Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Racing News Daily
The Connection to the World of Motorsports - NASCAR, IHRA, NHRA, F1, CART, IRL, INDY, ALMS, and Draglist.com news!
2005 High Altitude Flathead/Inline Nationals
Friday and Saturday were rain outs at this year's Nationals, but Sunday was a beautiful day for racing.
Torrence wins third straight
The hottest driver and team in Top Alcohol Dragster, Steve Torrence and Conway Racing, kept the heat turned up on the competition by taking their third straight win in as many weeks.
Local girl hits the big time in drag racing
Living in McAlpin is a tiny 20-year-old girl with a tiny voice and a big attitude. Lindsey Wood likes to take on the big boys of drag racing and make them eat her dust. She likes to win.
FIA Top Methanol Dragster crisis
European FIA Top Methanol Dragster (aka Top Alcohol Dragster) racers could be contesting their last FIA European Championship after the FIA Drag Racing Commission voted to remove FIA Championship status from the class in 2006 to make way for Pro Modified. The TMD racers are strenuously resisting the move by every means possible and you can read all about it on Eurodragster.com
Victor Wouk, 86, Dies; Built Early Hybrid Car
Dr. Victor Wouk, an electrical engineer and entrepreneur who built one of the first hybrid cars, operating on both gasoline and electricity, died at his home in Manhattan on May 19. He was 86.
Good Guys 17th Annual Hot Rod Nationals Funny Car Results
2005 Goodguys Indy was rained out, but Sharky got classic funny car results from Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

She's happy in the fast lane
Rochelle Pappel didn't see Danica Patrick almost win the Indianapolis 500 this year.
She was too busy winning her own races.

Monday, June 13, 2005

Connolly snares Crown
Dave Connolly took the $50,000 King Demon Crown on Saturday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, winning the special bonus event for the season's eight quickest Pro Stock cars when final-round opponent Jason Line fouled at the start.
Pro Stock driver enjoys strong finish
Pro Stock driver Jason Line crossed the starting line two one-hundredths of a second before the start of Saturday's NHRA King Demon Crown race, costing the 35-year old a victory in the $50,000 event.
'Luck bank' denies top fuel racer
Todd Paton figures his lucky loonie must have fallen out of his top fuel dragster en route to yesterday's final.
Hall, Hanna beat each other, but not rain, in Super Chevy event
The ear-splitting, teeth-rattling roar from Ken Hall's Top Secret Funny Car might not have all been coming from his jet engine.
Scelzi becoming force in Funny Car battle
The Funny Car season points race got more fun Sunday when Gary Scelzi closed in on points leader John Force by blowing out Eric Medlen in the National Hot Rod Association finals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet.

29th IHBA Lucas Oil Budweiser Nationals Results and Photos
Story and photo coverage of the racing, weather, partying, and fun at the 2005 IHBA Lucas Oil Budweiser Nationals at Red Bluff, California.
Event Info: K&N Filters Supernationals presented by Advance Auto Parts
All the info you need to enjoy 2005 NHRA Englishtown whether at the track or at home.
There is indeed racing beyond NASCAR
While the casual motorsports fan may focus just on stock car racing and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, there's more racing out there. While some may not know this, drag racing is one of the most popular motorsports in the country.
Mechanical woes sideline two-time funny car champ
Rob Atchison stepped into the box yesterday and took his best swing. 'It's like a broken bat, right?' the 29-year-old London driver said after mechanical failure saw the two-time Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series funny car champion eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Morgan, Victor Bray, Rogan Win Ozzie Winternats Titles
A bumper weekend crowd like never before seen in the 38-year history of the Winternationals at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway bore witness to a sensational exhibition of professional drag racing.
Female drag racer is no underdog
She's pretty, petite and dark-haired and she races for a living. No, she's not Danica Patrick. She's three-time NHRA Pro Stock Bike champion Angelle Sampey.
Thomas corny and proud of it
This may sound corny to some, but drag racing is all about corn to five-time IHRA funny car champion Mark Thomas.
Harley's return to IHRA in works
The insane world of the nitro Harley-Davidson motorcycle may be returning to the International Hot Rod Association.
Orangeburg Drag Strip re-opens after fatal crash
Racer Woody Elders says, although the strip is showing its age, it's still a safe place to bring his pride and joy Miss Pauline, 'They try to maintain it, it's probably safe as any track you have in South Carolina.'

