Friday, April 30, 2010
2010 NHRA St. Louis Friday Qualifying
Drag Racing Results: 2010 NHRA St. Louis Friday Qualifying by NHRA. Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 14th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Illinois.
2010 NHRA St. Louis Friday Pro Mod Qualifying
Drag Racing Results: 2010 NHRA St. Louis Friday Pro Mod Qualifying by NHRA. Results Friday after the first two of three rounds of qualifying for the 14th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Illinois.
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD HOSTS STAMP OUT HUNGERT REPS AT AAA MISSOURI MIDWEST NATS
“I read about Stamp Out Hunger™ in Redbook magazine last year and this year we wanted to grow our involvement. It was so great to meet Barry, Joe and Andrew today at the track. I really think it is neat that postal carriers like Barry are helping out and making it so easy to donate food. I also want to thank Campbell’s for being so involved. I really think we can make a difference and I hope all my fans and NHRA fans in general will really get behind this and donate a lot of food,” said Ashley Force Hood.
Force Hood and Linan are encouraging fans to help Stamp Out Hunger™ this year, by simply leaving a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 8. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Linan made it a point to say that the nation’s 230,000 letter carriers would then collect the donations as they deliver the mail and take them to food banks and other hunger relief organizations in more than 10,000 local communities – everything stays local.
Now in its 18th year, the Stamp Out Hunger™ effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. This year drive organizers hope to exceed 2009’s record-setting total of 73.4 million pounds of donated food, as well as surpass one billion pounds of food collected over the history of the drive.
“Campbell’s has been a long time support of Stamp Out Hunger™ and this year as part of our support of the drive Campbell’s will donate one can of soup to Feeding America – up to one million cans – for each Facebook fan that joins the fight against hunger at www.facebook.com/stampout hunger,” said Joe Huxhold.
“We especially want to thank Ashley for her efforts. She has been great today helping us spread the word about Stamp Out Hunger,” added Huxhold.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger™ effort in your community, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or become a fan of the drive at www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger and Campbell Soup Company will donate one can of soup to Feeding America (up to one million cans). You can also follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger or text STAMP3 to 30305* to sign up for mobile reminders.
*Up to 3 messages total. Message & Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to end, HELP for info. Terms and conditions at abl.bz/soh.
Photo 1 - Ashley Force Hood talks with Barry Linan (left) from the NALC while Joe Huxhold with Campbell's looks on in the John Force Racing pits at the AAA MIssouri NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Photo 2 - (from left) Barry Linan, Ashley Force Hood, Joe Huxhold, and Andrew Presberry pose with Force Hood's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.
GZ Motorsports Joins Mike Janis Release Product as a Sponsor
GZ Motorsports researches, develops and markets high-performance auto accessories, including: Bolt-On Alternator Single-Wire Kits, Racing Vacuum Pumps, Crankshaft Pulleys, Mandrels, and Mandrel Pulleys, Vacuum Pump Pulleys Breathers, Oil/Air Separator Tanks, Hoses, Relief Valves and Fittings. We also work closely with engine builders and racers on new solutions to problems and finding that extra horsepower that is hidden in every engine.
A main reason that Janis reached out to GZ Motorsports is because of what Janis refers to as the “total package” that GZ Motorsports offers.
"We've tried several other vacuum pumps over the years, we even put two of another very well known brand on at the same time, but none compare to the GZ Motorsports Super Pro pump," said Janis. “In my opinion GZ pulls away from their competitors by offering a total package. I don’t think you can find a match for their quality, affordability, and performance.”
GZ Motorsports products are now available through Janis’ family speed shop Jan-Cen Motorsports in
Simpson Performance Products Named as New ADRL 'Dragstock' Sponsor
O’FALLON, MO (Apr. 30, 2010) — The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is proud to announce Simpson Performance Products as the title sponsor of its oldest and most prestigious event, the ADRL Simpson Performance Products Dragstock VII at Rockingham Dragway, Sept. 10-11, in Rockingham, North Carolina.
Martin University to honor Forrest, Charlotte, and Morgan Lucas, among others
Martin, a predominately black institution located in Indianapolis
It is the first time the school has conferred an honorary degree to a father and son.
Dr. Algeania Freeman, Martin University
The commencement ceremony will be held at Martin University in the Gathertorium located at 2171 Avondale Place Indianapolis Lawrence Township School District
Other individuals receiving honorary doctorates during the ceremony include: Raimondi; Sonya Holt of Agency; Michael Twyman of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; Tanya Walton Pratt, federal judge, Southern District of Indiana; Reverand Curtis Vance, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church; Jeff White, WISH-TV; and Tom Zupancic, Indianapolis Colts vice president of sales and marketing.
Lucas Oil Stadium special projects coordinator Terina Perry will receive a Presidential Leadership Award for her support of educational excellence.
HOUSTON PRO MOD WINNER ROWE READY FOR MORE NHRA SUCCESS AT MIDWEST NATIONALS
MADISON, Ill. – Danny Rowe made a fast turnaround to his race program following an uncharacteristic DNQ at the season-opening NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series event at Florida’s Gainesville Raceway in mid-March.
What a difference a few weeks can make.
In early April, he raced to victory at Houston Raceway Park and with his NHRA Wally in hand, served notice that he intends to be a player in the world championship title chase in NHRA’s newest touring series.
The veteran Laguna Hills, Calif. driver qualified third at Houston in his Sterling Bridge ’68 Camaro and defeated versatile multi-category competitor Melanie Troxel in the final round, which vaulted him from the very bottom of the point standings into the top five.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with this Sterling Bridge team,” Rowe said following the race. “As always, it takes a team effort to win out here with this level of competition … we had a little luck on our side, that’s for sure, but I think you have to when you’re racing against the caliber of cars and teams that we have out here.”
Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds as well as late model cars, the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast.
Mix in an incredible amount of driving talent that in addition to Rowe and Troxel includes Burton Auxier, Joe Baker, Gainesville winner Kenny Lang, Jay Payne, Mike Knowles, Troy Coughlin, Tim Tindle, Ed Hoover, Ray Commisso and Roger Burgess, just to name a few, and you have the set up for what promises to be an incredible shootout for the series crown.
