Press Release -  Drag Racing

ANTRON BROWN RACES TO NO. 8 QUALIFYING SPOT AT BRAINERD

By Ted Yerzyk

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 14, 2010) - Antron Brown, a four-time winner at Brainerd International Raceway, drove his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster to the No. 8 qualifying position Saturday at B.I.R.

Brown, who entered the final day of qualifying for the 29th annual Brainerd race in the provisional No. 9 qualifying position after clocking an elapsed time of 5.106-seconds on Friday, improved his position on Saturday's opening pass. The 24-time NHRA winner used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the Matco Tools/U.S. Army car to a lap of 3.923 seconds at 302.62 mph. That placed Brown eighth in the order. On his final qualifying effort, the former college track star's bright blue Matco-backed car lost traction and slowed to pass of 4.585 at 167.66 after losing the blower belt on the run. It is the 15th time in 17 races this season that Brown will start from the top half of the 16-car field. He also qualified eighth at the Joliet race in June. His average qualifying position this season is 4.7 with five No. 1 qualifiers. Doug Kalitta earned the Top Fuel pole on Saturday at Brainerd at 3.842-seconds.

"We struggled during qualifying this weekend here at Brainerd, but we've been trying some things on our Matco Tools car too," Brown said. "We'll go back to what we know for race day and I'm confident we can go some rounds. Morgan (Lucas) will be tough. We'll have to throw down a good lap to get by those Geico boys, but this DSR Matco team is up to it."

Brown will face off against No. 9 qualifier Morgan Lucas in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT) at the Brainerd track. Brown is 6-1 in his career against Lucas and 1-0 this season. Brown has a mark of 25-16 in 41 rounds this year.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. DSR also manages the Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel dragster driven by Rod Fuller. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 145 national events in 278 final rounds and eight world championships.

Q1 5.106 ET, 140.23 MPH No. 9
Q2 canceled rain
Q3 3.923 ET, 302.62 MPH No. 8
Q4 4.585 ET, 167.66 MPH No. 8

ANTRON BROWN RACES TO NO. 3 SPOT FRIDAY EVENING AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 11, 2010) - Antron Brown, a New Jersey native, drove his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster to the provisonal No. 3 qualifying position on Friday evening at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The two-time winner at Raceway Park used a Friday evening elapsed time of 3.819-seconds to finish third in the order.

Brown enters the 11th race on the 2010 NHRA schedule ranked fifth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings with three poles and three final round appearances this season. On Friday's opening qualifying attempt, the Matco Tools/U.S. Army car posted great early numbers but overpowered the track as Brown slowed to a run of 4.209 seconds at 227.65 mph. It was the ninth quickest of the session. On Friday's evening session, the 24-time NHRA winner used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the bright blue Matco-backed rail to a lap of 3.817 at 315.86 to finish in the provisional No. 3 qualifying position. Brown earned the Top Fuel pole at Raceway Park two years ago and qualified fifth last June at the SuperNationals at 3.871-seconds.

"That was a nice lap for our Matco Tools/U.S. Army car here at DSR," Brown said. "We were a little aggressive on the first pass. The car wanted to run at (3).70, but the track just wouldn't hold it. There are only 15 cars here this weekend, so we had to go for it. Sure, we would have liked to have run in the (3).70s, but that (3).81 is a great pass. That puts us solidly in the show for Sunday. I'm glad to be back here in (New) Jersey with all my family and friends and my grandma (Delores Brown) is here with us and she got a bunch of TV time with the group from ESPN2 and she loves to ham it up for the cameras."

Professional nitro qualifying will continue on Saturday with qualifying sessions scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m. (ET) at Raceway Park. Top Fuel will run first followed by Funny Car. The former Mercer (N.J.) College track star is a two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner at the famed Garden State strip (2002, '05). He also has three career poles at Raceway Park.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Craig Treble rides the DSR Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 143 national events in 275 final rounds, and eight world championships.

Q1 4.209 ET, 227.65 MPH No. 9
Q2 3.817 ET, 315.86 MPH No. 3

ANTRON BROWN RACES TO SECOND ROUND AT JOLIET

JOLIET, Ill. (June 6, 2010) - Antron Brown drove his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster to a second-round finish Sunday afternoon at Route 66 Raceway. The 24-time NHRA winner remains fifth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings following 10 of 23 races on the 2010 NHRA schedule.

A day after racing his John Wolfe (Matco Tools' top distributor) tribute car to the No. 8 qualifying position with an elapsed time of 3.872-seconds, Brown bested local favorite T.J. Zizzo before falling to No. 1 qualifier Larry Dixon in the quarterfinals. Brown now has a mark of 13-10 in 23 rounds this season.

As the first pair of cars to race down the Route 66 Raceway track on Sunday morning, Brown scored the wire-to-wire win in his special John Wolfe/Matco Tools car. Brown left first and powered his Brian Corradi/Mark Oswald-tuned car to a lap of 3.899 seconds at 313.15 mph to advance to the second round and earn his 100th career Top Fuel round win. Zizzo, who qualified ninth, lost traction in his dragster and slowed to an elapsed time of 8.067-seconds.

Squaring off against the Al-Anabi team for the third time this season, Brown posted his quickest lap of the weekend, however it wasn't enough to defeat the two-time NHRA champion who ran the quickest pass of the round. Brown powered his John Wolfe/Matco Tools car to a run of 3.839 at 315.78, but Dixon's slightly quicker lap of 3.830 at 317.94 was enough to card the narrow win. Brown is now 0-3 against the Alan Johnson-owned car this season.

"Our DSR Matco Tools car ran great today," Brown said. "We just came out on the short side of a really close drag race. Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) and this entire Matco crew did a great job. The car was flawless. We struggled in qualifying, but made a great run to get in the show yesterday afternoon and made the second quickest pass of the round. We would have beaten just about anybody else that round, but this is NHRA drag racing and that's how it goes sometimes. I hope John Wolfe and all his great Matco customers had a great time this weekend and we're going to come out swinging hard at Englishtown (N.J.) next weekend."

The next NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event is the 41st annual NHRA SuperNationals, June 10-13, at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. Brown posted a runner-up finish at the Englishtown race last June.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Craig Treble rides the DSR Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 142 national events in 274 final rounds, and eight world championships.

E1 BROWN (.081) 3.899 ET, 313.15 MPH def. Zizzo (.103) 8.067 ET, 83.60 MPH
E2 Dixon (.083) 3.830 ET, 317.94 MPH def. BROWN (.083) 3.839 ET, 315.78 MPH

Houston marks good start to Zizzo's season

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 14, 2010) -- T.J. Zizzo and the PEAK/HERCULINER Top Fuel team made the most of their 2010 debut at the O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals this past weekend. The team qualified 12th, improving their position during Saturday's sessions.

"We were happy to be back on the racetrack again," Zizzo said. "It was great meeting new fans and reintroducing myself to the media."

Mike Kern, crew chief of the Illinois based team was also happy with the team's first outing. "After a six month layoff we pulled out of the trailer with a number five qualifying position," Kern said. "After the nitro settled we ended up 12th."

Zizzo would face NHRA points leader Cory McClenathan in round one of eliminations on Sunday. While Zizzo's reaction time would match the efforts of his opponent, McClenathan's car would pull away for the win.

"Overall it was a productive weekend," Zizzo said. "For our first weekend out it was like a test session. We still need to figure out what the car wants. The team assembled the car well and they worked well together. I may not have been the fastest car on the track last weekend, but with PEAK and HERCULINER standing behind us I'm confident it will allow us to improve in the future."

About Old World Industries
PEAK® Performance Products are marketed and distributed by Old World Industries, which is among the largest privately-held companies competing in the automotive aftermarket. The Northbrook, Illinois-based company enjoys a presence in the automotive product markets, energy exploration, and chemical manufacturing in more than 50 countries worldwide. Old World's Product offering includes PEAK® Antifreeze; PEAK® Windshield Wash and Wiper Blades; PEAK® Performance Motor Oil; a full line of PEAK® Electronics; HERCULINER® Truck Bed Liner Kits; and SIERRA®, the safer antifreeze. For more information, please visit www.peakauto.com.

The Zizzo Racing Team proudly represents PEAK® Antifreeze & Motor Oil, O'Reilly Auto Parts, HERCULINER® Truck Bed Liners, HTP America and Champion Packaging.

To learn more about Zizzo Racing visit: http://zizzoracing.com

ANTRON BROWN AND MATCO TOOLS DRAGSTER TO VISIT STUDENTS AT
WESTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE ON APRIL 13

By Ted Yerzyk

EL PASO, Texas (April 13, 2010) - Antron Brown, driver of the Don Schumacher Racing-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster, will visit with students at Western Technical College in El Paso on April 13. The former college track star at Mercer (N.J.) Community College will speak to students at Western Tech about education and career choices after competing at the 23rd annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, in Baytown, Texas near Houston. Brown's 7,000-horsepower Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster also will be on display.

"I really enjoy these school visits we do for Matco (Tools)," Brown said. "I was just like many of these students not too long ago when I was a student at Mercer College in New Jersey. It's nice to give back and speak to the students about career paths and the importance of focusing on education. These are the technicians and mechanics of tomorrow and it's great to meet the students and hopefully deliver a positive message to them. I think it's great that Matco makes this a top initiative for the company.

"We went to Western Tech last year after the Houston race and it was awesome. I was blown away with all the students and how great they treated us. I can't wait to get back and see Allan Sharpe and all the students and that awesome Matco Tools store they have a Western Tech."

The Western Technical College visit is one of seven technical school visits during the 2010 NHRA season for Brown and the Matco Tools dragster as part of the Matco Tools TechEd program. Brown visited Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. before the season-opening Winternationals on February 9. Brown will be at the school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. before heading to Las Vegas to compete at the 11th annual Summitracing.com Nationals, April 16-18, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Brown will visit with groups of students who also will have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the 7,000 horsepower Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster. Matco Tools Racing pit crew members John Benshoof and Caleb Williams, who graduated from Wyotech in Laramie, Wyo. And Southern Illinois University, respectively, also will be on hand to speak with the students at Western Tech.

"The students, staff and faculty are looking forward to having the Matco Tools race team with Antron Brown back at Western Tech," Western Technical College President Allan Sharpe said. "Antron is a product of career school education and really connects with our students. Over the past few years we have enjoyed a strong partnership with Matco Tools. This has allowed students at Western Tech to obtain quality, professional tools at great prices. This has better prepared them for meaningful employment in the industry which they have trained for."

Brown, 33, is the only racer in NHRA history to win races and lead the standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. He has 24 career wins, eight in Top Fuel, and 22 career No. 1 qualifying awards. He is competing in his third season in Top Fuel after spending 10 years in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. He has a career-best speed of 321.96 mph. He currently ranks fourth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Craig Treble rides the DSR Valvoline Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 141 national events in 272 final rounds, and eight world championships.

The Al-Anabi Racing Team and His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
11th Annual Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals
Las Vegas Motor Speedway; Las Vegas
Pre-event Notes and Quotes
 

Larry Dixon, Top Fuel Dragster

Residence: Avon, Ind.
Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.
Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1966
Al-Anabi Racing Team Owner: His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani
Al-Anabi Racing Team Manager: Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson Racing Owner: Alan Johnson
Crew chief: Jason McCulloch
2010 wins/final rounds: 2/2 (1.000)
Career wins/final rounds: 50/94 (.532)
2010 No. 1 qualifiers: 1
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 41
Best points finish: 1st (2002, ‘03)
Countdown to 1 NHRA Playoffs appearances: 2007, ‘08 and ‘09
First start: Pomona 1, 1995
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 3.772 seconds (Houston, 2010)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 323.19 mph (Houston, 2010)

* Larry Dixon captured his 50th career victory when he won the 23rd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals last weekend and tied Kenny Bernstein for the most Top Fuel wins at Houston Raceway Park. Dixon was the No. 1 qualifier; he also recorded the low elapsed time and top speed of the event. He defeated Del Cox, Jr., David Grubnic, points leader Cory McClenathan and Antron Brown on his way to the winner’s circle. Dixon dedicated his 50th career win to his son, Darien, who was in an Indianapolis hospital recovering from surgery to treat a bacterial infection in his leg; he was released from the hospital yesterday. Dixon also won the season-opening Kragen-O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

* Dixon enters the 11th annual Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in second place in the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings. He trails first place Cory McClenathan by 28 points.

* Dixon has been an excellent qualifier so far this season; he claimed his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season at Houston last weekend. He qualified second at Pomona, Calif., third at Phoenix, third at Gainesville, Fla., second at Charlotte and first at Houston. Dixon’s average qualifying position so far this year is 2.20. Dixon has been the No. 1 qualifier 41 times in his career.

* Dixon is a four-time winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway having won races there in 2005, ’03 and twice in ’02. With a victory this weekend, Dixon would tie Tony Schumacher for most Top Fuel wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. One year ago at this event, Dixon was the No. 3 qualifier. He defeated Urs Erbacher before losing to Brandon Bernstein in the second round of eliminations.

* Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002 and ’03. He is currently third on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel winner’s list with 50 victories. Joe Amato is in second place with 52 wins; Tony Schumacher tops the list with 62 wins. Dixon is in eighth place on the NHRA’s all-time career victories list; Dixon was the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year.
 

Dixon prior to Las Vegas:

“The whole weekend in Houston was pretty exciting getting the Al-Anabi car on the pole in qualifying and then being able to come back to make three and a half good runs and still come home with a win. That was a great weekend all around. I can’t imagine what it looked like from the fan standpoint with two cars out there smoking tires and the drivers pedaling. I still haven’t seen the final round video yet, but I’m looking forward to it. From my standpoint, it feels like the run takes 10 minutes and all of a sudden, it’s over. We were able to sneak one in, and we’ll take it. I’ve had plenty of pretty losses, and I’m happy to have an ugly win.

“Fifty wins is something I wasn’t sure I’d ever get when I started driving. At that time, there were only a few of people in racing with that many wins, so it wasn’t even a dream back then. It’s reflection of the great cars and great teams that I’ve been fortunate enough to race with. I am confident I’m not done at 50; we’re going to try to add to that this weekend in Las Vegas.

“Where we are in points is probably where our Al-Anabi Racing team feels we should be, and that’s how fast things can turn in this sport. We entered Houston eliminations fourth in points. One day later, we have a couple wins under our belt, and we’re a round out of first place. That’s the type of team that His Highness Sheik Khalid hoped we would provide, and I hope we can continue to perform at this level. It can turn around fast so we have to keep working.

“I enjoy running at Las Vegas, but I enjoy running all of Bruton Smith’s race tracks. Each one of them is a state of the art facility, and the tracks themselves are good, too. Las Vegas is at elevation, and I set the speed record there a few years ago so we all know it’s an excellent race track, and I’m always excited to race there.”

For additional information on Alan Johnson and Larry Dixon, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view their full bios.



Del Worsham, Toyota Camry Solara Funny Car:

Residence: Chino Hills, Calif.
Hometown: Whittier, Calif.
Date of Birth: February 11, 1970
Al-Anabi Racing Team Owner: His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani
Al-Anabi Racing Team Manager: Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson Racing Owner: Alan Johnson
Crew Chief: Dickie Venables
2009 wins/final rounds: 3/3
Career wins/final rounds: 25/38 (.658)
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 4
Career-best points finish: 2nd (2004)
Countdown to 1 NHRA Playoffs appearances: 2009
First professional start: 1990
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 4.038 seconds (Pomona 1, 2009)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 312.35 mph (Pomona 1, 2010)

* Del Worsham is 10th in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings; he trails ninth place Bob Tasca III by 28 points, eighth place Robert Hight by 41 points, and he trails the two drivers tied for sixth place by 43 points.

* Worsham has been a solid qualifier so far this season. In the season’s first five races, he has qualified second and third, 14th, fifth and seventh respectively. Worsham’s average qualifying position is 6.20.

* Worsham was the No. 7 qualifier last weekend at Houston Raceway Park. He defeated Bob Tasca III and Ashley Force Hood before losing to Jeff Arend in the semifinals. Worsham is still seeking his first win of the season; he won three races last year visiting victory circle in Madison, Ill., Bristol, Tenn. and Richmond, Va.

* One year ago at this event in Las Vegas, Worsham was the No. 16 qualifier and lost to Tony Pedregon in the first round of eliminations. Worsham has never won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

* Worsham has 25 wins in his Funny Car career; he is seventh on the NHRA’s all-time Funny Car wins list trailing sixth place by just one win.


Worsham prior to Las Vegas:

“Last weekend’s race in Texas was another good step for our Al-Anabi Racing Toyota. Getting to the semifinals for the first time this season was nice; it was great to win some rounds. We are still in 10th place in points, but we are much closer to ninth place than we were when we got to Houston so that’s a positive move.

“After Houston and the results we had, I feel good. We learned some things last weekend that will be really beneficial moving forward. So going to Las Vegas this weekend, we feel good about building on the progress we made last weekend. I hope that means we can challenge for the win this weekend and make a move in the point standings. The Funny Car points are tight already so anyone in the second five in points can make a big move in the standings. Everyone on our Al-Anabi team will do everything we can to keep working our way back to the winner’s circle.”

For additional information on Alan Johnson and Del Worsham, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view their full bios.

About Al-Anabi Racing:

Al-Anabi Racing operates out of multiple locations in both the United States and Qatar. In the United States, the Brownsburg, Ind.-based operation is a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition that is managed by Alan Johnson Racing. At the forefront of this team is His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Alan Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief.
 

More career bests for McMillen in qualifying not enough on Houston race day

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 11, 2010) -- Terry McMillen piloted his Amalie Oil Top Fuel dragster to his most consistent outing of the 2010 Full Throttle Drag Racing season. Unfortunately it wouldn't be enough for the Elkhart, Ind. based team to earn its first round win.

"My guys did such a great job this weekend," McMillen said of his team. "The Amalie dragster was running like a bracket car all weekend. Losing first round this weekend hurt more than most." A broken blower snout would cause the car to lose a cylinder early in the run, eventually pushing the head gasket

For the fourth time in five races, McMillen's team set new career bests during qualifying, earning him a new personal best 1000 foot speed (313.73 mph) and his best qualifying position, eighth. Neither would be enough to overcome David Grubnic's best pass of the weekend in round one.

"You just have to believe that if we keep improving week in and week out, sooner or later things will start to go our way," a frustrated McMillen said. "I told my guys that if we keep running like we did this weekend we'll string together a few round wins."

McMillen won't have long to be frustrated. The Amalie team heads to Las Vegas for next weekend's SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.

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ANTRON BROWN RACES TO THIRD STRAIGHT FINAL ROUND SUNDAY AT HOUSTON

By Ted Yerzyk

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 11, 2010) - Antron Brown drove his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster to a runner-up finish Sunday afternoon at Houston Raceway Park as the 24-time NHRA winner moved to fourth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. Brown advanced to his third straight final round.

A day after qualifying the Matco Tools/U.S. Army rail in the No. 2 position with a career-best elapsed time at 3.777-seconds, Brown bested 2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Massey, starting-line ace Shawn Langdon, and three-time Top Fuel winner Morgan Lucas, before losing a tire-smoking final to two-time series champion Larry Dixon.

In the opening round, Brown was paired up against the two-time Top Fuel winner, who was competing in his first race of the season. Brown got the jump at the start and raced to the wire-to-wire win in his Matco Tools/U.S. Army rail. The 22-time pole winner powered to the second quickest pass of the round at 3.858 seconds at 315.27 mph to outpace Massey's lap of 4.176 at 235.64. Brown is now 4-3 in seven career races against Massey. It was Brown's 315th career round win.

Facing Langdon for the second time this season, the former NHRA Super Comp champion got the jump at the start, but Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the bright blue Matco Tools car to the semifinals in the left lane at H.R.P. Brown's car clocked a performance of 3.964 at 303.37, while Langdon's rail lost traction and slowed to an elapsed time of 4.806-seconds. Brown is now 2-0 against Langdon this season.

The former college track star advanced to his third straight final round by knocking off Lucas in the semifinals with the quickest pass of the round. The Corradi/Oswald-tuned Matco Tools/U.S. Army car powered to a pass of 3.873 at 314.17 to advance to Brown's 51st career final round and third at Houston Raceway Park. Lucas' rail trailed at 4.006 at 298.80.

In the final round, Brown used a stout .038 of-a-second reaction time to race to the early lead and things looked good as Dixon's rail lost traction early, but the tires came loose on the Matco-backed rail allowing Dixon to drive by for the narrow win with a run of 4.541 at 222.36 in the Alan Johnson-owned dragster. Brown carded a run of 4.638 at 173.32. He now has a record of 9-5 in five races this season with three final round appearances.

"It was another good weekend for our DSR Matco Tools team here at Houston," Brown said. "We like this track, but just came up short. That was a tough race to lose. I was surprised when the tires pulled loose, but we're leaving here with our heads high. We'll go to (Las) Vegas and give it our all and do our best to pull out a win next weekend."

The next NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event is the 11th annual Summitracing.com Nationals, April 16-18, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Last April at The Strip at LVMS, Brown qualified his Matco-backed car second and raced to a semifinal finish at the spring Las Vegas race.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Craig Treble rides the DSR Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 141 national events in 272 final rounds, and eight world championships.

E1 BROWN (.065) 3.858 ET, 315.27 MPH def. Massey (.078) 4.176 ET, 235.64 MPH
E2 BROWN(.077) 3.964 ET, 303.37 MPH def. Langdon (.051) 4.806 ET, 166.39 MPH
E3 BROWN(.063) 3.873 ET, 314.17 MPH def. Lucas (.084) 4.006 ET, 298.80 MPH
E4 Dixon (.044) 4.541 ET, 222.36 MPH def. BROWN(.038) 4.638 ET, 173.32 MPH

ANTRON BROWN RACES TO NO. 2 SPOT AT HOUSTON, CLOCKS CAREER-BEST E.T. AND SPEED

By Ted Yerzyk

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 10, 2010) - Antron Brown raced his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster to the No. 2 qualifying position Saturday evening at Houston Raceway Park after a rain-filled morning at the 23rd annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals. The 24-time NHRA used a career-best elapsed time of 3.777-seconds to finish second in the 16-car order.

A day after racing to the provisional pole with a lap of 3.803 seconds at 317.64 mph, the Matco Tools flagship driver posted his quickest and fastest pass of the 2010 season to remain atop the 16-car Top Fuel field. Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster to a run of 3.794 at 321.96, a career-best speed, to improve upon Friday's provisional pole run of 3.803-seconds. On his final qualifying effort, under the lights in Baytown, Brown blistered the H.R.P. track in 3.777 at 318.09 to clocked his quickest 1,000-foot pass. Brown took the win light next to two-time champion Larry Dixon, who earned the pole with an elapsed time of 3.772-seconds. Brown's DSR and U.S. Army Racing teammate Tony Schumacher was third at 3.785-seconds. Brown has qualified fourth, first, third and second at the last four races on the 2010 NHRA schedule. His average qualifying position in five races is 4.2.

"We had an awesome day," Brown said. "We just missed it on that last run. We were going 285 (mph) at half track and the engine let loose just a tad bit early. We should have had the pole and maybe the quickest pass ever, but it's all good for our DSR Matco Tools team. We had great Matco support here in Houston and we're going to go out and race smart, take it one round at at time and try to repeat what we did here two years ago."

Brown will face off against No. 15 qualifier Spencer Massey in the opening round of eliminations at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday at Houston Raceway Park. Brown is 3-3 in six career matches against the 2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year. ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage from Houston Raceway Park at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Craig Treble rides the DSR Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 140 national events in 270 final rounds, and eight world championships.

Q1 7.339 ET, 85.77 MPH No. 14
Q2 3.803 ET, 317.64 MPH No. 1
Q3 3.794 ET, 321.96 MPH No. 1
Q4 3.777 ET, 318.09 MPH No. 2

ANTRON BROWN RACES TO PROVISIONAL POLE FRIDAY AT HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 9, 2010) - Antron Brown powered his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools dragster to the provisional No. 1 qualifying postion Friday evening at Houston Raceway Park as he looks to earn a second straight pole at the O'Reilly Spring Nationals. Brown's elapsed time of 3.803-seconds paced the Top Fuel field on the opening day of qualifying at the Houston-area track.

Brown entered the fifth race on the 2010 NHRA schedule ranked fifth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. On his first qualifying attempt on a beautiful afternoon at Houston Raceway Park, Brown's bright blue Matco Tools/U.S. Army rail overpowered the 103-degree race track and slowed to a lap of 7.339 seconds at 85.77 mph. Only Brown's DSR teammate and current points leader Cory McClenathan made a full lap in the FRAM dragster in the right lane in the first qualifying session.

On Friday's second attempt, the Matco Tools/U.S. Army car was in the second pair of cars to blast down the H.R.P. strip. Racing out of the left lane, Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to card the quickest run of the day at 3.803 seconds at 317.64 mph. Brown has two career poles at the Houston race and was the top qualifier at the Gainesville, Fla. race last month. He has 22 career No. 1
qualifying awards. Brown's U.S. Army Racing teammate Tony Schumacher finished fifth at 3.848-seconds.

"We raced out of the right lane on the first run and we were just too fast with the tune-up early," Brown said. "Running out of the left lane for the second run, we saw (John) Force run that stout 4.02 and we knew that the conditions were sporty. We were two pair behind John and I know Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) were trying to run a high 3.70. When the car left, it really carried the front wheels a lot higher and farther than it normally does. When we got back to the pit and looked at the computer, we knew it was on the edge and it would be tough to run quicker than that. We figured that would be about all the track would hold. That's a great boost for our team. We're running well, but we've been falling short in the final rounds and we really want to get a race win."

Professional nitro qualifying resumes on Saturday afternoon at 12:15 and 3 p.m. (CT) at Houston Raceway Park with Top Fuel followed by Funny Car. Brown earned the pole at the Houston race last year at 3.819-seconds and won his first career Top Fuel race at H.R.P. two years ago. ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights from the O'Reilly Spring Nationals at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Craig Treble rides the DSR Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 140 national events in 270 final rounds, and eight world championships.

Q1 7.339 ET, 85.77 MPH No. 14
Q2 3.803 ET, 317.64 MPH No. 1

Bench racing is over - Zizzo returns from Spain ready for Houston

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 6, 2010) -- If competition in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing isn't fierce enough on the track, you can always follow the competition away from the track as well. "I was hoping to have lost more weight than Cory Mac (McClenathan)," Zizzo laughed. "I ran into him at an event this winter and he looked lean. I had lost 12 lbs. until I ate all of those Tapas in Spain. So, now my dad will have to squeeze me in the car with a shoehorn."

Fresh from a trip to Barcelona Spain to make good on a 15-year-old promise to his wife, T.J. Zizzo had time to reflect on the task of competing at this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. During a long winter of "bench racing", teams, crew chiefs and drivers spend endless hours toiling and tuning their dragsters to new world records - or at least new personal bests. The PEAK / HERCULINER Top Fuel team from Zizzo Racing is no different.

"We just dug the transporter out of a snow bank three weeks ago," Zizzo said. "Now, I return from Spain and it's 80 degrees in 'Chitown'. That is crazy. We did a lot of bench racing over the winter. According to our bench racing numbers, we're going to run 3.86 at 315 mph on our first pass in Houston... I love bench racing!"

Zizzo spent his winter managing the family auto body business and updating the racing equipment with the team, and he's confident they're ready.

"I know we'll need a few runs to get up to speed. There is never enough time, but we are as ready as we have ever been. I will need to dust the cob webs off my driving suit and get the paint fumes out of my head from painting cars 12 hours a day. That first pass might be a little bit of shock to my system."

"I want to gain exposure off the track, but like any young hopeful driver I want to do well on the track too," he said. "I can't wait to stand at the ropes, talk to the fans and spend time with the media. I want them to be able to appreciate all of T.J.," Zizzo joked. "My wife, friends and team should not be the only people subjected to that. Without fans and media, there would not be a drag race in Houston."

Professional qualifying for the race begins Friday April 9 and continues on Saturday. Eliminations begin Sunday. ESPN2 HD will have same day coverage of qualifying on Saturday (11PM ET) and Sunday (8PM ET).

For more information visit nhra.com
 

ANTRON BROWN GRABS PROVISIONAL NO. 2 SPOT FRIDAY
AT FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS

CONCORD, N.C. (March 26, 2010) - Antron Brown raced his Don Schumacher-owned Valvoline/Matco Tools dragster to the provisional No. 2 qualifying position on Friday evening at zMax Dragway at Concord. Brown carded two solid runs on the opening day of qualifying at the inaugural Four-Wide Nationals with his quickest elapsed time at 3.819-seconds.

Brown's first qualifying attempt came from lane four - the same lane he raced the four-wide exhibition race at zMax Dragway last September - as he used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the Valvoline/Matco Tools rail to the fifth quickest run of the opening session at 3.867 seconds at 307.02 mph. Brown was the quickest of his heat and turned the win light on in his lane.

"I was just relaxed and wanted to have some fun," Brown said. "I watched the entire Pro Stock car and Funny Car sessions and that gave me a chance to get accustomed to the staging process. It's just a different atmosphere than what we're used to with staging against one other car. When we went down there, all the cars were between a 3.86 and 3.88 and that just shows how phenomenal this facility here at zMax really is."

Following an afternoon rain delay, Brown and the Valvoline/Matco Tools/U.S. Army team raced out of lane one. Brown used Corradi and Oswald horsepower to earn two bonus points by racing to the second quickest pass of the round at 3.819 seconds at 312.93 mph. Only DSR teammate and driver of the FRAM dragster Cory McClenathan was quicker at 3.790-seconds. McClenathan raced out of lane four.

"That was a really strong lap for our DSR Matco Tools team," Brown said. "It was cold and a lot of cars weren't getting down there, but we trucked right on through to a solid lap with that 3.81. We'll take No. 2 and I think we can run even better on Saturday."

Professional nitro qualifying resumes on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 and 3 p.m. (ET) at zMax Dragway with Top Fuel followed by Funny Car. Brown qualified second at the fall Charlotte race last September. ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights from the Four-Wide Nationals at 7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday.


Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the shelor.com Dodge driven by NHRA rookie Matt Hagan. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 139 national events in 266 final rounds, and eight world championships.

The Al-Anabi Racing Team and His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
Inaugural NHRA 4-Wide Nationals
zMax Dragway; Concord, N.C.

Pre-event Notes and Quotes

* The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals will be the first national event in NHRA history in which teams will compete in four lanes instead of the traditional two. All of the basic rules of drag racing will be in place, but four cars will roll to the starting line for each round instead of two. Four cars will perform their burnouts side-by-side-by-side-by-side. Four cars will launch in each qualifying session and elimination round; Sunday’s eliminations will have three rounds instead of the traditional four. Aside from a few differences in protocol during the lane-choice process, everything else will be business as usual.



Larry Dixon, Top Fuel Dragster

Residence: Avon, Ind.
Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.
Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1966
Crew chief: Jason McCulloch
2010 wins/final rounds: 1/1 (1.000)
Career wins/final rounds: 49/93 (.527)
2009 No. 1 qualifiers: 9
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 40
Best points finish: 1st (2002, ‘03)
Countdown to the championship appearances: 2007, ‘08 and ‘09
First start: Pomona 1, 1995
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 3.783 seconds (Richmond 2009)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 321.58 mph (Pomona2 2009)

* Larry Dixon enters the inaugural NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in third place in the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings. He trails second-place Cory McClenathan by 16 points and leader Tony Schumacher by 27 points. He is nine points ahead of fourth-place Doug Kalitta. Earlier this month in Gainesville, Fla., Dixon was the No. 3 qualifier. He defeated Pat Dakin and Brandon Bernstein before losing to event winner Tony Schumacher in the semifinals.

* zMax Dragway is one of just two tracks on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing tour on which Dixon has not won at least one race. The other is Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

* Dixon has been an excellent qualifier so far this season. He qualified second at Pomona, Calif., third at Phoenix and third at Gainesville, Fla.; he was the No. 1 qualifier nine times last year including five of the six races in the Countdown to 1 NHRA Playoffs; he has never won more poles in a season in his career. Dixon was the No. 1 qualifier more than any other driver in Top Fuel or Funny Car last year. He was the No. 1 qualifier seven times in 2002. Dixon has been the No. 1 qualifier 40 times in his career.

* Dixon won the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. He won five races last season: Gainesville, Fla., Topeka, Kan., Englishtown, N.J., Norwalk, Ohio and Reading, Pa. He finished second in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings just two points out of the championship in the inaugural season for Al-Anabi Racing.

* Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002 and ’03. He is currently third on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel winner’s list with 49 victories. Joe Amato is in second place with 52 wins; Tony Schumacher tops the list with 62 wins. Dixon is tied with Don Prudhomme for eighth place on the NHRA’s all-time career victories list; Dixon was the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year.


Dixon prior to the 4-Wide Nationals:

“I am excited the way our Al-Anabi team has started the season. We’ve qualified well and been competitive at every event, and I would hope we go into Charlotte with the same setup. We stayed over after Gainesville to try a few things with some different motor/clutch combinations, and we hit one that the car really responded to. Whether or not we can use it will be determined by when the conditions are right. We had a great test in Gainesville so we’ll see what happens going forward.

“The four-wide format is something that I don’t think anybody seriously ever considered 20 years ago or even two years ago but it’s here, and we’re racing it. Leave it to Bruton Smith to come up with a format that nobody ever imagined for a points race. We go into it with a lot of questions, and hopefully the Al-Anabi Racing team will have all of the answers by the end of the weekend.

“Not having done this before, I’m going into it with the mentality that I’m only racing one other car. I don’t think we’ll be able to see the other two cars because they’ll be on the other side of the wall, so I really don’t know what it’ll be like. This is the kind of format you’d expect to see in a Winston all-star race, but with this thing, there are points on the line so it’s not an exhibition, it’s for real. It’s gonna be interesting, I can promise you that.”

For additional information on Alan Johnson and Larry Dixon, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view their full bios.



Del Worsham, Toyota Camry Solara Funny Car:

Residence: Chino Hills, Calif.
Hometown: Whittier, Calif.
Date of Birth: February 11, 1970
Crew Chief: Dickie Venables
2009 wins/final rounds: 3/3
Career wins/final rounds: 25/38 (.658)
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 4
Career-best points finish: 2nd (2004)
Countdown to the Championship appearances: 2009
First professional start: 1990
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 4.038 seconds (Pomona 1, 2009)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 312.35 mph (Pomona 1, 2010)

* Del Worsham is one of only four Funny Car drivers with four-wide racing experience. Last September at zMax Dragway, he was the No. 9 qualifier and lost to Jack Beckman in the first round of eliminations. As one of the drivers that went out in the first round, Worsham was selected to drive in the four-wide exhibition run later in the day giving him valuable experience for the inaugural NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Worsham has never won at zMax Dragway.

* Worsham is 10th in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings; he trails ninth place Ashley Force Hood by 21 points. Worsham finished seventh in the 2009 season-ending standings. It was his first appearance in the Countdown to 1 NHRA Playoffs.

* Worsham was the No. 14 qualifier at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. earlier this month; he lost to Ron Capps in the first round of eliminations. Worsham won three races last season; he visited victory circle in Madison, Ill., Bristol, Tenn. and Richmond, Va.

* Worsham has 25 wins in his Funny Car career; he is seventh on the NHRA’s all-time Funny Car wins list trailing sixth place by just one win.

Worsham prior to the 4-Wide Nationals:

“I had the opportunity to be a part of the four-wide exhibition run last fall in Charlotte, and it was interesting. There was definitely a new level of excitement for that run even though it was just an exhibition. So the national event with points on the line is going to be different but exciting; nobody really knows what it’s gonna be like. Any team would love to be the winner of the inaugural 4-Wide Nationals. If we can pull it off, we’d get our Al-Anabi Racing Team in the history books and turn our season around at the same time.