Sunday, June 12, 2005

2005 Mopar Canadian Nats (T/F, P/M, P/S, F/C)
Dragpics.com's photo gallery from the 2005 IHRA Canadian Nationals.

'70s Funny Cars Round 33: The Newgord Collection
Gary Newgord was kind enough to send us photos taken by his father, Norm Newgord. These where taken at the legendary Union Grove drag strip and at hotels around the track.
2005 NHRA Joliet Final Results
Final eliminations results and updated POWERAde points standings after the 2005 Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.
2005 IHRA Grand Bend Final Results
Final results and up to date Hooters IHRA points standings after the 2005 Mopar Canadian Nationals.
Even in his final year of racing, 'The Professor' is still teaching classes
Sixty-one year-old Warren Johnson, who will retire after this season as arguably the greatest driver in Pro Stock history, clinched his fifth No. 1 qualification spot of the year Saturday at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet.
Lawson fails to qualify at Joliet
John Lawson, after snapping a blower belt 700 feet into his late-morning pass, was thinking along the lines of a Riverboat gambler heading into Saturday afternoon's final qualifying run in the Funny Car division of the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.

Rain Washes Out Final Eliminations at Goodguys 17th Hot Rod Nationals
“Arlene” obviously isn’t a hot rodder. The soggy remnants of tropical storm Arlene washed out final eliminations, Sunday, June 12th at the Goodguys 17th Hot Rod Nationals.
Connolly King Demon at Joliet drag strip
Dave Connolly took the $50,000 King Demon Crown on Saturday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, winning the special bonus event for the season's eight-quickest Pro Stock cars when final-round opponent Jason Line fouled at the start.
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series-Friday from Cherokee County Motorsports Park
Rookie driver Steve Torrence of Kilgore, Texas, set the pace in Top Alcohol Dragster and Chickasha, Okla., racer Jackie Stidham leads the Top Alcohol Funny Car pack.
2005 Goodguys 17th Hot Rod Nationals Final Qualifying Results
Final qualifying numbers from the Goodguys 17th Hot Rod Nationals Nostalgia Drags presented by Advance Auto Parts at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Indiana.
2005 IHRA Grand Bend Final Qualifying Results
Final qualifying results and first round pairings from the 2005 Mopar Canadian Nationals Saturday in Grand Bend, Ontario.
2005 NHRA Joliet Final Qualifying Results
Final qualifying results and first round pairings from the 2005 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Friday Qualifying from the Goodguys 17th Hot Rod Nationals
Qualifying Results from Friday, June 10th at the Goodguys 17th Hot Rod Nationals Nostalgia Drags presented by Advance Auto Parts at
Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Indiana.
Atchison enjoys help on weather
Rob Atchison has a big advantage over the rest of the funny car field -- he married the weather girl.
2005 NHRA Joliet Friday Qualifying Results
Day one pro qualifying results from the 2005 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.
The Enders of the Road
The name of Erica Enders stands alongside those of Ashely Force and Danica Patrick in the motorsports world, all three driving full speed ahead to crack down another gender barrier.

Friday, June 10, 2005

2005 IHRA Grand Bend Friday Qualifying Results
Day one qualifying results from the sixth annual Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol at Grand Bend Motorplex.
Junior drag winners announced
The future of drag racing was clearly evident last Saturday, at the Inyokern Airport, when the Dust Devils Car Club's Junior Drag divisions staged the O'Reilly Challenge to conclude their 2005 points season.
Willowbank Winternationals Delivers On Day One
The Winternationals drag racing spectacular has finally arrived at Ipswich's Willowbank Raceway and so too has the boy wonder of the Australian drag racing scene, 21 year-old Ben Bray.
Fast times on tap in Joliet
In its short existence, Route 66 Raceway has earned the reputation of world's fastest drag strip, and with good reason. At Route 66, records fall.
Connolly team stays together under new ownership
Dave Connolly will continue his bid for the 2005 NHRA Pro Stock championship now that a Michigan businessman has purchased the assets of the Bullet Motorsports team.
Young upstart ready to star at Winternats
IN a sport where speeds reach a nerve-jangling 500km/h, Brisbane pocket-rocket Brandon Gosbell yesterday had one question for drag racing legend Brett Stevens: 'Who's the boss?'
IHRA Funny car revisions get mixed response
Paul Noakes isn't a regular in the Hooters Drag Racing Series, but he's not daunted by the IHRA's revised field size for funny cars. This year, instead of 16 cars qualifying for the eliminations, only eight advance. 'We totally plan on being in that top eight,' the 37-year-old Saunders secondary school teacher said yesterday.
Funny Car field aims to derail mighty Force
Gary Scelzi spoke for the rest of the National Hot Rod Association's Funny Car class. 'We need to stop the big green machine of John Force. That's what needs to start happening. Otherwise he's going to be the champion again for the umpteenth time.'
Hawkeye Nationals set for Cedar Falls
Mike Klemme has focused his energies on making the 2005 season at the Cedar Falls Raceway better than the previous.
Top fueler chases bugs
Todd Paton is three years into this top fuel stuff and is still trying to figure out what makes these racing machines tick -- or, in his case, blow up.
Ride the Roadzombie!
Eurodragster.com is very pleased to offer its readers the chance to take a 230 mph ride on a Jet Dragster courtesy of UK Jet Dragster pilot Ian Caseley, who has kindly supplied some spectacular on-board video from his Viper-powered Roadzombie 2 dragster. On this particular occasion the camera was mounted directly above the tailpipe of the jet looking backwards. The video clip starts with the pre-run flame and thunder show and continues until the dragster turns off at the end of the track (3.72 Meg, Windows Media format, 1 minute 41 seconds).