“You look at the qualifying sheets and it’s mind-blowing,” Rowe said. “The cars out here are the best in the world and the competition is insane. Every Pro Mod car that rolls through the gates is capable of winning – they’re all championship contenders.”
Sitting fourth in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series point standings following his Houston victory, Rowe is looking forward to continuing his advance toward the top spot during the Pro Mod portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, April 30-May 2. The race will be televised on ESPN2 HD on May 9 at 10 a.m. (ET).
Rowe has won twice in NHRA Pro Mod exhibition racing at the southern Illinois multi-motorsports complex near the Mississippi River and within view of the famed St. Louis Gateway Arch. In 2001 he was the No. 1 qualifier and beat Ed Hoover in the final round. In 2004, he outran Von Smith for the victory.
In order to win this time he’ll have to face current series points leader Troxel, who pilots the In-N-Out ’68 Corvette, as well as ’09 GIR Pro Mod exhibition winner Burgess, who now drives a 2005 Corvette.
Given the Houston performance, Rowe feels confident in his team’s chances this season.
“I was talking to Jimmy (Rector, crew chief) and I told him that I really think we have a great program this year,” Rowe said. “The car is running great, everyone is working hard and you never know – this might be our year.”
But, given the level of talent in this new series, he remains very modest at the same time.
“You can go from a hero to a zero real fast in this deal,” Rowe said. “So we’ve got to stick to our game plan of taking each race one round at a time.”
• SCHEDULE: Get Screened America Pro Mod Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. on April 30 and the final qualifying session is at 1:30 p.m. on May 1. The first round of eliminations begins May 1 at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations will continue on Sunday, May 2, starting at approximately 2 p.m.
• TICKETS: Tickets are available for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. Please call Gateway International Raceway at (866) 35-SPEED or visitwww.gatewayraceway.com to purchase tickets online.
• ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 30-minutes of racing highlights from the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sunday, May 9 at 10 a.m. (ET).
• ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series event on the Internet atwww.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
What a difference a few weeks can make.
In early April, he raced to victory at Houston Raceway Park and with his NHRA Wally in hand, served notice that he intends to be a player in the world championship title chase in NHRA’s newest touring series.
The veteran Laguna Hills, Calif. driver qualified third at Houston in his Sterling Bridge ’68 Camaro and defeated versatile multi-category competitor Melanie Troxel in the final round, which vaulted him from the very bottom of the point standings into the top five.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with this Sterling Bridge team,” Rowe said following the race. “As always, it takes a team effort to win out here with this level of competition … we had a little luck on our side, that’s for sure, but I think you have to when you’re racing against the caliber of cars and teams that we have out here.”
Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds as well as late model cars, the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast.
Mix in an incredible amount of driving talent that in addition to Rowe and Troxel includes Burton Auxier, Joe Baker, Gainesville winner Kenny Lang, Jay Payne, Mike Knowles, Troy Coughlin, Tim Tindle, Ed Hoover, Ray Commisso and Roger Burgess, just to name a few, and you have the set up for what promises to be an incredible shootout for the series crown.
“You look at the qualifying sheets and it’s mind-blowing,” Rowe said. “The cars out here are the best in the world and the competition is insane. Every Pro Mod car that rolls through the gates is capable of winning – they’re all championship contenders.”
Sitting fourth in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series point standings following his Houston victory, Rowe is looking forward to continuing his advance toward the top spot during the Pro Mod portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, April 30-May 2. The race will be televised on ESPN2 HD on May 9 at 10 a.m. (ET).
Rowe has won twice in NHRA Pro Mod exhibition racing at the southern Illinois multi-motorsports complex near the Mississippi River and within view of the famed St. Louis Gateway Arch. In 2001 he was the No. 1 qualifier and beat Ed Hoover in the final round. In 2004, he outran Von Smith for the victory.
In order to win this time he’ll have to face current series points leader Troxel, who pilots the In-N-Out ’68 Corvette, as well as ’09 GIR Pro Mod exhibition winner Burgess, who now drives a 2005 Corvette.
Given the Houston performance, Rowe feels confident in his team’s chances this season.
“I was talking to Jimmy (Rector, crew chief) and I told him that I really think we have a great program this year,” Rowe said. “The car is running great, everyone is working hard and you never know – this might be our year.”
But, given the level of talent in this new series, he remains very modest at the same time.
“You can go from a hero to a zero real fast in this deal,” Rowe said. “So we’ve got to stick to our game plan of taking each race one round at a time.”
• SCHEDULE: Get Screened America Pro Mod Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. on April 30 and the final qualifying session is at 1:30 p.m. on May 1. The first round of eliminations begins May 1 at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations will continue on Sunday, May 2, starting at approximately 2 p.m.
• TICKETS: Tickets are available for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. Please call Gateway International Raceway at (866) 35-SPEED or visitwww.gatewayraceway.com to purchase tickets online.
• ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 30-minutes of racing highlights from the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sunday, May 9 at 10 a.m. (ET).
• ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series event on the Internet atwww.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Today's Drag Racing News
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| NHRA.com |
NHRA.com
For the last 13 seasons, Gateway Int'l Raceway has been Larry Dixon's own personal Bermuda Triangle on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit. ...
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WhoWon.com
Veteran tech man Jeff Norton has been retained as race director for all 2010 Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing events. Norton worked tech, scales and served as ...
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 |
| BVI News Online |
BVI News Online
In his contributions at the recently concluded Budget debate held at the House of Assembly, Fahie recommended drag racing as a possible option to arouse the ...
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Motorsport.com
... he'll be piloting this weekend when the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series competes at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. ...
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PR-USA.net (press release)
Drag racing and environmental responsibility are now working hand-in-hand thanks to an extended relationship between Safety-Kleen and the American Drag ...
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CKNW News Talk 980
The mounties say after a sanctioned drag racing event had ended March 13th, a couple hundred people decided to ignore avalanche warnings and head deep into ...