“When I drove in the exhibition run, it was really no different because I was all the way in the far right lane, and the only other car I saw was the one next to me. What I did notice most was the excitement level among the fans and the other competitors. At the top end of the track everyone was so excited after the run because we were the first Funny Car drivers to do it. Since I was on the far right, I only noticed the car right next to me so I don’t have the perspective of what it will be like in lanes two or three. I just know that being in the outside lane is pretty much normal and that we’re headed into an interesting weekend.”

For additional information on Alan Johnson and Del Worsham, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view their full bios.


About Al-Anabi Racing:

Al-Anabi Racing operates out of multiple locations in both the United States and Qatar. In the United States, the Brownsburg, Ind.-based operation is a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition that is managed by Alan Johnson Racing. At the forefront of this team is His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Alan Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief.
 

ANTRON BROWN TO RUN SPECIAL VALVOLINE PAINT SCHEME
AT FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS AT CHARLOTTE

The Matco Tools dragster will feature four single-race paint schemes during the 2010 NHRA season.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (March 23, 2010) - Antron Brown and the Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel team will sport a new look for the inaugural Four-Wide NHRA Nationals at zMax Dragway at Concord, March 25-28. The 24-time NHRA winner's dragster will fly the colors of Valvoline during the first-ever four lane NHRA drag race at the Bruton Smith-owned facility.

The team's customary blue and red 2010 Matco Tools paint scheme will return for the O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, the site of Brown's first career Top Fuel win in 2008. Brown's Matco Tools/U.S. Army team will shed its 2010 paint scheme four times this season beginning with the spring Charlotte race at zMax Dragway. Valvoline is an official DSR sponsor and backs the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Funny Car of "Fast Jack" Beckman and the Valvoline Suzuki of Craig Treble.

"We at DSR are proud to showcase Valvoline on all the cars we race," team owner Don Schumacher said. "We have had a long relationship with this iconic brand that provides high-quality performance-enhancing products. Featuring Valvoline on the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown at the upcoming NHRA Four-Wide Nationals is just one way of showing our loyalty to them for their continuing support."

Brown, the only driver in NHRA history to win races and lead the standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, currently ranks fifth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings following three of 23 races on the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule. The Matco Tools flagship driver earned his 22nd career No. 1 qualifying award and 11th in Top Fuel at the last race in Gainesville, Fla. and advanced to his 49th career final round where he fell to DSR and U.S. Army Racing teammate Tony Schumacher. Brown also raced to a career-best 1,000-foot speed (321.04 mph) at the Gatornationals.

"It's great to represent Valvoline at the inaugural Four-Wide Nationals, along with Matco Tools and the U.S. Army," Brown said. "It's cool to see Valvoline in the primary sponsorship location for such an exciting race. This is a really big deal for NHRA drag racing and Valvoline is a product that is not only the choice of top mechanics, but it's the choice of Antron Brown. I run Valvoline in my personal Toyota Sequoia and we couldn't put a better product in our 7,000 horsepower nitro motors than Valvoline oil."

ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights from the Four-Wide Nationals at 7 p.m. (ET) on March 27 and 150 minutes of final eliminations coverage from zMax Dragway at Concord at 5 p.m. (ET) on March 28.

Valvoline, a brand of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), has been serving American motorists longer than any other motor oil. The Valvoline family of products includes Eagle One® appearance products, Car Brite® car restoration products, Zerex® antifreeze, SynPower® performance products and MaxLife® products created for higher-mileage engines. With more than 850 locations throughout the United States, Valvoline Instant Oil Change® is a leader in serving the quick lube market.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the shelor.com Dodge driven by NHRA rookie Matt Hagan. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 139 national events in 266 final rounds, and eight world championships.

McMillen inspired for NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (March 23, 2010) -- With three races already completed, Terry McMillen, driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel dragster, finds himself 12th in points, two spots outside of the Countdown to 10. He's reached the 12th spot on the strength of his still untarnished NHRA qualifying efforts as team owner/driver, but he's still searching for his first round win of the 2010 season. While some would suggest it's time to worry, McMillen sees no reason to reach for the panic button.

"We're an inspired team," McMillen said from his Elkhart, Ind., race shop. "We lost first round in Gainesville with a 3.865 to Tony Schumacher and I was slapping high fives with my guys. That was our career best, the third best of that round, and if we had been racing four-wide in Charlotte we would have moved on to the next round."

McMillen, who captured his first NHRA round win at Charlotte last season when he beat Antron Brown, thinks Charlotte could be the spot for his team to have a breakout race.

"I'm excited about being a part of drag racing history. Having a chance to be a part of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals is going to be something to remember. Plus, if you look at how things unfolded for us last race, the four-wide deal could be helpful for a single-car team like ours."

While McMillen is excited about Charlotte, he knows getting into the Countdown to 10 is a goal still well within his team's reach.

"I know we've got to start winning rounds if we want to make a run at the Countdown," McMillen added. "We're not hurting parts and we're getting better every race. Sooner or later, it will be our turn. And when it is our turn, I hope they (round wins) come in bunches."

Professional qualifying for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals begins this Friday, March 26.

ESPN2 will broadcast tape delayed coverage of qualifying on Saturday, March, 27 at 7:00PM-9:00PM ET. The eliminations will air on Sunday, March, 28 at 5:00PM-7:30PM ET.

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To learn more about Hoosier Thunder Motorsports, visit http://hoosierthunder.com.


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some photos © Roger Richards - used with permission

The Brown Bulletin
The pre-race release of 24-time NHRA winner Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team

Inaugural Four Wide Nationals
March 25-28, 2010
zMax Dragway at Concord
Concord, N.C.

Antron Brown on the Four Wide Nationals
"It's going to be a very exciting, but yet challenging event. Our DSR Matco Tools team is preparing for a very intense and exciting weekend of drag racing at our nicest track on tour. We're not quite sure what to expect, but I think the fans are going to love it. Bruton (Smith) knows how to put on a great show and it should be a great weekend of NHRA drag racing at Charlotte."

Brian Corradi (crew chief) on the Four Wide Nationals
"We're going four wide. Wow! We experienced it already last year and we made a good showing in the four wide exhibition even though we didn't have the results we were looking for during the regular race. What we need to do is pick up where we left off at Gainesville as we ran great there."

Antron Brown Four Wide Nationals Notebook
Two weeks ago in Gainesville, Fla., Brown raced to his 49th career final round. The 24-time NHRA winner earned his 22nd career No. 1 qualifying award and 11th in Top Fuel with a lap of 3.803 seconds at 321.04 mph, a career-best 1,000-foot speed for Brown. On race day, he advanced to his 16th career Top Fuel final round where he was defeated by DSR and U.S. Army Racing teammate Tony Schumacher after the Matco Tools dragster smoked the tires and slowed to a run of 6.637-seconds.

Entering the fourth race on the 23-race 2010 NHRA schedule, Brown ranks fifth in the Top Fuel standings. He has one pole and final-round appearance after earning seven No. 1 qualifiers and a category-best six wins in 10 final rounds in 2009. He trails Schumacher by 72 points or less than four rounds of racing in the Top Fuel standings.

In two races at zMax Dragway at Concord, Brown has not qualified lower than third. At the inaugural Carolinas Nationals in 2008, Brown was edged by Schumacher in a close final round match, 3.882 seconds to 3.923. Last September, after qualifying second, Brown suffered a rare opening-round defeat to upstart Terry McMillen.

Brown and the Matco Tools team were invited to participate in the four-lane exhibition at zMax Dragway on Sept. 20, 2009. The Bruton Smith-owned facility is the only track on the professional NHRA circuit that has four all-concrete quarter mile lanes as opposed to the traditional two lanes. Brown, along with Morgan Lucas, Brandon Bernstein and Spencer Massey, competed in the exhibition race before the final round at the second annual Carolinas Nationals last fall. Brown posted the quickest Top Fuel pass at 3.86-seconds.

Antron Brown... Did You Know?
-Brown was a track star at Mercer Community College in New Jersey competing in the 100 and 200-meters, long jump and 55-meter indoor. He ran quick enough to qualify for the U.S. Olympic trails in the 100-meters.
-Brown's first NHRA team owner was former NFL star cornerback Troy Vincent.
-Brown is the only driver in NHRA history to have won races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle (8 TF/16 PSM).
-Brown's co-crew chief, Mark Oswald, won the 1984 NHRA Winston Funny Car championship.

2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Standings (three of 23 races)
1. Tony Schumacher (1) 266 - - -
2. Cory McClenathan (1) 255 -11
3. Larry Dixon (1) 239 -27
4. Doug Kalitta 230 -36
5. ANTRON BROWN 194 -72
6. Shawn Langdon 169 -97
7. Steve Torrence 160 -106
8. Morgan Lucas 140 -126
9. Brandon Bernstein 137 -129
10. David Grubnic 120 -146
11. Troy Buff 103 -163

Antron Brown's Career Results at zMax Dragway at Concord
Year Qualified Finish/Winning Driver
2008 No. 3-3.865 ET Runner-up-Tony Schumacher
2009 No. 2-3.847 ET First round-Terry McMillen

Brown's Four Wide Nationals Schedule
Date/Time Event/Location
Fri., March 26, 11:30 a.m. Autograph Session, Fan Fest Pavilion
Fri., March 26, 2/4:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, zMax Dragway at Concord
Sat., March 27, 12:30/3 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, zMax Dragway at Concord
Sun., March 28, Noon Final Eliminations, zMax Dragway at Concord

Brown's Career-Best Performances
E.T./Speed Location Date
E.T.-4.495 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2008
MPH-331.94 mph Madison, Ill. May 2008
E.T.-3.778 seconds* Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2009
MPH-321.04 mph* Gainesville, Fla. March 2010
*1,000-foot

Four Wide Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date/Time (ET) Coverage
Sat. March 27, 7-9 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., March 28, 10-10:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., March 28, 5-7:30 p.m. Final Eliminations

McMillen's best can't upset Schumacher's record-setting weekend

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16, 2010) -- For the third time in as many races Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster faced the event winner or runner-up in the first round of competition. McMillen would lower his career best elapsed time to 3.865 seconds in a losing effort to Tony Schumacher's 3.818 seconds at 320.81 mph. Schumacher would go on to win the event and reset the national speed record for 1000ft racing in Top Fuel.

"We struggled in qualifying," McMillen said. "But, when it counted Richard [Hartman] and my guys came up with an aggressive tune up that kept everyone honest. We're continually improving. Now we just have to have a better qualifying effort earlier so we have some better race day data to work from."

McMillen's incremental times were impressive (60ft-0.846 sec., 330ft-2.179, 660ft-3.088/278.00 mph), beating Schumacher's 60ft time and only trailing by a little over 1 mph at half track. "I'm not going to say we have a eighty-one (3.81 second pass) in our pocket just yet," McMillen added. "But I can tell you Richard has us well on our way to winning some rounds. We just want to prove that we belong over here and that we can be competitive."

When Richard Hartman was asked about the likelihood of facing final round contestants in the opening round of competition for the third time this season he said, "I guess everyone will want us first round next race."

The next stop for the Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team will be the Inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals March 25-28 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hoosier Thunder Motorsports partners with high-quality and high-performance companies like: Amalie Oil, Wolverine Boots and Apparel, Auto Meter, Mahle Clevite, Cyclo, Perfect Circle, Flatout Gaskets, Impact Racing, NGK Spark Plugs, MSD, Global Power Systems, Paradise RV & Coach, Ross Pistons, Hedman Hedders and Mechanix Wear.

To learn more about Hoosier Thunder Motorsports, visit http://hoosierthunder.com.

The Brown Bulletin
The pre-race release of 24-time NHRA winner Antron Brown and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel team

26th annual Arizona Nationals
Feb. 19-21, 2009
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz.

Antron Brown on Phoenix
"The Phoenix track has been good to our Matco Tools team. We tested well there last year and got our first win of the season. We're looking to do the same thing. We want to bounce back from our performance at Pomona (Calif.) at the Winternationals and qualify well and go some rounds at Phoenix. Our new DSR chassis is working well and I know (crew chiefs) Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) are getting a good handle on the tune-up of our DSR Matco/U.S. Army car."

Brian Corradi (crew chief) on Phoenix
"Pomona didn't go as we expected, but some of the things we're working on shows a lot of promise. This season is a sprint, not a marathon. We had a good outing at Phoenix last year and hopefully we can duplicate that. We want to work on our consistency and make sure we're peaking at the right time, which is when the Countdown (to 1) begins in September."

Antron Brown Phoenix NHRA Notebook
Last week at the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Brown qualified his Matco Tools dragster in the No. 11 position at 3.869-seconds. That broke a string of two straight No. 1 qualifying awards at the season-opening event for Brown. On race day, Brown defeated Steve Torrence before his bright blue dragster smoked the tires against Tony Schumacher in the second round. Brown is now 7-9 in 16 career matches against the U.S. Army dragster.

Last February, Brown scored his first of a category-best six wins during the 2009 NHRA season. After qualifying his Matco Tools dragster in the No. 3 position at 3.830-seconds, Brown, who was making just his second start at F.I.R., dispatched a stellar field, including seven-time champion Tony Schumacher before besting second-generation star Brandon Bernstein in the final round. Brown powered to a lap of 3.846 at 310.63 to defeat Bernstein's tire-smoking red dragster to earn his third career Top Fuel win.

Brown, 24-time NHRA winner, is the only racer in NHRA history to win races and lead the standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Last season, the Matco Tools flagship driver raced his Brian Corradi/Mark Oswald-tuned dragster to a category-best six wins en route to a third-place finish in the Countdown to 1. He also earned seven No. 1 qualifying awards and has 21 career poles. In July, he made NHRA history becoming just the seventh driver in NHRA history to sweep the Western Swing at Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.

Antron Brown... Did You Know?
-Brown was a track star at Mercer College in New Jersey competing in the 100 and 200-meters, long jump, and 55-meter indoor. He ran quick enough to qualify for the U.S. Olympic trails in the 100-meters.
-Brown's first team owner was former NFL star cornerback Troy
Vincent.
-Brown is the only driver in NHRA history to have won races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle (8 TF/16 PSM).
-Brown's co-crew chief Mark Oswald won the 1984 NHRA Winston Funny Car championship. Oswald claimed the Funny Car title at the Phoenix race in 19872010

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Standings (one of 24 races)
1. Larry Dixon (1) 122 - - -
2. Doug Kalitta 96 -26
3. Cory McClenathan 86 -36
4. Tony Schumacher 81 -41
5. Shawn Langdon 55 -67
6. ANTRON BROWN 52 -70
Brandon Bernstein 52 -70
Troy Buff 52 -70
9. Morgan Lucas 36 -86
Thomas Nataas 34 -88
Steve Torrence 34 -88

Antron Brown's Career Results at Firebird International Raceway
Year Qualified Finish/Winning Driver
2008 No. 5-4.538 ET Second round-Tony Schumacher
2009 No. 3-3.830 ET WINNER-def. Brandon Bernstein

Brown's NHRA Phoenix Schedule
Date/Time Event/Location
Fri., Feb. 19, 2/4:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sat., Feb. 20, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sun., Feb. 21, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Mon., Feb. 22, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Matco Tools TechEd School Visit at
Glendale Community College

Brown's Career-Best Performances
E.T./Speed Location Date
E.T.-4.495 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2008
MPH-331.94 mph Madison, Ill. May 2008
E.T.-3.778 seconds* Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2009
MPH-319.75 mph* Bristol, Tenn. May 2009
*1,000-foot

NHRA Arizona Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date/Time (ET) Coverage
Sun., Feb. 21, 2-4 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 21, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Feb. 21, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage


www.antronbrown.com
www.shoeracing.com
www.matcotools.com
www.twitter.com/AntronBrownTF

McMillen sees hope in season opener

POMONA, Calif. (February 14, 2010) -- If the Chinese Proverb that says 'A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step' is correct, then Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil Top Fuel dragster took two giant steps forward at the 50th running of the NHRA Winternationals this weekend.

"We didn't get a chance to test over the winter," McMillen explained. "So, just getting our car in the show was a big first step." McMillen qualified his ride in the 13th spot, keeping his perfect qualifying record as team owner/driver intact.

The Indiana based team made many changes in the off season, including the addition of new crew chief, Richard Hartman. "Richard did a great job," McMillan said. "He basically came in here with a new car and a new team and after two passes had us running career best 60ft times and in the 3.90s. Once we get a couple of more laps under our belts, we'll have a car that can run with anyone on Sunday."

McMillen's first round of the season ended in a loss to Doug Kalitta when he smoked the tires just a few feet from the starting line. "We obviously got a little too aggressive for what the track wanted," McMillen said. "I think we had a set up that would have worked a little earlier in the session."

Overall, McMillen was happy with his team's first outing of the season. "My phone rang off the hook and my in box was full Saturday night," he said. "A lot of people noticed the on-board camera and the great coverage that ESPN2 gave us. They're as excited as we are about the season ahead of us. We're going to work our butts of to get the Amalie Oil dragster into the Top 10."

Hoosier Thunder Motorsports partners with high-quality and high-performance companies like: Amalie Oil, Wolverine Boots and Apparel, Auto Meter, Mahle Clevite, Cyclo, Perfect Circle, Flatout Gaskets, Impact Racing, NGK Spark Plugs, MSD, Global Power Systems, Paradise RV & Coach, and Mechanix Wear.

To learn more about Hoosier Thunder Motorsports, visit http://hoosierthunder.com.

ANTRON BROWN RACES MATCO TOOLS RAIL TO QUARTERFINALS AT WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2010) - Antron Brown drove his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools dragster to a quarterfinal finish Sunday afternoon at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to complete the season-opening 50th annual Winternationals for the 24-time NHRA winner.


Brown, who qualified 11th on Saturday with an elapsed time of 3.869-seconds, defeated young gun Steve Torrence before falling to teammate and seven-time champion Tony Schumacher in the second round.


Brown, who maded his Top Fuel debut at the historic Pomona track two seasons ago, used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster to a solid opening-round win. The Matco/Valvoline car powered to a wire-to-wire win with a lap of 3.883 seconds at 314.61 mph to Torrence's slightly slower run of 3.897 at 310.98. Brown is now 3-0 against Torrence.

Squaring off against Top Fuel's winningest driver for the 16th time, Brown used a slight starting line advantage to race the Matco-backed rail to the early lead, but Brown's blue dragster smoked the tires and slowed to a run of 4.535 at 196.99. Schumacher sped to a solid run of 3.923 at 302.69 to march into the semifinals. Brown, who was 6-2 against the U.S. Army car last season, is now 7-9 against "the Sarge."


"That was a tough one," Brown said. "The Sarge and that U.S. Army team is the best and we really want to beat those guys. They have what we want and that's the championship. I'm always amped up to race Tony (Schumacher). We were just a little too aggressive. The track wasn't as good as the opening round as you can see by some guys falling off with their times, but we got passed the first round and we'll head to Phoenix and put on a good show for all our Matco distributors and soliders for the U.S. Army."


The next NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event is the 26th annual Arizona Nationals, Feb. 19-21, at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. near Phoenix. Brown is the defending event champion of the Phoenix race.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services (MTS) Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 136 national events in 260 final rounds, and eight world championships.

R1 BROWN (.052) 3.883 ET, 314.61 MPH def. Torrence (.096) 3.897 ET, 310.98 MPH
R2 Schumacher (.059) 3.923 ET, 302.69 MPH def. BROWN (.051) 4.535 ET, 196.99 MPH
 

ANTRON BROWN QUALIFIES 11TH AT WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2010) - Antron Brown raced his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools dragster to the No. 11 qualifying position Saturday evening at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

A day after racing to the provisional No. 7 qualifying position at the 50th annual Winternationals with a lap of 3.869 seconds at 313.73 mph, Brown's bright blue Matco Tools/U.S. Army car overpowered the hot Pomona Raceway track and slowed to run of 6.566 at 96.27 on Saturday's first qualifying attempt. On his fourth and final qualifying effort, the Matco/Valvoline rail again overpowered the track an slowed to an elapsed time of 8.936-seconds to finish 11th in the 16-car order. Brown's DSR teammate Cory McClenathan earned the pole at 3.78-seconds in the FRAM dragster, while Tony Schumacher raced the U.S. Army dragster to the No. 3 spot at 3.80-seconds. It was McClenathan's 33rd career pole.

"We've struggled a little bit this weekend here at Pomona," Brown said. "We're still in test mode because this is a brand new chassis we're running this weekend and we're adapting the to DSR tune-up in these race cars. We're learning with each run down the race track and we're going to do our best and try to go some rounds on Sunday."

Brown will face off against No. 6 qualifier Steve Torrence in the opening round of eliminations at 11 a.m. (PT) on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway. Brown is 2-0 in his career against Torrence.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services (MTS) Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 136 national events in 260 final rounds, and eight world championships.

Q1 8.361 ET, 76.03 MPH No. 12
Q2 3.869 ET, 313.73 MPH No. 7
Q3 6.566 ET, 96.27 MPH No. 7
Q4 8.936 ET, 77.39 MPH No. 11

ANTRON BROWN RACES TO NO. 7 SPOT FRIDAY AT POMONA WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2010) - Antron Brown improved his qualifying positon on Friday afternoon at the season-opening Winternationals by powering his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools dragster to the provisional No. 7 qualifying position. The Matco Tools flagship driver clocked an elapsed time of 3.869-seconds on Friday afternoon at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona

After shaking the tires on Thursday's opening qualifying attempt at the 50th annual Winternationals, the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team was looking for a solid run on its brand new DSR chassis. Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the Matco/Valvoline car to a pass of 3.869 seconds at 313.73 mph to complete the first full pass on the new chassis. That moved Brown to seventh in the 16-car order. Brown's DSR teammates Cory McClenathan (FRAM) moved to second at 3.809-seconds, while Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) improved to the No. 4 position at 3.835.

"That was good," Brown said. "We really needed to just go down the race track with our Matco Tools car. We were just weak on Thursday and Mark (Oswald) and Brian (Corradi) made the right adjustments and we went right down through there. It was a nice, clean pass and we're happy with that. That gives us a good baseline to improve from on Saturday."

Professional nitro qualifying is scheduled for Noon and 3:30 p.m. (PT) on Saturday with Funny Car followed by Top Fuel at Pomona. Brown has earned the No. 1 qualifying award at the Winternationals the last two seasons and collected seven poles last season, second best in Top Fuel.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services (MTS) Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 136 national events in 260 final rounds, and eight world championships.

Q1 8.361 ET, 76.03 MPH No. 12

Q2 3.869 ET, 313.73 MPH No. 7
 

ANTRON BROWN RACES TO NO. 12 SPOT THURSDAY AT POMONA

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2010) - Antron Brown opened the 2010 NHRA season Thursday afternoon by coasting his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools dragster to a lap of 8.361 seconds at 76.03 mph. Brown, who won a category-best six races last season, has three qualifying runs remaining at the 50th annual Winternationals.


The NHRA professionals only run on Thursday at the two Pomona races in February and November. The Matco Tools/U.S. Army team took to the historic Pomona track at 5:38 p.m. (PT) on Thursday as Brown's Matco Tools/Valvoline car lost traction and slowed to the 8.361-second elapsed time. There are three qualifying runs remaining. Brown's DSR teammate Cory McClenathan qualified first on Thursday in the FRAM dragster with a pass of 3.809 at 320.05, while seven-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher was seventh in the U.S. Army dragster after clocking a run of 4.056 at 206.99. The three DSR Funny Cars finished fifth, Jack Beckman (4.101), sixth, Matt Hagan (4.109), and 15th, Ron Capps (8.725), on Thursday.

"We just underestimated the track a little bit," Brown said. "It was a lot better than we thought and we shook the tires. It's all good. We'll come back out on Friday and Saturday and hit it hard."

Professional nitro qualifying is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday with Top Fuel followed by Funny Car. Brown has earned the No. 1 qualifying award at the Winternationals the last two seasons and collected seven poles last season, second best in Top Fuel.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services (MTS) Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the DieHard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 136 national events in 260 final rounds, and eight world championships.

Q1 8.361 ET, 76.03 MPH No. 12
 

The Al-Anabi Racing Team and His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani
50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway; Pomona, Calif.
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
Pre-event Notes and Quotes


Larry Dixon, Top Fuel Dragster

Residence: Avon, Ind.
Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.
Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1966
Crew chief: Jason McCulloch
2009 wins/final rounds: 5/9 (.556)
Career wins/final rounds: 48/92 (.522)
2009 No. 1 qualifiers: 9
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 40
Best points finish: 1st (2002, ‘03)
Countdown to the championship appearances: 2007, ‘08 and ‘09
First start: Pomona 1, 1995
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 3.783 seconds (Richmond 2009)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 318.99 mph (Memphis 2009)

* Larry Dixon finished second in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings just two points out of the championship in the inaugural season for Al-Anabi Racing. It was Dixon’s second consecutive second-place finish in the final season standings.

* Dixon is a four-time winner at Auto Club Raceway having visited victory circle there in 2008 (Pomona 2), ’03, ’02 and 1998 (all Pomona 1). Last year, he did not qualify for the season-opening race when the field was set after only one round of qualifying because of bad weather. He was the No. 2 qualifier but was eliminated in the second round of eliminations at the NHRA Finals last November.

* Dixon won five races last season: Gainesville, Fla., Topeka, Kan., Englishtown, N.J., Norwalk, Ohio and Reading, Pa.

* Dixon was the No. 1 qualifier nine times last season including five of the six races in the Countdown to 1 NHRA Playoffs; he has never won more poles in a season in his career. Dixon was the No. 1 qualifier more than any other driver in Top Fuel or Funny Car last year. He was the No. 1 qualifier seven times in 2002. Dixon has been the No. 1 qualifier 40 times in his career.

* The Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel dragster has a new paint scheme for the 2010 season. The familiar maroon, black and gold from last year’s dragster has been replaced with a maroon paint scheme with silver, black and gold accents. The Al-Anabi Racing team transporters reflect a similar pattern. In addition, the words Al-Anabi Racing are now displayed inside an oval.

* Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002 and ’03. He is currently third on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel winner’s list with 48 victories. Joe Amato is in second place with 52 wins; Tony Schumacher tops the list with 61 wins. Dixon is tied with Jeg Coughlin for ninth place on the NHRA’s all-time career victories list; they trail eighth-place Don Prudhomme by one win. Dixon was the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year.

Dixon prior to Pomona:

“I’ve been looking forward to going to Pomona since the Wednesday after the last Pomona race. I think our whole Al-Anabi team has. Fortunately for us, I think the winter let us work on refining the package we finished the year with; we want to be a little better than we were when we finished last season. Last winter was all about getting our Al-Anabi team put together just to get out on the track to start the season. We hoped what we brought was good enough, but it wasn’t; so we spent the winter trying to make our team better, and now we get to find out if we are any better than we were last season.

“Instead of scrambling to get a team put together, we had the opportunity to spend this past off season refining, and that’s very positive. It’s cool to have a great team and have the opportunity to improve what we had. I’m looking forward to getting onto the racetrack Thursday to see how we match up. All of the other teams have been doing the same so I’m looking forward to things getting started so we can start racing and get an idea what the season holds for everyone.

“The 50th Winternationals is a special event, and NHRA has a lot of things planned for this race. From what I understand, they have cars from all 50 years of this event, and that’s exciting. My dad won that race in 1970, and it’s one of what I consider a major. I’ve been fortunate enough to have won it in the past, and I’m proud of those three wins (1998, 2002, ’03). The 50th Winternationals is a big deal, and we’re going to do everything we can to put our Al-Anabi Racing dragster in the winner’s circle.”

For additional information on Alan Johnson and Larry Dixon, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view their full bios.





Del Worsham, Toyota Camry Solara Funny Car:

Residence: Chino Hills, Calif.
Hometown: Whittier, Calif.
Date of Birth: February 11, 1970
Crew Chief: Dickie Venables
2009 wins/final rounds: 3/3
Career wins/final rounds: 25/38 (.658)
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 4
Career-best points finish: 2nd (2004)
Countdown to the Championship appearances: 2009
First professional start: 1990
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 4.038 seconds (Pomona 1, 2009)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 310.41 (Pomona 1, 2009)

* Del Worsham finished seventh in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings. It was his first appearance in the Countdown to 1 NHRA Playoffs.

* Worsham won three races last season; he visited victory circle in Madison, Ill., Bristol, Tenn. and Richmond, Va.

* One year ago at the Winternationals, Worsham was the No. 2 qualifier; he defeated Bob Bode before losing to Gary Densham in the second round of eliminations. Last November, Worsham was the No. 9 qualifier. He defeated Cruz Pedregon before losing to Ashley Force Hood in the second round of eliminations. Worsham won races at the Pomona track in 2003 and ‘01.

* The Al-Anabi Racing Toyota Camry Solara Funny Car also has a new paint scheme for the 2010 season. The familiar maroon and gold from last year’s body has been replaced with a maroon paint scheme with silver, black and gold accents. The Al-Anabi Racing team transporters reflect a similar pattern. In addition, the words Al-Anabi Racing are now displayed inside an oval.

* Worsham has 25 wins in his Funny Car career; he is seventh on the NHRA’s all-time Funny Car wins list trailing sixth place by just one win.


Worsham prior to Pomona:

“Part of this is me still adapting to just being the driver, but it doesn’t seem like it’s time for Pomona. When I was running our family team, I was so busy in the time leading up to the start of the season that I couldn’t wait to start racing because the off season was so busy. I guess when the cars and trailers get here it’ll feel like it’s time for the Winternationals, but really, I haven’t done anything with the Al-Anabi team since the test session in Florida a month ago, so it doesn’t feel like we’re about to go racing.

“I’m about to start my 20th full season as a driver. When Thursday gets here and I get strapped into the car, I’ll be just excited as I was when I first strapped into a car in 1991. We all enter the season with equal points so it’s a clean slate. We have a new car, and we tested well in West Palm Beach. We have lots of optimism because we have all the parts and pieces with great ownership, a very experienced team and the drive to succeed. On paper, we look great. We just have to take it from the paper and make it reality. The perfect way to get started would be an Al-Anabi Racing victory in the 50th Winternationals.”

For additional information on Alan Johnson and Del Worsham, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view their full bios.

About Al-Anabi Racing:

Al-Anabi Racing operates out of multiple locations in both the United States and Qatar. In the United States, the Brownsburg, Ind.-based operation is a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition that is managed by Alan Johnson Racing. At the forefront of this team is His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Alan Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief.
 

U.S. ARMY NAMED MAJOR ASSOCIATE SPONSOR
OF ANTRON BROWN AND MATCO TOOLS TOP FUEL TEAM

By Ted Yerzyk

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Feb. 9, 2010) - The U.S. Army has been named a major associate sponsor of 24-time NHRA winner Antron Brown and the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Matco Tools Top Fuel team it was announced today. The Matco Tools dragster will sport U.S. Army branding during the 2010 NHRA season and Brown will participate in the Army Youth and Education Services (YES) Program.

"This is an awesome deal to bring the (U.S.) Army to our Matco Tools team," Brown said. "I had a very good relationship with with the Army when I was riding the (Pro Stock) bike for DSR for many years. Who can't get excited about joining forces with the great soldiers that protect us at home and abroad each and every day. Our racing family now gets even stronger with all the Matco distributors and Army soldiers supporting our team."

Antron Brown raced the U.S. Army Pro Stock Motorcycle for DSR from July 2003 through the completion of the 2007 NHRA season. During his tenure aboard the U.S. Army Suzuki, Brown won six races and earned five No. 1 qualifying awards and finished second in the NHRA PSM standings in 2006. Brown is the only driver in NHRA history to have won races and lead the points standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

"It's wonderful to have the U.S. Army extend its relationship with Don Schumacher Racing and become a major associate sponsor on the Antron Brown-driven Matco Tools dragster," team owner Don Schumacher added. "It brings another great driver under the U.S. Army banner along with Tony (Schumacher) and Ryan Newman, and a driver, in Antron, who is very familiar with the Army program and the soldiers having rode the U.S. Army Pro Stock Motorcycle for DSR."

Brown joins fellow DSR teammate Tony "the Sarge" Schumacher and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman as part of the U.S. Army Racing team. At the 2010 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the U.S. Army will mark its 10-year anniversary as Schumacher's sponsor.

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of six professional NHRA teams: The U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher; the FRAM dragster of Cory McClenathan, and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown. The Funny Car teams are the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps, the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, and the Die Hard/shelor.com Dodge driven by Matt Hagan. Since 1998, Don Schumacher Racing teams have won 136 national events in 260 final rounds, and eight world championships.

BROWN EARNS THIRD WIN OF '09 SEASON,
WINS FIRST IN FIVE TRIES AT BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY

MORRISON, Colo (July 12, 2009) - The fifth time was the charm for 21-time NHRA winner Antron Brown as the second-year Top Fuel racer earned his third win of the season Sunday at Bandimere Speedway near Denver. Brown drove his Mike Ashley-owned Matco Tools dragster to his first win on "Thunder Mountain" after four runner-up finishes at the Denver race.

One day after earning his fifth No. 1 qualifying award of the season and 19th career pole at 3.862-seconds, Brown knocked off Rob Passey, Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey and Doug Kalitta to earn his third win of the season, fifth in Top Fuel and 21st in his career. Brown extended his points lead and holds a 116-point margin over two-time series champion Larry Dixon after 13 of 24 races on the 2009 NHRA schedule. Bandimere Speedway is the 12th different track that Brown has won at.

Squaring off against the part-time race from Salt Lake City, Brown advanced passed the opening round of eliminations for the 13th time this season. Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to score the wire-to-wire win in the right lane at Bandimere Speedway. The former college track star sped the bright blue Matco Tools/GoFast! car to a lap of 4.096 seconds at 268.01 mph to earn his 27th round win of the season. Brown remains the only Top Fuel driver to not have lost in the first round this year.

Brown earned his 285th career round win by edging Lucas in one of the closest races of the day. Brown got the slight jump out of the starting gate in the Matco Tools/DirecTV car and made it hold to score the holdshot win over the Geico/Lucas Oil car. The 16-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner posted a lap of 4.042 at 296.70 to hold off Lucas' hard-charging lap of 4.034 at 292.52. Brown is now 3-0 against the 2009 Atlanta Top Fuel winner this season.

Brown advanced to his sixth final round of the season by edging the 2009 Rookie of the Year frontrunner in the semifinals. Two of the better leavers in Top Fuel used nearly identical reaction times as Brown powered the Matco Tools/Lend America rail to a lap of 4.003 at 292.71 to advance to the money round for the 44th time in his career. Massey's Don Prudhomme-owned car dropped a cylinder and clocked a pass of 4.159 at 259.71. Brown is now 1-1 against Massey.

Following a brief afternoon rain shower, Brown used Corradi and Oswald horsepower to score his first career win at Bandimere Speedway. Brown, who posted a runner-up finish to Tony Schumacher at the Denver race last July, used a lap of 3.944 at 295.21 to earn the win light in the left lane at Bandimere in the Matco Tools/Toyota rail. Kalitta's black dragster broke and coasted to a run of 11.363-seconds. Brown is now three for six in final rounds this season. The win avenged a season-opening final round loss to Kalitta at Pomona, Calif. in February. Brown is now 5-3 in eight races against Kalitta.

"I'm just glad to get this monkey of my back," Brown said. "It's awesome to win here at Denver. It's a great track and the Bandimere's are great people. It wasn't a dominating day, but a good day. We didn't have lane choice after first round. This is such a tough track to tame. It throws you so many curveballs. The sun is in, then it's out. There's cloud cover, then the clouds go away. The crew chiefs really have their work cut out racing here and Mark (Oswald) and Brian (Corradi) did a fantastic job. It was a tough day racing guys who can cut down the tree like Spencer Massey and Morgan Lucas. I'm just glad to get the monkey off our backs and win a race from the No. 1 qualifying spot. It feels great."

The next NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event is the 22nd annual Northwest NHRA Nationals, July 17-19, at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash near Seattle. Brown made his Seattle Top Fuel debut last July as the Pro Stock Motorcycle class doesn't compete at the Seattle race.

Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV, Toyota, SpongeTech® Delivery Systerms, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast! Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Impact! Racing, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing (FSM).

Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at www.healautismnow.org. 

R1 BROWN (.078) 4.096 ET, 268.01 MPH def. Passey (.126) 15.896 ET, 25.17 MPH
R2 BROWN (.055) 4.042 ET, 296.70 MPH def. Lucas (.067) 4.034 ET, 292.52 MPH
R3 BROWN (.046) 4.003 ET, 292.71 MPH def. Massey (.042) 4.159 ET, 259.71 MPH
R4 BROWN (.069) 3.944 ET, 295.21 MPH def. Kalitta (.090) 11.363 ET, 43.13 MPH
 

Krawiec, Coughlin, Brown, Worsham Earn NHRA Victories at GIR

Celebrating NHRA Full Throttle Series victories this weekend at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol were (l to r):

Del Worsham (Funny Car), Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), and Antron Brown (Top Fuel). Photo by Jim Compton

By Brandon W. Mudd

MADISON, Ill. – Defending NHRA Full Throttle Series champions Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) earned wins at Gateway International Raceway this weekend at the 13th Annual O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol. In the Nitro classes, Antron Brown defeated Brandon Bernstein (Top Fuel) and Del Worsham took the victory over three-time GIR Funny Car winner Ron Capps.

In a replay of the 2007 Funny Car finals here, Worsham faced Capps, the current class points leader, for the win. This time, it was Worsham, racing for Al-Anabi Racing, earning the victory.

The night prior to that ‘07 victory, Worsham and Capps visited Pop’s, a concert venue near the track, joking about meeting in the finals the following day. This year, the duo took advantage of Friday’s scheduled being rained out to take in the local sites.

“We hung out Friday night. We had a great time,” he said. “We were out drinking waters, hanging out at one of your local establishments. What a cool town this is! I love St. Louis; I love everything you guys have to offer here.”

The win, Worsham’s 23rd, was earned via a .04 second holeshot over Capps, thanks to a reaction time of .044. Although he ran a slower ET than Capps, the weekend’s Funny Car top qualifier, he had a faster top speed, 302.48 mph, compared to Capps’ 301.33 mph.

Worsham said he and his teammates expected to do well immediately this season despite being a brand-new team. “This team was assembled to do well and to win and to win races and, hopefully, championships,” he said. “I definitely just want to hold up my end of this deal.”

Worsham beat Jerry Toliver, defending event winner Tim Wilkerson, and two-time Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon to get to the finals. Worsham moves up to second in the class points while Capps continues to lead.

Brandon Bernstein came into this weekend as a fan favorite, celebrating 30 years of Anhueser-Busch sponsorship with Kenny Bernstein Racing. Qualifying ninth, he topped Clay Millican, the weekend’s Top Fuel top qualifier Morgan Lucas, and rookie Spencer Massey to get to his third final of the season. Unfortunately for Bernstein, Brown had a very fast rail, earning both low ET (3.850) and top speed (318.02 mph) of the day en route to his second win of the season and his fourth Top Fuel win overall.

“That was a phenomenal race,” Brown said. “You have to go out there on top of your game and (Bernstein crew chief) Rob (Flynn) won this race last year with “Hot” Rod (Fuller) and he knows what this track and take and hold.

“I knew it was a close drag race and when I saw when my win light came on, I was like ‘Unbelievable!’ When they told me I went 318, I said ‘Get out of here!’ It was a tremendous final round.”

To get to the event finals, Brown defeated Doug Kalitta, Cory McClenathan, and rookie Shawn Langdon. Both wins this season have been at Bernstein’s expense and with Sunday’s victory, Brown takes over the points lead from Tony Schumacher, who lost to Langdon in the second round.

In Pro Stock action, four-time and defending champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. earned his 44th career Wally in that class over former PS champ Jason Line. Coughlin took his ticket to GIR’s Winner’s Circle relatively easy with Line earning a red light foul after leaving the line .002 seconds early. Sunday’s victory is his third in five final rounds this year and increases his points lead over Line.

Coughlin was quick to credit his team for his 2009 successes.

“There’s no question the team has really gelled together over the last two seasons winning both Countdown to One championships,” he said. “Coming into this year, we had one more goal in mind and that was to accumulate a few more round wins through the regular season and try to challenge for more race wins. That’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Coughlin, who also won at Gateway in 2002, went past Johnny Gray, the weekend’s top qualifier Greg Stanfield, and former Pro Stock champion and GIR winner Greg Anderson, to make it to the finals.

Eddie Krawiec, the 2008 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion who, until two weeks ago in Atlanta, had never won a National event, took his second Wally in a row with the win this weekend. A .009 reaction time helped Krawiec take the win, as did a 6.947 ET.

“To come out here and get my second win, it’s a pretty cool opportunity that the Vance and Hines Screamin’ Eagle has given me,” he said. “It’s tough going out there getting your first win. Everyone said to me, ‘Once you get your first win, the rest will come easy.’ I didn’t think it was going to come this easy, but I’ll take it!”

With the victory, Krawiec takes the points lead from Matt Smith, who lost in the second round against Treble on a holeshot. Krawiec defeated Bailey Whittaker, Shawn Gann, and Angie McBride to meet Treble in the finals.

Two records were broken over the course of the weekend at Gateway: Stanfield broke the track speed record with a qualifying pass of 210.37 and 2008 PSM winner Andrew Hines broke the national ET mark with a time of 6.860.

For a full recap of the 13th Annual O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway, visit GatewayRaceway.com, Twitter.com/GatewayRaceway.com, and GIR’s official page on Facebook.

-GIR-
 

ANTRON BROWN WINS AT ST. LOUIS, RECLAIMS TOP FUEL POINTS LEAD

By Ted Yerzyk

MADISON, Ill. (May 3, 2009) - Antron Brown collected his 20th career NHRA victory Sunday afternoon at Gateway International Raceway and reclaimed the NHRA Top Fuel points lead behind the wheel of his Mike Ashley-owned DirecTV/Matco Tools dragster. The MAR DirecTV team also earned Best Appearing Crew honors at the 13th annual O'Reilly Midwest Nationals.

A day after qualifying the DirecTV/Matco Tools dragster in the No. 7 position at 3.906-seconds, Brown defeated 31-time Top Fuel winner Doug Kalitta, 30-time Top Fuel winner Cory McClenathan, and 2009 Rookie of the Year candidate Shawn Langdon before holding off 17-time winner Brandon Bernstein in a great final round at G.I.R. Brown now leads six-time champion Tony Schumacher by 18 points with 17 races remaining on the 2009 NHRA schedule.

Brown earned his 270th career round win by outracing the perennial title contender in the opening round at Gateway. Brown got the jump at the start and never looked back scoring the wire-to-wire win in the DirecTV/Matco Tools dragster with a performance of 3.896 seconds at 311.05 mph. The Michigan runner's yellow dragster lost traction and slowed to a lap of 4.549 at 182.87. Brown is now 4-3 in seven career matches with Kalitta.

Brown then claimed his 50th career Top Fuel round win by edging the 30-time Top Fuel winner in round two. The veteran racers used nearly identical reaction times as Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the DirecTV/Matco rail to the quickest and fastest pass of the round, 3.864 at 312.35. McClenathan's FRAM dragster trailed slightly at 3.885 at 301.81. Brown is now 6-3 against McClenathan in nine races.

Competing in the semifinals for the fourth time in seven races this season, Brown cruised his DirecTV rail to his third final round appearance of the season. Langdon's Lucas Oil car got a slight jump out of the starting gate, but Brown's blue and white DirecTV car powered around at 3.854 at 312.67 to score the win in the right lane at G.I.R. Langdon's Lucas Oil-backed dragster posted a lap of 3.878 at 305.98. It was the first meeting of the season between Brown and Langdon.

Racing in his 41st career final round, Brown and Bernstein treated the fans at Gateway to a great race. Two of the young lions of the sport used stellar reaction times as Brown used Corradi and Oswald horsepower to drive the DirecTV rail to low elapsed time and top speed of the event en route to his 20th career win. The former college track star powered to a lap of 3.850 at 318.02, his fastest 1,000-foot speed, to win his second race of the season and fourth in Top Fuel. The Rob Flynn-tuned Budweiser car was a tick slower at 3.888 at 310.27. Brown is now 5-3 against Bernstein.

"What an awesome weekend for our team here at MAR," Brown said. "To bring a new sponsor like DirecTV onboard and win the race for them and Matco (Tools) and all of our awesome sponsors is so great. Our car ran great today. We found a small issue after the first round and we just took off. To run that 318 (mph) was awesome. This DirecTV car was a rocketship.

"It's all good here at MAR. To win our second race of the year and get the points lead back says so much about what a great team we have with Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald and Rob Wendland and all my guys. It's so fun to go out each week knowing we have a car that can win the race. We wish Bristol (Tenn.) was tomorrow. And we'll have 'big blue' back at Bristol with the Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster."

The next NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event is the Ninth annual Thunder Valley Nationals, May 1-3, at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn. Last May, Brown qualified his Matco Tools dragster fourth at the Bristol NHRA race at 4.542 seconds. He was defeated in the quarterfinals by Hillary Will.

Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV, BeepBeep.com, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.

Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at www.healautismnow.org. 

R1 BROWN (.058) 3.896 ET, 311.05 MPH def. Kalitta (.078) 4.549 ET, 182.87 MPH
R2 BROWN (.056) 3.864 ET, 312.35 MPH def. McClenathan (.052) 3.885 ET, 301.81 MPH
R3 BROWN (.076) 3.854 ET, 312.67 MPH def. Langdon (.057) 3.878 ET, 305.98 MPH
R4 BROWN (.057) 3.850 ET, 318.02 MPH def. Bernstein (.049) 3.888 ET, 310.27 MPH

Gann to Start Seventh in PSM Finals Sunday
Shawn Gann to Face Michael Phillips in Rd. 1 of Eliminations in Madison

By HIGHSIDE MEDIA

MADISON, Ill. – After dying at the starting line on Friday during the NHRA Full Throttle Series’ Pro Stock Motorcycle class’s only round of qualifying, Shawn Gann put down a solid pass Saturday at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals. His Q2 ET of 6.973 put him seventh in Sunday’s field at Gateway International Raceway.

“We’re feeling real good where we’re at right now,” said Gann, who picked up sponsorship from Jimmy John’s Gourmet Shop this weekend. “Our RumBum/XTreme Rebellion Buell was on it today. We’re still not sure what happened yesterday, but we put down a 7.07 in the first round and finally found our setup in the second round.

“It’s been a long time since I was on a bike I felt this good about. We’ve won some rounds this year; now it’s time to win races. I can’t think of a better place than Gateway to put Jimmy John’s, RumBum, and XTreme Rebellion in the Winner’s Circle.”

Gann will face Michael Phillips in the first round of racing tomorrow. Earning top qualifier for the event was defending race winner Andrew Hines, who broke the NHRA national ET record in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.860.

The finals for the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway airs Sunday at 6 p.m. CDT. Fans of Shawn Gann can follow him at Twitter.com/ShawnGann and on his official page on Facebook.

-HSM-
 

GIR, National Records Fall on Day 2 of O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals

MADISON, Ill. – The racing at Gateway International Raceway began under clear blue skies Saturday, a marked difference from Friday, when the first day of the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol was rained out after only one round of NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.

Cool temps provided great racing as defending GIR PSM winner Andrew Hines broke the national ET record with a 6.860 and Greg Stanfield earned the top qualifier in Pro Stock for Sunday’s eliminations with a Gateway speed record of 210.37 mph. Morgan Lucas, two weeks removed from his first-ever Top Fuel win, took the pole for Sunday’s finals with a top speed of 307.02 and an ET of 3.881. Funny Car points leader Ron Capps, who earned his first FC win here in 1997, topped the qualifying charts in that class with a speed of 298.80 and an ET of 4.111.

Last year’s Funny Car winner and Springfield, Ill.-native Tim Wilkerson, qualified sixth, facing off against John Force Racing’s Mike Neff tomorrow. It’s an ironic pairing as the two faced each other in the finals last year, a day that saw Neff take his first-ever NHRA Full Throttle Series round win. Six-time Top Fuel champion and current points leader Tony Schumacher qualified third with an ET of 3.885, just .003 seconds behind his Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Cory McClenathan.

Spectator gates for the finals of the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway open at 9 a.m., with pre-race ceremonies starting at 10 and Pro series racing scheduled to kick off at 11.

Race fans can purchase tickets at the gate Sunday morning as some seats are still available. The finals will air on ESPN2 tomorrow at 6 p.m.

For photos, stories, and videos of all the NHRA Full Throttle Series action at Gateway this weekend, visit GIR’s official website at GatewayRaceway.com, Twitter.com/GatewayRaceway, and Gateway’s official page on Facebook.

-GIR-
 

Gann 17th After One Round of Qualifying in St. Louis
The RumBum Buell Stalls at the Line Before Day 1 is Washed Out

By HIGHSIDE MEDIA

MADISON, Ill. – “It sucks!”

Shawn Gann isn’t one to mince words and he didn’t start today after his RumBum/XTreme Rebellion/Jimmy John’s Buell failed to launch during the only qualifying session for the NHRA Full Throttle Pro Motorcycle class at Gateway International Raceway, putting the Stoneville, N.C., native in 17th position. Day 1 of the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol was eventually called following PSM Q1 when heavy rains rolled over the track during Pro Stock qualifying.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Gann, a four-time PSM National event winner. “We were looking forward to having a big weekend with our RumBum/XTreme Rebellion Buell and were pumped because Jimmy John’s came onboard for this race.

“We wanted to give them a better show than this, but the weather looks better tomorrow and I know we’ll get in the show. At least I know I’ll have good food waiting for me in the motorcoach thanks to Jimmy John’s.”

Defending event winner Andrew Hines is currently the provisional top qualifier with an ET of 6.92. Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying is set to kick off Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CDT.

The O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol can be seen on ESPN2 with qualifying airing Saturday at 5 p.m. CDT and eliminations shown at 6 p.m. CDT Sunday. Eliminations will re-air Wednesday morning on ESPN2 at 2 a.m. CDT.

Fans can follow Shawn Gann at Twitter.com/ShawnGann or on his page on Facebook.

-HSM-

News from
Mike Ashley Racing
and Matco Tools Racing

BROWN QUALIFIES DIRECTV/MATCO TOOLS DRAGSTER
IN NO. 7 SPOT SATURDAY AT ST. LOUIS

By Ted Yerzyk

MADISON, Ill. (May 2, 2009) - Antron Brown, who owns the Gateway International Raceway track speed record at 331.94 mph, qualified his Mike Ashley-owned DirecTV/Matco Tools dragster seventh Saturday afternoon at G.I.R. The fan-favorite used a qualifying-best elapsed time of 3.906-seconds in his DirecTV rail. Brown has now qualified in the top half of the field at all seven races this season.

A day after losing Friday's two qualifying sessions to afternoon rain showers in the St. Louis-area, Brown and the DirecTV/Matco Tools Top Fuel team took to the track under overcast skies Saturday afternoon at G.I.R. The 19-time NHRA winner used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to power the blue and white DirecTV dragster to a lap of 3.949 seconds at 283.67 mph. That placed the Matco Tools flagship driver seventh in the 16-car order with one qualifying session remaining.

Brown's quickest pass of the rain-shortened qualifying came on his final attempt when the three-time Top Fuel winner used Corradi and Oswald horsepower to blast his DirecTV/Matco car to a performance of 3.906 at 298.67 to finish seventh in the qualifying order. There were 18 cars attempting to make the field for the 13th annual O'Reilly Midwest Nationals. Brown's average qualifying position this season is now 3.71. The former college track star has earned two poles this year (Pomona 1 and Houston). Morgan Lucas earned the No. 1 qualifying award Saturday afternoon at Gateway at 3.881-seconds.

"We got our two runs in today to make up for yesterday and this MAR/DirecTV/Matco dragster made two consistent runs," Brown said. "Now, we're looking to race day and we're very confident. Our car continues to be very consistent.

"We know it's going to be a tough first round against Doug (Kalitta), but we wouldn't want it any other way. They got us at this race last year, so hopefully we can make up for that this time."

Brown will face off against No. 10 qualifier Doug Kalitta in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday at Gateway. Brown is 1-1 against the 31-time Top Fuel winner this season and 3-3 in his career. Brown fell to Kalitta in the quarterfinals last May at G.I.R. Brown's next round win will be the 270th of his career. He needs two round wins to reach 50 in Top Fuel.

Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV, BeepBeep.com, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.

Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at www.healautismnow.org.

Q1 canceled rain
Q2 canceled rain
Q3 3.949 ET, 283.67 MPH No. 7
Q4 3.906 ET, 298.67 MPH No. 6

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches Onboard with Gann in St. Louis
Sandwiches So Fast You’ll Freak Partner with NHRA PSM Racer Shawn Gann

MADISON, Ill. – Shawn Gann, a four-time NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle Nationals winner, is fast. REAL fast. The one thing that may be faster than Gann is Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, who provides sandwiches so fast you’ll freak.

It’s a natural fit and one race fans will see this weekend at Gateway International Raceway at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals as Jimmy John’s has stepped up to sponsor the Stoneville, N.C., native and his RumBum/XTreme Rebellion Buell.

“Man, Jimmy John’s is the deal!” said a well-fed Gann after working his way through the Gargantuan, one of Jimmy John’s specialities. “They’re an awesome group of people and their food rocks. We’re going to win some rounds this weekend and hopefully, put Jimmy John’s, along with RumBum and XTreme Rebellion, in the Winner’s Circle at Gateway!”

Gann takes to the track Friday at 2:30 p.m. CDT for the first PSM qualifying session. The O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol can be seen on ESPN2 with qualifying airing Saturday at 5 p.m. CDT and eliminations shown at 6 p.m. CDT Sunday. Eliminations will re-air Wednesday morning on ESPN2 at 2 a.m. CDT.

Fans can follow Shawn Gann at Twitter.com/ShawnGann or on his page on Facebook.

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches was founded in 1983 by 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud in a converted garage in Charleston, IL. Since its inception, the company has grown to over 825 corporate and franchised locations in more than 37 states throughout the U.S. The company is known for its obsession with fresh, quality products and high-speed execution. For more information, visit www.jimmyjohns.com.

-HSM-
 

News from
Mike Ashley Racing
and Matco Tools Racing

FRIDAY'S RACING ACTION AT ST. LOUIS CANCELED DUE TO RAIN

By Ted Yerzyk

MADISON, Ill. (May 1, 2009) - April showers brought more showers on the first day of May 2009, forcing NHRA officials to cancel Friday's professional racing activies at Gateway International Raceway. Antron Brown and his Mike Ashley-owned DirecTV/Matco Tools Top Fuel team will have to wait until Saturday to qualify for the 13th annual O'Reilly Midwest Nationals. Brown set the G.I.R. track speed record in qualifying last year at 331.94 mph.

"Mother Nature just continues to hover above us with a black cloud it seems like this season," Brown said. "We just can't catch a break with the weather. Oh well, theres's nothing we can do about it except hang out and have fun with all the great fans who came out to Gateway today. We had an awesome autograph session and signed for about 45 mintues and the line was still long. It looked like people waiting to get on a ride at Disneyland. I just hope we'll luck out with the weather so we can get this DirecTV/Matco car out on the race track on Saturday."

Brown, a 19-time NHRA winner, trails six-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher by 39 points entering the seventh of 24 races on the 2009 NHRA schedule. Brown, a former college track star at Mercer (N.J.) College, has one win (Phoenix), a runner-up finish (Pomona 1) and two No. 1 qualifying awards (Pomona 1 and Houston) in six races this season.

Professional nitro qualifying is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 12:30 and 3 p.m. (CT) at Gateway. Top Fuel will run first followed by Funny Car. Brown qualified in the No. 4 position (4.517 at 331.94) last year at the St. Louis NHRA race before falling to Doug Kalitta in the quarterfinals. MAR team owner Mike Ashley holds the track mark in Funny Car at 331.77 mph (2007). Brown's only final round appearance at Gateway came in 2005 when he fell to teammate Angelle Sampey in the Pro Stock Motorcycle final.

Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV, BeepBeep.com, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.

Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at www.healautismnow.org. 

Q1 canceled rain
Q2 canceled rain

Heavy Metal Meets Nitro at GIR for O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals

Brandon W. Mudd

MADISON, Ill. – The senses are attacked to the point of overload. The sights, the sounds, the people…there are few places fans would rather be.

Is it NHRA Full Throttle Series racing at Gateway International Raceway or a Lamb of God concert at The Pageant in St. Louis?

This weekend at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol at GIR, it’s both. In what has become a mutual-admiration society, Shawn Langdon, driver of the Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster, and Mark Morton, guitarist for the heavy metal band Lamb of God, will meet Saturday at Gateway International Raceway. Langdon is in town looking to earn his first Wally while Morton is playing before a packed house at The Pageant Saturday night.

Morton is a long-time race fan and a drag racer himself while Langdon, a native of Avon, Ind., counts Lamb of God as one of his favorite bands, listening to the group’s music prior to strapping in to his nitro-powered rail and topping 300 mph down drag strips all over the country.

"I actually have their new album 'Wrath' on my iPod and I listen to them before I race to get me pumped up," Langdon said. "Ever since I found out about this visit, I've been excited. At least the loud noise won't be a problem but I bet we'll still send a shock any way. It's impossible to prepare for 8,000 horsepower and I can't wait to get 'em on the starting line and show them what we do.

"Hopefully, Lamb of God brings me some luck and we get our first win. The Lucas Oil dragster has been stout all year. We just need to get a win."

Morton is equally stoked about the meeting, saying he can’t wait to be blown away by the power of nitro only the NHRA Full Throttle Series provides.

"I'm thrilled about my upcoming trip to the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals!" said the Virginia native. "As a life-long race fan and a drag racer myself, I couldn't be more excited at this opportunity to get an up close look at some of the world's greatest drivers and crews going head to head.

"The mind-blowing reaction times and blistering speeds that these men and women command make for some of the most thrilling racing on the planet and I'm honored to have been invited."

The O’Reilly NHRA Midwest National Presented by Castrol comes to Gateway International Raceway this weekend and great seats are still available. For information on how to get access to the three-day nitro circus that is the NHRA Full Throttle Series, call 866-35-SPEED or visit GatewayRaceway.com. For instant updates during Race Week, visit GatewayRaceway.com, Twitter.com/GatewayRaceway, and the official Gateway International Raceway page on Facebook.

For more information on Shawn Langdon and his Lucas Oil Top Fuel team, visit MorganLucas.com/ShawnLangdon. To find out more about Lamb of God, go to Lamb-Of-God.com.

Shawn Langdon photo - NHRA.com

Mark Morton photo - Adrenaline PR
 

Gann Looking for Strong Weekend in Madison
GIR could be the Gateway to the Winner’s Circle

NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Shawn Gann kicked off the 2009 season with a semi-finals appearance at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Although he lost the round to eventual event winner Hector Arana by a mere .0016 second, it was the boost the Stoneville, N.C., native to get his season on track.

In Houston, Gann took his RumBum Racing Buell down the track with a blistering 6.993 ET against defending PSM champ Eddie Krawiec in the opening round of eliminations. Unfortunately, the four-time National event winner left the line .003 seconds too early and was disqualified. Atlanta saw Gann take the opening round against Junior Pippin, but fall to Andrew Hines in the quarterfinals with engine issues.

Gann looks to put Houston and Atlanta behind him and regain his swagger from the Gatornationals this weekend at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis. With the support of his new sponsor, RumBum, as well as XTreme Rebellion sports gear, Gann feels like his return to the Winner’s Circle is coming soon.

“Man, it’s been so long since we hoisted that Wally,” Gann said, “but with the support we have from our great fans as well as RumBum and XTreme Rebellion, we know it’s close.

“We barely lost to Hector in Gainesville and if I hadn’t red-lighted in Houston, I’d have taken that round because Eddie blew up and who knows what would have happened then. We’re close. We’re back on our game, I just feel it.”

This is the third event for Gann flying the RumBum colors on his Buell and he said he’s excited to represent them in the NHRA Full Throttle Series. “RumBum has sponsored sports cars in the Skip Barber Mazdaspeed Challenge and in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and I’m honored that they’re giving me the kind of support they have,” he said. “Race fans can check them out at RumBum.com and follow us throughout the year there.”

Gann takes to the track Friday at 2:30 p.m. CDT for the first PSM qualifying session and fans can see the action in person by purchasing tickets at TicketMaster.com or calling 866-35-SPEED. The O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Presented by Castrol can be seen on ESPN2 with qualifying airing Saturday at 5 p.m. CDT and eliminations shown at 6 p.m. CDT Sunday. Eliminations will re-air Wednesday morning on ESPN2 at 2 a.m. CDT.
 

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
13th Annual O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Pre-event Notes and Quotes

Larry Dixon, Top Fuel Dragster

Residence: Avon, Ind.
Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.
Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1966
Crew chief: Jason McCulloch
Team owner: Alan Johnson
2008 wins/final rounds: 2/6
Career wins/final rounds: 43/83
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 33
Best points finish: 1st (2002, ‘03)
Countdown to the championship appearances: 2
First start: Pomona 1, 1995
Career-best elapsed time for quarter mile: 4.481 seconds (Pomona 1, 2005)
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 3.802 seconds (Phoenix 2009)
Career-best speed for quarter mile: 332.75 mph (Las Vegas 1, 2003)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 317.27 mph (Phoenix 2009)

■ Larry Dixon is sixth in the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings, and he is 11 points behind fifth place and 119 points out of first place. Dixon has advanced to at least the semifinals in three of the six races this season; he won the AC Delco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Dixon was the No. 7 qualifier at Atlanta Dragway but lost to Cory McClenathan in the first round of eliminations.

■ One year ago at Gateway International Raceway, Dixon was the No. 6 qualifier; he defeated Bob Vandergriff before losing to Hillary Will in the second round of eliminations. Dixon has never won a race at Gateway International Raceway, but team owner Alan Johnson has four wins at Gateway as a crew chief. He won races at Gateway in 1998, ’99 and 2000 with Gary Scelzi and in 2006 with Tony Schumacher.

■ Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002 and ’03. He is currently third on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel winner’s list with 43 victories. Joe Amato is in second place with 52 wins; Tony Schumacher tops the list with 58 wins. Dixon is 10th on the NHRA’s all-time professional victories list. He trails ninth-place Dave Schultz by two wins. Dixon was the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year.

Dixon prior to Gateway International Raceway:

“St. Louis is one of the few races on the tour where I haven’t won yet. I’ve had some great race cars there, but I haven’t been able to close the deal there yet so I’ll keep going back there until I do.

“It’s no secret our team isn’t getting the performance we all want, but I think we may have started down a path that could give us some information. Our current car is a Brad Hadman chassis. For almost my entire career before this year, I’ve driven a Murph McKinney chassis. We are doing some research to determine if the different chassis react differently with regard to steering input. If that ends up being the case, I may not have been communicating effectively with Jason. (crew chief Jason McCulloch)

“One of the coolest parts of this whole process is that Del (Funny Car driver Del Worsham) called me to talk about all of this, and he made some suggestions as to how we could work through this process. It’s really cool to have a teammate like that; it’s one thing to be on the same team, but it’s something completely different to reach out and take an active role in what’s happening. I really appreciate his input, and I love having a teammate like that.

“In the time between Atlanta and St. Louis, we have been working on the things we’ve learned, and hopefully, they will bring us improved performance. We have a bit more direction in figuring out what’s happening to the car, but the best news in all of this is that we are learning to communicate better within our team. We all hope better communication and some new research will help us in the long run, and starting that process at St. Louis would be huge.”

For additional information on Larry Dixon, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view his full bio.



Del Worsham, Funny Car

Residence: Chino Hills, Calif.
Hometown: Whittier, Calif.
Date of Birth: February 11, 1970
Crew Chief: Aaron Brooks
Team Owner: Alan Johnson
2008 wins/final rounds: 1/1
Career wins/final rounds: 22/35
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 4
Career-best points finish: 2nd (2004)
Countdown to the Championship appearances: None
First professional start: 1990
Career-best elapsed time for quarter mile: 4.712 seconds (Pomona 2, 2006)
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 4.038 seconds (Pomona 1, 2009)
Career-best speed for quarter mile: 331.36 mph (Pomona 2, 2005)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 310.41 (Pomona 1, 2009)

■ Del Worsham is currently sixth in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings; he trails fifth place by 29 points and is 137 points out of first place. He was the No. 16 qualifier at Atlanta Dragway and lost to Ashley Force Hood in the first round of eliminations.

■ The Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Funny Car was a consistent qualifier early this season. Through the first six races, Worsham’s average qualifying position is 7.17. Throw out qualifying No. 16 at Las Vegas at Atlanta, and Worsham’s average qualifying position is 2.5.

■ Last year at Gateway International Raceway, Worsham was the No. 8 qualifier; he defeated Bob Tasca before losing to Tim Wilkerson in the second round of eliminations. Worsham won the race at Gateway International Raceway in 2003.

Worsham prior to Gateway International Raceway:

“We are definitely not getting the results we want, and we all know how good this team can be when we find some solid consistency. I’ve been saying it for the last three races, and I hate to sound like a broken record, but we are still trying to get to the point where we can make solid runs on a regular basis. We didn’t like our results at Atlanta, but we left there with some very positive signs.

“We got to the final round of qualifying, and we weren’t in the race. We put down our best run of the weekend. It wasn’t spectacular, but the 4.21 got us into the race. Then, in the first round of eliminations, we posted a 4.13-second pass. We didn’t win, but we made two consecutive strong runs. If we had run 4.13 in qualifying, we would have been in the middle of the field instead of 16th, and things might have been different. But for now, we head to St. Louis with some positive thoughts, and the way the last two races have gone for us, that says a lot.”

For additional information on Del Worsham, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view his full bio.
 

About Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing:

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a partnership between Alan Johnson and His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. The team is a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. At the forefront of this partnership is Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief. For additional information on Alan Johnson, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com.
 

GIR Upgrades Ready for O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals

MADISON, Ill. – Gateway International Raceway recently put the finishing touches on the most extensive drag strip renovations in years with improvements made to both the top-end emergency shutdown area and the facility’s timing system.

The following changes were made to the top end of the GIR drag strip:

• The gravel trap length was increased by 70 feet to a total of 165 feet with a gravel depth of 22 inches;

• 70 feet of metal guardrails on either side of the gravel trap were removed and replaced with 200 feet of concrete walls, measuring four feet high, with eight-foot tall, wire-supported chain link fencing added to the top of those walls;

• The existing six-foot nylon catch net was removed and replaced by two 12-foot nylon catch nets 25 feet apart with the first catch net placed at the 25-foot mark of the gravel trap;

• 12 feet behind the final catch net, a 90-foot wide, four-foot tall concrete wall was erected with a 12-foot, wire-supported chain link fence built on top;

• In front of the concrete wall are five rows of Illinois Department of Transportation-approved safety barrels filled with sand.

The upgrades provide the state of the art in safety for competitors. “The NHRA had a vision for what will be the best way for Gateway to enhance our entire gravel trap and we did not hold back on any of it,” said Gateway International Raceway Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki. “Our operations staff, the skilled tradesmen we hired, and the NHRA have produced an area we are very proud of, but we hope we never have to use. Graham Light, Wayne McMurtry, and others at NHRA were great to work with on this project.”

Another change to the drag strip was an upgrade to the timing system, with the previous system the casualty of a lightning strike last year. Bob Brockmeyer and Compulink Timing were able to repair that system after the strike to ensure the quality racing at Gateway could continue, returning this year to install a brand-new system. Gateway International Raceway is now the first track in NHRA’s Division III to have a fiber-optic timing system.

“We are indebted to Bob and Compulink,” Batycki said. “They were able to come in last season and get us through those challenges and came back this year to provide us a brand-new system. He did a phenomenal job and was able to get it done in time for our season to start.”

Both the new timing system and the GIR top end will be on display next weekend when the NHRA Full Throttle Series comes to town for the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals. Race fans wanting tickets to this event should call 866-35-SPEED or visit GatewayRaceway.com.
 

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
AC Delco NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla.
Pre-event Notes and Quotes

Larry Dixon, Top Fuel Dragster

Residence: Avon, Ind.
Hometown: Van Nuys, Calif.
Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1966
Crew chief: Jason McCulloch
Team owner: Alan Johnson
2008 wins/final rounds: 2/6
Career wins/final rounds: 43/83
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 32
Best points finish: 1st (2002, ‘03)
Countdown to the championship appearances: 2
First start: Pomona 1, 1995
Career-best elapsed time for quarter mile: 4.481 seconds (Pomona 1, 2005)
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 3.802 seconds (Phoenix 2009)
Career-best speed for quarter mile: 332.75 mph (Las Vegas 1, 2003)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 317.27 mph (Phoenix 2009)

■ Larry Dixon was the No. 1 qualifier at Phoenix and advanced to the semifinals where he lost to Brandon Bernstein. It was the 32nd time in his career that Dixon was the No. 1 qualifier. He defeated Terry Haddock and Doug Kalitta on his way to the semifinals where his car suffered a broken throttle cable. Dixon is currently sixth in the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings.

■ Dixon’s Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Dragster was a model of consistency at Phoenix. After qualifying runs of 3.843, 3.807, 3.828 and 3.818 seconds, Dixon recorded elapsed times of 3.815 and 3.802 seconds in the first two rounds of eliminations.

■ One year ago at Gainesville, Dixon was the No. 8 qualifier and advanced to the semifinals where he was defeated by Tony Schumacher. Dixon defeated Doug Herbert and Bruce Litton on his way to the semifinals. Dixon won the Gatornationals in 1995, 2001, and ’02.

■ Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002 and ’03. He is currently third on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel winner’s list with 43 victories. Joe Amato is in second place with 52 wins; Tony Schumacher tops the list with 56 wins. Dixon is 10th on the NHRA’s all-time professional victories list. He trails ninth-place Dave Schultz by two wins. Dixon was the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year.

Dixon prior to Gainesville:

“At Phoenix, we all got back on the horse and back into the game. We showed our capabilities with some very consistent runs. A $50 cable broke and ended our weekend, but we jumped from 17th in points to sixth in points in one race. We are all excited about what we did at Phoenix and are looking forward to Gainesville and the rest of the season.

“Gainesville has been a great place for me because I’ve had quite a few career milestones there. I first got into an alcohol dragster at Frank Hawley’s school there in 1991, and then I got my Top Fuel license there in 1994. I was on Snake’s crew that year, and we stayed over after the race so I could get my license. We ran right at national-record times when I got my license. The national record at that time was 4.74 seconds, and we ran 4.76 seconds so that was pretty cool; then a guy named Del Worsham signed my new license.

“Now we’re headed back to Gainesville where I’ve won the race three times. I always enjoy going down there because I have a lot of good memories of racing at the Gatornationals.”

For additional information on Larry Dixon, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view his full bio.



Del Worsham, Funny Car:

Residence: Chino Hills, Calif.
Hometown: Whittier, Calif.
Date of Birth: February 11, 1970
Crew Chief: Aaron Brooks
Team Owner: Alan Johnson
2008 wins/final rounds: 1/1
Career wins/final rounds: 22/35
Career No. 1 qualifiers: 4
Career-best points finish: 2nd (2004)
Countdown to the Championship appearances: None
First professional start: 1990
Career-best elapsed time for quarter mile: 4.712 seconds (Pomona 2, 2006)
Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 4.038 seconds (Pomona 1, 2009)
Career-best speed for quarter mile: 331.36 mph (Pomona 2, 2005)
Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 310.41 (Pomona 1, 2009)

■ Del Worsham is currently tied for second in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings. He was the No. 4 qualifier and advanced to the semifinals at Phoenix where he lost to event winner Ron Capps; he defeated Cruz Pedregon and Robert Hight on his way to the semifinals.

