.”

Soon after, M&H entered the business of manufacturing tires for drag racing and was among the first to manufacturer tires specifically for the sport.

Bob Brown photos

“We made tires for all types of race cars,” said Rifchin, “but my primary interest was in drag racing. That was the most fascinating part of my life. That became my primary interest because we had a lot of fun doing it.”

When Goodyear entered the drag racing tire market in 1964 Rifchin found the competition stimulating and a lot of fun, and the company continued to thrive.

“I think the greatest accomplishment that any of us could have were the tire wars that we went though with Goodyear,” said Rifchin.“The competition lead to us being instrumental in securing some of the most fantastic advances that have taken place in mechanical and scientific business.”

Rifchin's generosity and support was known to all who met him, even if you ran the competition's tires.

Said former Top Fuel and Funny Car racer Jim Nicoll, "I can't think of any one man that helped me more than Marv. I can't count the times I was running his tires and Goodyear or Firestone had a tire working better that weekend then look up and here came Marv rolling a set of competing tires. That's just the way he was. What a great man."

Rifchin himself often admitted , “In the early days, everybody was so broke, I’d have to give ‘em a tire every now and then to keep ‘em going. You know, I worked with a lot of fellows in racing, and I never found a bad one."

He is survived by a daughter Debbie, her husband Bill and two grandchildren. Services will be held Friday at the Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon, Mass.

Multi-time champion drag racer Jay Payne expanded his fan base exponentially this weekend by welcoming FireIce as the primary sponsor of his Valvoline Top Alcohol Funny Car. As part of the agreement, Payne and FireIce, a non-toxic, biodegradable fire suppression gel, will salute the nation's 300,000 firefighters at racetracks around the country.

"This is an exciting day for our race team," Payne said. "Obviously, sponsorship is essential for what we do, but when you can have a sponsor with an agenda centered around paying tribute to our nation's firefighters, it makes it so much better all the way around. Everyone loves firefighters!

"We look forward to meeting these brave men and women all around the country and telling them about FireIce, which contributes greatly to their overall safety. This is an incredible formula that mixes straight into the pumper trucks, helicopters, fire planes, and even handheld extinguishers that just kills fires so much quicker than water. It's really revolutionary."

FireIce, a division of GelTech, a publically traded company, has picked a great driver to promote their product. Payne earned his first national championship in 1995 and has 11 divisional crowns to his credit, including the last five Southeast Division titles. He's also a JEGS Allstars champion and his 36 national event victories ranks him a lofty 24th on NHRA's all-time list, which dates back to 1951.

"Everyone at FireIce and GelTech is thrilled to be on Jay's racecar," said Michael Cordani, CEO of GelTech. "He's a proven winner and a great person to represent our products and bring the firefighters around the U.S. the recognition they deserve.

"FireIce is the latest technology in firefighting and will undoubtedly save firefighter lives. Aside from recognizing the importance of these first responders in our communities, our team is committed to giving something back by donating to the Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Federation of Burn Foundations. This is something that is very important to all of us at GelTech and FireIce."
 

"We're going to have some fun," Lucas said. "That's the No. 1 thing. These kids have had some tough times growing up and they don't have the opportunities to do many of the things we take for granted. Well, we're going to take them somewhere very few people get to go and meet some of the best football players in the NFL. It's going to be a really cool deal.

"I feel very strongly that if the greater community at large can make an impact on the lives of these kids, we have an obligation to do that. Lucas Oil has a great relationship with the Colts so this was an event we were able to put together. These kids really look up to these NFL guys so hopefully we're going to make some dreams come true."

Lucas and Langdon also will have a chance to speak to the kids about achieving their goals, realizing their dreams, and the ethics it takes to be successful in modern society.

"Our friend Tonja Eagan, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, once shared with me some of the statistics of the kids that have been through their program versus their peers at school and in their age group that are on their own and it's obvious right away how successful Big Brothers Big Sisters really is," Lucas said. "These kids need positive role models and mentors and Big Brothers Big Sisters provides that for them. 

"They also know the importance of family and they work hard to keep that intact when possible. Unfortunately, the reality is many of these kids come from single-parent homes or their parents are forced to work double shifts and two or three jobs to make ends meet. They don't get the chance to just be kids and have some fun.  

"Everyone says I act like a big kid so it should be easy to make some new friends and show them a great time."

Two-time Bonneville land speed record holder and current Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Valerie Thompson has announced a partnership agreement with Team Marines Racing. The deal struck with Team Marines will help generate additional marketing value for Thompson’s sponsors by providing associations with active duty, retired, and future Marines and their families. The agreement will also help to generate revenues for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, two programs that exist to provide support to those who serve and preserve our freedoms.

“I could not be more excited about joining Team Marines Racing,” said Thompson, who competed in four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in 2008. “Our team has been looking for ways to give back to the Military and their families, which makes this a perfect fit. Their dedication and service to our country speaks for itself. We are proud to support the Wounded Warrior Project and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.”