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Brown County Democrat
Scooter drag racing? You've never heard of such a thing? Twist and Gone 2010 is the first of its kind, according to organizer Jeremy Hall. ...
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TricitiesSports.com
On-track action will be used for upcoming episodes of Inside Drag Racing TV which airs on Sunday mornings at 11:30 am and Monday afternoons at 4:30 pm on ...
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By True Street Drag Racing
True Street Drag Racing and Cordova Dragway Park offer complimentary spectator admission on May 15th. DELAVAN, WI (April 27, 2010) - Many of the cars.
Street Legal TV Forums - http://www.streetlegaltv.com/forum/
By Report24
Police Drag Racing. Posted on April 29, 2010, 3:25 pm, by Report24, under Cars. Police drag racing cars from across the country gather in Houston TX racing for “top Cop” www.beattheheatinc.org. Tags: Drag, Police, Racing ...
Auto - http://khabar24.com/auto/
By admin
Drag racing sport is not sold properly to the public ? Government minister says. BVI News Online In his contributions at the recently concluded Budget debate held at the House of Assembly, Fahie recommended drag racing as a possible ...
HutchBSR Racing News - http://www.bsrproducts.com/wordpress/
By admin
Come out and see street legal drag racing April 30 - May 2 as the Edelbrock NMCA Drag Race series visits Bowling Green, KY.
Edelblog - http://www.edelblog.com/
Vehicles that you will not see anywhere else but in electric drag racing. Vehicles such as an eight ... Sunday is NEDRA drag racing at the Mason Dixon Dragway.
mydd.com/users/joelado/posts/support-electric-drag-racing-3
VMax Forum and Community for the all new Yamaha Star VMAX Your global VMax neighborhood - An online forum dedicated to baddest muscle bike in the world.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.starvmax.com/forum/15-vmax-racing/81584-drag-racing-at-atco-nj-last-night&ct=ga&cad=:s7:f2:v0:i1:ld:e15:p2:t1272607173:&cd=ixNT_u7iPNk&usg=AFQjCNHsrmu-Q8r7UCQdPOD9pBB90DhPxw
PIERRE — It will take another week of work and a little help from mother nature, but drag racing is returning to Pierre this weekend. ...
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.capjournal.com/articles/2010/04/27/sports/doc4bd648bf9e425703082247.txt&ct=ga&cad=:s7:f2:v0:i1:ld:e16:p3:t1272607173:&cd=ixNT_u7iPNk&usg=AFQjCNGYWbxJ6mSp8jOP8cFCCBfkqOUdTw
Free download sound effects for street drag racing Files at Software Informer - Would you like to compete in illegal street races?
software.informer.com/getfree-sound-effects-for-street-drag-ra...
Tindle Aims to Make It Happen in St.Louis
(04-29-10) MADISON, IL -- Tim Tindle and the Tindle Racing team is looking to make things happen this weekend at the 23rd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals. A dismal beginning in the NHRA Get Screened America Promod Challenge has left Tindle and his team hungry for that first season victory.
After two races of the 10 race season, Tindle sits in the No. 8 position and has a shot at the championship. With only 7 races remaining, Tindle knows that it’s time to get down to business.
“It’s time to buckle down and get it done this weekend,” Tindle said. “Gateway has been a favorable track for us and we are hoping things will turn around for us this weekend. The Mustang is running great. Quain Stott and the crew have really come together and given me a fast car that has qualified fairly well. We know if we can continue to run fast but more consistent, we will go rounds on Sunday.”
Pundman Ford will be providing the Tindle Racing Team with a support vehicle during this weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals. Pundman Ford is an automotive leader with solid commitment and offers the widest selection of cars and trucks; serving St. Charles, St. Louis, Chesterfield, Ballwin, and 'Fallon.
SCHEDULE: NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 and 5 p.m. April 30 and 1:30 p.m. May 1. The first round of eliminations is set to begin May 1 at 4 p.m. Eliminations will continue May 2 at approximately 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Excitement Building For This Weekend's Nitro Jam At Rockingham Dragway
Beautiful weather, plenty of excitement on tap for this weekend's Nitro Jam at Rockingham Dragway
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (April 29, 2010) – With only a few days remaining before the first cars hit the track for this weekend's Spring Nitro Jam the buzz couldn't be greater as race fans and drivers eagerly anticipate the return of nitro racing at Rockingham Dragway.
Weather forecasts are calling for near perfect conditions to go along with the debut of the brand new Nitro Jam series set to launch May 1-2. Nearly two dozen nitro-powered vehicles will light up the night sky alongside the first-ever side-by-side jet truck race, the wheelstanding "Cool Bus," the areas quickest and fastest doorslammers and dragsters and much more this Saturday and Sunday at "The Rock."
Among the nitro-burning classes are the "Kings of the Sport" Top Fuel featuring three former World Champions including Spencer Massey, Bruce Litton, Del Cox Jr. and point leader Bobby Lagana Jr., along with the debut of Prostalgia Nitro Funny Cars and Pro Fuel Dragsters. This weekend's race will also pit the Shockwave jet semi against the Super Shockwave jet truck in a 200+ mph fire-spewing duel and will also feature the return of the world's only wheelstanding school bus to North Carolina – all competing at the traditional quarter-mile distance.
In addition to nitro racing the Spring Nitro Jam will also feature a return to the roots of North Carolina drag racing as the quick 8 program of old returns in a big way in the form of the Elite 8 Top Sportsman and Top Dragster shootout. Each of the IHRA's quickest and fastest sportsman classes will compete in their first round of eliminations during the "Night of Fire" on Saturday followed on Sunday by the top eight qualifiers in each of those classes competing in a heads-up shootout to determine the fastest doorcar and dragster in North Carolina.
All of the action will be presented in a new fan-friendly format with back-to-back rounds of professional action on Saturday and Sunday with a brief intermission between the two. All of the classes and cars will run twice each night with a winner determined at the conclusion of each race day.
Fans young and old can also take advantage of the brand new FanFest pit activity center. Prior to the start of Nitro Jam the pits will open up with special activities and games as fans can meet the drivers, see the cars and interact with the series like never before. FanFest will be capped off by "Thunder in the Pits" as all 20 nitro vehicles warm up at the same time.