■ The Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Funny Car has been a consistent qualifier early in the season. After qualifying second at Pomona, Worsham’s Toyota Solara qualified fourth in Phoenix giving him an average qualifying position of third.

■ Worsham won the Gatornationals in 2004. One year ago at Gainesville, Worsham qualified 10th and advanced to the second round where a mechanical problem ended his day.

Worsham prior to Gainesville:

“We’re getting better. The semifinal finish at Phoenix was definitely better than Pomona. The bottom line is our team is really young, and we’re a new team at the same time so we’re still learning. We’re new and young, but we’re still doing some good things. We’re tied for second place in points going into Gainesville, and I see us getting better every race.

“There’s a lot of excitement on our team, and when we don’t perform as well as we should, I see the disappointment in their eyes. They want to do well, they want to win, and they’re not happy just going to the semifinals. I can see how determined they are to do well, and it’s good to see how they react when they don’t do as well as they want. I don’t want to see them disappointed, but I’m glad to see how they react when things doing go as they had hoped.

“I won in Gainesville in 2004 and have had a couple of runner ups. We’ve had some good times there and we’ve won some races. It’s a pretty fast track, and we appear to have a pretty fast car so I can see the two of them meshing together.”

For additional information on Del Worsham, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com to view his full bio.

About Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing:

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a partnership between Alan Johnson and His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. The team is a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. At the forefront of this partnership is Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief. For additional information on Alan Johnson, please visit www.alanjohnsonracing.com. 
 

BROWN QUALIFIES MATCO DRAGSTER IN NO. 6 SPOT
FRIDAY AT GAINESVILLE

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 13, 2009) - Antron Brown, who leads the NHRA Top Fuel standings, raced his Mike Ashley-owned Matco Tools dragster to the provisional No. 6 qualifying position Friday afternoon at Gainesville Raceway with an elapsed time of 3.946-seconds.

The most recent winner on the NHRA tour (Feb. 22 in Chandler, Ariz.), Brown opened qualifying at the historic Gatornationals with a lap of 4.428 seconds at 184.67 mph. It was the eighth quickest run of the first of four secheduled qualifying sessions for the 40th annual ACDelco Gatornationals. On Friday's second qualifying attempt, Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to cruise the bright blue Matco Tools rail to the provisional No. 6 qualifying position with a lap of 3.946 at 302.89. It was the fifth quickest run of the session. There are 19 Top Fuel dragsters attempting to make the 16-car field for this weekend's race.

"This hot sun feels good here at Gainesville, but it didn't make for good track conditions on Friday," Brown said. "We kind of had to tip-toe our way down the track today, but we ran that 3.94 and got this Matco dragster solidly into the show. Now we can throw it down on Saturday and go for that No. 1 spot."

"This track here at Gainesville, for some reason, doesn't react the same as other tracks like Phoenix or Indy when the track temperature is the same," Corradi added. "I don't know if it's the sun angle or barometer or what, but we thought we could run better on that first run. We came back and backed it down a little and got down through there with the 3.94."

Professional nitro qualifying resumes on Saturday afternoon at the historic Florida track at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. (ET) with Top Fuel followed by Funny Car. Brown, who made his professional debut at the 1998 NHRA Gatornationals, qualified fourth at the Gatornationals last March. He earned the Pro Stock Motorcycle pole at the Gainesville NHRA race in 2001.

Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.

Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at www.healautismnow.org. 


Q1 4.428 ET, 184.67 MPH No. 8
Q2 3.946 ET, 302.89 MPH No. 6

MIKE ASHLEY RACING LAUNCHES WWW.MIKEASHLEYRACING.COM WEBSITE

BROWNSBURG, Ind.
(Feb. 26, 2009) - Mike Ashley Racing, who fields the Antron Brown-driven Matco Tools dragster on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit, has officially launched its website www.mikeashleyracing.com it was announced.

The MAR website will prominently feature Brown, who recently earned his 19th career NHRA win and currently leads the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel standings. The fan-friendly site is easy to navigate and will feature a regular blog from Brown and other members of the MAR team, along with photo galleries from each of the 24 NHRA races, and updated news and results from Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team.


"I know I'm a little biased, but I really believe we have the nicest website in drag racing," Brown said. "Our mikeashleyracing.com website is easy to use and has a lot of great features like a fun blog and lots of photos. I know the fans will really enjoy visiting our site."


The MAR site also features a section dedicated to the Iron Eagle Club hospitality area where sponsors and guests can find information on the popular Iron Eagle Club along with hospitality photos from each NHRA race. And in the coming weeks, there will be additions to the site including a virtual tour of the team's immaculate Brownsburg, Ind. race shop, a link to Brown's online store where fans can purchase Antron Brown apparel, along with video features of Brown and the MAR Matco Tools team. The team also plans to start Facebook and Twitter pages.

Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.


Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at www.healautismnow.org. 

The Brown Bulletin
The pre-race release of 18-time NHRA winner
Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team

25th annual Lucas Slick Mist Nationals
Feb. 20-22, 2009
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz.

Antron Brown on Phoenix
"We're really excited to get back to Phoenix. We'll tested really well there in the preseason and we're looking forward to having some good times with our Matco group from Phoenix. There's going to be a nice turnout since Matco Expo is still a few weeks away. It'll be a fun weekend of racing and sunny weather to make up for Pomona."

Brian Corradi (crew chief) on Phoenix
"We're going to go into Phoenix where we left off at Pomona. Everything looks good with the Matco car. We're confident we can run well after our results in testing there a few weeks back. We just have to take things one run at a time. The more data we get running the dragster, the more consistent we'll be and consistency is the key to success."

Antron Brown Phoenix NHRA Notebook
--Two weeks ago at the rain-delayed Winternationals, Brown earned his 15th career No. 1 qualifying award and fourth in Top Fuel. It was his second consecutive pole at the NHRA season-opener. The popular Top Fuel racer clocked low elapsed time of the event at 3.778-seconds in a semifinal victory over Brandon Bernstein. It was the second quickest 1,000-foot pass recorded (3.771-Tony Schumacher). In the final round, Brown lost a close match to Doug Kalitta, 3.82 to 3.84. It was Brown's 39th career final round appearance. He also won his 260th career elimination round.

--Last February, Brown competed in his first race at Firebird International Raceway as the Pro Stock Motorcycle category does not compete at the Phoenix race. Brown qualified the bright blue Matco Tools dragster fifth at 4.538 seconds at 320.28 mph. He advanced to round two of eliminations before falling in a tire-smoking battle to Schumacher, the six-time series champion.

--Brown and the Matco Tools team clocked the quickest performance of 2009 preseason testing during the National Time Trials at F.I.R. Using a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, Brown blasted the Matco Tools rail to a lap of 3.781 seconds at 316.45 mph. Only Brown and Schumacher ran in the 3.7-second range during testing.

2009 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel Standings (1 of 24 races)

1. Doug Kalitta (1) 110 ---
2. ANTRON BROWN 90 -20
3. Brandon Bernstein 70 -40
4. Morgan Lucas 70 -40
5. Steve Chrisman 50 -60
6. Cory McClenathan 50 -60
7. Tony Schumacher 50 -60
8. 9 drivers tied with 30 -80

Antron Brown's Career Results at Firebird International Raceway
Year Qualified Finish/Winning Driver
2008 No. 5-4.538 ET Second round - Tony Schumacher

Brown's NHRA Phoenix Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Thur., Feb. 19, 7:30 a.m. Matco Tools Truck Ride w/Steve Marsden
Thur., Feb. 19, 6 p.m. Matco Tools Appearance-F1 Race Factory
317 S. 48th St., Phoenix, PA 85034
Fri., Feb. 20, 2/4:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sat., Feb. 21, Noon/3 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sun., Feb. 22, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Firebird Int'l Raceway

Brown's Career-Best Performances

E.T./Speed Location Date
E.T.-4.495 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2008
MPH-331.94 mph Madison, Ill. May 2008
E.T.-3.778seconds* Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2009
MPH-317.19 mph* Las Vegas Nov. 2008
*1,000-foot


NHRA Lucas Slick Mist TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Feb. 22, Midnight-2 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 22, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Feb. 22, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.matcotools.com 
www.mikeashleyracing.com

Ted Yerzyk, Mike Ashley Racing

MIKE ASHLEY RACING ACQUIRES MATCO TOOLS TOP FUEL TEAM,
EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP THROUGH 2010 SEASON

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Jan. 15, 2009) - Mike Ashley Racing (MAR) has acquired the racing assets of the Matco Tools Top Fuel team from 3B Racing it was announced today. Antron Brown will continue to drive the Matco-backed rail. It also was announced that Matco Tools has extended its partnership with MAR through the 2010 NHRA season.

"Our entire organization will provide Matco and our marketing partners with a first-class hospitality and activation program, coupled with a winning on-track performance," Ashley said. "Our immediate goal is for an easy transition as we are right around the corner from the start of the season. I will make changes to be announced that I believe give our team the best chances at long term success. Our goal is to compete for the NHRA Full Throttle championship in 2009. Antron (Brown) will remain as our driver and I am proud to have him represent Mike Ashley Racing. He has been an overall winner for Matco Tools."

Brown, an 18-time NHRA winner, including two Top Fuel wins last season, returns to pilot the bright blue Matco Tools dragster that will now be tuned by co-crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, the 1984 NHRA Funny Car champion. Among the assets changing hands include the entire Top Fuel operation, support trailer, Iron Eagle Club hospitality unit, and the team's striking Brownsburg, Ind. race shop. The team will begin its preparation for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series on Jan. 23 during the National Time Trials at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix. Brown will continue to make Votech school appearances or participate in tool truck rides with Matco distributors prior to each race.

"We are committed to Mike Ashley Racing and excited to extend our sponsorship with Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team through 2010," Matco Tools president Tom Willis said. "Matco Tools is fully committed to NHRA drag racing. It remains a fantastic base for our 1,500 Matco Tools distributors. We speak directly to our loyal customers through this NHRA program and we couldn?t ask for a better driver and person than Antron Brown."

Last season, Brown became the first driver in NHRA history to earn wins in both the Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle catergories. Following 10 successful seasons on his Suzuki, which included 16 wins and 11 poles, Brown earned the pole at the season-opening Winternationals. He won in just his fourth start (Houston) and won two races in five final round appearances, along with earning three poles and ranking second in the Top Fuel standings for much of the 2008 NHRA season.

"To hear that we're going to be with Matco Tools for another two years is awesome news for not only our new team here at Mike Ashley Racing, but also NHRA drag racing," Brown said. "We're very excited about the 2009 season. We're just a week away from firing up this Matco Tools dragster and can't wait to hit the throttle to start testing. We're retaining our core group of technicians and I'm excited to work along Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) and start winning races."

Ashley competed professionally in 50 NHRA races from 2005-07 earning three Funny Car wins in five final round appearances, including the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 2007. He also earned three poles and finished sixth in the season-long rankings in ?07. His first career win came at Heartland Park Topeka in June 2007. Ashley also is a former NHRA Pro Mod standout.

"When I originally sold my team I was clear that my time away from the sport would be temporary," Ashley said. "Navigating the current economic crises has not been easy, but like anything else in life with determination and unconditional belief, success is possible and I am thrilled to return to the NHRA tour with a minimum two-year partnership with the Matco organization."

"I want to commend David Powers and Tim Buckley on the terrific organization they assembled. Along with Matco they have built a solid foundation for a long-term successful campaign on the NHRA Full Throttle tour."

Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, Valvoline, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.

 

Tami Powers, Alan Johnson Racing

ALAN JOHNSON AL-ANABI RACING RETAINS 3-G SPORTS, LLC;
Company will Manage Media Relations for NHRA Team

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - - Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing has signed a multi-year agreement with 3-G Sports, LLC to provide media relations for the new National Hot Rod Association team, it was announced today.

The team will field a Top Fuel dragster driven by Larry Dixon and a Funny Car driven by Del Worsham in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. 3-G Sports founder and president Rob Goodman will manage all media relations for the team.

“We are delighted to partner with 3-G Sports and have Rob Goodman as our director of media relations,” team owner Alan Johnson said. “I worked with Rob in my years with Team Winston and developed a relationship that has developed personally as well as professionally. It will be a pleasure to have him and his company handling this important area of our Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing partnership.”

Prior to founding 3-G Sports in 2004, Goodman worked in sports marketing at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company where he was the manager of Media Relations focusing on the NHRA, NASCAR and PGA TOUR sponsorships. He was the NHRA media contact for the series, then called NHRA Winston Drag Racing, and Team Winston, which fielded a Top Fuel dragster, a Funny Car and a Pro Stock Motorcycle. Previously, Goodman was a weekend sports anchor at WFMY-TV in Greensboro, N.C.

“Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a fantastic addition to the 3-G Sports family of clients,” Goodman said. “I spent a great deal of time at NHRA events while working at RJR, and it’s nice to be back in the sport. I have known Alan for many years, and I’m looking forward to working with the fantastic group of people he has assembled with the new team. I certainly appreciate Alan’s confidence in my company and me.”

Located in Greensboro, N.C., 3-G Sports is a multi-faceted company that provides media-relations, event management, and sports marketing consulting for a wide array of clients that are both sports and non-sports related. Additional information on 3-G Sports, LLC, including a list of current and former clients, is available at www.3-gsports.com.

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a partnership between Alan Johnson and His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. At the forefront of this partnership is Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief. The team is in the process of establishing its website. For additional information on Alan Johnson, please visit www.alanjohnsonperformance.com. 

Rob Goodman, 3-G Sports, LLC Jan. 15, 2009

ALAN JOHNSON AL-ANABI RACING DEBUTS WITH TEST SESSION IN FLORIDA;
Rookie Driver from UAE will Attempt A-Fuel Dragster License

BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing, a new two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing team, will debut this weekend at Palm Beach International Raceway in West Palm Beach, Fla. in a three-day test session starting tomorrow, it was announced today.

The team will start the test session with Larry Dixon’s Top Fuel team on Friday. Del Worsham’s Funny Car will begin testing on Saturday, and both cars will be on the track Sunday, Jan. 18. It is a closed test session, with only invited teams permitted on the grounds. Among the invited teams are Don Schumacher Racing, team owner Alan Johnson’s former team, Tim Wilkerson Racing and Kallita Racing. Both Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing entries will also test in Phoenix next weekend.

Khalid Al Balooshi, the 2008 United Arab Emerites Drag Race Champion, will use the three-day test session to get his A-Fuel dragster license. Al Balooshi will train with Tom Conway, a former alcohol dragster champion who owns an A-Fuel dragster. Al Balooshi won the 2008 UAE championship driving in the Pro-Mod category; his ultimate goal is to obtain his Top Fuel License in the future.

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a partnership between Alan Johnson and His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. The team will be a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. At the forefront of this partnership is Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief. The team is in the process of establishing its website. For additional information on Alan Johnson, please visit www.alanjohnsonperformance.com.
 

LARRY DIXON WILL DRIVE ALAN JOHNSON AL-ANABI RACING TOP FUEL DRAGSTER;
Top Fuel Crew Chief Also Announced

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Larry Dixon has been named the driver of the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Dragster effective immediately, it was announced today. Jason McCulloch will be the team’s Top Fuel crew chief.

Dixon is a two-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion having won the title in 2002 and ’03. He joined Don Prudhomme Racing in 1988 as a crew member and worked his way into the cockpit earning his Top Fuel license in 1994. He was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in 1995.

The Indianapolis resident has recorded 43 NHRA wins in 83 final rounds and is third on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel winners list. He finished second in the 2008 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, and in 2007 he finished fourth.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to this opportunity and a new chapter in my career,” Dixon said. “I had a great time in my 20 years at Prudhomme Racing, and I am thankful for the opportunities I had in that time. Now I’m ready to start this new chapter in my life; it’s a wonderful opportunity, and I feel very blessed to have the ability to take care of my family for the long haul.

“It’s a new team, and everybody will be in a new position. It could take us a while to gel as a team, but everyone on this team has won at least one championship in previous ventures so I’d like to think we can hit the ground running.”

McCulloch, 37, comes to Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing after six seasons with Don Schumacher Racing where he was the assistant crew chief on the Army Top Fuel Dragster driven by Tony Schumacher. McCulloch’s father, Ed, drove for Larry Minor in the 1980s, and Jason McCulloch was a crew member on that team. Dixon’s first drag racing job was also with that team. The driver and crew chief of the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Top Fuel Dragster have been friends for more than 20 years.

“This opportunity is great for everyone involved,” Jason McCulloch said. “I am the crew chief, but we’ll still have Alan looking over everything. We have a very experienced crew; everyone on this top fuel team has at least five years of drag racing experience, and seven of the eight guys also worked together at Schumacher Racing.

“Our goal is to return to the level of excellence we all became accustomed to in our Army Team days. When we get there, we hope to have similar results. We definitely have our work cut out for us because everything we have and are getting is new. We are truly building this team from the ground up. It’s exciting; it’s a once in a lifetime experience.”

“To think that I started my career at the same place and time as Jason, and now we’re together as driver and crew chief of a top fuel team is amazing,” Dixon said. “We never imagined this would happen, but I’m looking forward to being able to give him his first win as a crew chief, hopefully sooner rather than later.”

After more than five years with Don Schumacher Racing, legendary NHRA crew chief Alan Johnson returns to team ownership when Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing debuts in 2009 as a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series team with one entry in both Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. In September, Del Worsham and Aaron Brooks were named the team’s Funny Car driver and crew chief, respectively.

Johnson is widely considered one of the most innovative and successful crew chiefs in NHRA Top Fuel racing. During his just-concluded tenure with Schumacher Racing, he led driver Tony Schumacher to five consecutive Top Fuel titles. On the way to this year’s championship, Johnson and Schumacher’s Top Fuel dragster set records for consecutive wins (7), wins in a season (15), and consecutive round wins (31). In addition, Johnson won NHRA Top Fuel championships with driver Gary Scelzi in 1997, ’98 and 2000.

“When I started thinking about who I wanted in the top fuel cockpit back in the fall, Larry Dixon was among the first drivers I considered,” Johnson said. “A two-time champion is a great asset, but I knew there would be obstacles for Larry to overcome to make it happen. It’s nice that Larry and Don were able to work things out between them so that Larry could take advantage of this opportunity. I appreciate Don Prudhomme’s willingness to work with Larry, and we certainly wish him well with his new driver.

“I have worked with Jason for the last five seasons, and I know he is capable of great things. He is definitely ready to step into the crew chief position, and I know Jason and Larry will work well together. With any new team, it can take some time for the crew chief to earn the driver’s confidence, but the fact that this driver and crew chief have been friends for 20 years should accelerate that process.”

Johnson’s 2006 championship will be forever remembered for “The Run;” a national record-setting run on the final pass at the last race of the season that gave Johnson’s team the title. The memorable 4.428 second pass is regarded as the greatest single run in NHRA history by many drag racing historians.

After the Schumacher-driven U.S. Army dragster struggled in the first nine events of the 2003 season, Don Schumacher hired Johnson as the team’s crew chief. The hire immediately paid off as Johnson guided the Army dragster to a win in his first event. Schumacher earned the Top Fuel trophy four times in 2003 en route to a third-place finish in points. Johnson and Schumacher earned NHRA Top Fuel titles in each of the next five seasons.

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a partnership between Alan Johnson and His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. The team will be a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. At the forefront of this partnership is Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief. The team is in the process of establishing its shop and a website. For additional information on Alan Johnson, please visit www.alanjohnsonperformance.com.
 

VETERAN CREW CHIEF PICKS BROWNSBURG FOR
NEW NHRA TOP FUEL TEAM

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Dec. 18, 2008) – Veteran NHRA Top Fuel crew chief Alan Johnson announced today that Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Motorsports will locate its team headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind. creating more than 40 new jobs in the next three years.

Johnson’s current company, Alan Johnson Racing has partnered with Qatar-based Al-Anabi Racing to form Alan Johnson Racing Al-Anabi Racing, a two-car team that will invest more than $6.2 million to site its new operations in the suburban Indianapolis town’s Pace Motorsports Complex.

The team will field a Top Fuel Dragster and a Funny Car, both of which will debut when the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series begins in February, 2009. Del Worsham, a 22-time NHRA winner, has been named the team’s Funny Car driver; the Top Fuel driver has not yet been selected.

“Motorsports has a rich history and a bright future in Indiana,” said Governor Mitch Daniels. "We’ll continue to encourage Motorsports companies from across the country and around the globe to locate and expand here as we build Indiana's reputation as the Motorsports capital of the world.”

Johnson, who led Tony Schumacher’s U.S. Army team to five consecutive NHRA Top Fuel championships as its crew chief, has already begun hiring crew members, managers, office staff and hospitality associates in preparation for Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing’s inaugural season. Motorsports veteran Chad Head has been named the team’s Director of Racing Operations.

“Brownsburg is quickly becoming the place for NHRA teams,” Johnson said. “Although the sport’s roots will always be in Southern California, with so many teams locating in central Indiana, the area is really becoming the center of the sport. We are in the process of building championship caliber teams to compete for the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel and Funny Car championships.

“A state-of-the-art shop and a deep talent pool of Motorsports mechanics and engineers located in Brownsburg will be major parts of those efforts. We are very grateful to the State of Indiana, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the city of Brownsburg for their efforts in helping us make the decision to build our shop in Brownsburg. We look forward to being in Brownsburg for many years.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Alan Johnson Racing up to $300,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company’s job-creation plans. The town of Brownsburg will provide the company with property tax abatement.

“Alan Johnson joins a list of fellow Motorsports legends such as David Powers, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart who have found Brownsburg to be among the best places to locate their high-tech racing teams,” said Jim Waggoner, Brownsburg town manager. “We welcome Alan and his team and look forward to bringing more of the industry’s top teams to Central Indiana.”

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing joins the growing list of Motorsports teams locating in Brownsburg, a town National DRAGSTER magazine called the ‘Drag Racing Capital of the World.’ Kenny Bernstein Racing brought its Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car teams to the town in 2007, as did Pedregon Brothers Racing, 360 Brakes, Schumacher Racing, Vance and Hines Motorsports, Indy Performance Composites, Beck Motorsports, Morgan Lucas Racing, Larry Dixon, Gotham City Racing (Mike Ashley) and Snake Racing. Kasey Kahne Racing and Tony Stewart Racing have also selected Brownsburg as their home for their USAC and world of outlaw teams.

The announcement of Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing locating in Brownsburg comes nearly four months after the racing veteran announced his plans to step down as crew chief from Don Schumacher Racing and start his new team.


About Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing:

Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing is a partnership between Alan Johnson and His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. The team will be a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Team fielding entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. At the forefront of this partnership is Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar. Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief. The team is in the process of establishing a website. For additional information on Alan Johnson, please visit www.alanjohnsonperformance.com.
 

MATCO TOOLS LAUNCHES NEW INTERACTIVE TECH ED WEBSITE
NHRA Top Fuel star Antron Brown is highly visible in interactive site

STOW, Ohio (Nov. 24, 2008) – Matco Tools, America’s No. 1 Tool Franchise as selected by Fortune magazine, has launched a new, interactive technical educational program website, www.matcotools.com/TechEd/. The contemporary site prominently features Matco Tools Top Fuel driver Antron Brown and Courtney Hanson, host of Spike TV’s Powerblock.

“This new Matco Tools Tech Ed site is more than just a portal for users and students,” Matco Tools Director – Commercial, Government and Export Sales, Jeff Peterson said. “The site was designed as a fun place to visit with easy navigation and we hope that users will bookmark the site and log on frequently. This is a micro site for students and instructors and it’s loaded with video and expanded content and discounts on industry-leading Matco Tools.”

Matco Tools, a manufacturer and distributor of quality professional automotive equipment, tools and toolboxes, has a special discount program for qualified vocational students. The innovative Matco Tech Ed website user is typically an 18-25-year-old community college and technical school student in the field of general automotive, diesel, paint and body, marine, motorcycle, aviation, or an OEM program. With that in mind, the content ranges from the latest in Matco products, to special student promotions, and even the ability to search for employment while attending school or after graduation.

“Matco (Tools) is really taking the right approach with the new tech ed site,” Brown said. “It’s very modern and hip and the younger generation that have Facebook and Myspace pages and use YouTube will really enjoy this new site. It’s also a great way for students to get high-quality Matco Tools at an entry level price. This is why Matco is America’s No. 1 Tool Franchise.”

“The goal in creating this site was to really grab the attention of Gen Y and those who often utilize the web,” Matco Tools web manager, Brian Katzenmeyer added. “Creating that brand loyalty at a young age is very important to Matco’s objectives. This site allows Matco to target new techs in the marketplace and offer a great product at a discounted price.”

Matco Tools is a manufacturer and distributor of quality professional automotive equipment, tools and toolboxes. The Matco Tools product line now numbers more than 13,000 items. Matco Tools is a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and key player in several industries, including tools, environmental and industrial process and control markets. Matco began operation in 1946 and, since 1979 has sold products directly to professional automotive technicians, enthusiasts, and those who value quality tools through a network of independent franchised mobile distributors. Matco franchisees are easily recognized in their white trucks bearing the familiar Matco logo. Today, Matco distributors operate in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer’s Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

www.matcotools.com
www.matcotools.com/TechEd/ 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
and Caterpillar

TWO AUSTRALIAN CAT DEALERS – HASTINGS DEERING AND WESTRAC –
TO RECRUIT TECHNICIANS AT AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS

Australian Cat Dealers Launch “Make the Jump Down Under” Campaign

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2008) – For the first time since the inception of the Caterpillar/National Hot Rod Association dealer technician recruitment program, two overseas Cat dealers will utilize a NHRA race for recruiting. Two Australian dealers – Hastings Deering and WesTrac – will partner with David Powers Motorsports (DPM) and Hot Rod Fuller for the 44th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 13-16, at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the final race on the 2008 NHRA schedule.

Both Hastings Deering and WesTrac are experiencing a severe shortage of experienced technicians. The Australian dealers have committed to pay the moving expenses of any technician willing to “make the jump down under” to work at their dealerships.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) recently released a report from the National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS) on the sector’s labor force outlook for 2020. Projections show an increasing demand for labor if Australia is to maintain its market share in global commodities markets. The mining sector will need to employ 86,000 more operational workers, from 128,000 in 2008 to 215,000 in 2020, an increase of 68 percent.

"This is what our program with Caterpillar is all about and I couldn’t be more excited for the Pomona race,” Fuller said. “We have a great relationship with all of the Caterpillar dealers, but to have dealers from Australia coming abroad for the Pomona race really speaks volumes about our sport and the NHRA fans. Our fan base is a group of very skilled, hands-on people and Caterpillar realizes this. I hope that we not only do well for them, but also help them locate some skilled technicians.”

The relationship between DPM, Caterpillar, Cat dealers and the NHRA began in 2007 to increase technician recruiting. The rich recruiting environment led DPM and Caterpillar to ink a multiyear agreement last August to participate in the NHRA dealer recruitment program.

“Competition to draw young, bright people to the construction industry is fierce, especially with Australia’s 4.5 percent unemployment rate, the lowest in 30 years,” said Rod Beeler, Caterpillar’s vice president with responsibility for the Asia Pacific Marketing Division. “It’s recognized that Caterpillar’s training initiatives serve the industry not only in attracting individuals, but also in retaining existing employees by providing them with job satisfaction and opportunities for self development.”

WesTrac and Hastings Deering are two of the largest Caterpillar dealers in the world with operations in Australia, South East Asia and China. In Australia, they are market leaders with a strong mining industry focus and are two of Caterpillar's biggest distributors of large mining equipment manufactured in North America.

Hastings Deering services Queensland and The Northern Territory in Australia as well as Papua New Guinea and the southwest Pacific. As part of the Sime Darby Industrial organization it is affiliated with Cat dealerships in Malaysia, Singapore, and southern China employing 5,000 people; 2,500 work in Australia.

WesTrac services Western Australia, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, as well as northern China employing more than 3,000 people. WesTrac is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Australian Capital Equity, owned by Kerry Stokes.

Fuller enters the final race in the Countdown to 1 ranked sixth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. The seven-time Top Fuel winner and driver of the Cat dragster has one victory this season, St. Louis, in three final round appearances. He also earned his seventh career pole at the Norwalk, Ohio, race in June. ESPN2 will feature two hours of qualifying highlights from the Auto Club NHRA Finals at 11 p.m. (ET) on Nov. 15, and three hours of final eliminations coverage of the Pomona NHRA race at 7 p.m. (ET) on Nov. 16.

Headquartered in Houston, with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields a two-car Top Fuel operation with drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer’s Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
www.cat.com/dealercareers 
www.hastingsdeering.com.au
www.westrac.com
 

The Fuller Times
The prerace release of seven-time NHRA Top Fuel winner
Hot Rod Fuller and the Caterpillar Top Fuel team

44th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals  -  Nov. 13-16, 2008
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona  -  Pomona, Calif.

Hot Rod Fuller on Pomona
“We want to win, plain and simple. We ran great at (Las) Vegas and we need to duplicate that this weekend. The championship is over, but there’s no reason why we can’t win this race.”

Rob Flynn (crew chief) on Pomona
“The goal is to continue our performance from Las Vegas and end the season on a high note. We feel the car is running very well. And we want to put on a good show for our two CAT
dealers from Australia.”

Hot Rod Fuller Pomona Notebook
Two weeks ago in Las Vegas, Fuller raced to his third final round appearance of the 2008 NHRA season. Flying the colors of Caterpillar’s Undercarriage division, the seven-time Top Fuel winner qualified third at 3.816-seconds. He raced to the final round where he lost at close race to six-time series champion Tony Schumacher, 3.806 to 3.821. Fuller also clocked his quickest and fastest 1,000-foot passes at 3.813 seconds and 318.39 mph.

Fuller, a seven-time Top Fuel winner, earned his seventh career professional win by defeating five-time series champion Tony Schumacher in the final round of the St. Louis race in May, 4.525 to 4.583. Fuller also earned his seventh career pole this season by qualifying first at the Norwalk, Ohio, race at 4.629-seconds. The Caterpillar car has recorded low E.T. of the meet three times and top speed of the meet twice this year.

Fuller qualified his Caterpillar dragster in the No. 10 position at the 2008 NHRA season-opener at Pomona (4.539, 327.51). Fuller’s rail clocked low elapsed time of the meet at 4.494 seconds and advanced to the quarterfinals. The highest Fuller has qualified in eight races at the historic Pomona track was second at the 2007 Winternationals at 4.481 seconds at 327.27 mph.

Fuller has qualified for 84 consecutive NHRA Top Fuel events. The last time he failed to make the cut was at the Houston race in 1996. Fuller has the second longest qualifying streak in Top Fuel (Tony Schumacher). He has an average qualifying position of 7.43 in 23 races this season.

Fuller has 13 career NHRA sportsmen victories in the Super Comp (seven) and Super Gas (six) categories. He has 20 career NHRA national event victories, seven coming in Top Fuel.

Fuller’s dragster will be flying the colors of Australian Caterpillar dealers Westrac and Hastings-Deering during the Auto Club Finals.

2008 NHRA Top Fuel Standings – Countdown to 1 (23 of 24 races)
1. Tony Schumacher (15) 2,645 - - -
2. Hillary Will (1) 2,369 -276
3. ANTRON BROWN (2) 2,360 -285
4. Cory McClenathan (1) 2,332 -313
5. Larry Dixon (1) 2,328 -317
6. HOT ROD FULLER (1) 2,275 -370
7. Brandon Bernstein 2,273 -372
8. Doug Herbert (1) 2,255 -390
9. Doug Kalitta 2,177 -468
10. David Grubnic 2,162 -483


Rod Fuller’s Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1996 No. 20 DNQ
2005 No. 15 First round—David Grubnic
2005 No. 5 First round—David Grubnic
2006 No. 5 Second round—Morgan Lucas
2006 No. 7 Second round—Tony Schumacher
2007 No. 2 Semifinals—Brandon Bernstein
2007 No. 11 First round—Bob Vandergriff, Jr.
2008 No. 10 Second round—Larry Dixon

Fuller’s Pomona 2 Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Wed., Nov. 12, 11 a.m. Auto Club Career Day, Auto Club Raceway
Wed., Nov. 12, 5 p.m. NHRA Softball Classic—San Bernadino
Arrowhead Credit Union Park
Thur., Nov. 13, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Nov. 14, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Auto Club Raceway
Sat., Nov. 15, Noon/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Auto Club Raceway
Sun., Nov. 16, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Auto Club Raceway

Fuller’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.464 seconds Joliet, Ill. June 2007
MPH—331.61 mph Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
E.T.—3.813 seconds * Las Vegas Nov. 2008
MPH—318.39 mph* Las Vegas Nov. 2008
*1,000-foot

Fuller’s Career-Best at Pomona
E.T.—4.481 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007
MPH—329.75 mph Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007

Auto Club NHRA Finals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Nov. 15, 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Nov. 16, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Nov. 16, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.cat.com/dealercareers
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

The Brown Bulletin
The pre-race release of 18-time NHRA winner
Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team

44th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals  -  Nov. 13-16, 2008
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona  -  Pomona, Calif.

Antron Brown on Pomona
“We’re excited about Pomona. Not only do we have the NHRA Softball Classic on Wednesday, but we can finish second in the points and that would be awesome for our Matco Tools team in our first season together. Both our DPM cars are running strong and we hope to go late into the day on Sunday with the Matco Tools dragster and Hot Rod’s (Fuller) car.”

Lee Beard (crew chief) on Pomona
“We feel like we made some progress with both cars at the last race and we’re just a tick away from (Tony) Schumacher’s car, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel to be on the same level performance-wise. Because of that we’re excited about going to Pomona and running our best E.T.s of the season.”

Antron Brown Pomona NHRA Notebook
Two weeks ago in Las Vegas, Brown raced to his fifth semifinal finish of the season. He qualified his Matco Tools dragster in the No. 2 position for the second time this season (Joliet, Ill.) with a pass of 3.812 second at 315.49 mph. Brown advanced to the semifinals before his rail overpowered the track against teammate Hot Rod Fuller. It was Brown’s first defeat in four races against his teammate this season. He also posted his fastest 1,000-foot speed at 317.19 mph during the fall Las Vegas race.

Brown has made a seamless transition from the Pro Stock Motorcycle class to Top Fuel this season. The 18-time NHRA winner became the first racer in NHRA history to win races in both Top Fuel and PSM by winning in his fourth career Top Fuel start (Houston). Brown has two wins in five final rounds this season, along with three poles. He also clocked low E.T. of the meet twice and top speed of the meet three times this year.

At the 2008 NHRA season-opener at Auto Club Raceway, Brown paced the field in the Matco Tools dragster earning the pole in his first Top Fuel race with a lap of 4.495 seconds at 331.61 mph. It’s his only pole at the historic Pomona track. He has qualified second four times in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category at Pomona. Brown won the Auto Club Finals in 1999 and is a two-time finalist at NHRA’s annual season-finale in So Cal. Brown’s average starting position in 12 races at Pomona is 5.08.

Brown has qualified for 168 consecutive NHRA events and hasn’t missed the cut since the Gainesville race in 1998, his first career race. It is the second longest qualifying streak in the professional ranks (Angelle Sampey—182). He has an average qualifying position of 5.21 this season with three poles, including the Winternationals at Pomona in February.

Brown became the eighth different driver that crew chief Lee Beard has tuned to the pole and 10th different racer Beard has tuned to a win in Top Fuel or Funny Car. Beard has 53 wins and 60 poles, including five wins and seven poles at the historic Pomona track.