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Drag racer Kathleen Tuttle wins at Firebird
There's probably little disputing that May 2005 will go down in the annals of auto racing as Danica Patrick's big month, but two full weeks before Patrick was making headlines at Indy, a woman became the first female to claim a coveted prize in Southwest Idaho's racing scene.
A Very Special Winternationals Weekend
Casting an eye over a record breaking starting list of close to 560 for this weekend's Winternationals drag racing spectacular at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway, one can easily appreciate how the sport is making massive headway towards regaining its status as the most watched sport in the World.
Salute to Sixties-Era Drag Race Photographers Opens at UCR California Museum of Photography
Before auto-focus lenses and high-speed motor drive cameras simplified taking pictures of fast-moving objects, photographers working for National Dragster magazine strove to chronicle some of the planet's fastest cars in the 1960s - the dragsters of the new National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
Lehman Racing Sold to Group of Investors
Peter Lehman, owner of Peter Lehman Racing, LLC, sold his company to a group of investors, led by NHRA Pro Stock driver Kenny Koretsky, that includes crew chief Mike Kloeber and driver Clay Millican.
Adams Named NHRA Northwest Division Director
Jonathan Adams has been named NHRA Division 6 Director. The 28 year old will manage the competition at 19 NHRA-member facilities in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
Garlits brings legendary Swamp Rat 1-B to 3rd Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion
Ask someone on the street to name the greatest drag racer of all time and chances are, the name will be 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits. Ask them to name the car, and Swamp Rat will come right up. On Father's Day weekend, both Garlits and one of his original creations, Swamp Rat 1-B, will be a prime attraction at the 3rd Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Racing fans concerned about future of race track after land doesn't sell
An old drag strip property eyed for reuse went unsold at an auction last week. Local drag racing fans are concerned about the track's fate and expressed frustration with the auction process.
Topeka tests prepare Capps for record-breaking Route 66
Ron Capps, crew chiefs Ed 'Ace' McCulloch and Dan Olson, and the entire Brut Dodge Stratus Funny Car team took advantage of a day off on Memorial Day following the ninth round of the 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at Heartland Park Topeka to make some test runs down the quarter-mile.
Funny Car Reunion or Bust?
Bust seems to be the more operative description at this point. With under two months left until the 4th Annual Funny Car Reunion is slated to be run, problems abound for this event.
Troy Coughlin switches to Pro Street
As the Pro Edelbrock Drag Racing Series continues to grow in popularity, it figured to be just a matter of time before it attracted the attention of professional racers from other venues.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Drag racer talks about crash that left him in critical condition
Ron Fassl, the world record setting drag racer who was in critical condition after an accident at Bandimere Speedway, says it's all just a part of the game.
Leslie Smith, 87, a Matchbox Car Creator, Dies
Leslie Smith, who for several decades after World War II was the world's largest automaker, at least in part because he made the world's smallest autos, died on May 26 at his home in North London. Mr. Smith, a founder, president and longtime chief executive of Matchbox Toys, was 87. RIP Mr. Smith. Your toys helped to send me and thousands of others on their way to careers and lifetime hobbies in autos and motorsports. bp
Sincerely, the Other 32
Dear Sports Illustrated: You probably don't know our names, but we're the 32 drivers in the Indianapolis 500 who weren't on the cover of your magazine this week. We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. Combined, we've spent 158 years in this sport and have won 68 IRL races and six championships.
Chrysler 300C SRT8
A mere $42,000 buys a 425-horsepower version of Chrysler's hot sedan, making this the sort of muscle car Detroit quit building decades ago.
UK company launches in-car toilet
May you never have to stop at a McDonald's again: the Indipod boasts an eight-day capacity.
What Would Steve McQueen Rent?
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the face of eternity at 183 miles per hour on the West Side Highway? I sure did. So on a recent Thursday morning, I slipped into the cockpit of a red Ferrari 360 Modena I had rented from Gotham Dream Cars. Then I wheeled onto the highway at 59th Street, and put the pedal to the metal.
Carrier Boyz secure deal for Dave Connolly
After Carrier Boyz Racing backed Connolly and his team at the O'Reilly Summer Nationals, Brian Olson and the Carrier Boyz opened discussions with Torco Race Fuels and Gear and their owner to become associated with the Pro Stock team headed by rising superstar David Connolly. Those negotiations reached a win-win situation between all the parties involved today.
Former Road Racer Ienatsch Makes Successful Professional Drag Racing Debut
How good is Stotz Racing�s new 2005 turbocharged CBR1100XX? So good that team owner Kent Stotz chose to debut the mighty Honda at the 2005 AMA Prostar Pro Street Series in the hands of novice drag racer Nick Ienatsch.