Team Marines Racing Chief Strategy Officer, Chip Dykes added, “We are very excited to add Valerie Thompson to the Team Marines Racing family and look forward to developing a strong partnering relationship with her team. Adding an experienced rider like Valerie brings great value and excitement to the Team Marines Racing program. We look forward to developing partnering relationships with key sponsors”.

Sidelined for the first four races of the 2009 season, which she searches for the proper funding, Thompson has been making weekly appearances and displays with her Buell V-twin Pro Stock Motorcycle while meeting with prospective marketing partners. Thompson’s new association with Team Marines Racing brings significant added value to VTR's racing program and will allow potential sponsors to enjoy the benefits of a strong relationship with American military servicemen and women. Thompson is currently seeking marketing partners for the remainder of the 2009 season and beyond.
 

Leading human papillomavirus (HPV) expert Dr. Maura Gillison, Ph.D, was officially named to the Jeg Coughlin Sr. Chair in Cancer Research during a special ceremony Wednesday night at the Longaberger Alumni House at The Ohio State University.

"This is a dream come true for all of us," said Coughlin, who was surrounded by his four sons and many members of the extended Coughlin family. "This Chair represents a legacy that will continue forever. Cancer research takes commitment from a financial aspect and more importantly from a research and development side. Dr. Gillison has accomplished so many things already, and we truly feel the best is yet to come."

Gillison recently joined OSU's staff after a successful stint as associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where she was a member of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. She now serves as professor of medicine in the division of hematology and oncology at OSU and is a member of the Cancer Control and Viral Oncology programs at the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"Unfortunately, like so many other families, the Coughlins have been touched by cancer," Gillison said. "Now, they are a family on a mission. They put the same enthusiasm they bring to racing into cancer research. The Coughlin family has made it possible for me to take my research into a much broader direction and to really think outside of the box."

Focusing on the role that HPV plays in the development of head and neck cancers, Gillison was the first to identify HPV infection as the cause of certain oral cancers and identified multiple sex partners as the most important risk factor for these cancers. At OSU, Gillison is building a program focused on identifying associations between infections and cancers, with the ultimate goal of applying discoveries to prevent and treat the disease.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology named Gillison’s research on HPV-associated head/neck cancers as one of six major clinical cancer advances of 2007. She is a frequent guest on national television newscasts, a regular on the lecture circuit, and is quoted extensively in a multitude of consumer and medical publications.

The six-year-old Jegs Foundation established a named endowment in honor of family patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr. at OSU's James Cancer Center in 2005. A privately funded entity, the Jegs Foundation donates 100 percent of its proceeds to OSU's Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

Coughlin successfully fought bladder cancer, and Team Jegs chef Nicky Morse overcame Hodgkin's disease. Sadly, Troy Coughlin's mother-in-law succumbed to leukemia, and John Coughlin's mother-in-law was lost to brain cancer. One in four people contracts some form of cancer in his or her lifetime.

"To do cancer research, to prevent and cure cancer, it requires resources and requires money," said Dr. Michael A. Caligiuri of the Solove Research Institute, who was at the ceremony. "This is the spark that gets the whole engine moving. The Jegs Foundation has just put together an enormous gift that will end up curing and preventing cancer. It is through charitable contributions like this one that we will find a cure."

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute is one of only 41 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States and the only freestanding cancer hospital in the Midwest. Ranked among the top 20 cancer hospitals in the nation, The James is the 172-bed adult patient-care component of the cancer program at Ohio State University. Funding for cancer research at OSUCCC has quadrupled in the last 10 years.  

Top Fuel driver and drag racing school owner Doug Foley recently made a special appearance on Speed TV's wildly popular Pass Time show, which airs at 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The Pass Time crew was filming several episodes at zMax Dragway in Charlotte, and Foley was at the track conducting his school at the same time. When Pass Time host Brett Wagner and his sidekick Ken "the House" Herring heard that Foley was on the property, they quickly tracked him down and invited him to take part in the show.

Needing little coaxing, Foley jumped in one of the Dragster Experience rails he uses at his school and wheeled the 400-horsepower dragster to the set. After some good-natured ribbing from Wagner and Herring, who wondered aloud whether he could handle the speed, Foley, whose career-best speed in a Top Fuel dragster is 331 mph, took to the track and raced down the strip.

Pass Time allows select fans to join Herring on a three-person panel to size up a contestant's car and engine setup and guess how the hot rod will perform. The fan who guesses closest to the actual time wins cash.

"That was a lot of fun," said Foley, who refused to divulge the results of his race until the show airs. "The entire Pass Time crew was very cool, and you could tell right away that they're really into drag racing. Naturally, we had a common bond.

"We turn our clients loose on the track all day in these Dragster Experience rails, and I must have made thousands of passes over the years since we started the school back in 1997, but I have to say that was the most exciting one of all. We usually don't have TV cameras following our every move when we run the school cars. It was a real kick for my staff, that's for sure."

The segment featuring Foley will air soon on Pass Time, which bills itself as the ultimate drag racing game show. New this season is the addition of themed weeks, including Law Enforcement Week and Military Week, in which police officers and members of the armed forces will take their turn on the panel.