2008 NHRA Top Fuel Standings – Countdown to 1 (23 of 24 races)
1. Tony Schumacher (15) 2,645 - - -
2. Hillary Will (1) 2,369 -276
3. ANTRON BROWN (2) 2,360 -285
4. Cory McClenathan (1) 2,332 -313
5. Larry Dixon (1) 2,328 -317
6. HOT ROD FULLER (1) 2,275 -370
7. Brandon Bernstein 2,273 -372
8. Doug Herbert (1) 2,255 -390
9. Doug Kalitta 2,177 -468
10. David Grubnic 2,162 -483

Antron Brown’s Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Year Qualified Finish/Winning Driver
1998 No. 5 Semifinals—Ron Ayers
1999 No. 2 WINNER—def. Craig Treble
2000 No. 2 Semifinals—Matt Hines
2001 No. 2 Runner-up—Angelle Sampey (foul)
2001 No. 3 First round—Joe DeSantis
2002 No. 10 First round—Michael Phillips
2003 No. 13 First round—Andrew Hines
2004 No. 3 Runner-up—Angelle Sampey
2005 No. 2 Second round—Andrew Hines (foul)
2006 No. 10 Second round—Craig Treble
2007 No. 8 Semifinals—Matt Smith (foul)
2008 No. 1 Second round—Cory McClenathan

Brown’s Pomona 2 NHRA Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Wed., Nov. 12, 9 a.m. Matco Tools Truck Ride
w/Matco Distributor Jeff Peterson
Wed., Nov. 12, 5 p.m. NHRA Softball Classic—San Bernadino
Arrowhead Credit Union Park
Thur., Nov. 13, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Nov. 14, 9 a.m. Army Y.E.S. Program, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Nov. 14, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Auto Club Raceway
Sat., Nov. 15, Noon/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Auto Club Raceway
Sun., Nov. 16, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Auto Club Raceway

Brown’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.495 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2008
MPH—331.94 mph Madison, Ill. May 2008
E.T.—3.803 seconds* Petersburg, Va. Oct. 2008
MPH—317.19 mph* Las Vegas Nov. 2008
*1,000-foot

Auto Club NHRA Finals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Nov. 15, 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Nov. 16, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Nov. 16, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.matcotools.com
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

Champion tuner Johnson to partner with Al-Anabi Racing in '09 and beyond

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 30) -- The most decorated Top Fuel crew chief in NHRA history, Alan Johnson, will field a two-car team in 2009 through a partnership with Qatar-based Al-Anabi Racing. A seven-time NHRA top fuel champion with 75 professional-level national event victories to his credit, Johnson has tuned Tony Schumacher to the last four Top Fuel titles and the current points lead.

This new alliance will field a Top Fuel dragster and a Funny Car. They will start the 2009 season on Feb. 5-8 with the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. Johnson has not selected drivers for the new cars.

At the forefront of this partnership is His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, who has set a goal of promoting the domestic and international awareness of motorsports in the nation of Qatar. As a result of his efforts, Al-Anabi Racing has emerged as one of the leading drag racing teams in the region.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Alan Johnson Racing," Johnson said. "We look forward to our relationship with Al-Anabi Racing and the people of Qatar. It's widely known that my goal for quite some time now has been to become a team owner again, and this is my best opportunity to achieve that goal."

"I have enjoyed a wonderful experience with the U.S. Army race team. I wouldn't change the past five years for anything. My focus for the remainder of the season will be to put forth my best effort to win the fifth consecutive championship for the U.S. Army, Tony Schumacher, and DSR."

Including his sportsman-level successes with his late brother Blaine Johnson, Alan Johnson has amassed 11 championships in his career, four in Top Alcohol and seven more in Top Fuel. Additionally, Johnson has tuned his drivers to eight national records over the years, including six elapsed time and two top speed marks.

Al-Anabi Racing is nearing completion of a state of the art drag race track in Qatar. Built by U.S. experts the track is expected to host its first race in December 2008. Al-Anabi Racing is also co-owner along with Awesome Motorsports of the recently formed "Awesome Al Anabi," whose drivers are employed by Al-Anabi Racing and race the team's Pro Modified cars in IHRA and NHRA competition. Sheikh Khalid's vision is to build championship-caliber race teams in the United States and Qatar.

Qatar, an Arabian gulf country in the middle east, is fast becoming a global meeting place. In 2004, it established the Qatar Science & Technology Park to attract and serve technology-based companies and entrepreneurs from overseas and within Qatar. The country also established an Education City with numerous international colleges. For the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar established Sports City, consisting of Khalifa Stadium, the Aspire Sports Academy, aquatic centers, exhibition centers, and many other sports-related buildings and centers. Future plans call for an Entertainment City.
 

Lagana & Team to Sport New Colors & Theme at Martin MI.

At the upcoming Northern Nationals in Martin MI. Bobby Lagana Jr. and team are looking forward to building on their career year and also sporting some new colors for the race. “Our entire racing life, this goes for my father and my brother and I we have always had blue racecars, well here we go again, for Martin MI. we will be sporting a brand new body painted by Olson body and paint. The body will be painted with a blue angel wing theme. It is by far the prettiest racecar we have ever had. We will also be adorning the new paint with some new decals, seeing as how we are so close to home for Evan Knoll and his family business, we are going to be supporting the family Knoll Gas and Propane business. We are looking forward to having a lot of Evan’s family at the race and I want nothing more than to make them feel as comfortable as possible.”

After six round wins in the last three races Lagana finds himself in an interesting position in the year long points battle. “I don’t want to say we have a legitimate shot at a top three spot because I do not want to jinx ourselves, but I will say we are having a whole lot of fun battling the rest of the top fuel class week in and week out, these guys are all so good and so much fun to race with. This has got to be a career year for IHRA in the Top Fuel class. We are mainly focused on just qualifying for Martin, once we can secure a spot in the show we will focus on the next round. I will say it sure would be neat to win at Torco Race Fuels home track. Besides being Torco’s home track US 131 Motorsports park is our favorite track, it is a beautiful facility and holds many special memories for our team, I hope this weekend we can make a few more good memories.”
 

BROWN FINISHES THIRD IN MATCO TOOLS CAR AT SEATTLE

KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2008) - Antron Brown drove his David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster to the No. 3 qualifying position Saturday afternoon at Pacific Raceways. The 18-time NHRA winner used a qualifying-best elapsed time of 3.831-seconds to finish third in the 16-car order at the Seattle NHRA race.

Brown, who is making his first career start at Pacific Raceways, posted his best qualifying time on Friday evening at the Seattle track when he used a Lee Beard tune-up to power the bright blue Matco Tools rail to a run of 3.831 seconds at 312.06 mph. It is Brown's quickest and fastest run under the new 1,000-foot racing rule. The Matco dragster overpowered the Pacific Raceways strip on Saturday's first attempt, and Brown posted a run of 3.937 at 295.21 on his final qualifying run. It is the first time he will start from the No. 3 position this season. Brown has now qualified for 159 consecutive races.

"This Matco team did well again this weekend," Brown said. "Lee (Beard) and the guys continue to give me a good race car. I'm having fun up here at Seattle for the first time. We were pushing it on the first run today and it was just too aggressive. I'm confident that we'll have a good race car for Sunday and go some rounds."

He will match-up against No. 14 qualifier Bob Vandergriff, Jr. in the first round of eliminations at 11 a.m. (PT) on Sunday at Pacific Raceways. Brown is 3-0 against the 12-time Top Fuel finalist this season.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, Ringer?s Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

Q1 3.865 ET, 310.27 MPH No. 4

Q2 3.831 ET, 312.06 MPH No. 3

Q3 5.205 ET, 129.24 MPH No. 3

Q4 3.937 ET, 295.21 MPH No. 3
 

FULLER FINISHES FOURTH AT SEATTLE FOR N C MACHINERY

KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2008) - Rod Fuller raced his David Powers-owned N C Machinery-backed dragster to the No. 4 qualifying position Saturday afternoon at Pacific Raceways. Fuller's best qualifying elapsed time was 3.841-seconds.

Fuller, who has seven career Top Fuel poles, including the Norwalk, Ohio race in late June, clocked his best qualifying effort on Friday evening at Pacific Raceways when the Las Vegas driver used a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to power the N C Machinery car to a run of 3.841 seconds at 313.73 mph. On Saturday's first qualifying attempt, the Caterpillar car suffered an ignition problem and did not make a run. Fuller then posted a time of 4.902 at 142.42 on his final qualifying pass. The N C Machinery car dropped a cylinder on Saturday's second pass. It is the eighth time that Fuller has qualified in the top half of the field this season and first time he'll start from the No. 4 position in 2008.

"We made a good run on Friday night and that put us solidly in the show," Fuller said. "We had an issue on the first run today and those things happen. We're fortunate it happened during qualifying and not on race day. That might be our lucky break. We'll get his NC Machinery car tuned-up and go some rounds on race day."

The seven-time Top Fuel winner will face off against No. 13 qualifier Steve Torrence in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (PT) on Sunday. They have never met during eliminations.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

Q1 3.950 ET, 293.47 MPH No. 10

Q2 3.841 ET, 313.73 MPH No. 4

Q3 Shut off at starting line

Q4 4.902 ET, 142.42 MPH No. 4
 

ANTRON BROWN 2008 NHRA MIDSEASON RECAP

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 4, 2008) - Four wheels or two, no problem for Antron Brown. After a decade as one of the elite riders in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, Brown was tabbed to drive the David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster. Making an unprecedented move, Brown earned the pole at the 2008 season-opener at Pomona, Calif. and won in just his fourth Top Fuel start by edging two-time series champion Larry Dixon in the final round at Houston Raceway Park on March 30. Brown didn't look back, advancing to three consecutive final rounds where the Matco Tools driver earned the trip to the winner's circle twice. After 12 of 24 races on the 2008 NHRA racing schedule, Brown finds himself trailing only five-time champion Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel standings. In this Q&A, the former college track star discusses his move to Top Fuel, what it's like working with his crew chief, Lee Beard, and teammate, Hot Rod Fuller, and the second half of the '08 NHRA racing season.

Q: You've made the transition from Pro Stock Motorcycle to Top Fuel appear seamless. Has it been that easy?

BROWN: No, it hasn't been that easy. What made things so smooth was the great chemistry our Matco team has. Starting at the top with Lee Beard and all my team, the way we jelled, made the transition very smooth. We took things one step at a time and tried to minimize common rookie mistakes. I didn't have to learn to race, I just had to learn to drive the car and that helped make us more competitive early on.

Q: What's been your biggest challenge in driving the Matco Tools dragster?

BROWN: I would say getting used to the rate of acceleration. There's nothing that can compare you to the rate of acceleration in a Top Fuel car. Even though I went to Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School and drove an alcohol car, it's still a second slower. The hardest part is getting in the car and trying to slow everything down. When the car goes out of the groove or drops a cylinder, you need to be able to react quickly and not think about it.

Q: How have Lee Beard and Rod Fuller helped with your progression in Top Fuel?

BROWN: Lee Beard has been a tremendous help. He's driven cars and been a successful crew chief for more than 30 years. He's a great coach and I think he's one of the best tuners in the business. Working with Hot Rod (Fuller) has been instrumental because he's been driving the Top Fuel car for four years now and he's had a lot of success. When I ask questions, it's still fresh in his mind where other drivers that have been driving longer can't remember way back to when they were a rookie. Both Lee and Hot Rod have given me invaluable information that I can use to be a better driver. Plus the way we work with Rob Flynn, Hot Rod's crew chief, our entire team works so well together. We have an awesome group here at DPM.

Q: Are you surprised that you're ranked second in the Top Fuel standings after 12 races?

BROWN: That's a tough question. I wouldn't say I'm surprised because of the team we have assembled. I figured we'd be in the top five with Lee and my guys, but after working with them during the off season, it's really not a surprise. We have a lot of talent and the success shows from their talent and hard work. They give me the confidence to win races and be successful. I really feel we have the chance to win each Sunday.

Q: Can you compete for the Top Fuel championship this year?

BROWN: I think we're very capable of competing for the championship and we've shown that. When the Countdown (to the Championship) starts, I think you're going to see a lot of teams really gunning for it whereas we've been in test-mode leading up to the Countdown. I think that we can compete with the U.S. Army car. Between them, the Caterpillar car and our Matco car, I think those are the top three cars right now. We just have to keep working hard and have some luck fall our way, and to create luck, you have to perform well to get some of that luck. I think we have a great shot to compete for the championship this season.

Q: You and your teammate are currently ranked second and fourth in the Top Fuel standings. Talk about the two David Powers Motorsports cars.

BROWN: I think that our two-car team is the team to beat. I think that we feed off of each other and we're going to give the other teams some havoc. If you look over the first half of this season, I think both of our cars have been getting stronger. Hot Rod's car is running really well right now. We want to peak during the Countdown and hopefully that's where both of these DPM cars are the strongest.

Q: What are your thoughts on the new 1,000-foot rule?

BROWN: We support NHRA's decision. They're working to come up with the best rules to make our classes safer. Honestly, I can't wait until we go back to racing a quarter mile. What makes our nitro classes unique is running 320-330 mph, but until they find out a way to make things safer, we support the decision, but we want to be racing a quarter mile.

Antron Brown 2008 Midseason Stats

2nd place in NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings
20-10 (.667) in 30 eliminations rounds
2-1 (.667) in 3 final rounds
2 wins (Houston, Atlanta)
2 poles (Pomona 1, Englishtown, N.J.)
4.83 average qualifying position
2.67 average race finish
1 low E.T. of the meet (Englishtown, N.J.)
2 top speed of the meet (Atlanta, Madison, Ill.)

HOT ROD FULLER 2008 NHRA MIDSEASON RECAP

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 3, 2008) - A season ago, Hot Rod Fuller was playing the lead part in what turned out to be a dramatic finish to the 2007 NHRA racing season. Now the fiery Las Vegas racer has a new role, that of the hunter. Through the first 12 races of the 2008 NHRA racing season, Fuller and his David Powers-owned Caterpillar Top Fuel team rank fourth in the arduous Top Fuel division. With the bulls-eye no longer on his back, Fuller and his Rob Flynn-led Caterpillar team overcame a slow start to the 2008 NHRA season and have moved within striking distance of the second and third place drivers, Antron Brown and Larry Dixon. The former Super Comp and Gas stalwart has one win and one pole this year along with recording low E.T. and top speed honors multiple times. In this Q&A, Fuller talks about his first-half performance and his outlook on year two of NHRA's Countdown to the Championship.

Q: Asses the first half of the 2008 NHRA racing season for Rod Fuller and the Caterpillar team.

FULLER: We're right on par with where I thought we'd be. I like where we're sitting. There were some rule changes and we have a few new crew members. I felt if we could be top five going into the Western Swing, we'd be happy with that. That's right where we are. We started slow, but we have a race win, a final round, a pole and the car is starting to be a lot more consistent. That's important to not give races away.

Q: What's your outlook going into Western Swing?

FULLER: My goal is to get our team into second or third position in the standings. I think that's a feasible goal. I don't think it's great to be No. 1, but you don't want to be farther down in the top 10 either going into the Countdown. I believe our two David Powers teams should be second and third going into the Countdown at Charlotte.

Q: How do you feel about the second year of the Countdown to the Championship?

FULLER: I like how NHRA changed the points system. NHRA and the fans felt it needed some tweaking. They're now rewarding the No. 1 drivers and it's a six race shootout, not two races to determine the champion. It's better.

Q: Grade your first half performance for the Caterpillar team.

FULLER: I don't think I've been driving as good as I did last year. My knee surgery didn't go as well as I thought and there were some complications. I've also been trying to lose weight, which I thought would help the car, but it hasn't. Their car was built for me at 185-pounds, not 170. I feel like the last three races I've been driving better and we've been performing better. I would give us "B" so far.

Q: What's it like working alongside Antron Brown?

FULLER: It's been great. He's a really cool teammate. We've been working together and their success makes both of our teams stronger. The DPM organization is very strong between our two cars. We've been to five finals, won three races, and have three poles; that's not bad. We're excited to build on that and hopefully get these two David Powers cars into a few more final rounds.

Q: What are your feelings on the new 1,000-foot rule?

FULLER: I'm not that political, but I'm not for this. In my eyes, it's a knee-jerk reaction. There are better ways to slow these cars down. It will confuse the fans to see us running in the three-second range. My favorite years of watching Top Fuel racing was when they ran in the high fours at around 300 mph. Everything in the history of drag racing is based on the quarter mile. Look at every magazine from Car & Driver to Motor Trend and they measure performance in the quarter mile, not 1,000 feet. There are a lot of smart people in our sport, get them together and figure out a way to slow these cars down and make them safer.

Q: Do you enjoy "the Dark Side" rivalry with Tony Schumacher and the DSR teams?

FULLER: It's been pretty fun. I really believe it is a rivalry. He may not think so, but I do. It's not like we're best friends, but you have to respect them. They have won a lot of races and championships and we want what they have. I was trying to have fun and he took a personal stab at me. The important thing is that the fans are enjoying it. Last weekend at Norwalk, I think more people were excited about us racing in the second round than anything else. We're 2-2 against the Army team and I think it's good for the sport to have good matches and rivalries. People pay attention to the Red Sox and Yankees or the Cowboys and Redskins and NHRA needs more of that.

Rod Fuller 2008 Midseason Stats

4th place in NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings
17-11 (.607) in 28 eliminations rounds
1-1 (.500) in 2 final rounds
1 win (Madison, Ill).
1 pole (Norwalk, Ohio)
6.92 average qualifying position
2.42 average race finish
3 low E.T. of the meet (Pomona 1, Phoenix, Norwalk)
2 top speed of the meet (Englishtown, Norwalk)
 

FULLER DRIVES H.O. PENN DRAGSTER TO SEMIFINALS AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22, 2008) - Rod Fuller powered his David Powers-owned H.O. Penn CAT dragster to a semifinal finish Sunday afternoon at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Fuller moved to fourth place in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings to equal his highest ranking in the points race this season.

After starting from the No. 6 spot for the sixth time in his professional career with a 4.551-second qualifying elapsed time, Fuller defeated Morgan Lucas and veteran racer Doug Herbert before falling to Brandon Bernstein in the semifinals.

Facing off against Lucas for the third time this season, Fuller labored to his 100th career round win. The Las Vegas racer powered the H.O. Penn CAT dragster to a performance of 4.963 seconds at 245.23 mph after suffering a malfunction with the fuel system. Lucas' red and white rail dropped cylinders and carded a pass of 5.245 at 209.49. Fuller earned his 100th round win in his 76th Top Fuel start.

Matched up against Herbert for the 14th time during eliminations, Fuller used a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to notch the wire-to-wire win. The 13-time NHRA sportsmen winner (Super Comp/Gas), carded the quickest and fastest pass of the round, 4.594 at 319.75, to earn the trip to the semifinals. Herbert raced his red and white dragster to a run of 4.691 at 309.84. Fuller is now 11-3 versus Herbert during eliminations.

Competing in the semifinals for the fifth time this season, Fuller raced the Caterpillar/Matco Tools rail to a pass of 4.813 at 256.84. The H.O. Penn dragster dropped a cylinder causing the slower elapsed time. Bernstein clocked a run of 4.616 at 319.22 in his bright red dragster to advance to his second final round of the season.

"All things considered, it was a good weekend for our team," Fuller said. "We raced with heavy hearts today. We were pitted directly across from Scott (Kalitta) and the RFC church service in our pit was a somber one. Our CAT team did a great job this weekend. We were consistent and qualified well. Rob Flynn always says if you go to the semis at each race, you'll win the championship. We've been the final round and semis at our last two races and now we're going to Norwalk where we hold the track record and went the final round last year."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the Second annual Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, June 26-29, at Summit Racing Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Fuller raced to a runner-up finish at the inaugural Norwalk NHRA race last June. He holds the track E.T. record at 4.533-seconds.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, iLocate GPS, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

R1 FULLER (.076) 4.963 ET, 245.23 MPH def. Lucas (.064) 5.245 ET, 209.49 MPH

R2 FULLER (.070) 4.594 ET, 319.75 MPH def. Herbert (.092) 4.691 ET, 309.84 MPH

R3 Bernstein (.065) 4.616 ET, 319.22 MPH def. FULLER (.087) 4.813 ET, 256.84 MPH
 

BROWN RACES MATCO TOOLS RAIL TO QUARTERFINALS
IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD AT NEW JERSEY

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22, 2008) - Antron Brown and his David Powers-owned Matco Tools team put on an impressive show at the New Jersey native's hometown track. The two-time Top Fuel winner powered his Matco Tools rail to a quarterfinal finish Sunday afternoon at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

One day after earning his 13th career pole and second No. 1 qualifying award in Top Fuel with a pass of 4.502-seconds on Friday evening at Raceway Park, Brown edged five-time Top Fuel winner J.R. Todd in the first round of eliminations before narrowly falling to five-time series champion Tony Schumacher in the second round.

Squaring off against Todd for the first time this season, Brown used a Lee Beard tune-up to clock the quickest pass of the opening round of eliminations. Todd got the jump at the start in his blue and white dragster, but Beard gave Brown the horsepower he needed to drive around and score the win in the Matco Tools/iLocate GPS rail. Brown earned a run of 4.567 seconds at 322.73 mph to advance beyond the opening round for the 10th time in 11 races this season.

Paired up against the Alan Johnson-tuned U.S. Army dragster for the fourth time this season, the drivers used solid reaction times as Brown blasted the Matco Tools/Go Fast car to a performance of 4.621 at 316.75. Schumacher was slightly quicker at 4.618 at 319.07 to earn the trip to the semifinals. Brown now has a round-record of 19-9 this season in the Matco/Valvoline dragster.

"We're disappointed to lose to Tony (Schumacher), but he's the man to beat for the championship," Brown said. "Overall, we had a phenomenal weekend with the consistency of our car and how fast it was. We were the car to beat here at Englishtown. Alan Johnson just stepped up to the plate. We?re going to come out at Norwalk (Ohio) swinging hard."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the Second annual Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, June 26-29, at Summit Racing Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Brown was a three-time finalist at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, winning in 1999.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, iLocate GPS, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

R1 BROWN (.090) 4.567 ET, 322.73 MPH def. Todd (.042) 4.639 ET, 310.05 MPH

R2 Schumacher (.061) 4.618 ET, 319.07 MPH def. BROWN (.075) 4.621 ET, 316.75 MPH
 

Courtesy of Bruce Litton Motor Sports

Litton Right on Track
Defending Top Fuel World Champion heads to Budds Creek riding a wave of momentum

(Indianapolis, Ind.; June 5, 2008) – The first two races of the 2008 season did not go as Bruce Litton would have liked. The Motor City Nationals in Milan, however, put Litton and his Indianapolis-based Top Fuel team right on track.

Litton defeated #1 qualifier Scott Palmer in the final round at Milan Dragway to claim his 13th career Ironman and move to within one round (19 points) of Spencer Massey atop the 2008 IHRA Top Fuel points standings.

“We’re right where we want to be,” Litton said. “We’re in striking distance of the lead with plenty of racing left on the schedule. (Crew Chief) Richard (Hartmann) seems to have a handle on the car, our performance has been strong and consistent and we look forward to getting out there in Maryland. We’re getting into the heart of the season and it’s time to work hard.”

Massey, the NHRA fuel-altered hot-shot driving for Mitch King on the IHRA schedule, topped Litton in the first round at the quarter-mile season opener in San Antonio. He defeated Litton again in Rockingham, this time in the final round with the Ironman on the line. Litton is not concerned with just one racer, however.

“At this point we can’t worry about Spencer, we just have to run our race and worry about what’s going on in our lane,” Litton said. “We have to worry about all seven other drivers who qualify for the field. Come Sunday anyone who qualifies for this deal can win.”

Litton has not enjoyed a strong recent history at Maryland International Raceway. In the last six seasons he has advanced to just one final round at MIR, losing to Clay Millican in the final round during the 2003 season. During that time he has also lost in the first round twice (2002 and 2005), lost in the semifinals twice (2004 and 2007) and did not compete during the 2007 season while recovering from injuries sustained in his crash in New England.

“We haven’t had the best luck at MIR, but I love the race track and love the facility,” Litton said. “Royce Miller and his family do a tremendous job of getting that place in great shape for the President’s Cup Nationals. The track is less than 100-feet above sea level so the air is always unbelievable…we make really big power there. It would not surprise me to see some records fall this year.”

Millican holds both ends of the track record at MIR with an ET of 4.568 and a speed of 328.14. That speed also stands as the current IHRA world record. Millican also holds the ET world record at 4.484 set at Rockingham Dragway at the 2005 World Finals.

“With the level of competition and the strength of the cars coming to race with IHRA this year it would not surprise me at all to see records fall,” Litton said. “We’re used to coming to MIR in September, where the cool air sometimes made the conditions too good. I’m looking forward to watching everyone take shots at the track in the early June heat.”

Litton and crew will have a short turnaround. After the President’s Cup Nationals the team will have two weeks to get the rig and equipment 2,400 miles to Edmonton for the Rocky Mountain Nationals July 3-5. Litton wants to thank Forest and Charlotte Lucas from Lucas Oil for their continued support of his racing operation. Litton also thanks United Trailer Sales and IHRA Nitro Jam series sponsor Knoll Gas.

“These companies and people are so important to our sport,” Litton said. “They are the ones who allow us to pursue out passion and I could never thank them enough…especially Forest and Charlotte Lucas… for everything they’ve done for me over the years.”
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER RACES TO NO. 2 SPOT FRIDAY AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

COMMERCE, Ga. (April 25, 2008) - One year after earning the pole at Atlanta Dragway, six-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Rod Fuller powered his David Powers-owned Caterpillar dragster to the provisional No. 2 qualifying position Friday at Atlanta Dragway. Fuller clocked a run of 4.572 seconds on Friday evening to open qualifying at the 28th annual Summit Racing Southern Nationals.

The six-time NHRA Top Fuel winner opened qualifying at the Commerce track by powering to the eighth quickest run of the session. Fuller drove his Rob Flynn-tuned Caterpillar/Matco Tools rail to a pass of 5.024 seconds at 211.23 mph. The Las Vegas racer clocked the third quickest half-track elapsed time of the session. Under the lights, the Caterpillar-backed rail used Flynn's "Canadian Horsepower" to record the second quickest pass of the day. Fuller raced to a run of 4.572 seconds at 320.73 mph in the left lane Atlanta Dragway. The highest Fuller has qualified this season is third (4.555 seconds) at the Gainesville, Fla. event in March.

"We were glad to see most of the cars run well, that showed the track was stout," Fuller said. "We've had no problem making horsepower this season, the problem was applying the power to the track. We put the power in the car and it performed like it had in the past. When we got back from the run and looked at the computer we found it has more left it in. We're happy to be second. We don't know how Saturday will play out, but it feels good to leave the track on Friday after making a really good pass."

Professional nitro qualifying resumes Saturday afternoon at Atlanta Dragway with sessions scheduled for 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. (ET). Fuller earned the pole at the Atlanta race last spring (4.506 seconds). He has six career poles.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, iLocate GPS, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

Q1 5.024 ET, 211.23 MPH No. 8

Q2 4.572 ET, 320.73 MPH No. 2
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BROWN EARNS PROVISIONAL NO. 11 SPOT FRIDAY AT ATLANTA

COMMERCE, Ga. (April 25, 2008) - Antron Brown raced his David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster to the provisional No. 11 qualifying position Friday evening at Atlanta Dragway at the 28th annual Summit Racing Southern Nationals.

Brown, who enters the Atlanta race ranked third in the Top Fuel standings, opened qualifying on an overcast afternoon in North Georgia by racing his Matco Tools/iLocate dragster to a pass of 4.753 seconds at 298.87 mph. That placed the bright blue Matco-backed rail fifth in the qualifying order. The Matco dragster lost traction on Friday's second attempt and slowed to a pass of 11.320-seconds moving Brown to 11th in the Top Fuel order. The 17-time NHRA winner has advanced to the final round at the last two NHRA events, Houston and Las Vegas. He won his first career Top Fuel race at Houston in late March in just his fourth career start in drag racing's premier division.

"We had some gremlins that bit us today, but we're upbeat," Brown said. "We're No. 11 and in the show and we know we can make it happen on race day like we did at Houston. We have one more day of qualifying left and we'll get this Matco dragster fixed and ready for Sunday."

Professional nitro qualifying resumes Saturday afternoon at Atlanta Dragway with sessions scheduled for 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. (ET). Brown, a two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner at the Atlanta race, earned the pole at the Commerce track in 2006.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Forward Sports Marketing, Valvoline, Toyota, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, iLocate GPS, Goodyear, FRAM, and Autolite.

Q1 4.753 ET, 298.87 MPH No. 5

Q2 11.320 ET, 73.99 MPH No. 11
 

The Fuller Times
The prerace release of six-time NHRA Top Fuel winner
Rod Fuller and the Caterpillar Top Fuel team

Contact: Ted Yerzyk

48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals
Feb. 7-10, 2008
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.

Rod Fuller on Pomona 1
“It’s a track I’ve done well at in the sportsmen ranks, but a nemesis in Top Fuel. I have a bad taste in my mouth from the Finals last fall, so I want to go in and win this race. I feel very confident going in. We had the quickest time in testing. We have a fast car and that’s exciting.”

Rob Flynn (crew chief) on Pomona 1
“Based on testing with both cars, we’re pretty confident heading into Pomona. It is a different race track, so you have to start over again. The last time, at the Finals, we had some misfires, but overall we’ve done well there in the past. We’re confident going into the season.”

Fuller Pomona 1 Notebook
Fuller qualified second at the Winternationals last February with a run of 4.481 seconds at 327.27 mph. It then was the quickest pass of his career. He advanced to the semifinals before falling to Brandon Bernstein. It is the farthest he has advanced in seven tries at the historic Southern California drag strip.

Fuller drove his Rob Flynn-tuned rail to a career-best second place finish last season. He collected three wins in six final rounds, four poles, four low E.T. of the race, one top speed of the race, and won the $100,000 Technicoat Shootout at the fall Las Vegas race. He also won a category-best 40 rounds of eliminations, three more than Bernstein.

Fuller clocked the quickest pass of 2008 preseason testing on Jan. 29 with a run of 4.468 seconds at 331.36 mph at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix.

Fuller has qualified for 62 consecutive NHRA Top Fuel events. He hasn’t missed the cut since driving Top Fuel part time in 1996 (Houston). It is the second longest streak in Top Fuel (Tony Schumacher).

Fuller had an average qualifying position of 4.13 last season. He only qualified in the bottom half of the 16-car order twice (Seattle and Pomona 2).

Fuller has scored two NHRA sportsmen victories at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. He won Pomona 3 (Super Comp) in 2001 and claimed the Super Gas title at the Auto Club Finals (Pomona 2) in 2003. He has 19 career NHRA national event victories (six Top Fuel and 13 sportsmen).

2007 Final NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. Tony Schumacher 3,186 - - - -
2. ROD FULLER 3,167 -19
3. Brandon Bernstein 3,149 -37
4. Larry Dixon 3,135 -51
5. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 2,358
6. Doug Herbert 2,292
7. J.R. Todd 2,273
8. Whit Bazemore 2,182
9. Melanie Troxel 1,173
10. Doug Kalitta 1,045

Rod Fuller’s Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1996 No. DNQ
2005 No. 15 First round—David Grubnic
2005 No. 5 First round—David Grubnic
2006 No. 5 Second round—Morgan Lucas
2006 No. 7 Second round—Tony Schumacher
2007 No. 2 Semifinals—Brandon Bernstein
2007 No. 11 First round—Bob Vandergriff, Jr.

Fuller’s Winternationals Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Thur., Feb. 7, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Feb. 8, 9 a.m. Y.E.S. Program, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Auto Club Raceway
Sat., Feb. 9, 12:30/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Auto Club Raceway
Sun., Feb. 10, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Auto Club Raceway

Fuller’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.464 seconds Joliet, Ill. June 2007
MPH—331.61 mph Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007

Fuller’s Career-Best at Pomona
E.T.—4.481 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007
MPH—329.75 mph Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007

CARQUEST Auto Parts WinternationalsTV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Feb. 9, 8-10 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 10, 7:30-11 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.cat.com/dealercareers
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 

The Brown Bulletin
The prerace release of 16-time NHRA winner
Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team

Contact: Ted Yerzyk

48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals
Feb. 7-10, 2008
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.

Antron Brown on Pomona 1

"I'm very excited to participate in my first Top Fuel race. To carry the Matco Tools banner for all the distributors is very cool. We look forward to giving them a great

showing this season. We have a great team and I think we're going to surprise some people."

Lee Beard (crew chief) on Pomona 1

"I think we have a very competitive race car. The first full run on our '08 car was a 4.48 and we shut off early. The car is going to be able to run with the top three or four guys. Antron has a good number of runs under his belt from our test sessions and I feel as confident going into the race as I would with a seasoned veteran in the seat."


Brown Pomona 1 Notebook

Brown has never competed at the Winternationals. The Pro Stock Motorcycle category, which does not compete at each NHRA POWERade Series event, begins its schedule at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway in March.

Brown has one victory in three final-round appearances at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. He defeated popular rider Craig Treble at the NHRA Finals in 1998 to earn his third career PSM victory.

Last season, Brown raced his U.S. Army Suzuki to a 10th place finish in the PSM standings. It was his 10th consecutive finish in the top 10. He had two semifinals appearances, including Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in November.

Brown was named driver of the Matco Tools dragster during the Auto Club Finals last November.

Brown made the necessary runs required to earn his crossover Top Fuel license on Jan. 26 at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix. He made his first 300-mph lap on Jan. 29 (327.66 mph) and his first 4.4-second pass on Jan. 30 (4.486 seconds) at F.I.R.

Brown has qualified for 145 consecutive NHRA events. He hasn?t missed the cut since the Gainesville race in 1998 after being disqualified for bad fuel at his first career event. It is the second longest qualifying streak in the professional ranks (Angelle Sampey?166).


2007 Final NHRA Top Fuel Standings

1. Tony Schumacher 3,186 - - - -
2. ROD FULLER 3,167 -19
3. Brandon Bernstein 3,149 -37
4. Larry Dixon 3,135 -51
5. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 2,358
6. Doug Herbert 2,292
7. J.R. Todd 2,273
8. Whit Bazemore 2,182
9. Melanie Troxel 1,173
10. Doug Kalitta 1,045

Antron Brown's Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona

Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver

1998 No. 5 Semifinals-Ron Ayers
1999 No. 2 WINNER-def. Craig Treble
2000 No. 2 Semifinals-Matt Hines
2001 No. 2 Runner-up-Angelle Sampey (foul)
2001 No. 3 First round-Joe DeSantis
2002 No. 10 First round-Michael Phillips
2003 No. 13 First round-Andrew Hines
2004 No. 3 Runner-up-Angelle Sampey
2005 No. 2 Second round-Andrew Hines (foul)
2006 No. 10 Second round-Craig Treble
2007 No. 8 Semifinals-Matt Smith (foul)

Brown's Winternationals Schedule

Date & Time Event and Location

Wed., Feb. 6, Noon NHRA Media Luncheon - The Derby
Thur., Feb. 7, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Feb. 8, 8:45 a.m. Y.E.S. Program, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Auto Club Raceway
Fri., Feb. 8, 6 p.m. NHRA Autograph Session - NHRA Motorsports Museum
Sat., Feb. 9, 12:30/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Auto Club Raceway
Sun., Feb. 10, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Auto Club Raceway

Brown's Career-Best Performances

E.T. - 6.930 seconds Gainesville, Fla. March 2007
MPH - 193.24 mph Englishtown, N.J. May 2002

CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)

Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Feb. 9, 8-10 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 10, 7:30-11 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.matcotools.com
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

Bobby Lagana Jr. Joins Forces with Evan Knoll
Veteran Top Fuel pilot will take seat of Knoll’s Seelye Wright rail in 2008

Evan Knoll knows passion for drag racing. The Michigan-based fuel and natural gas magnate, owner of Knoll Gas, Torco Racing Fuels and a number of other broad-based companies headquartered in Decatur, Mich., has sponsored a number of drag racing teams and drivers over the years…doing his part to strengthen the sport he loves by making financial commitments to teams, facilities and sanctioning bodies at every level. Knoll’s passion for the sport is legendary which is why, when he was looking for a driver to take the seat of his personal Seelye Wright Automotive Group Top Fuel Dragster, Knoll looked for a driver who’s passion stood out.