Monday, June 06, 2005

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series-Final rounds from Brainerd Int'l Raceway
It's a day later than scheduled but NHRA West Central division Lucas Oil Series racers finished up their event at Brainerd Int'l Raceway. Rain plagued the event throughout the weekend and officials put a halt to eliminations late Sunday evening and completed the event today.
Eliminations continued to Monday at BIR's NHRA Lucas Oil Series event
The rain that plagued the NHRA West Central division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Brainerd Int'l Raceway (BIR) all weekend finally forced officials to pull the plug late Sunday evening. Eliminations in all classes except Top Alcohol Funny Car will begin Monday morning. The Top Alcohol Funny Car final will be run at the division's next race at Bandimere Speedway in Denver.
Capps to Join NASCAR Drivers on Eldora's Dirt
Ron Capps, who drives the Brut Dodge Stratus Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and will do so this weekend at the CARQUEST NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., will make a side trip to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on Wednesday, June 8, to run the Nextel Prelude to the Dream.
Fact Sheet: CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
All the info you need to enjoy the eighth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, whether you're going to the race or catching it on the tube.
Utah driver posts top Ignitor time
A pair of drivers ripped off side-by-side five-second runs in AA/Fuel Dragster qualifying Saturday at the 35th annual Ignitor at Firebird Raceway.
Vintage cars in rare auction
A unique collection of rare antique cars and parts that was accumulated by a late car buff is being auctioned off in Shelby Township. Highlights of the collection include a 1929 Ford flathead Model A Roadster on a 1932 frame (Brookville body); 1950s homemade nostalgia dragster that won an Autorama top award in 2002 and was part of the acclaimed "Eyes on Design" show in 2004 at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Lake Township; 1929 KJ Henderson motorcycle; and SCoT blower engine that was in the dragster but is being sold separately.
Strong Top Doorslammer line-up set to do battle
One of the largest yet contingents of Group One drag racing vehicles is expected to assemble at this years Winternationals spectacular at Queenslands Willowbank Raceway next weekend. There is an added incentive in becoming the first drag racer in the world to claim a class-legal five-second pass in Top Doorslammer.
Asphalt jungle
There's an old adage in the form of a question: How do you make a million dollars in auto racing? Start with $4 million. This elicits just the slightest chuckle from Rob Reeves, one of the owners of Budweiser Motorsports Park.

Sunday, June 05, 2005

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Saturday from Memphis Motorsports Park
Steve Torrence in Top Alcohol Dragster and defending Top Alcohol Funny Car South Central division Champion Jackie Stidham took home wins at this weekend's TCI Sportsman Challenge NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
Englefield's ride and a half
UK Pro Mod racer Bert Englefield had a wild ride in qualifying for last week's FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway when his blown-alcohol Coupe turned hard right not far off the start line, went up on its two left two wheels, then touched down heading for the guardrail. Bert gave Eurodragster.com the inside track on the incident although modestly underplaying his role in saving the car from a head-on.
NHRA Northwest Division Lucas Series racers ready for eliminations at 35th Annual Napa Auto Parts Ignitor at Firebird Raceway
The NHRA Northwest Division continued to roll out the 2005 season at Firebird Raceway as the 35th Annual Napa Auto Parts Ignitor presented by Don Wiebold Ford wrapped up its second day and evening of qualifying and time trials. The race featured the popular Top Comp category of quick doorslammers and nostalgia dragsters.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Scion goes racing: Toyota's youth brand to campaign two cars
Scion has just revealed that it is entering the motorsports arena. However, it's not entering the hype-filled world of drifting. Instead, the company is opting to go into drag racing.
Chesterman, Wells dig in for qualifying at BIR’s Lucas Oil event
Defending Top Alcohol Funny Car national and divisional champion Cy Chesterman set the pace in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class at Brainerd Int'l Raceway's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. In Top Alcohol Dragster, Lemars, Iowa's David Wells was the top qualifier.