In addition to the Nitro Jam professional rounds the IHRA's best sportsman racers will also compete uninterrupted throughout the day in the fourth Tournament of Champions qualifier of the season.
Tickets for the Spring Nitro Jam are on sale now at www.nitrojam.com and if you act now you can save $10 off and adult general admission pass by purchasing your tickets online.
Get ready for "The Fastest Show On Earth" this Saturday and Sunday at "The Rock."
2010 Gatornationals Personal Bests
| Personal Bests: 2010 Gatornationals Personal Bests by Steve Klemetti. Steve Klemetti provides tons of new personal best elapsed times and speeds from the 2010 NHRA Gatornationals and 2010 NHRA Phoenix. |
One Year after a Violent Crash, Stivers Takes on St. Louis a Changed Man
MADISON, Ill. (April 29, 2010) - Frightening and dramatic were just two of the words used to describe Rick Stivers' racing accident just a year ago at Gateway International Raceway - the same quarter-mile racetrack he'll be piloting this weekend when the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series competes at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. For the 53-year-old Kentucky native, that moment in time changed his life forever.
Last year during a qualifying run, the studs on the rear axle broke during a qualifying run, directing Stivers' car into the left retaining wall at an almost 90-degree angle. After a hard crash, the car tipped onto its front end and rolled once, sliding to a stop in the center of the track - right-side up.
"I still remember seeing the wall coming up in front of me like it was slow motion and thinking, 'ok, I'm going to hit it, I just have to keep the car from rolling over.' That was just before I slammed into the wall and rolled down the track," Stivers recalled.
Through the miracles of modern safety equipment, Stivers walked away from the crash without a scratch, despite the complete destruction of the '06 Dodge Stratus Pro Mod fielded by veteran drag racer and tuner Brad Anderson. The incident did, however, leave a scar on Stivers' psyche. "I'll never be the same," he said.
"That was really a turning point for me in a lot of ways. I wasn't injured other than the obvious strained muscles and bruises, but I really had to work through the mental side of things. It really shook me up. I did get back in the car later in the year, and was able to even win a race thanks to my family's support and this amazing team. But it still took me a while to really balance out what happened and just why I was able to get away with one."
This weekend, Stivers is looking to make a jump back into the points chase at the same track that took him out of contention for a championship last year - and he's determined to make a statement along the way.
"I'm a changed man since that crash. I don't get quite as worked up about things as I used to, and I put a lot more time into my family and my new grand daughter. I am still, though, a fierce competitor, through and through - and I'm in this race to win a championship.
"Trane has been my sponsor for the past two years, and their saying goes, 'it's hard to stop a Trane' - and that pretty much says it for me, too," Stivers said.
Pro Mod qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, April 30 with a final session at 1:30 p.m. on May 1. The first round of eliminations begins May 1 at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations will continue on Sunday, May 2, starting at approximately 2 p.m. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 30-minutes of racing highlights from the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sunday, May 9 at 10 a.m. (EDT).
Last year during a qualifying run, the studs on the rear axle broke during a qualifying run, directing Stivers' car into the left retaining wall at an almost 90-degree angle. After a hard crash, the car tipped onto its front end and rolled once, sliding to a stop in the center of the track - right-side up.
"I still remember seeing the wall coming up in front of me like it was slow motion and thinking, 'ok, I'm going to hit it, I just have to keep the car from rolling over.' That was just before I slammed into the wall and rolled down the track," Stivers recalled.
Through the miracles of modern safety equipment, Stivers walked away from the crash without a scratch, despite the complete destruction of the '06 Dodge Stratus Pro Mod fielded by veteran drag racer and tuner Brad Anderson. The incident did, however, leave a scar on Stivers' psyche. "I'll never be the same," he said.
"That was really a turning point for me in a lot of ways. I wasn't injured other than the obvious strained muscles and bruises, but I really had to work through the mental side of things. It really shook me up. I did get back in the car later in the year, and was able to even win a race thanks to my family's support and this amazing team. But it still took me a while to really balance out what happened and just why I was able to get away with one."
This weekend, Stivers is looking to make a jump back into the points chase at the same track that took him out of contention for a championship last year - and he's determined to make a statement along the way.
"I'm a changed man since that crash. I don't get quite as worked up about things as I used to, and I put a lot more time into my family and my new grand daughter. I am still, though, a fierce competitor, through and through - and I'm in this race to win a championship.
"Trane has been my sponsor for the past two years, and their saying goes, 'it's hard to stop a Trane' - and that pretty much says it for me, too," Stivers said.
Pro Mod qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, April 30 with a final session at 1:30 p.m. on May 1. The first round of eliminations begins May 1 at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations will continue on Sunday, May 2, starting at approximately 2 p.m. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 30-minutes of racing highlights from the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sunday, May 9 at 10 a.m. (EDT).
NHRA UNLEASHED TO BE BROADCAST ON FOX SPORTS NET
GLENDORA, Calif. (April 29, 2010) — NHRA announced today that Fox Sports Net will be the television home for NHRA Unleashed, an event and television series like no other, featuring “Pure American Horsepower” and celebrating the American muscle car and the passionate world of NHRA grassroots racing.
NHRA Unleashed events will be featured nationwide on Fox Sports Net in a series airing on consecutive weeks in November and December 2010. Two half-hour shows will be produced from each of the four NHRA Unleashed events at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. (June 11-13), O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (Aug. 6-8, 2010), National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio (Sept. 10-12) and Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla. (Nov. 5-7).
The shows will be produced by Disrupt/ive Studios, led by Jack Schaeffer and Stephen Pullin, who have produced the popular PINKS, PINKS ALL-OUT and PINKS ALL OUTTAKES shows.
NHRA Unleashed will air each Sunday, beginning Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. on Fox Sports Net owned and operated regional networks nationwide. The eight-week series will conclude the last Sunday of the year, Dec. 26. NHRA Unleashed will air in a minimum of 75 million households through Fox Sports Net’s regions throughout the United States.