Bobby Lagana Jr. has been racing in the Top Fuel class for over a decade. He is one of the most recognizable faces in the IHRA Top Fuel ranks due to his history, accessibility and perseverance. Lagana followed in the footsteps of his father, Bobby Lagana Sr., by approaching his racing career with a “whatever it takes” attitude. He has always signed every autograph, made every effort to connect with the fans while, at the same time, enjoying a measure of success on the track. Knoll notices Lagana’s commitment years back, and when Scotty Cannon decided to join forces with his son to form a two-car Pro Modified team for the 2008 schedule…leaving the seat in Knoll’s Top Fueler open…he did not look far to fill that seat.

Lagana Jr. will pilot Knoll’s Seelye Wright rail in 2008 while his brother, newly-licensed Dominick, will step into the seat of the Twilight Zone entry he vacated…becoming the first-ever two-car Top Fuel team with brothers at the helm in IHRA history.

“I have been racing for a long time and I have seen a lot of crazy things and met plenty of interesting people,” Knoll said. “There is something special about a guy who wants to race so badly he will carry his dragster on an open bed ramp truck. And he not only would race against the heavily-sponsored teams, sometimes he would beat them. I am so excited for 2008, not just because we have assembled a strong team but because we have assembled a group of racers who love Top Fuel cars for the sheer power and history that comes along with them. My goals for 2008 are to keep spreading the Seelye Wright, Torco Racing Fuels and Knoll Gas named throughout the country and brings smiles to the faces of people who need them. Look for big things from these teams on and off the track!”

Lagana Jr. is thrilled with his new Top Fuel ride.

“An opportunity for some history making runs and a season of non-stop excitement…that is exactly what 2008 has in store for this group of racers, the sponsors, IHRA and, most importantly, the fans,” Lagana said. “I am just so excited, nervous, happy and eager to start the 2008 season. I want Evan to enjoy every moment of this incredible situation. I am a little upset at not having the opportunity to avenge the 0-4 record our team amassed against Scotty Cannon last year, but on the other hand we are all going to be working together. A father-son, brother-brother team. Wow. Evan’s excitement and competitive nature is very contagious. I’m so excited to try to make our live-long dreams merge with Evan’s dreams as well.”

Dominick Lagana was raised at the race track and he knows the ups and downs of the 8,000 horsepower Top Fuel monsters.

“I am very happy,” he said. “I am really looking forward to racing with my brother and appreciate the opportunity Evan and everyone who supports this car is giving me. I hope everyone knows how amazing this is. I’m speechless.”

The brothers tested in Gainesville last week and carded some very respectable results. Bobby posted three career-best times in a row, running a 4.63, 4.62 and finishing with a 4.59. Dominick also topped his career best twice, ultimately running a 4.85. Bobby pointed out his brother may not have as many laps as he does physically down the quarter-mile, but has just as many mentally.

“I really believe with this complete team backing each other we will see Dom rise quickly from rookie to a threat, to all teams…even the Seelye Wright Car,” he said. “There are certain tricks to grooming a driver and, believe me, for the last four years we have exercised every one of those with Dom. I think this late-season testing has only made the Nitro bug even bigger for this whole team and we have plans for some more early-season testing, even some NHRA races before San Antonio. We just want to make sure all our ducks are in a row because IHRA Top Fuel is going to be very competitive next year and we want to be ready for it. I just want to reiterate one point, yes we want to make a run at the coveted IHRA Top Fuel championship, but most important I want Evan and everybody that will help make this train roll say when they leave our pit, ‘THAT WAS A WHOLE LOTTA FUN!’”
 

DAVID POWERS MOTORSPORTS RELOCATES TO NEW FACILITY
IN BROWNSBURG, IND.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Nov. 29, 2007) - NHRA Top Fuel team David Powers Motorsports has relocated to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Brownsburg, Ind. The 40,000 square-foot race shop is located on Southpoint Circle in the Indianapolis suburb.

The shop will house both the Matco Tools and Caterpillar Top Fuels teams and allows for future expansion. The building features a modern look and offers a fan-friendly viewing area for race fans. The building was constructed by ACME Buildings, Inc. and is owned by Tim Buckley, President of Vintage Design Inc. and financial partner of David Powers Motorsports. The team had previously worked out of a facility in Pittsboro, Ind.

"We are thrilled to be fully moved into our new shop in Brownsburg," Powers said. "I want to thank Lee Beard and our entire race team for making such a smooth transition. We wanted to design a race shop with a unique look that is comfortable to our employees, sponsors and race fans and we feel we have accomplished that. It's exciting to have our shop in Brownsburg, which has quickly become the capitol of NHRA drag racing."

Last season the two Powers-owned dragsters finished second (Rod Fuller) and eighth (Whit Bazemore) in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship standings. In its first full season with multiple cars, Fuller drove his Caterpillar dragster to three wins in six final rounds appearances. The team also collected five No.1 qualifying awards. The Powers team was the only multi-car Top Fuel team with two cars to make the Countdown to 4. In November, the team announced that 16-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Antron Brown will pilot the Matco Tools dragster in 2008.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Brownsburg, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Rod Fuller and Antron Brown. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Caterpillar, Valvoline, LP Corporation, Toyota, Vintage Design Inc., Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Ringers Gloves, and Forward Sports Marketing.

www.matcotools.com 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

LAGANA SET FOR INDY DEBUT WITH FAMILY CAR

2007 has been somewhat of a roller coaster year for Bobby Lagana Jr. The team started the year off with an aluminum-sacrificing run that ultimately got them qualified for the first race. Following that was a runner-up performance and a few more parts eating races and then ultimately another ironman at the last stop on the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam series. Now the team finds themselves in a very different position then ever, the team will be heading to Indy for the U.S. Nationals. Lagana is not new to the Indy mystique, but never has he ventured there in his family and friends owned Top Fuel Car. “My Dad raced at Indy in 1966 but that was with an A-gas car called the American Challenge, this will be the first time a Twilight Zone nitro car will be run at Indy.”

You might wonder why would Lagana venture to NHRA for the toughest race of the year, in the middle of the closest IHRA points battle in his career. “It’s pretty simple Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels have asked us to go, to be honest with you just the phone call was one of the biggest honors in my racing career. I know qualifying will be tough, but we have some new parts and a renewed feeling of confidence. Our goal for the weekend is to make sure we look professional for Evan and also for representing the IHRA, then to go out and run to the best of our ability. For one of the first times in my racing career we have the parts to back up our goals. And lastly I want all my family, crew, sponsors, and all who help make this car go put a smile on their face because we are at INDY!!! I really want to thank Evan and the entire Torco gang for supporting us, and also to all my long time supporters you know who you are, THANK YOU!!!”

Indy will be the second stop for Lagana on the NHRA series, the team also is planning on running the Torco Race Fuels sponsored race in Dinwiddie, VA, and potentially one more NHRA race. Other than that Lagana will be concentrating on bringing home another Ironman on the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Series.

About Bobby Lagana Racing
Bobby Lagana Jr. is in his ninth year of competition in the International Hot Rod Association’s Top Fuel class. Following in the footsteps of his father, noted Funny Car pilot Bob Lagana, he began driving professionally at the age of 19 and enjoyed his most successful season last year. In 2006 Lagana Jr. won two of the 11 IHRA national events, in Grand Bend, Ontario and Epping, New Hampshire, eventually finishing third in world championship points standings. Following the season he was awarded IHRA’s most prestigious award, the IHRA Sportsman of the Year, at the season-ending champion’s banquet in Greensboro , N.C. His Crew Chief, Jay Lewis, also was honored at the champion’s banquet, being selected as IHRA Professional Crew Chief of the Year. Lagana’s primary sponsors are Torco Racing Fuels, Pelham Lumber and Skull Shine, an industrial-strength cleaning product that is part of Michigan-based fuel magnate Evan Knoll’s line of racing and automobile-related products. For more information about Skull Shine or Torco Racing Fuels, visit the company’s website at www.torco.com.   Lagana also has associate sponsorship from Tom Stephens racing, Eric “Lippy,” Bryant Neville Racing, Lichenstein Motorsports, RMI Titanium, Innovative Machine and Powertech Generators. Product sponsors of Lagana include Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Howards Cams, Lucas Oil, Storm Crankshaft, Beechwood Autobody, TJ & Rich, Coastal Utilities, Mr. Sign, and Walter Hasselman. For more information about Bobby Lagana Jr. and his Twilight Zone Top Fuel team, visit www.bobbylagana.com.
 

TOMMY JOHNSON JR. POSTS FIRST ROUND FINISH
- Sets Sights At Skoal Showdown -

READING, Penn. (Aug. 23, 2007) – In what has been the NHRA’s longest delayed event, Skoal Racing’s Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. made one final push on Monday morning for the Countdown to the Championship, but ultimately completed the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals with a first round finish.

Johnson weathered some challenges with his Skoal Racing Chevy Impala throughout qualifying into Sunday’s eliminators. On Friday, the car had a blower explosion and oiled the track after Johnson’s second run. After entering Saturday in a non-qualifying spot, Johnson sped up the ranks with a 4.859-second elapsed time at 318 mph. By the end of the day, Johnson and Skoal Racing sat in the no. 8 position facing no. 9 Tony Bartone on Sunday.

The NHRA was able to complete the Top Fuel rounds and three sets of Funny Car rounds. Unfortunately Johnson and his Skoal Racing crew were not part of that group—their run was re-scheduled for Monday morning. Even though their confidence was still running high, the Impala lost traction on the way to the finish line and Johnson was defeated by Bartone with a pass of 4.965.

“It’s definitely disappointing to not have made it in the Top 8, but what could you do about it now,” said Johnson. “It’s actually pretty relieving. There was an enormous amount of pressure in the last few races and I definitely was not having fun. That’s not saying I did not want to be the best out there, but now I can relax, play spoiler, and maybe win a few races. I’m kind of excited about it.”

The Skoal Racing team will now head to the home-base of both Johnson and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme—Indianapolis, IN. He will not only compete in the Mac Tools US Nationals, but also take his no. 4 qualifying position in the Skoal Showdown and vie for the $100,000 purse to the winner of a field of eight Funny Car drivers.
 

SKOAL RACING BATTLES TOUGH IN CLOSE SEMIFINAL FINISH

Sonoma, CA (July 30, 2007) – Tommy Johnson Jr. pushed his SKOAL Racing Chevrolet Impala to an incredible semi-final finish at the Infineon Raceway, finishing behind the eventual Funny Car Division winner, John Force, by .001 of a second.

Earlier this week Johnson said, "We made some radical changes so that we can improve our performance for that final push." Johnson and SKOAL Racing started the weekend well by qualifying third with an early run of 4.762 at 320.97 mph on Friday. He maintained that position with a pass of 4.927—the fifth quickest of Saturday’s final session.

Looking to gain points for the Countdown to the Championship, Johnson ran 4.913 with a better reaction time than first round opponent Jim Head (4.884), and then pushed the SKOAL Racing Impala to the quickest run of the second round (4.881) and a win over Gary Densham. Johnson matched up with Force seeking entry into a race final for the second time in six events. They battled to the very end as Force bested Johnson with a pass of 4.910 versus Johnson’s 4.911.

Johnson currently sits 12th in the POWERade points standings and is inching his way to the top eight in the NHRA Funny Car Division with two more races left before the SKOAL Showdown U. S. Nationals in Indianapolis beginning August 29. Next up for Johnson Jr. is the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, MN (August 9-12) where Johnson is the defending Funny Car champion.
 

TOMMY JOHNSON JR. CROWNED ENGLISHTOWN CHAMPION
Skoal Racing Overcomes First Round Car Fire with Win #2 for Don Prudhomme

Englishtown, NJ (June 25, 2007) – In week two of a grueling six-week racing stretch, Tommy Johnson Jr. and SKOAL Racing captured the Funny Car Division trophy in the 38th Annual ProCare Rx NHRA Supernationals at the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Johnson had his best weekend of the season by far, setting a track record in the first day of qualifiers, and heading into Sunday in the top qualifying position. He was victorious in defeating (in order) Gary Densham, Jack Beckman, Jeff Arend and Tony Pedregon. This is Johnson’s first track victory as the number one qualifier heading to the elimination rounds.

“What an unbelievable day—this is a great feeling,” said Johnson. “We’ve taken our lumps this season, so this win is even sweeter for all of us. It got a little scary in the first run, but our crew doesn’t know the word quit. They came back ready after the fire and worked real hard to get the Impala up and running. I’m very honored to be driving for SKOAL Racing and for Don Prudhomme. Englishtown is a great track, and we’re glad we could bring the trophy home for Snake.”

Johnson and the SKOAL Racing Chevrolet had a chilling moment in their showdown against Densham, as the Impala caught fire towards the end of the run. Johnson escaped with no injuries—the same could not be said for the car’s engine and body. However, both were quickly replaced and Johnson came back strong for his win over Beckman with the low E-Time of the elimination rounds with a 4.914.

The dramatics didn’t end there. After capturing a clean victory over Arend, Johnson battled Pedregon in the Finals. Pedregon took the early lead at 60 feet, but Johnson claimed position and the trophy at the 330 marker, winning with a pass of 4.994 at 305.84 mph. This was Johnson’s second finals win over Pedregon.

His impressive weekend began on Friday with a 2nd qualifying run of 4.729 seconds at 321.96 mph—a track record. He left Saturday still in the #1 slot with a run of 4.864 seconds at 315 mph.

Johnson now currently sits in 8th place in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Championship Point Standings, sitting right on the cut-off line for the Championship playoff format. Larry Dixon, Top Fuel dragster for Don Prudhomme/Snake Racing, took the victory in that division and currently sits second on the Top Fuel all-time wins list. This is Dixon’s second Top Fuel victory in a row.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER EXTENDS POINTS LEAD SUNDAY AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 24, 2007) - Rod Fuller extended his points lead Sunday afternoon at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park after driving to a quarterfinal effort. After qualifying his David Powers-owned plain white dragster second (4.479 seconds) for the fifth time this season, Fuller edged local racer Rit Pustari, before bowing out to Top Fuel starlet Hillary Will in the quarterfinals.

Competing in his 24th round of competition this season, Fuller used a come-from-behind effort to score the opening-round victory against the Connecticut racer. Pustari used the best reaction time of the round (.045 of-a-second) to race to the early lead, but the Top Fuel points leader used crew chief Rob Flynn's "Canadian Horsepower" to roar to a top-end charge and the round win. Fuller clocked the third quickest elapsed time of the round with a pass of 4.624 seconds at 323.81 mph to outdistance Pustari's pass of 4.873 at 253.42.

Facing off against Will in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive race, the Las Vegas racer powered his all-white rail to a run of 4.748 at 318.77, but Will drove to the second quickest pass of the round to advance to the semifinals with a run of 4.679 at 319.60. It is the first time that Fuller has been defeated in the second round of eliminations this season and the first time he has lost to Will in four career matches.

"We had an ignition malfunction in the second round," Fuller said. "That's the first time we've had something like that happened all season long. The car just won't run on one magneto. We were lucky to run that quick. Sure, we wanted to defend our championship and win here again and extend out points lead, but you'll have races like this. We'll keep our heads up and head to Norwalk (Ohio)."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the Inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, June 28-July 1, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

R1 FULLER (.106) 4.624 ET, 323.81 MPH def. Pustari (.045) 4.873 ET, 253.42 MPH
R2 Will (.095) 4.679 ET, 319.60 MPH def. FULLER (.108) 4.748 ET, 318.77 MPH

Winners
Top Fuel - Larry Dixon def. Doug Herbert
Funny Car - Tommy Johnson, Jr. def. Tony Pedregon
Pro Stock - Greg Anderson def. Jeg Coughlin
Pro Stock Motorcycle - Craig Treble def. Andrew Hines
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE LOSES CLOSE RACE AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 24, 2007) - Whit Bazemore and his Matco Tools Top Fuel team rebounded this weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. After missing the cut two weeks ago at Joliet, Ill., the 20-time NHRA winner set a track speed record (332.51 mph) and remained 10th in the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

The 2003 Englishtown winner qualified his Lee Beard-tuned dragster sixth with a solid pass of 4.521 at a blistering 332.51 mph. That pitted Bazemore against two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon in the opening round of eliminations. The veteran nitro racers used excellent reaction times before the Matco Tools rail hazed the tires slowing to a run of 4.997 seconds at 272.78 mph. Dixon's bright orange rail also lost traction, but further down track. He earned the round win with a run of 4.947 at 280.66.

"The thing went out there and spun the tires before the end of the (concrete) pad pretty hard," Bazemore said. "It recovered for a brief moment and spun again. We finally got it to recover but (Larry) Dixon had his nose out in front and stayed there. It's very frustrating."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the Inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, June 28-July 1, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

R1 Dixon (.050) 4.947 ET, 280.66 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.067) 4.997 ET, 272.78 MPH

Winners

Top Fuel - Larry Dixon def. Doug Herbert

Funny Car - Tommy Johnson, Jr. def. Tony Pedregon

Pro Stock - Greg Anderson def. Jeg Coughlin

Pro Stock Motorcycle - Craig Treble def. Andrew Hines
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE RACES TO NO. 6 SPOT AT ENGLISHTOWN,
SETS TRACK SPEED RECORD AT MORE THAN 332 MPH

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 23, 2007) - Whit Bazemore looks to earn his second career win at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park when he will start from the No. 6 qualifying position. The veteran nitro pilot raced his Matco Tools rail to the No. 6 qualifying position Saturday afternoon with a run of 4.521 seconds at a track-record speed, 332.51 mph.

Bazemore drove the Matco Tools rail to 4.5-second passes in three of the four qualifying sessions this weekend. His best lap came Friday evening when he used a Lee Beard tune-up to clock a run of 4.521 seconds at 332.51 mph to claim the sixth quickest run of the weekend. Bazemore clocked the third quickest run of Saturday's first qualifying session with an elapsed time of 4.582 at 310.77. It is the second time that he has qualified sixth this season. Beard called the shots one year ago when Bazemore's teammate Rod Fuller claimed the title at the Englishtown event.

"We feel confident," Bazemore said. "We went down three of four runs. We have a tough opponent in Larry Dixon, but we'll be ready to race. We're working hard to turn our season around. We're excited to be in the show and excited about the opportunity."

"We got down the track three out of the four sessions," Beard added. "Anytime you can go to Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. and set the track record for speed, that's pretty awesome performance. We're focused on our consistency under hot conditions because that's what we'll be faced with during eliminations and the next few months."

Bazemore will battle No. 11 qualifier Larry Dixon in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday. He is 0-1 in his brief Top Fuel career against the two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion. ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage at 10 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.

Q1 4.577 ET, 326.00 MPH No. 2
Q2 4.521 ET, 332.51 MPH No. 6
Q3 4.582 ET, 310.77 MPH No. 6
Q4 5.957 ET, 144.00 MPH No. 6

No. 1 Qualifiers
Top Fuel - Tony Schumacher
Funny Car - Tommy Johnson, Jr.
Pro Stock - Greg Anderson
Pro Stock Motorcycle - Angelle Sampey
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER FLIES TO NO. 2 SPOT AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 23, 2007) - Rod Fuller, the current NHRA Top Fuel points leader, remained hot in qualifying Saturday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The rising Top Fuel star qualified his plain white David Powers-owned dragster second Saturday afternoon at Raceway Park with a qualifying-best 4.479-second effort.

Fuller qualified second for the fifth time this season when he used a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to race his all-white rail to a blistering run of 4.479 seconds at 330.30 mph on Friday evening. The pass positioned him behind Tony Schumacher, who earned the pole with a run of 4.450-seconds. Fuller's tires broke loose on Saturday's first qualifying attempt. The four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner and defending Raceway Park champ then clocked the second quickest pass of the final qualifying session when he used Flynn power to card a run of 4.624 at 320.20. Fuller has not qualified lower than fourth this season.

"We would have liked to have gone down the track a few more times, but that last run gives us a lot of confidence," Flynn said. "We were the quickest car to half track on that last run. We'll have to be really careful to not spin the tires. It gives us a close idea of what to do to the car."

Fuller will match up against No. 15 qualifier Rit Pustari in the first round of eliminations at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday. The Las Vegas racer has never met Pustari in eliminations. ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage at 10 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.

Q1 5.968 ET, 135.70 MPH No. 12
Q2 4.479 ET, 330.39 MPH No. 2
Q3 8.584 ET, 80.38 MPH No. 2
Q4 4.624 ET, 320.20 MPH No. 2

No. 1 Qualifiers
Top Fuel - Tony Schumacher
Funny Car - Tommy Johnson, Jr.
Pro Stock - Greg Anderson
Pro Stock Motorcycle - Angelle Sampey
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER ROARS TO NO. 2 SPOT FRIDAY AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22, 2007) - Rod Fuller took a solid step towards continuing his trend of qualifying his David Powers-owned rail fourth or better in the Top Fuel order Friday evening at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The Las Vegas racer clocked the second quickest pass of the day at 4.479 seconds to earn the provisional No. 2 starting position.

Fuller's all-white dragster overpowered the Raceway Park quarter mile on his first qualifying attempt of the weekend slowing to a pass of just 5.968-seconds. Under the lights on Friday evening at the historic New Jersey drag strip, the four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner used a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to clock a stout run of 4.479 seconds at 330.39 mph to finish second in the 16-car order. It was Fuller's 10th 4.4-second elapsed time of the season. Through the first nine races of the season, only Fuller, Pro Stock's Greg Anderson and Pro Stock Motorcycle's Angelle Sampey have qualified fourth or better at each event.

"We know the weather conditions will be good on Saturday," Fuller said. "We were a little more conservative than we wanted to be. We wanted to get solidly in the show. We were shooting for a 4.48 to 4.51. We thought we could run 4.45, which we felt Brandon (Bernstein) and (Tony) Schumacher could run as well. I'll never be disappointed with being second when you have guys like my teammate and Brandon and (Doug) Kalitta not making the field at some races. The plan for Saturday is to make sure we have consistent car for race day."

Top Fuel qualifying resumes on Saturday afternoon with sessions scheduled for 1 and 3:30 p.m. (CT) at the New Jersey facility. ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on Saturday evening.

Q1 5.968 ET, 135.70 MPH No. 12
Q2 4.479 ET, 330.39 MPH No. 2
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE CLOCKS TRACK-RECORD SPEED FRIDAY AT ENGLISHTOWN

JOLIET, Ill. (June 22, 2007) - Whit Bazemore and his David Powers-owned Matco Tools Top Fuel team rebounded like true champions Friday evening at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The veteran nitro pilot powered his Matco Tools rail to a track-record speed of 332.51 mph Friday evening under the lights at the historic New Jersey track.

The 2003 Englishtown Funny Car winner opened qualifying for the 37th annual Super Nationals with the second quickest pass of the session. Bazemore used a tune-up from champion crew chief Lee Beard to power the Matco Tools rail to a pass of 4.577 seconds at 326.00 mph. On Friday's second qualifying effort, Bazemore blistered the Raceway Park quarter mile in 4.521 seconds at 332.51 mph to finish sixth in the 16-car order. It was the fastest Top Fuel pass of Bazemore's career and his first 330-mph speed behind the wheel of the Matco Tools rail. He went 333.25 mph in his Matco Tools Funny Car at Joliet, Ill. in 2004.

"We're making baby steps and it's good," Bazemore said. "We're in a good position. Our first run we ran 4.57 and left a lot on the table. Tonight, we expected a little more E.T. out of the car. We were a little conservative. We're looking forward to Saturday when we'll see more race day conditions. If we can squeeze out a 4.54 or 4.55, it'll have been an excellent qualifying weekend."

Top Fuel qualifying resumes on Saturday afternoon with sessions scheduled for 1 and 3:30 p.m. (CT) at the New Jersey facility. ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on Saturday evening.

Q1 4.577 ET, 326.00 MPH No. 2
Q2 4.521 ET, 332.51 MPH No. 6
 

FULLER SUFFERS RARE FIRST-ROUND LOSS SUNDAY AT TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kan. (June 3, 2007) ' For just the third time this season, Rod Fuller and his David Powers Motorsports team were defeated in the opening round of eliminations following the completion of 19th running of the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka on Sunday. He qualified fourth this weekend with a 4.566-second elapsed time. Fuller now sits second in the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

Facing off against perennial Top Fuel title contender Doug Kalitta for the ninth time, the two elite drivers used solid reaction times as Fuller utilized a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to power his all-white David Powers-owned dragster to a run of 4.581 seconds at 323.19 mph. Kalitta drove his bright red rail to the quickest and fastest lap of the round, 4.549 at 325.85, to score the win light in the left lane at Heartland Park. Fuller clocked his fastest pass of the weekend in the opening round loss. The Topeka track remains just one of two (Bandimere Speedway) on the 21-track circuit where Fuller has yet to win a round.

"I'm not disappointed about the weekend," Fuller said. "We raced smart all weekend long. That's gotten us to the top, but it will get you sometimes. If you average our reaction time in, we had the second fastest package of the round other than Doug (Kalitta). It just wasn't meant to be. We're going to a track that we do really well at and it's notorious for being fast. Today was just a matter of circumstances. It's just part of racing."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 10th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 Nationals, June 8-10, at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. Fuller advanced to the final round of the Joliet race in 2005. There are 15 races remaining on the 2007 NHRA schedule.

R1 Kalitta (.047) 4.549 ET, 325.85 MPH def. FULLER (.057) 4.581 ET, 323.19 MPH
 

BAZEMORE DRIVES TO QUARTERFINALS AT TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kan. (June 3, 2007) - Whit Bazemore didn't capture his third career victory at Heartland Park Topeka on Sunday afternoon, but the veteran nitro pilot gained more confidence behind the wheel of his David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster during the 19th running of the O'Reilly Summer Nationals.

After racing his Matco Tools rail to the No. 3 qualifying position, Bazemore bested Melanie Troxel before bowing out to No. 6 qualifier and current NHRA points leader Brandon Bernstein in round two. The 20-time NHRA winner now ranks eighth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

As the fifth pair of dragsters to battle the sunny Heartland Park quarter mile on Sunday morning, the drivers used nearly identical reaction times as Bazemore used a tune-up from championship crew chief Lee Beard to race his Matco Tools rail to a solid pass at 4.572 seconds at 320.20 to earn the win light in the right lane. Bazemore edged Troxel's pass of 4.622 at 313.73.

In the quarterfinals, Bazemore used the best reaction time of the round (.055 of-a-second) to race the Matco dragster to the early lead and pressed on to a performance of 4.806 at 258.81 after losing traction. Bernstein posted an outstanding pass of 4.555 at 319.01 to earn the trip to the semifinals. His 4.555 elapsed time was the quickest of the round.

"We didn't get the result that we wanted which was a victory, but we're coming away from Topeka with a lot more confidence as a driver," Bazemore said. "In that respect, it was a very positive weekend. As far as the car goes, we learned a few things and we're taking the steps to make ourselves competitive during the hot summer months.

"The Budweiser car ran its best number of the weekend against us on a hot race track. You give them credit for a job well done. That was a great pass. Again, we improved as a team. I've got my confidence and I feel we can be very competitive, and I think the Matco team is going to enjoy bigger success as the season goes on."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 10th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 Nationals, June 8-10, at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. He is a three-time winner of the Joliet race the Matco Tools Funny Car (1998, 2001, ?03).

R1 BAZEMORE (.074) 4.572 ET, 320.20 MPH def. Troxel (.083) 4.622 ET, 313.73 MPH
R2 Bernstein (.067) 4.555 ET, 319.01 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.055) 4.806 ET, 258.81 MPH
 

ASHLEY BLOWS AWAY THE COMPETITION AND WINS IN TOPEKA!

TOPEKA, Kan. (June 3) - Mortgage banker Mike Ashley scored his very first NHRA national event win and drove the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger nitro Funny Car all the way to the winner's circle at the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.

Dispatching Del Worsham, Ashley Force, Jack Beckman and Jim Head en route to the event championship, Ashley said the day was 'practically perfect.'

"I knew it would happen if we just kept doing what we were doing and didn’t try to force anything," an ecstatic and emotional Ashley said. "I'm so proud of this team, Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald, Steve Boggs -- everyone, and everything they have done to get here - they are true champions."

On hand to watch Ashley receive his first Wally event trophy was team sponsor Evan Knoll, owner of Torco Race Fuels. Ashley said, "This has been such a journey and it all started a few years ago when Evan came to me and said, 'Let's do it.' We've been working towards this goal since then and Evan stuck with us through it all. This win is for all the dreamers out there. This is proof you can do anything you set your mind to."

Ashley and his Gotham City Racing crew displayed marksman-like consistency as they worked through their opponents, with only .154-seconds variance between his elapsed times of each round. In round one, Ashley beat former teammate Del Worsham, 4.793/321.88 to 4.894/316.45. In the quarterfinals, it was a ‘battle of the Ashleys’ - Mike Ashley versus Ashley Force, and Mike used a .036 reaction time to take the win against the quicker Ashley Force, 4.926/263.20 to Mike's 4.947/292.84.

Semifinal action saw the battle of the fastest Funny Cars on the planet, Ashley having recorded the fastest speed ever at 334.11, and 'Fast' Jack Beckman holding the NHRA official record at 333.66 mph. Ashley defeated Beckman with a stellar run, 4.882/310.41 to 4.949/304.12.

In the final round, the third of his Funny Car career, Ashley left the line first against Jim Head with a .052 reaction time, and never trailed, taking the stripe with 4.896/310.70 to Head's 4.928/303.09.

"It's all so emotional for me, really. This has been my dream for so long, and we finally accomplished it. It's a testament to the power of positive thinking, and working together as a team. We've all had the same vision and are working toward the same goal - and that's to win a championship, and this is a huge step toward that goal," he said.

The win put Ashley solidly in third place in POWERade points with 502, just 100 points behind second place Robert Hight and 153 behind leader Ron Capps. Ashley also jumped into second place in the Skoal Showdown points, a $100,000 race within a race for Funny Car drivers held at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and reserved for the racers who qualify the best at the NHRA POWERade Series events completed since the previous year's Showdown.

"For my family, everyone at Lend America, all my Pro Mod guys - we did it! This is the most amazing feeling. I've won a lot of races and two championships in Pro Mod, but this is the most awesome feeling ever," Ashley said. Ashley is vice president of Lend America, the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA.

Team Gotham will have just a few short days to enjoy their win, as racing continues next weekend at the Torco Race Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., June 7-10.

LAGANA HEADING TO TOPEKA FOR THE NHRA O’REILLY SUMMER NATIONALS
Will prepare for Tulsa showdown with competitive testing in Kansas

TULSA, OKLAHOMA (MAY 30, 2007) – As a critical showdown with T.J. Zizzo looms, Bobby Lagana Jr. and his Twilight Zone top fuel team will head to Hartland Park Topeka in Kansas’ capital city to compete in the NHRA O’Reilly Summer Nationals. Lagana put the Skull Shine dragster seventh on the qualifying sheet at the Sooner Nationals in Tulsa before rain delayed the event. Instead of towing back to the team’s headquarters in Dinwiddie , Virginia Lagana and his crew decided to make the five-hour trip to Topeka for the NHRA event. The Sooner Nationals will resume June 26th.

“We want to get more exposure for Skull Shine and our sponsors,” Lagana said. “Plus, we have an absolutely huge round coming up against T.J. in Tulsa and we wanted to get ready for it in a competitive situation. T.J. is the points leader on the IHRA side and we are fourth; if we want to be a player in the championship points race we have to do everything we can to knock him off in the first round. He got us in the final at Rockingham so we can’t afford to fall too many rounds behind him.”

Lagana is heading back into NHRA competition for the first time this season and is looking forward to catching up with some old friends.

“Clay Millican and his crew chief Mike Kloeber and the entire Knoll Gas Team have always been great friends to our entire team,” Lagana said. “We haven’t seen as much of them this season as they are running on the NHRA side full-time, so it will be great to spend some time with them and catch up a little bit.”

Lagana has modest goals for the Twilight Zone team in Topeka .

“We always expect to qualify every race we enter,” he said. “But the important thing for this team is to keep building on the momentum we gained by advancing to the finals in Rockingham. Our primary goal is running for a top three spot in the final IHRA standings, so the points in Topeka really will not mean a whole lot to this team. Sure we want to qualify well and are going to throw everything at the track, but we have our goals set and everything we do is with these goals in mind.”

About Bobby Lagana Racing
Bobby Lagana Jr. is in his ninth year of competition as a professional Top Fuel driver. Following in the footsteps of his father, noted Funny Car pilot Bob Lagana, he began driving professionally at the age of 19 and enjoyed his most successful season last year. In 2006 he won two of the 11 IHRA national events, in Grand Bend, Ontario and Epping , New Hampshire , eventually finishing third in world championship points standings. Following the season he was awarded IHRA’s most prestigious award, the IHRA Sportsman of the Year, at the season-ending champion’s banquet in Greensboro , N.C. His Crew Chief, Jay Lewis, also was honored at the champion’s banquet, being selected as IHRA Professional Crew Chief of the Year. Lagana’s primary sponsors are Torco Racing Fuels, Pelham Lumber and Skull Shine, an industrial-strength cleaning product that is part of Michigan-based fuel magnate Evan Knoll’s line of racing and automobile-related products. For more information about Skull Shine or Torco Racing Fuels, visit the company’s website at www.torco.com. Lagana also has associate sponsorship from Tom Stephens racing, Eric “Lippy,” Bryant Neville Racing, Lichenstein Motorsports, RMI Titanium, innovative Machine and Powertech Generators. For more information about Bobby Lagana Jr. and his Twilight Zone Top Fuel team, visit www.bobbylagana.com.
 

SILVER LINING FOR JOHNSON IN SECOND ROUND LOSS TO FORCE

Madison, IL (May 7, 2007) – Despite a second round loss to Ashley Force in the NHRA O’Reilly Midwest Nationals, Tommy Johnson Jr. was able to climb out of his SKOAL Racing Chevrolet Impala on Sunday and crack a smile. A frustrating 2007 season for the Indiana native, took a sudden turn for the better this past weekend in Madison, IL.

Johnson, seeded sixth, began Sunday by running a 5.102 second lap to defeat Tony Bartone in the opening round to claim his first round win of the season. He then squared off against Ashley Force in the second round, but his pass of 5.26 wasn't enough as Force ran 4.86 seconds, advancing to the semi-finals. Johnson’s win catapulted him seven positions to 11th in the POWERade Championship Point Standings, his highest ranking of the season.

“After our run the previous weekend in Atlanta, it was nice to come out here, grab a win in the opening round and provide a solid showing, ” said Johnson Jr.. “Our team worked very hard on the Skoal Racing Chevrolet Impala and as a result, we jumped seven positions in the points standings. Now we’ll take this momentum into Bristol in two weeks and look to continue to move up to the top where we belong.”

The finals of the Funny Car division saw Ron Capps narrowly defeat Del Worsham to earn his third race win of the season and extending his overall points lead over Robert Hight to 121.

Johnson’s wife Melanie Troxel captured the Top Fuel Division, defeating Cory McClenathan in the final round to become just the second female winner in track history. With her win, Troxel jumped from ninth to fifth in the points standings.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

DAVID POWERS MOTORSPORTS AND FABICK CAT
PARTNER FOR ST. LOUIS NHRA RACE

MADISON, Ill. (May 1, 2007) - Four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Rod Fuller will compete behind the wheel of the yellow-and-black Caterpillar dragster for the second time this season. David Powers Motorsports and Fenton, Mo.-based Fabick Cat have partnered to back the Fuller-driven rail during the 11th annual O'Reilly Midwest Nationals, May 4-6, at Gateway International Raceway, team owner David Powers announced today. Linn State Technical College, located in Linn, Mo., also will be involved during the weekend.