Friday, June 03, 2005

Thunder Zone Memories
The good ole days of drag racing as remembered by rocket car racer Ky Michaelson.
Parris wins Super Pro at Sikeston Drag Strip
Ken Parris took the Sikeston Drag Strip's top race, Super Pro, on Saturday.
Second-generation drag racer making her mark
The comparisons between drag racer Ashley Force and the Indy Racing League's Danica Patrick are only natural. Use bugmenot.com for login help.
Thrills and skills at drag race
The first ever quick shift drag racing event takes place at Enniskillen Airport, Belfast, Ireland, next weekend, with organisers promising a fantastic display of cars.
Drag race to be held at Marina South as part of National Day celebrations
While Singapore might not be having the A1 Race, there is still something for motor sports fans to look forward to. A Drag race with cars sprinting at speeds of up to 200 kilometres an hour will be the highlight of this year's National Day celebrations.
Drag boats on their way to Manning River, Australia
The support program for the World GP hydroplane titles to be held in Taree on June 18/19 and 25/26 will feature Australia's fastest drag boats.
Scion Racing Makes Its Debut at Moroso Motorsports Park
Scion is entering the motorsports arena with Scion Racing and has partnered with Sport Compact drag racing stars Christian Rado of WORLD Racing and Leslie Durst of Horizon Motorsports.
Post Race Notes: 17th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals
Behind the scenes info and special award winners from 2005 NHRA Topeka.
Ashley Force gets her first lesson in dad's nitro Funny Car
Ashley Force, 22-year-old daughter of legendary Funny Car driver John Force, warmed up her father's 7,000-horsepower Mustang Funny Car Monday after the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, then made a burnout and a 60-foot launch in the nitro monster.
NHRA video game a big hit at E3
Lights, noise, people everywhere -- you'd think we were at an NHRA event! It was an E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo) filled with excitement. This year saw the unveiling of the PS3, the Xbox360 and NHRA Championship Drag Racing for the PS2.
Capps, Brut Dodge featured in more high-profile Brut ads
Brut continues its national campaign to promote Ron Capps and the Brut Dodge Funny Car team.
Force is with daughter, too
The National Hot Rod Association got a little taste of its future this week. Ashley Force, daughter of 13-time Funny Car champion John Force, got an early baptism into what driving a nitro coupe feels like.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Dragster goes 303 mph at IMSP
Billings, MT, drag racer Chuck Haynes set the Montana land speed record Saturday night at the Intermountain Motor Sports Park.
ET Raceway Night of Fire Nostalgia Funny Car Photos
Shots of the nostalgia funnies who raced at ET Raceway on May 28.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

BugMeNot.com
You're browsing the web and you click a link to an article on a site (let's say nytimes.com) but instead of getting the article you get a screen asking you to login or register. Infuriated at the idea of pointlessly registering for yet another site you turn to your good buddy bugmenot.com.

Pete Gemar let me know that many of the links we post dead end at registration pages. I actually don't post many of the story links I get because they go to registration pages. But I guess way back when, I signed up for these, because I'm not seeing a registration page for any of them... try this site and let me know how it works with a comment on this post. Thanks to Mark Hovsepian for the tip.
Drag racers, fans invited to event
Beck Motor Co. in Pierre, SD, will hold a vehicle tech inspection and racer registration on June 4 at the car sales lot for drag racers interested in competing at the new Oahe Speedway this summer.
Willowbank Winternationals Drag Racing's Largest Ever
Like never before, sports fans are encouraged to come along to Willowbank Raceway in a fortnight and witness what has been confirmed as the biggest and best ever field of competitors ever assembled in Ipswich for the annual Winternationals drag racing spectacular on June 10-12.
As Patrick's Star Rises, I.R.L. Is Along for Ride
By almost every measure, Danica Patrick's performance in May at Indy has caused a wave of good vibrations for the I.R.L. and open-wheel racing, a sport that has been eclipsed in recent years by the stock cars in the Nascar Nextel Cup series.
Surf's Up, Tops Down: A Drive to Find California's Soul
Remember the Southern California of Jan and Dean, Sonny and Cher, woodies and lowriders? Remember the place where everyone was blond and young, and no one had to work on days when the surf was up? Most of all, remember when the freeways were free of traffic jams and the three most romantic words in the English language were Pacific Coast Highway?
For Pace Cars, a Life Beyond Indy
Even if their only point of differentiation is stickers and badges, Indy Pace Car replicas remain desirable collectibles.