The Disrupt/ive Studios team will document every aspect of these events to highlight the excitement and lifestyle of NHRA competitors and fans. For the first time in television history, NHRA Unleashed will bring to the screen an in-depth look at the outlaw racing classes, true adrenaline addicts as they pack 2,000 horsepower in a standard production chassis. Each program will take the audience deep into some of NHRA’s most passionate drivers, as hundreds of weekend warriors journey to NHRA Unleashed to win a coveted Wally® trophy.
The broadcasts also will feature exciting stories from off-the-track action, including the Autocross Course, Chassis Dyno, Show N’ Shine and the “NHRA Unleashed Center Stage.”
Car entries and tickets are now being sold for the first NHRA Unleashed event scheduled for Atlanta Dragway, June 11-13. For more information log on to: http://www.nhra.com/multimedia/unleashed.aspx.
Disrupt/ive Studios and NHRA are currently evaluating on-air talent for the shows, which will be announced at a later date.
NHRA Unleashed events will be featured nationwide on Fox Sports Net in a series airing on consecutive weeks in November and December 2010. Two half-hour shows will be produced from each of the four NHRA Unleashed events at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. (June 11-13), O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (Aug. 6-8, 2010), National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio (Sept. 10-12) and Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla. (Nov. 5-7).
The shows will be produced by Disrupt/ive Studios, led by Jack Schaeffer and Stephen Pullin, who have produced the popular PINKS, PINKS ALL-OUT and PINKS ALL OUTTAKES shows.
NHRA Unleashed will air each Sunday, beginning Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. on Fox Sports Net owned and operated regional networks nationwide. The eight-week series will conclude the last Sunday of the year, Dec. 26. NHRA Unleashed will air in a minimum of 75 million households through Fox Sports Net’s regions throughout the United States.
The Disrupt/ive Studios team will document every aspect of these events to highlight the excitement and lifestyle of NHRA competitors and fans. For the first time in television history, NHRA Unleashed will bring to the screen an in-depth look at the outlaw racing classes, true adrenaline addicts as they pack 2,000 horsepower in a standard production chassis. Each program will take the audience deep into some of NHRA’s most passionate drivers, as hundreds of weekend warriors journey to NHRA Unleashed to win a coveted Wally® trophy.
The broadcasts also will feature exciting stories from off-the-track action, including the Autocross Course, Chassis Dyno, Show N’ Shine and the “NHRA Unleashed Center Stage.”
Car entries and tickets are now being sold for the first NHRA Unleashed event scheduled for Atlanta Dragway, June 11-13. For more information log on to: http://www.nhra.com/multimedia/unleashed.aspx.
Disrupt/ive Studios and NHRA are currently evaluating on-air talent for the shows, which will be announced at a later date.
THE VOICE OF TEXAS MOTORPLEX SET TO PARTICIPATE IN RELAY FOR LIFE
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Two-time cancer survivor will be on hand for American Cancer Society event Friday
ENNIS, Texas (April 29, 2010) – Lynn Nickerson stuttered as a child. He’s not alone, many children do. But how many of those children grow up to be a nationally known PA announcer?
Nickerson, a Fort Worth resident, is the voice of Division 4 NHRA drag racing. He cleared a lot of hurdles that included speech therapy and loads of patience to become a highly revered man with a microphone.
The battle to overcome a stutter, however, is nothing compared to the two times he has fought cancer. Nickerson beat esophageal cancer in 2004 and then conquered it again in 2006 when that same cancer traveled to his kidneys.
Simply put, Nickerson knows how to put up a good fight.
“I think that in order to beat something like cancer, you have to believe in yourself and place your belief in a higher power,” Nickerson said. “God’s intervention had a lot to do with my ability to beat cancer. I also had tremendous support from racers and everyone involved in the racing community.”
Nickerson will be in good company Friday when the Texas Motorplex plays host to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event. Participants will be walking for 12 consecutive hours to honor those lost to cancer, to celebrate those who have fought and survived cancer and to support continuing research.
“This is an incredible event because it creates awareness and the more people that are aware of cancer, the quicker we can find a cure,” Nickerson said. “We also need to realize that when your body sends us a signal, we need to respond. Mine started out as something that felt like heartburn, but it wasn’t heartburn. It takes a lot to survive and I’m grateful I listened to those signals.”
Texas Motorplex General Manager Gabrielle Stevenson said Nickerson is the perfect example of what makes the Relay for Life such a valuable event.
“Lynn is a part of the Texas Motorplex family and is an amazing positive force in the drag racing community,” Stevenson said. “He and all the other cancer survivors are the reason why people gather to celebrate accomplishments and pledge to find a cure. What Lynn has done to overcome cancer is nothing short of a brilliant example of strength and dedication. The Relay for Life honors that courage.”
The Relay for Life starts at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at 6 a.m. Saturday. There will be several ceremonies and celebrations throughout the event. The Luminaria Ceremony, one of the most moving moments of the event, will be held at 9 p.m. when walking stops and the names of those battling cancer or those lost to cancer will be read out loud under the glow of candlelight.
The Texas Motorplex was the first all-concrete stadium-style drag racing facility ever constructed. Built in 1986, The Texas Motorplex has been the place of many drag racing milestones and world record performances. The Billy Meyer-owned facility hosts a number of racing and car show events between March and November each year and also features the Champions Club – an 11,000 square-foot facility – that serves fully catered events throughout the year.
ENNIS, Texas (April 29, 2010) – Lynn Nickerson stuttered as a child. He’s not alone, many children do. But how many of those children grow up to be a nationally known PA announcer?
Nickerson, a Fort Worth resident, is the voice of Division 4 NHRA drag racing. He cleared a lot of hurdles that included speech therapy and loads of patience to become a highly revered man with a microphone.
The battle to overcome a stutter, however, is nothing compared to the two times he has fought cancer. Nickerson beat esophageal cancer in 2004 and then conquered it again in 2006 when that same cancer traveled to his kidneys.
Simply put, Nickerson knows how to put up a good fight.
“I think that in order to beat something like cancer, you have to believe in yourself and place your belief in a higher power,” Nickerson said. “God’s intervention had a lot to do with my ability to beat cancer. I also had tremendous support from racers and everyone involved in the racing community.”