The relationship between David Powers Motorsports and the Cat dealer groups is designed as a pilot program to increase technician recruiting. Caterpillar dealers are experiencing a shortage of technicians, and NHRA drag racing offers a technician-rich recruiting environment to find qualified candidates with experienced mechanical backgrounds. Fabick Cat is the authorized dealer for Caterpillar equipment, prime and stand-by power systems, parts and service, compact construction, and rental equipment for 99 counties in southern Missouri and Illinois. David Powers Motorsports partnered with Caterpillar and Houston-based Mustang Cat during the Houston NHRA event in late March.

"After the great success with the Caterpillar program in Houston, we're now to do our second venue, this time in St. Louis," Powers said. "For all the parties involved, Caterpillar and Fabick Cat, our hopes are to create the same result that we experienced for Mustang Cat. We learned from the Houston event and we have a few new ideas for this program."

Fuller enters the St. Louis race ranked second in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. He trails points leader Brandon Bernstein by just 19 points. Fuller earned his fourth career Top Fuel victory at the Phoenix race in late February and led the Top Fuel standings following four races. He also set career-best performance marks at the Phoenix race, 4.466 seconds at 331.61 mph. Last weekend at Atlanta Dragway, the Las Vegas racer earned his third career No. 1 qualifying award.

"I'm so excited to have Fabick Cat on the car," Fuller said. "Cat is such a recognizable company around the globe. To represent them is such an honor. Hopefully, we can have more success on the track and help them reach their recruiting goals again. It would be neat to give Cat its first win in NHRA drag racing in their home state of Illinois."

In just its second full season on the NHRA circuit, David Powers Motorsports features Fuller and the Matco Tools dragster of 20-time NHRA winner Whit Bazemore. The Powers cars currently rank second and fifth in the Top Fuel division. Both Fuller and Bazemore have earned pole awards this season. Champion tuner Lee Beard and Rob Flynn lead Powers' tuning braintrust as both Fuller and Bazemore eye spots in the Countdown to the Championship.

"Fabick CAT is thrilled to sponsor the team of David Powers Motorsports and Rod Fuller," Fabick CAT Marketing Supervisor Renee Famula said. "Mixing a successful race team with Fabick CAT and Linn State Technical College is the perfect way to capture the attention of many skilled technicians. We will have applications available in Rod Fuller's pit for anyone interested in a career in the construction and truck engine fields."

Fabick Cat will offer an impressive display of Caterpillar equipment at the NHRA event in St. Louis. They will have a location in the popular Manufacturer?s Midway area of the pits where fans can acquire information on the construction equipment, meet Fuller, and inquire about a career as a Caterpillar dealer technician.

ESPN2 will feature two hours of qualifying highlights from the O'Reilly Midwest Nationals from 5-7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 5, and three hours of final eliminations coverage from 7-10 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, May 6.
 

LAGANA VERY PLEASED WITH RUNNER-UP FINISH IN ROCKINGHAM
New York-based Top Fuel driver sees progress in North Carolina

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (April 26, 2007) – Bobby Lagana Jr. came up just short at the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham, N.C., but the loss left him optimistic with 10 of 12 IHRA national events remaining on the 2007 national event schedule.

The Scarsdale , N.Y. resident and his Dinwiddie, Virginia-based Twilight Zone Top Fuel team overcame the early-season struggle in San Antonio , where he fell in the first round, to advance to the final at Rockingham Dragway. Though T.J. Zizzo walked away with the Ironman, Lagana and crew chief Jay Lewis walked away with the knowledge that they may have figured out the new IHRA-mandated Goodyear tire.

“We struggled a little bit on the new tire because we didn’t have a lot of runs on it,” Lagana said. “We were kind of feeling our way along until we could build up enough information for Jay Lewis to know which way to go with it. Jay did a great job this weekend and I think he figured a few things out. We should be in good shape for the next race in Tulsa .”

Lagana qualified in the #6 position at the Spring Nationals before defeating Bruce Litton, the winner in San Antonio , in the first round. Lagana’s first round 4.698 at 308.92 mph was a season-best and easily outdistanced Litton’s 5.672 at 164.69.

In the semifinal he squared off with Michael Gunderson. Gunderson lit the red-light with a -.192 reaction time, giving the round victory to Lagana who, with the win in hand, idled down the track.

“The left lane was not nearly as good as the right lane, and looking back maybe we should have went after lane choice in the semifinals,” Jay Lewis said. “But we were saving parts and thought we would be okay in the left lane. It was the right decision at the time and in the end it kind of cost us.”

In the final Zizzo had a slight .006 advantage at the tree, but Lagana caught up to him by half track and had a slim lead at the 1,000 foot mark. But the motor of his ’06 McKinney Dragster put two holes out in the last half of the track, allowing Zizzo to nip him at the finish line. Zizzo posted a 4.772/297.16 pass to Lagana’s 4.916/266.85.

“We didn’t get the win, but we had a great weekend,” Lagana said. “My father was able to come down for the race, our good friend Al LaManna was here and Jay’s father Sam was here. It was great getting to the final, it was even better with so much family here. Plus we left in fourth place in the points. It’s really early in the season and we think we have figured things out. This year should be exciting.”

Lagana and the Twilight Zone Top Fuel team will be back in action May 25-27 at the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals at Tulsa Raceway Park.

About Bobby Lagana Racing
Bobby Lagana Jr. is in his ninth year of competition in the International Hot Rod Association’s Top Fuel class. Following in the footsteps of his father, noted Funny Car pilot Bob Lagana, he began driving professionally at the age of 19 and enjoyed his most successful season last year. In 2006 he won two of the 11 IHRA national events, in Grand Bend, Ontario and Epping , New Hampshire , eventually finishing third in world championship points standings. Following the season he was awarded IHRA’s most prestigious award, the IHRA Sportsman of the Year, at the season-ending champion’s banquet in Greensboro , N.C. His Crew Chief, Jay Lewis, also was honored at the champion’s banquet, being selected as IHRA Professional Crew Chief of the Year. Lagana’s primary sponsor is Skull Shine, an industrial-strength cleaning product that is part of Michigan-based fuel magnate Evan Knoll’s line of racing and automobile-related products. Lagana also has a primary sponsorship agreement with Pelham Lumber. For more information about Skull Shine or Torco Racing Fuels, visit the company’s website at www.torco.com  Lagana also has associate sponsorship from Tom Stephens Racing, Eric “Lippy,” Bryant Neville Racing, Lichenstein Motorsports, RMI Titanium, Innovative Machine and Powertech Generators. The team has product sponshrship from Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Lucas Oil Products, Coastal Utilities, Howards Cams, Goodyear Tires, Storm Crankshaft, Ed Milano & DSI Cleaners, Beechwood Auto Body and Mr. Sign. For more information about Bobby Lagana Jr. and his Twilight Zone Top Fuel team, visit www.bobbylagana.com.

About IHRA
Headquartered in Norwalk , Ohio , the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), a division of Live Nation, promotes professional, semi-professional and local level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The $19.5 million Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is a 12-event North American professional drag racing circuit. In 2007, the series will be comprised of nine events in major cities throughout the United States and three in Canada . The Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Championship presented by Mr. Gasket consists of competition at national events and 40 events in six regional divisions, while IHRA’s Summit SuperSeries is conducted nearly every weekend at over 70 IHRA-sanctioned tracks. Providing a safe environment to develop future stars, IHRA offers the Junior Dragster Racing Series for youths ages 8-17. Stand-alone events include Live Nation’s entertainment-filled “Thunder Jam” shows and the street legal racing and lifestyle event series Kumho Street Warriorz presented by Hooters. More information can be found at www.ihra.com.

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER SUFFERS RARE FIRST-ROUND LOSS AT ATLANTA

COMMERCE, Ga. (April 29, 2007) - Rod Fuller experienced the highs and lows of NHRA drag racing this weekend at Atlanta Dragway. On Saturday afternoon, the four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner claimed his third career No. 1 qualifying award. A day later, the rising Top Fuel star was defeated in the opening round of eliminations of the 27th annual Southern Nationals.

Fuller powered his all-white, un-sponsored dragster to the top of the pack with a 4.506-second elapsed time on Friday evening at Atlanta Dragway to earn his third career pole. That pitted the Las Vegas racer against an unlikely No. 16 qualifier, 29-time NHRA winner and perennial title-contender Doug Kalitta. Competing in his 100th career round of Top Fuel competition, Fuller and Kalitta used nearly identical reaction times, but Fuller's white dragster lost traction early and slowed to a run of 7.103 seconds at 107.26 mph after dropping a cylinder. Kalitta cruised to a pass of 4.606 at 317.19 to earn the win light and trip to round two. Fuller has yet to win a round when starting from the No. 1 spot.

"I'm disappointed, but we're fortunate that the other contenders are going out early too," Fuller said. "On the other hand, we could have put some distance between us and them. It's just drag racing. You'll have good days and bad days. We'll learn from what happened. I don't regret being No. 1 (qualifier). We were running the car that was No. 2 in the world last year and one of the best drivers in the class. The field is so tight. There is no easy opponent. You just have to go out and win."

Fuller now sits second in the NHRA Top Fuel standings, trailing points leader Brandon Bernstein by 19 points. The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 11th annual O'Reilly Midwest Nationals, May 4-6, at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. Fuller earned his first career Top Fuel pole last June at the Madison race.

R1 Kalitta (.077) 4.606 ET, 317.19 MPH def. FULLER (.084) 7.103 ET, 107.26 MPH

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE FALLS EARLY AT ATLANTA,
STILL FIFTH IN NHRA TOP FUEL POINTS

COMMERCE, Ga. (April 29, 2007) - Whit Bazemore and the David Powers-owned Matco Tools Top Fuel team held their ground in the NHRA standings Sunday at Atlanta Dragway. The longtime Georgia native qualified his Matco Tools dragster well, but fell in the opening round of eliminations during the 27th running of the popular Southern Nationals.

After powering his Lee Beard-tuned Matco Tools rail to the No. 4 qualifying position on the strength of a 4.524-second effort on Friday afternoon, the 20-time NHRA winner was matched-up against 29-time NHRA winner Cory McClenathan for the fourth time in six races. All four meetings between the two veteran nitro racers have come in the opening round. McClenathan got the jump at the start in his colorful orange and black rail as Bazemore blistered the Atlanta Dragway quarter mile in 4.527 seconds at 319.22 mph, however Cory Mac earned the win light after carding a 4.569-second lap. It was Bazemore's first holeshot defeat since making the switch from Funny Car to Top Fuel. Bazemore's elapsed time was the quickest of the first round of eliminations.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Bazemore said. "We have a great race car. I let the team down today. I'm determined to not let this happen again."

"We're pleased with the performance of the car," Beard added. "We've been good out of the trailer all season long. We ran low E.T. of the first session on Friday with that 4.52. We've qualified in the top four at the last four races. We had low E.T. of the first round, so we're pleased with the way the car is running. You'll have days when the driver gets beat on a holeshot and you'll have days when the driver wins on a holeshot. It's a team effort. You win and lose as a team."

With 17 races remaining on the 2007 NHRA schedule, Bazemore ranks fifth in the Top Fuel standings. The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 11th annual O?Reilly Midwest Nationals, May 4-6, at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

R1 McClenathan (.063) 4.569 ET, 317.99 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.114) 4.527 ET, 319.22 MPH

www.matcotools.com

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

Get To Know - Rod Fuller

Date of birth: April 20, 1971

Age: 36

Birthplace: Chicago

Residence: Las Vegas

High school: Rogers (AR) High School

First car: 1978 Corvette

Current car: 2006 Viper

First race car: Super Comp dragster

Dream car: Ferrari F40

Favorite race track: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Least favorite race track: Gateway International Raceway

Most knowledgeable fans: Gainesville

Best part of being a Top Fuel driver: Not having to drive the rig

Worst part of being a Top Fuel driver: The pressure

If you weren't a Top Fuel driver, you'd be: Valet parking cars

Racing heroes: Aryton Senna, Blaine Johnson

Biggest racing influence: My dad (Bob Fuller)

Greatest win: Winning Super Comp at the 50th Anniversary Nationals at Pomona in 2001

Biggest racing moment: My first win at Columbus, I won the Jeg's All Stars and the race

Favorite opponent: Tony Schumacher

Least favorite opponent: Scotty Richardson

Favorite sport (non-racing): Football

Favorite athlete: Jeff Garcia

Favorite sports team: Arkansas Razorbacks

Favorite food: Sushi

Least favorite food: Indian

Favorite restaurant: Asia de Cuba in West Hollywood, Calif.

Favorite type of music: 80s

Least favorite type of music: Country

Favorite musician: Elton John

Favorite TV show: Survivor

Favorite TV station: ESPN2

Favorite movie: Gladiator

Favorite actor: Dennis Quaid

Favorite actress: Charlize Theron

Favorite book: Made in America: Sam Walton

Favorite author: Tom Clancy

Favorite magazines: Details, Men's Fitness

Favorite websites: Ebay, DragRaceCentral.com, NHRA.com, Hogwired.com

Pet peeves: People bothering me before I race

If you could have dinner with three other people, who would they be: Donald Trump, Carmen Electra, Tommy Lee

Person you'd most like to meet: Gwen Stefani
 

SKOAL RACING DEFEATED BY VEGAS WINNER

Steve Arocho - Pyramid PR

Las Vegas, NV (Apr. 19, 2007) – Tommy Johnson Jr. and the Skoal Racing team did not leave Las Vegas with a trophy, as their Funny Car Chevy Impala was bested by the SummitRacing.com Nationals’ victor Robert Hight, on Sunday’s first official run.

After finishing in the top 10 in the first day of qualifiers with a pass of 4.822 at 323 mph, the Skoal Racing vehicle lost traction and experienced mechanical problems the following day. Heading into Sunday, Johnson was to face Hight.

“It’s been a rough start to the season so far for our team, but I believe we are making progress on figuring out the problems plaguing our car,” said Johnson. “Robert Hight and Jimmy Prock are always tough draws, and unfortunately, we came up short against them. I never thought I would say this, but I am looking forward to racing Atlanta. It has always been a tough track for me, but I think we are ready to turn the corner with our performance. ”

Johnson participated in the NHRA Funny Car Driver Thunder Roadster Match Race with Cruz Pedregon, Gary Scelzi, and Ron Capps. He was the number one qualifier, but they inverted the field and he had to start towards the end. Johnson ended up finishing a close second behind Capps in the eight-lap race.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

POINTS-LEADER FULLER FINISHES THIRD IN TOP FUEL ORDER AT THE STRIP

LAS VEGAS (April 14, 2007) - Rod Fuller and his David Powers-owned Top Fuel team put on a great show for his hometown fans and friends. The current NHRA points leader drove his all-white dragster to the No. 3 qualifying position with a 4.498-second pass Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Fuller, who won the Phoenix race in February, made his quickest run of the weekend on Friday's second attempt when he stopped the LVMS clocks in 4.498 seconds at 328.94 mph. After striking the tires on Saturday's first qualifying run, Fuller powered his Rob Flynn-tuned rail to a stout 4.533 at 324.67 lap. It was the third quickest run of the round and marks the second straight race that Fuller has qualified third.

"We made a good solid run on Saturday afternoon," Fuller said. "We went in test mode today to figure out how to get down hot race tracks. We have a lot more horsepower this year with that Canadian Horsepower from Rob (Flynn). Last year we were dominate on hot, greasy tracks, but this year we don't have those tracks figured out. We do well on cool tracks. Rob (Flynn) is trying to figure out how to get down hot tracks. We felt good for that. The weather is supposed to cool off and that plays into our hands. I'll never complain about qualifying third, and our teammate (Whit Bazemore) qualified fourth and we're on opposite sides of the ladder."

"The last run was to make sure we could go down the track," Flynn added. "We should have been trying to push harder. We wanted a confident-boosting run. We've been spinning the tires when it's hot out. We did what the car told us to do. Other than Whit (Bazemore), nobody really improved. I told David (Powers) if it ran a 4.55 to be happy. I feel good about tomorrow. We'll see what the conditions are and adjust accordingly."

Fuller will face off against No. 14 qualifier Mike Strasburg in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (PT) on Sunday. ESPN2 will air three hours of final eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.

Q1 4.755 ET, 274.22 MPH No. 7

Q2 4.498 ET, 328.94 MPH No. 3

Q3 5.128 ET, 195.85 MPH No. 3

Q4 4.533 ET, 324.67 MPH No. 3
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE RACES TO CAREER-BEST E.T. EN ROUTE TO
NO. 4 SPOT AT VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (April 14, 2007) - Two weeks after earning his 30th career pole, 20-time NHRA winner Whit Bazemore clocked a career-best elapsed time Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The veteran nitro pilot blasted his Matco Tools dragster to a run of 4.498-seconds to qualify fourth at the spring Las Vegas race.

One day after racing his Lee Beard-tuned Matco Tools rail to a career-best 4.501-second elapsed time, the first-year Top Fuel racer carded the first 4.4-second elapsed time of his career. Entering the day ranked fourth in the 16-car order, Bazemore used a tune-up from his champion crew chief to blister the LVMS quarter mile in 4.498 seconds at 324.90 mph to remain fourth in the order. It is the 23rd time that Bazemore has qualified in the No. 4 position.

"We shut it off a little early," Bazemore said. "We dropped two cylinders on that last run. It would have run a little better. It's a great effort by the team. David (Powers) and Tim Buckley and all the people that support the Matco Tools team are all excited. Lee (Beard) and the guys are doing a tremendous job. Lee feels that I can handle some horsepower so he's finally turning the wick up. We have a car that can win. Basically, it's up to me to get us in the winner's circle. That's the challenge. We have to dig deep and make all those things happen tomorrow.

"The performance of the car is great, but the most important thing is that I'm excited to be here and want to race. That wasn't the case at Houston at the last race. There's too much risk if you don't love it. This weekend proved to me that I still do, and that's the most important thing. Anytime there's a tragedy, it forces you to re-think your commitment."

Bazemore will battle veteran NHRA Top Fuel pilot Cory McClenathan for the third time this season when final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. (PT) on Sunday morning. He is 2-0 on the year versus the 28-time NHRA Top Fuel winner. ESPN2 will air three hours of final eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.

Q1 4.550 ET, 326.71 MPH No. 1

Q2 4.501 ET, 328.14 MPH No. 4

Q3 9.955 ET, 76.37 MPH No. 4

Q4 4.498 ET, 324.90 MPH No. 4
 

SKOAL RACING’S TOMMY JOHNSON JR. SEEKING HIGHER STANDING

Las Vegas, NV (Apr. 11, 2007) – One of the most exciting cities in America is the site for this weekend’s SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, and Skoal Racing plans on taking care of business. This means one thing to Funny Car Driver Tommy Johnson Jr.: winning.

After a promising start at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston, TX, Skoal Racing’s Johnson was bested by the quickest run of the weekend. Johnson and crew are priming their Chevy Impala for a big weekend, and are hoping to build on their 10th place standing in the NHRA Funny Car-division.

“The Las Vegas track is one of the best on the tour and my favorite,” said Johnson. “I have won here in the past, and things always seem to go our way. I can't think of a better place to get our Skoal Racing team back into winning ways. With all the hard work the crew has put in, and with a little Vegas luck on our side, I feel confident we can get in the winners’ circle again this weekend.”

In his first season driving for Skoal Racing, Johnson topped the field in Las Vegas in April of 2001. He currently sits 10th in points-standings with 128; tied with Tim Wilkerson. The SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals are scheduled to take place at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from April 12-15.
 

RELIVE DRAG RACING'S PREMIER RIVALRY AS
"ONCE UPON A WHEEL" DVD IS NOW AVAILABLE
DON "THE SNAKE" PRUDHOMME & TOM "THE MONGOOSE" McEWEN,
RARE HISTORICAL FOOTAGE, GUEST INTERVIEWS & MORE FEATURED

VISTA, CA (April 10, 2007) -- Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen and Wildlife Racing, Inc., offer a unique and rare look back at the sport of drag racing with the DVD release of "Once Upon A Wheel" - featuring short films, guest interviews, historical footage and classic TV commercials from the glory days of the widely popular "Mongoose vs. Snake" match race era.

Before reality shows became the norm and Corporate America realized the value in motorsports sponsorship, Prudhomme and McEwen granted all-access to camera crews as they barnstormed the country in search of trophies, prize money and bragging rights on the match race circuit. The short film "Match Race" features unscripted, behind-the-scenes footage from the early 1970s of both legendary drivers as they travel from Indiana to Michigan, tune their cars in the pits and compete on the drag strip.

"It was a time when the sport was at its most pure," said Prudhomme. "It was normal for Tom and I to race against each other two or three times at various tracks in different states all within one week's time," recalled Prudhomme. "Of course, I usually was the one who left with the trophy."

Also included on "Once Upon a Wheel" is a vintage photograph slide show as well as candid interviews with Hot Wheels' Chief Designer Larry Wood, and Funny Car champion John Force, among others.

"Once Upon a Wheel" retails for $29.95 and is available for purchase from Don Prudhomme Racing by calling 1-800-TO-SNAKE or via the internet at www.snakeracing.com.  The 67-minute DVD is also available from the Snake Racing merchandise trailer found at each of the 23 national events on the NHRA POWERade Series.
 

Get To Know - Whit Bazemore

Date of birth: March 12, 1963

Age: 44

Birthplace: New York

Residence: Indianapolis

High school: North Fulton High School, Atlanta

First car: 1971 MG Midget

Current car: 2001 BMW M5

First race car: Formula Ford

Dream car: Porsche Carrera GT

Favorite race tracks: Bandimere Speedway and Bristol Dragway

Least favorite race track: None

Most knowledgeable fans: There is a contingent of knowledgeable fans at every race

Best part of being a Top Fuel/Funny Car driver: Being successful at a job I love to do

Worst part of being a Top Fuel/Funny Car driver: Constant travel

If you weren't a Top Fuel driver, you'd be: On the street or trading stocks

Racing heroes: Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Don Prudhomme, Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney

Biggest racing influence: Too many people have helped me to name just one.

Greatest win: Indy in 1997 and 2001

Biggest racing moment: Winning Indy

Favorite opponent: John Force

Least favorite opponent: No one

Favorite sport (non-racing): Cycling

Favorite athlete: Eddy Merckx

Favorite sports team: MacLaren

Favorite food: Indian

Least favorite food: I don't have one

Favorite restaurant: All India Café in Pasadena, Calif. In Indy, it's H2o sushi.

Favorite type of music: Right now, it's blues-based rock

Least favorite type of music: I like all kinds of music

Favorite musician: Jimmy Page

Favorite TV show: Cyclism Sundays

Favorite TV station: OLN

Favorite movie: Godfather (Part 1)

Favorite actor: Robert DeNiro or Jack Nicholson

Favorite actress: Annette Bening

Favorite book: Market Wizards, Technical Analysis Explained and Sheep in a Jeep

Favorite author: Mario Puzo

Favorite magazines: F1 Racing, Pro Cycling, Dwell (AND, Cycle Sport, VeloNews, Motorsport, Autoweek, Outside, Houses, National Geographic, NYTimes, Investors' Business Daily-I'm a periodical junkie!)

Favorite websites: Cyclingnews.com, PezCyclingNews.com, SevenCycles.com, IQCharts.com

Pet peeves: Incompetence

If you could have dinner with three other people, who would they be: My wife, son and dad.

Person you'd most like to meet: Aryton Senna

www.matcotools.com
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

SKOAL RACING’S TOMMY JOHNSON JR. HELD BACK BY FASTEST RUN AT SPRING NATIONALS

Steve Arocho - Pyramid PR

BAYTOWN, TX (Apr. 4, 2007) – The rain subsided, the track dried, but in the end, Skoal Racing’s first victory of 2007 is still on hold. Skoal Racing’s Tommy Johnson Jr.’s weekend ended at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals as his Chevy Impala Funny Car was defeated by the fastest pass in Houston this year. Mike Ashley thwarted Johnson’s efforts with a run of 4.788 seconds at 325 mph.

Johnson started off in promising position with an initial pass of 4.964 at 304 mph—good enough for 7th after Friday’s first session. Despite improving his qualifying sessions with a run of 4.902 seconds at 312 mph, Johnson qualified at the 13th position heading into Saturday. Heavy rains completely washed out Saturday’s qualifiers.

“It was certainly a disappointing weekend for us,” said Johnson. “As tough as the funny car division is right now, you can’t be off at all, and we were off a little. It did definitely hurt us only having two qualifiers due to the rain, but Saturday was a perfect example why every run has to be treated as the real thing—sometimes we just don’t get the chance to put ourselves in better standing. We have to come into Las Vegas with an eye on improving our overall performance.”

It was quite a busy week for Johnson as he and his wife, Top Fuel Dragster Melanie Troxel, toured NASA for an ESPN reality show—taking part in the facility’s flight simulators. In addition, on top of the circus of fans and media at the Spring Nationals, all drivers were required to attend the NHRA-sponsored safety session on Friday to prevent future serious injuries.

Johnson, who turns 39 on Friday, currently sits 10th in points standings with 128; tied with Tim Wilkerson. The SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals are scheduled to take place in Las Vegas from April 12-15.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

DAVID POWERS MOTORSPORTS PARTNERS WITH SILVERTON CASINO
FOR NHRA LAS VEGAS EVENT

PITTSBORO, Ind. (APRIL 4, 2007) - The Silverton Casino and Lodge in Las Vegas will serve as team headquarters for NHRA Top Fuel powerhouse David Powers Motorsports during the spring event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was announced today.

The David Powers Motorsports operation, which includes Las Vegas racer and four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Rod Fuller and 20-time NHRA winner and longtime Matco Tools driver Whit Bazemore, will call the Silverton home during the eighth annual Summit Racing.com Nationals, April 12-15, at The Strip at LVMS. Fuller, who won the Phoenix race in February, currently leads the NHRA Top Fuel standings, while Bazemore is ranked fourth.

"We're excited to have a local casino partner with our team," Fuller said. "The Silverton is my local hangout. I live close to there and spend a lot of time at The Silverton. The Twin Creek's Steakhouse is fantastic. It's a casino that appeals to all crowds. I'm excited for our team. It's a really nice place."

Fuller and Bazemore will sign autographs at the Silverton beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 12. The Silverton will give away tickets to the April 13 Quite Riot concert and the April 14 Gin Blossoms show during the autograph session. After qualifying concludes at The Strip on Saturday afternoon, Fuller will attend the Gin Blossoms concert at 8 p.m. and will mix and mingle with concert goers and NHRA fans that attend the show. Fans that attend Thursday's autograph session at the Silverton or pick up a handout card at Fuller's pit area will receive a coupon good for two free Budweiser domestic draft beers at the Silverton during the race weekend.

"We are thrilled to play home to Rod, Whit and the entire David Powers Motorsports team," Silverton President Craig Cavileer said. "As a local's casino, we are proud to support a fellow resident like Rod as he attempts to add another victory to his highly successful career."

Voted "Best Locals Casino" in AOL CityGuide's 2007 City's Bestâ awards, The Silverton Casino Lodge is located three miles south of Mandalay Bay at I-15 and Blue Diamond Rd./Dean Martin Dr. The renovated property boasts a revamped interior and exterior, and offers all-inclusive amenities characteristic of an upscale, contemporary luxury lodge-themed property. Silverton's attractions include the world-class, live action Seasons buffet, Sundance Grill, a terrific 24-hour restaurant/grill, the delicious, Epicurean award-winning Twin Creeks Steakhouse, the 2007 Zagat Las Vegas Nightlife listed Hootie & the Blowfish's Shady Grove Lounge, and the new, Mexican-inspired Mi Casa Grill Cantina as well as 300 newly renovated deluxe rooms and suites that offer luxurious amenities. In addition to the 165,000 square foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Silverton offers 60,000 square feet of gaming with 1,400 slot machines and 30 table games, an intimate poker room and the Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge, featuring a 117,000 gallon saltwater aquarium with more than 5,000 sharks, stingrays and tropical fish. For more information, please call (702) 263-7777 or visit www.silvertoncasino.com.

Headquartered in Houston with race operations located in Pittsboro, Ind., David Powers Motorsports fields the two-car Top Fuel operation of drivers Whit Bazemore and "Hot" Rod Fuller. DPM proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Valvoline, LP Corporation, Toyota, Vintage Design Inc., Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Ringers Gloves, and Ocean43.com.

www.silvertoncasino.com 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER SUFFERS FIRST OPENING-ROUND SETBACK OF THE SEASON

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 1, 2007) - Rod Fuller and the David Powers-owned Caterpillar/Mustang Cat team suffered a first-round defeat Sunday at Houston Raceway Park during the 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals. Despite the early setback, the four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner is still the NHRA Top Fuel points leader. It marks the first time Fuller has fell in the opening round in 10 races.

The popular young driver qualified his Caterpillar/Mustang Cat dragster in the No. 3 position with a 4.533-second elapsed time on Friday at the Houston track. Following a three-hour rain delay, the competition finally again roared to life at Houston Raceway Park around 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. A car had not gone down the track since Friday evening's second Top Fuel qualifying session after more than a day of rain in the area.

Facing a green race track, Fuller used a slight starting line advantage to score the early lead, but the Caterpillar/Mustang Cat dragster instantly overpowered the track and smoked the tires. Fuller coasted to a run of 12.287-seconds in his yellow and black rail, while Litton drove to a run of 4.703 seconds at 303.37 mph. It was Fuller's first opening round defeat since the Memphis, Tenn. event last August when his car was shut off at the starting line.

"Obviously I'm frustrated going out early," Fuller said. "We feel there was a malfunction, but we can't find it yet. I felt something funny when I hit the throttle. We're fortunate that a few cars also went out early. Sure I want to be in the points lead, but we want our teammate (Whit Bazemore) to do well and to have these two David Powers cars one-two in the standings. So, it's a catch 22.

"I'm excited about going home to Las Vegas in a few weeks. We did really well there last fall and that's a great race track. We might run a new race car and I have a lot of confidence with our team."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the eighth annual Summitracing.com Nationals, April 12-15, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fuller, a Las Vegas resident, qualified ninth at the spring Las Vegas event last April.

R1 Litton (.081) 4.703 ET, 303.37 MPH def. FULLER (.068) 12.287 ET, 73.92 MPH

www.CAT.com/dealercareers 

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE DRIVES MATCO TOOLS RAIL TO
QUARTERFINAL EFFORT AT HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 1, 2007) - Entering the 20th running of the O'Reilly Spring Nationals with mixed emotions, Whit Bazemore, behind the wheel of his David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster, joined an elite drag racing club during qualifying before racing to a quarterfinal finish Sunday at Houston Raceway Park.

After carding his 30th career pole, becoming just the 15th driver in NHRA history to qualify No. 1 in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, Bazemore knocked off 29-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Cory McClenathan before losing traction and falling to Joe Hartley in the second round. Bazemore now sits fourth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings, trailing teammate Rod Fuller by 47 points.

In the opening round of eliminations, which came following a three-hour rain delay, Bazemore was pitted against McClenathan for the second time this season. He defeated the longtime Top Fuel racer in the first round at the season-opening Winternationals. The veteran nitro pilots both used solid reaction times as Bazemore used a Lee Beard tune-up to blast to a run of 4.559 seconds at 320.05 mph to knock off Cory Mac's traction-losing run of 5.719-seconds. Bazemore's recorded the third quickest elapsed time of the round.

With just a 65-minute turnaround between rounds, the Matco Tools crew did a superb job getting Bazemore to the starting line to face the part-time racer from Oregon. The 20-time NHRA winner got the slight jump at the start, but the Matco Tools dragster lost traction early and slowed to a run of 6.621 seconds at 133.68 mph. Hartley drove his red dragster to a solid pass of 4.894-seconds to earn the trip to the semifinals. Bazemore remains the only Top Fuel driver to have not lost in the opening round of eliminations this season.

"It was a tough weekend," Bazemore said. "There's a new way to lose all the time. The car shook and I pedaled it. The car shook and the helmet moved on my head, so essentially I couldn't see. So, I'm taking the helmet home and we're going to get it fixed. I've never had that happen before. It would have been hard to beat him anyway.

"We have a great race car and a great team, it's just a matter of being patient and to keep doing what we're doing. If we do that, the wins will come our way. We're still in the top of the points race and our teammate (Rod Fuller) is number one, so we have two really strong cars."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the eighth annual Summitracing.com Nationals, April 12-15, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bazemore qualified 10th last April at The Strip at LVMS en route to a semifinal finish. The veteran nitro pilot has one victory (2005) in five career final-round appearances at The Strip.

R1 BAZEMORE (.069) 4.559 ET, 320.05 MPH def. McClenathan (.055) 5.719 ET, 151.51 MPH

R2 Hartley (.081) 4.894 ET, 253.18 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.078) 6.621 ET, 133.68 MPH

www.matcotools.com

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER POWERS NEW COLORS OF CATERPILLAR/MUSTANG CAT
TO PROVISIONAL NO. 3 POSITION AT HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas (March 30, 2007) - The tandem of Rod Fuller and crew chief Rob Flynn continued their strong performance in NHRA drag racing's elite category, Top Fuel, Friday at Houston Raceway Park. The four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner sported his new yellow and black colors of Caterpillar/Mustang Cat and powered to the provisional No. 3 qualifying position with a run of 4.533 seconds.

The current POWERade points leader paced the Top Fuel field during the first qualifying session. Fuller used a Flynn tune-up to blister the Houston Raceway Park quarter mile with a crushing run of 4.561 seconds at 317.64 mph. It was the quickest and fastest run of the opening session. Fuller's 4.561-second elapsed time was five hundredths of-a-second quicker than No. 2 qualifier J.R. Todd's 4.61-second burst. For the night cap, the Las Vegas racer bettered his previous run by powering to the third quickest run of the day, 4.533 at 326.56. Fuller sits third in the 16-car order, while Matco Tools teammate Whit Bazemore is the provisional No. 1 qualifier after clocking a run of 4.514 seconds.

"Our first run was stellar," Fuller said. "We had the field covered pretty good. That makes you feel good about yourself. We wanted to be No. 1 tonight, but we're happy with two solid runs. The nighttime session is more for show. We race in the day on Sunday. I feel that we can improve on Saturday, but my goal is to be the fastest during the daytime conditions. It was a good day for our two cars."

Top Fuel qualifying resumes with sessions scheduled for Noon and 3 p.m. (CT) at the ultra quick Houston-area track. ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights from the 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals at 7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 31.

Q1 4.561 ET, 317.64 MPH No. 1

Q2 4.533 ET, 326.56 MPH No. 3

www.CAT.com 

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE EARNS PROVISIONAL POLE FRIDAY AT HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas (March 30, 2007) - Whit Bazemore continued his smooth transition from Funny Car driver to Top Fuel racer Friday at Houston Raceway Park. The 20-time NHRA winner drove his Matco Tools dragster to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position with a stout 4.514-second elapsed time to pace the 16-car field.

The Matco Tools rail shook the tires on its first run of the weekend positioning Bazemore in the No. 17 spot. With the potential for rain looming on Saturday, champion tuner Lee Beard made the right call for Friday's second qualifying effort. The first dragster to battle the Houston Raceway Park track on Friday evening, Bazemore blistered the quarter mile in 4.514 seconds at 326.87 mph to claim the provisional pole. It was the quickest and fastest run of the opening day of action at the Houston race.

"We're glad to get the pole tonight because it may rain tomorrow," Bazemore said. "That's a good result for the team. We come here with different emotions and you have to answer them. And we have to answer them by getting in the car. My guys are working hard, we have a great team.

"I'm really surprised it held. We struggled on the first run and that 4.51 showed the track was there. It would have taken more. I expected (Rod) Fuller to run better. This is big to have both cars in the top three. This is David's (Powers) home track and Hot Rod has a new sponsor this race, so this is good."


Top Fuel qualifying resumes with sessions scheduled for Noon and 3 p.m. (CT) at the ultra- quick Houston-area track. ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights from the 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals at 7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 31.