Nickerson will be in good company Friday when the Texas Motorplex plays host to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event. Participants will be walking for 12 consecutive hours to honor those lost to cancer, to celebrate those who have fought and survived cancer and to support continuing research.
“This is an incredible event because it creates awareness and the more people that are aware of cancer, the quicker we can find a cure,” Nickerson said. “We also need to realize that when your body sends us a signal, we need to respond. Mine started out as something that felt like heartburn, but it wasn’t heartburn. It takes a lot to survive and I’m grateful I listened to those signals.”
Texas Motorplex General Manager Gabrielle Stevenson said Nickerson is the perfect example of what makes the Relay for Life such a valuable event.
“Lynn is a part of the Texas Motorplex family and is an amazing positive force in the drag racing community,” Stevenson said. “He and all the other cancer survivors are the reason why people gather to celebrate accomplishments and pledge to find a cure. What Lynn has done to overcome cancer is nothing short of a brilliant example of strength and dedication. The Relay for Life honors that courage.”
The Relay for Life starts at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at 6 a.m. Saturday. There will be several ceremonies and celebrations throughout the event. The Luminaria Ceremony, one of the most moving moments of the event, will be held at 9 p.m. when walking stops and the names of those battling cancer or those lost to cancer will be read out loud under the glow of candlelight.
The Texas Motorplex was the first all-concrete stadium-style drag racing facility ever constructed. Built in 1986, The Texas Motorplex has been the place of many drag racing milestones and world record performances. The Billy Meyer-owned facility hosts a number of racing and car show events between March and November each year and also features the Champions Club – an 11,000 square-foot facility – that serves fully catered events throughout the year.
Speedtech Named New Title Sponsor for ADRL U.S. Drags III
O’FALLON, MO (Apr. 29, 2010) — The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is proud to announce Speedtech as the title sponsor of the next event on its 2010 tour, the ADRL Speedtech U.S. Drags III at Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP), May 21-22, in Petersburg, Virginia.
The ADRL has enjoyed a long, mutually beneficial relationship with Speedtech, beginning with the Speedtech Winter Drags, the first official ADRL event in 2005 at Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Also, last season Speedtech became the title sponsor of the ADRL’s unique Speedtech Battle for the Belts, which pits the top eight points earners in each ADRL professional class against each other in an end-of-year, championship-deciding showdown.
“We’ve also been involved with several top teams in the ADRL since its inception and feel the time is right to step up our presence in the series by becoming an official event sponsor,” Speedtech General Manager of Sales and Marketing Wayne Davis said. “We dramatically increased our involvement with the ADRL last year as the series’ official nitrous company and when the opportunity presented itself to become the title sponsor for the Speedtech U.S. Drags III it was an easy decision to say yes.”
Last year at Virginia Motorsports Park, over its two-day, national-event schedule the ADRL exceeded 100,000 spectators for the first time and expects the Speedtech U.S. Drags III will draw even more fans next month.
“The ADRL race is by far our largest and most prestigious event of the year and having the Speedtech name attached to it makes it that much more significant,” VMP General Manager Bryan Pierce stated. “I commend and congratulate the folks at Speedtech and at the ADRL for putting this partnership together and helping to bring VMP fans a truly world-class drag racing event.”
Speedtech enjoyed success on the ADRL circuit as recently as this past weekend at South Georgia, where former back-to-back ADRL World Champion Jason Scruggs drove his Speedtech-sponsored ’68 Camaro to the Pro Extreme win and his teammate, Mike Castellana, earned the Pro Nitrous win in his Speedtech-equipped ’69 Camaro.
Motorsports Park
The Speedtech brand will be prominently featured at the Speedtech U.S. Drags III, with several special promotions currently being planned.
“The U.S. Drags is without a doubt one of our top events and with Speedtech coming on board we will be able to continue making it even bigger and better,” ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling declared.
PHOTO
Fresh off a win last weekend at Valdosta, Georgia, former back-to-back ADRL Pro Extreme World Champion Jason Scruggs will be proudly carrying the Speedtech name May 21-22, in the ADRL Speedtech U.S. Drags III at Virginia Motorsports Park, near Richmond.
Janis Hopes Third Try Is a Charm
April 29, 2010
Elma, NY – Whichever racing excuse you would like to use to describe Mike Janis’ season so far would probably work but, the Elma, NY based Aeroquip backed team isn’t looking for excuses. They are looking for chance to show what they’ve worked on for the past several months.
“This season has been one mix up after another. Rain, broken .50 cent parts, and just little mistakes here and there,” said co-crew chief Kevin Peters.
“We need to be better,” continued Peters. “We’ve put a lot of work into our engine program this off-season and have yet to show the world what we can do.”
Team Owner/Driver, Mike Janis, knows they can compete with the elite racers in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series but, they have yet to prove it.
“We’re looking for nothing but a chance to compete; that’s it. That’s what we’ve wanted since Roger (Burgess) announced this deal. We have no excuses; we just want to run against the best doorslammers on the planet. We just have to prove that we belong here,” said Janis.
Janis will be competing in the third of 10 races on the 2010 Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series this weekend at Gateway International Raceway outside of St. Louis Missouri.
Pro Mod qualifying for this weekend's 14th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals begins with two rounds on Friday scheduled for 2:45 and 5 p.m. CDT. The teams will be afforded a third attempt at the field on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with the first round of eliminations at 4 p.m. Final eliminations continue on Sunday.
ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise results from the 14th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals GSA Pro Mod Series on Sunday, May 9th, at 10:00 a.m. ET.
For More info on Mike Janis racing go to: http://www.mikejanisracing.com/
HIGHT ENJOYS PITCH AND NIGHT AT BUSCH STADIUM
ST. LOUIS (April 29, 2010) --- Last night 2009 NHRA Funny Car champion Robert Hight had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Cardinals vs. Braves game at Busch Stadium. The Cards took the win 6-0 and Hight is hoping that the streaking Cards - four wins in a row - will bring his Auto Club Ford Mustang some luck this weekend at Gateway International Raceway.
“It was really cool to be on the field before the game. I loved watching both teams warm up and get some tips from their coaches. It reminded me of the talks (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) and I have before we fire up my Auto Club Ford Mustang. I want to thank AAA Missouri for hosting our group last night. There were about ten of us including NHRA announcer Bob Frey who is a big baseball fan like me,” said Hight.
“The Auto Club organization is a great group. I was able to spend some time with guys like John McQueen, Rick Lalor, Mike Gavin and Jeff Bont who do so much in the marketing and PR areas. I want to thank them as well as all the people that support Auto Club all across the country. Throwing out the first pitch was great and it was an experience I will never forget.”
Hight will get his first chance to show off his horsepower tomorrow at the AAA Missouri NHRA Midwest Nationals when qualifying begins at 4 p.m.
METTLE ARMOR OIL OFFERS PRODUCT SALE TO CELEBRATE WOOTTON'S VICTORY
When less than 2 inches, margin of victory of only 0.0005 seconds with a 5.373 ET was just enough to beat a 5.384 any edge you can get can make the difference between a Wally and going home. Kirsten did her job magnificently and Joe Monden tuned the METTLE ARMOR Racing Oil Sponsored A/Fuel Dragster to take that win.
The best part of the win was a win with no broken parts. While driving and tuning are in the hands of the team a performance edge without breaking while taking the win can be attributed in part to METTLE ARMOR Racing Oil.
In order to celebrate Kristen's win, we are offering other teams to try our product at a significantly reduced price. For the next 267 hours (which 267 mph is her career best speed) we have cut our pricing by 25% on all 55-gallon drums and 5-gallon pails. Prices have been noted on our company store at http://www.cleanboostoils.com. This sale ends on May 7th at midnight PST.
Congratulations to Kirsten Wooten and her team for the first of many wins.
Charles Carpenter Racing ADRL Hardee's Georgia Drags VI Wrap-Up
Consistency Carries Carpenter to Second Consecutive Runner-Up
(4-29-2010) CHARLOTTE, NC – Just one more round win.
That’s all ADRL Pro Nitrous legend Charles Carpenter has needed at the first two races of the 2010 championship season to go from two second-place finishes in a row to two huge wins in a row.
There hasn’t been a Pro Nitrous final round contested thus far in 2010 without Carpenter’s unmistakable ’55 Chevy Bel Air in one of the lanes, and while a win would be nice, Carpenter is thrilled to be going rounds and consistently going down the track.
“I really want a Minuteman trophy to go with my two Iron Eagles, but we’re getting closer and closer,” Carpenter said. “It feels good to just go rounds. We went from the cool, crisp conditions in Houston to the hot temperatures in Valdosta and ended up in the finals at both. That’s a testament to the consistency of the car and the focus and determination of everyone on our team.”
Carpenter ran a 4.014 at 187.03 MPH in Friday’s second qualifying session that would end up locking him into the eighth qualifying position after rain on Saturday morning cut qualifying short. “We made what we thought was the right call for Friday’s night session to try to move up the ladder, but it backfired on us,” Carpenter admitted. “That track gets so incredibly tight at night, and we struggled to get wheel speed off the line and ended up shaking the tires pretty hard.”
On Saturday, a rainy raceday began with one of the most stunning tragedies Carpenter has ever witnessed in his 37 years of racing with the loss of Blake Housley’s Pro Nitrous team co-owner Mike Walker.
“Mike was as nice and as humble of a man as you will ever meet,” Carpenter said. “I got to know him when our car was under construction at his good friend Terry Murphy’s shop, and we’re all deeply saddened by his passing. As a result of the incident, we are going to take it upon ourselves to re-examine our nitrous handling procedures and equipment, and make whatever changes we deem necessary to prevent something like this from happening again. My son and crew chief, Mike, had a nitrous bottle incident in 2008 and escaped with only minor bruising, but this tragic accident shows the true risk we take when working with pressurized nitrous bottles and we have to make sure nothing like this ever happens to anyone again. At the very least, we all owe that to Mike Walker and his family.”
Once the rain cleared and the SGMP crew had the track ready to race, Carpenter and his team hit the lanes with heavy hearts and began their journey to the finals.
Up first was fellow North Carolinian Steve Vick. Carpenter jumped out to a wide margin off the line and never looked back, taking the win with a 3.957 to Vick’s 4.004. “That first round is so tough,” said Carpenter. “It’s your first run of the day, and there are so many unknowns. It’s easily the most nerve-racking part of the race, because once we get past that round, it seems like we get on a roll and get more and more comfortable with each round.”
Round two saw Carpenter matched up with the original builder of his ’55 Chevy, Terry Murphy. The two were out of the gate nearly even, but Carpenter’s 3.97 at almost 190 MPH was too much for Murphy, who ran into nitrous problems down track.
While the thrash in John Deflorian Jr.’s pit to repair a damaged piston before the semifinals seemed as if it would allow Carpenter a single run to the championship round, Carpenter waited a few extra minutes behind the waterbox when he got word Deflorian was on his way to the lanes so they could race for it instead of taking the easy way out. The end result was still in Carpenter’s favor, as Deflorian was uncharacteristically late off the starting line and his 3.996 had no chance of catching Carpenter’s 3.957.
The final round would feature a showdown between Carpenter and another veteran nitrous pilot, Mike Castellana. While Carpenter had gotten down the track consistently all day, the unreal nighttime traction of South Georgia Motorsports park bit him once again in the finals, sending his car into violent tire shake while Castellana nailed the tree with a .009 reaction time and drove to a 3.934 and the win.
“As I said, we wanted the win badly but going to two consecutive finals is a great accomplishment for this team,” the Charlotte, NC native said. “It’s got us just 15 points out of the points lead, and if we can continue to do this all year long we’ll be right where we want to be when it comes time for the Battle for the Belts in Dallas.”
After the race, Carpenter disassembled his car once again in preparation for delivery to East Coast Refinishing where it will finally receive a new coat of paint in time for next month’s ADRL US Drags at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Charles Carpenter Racing would like to thank Paul Albino and Total Induction Tuning Solutions, MagnaFuel, DMP Awnings, Doherty Motorsports, Custom Autosound, WFO Racing & Machine, Santhuff Suspension Specialties, Alan Pittman Race Cars, Terry Murphy Race Cars, Dennis Radford & Tom Hemphill, Fulton Competition, Hairy Glass, Pro Glass, TEK Headers, JAZ Products, Weld Racing, Stroud Safety, Safety Solutions, RJS Safety Equipment, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Goodyear, Friction Unlimited, Racepak, Bell Helmets, Reed Robbins & East Coast Refinishing, Indocil Art, RH2Way, and VP Racing Fuels for their continued support.
Carpenter is actively seeking primary sponsorship for 2010. For more information about Charles Carpenter Racing and the World’s Fastest ’55 Chevy, or for a copy of the team’s Marketing Partnership Guide, visit www.fastest55.com.
Photo by Roger Richards / CompetitionPlus.com
(4-29-2010) CHARLOTTE, NC – Just one more round win.
That’s all ADRL Pro Nitrous legend Charles Carpenter has needed at the first two races of the 2010 championship season to go from two second-place finishes in a row to two huge wins in a row.
There hasn’t been a Pro Nitrous final round contested thus far in 2010 without Carpenter’s unmistakable ’55 Chevy Bel Air in one of the lanes, and while a win would be nice, Carpenter is thrilled to be going rounds and consistently going down the track.
“I really want a Minuteman trophy to go with my two Iron Eagles, but we’re getting closer and closer,” Carpenter said. “It feels good to just go rounds. We went from the cool, crisp conditions in Houston to the hot temperatures in Valdosta and ended up in the finals at both. That’s a testament to the consistency of the car and the focus and determination of everyone on our team.”
Carpenter ran a 4.014 at 187.03 MPH in Friday’s second qualifying session that would end up locking him into the eighth qualifying position after rain on Saturday morning cut qualifying short. “We made what we thought was the right call for Friday’s night session to try to move up the ladder, but it backfired on us,” Carpenter admitted. “That track gets so incredibly tight at night, and we struggled to get wheel speed off the line and ended up shaking the tires pretty hard.”
On Saturday, a rainy raceday began with one of the most stunning tragedies Carpenter has ever witnessed in his 37 years of racing with the loss of Blake Housley’s Pro Nitrous team co-owner Mike Walker.
“Mike was as nice and as humble of a man as you will ever meet,” Carpenter said. “I got to know him when our car was under construction at his good friend Terry Murphy’s shop, and we’re all deeply saddened by his passing. As a result of the incident, we are going to take it upon ourselves to re-examine our nitrous handling procedures and equipment, and make whatever changes we deem necessary to prevent something like this from happening again. My son and crew chief, Mike, had a nitrous bottle incident in 2008 and escaped with only minor bruising, but this tragic accident shows the true risk we take when working with pressurized nitrous bottles and we have to make sure nothing like this ever happens to anyone again. At the very least, we all owe that to Mike Walker and his family.”
Once the rain cleared and the SGMP crew had the track ready to race, Carpenter and his team hit the lanes with heavy hearts and began their journey to the finals.
Up first was fellow North Carolinian Steve Vick. Carpenter jumped out to a wide margin off the line and never looked back, taking the win with a 3.957 to Vick’s 4.004. “That first round is so tough,” said Carpenter. “It’s your first run of the day, and there are so many unknowns. It’s easily the most nerve-racking part of the race, because once we get past that round, it seems like we get on a roll and get more and more comfortable with each round.”
Round two saw Carpenter matched up with the original builder of his ’55 Chevy, Terry Murphy. The two were out of the gate nearly even, but Carpenter’s 3.97 at almost 190 MPH was too much for Murphy, who ran into nitrous problems down track.
While the thrash in John Deflorian Jr.’s pit to repair a damaged piston before the semifinals seemed as if it would allow Carpenter a single run to the championship round, Carpenter waited a few extra minutes behind the waterbox when he got word Deflorian was on his way to the lanes so they could race for it instead of taking the easy way out. The end result was still in Carpenter’s favor, as Deflorian was uncharacteristically late off the starting line and his 3.996 had no chance of catching Carpenter’s 3.957.
The final round would feature a showdown between Carpenter and another veteran nitrous pilot, Mike Castellana. While Carpenter had gotten down the track consistently all day, the unreal nighttime traction of South Georgia Motorsports park bit him once again in the finals, sending his car into violent tire shake while Castellana nailed the tree with a .009 reaction time and drove to a 3.934 and the win.
“As I said, we wanted the win badly but going to two consecutive finals is a great accomplishment for this team,” the Charlotte, NC native said. “It’s got us just 15 points out of the points lead, and if we can continue to do this all year long we’ll be right where we want to be when it comes time for the Battle for the Belts in Dallas.”
After the race, Carpenter disassembled his car once again in preparation for delivery to East Coast Refinishing where it will finally receive a new coat of paint in time for next month’s ADRL US Drags at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Charles Carpenter Racing would like to thank Paul Albino and Total Induction Tuning Solutions, MagnaFuel, DMP Awnings, Doherty Motorsports, Custom Autosound, WFO Racing & Machine, Santhuff Suspension Specialties, Alan Pittman Race Cars, Terry Murphy Race Cars, Dennis Radford & Tom Hemphill, Fulton Competition, Hairy Glass, Pro Glass, TEK Headers, JAZ Products, Weld Racing, Stroud Safety, Safety Solutions, RJS Safety Equipment, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Goodyear, Friction Unlimited, Racepak, Bell Helmets, Reed Robbins & East Coast Refinishing, Indocil Art, RH2Way, and VP Racing Fuels for their continued support.
Carpenter is actively seeking primary sponsorship for 2010. For more information about Charles Carpenter Racing and the World’s Fastest ’55 Chevy, or for a copy of the team’s Marketing Partnership Guide, visit www.fastest55.com.
Photo by Roger Richards / CompetitionPlus.com
OPEN LETTER to the PROJECT1320 community
A message to all members of Project 1320-Pioneers of the Quarter Mile
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