Q1 11.172 ET, 74.81 MPH No. 17

Q2 4.514 ET, 326.87 MPH No. 1

www.matcotools.com

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER RACES TO ANOTHER SEMIFINAL FINISH AT GAINESVILLE

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18, 2007) - After racing his Valvoline dragster to its second semifinal finish of the 2007 NHRA season Sunday at Gainesville Raceway, four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Rod Fuller continues to lead the POWERade Top Fuel standings. It marks the sixth time in the last seven races that he has advanced to at least the semifinals.

Starting from the No. 2 qualifying slot for the third straight race, Fuller knocked off rising star J.R. Todd and Dave Grubnic, before falling short to four-time series champion Tony Schumacher in the semifinals.

As the seventh pair of cars to battle the tricky Gainesville Raceway quarter mile on Sunday morning, the two rising stars used nearly identical reaction times and put on a great show for the capacity crowd in Gator Country. Fuller carded his fifth straight round win by racing his Rob Flynn-tuned Valvoline dragster to a performance of 4.515 seconds at 328.70 mph to just edge Todd at the finish line. The 2006 NHRA Rookie of the Year drove his Johnny West-tuned dragster to run of 4.569 seconds. Fuller recorded the quickest elapsed time of the round.

The veteran NHRA competitor scored his sixth straight round win by powering to the win over the fan-favorite Australian driver. Fuller used a slight starting-line advantage to score the wire-to-wire victory. He piloted his Valvoline dragster to a run of 4.646 at 309.13, while Grubnic's rail slowed to a 5.393-second elapsed time. It is the second straight race where Fuller has knocked off Grubnic during eliminations.

In the semifinals, Fuller used a solid .050 (of-a-second) reaction time to speed to the early lead against Schumacher, but Fuller had to pedal the Valvoline dragster and slowed to a run of 4.879 seconds at 324.05 mph. Schumacher clocked a solid 4.647-second pass to advance to his first final-round appearance of the 2007 NHRA season.

"I'm really excited about our team," Fuller said. "I had never won a round at Gainesville and today we went to the semis again. It was a tough weekend. You have to qualify before you can go rounds. Look at what happened to Brandon (Bernstein). Qualifying is never a given.

"After we made that solid run in the first round, that took a lot of pressure off. Our confidence is growing as a team, and our teammate is doing well. You can't be disappointed over a semi. If you do that every race, you'll be the champion."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals, March 30-April 1, at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. Fuller qualified sixth at the Houston race last year.

R1 FULLER (.086) 4.515 ET, 328.70 MPH def. Todd (.084) 4.569 ET, 321.58 MPH

R2 FULLER (.074) 4.646 ET, 309.13 MPH def. Grubnic (.080) 5.393 ET, 224.25 MPH

R3 Schumacher (.079) 4.647 ET, 313.88 MPH def. FULLER (.050) 4.879 ET, 324.05 MPH

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE DRIVES TO SEMIS AT GAINESVILLE,
MOVES TO THIRD IN TOP FUEL STANDINGS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18, 2007) - Whit Bazemore advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive race Sunday afternoon at Gainesville Raceway. The 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner moved to third place in the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

Bazemore started from the No. 4 position, the best of his brief Top Fuel career, after qualifying with a 4.542-second elapsed time. In the opening round of eliminations, the veteran nitro pilot bested Michael Gunderson, then second-year pro Hillary Will, before losing traction and falling to two-time champion Larry Dixon in the semifinals.

Facing off against the upstart Florida Top Fuel racer, the longtime Matco Tools driver used a slight jump at the start to score the wire-to-wire victory. Bazemore's rail dropped a cylinder, but still powered to a run of 4.694 seconds at 306.40 mph to easily defeat Gunderson, whose dragster lost traction early and slowed to a 13-second elapsed time.

Bazemore advanced to the semifinals for the second straight race by knocking off the Top Fuel starlet from Michigan. The drivers used nearly identical reaction times before the Matco Tools rail pulled away for the win. Bazemore blasted to a run of 4.609 at 317.42 to hold off Will's run of 4.710 seconds. It's the second straight race that Bazemore had defeated Will.

In the semifinals, the veteran drivers used solid reaction times, but the Matco Tools dragster lost traction early and slowed to a 9.117-second effort. Dixon's orange and white rail labored to a run of 5.165 seconds to advance to his first final round of the season.

"It wasn't a bad weekend," Bazemore said. "We struggled with our consistency in qualifying, but so did a lot of teams. It was a tricky track. I was disappointed that I didn't catch it quicker in the semis. But, we moved up in the standings and our teammate is still the point's leader. We're going to test tomorrow and hopefully make this Matco Tools team even stronger."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals, March 30-April 1, at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. Bazemore advanced to the final round at the Houston track in 1998. He qualified ninth at the Houston race last year.

R1 BAZEMORE (.113) 4.694 ET, 306.40 MPH def. Gunderson (.132) 13.389 ET, 78.48 MPH

R2 BAZEMORE (.086) 4.609 ET, 317.42 MPH def. Will (.091) 4.710 ET, 303.35 MPH

R3 Dixon (.067) 5.165 ET, 193.74 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.081) 9.117 ET, 91.03 MPH

www.matcotools.com
 

Mike Ashley and Torco Announce Major Sponsorship with A&R Transport

JOLIET, Ill./ MELVILLE, NY - Mike Ashley, driver of the Torco Race Fuels, Inc. nitro Funny Car, announced a Major Associate Sponsorship agreement with A&R Transport, Inc., a leader in the trucking and transportation industry. In addition, the Joliet, Ill.-based company has been designated the Official Trucking Company of Torco Race Fuels, Inc. and will be featured on several other cars in the Torco/Knoll Gas stable.

"A&R is a very impressive company that focuses on high quality and customer service, just like Torco - so it is a great fit for all of us. I'm really excited to have them on our team and am looking forward to a long, rewarding relationship," Ashley said.

A&R Transport provides custom solutions for companies' bulk transportation, packaging, distribution and logistical needs. Through their proprietary analytical review process, they provide timely, cost effective solutions for the ever-changing global transportation market.

Mike Bedeker, owner of A&R Transport, said "Our association with Mike Ashley and Torco is sure to be a great marriage. I've been a drag racing fan since I was a child, and it's great to bring the power of nitro into our transportation world."

Ashley added, "I am excited about the opportunity to work with Mike; he's an excellent business and family man. When the NHRA visits Joliet, I'm looking forward to hosting him, his family and employees at the track."

The A&R Transport logo will be featured on Mike Ashley's Funny Car along with the Torco cars beginning with the next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event March 30-April 1 in the Houston, Texas area.


For more information about A&R Transport, Inc, visit their website: www.ARtransport.com

For more information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: www.mikeashley.com. 

About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing:
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline in addition to methanol, nitromethane and fuel additives. Torco's fuel product line is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of car care appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Products can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website: http://www.torco.com

Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:

* Knoll Gas Motorsports - www.torco.com
* Lucas Oil Products - www.lucasoil.com
* Dixie Chopper - www.dixiechopper.com 
* A&R Transport, Inc. - www.artransport.com
* Oakley - www.oakley.com 
* Lend America - www.lendamerica.com 

Lend America is a nationwide direct lender, specializing in residential financing for one to four family homes. Lend America combines a flexible, common sense loan review process with hundreds of loan programs to provide exceptional service for its clients. Lend America's Motto "Don't take NO for an answer" is in direct relation to its commitment to service borrowers with "lending or credit challenges." Contact Lend America today, (877) 4-RACELOAN.

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

VALVOLINE TO BACK POINTS LEADER FULLER AT GATORNATIONALS, WILL REMAIN AN ASSOCIATE SPONSOR FOR BALANCE OF '07 NHRA SEASON

PITTSBORO, Ind. (March 12, 2007) - Current NHRA Top Fuel points leader Rod Fuller will continue to fly the familiar red, white and blue colors of longtime sponsor Valvoline at the 38th annual ACDelco Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway. Valvoline will remain as an associate sponsor for David Powers Motorsports on Fuller?s rail and the Matco Tools dragster of Whit Bazemore.

"We're very appreciative of Valvoline stepping up to the plate to remain as Rod Fuller's primary sponsor at the Gainesville race," team owner Powers said. "This helps as we continue to hunt for a primary backer. Valvoline and Rod Fuller are synonymous, and Valvoline will continue to play a vital role in the success of our team this season."

"The plan was always to continue as an associate sponsor for David Powers Motorsports and Hot Rod Fuller, and we couldn't be more pleased that we will be the primary sponsor for the NHRA Top Fuel points leader at Gainesville," Valvoline Vice President of Global Brands Rob Stravitz said.

Fuller enters the historic Florida event atop the Top Fuel standings following his stout performance and win at the Phoenix race in late February. In a repeat of the 2006 final round, Fuller defeated Melanie Troxel to earn his fourth career NHRA Top Fuel victory. He also recorded personal-best performance marks in his Rob Flynn-tuned dragster (4.466 seconds, 331.61 mph). Fuller holds a 43-point advantage over second-generation driver Brandon Bernstein. Teammate Bazemore sits fourth in the standings, trailing Fuller by 67 points.

"It's great to keep that Valvoline paint scheme going because people associate Rod Fuller with Valvoline," Fuller said. "We've won a lot of races together, and I'm hoping we can win one more and stay on a roll. Rob (Flynn) has our car running great and I'm fired up about Gainesville. Valvoline will still be with our race team and that's important."

The Las Vegas resident has earned 17 NHRA national event victories in four different categories, Top Fuel, Super Comp, Super Gas and Stock. Fuller raced to a semifinal effort at the 2007 season-opener at Pomona, Calif. before winning at Phoenix two weeks later. He clocked the three quickest passes of his career during the Phoenix event.

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

The Fuller Times
The prerace release of four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner
"Hot" Rod Fuller and the Valvoline Racing Top Fuel team

Contact: Ted Yerzyk

38th annual ACDelco Gatornationals
March 15-18, 2007
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.

"Everything is looking good for us coming off the win in Phoenix. The pressure is still there because we don't have a primary sponsor after the Gainesville race. We're excited that Valvoline stepped up for another race. With not having the sponsor, there's some extra pressure to do well. We want to let people know that it's not a fluke that we're in the points lead. Rob Flynn can tune with the best of them. We want to show up to a track where we haven't had much luck in the past and do well this time around and keep that points lead going into Houston."

Fuller Gatornationals Notebook

Last season, Fuller qualified in the No. 8 position at the Gatornationals with a 4.601-second elapsed time. He was defeated in the opening round by 29-time NHRA winner Cory McClenathan.

In three tries at the historic Gainesville track, Fuller has yet to win a round. It is one of three tracks, along with Bandimere Speedway and Heartland Park Topeka, where the four-time NHRA winner has not won a round of Top Fuel competition.

Three weeks ago, Fuller carded his fourth career NHRA Top Fuel victory. In a repeat of the '06 Phoenix final, Fuller bested Melanie Troxel in the final round 4.490 to 4.536. Fuller clocked four runs in the 4.4-second range at the Phoenix race. It marks the first time that he has led the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

Fuller set both of his personal-bests at the Phoenix race. He blistered the Firebird Raceway quarter mile at 331.61 mph during qualifying and clocked a stout 4.466-second E.T. in the first round of eliminations.

Fuller has advanced to at least the semifinals at five of the last six NHRA races with one victory and two runner-up finishes.

Fuller made his NHRA national event debut at the 1992 Gatornationals in Super Comp. He advanced to the semifinals before bowing out to five-time NHRA sportsmen champ Scotty Richardson.

Fuller on Gainesville

The Gatornationals: "Awesome fans"
Gainesville Raceway: "Humidity"
Favorite local restaurant: "The Ale House"
Favorite Gainesville memory: "Racing Connie Kalitta in 1996"
Favorite activity while at Gainesville: "Checking out the college life"

2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings

1. ROD FULLER (1) 194 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein 151 -43
3. J.R. Todd (1) 147 -47
4. WHIT BAZEMORE 127 -67
5. Melanie Troxel 126 -68
6. Tony Schumacher 116 -78
7. Dave Grubnic 104 -90
8. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 89 -105
9. Doug Kalitta 86 -108
10. Cory McClenathan 84 -110


Rod Fuller's Career Results at Gainesville Raceway

Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver

1996 No. 13 1st round - Connie Kalitta
2006 No. 13 1st round - Tony Schumacher
2007 No. 8 1st round - Cory McClenathan
 

Fuller's Gainesville Schedule

Date & Time Event and Location

Fri., March 16, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Gainesville Raceway
Sat., March 17, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Gainesville Raceway
Sun., March 18, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Gainesville Raceway


Fuller's Career-Best Performances

E.T. - 4.466 seconds Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
MPH - 331.61 MPH Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
E.T. - 4.601 seconds Gainesville, Fla. March 2006
MPH - 322.46 MPH Gainesville, Fla. March 2006

ACDelco Gatornationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)

Date & Time (ET) Coverage

Sun., March 18, 1:30-3:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., March 18, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., March 18, 5-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.valvoline.com 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

The Bazemore Bulletin
The prerace release of 20-time NHRA winner Whit Bazemore
and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Top Fuel team

Ted Yerzyk


38th annual ACDelco Gatornationals
March 15-18, 2007
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.


"It's a big race. It's an important race. It's important for our team in the circumstances that we're in. We've got some momentum, we're new to the class, I'm new to the team, and we're fourth in the points. We want to expand on that. It's important to get our first win in Top Fuel sooner rather than later to prove that we belong here. To do that at Gainesville would be the perfect scenario being it's one of my favorite races."

Bazemore Gatornationals Notebook

Last March, Bazemore qualified 2nd at the Gatornationals with a run of 4.769 seconds. He was defeated in the opening round of eliminations by Cruz Pedregon. It was the fourth time that he qualified in the No. 2 position at the Gainesville race.

Bazemore has one career victory at Gainesville Raceway. In 2005, he defeated Bob Gilbertson in the Funny Car final. Bazemore used a run of 4.897 at 315.67 to earn the win. Gilbertson fouled at the start forcing an automatic disqualification. It is one of 12 tracks where Bazemore has scored a win.

Bazemore qualified first at the Gainesville race in 1999 (4.856, 307.58). He has 29 career poles.

Bazemore raced his Matco Tools Funny Car to top speed of the meet at the Gatornationals in 2003 after blasting to a run of 324.32 mph. He has earned the top speed of the meet 27 times in his career.

Bazemore enters the Gatornationals fourth in the POWERade Top Fuel standings following a quarterfinal effort at Pomona, Calif. and a semifinal finish at Phoenix three weeks ago. He was defeated by teammate Rod Fuller at both races. Fuller leads the points standings.

Baze Banters About Gainesville...

Gainesville: "Fun town"

Gainesville Raceway: "Traffic"

Favorite Gainesville-area cycling route: "Out of the track and go right"

Favorite local restaurants: "The nice restaurant next to Starbucks downtown"

Favorite Gainesville Raceway memory: "Winning there in '05 and getting my TA/FC license in 1986"

2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings

1. ROD FULLER (1) 194 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein 151 -43
3. J.R. Todd (1) 147 -47
4. WHIT BAZEMORE 127 -67
5. Melanie Troxel 126 -68
6. Tony Schumacher 116 -78
7. Dave Grubnic 104 -90
8. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 89 -105
9. Doug Kalitta 86 -108
10. Cory McClenathan 84 -110

Whit Bazemore's Career Results at Gainesville Raceway

Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver

1989 DNQ* 2nd round-Chuck Etchells
1991 DNQ
1992 No. 8 2nd round-John Force
1993 No. 12 2nd round-Gary Bolger
1994 No. 13 1st round-Cruz Pedregon
1995 No. 13 Semifinals-John Force
1996 No. 9 1st round-Cruz Pedregon
1997 DNQ
1998 No. 6 1st round-Dean Skuza
1999 No. 1 2nd round-Jerry Toliver
2000 No. 2 1st round?Kenny Sayers
2001 No. 13 1st round-?Del Worsham
2002 No. 2 2nd round-Tony Pedregon
2003 No. 4 Semifinals-Del Worsham
2004 No. 2 1st round-Cory Lee
2005 No. 8 WINNER-def. Bob Gilbertson
2006 No. 2 1st round-Cruz Pedregon
*Alternate for Doc Halliday

Whit Bazemore's Gainesville Schedule

Date & Time Event and Location

Thurs., March 15 Tampa/St. Petersburg Press Tour
Fri., March 16, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Gainesville Raceway
Sat., March 17, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Gainesville Raceway
Sun., March 18, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Gainesville Raceway

Whit Bazemore's Career-Best Performances

E.T.- 4.507 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007
MPH - 329.75 MPH Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007 (TF)
MPH - 333.25 MPH Joliet, Ill. June, 2004 (FC)

ACDelco Gatornationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)

Date & Time (ET) Coverage

Sun., March 18, 1:30-3:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., March 18, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., March 18, 5-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.matcotools.com 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

LEE BEARD Q&A

PITTSBORO, Ind. (March 11, 2007) - Colorado native Lee Beard has long been one of the elite tuners in the sport of NHRA drag racing. Since joining the crew chief ranks in 1980, calling the shots for Jerry Ruth's dragster, the veteran pit boss has amassed more than 50 victories along with seeing popular racer Gary Ormsby claim championship honors in 1989. Having worked alongside the likes of Kenny Bernstein, Joe Gibbs and Don Schumacher, Beard now leads the two-car Top Fuel effort of upstart David Powers. In his first full season with the team, Beard's Rod Fuller-driven rail raced to a fifth place finish in the Top Fuel class. Now, Beard has reunited with longtime driver Whit Bazemore. They killer B's teamed for 12 wins and 20 poles in five seasons with their Matco Tools Funny Car. Again under the Matco Tools banner, Beard and Bazemore aim to make waves, this time in the Top Fuel division. In this Q&A, the crafty crew chief banters about adding the second Top Fuel car to the Powers camp, Bazemore's transition to Top Fuel, working with Rob Flynn, Funny Cars, and his son Zach's budding karting career.

Q: How'd you get introduced to drag racing?

BEARD: I had an older brother, John, and he had some pretty cool hot rods, like a 1966 Satellite with a 426 Hemi in it. I got to drive that. I then befriended a high school teacher who raced in Division Five and I worked on his crew. My brother and I got our first Top Fuel dragster and I had my first shot at driving in the summer of 1971, I was 18-years-old. I was fascinated by driving, but also challenged by the mechanics. I studied industrial arts and engineering in college and was able to apply that to racing. I eventually had my own small operation and raced Division Five. I went to California for a PDA race at Orange County (International Raceway). I met Jerry Ruth there. We became good friends and he flew me in to work on his car. In 1978, I sold my operation for the opportunity to drive a Funny Car for him. He drove a dragster and we had a two-car team. In 1980, we cut back to a one-car team, sold the Funny Car stuff, so the only opportunity for me was to be the crew chief. That was my first full-time racing job.

Q: Take us through the process of adding the Matco Tools dragster at David Powers Motorsports.

BEARD: We found out about it at the U.S. Nationals. Matco Tools told David Powers they would fund a Top Fuel dragster. At the time, we weren't sure who the driver would be. We thought Bazemore, but it wasn't a done deal. We didn't find that out until later in the year. Rob Flynn and I started coming up with a game plan on how we were going to attack it with personnel, ordering equipment, race shop space and the entire expansion to a two-car team. It took a lot of planning. We were fortunate because we were able to get really good crew people for both teams. Rob was busy getting the personnel lined up and ordering parts, while I was involved in building the fuel injector system, fuel management system, clutch management system, and we designed a new clutch. We split the responsibilities where it would work well for both teams.

Q: After testing and the first few races of '07, how do you assess where you're at to this point?

BEARD: Things have gone pretty smoothly. At testing, Fuller's car ran 4.49 and Bazemore ran 4.50, so the two cars were within one-hundredth (of-a-second) of each other. We started to get some consistency. At Pomona, Fuller's car ran a 4.48 and Bazemore's a 4.50 in qualifying. That's pretty amazing that you have different two race cars, drivers, crews, superchargers, clutch discs, etc. and have them run that close makes us feel good. We feel the performance of both cars needs to improve a little bit. We'd like to get them to be able to run mid-4.40s, like 4.45 and 4.46 because when you line up against a car like the Army dragster or the Budweiser dragster or the Mac Tools dragster, that you're going to have to run that number to try and beat them. Fuller's car ran those numbers at Phoenix, now we have to get the Matco car a little quicker.

Q: How has Whit (Bazemore) adapted to driving a Top Fuel dragster?

BEARD: He's done exactly what we expected. We knew he's a top notch, high-skilled driver. He has a great understanding of the car. We knew there would be a little adjustment with him not wanting to over steer. With a little mental preparation, he got better-and-better and by the time we got to Pomona, he's driving as well as anybody out there.

Q: How is your relationship with Rob Flynn?

BEARD: We have a fantastic relationship. We're using the same combination in both cars. It's the combination that I have developed over the past year and-a-half. Rob was my assistant and he knows the combination very well. We communicate great. We go to breakfast in the morning and ride to the track together. I know what he has for a setup on the Valvoline car and he knows what I have for a setup on the Matco Tools car. Because of the way that Fuller finished in the points last year, the Matco car had to run in front of them at Pomona. They were able to see what Bazemore ran. We talked about it and Flynn had the opportunity to turn the numbers up on the Valvoline car and it gave him the ability to have a little better performance running at the back of the order. On race day when we ran each other, we wanted to give the drivers the best race cars we can give them and put it in their hands. The cars ran 4.55 and 4.56, I'd say that's pretty close. After the Valvoline car won, I was over there with Rob Flynn analyzing the data. We also took the data from Bazemore's car because Bazemore ran down left lane and Hot Rod's car ran down the right lane. We knew that (Tim) Richards would put us in the left lane. By studying the data from Bazemore's car, we had data from a run on the left lane on race day. We work together and put the best effort we can. We came a little bit short. We're a two car team, with two crews and crew chiefs working well together. It was the same at Phoenix. After they beat us in the semifinals, many of the Matco crew members were helping the Valvoline team before the final round.

Q: How do you develop a two-car team where people get along with little or no animosity?

BEARD: It has to come from the leadership. It has to come from David Powers. He's made a tremendous effort on his part with the way he's structured the bonus program. It gives each team a reason to truly want to help the other car do well. That trickles down to the crew chiefs not having any type of an ego where one wants to have something on his car that's not on the other car. It comes from the leadership and that trickles down to the team and that's what it takes. You look at the successful multi-car teams out there, John Force's operation and the Kalitta operation, and it starts and the top and goes down.

Q: You've worked with some high profile owners. What is David Powers like?

BEARD: Powers is a pretty laid back easy going guy. As a team owner goes, he's fairly new to the sport as being a professional team owner. He's learning as he goes. Because of that, we do things and analyze and change how we do it to make it better. The difference between working for a guy like David Powers and Kenny Bernstein is that Kenny Bernstein has been in it for many years. He knows exactly what to do and handle the sponsors, manage the race team and create the image he wants. In David's case, he's learning to do it. When you're learning, sometimes you make some mistakes. As long as the people in the organization know that as a team owner you're learning and they're patient, eventually we have a team owner that will be one of the best.

Q: Do you ever see yourself tuning a Funny Car again?

BEARD: I'll never say never. I my mind, they're more difficult to tune. You have to be a lot more disciplined with how you apply the power. There's another side to it that's involved with the aerodynamics of that body. If I was to do it, it would be because we have great support from a car manufacturer. I don't think we'd be doing it as an independent team that didn't have a strong association with a car company.

Q: Why are Funny Cars tougher to tune?

BEARD: Well, they have a shorter wheelbase, 125-inches versus a 300-ince wheelbase. They're more prone to spin the tires. They don't have the built-in suspension of the long dragster. They don't weight-transfer as well. They don't absorb and dissipate bumps in the track. They hit a bump with the short-wheelbase car and it wants to kick the rear tires loose where the dragster has that long chassis so it can absorb that. It's a more difficult vehicle in that respect.

Q: You've mentored some folks that are now successful crew chiefs like Mike Green, Mike Neff and Dickie Venables. Is that a role you enjoy?

BEARD: I've always been real open with all of the crew as far as what I'm doing with the setup. I don't have any secrets that I keep from them. Occasionally, you'll get an extraordinary guy that has the vision of one day being a crew chief and he wants to get in there and pick your brain and learn everything that you're doing and how to tune the engine and setup the clutch and setup the chassis and learn about aerodynamics. Those guys were hungry in that area and it seems like when they've worked around me for some time they have the ability to go out and be crew chiefs on their own.

Q: How is your son Zach doing with the go-karting.

BEARD: He's 16-years-old now. He's graduated from the junior division. This is his third year of go-kart racing. His first year he ran in the junior division and he raced on a local three-state basis. He was fortunate to get with the right team and won a championship in his first year. In his second year, we moved him up to the seniors and began to run him on a national level. He finished fifth in the United States in the Stars of Karting series in the spec racer division. The fact that he was 15-years-old racing against guys 16-30 was pretty exciting. This year, he's a factory driver for First Kart North America. The karts are manufactured in Italy and imported into the United States by a Canadian company and they recently set up shop in Brownsburg, Indiana. In just his second race with the team, he won at Homestead (Fla.). It's exciting to see him take these steps to try and be a professional race car driver. He's really devoted to doing that. My deal with him is that as long as he gets good grades in school and puts out a solid effort that I would back him in whatever form of racing he wanted to go into.

www.matcotools.com 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

SKOAL RACING TESTS NEW CAR, SEEKS CONSISTENCY
Tommy Johnson Jr. Plans on Visiting the Phillies Spring Training Camp on Thursday

GAINESVILLE, FL (Mar. 9, 2007) – As Tommy Johnson Jr. and the SKOAL Racing Team gear up for the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville March 15-18, they are making moves to ensure some stability in their runs.

Johnson tested a new chassis for his Chevy Impala Skoal Racing funny car after a series of inconsistent runs at both Pomona and Phoenix in the first two stops on the NHRA season.

“The testing in Phoenix went really well,” said Johnson. “The car has been very unpredictable. We lost traction after a couple of nice runs, so, we tried a new chassis and got favorable results with some signs of increased consistency. We’re looking forward to using the new car in Gainesville.”

TJ is also looking forward to catching up with his friend Aaron Rowand, centerfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, when he visits the team’s spring training facility in Clearwater, FL next Thursday. Johnson and Rowand struck up a friendship at last year’s ESPY Awards where TJ’s wife, Melanie Troxel was the recipient of an ESPY. It turned out that Rowand, who grew up in Pomona, CA, is a huge drag racing fan. The two sports professionals have been in constant touch and now Tommy will get a chance to see Rowand in action when he visits camp.

“I’m looking forward to getting the chance to take some swings during batting practice and catch up with Aaron,” said Tommy. “He’s been wearing a shirt I gave him under his warm-ups. I hope he’s washed it a few times since I’ve seen him last.”

After a slow start to the 2007 season, Skoal Racing is looking to make an impact in Florida. The crew stayed over in Phoenix for the test session after Johnson’s decent opening run (4.73) was mired by lost traction twice over the weekend. Johnson had hoped to repeat last year’s Checker Schuck’s Kragen victory. At last year’s Gatornationals, Johnson was stopped by Robert Hight in Round 1 of eliminations.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE RACES TO SEMIFINALS AT PHOENIX

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25, 2007) - Whit Bazemore achieved another first in his brief Top Fuel career Sunday at Firebird International Raceway as he advanced to the semifinals of the 23rd annual CSK Nationals. Following two of 23 races on the 2007 NHRA schedule, the 20-time NHRA winner ranks fourth in the POWERade Top Fuel standings.

The veteran nitro pilot qualified his Matco Tools dragster in the No. 6 position with a 4.507 second elapsed time and defeated Hillary Will in the opening round of eliminations. He then edged energetic Top Fuel racer Clay Millican before falling to teammate Rod Fuller in the semifinals.

In his first round match-up against the second-year Top Fuel starlet, Bazemore used a Lee Beard tune-up to score the round wind. As the third pair of dragsters to battle the tricky F.I.R quarter mile, the drivers used nearly identical reaction times, but it was the Beard tune-up that made the difference. Bazemore powered the Matco Tools rail to a pass of 4.513 seconds at 326.95 mph to score the car-length victory over Will and her 4.589-second elapsed time.

The Indianapolis racer advanced to his first career Top Fuel semifinal by besting fellow Matco Tools racer Millican in the quarterfinals. The Matco Tools Iron Eagle team caught a break as Millican's dragster had mechanical problems near the finish line. Bazemore powered to a solid 4.58 at 321.73 to drive around Millican's bright blue dragster, which recorded a run of 4.650 seconds after jumping to an early lead. It marked the fifth time that Bazemore has advanced to the semifinals at the Phoenix race.

Facing his teammate for the second straight race, both the Matco Tools and Valvoline dragsters put on a great show for the fans in the Valley of the Sun. Bazemore's dragster was on a solid pass until the tires came loose mid-track causing the veteran racer to slow to a run of 4.808 at 246.66. Fuller cruised to a performance of 4.525 at 326.87 to advance to the final round at F.I.R. for the second straight year. Fuller went on to claim his fourth career NHRA Top Fuel victory and second straight win at the Phoenix track.

"The team continues to work really hard," Bazemore said. "We had a lucky day, but we'll take it. Clay (Millican) had us beat in the second round. I'd rather earn them than be lucky. Like I keep saying, we've got a great team with huge potential. I think we're going to realize our full potential really soon just like our teammate has."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 38th annual ACDelco Gatornationals, March 15-18, at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla. Last season, Bazemore qualified second at the Gainesville race. He won at Gainesville Raceway in 2005 defeating Bob Gilbertson in the final round.

R1 BAZEMORE (.104) 4.513 ET, 326.95 MPH def. Will (.093) 4.589 ET, 321.88 MPH

R2 BAZEMORE (.120) 4.582 ET, 321.73 MPH def. Millican (.074) 4.650 ET, 253.71 MPH

R3 Fuller (.097) 4.525 ET, 326.87 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.108) 4.808 ET, 246.66 MPH

www.matcotools.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER DOMINATES THE DESERT, WINS SECOND STRAIGHT AT PHOENIX
Leads POWERade Standings For The First Time

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25, 2007) - Rod Fuller likes Arizona. The rising Top Fuel star claimed his second straight victory at Firebird International Raceway Sunday during final eliminations of the 23rd annual CSK Nationals. Fuller ran his F.I.R. round win streak to 15. He joins Dick LaHaie and Brandon Bernstein as the only two Top Fuel drivers to win the Phoenix race in consecutive years. It is Fuller's fourth career Top Fuel win and 17th NHRA national event title.

Fuller, who leads second place racer Bernstein by 43 points, entered the day in the No. 2 qualifying slot with a career-best 4.471-second blast during qualifying on Friday afternoon. He knocked off No. 15 qualifier Dave Grubnic, Bob Vandergriff, Jr. and teammate Whit Bazemore before sneaking by Melanie Troxel in a rematch of the 2006 Top Fuel final.

The Las Vegas racer earned his 12th consecutive round win at F.I.R. by driving to a wire-to-wire win over the Australian native, Grubnic. Racing in the left lane, Fuller used Rob Flynn horsepower to blast to the quickest pass of his career, 4.466 seconds at 326.91, to defeat a tire-smoking Grubnic. Fuller bettered his previous personal best E.T., 4.471 seconds, which he clocked on his first qualifying run of the weekend.

The decorated NHRA sportsmen competitor advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive race of '07 and ran his F.I.R. round-win streak to 13 by knocking off Vandergriff and the UPS team in the quarterfinals. Fuller used more of that "Canadian Power" from Flynn to card a stout 4.476 at 328.14 in the Valvoline rail. Vandergriff slowed to a run of 5.253 seconds. It was Fuller's third 4.4-second E.T. of the weekend and the third quickest run of his career.

The veteran NHRA racer powered to his second consecutive final round appearance at the Phoenix-area track by knocking off his teammate for the second straight race. After meeting in the quarterfinals of the season-opening Winternationals, Fuller faced off against the 20-time NHRA winner again, this time for a trip to the money round. Both the Valvoline and Matco Tools teams put on a great show until Bazemore's car spun the tires allowing Fuller to cruise to the victory with a run of 4.525 at 326.87. That gave Fuller lane choice over Troxel, who carded a time of 4.539 seconds in a semifinal victory over Tony Schumacher.

In his ninth career final round, the longtime Valvoline driver used a slight reaction time advantage to race to the wire-to-wire win and a fourth career trip to the Top Fuel winner's circle. The Flynn-tuned red, white and blue car clocked a run of 4.490 at 327.19 to edge Troxel, who earned a time of 4.536 at 325.61.

"How cool is this to be back in the winner's circle in Arizona," Fuller said. "Going into the final, I knew I was going for 15 straight rounds wins here. I was thinking, is this going to end" When it made it through the wiggle part of the track at about 300-feet, I knew it made it.

"We finished last season really strong, and now I have an entirely new race crew except for two guys. My group has really gelled and they've done it right away. It's amazing! The way Rob Flynn is tuning this car, I'd buy stock in him. This really is one team with two race cars. After we beat Whit (Bazemore), Lee Beard and all the Matco guys were over helping our team. Now, we're going to Gainesville with the points lead. We've got a great team. I'm confident that we can win the championship."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 38th annual ACDelco Gatornationals, March 15-18, at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla. He qualified eighth at the Gatornationals last season.

R1 FULLER (.079) 4.466 ET, 326.91 MPH def. Grubnic (.102) 9.583 ET, 79.88 MPH

R2 FULLER (.121) 4.476 ET, 328.14 MPH def. Vandergriff (.085) 5.253 ET, 194.32 MPH

R3 FULLER (.097) 4.525 ET, 326.87 MPH def. Bazemore (.108) 4.808 ET, 246.66 MPH

R4 FULLER (.076) 4.490 ET, 327.19 MPH def. Troxel (.084) 4.536 ET, 325.61 MPH

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

Parts Failure Ends Ashley’s Day Early in Phoenix

Contact: Matthew Brammer - Active Marketing

CHANDLER, Ariz. (February 25, 2007) - On a perfect day for drag racing - clear, sunny skies, cool breeze and tens of thousands of fans - nitro Funny Car driver Mike Ashley was extremely confident heading into the first round of eliminations at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Confidence and good weather couldn’t, however, make up for broken parts, and for Ashley, a $10 clutch part failure quickly ended what should have been a stellar outing for the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger.

As Ashley performed his burnout to prepare for his run against Tim Wilkerson, the clutch assembly broke, keeping the car from shifting into reverse and forcing Ashley to continue driving down the track and forfeit the run.

"You go through a series of emotions when something like that happens," said Ashley. "First frustration, then disappointment and then acceptance. It happens to every team, and it never gets easy. These are mechanical pieces of equipment and you have to face the reality that this kind of thing happens.

"The burnout was great, and I was ready to go for a really quick lap, but when I tried to get the car into reverse, the lever hesitated and then let loose, and there was nothing I could do," he said.

"I take things like this really personally, because I feel responsible to my sponsors and the fans. Evan [Knoll, owner of Torco Race Fuels] was standing at the starting line, cheering for me, and I just didn't want to let him down, but he's always so encouraging. He knows that this happens in racing - but I still feel badly.

"And I know that the kids at Stetson Hills that I visited on Friday will be watching the show on ESPN2 tonight, and I really wanted to give them a shout-out and let them see the thrill of racing. Instead, they get to experience the frustration and disappointment that goes along with it. You don't win all the time, but you keep on trying and working at it," Ashley said.

"Gainesville, will be exciting because we already know we have a top performing car and team, and we will have our new body with a new and very cool paint scheme. We'll keep moving forward," he said.

Ashley and the entire Torco team head next to the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 15-18.
 

For more information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: www.mikeashley.com. 

About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing:
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline in addition to methanol, nitromethane and fuel additives. Torco's fuel product line is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of car care appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Products can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website: http://www.torco.com

Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:

* Knoll Gas Motorsports - www.torco.com
* Lucas Oil Products - www.lucasoil.com
* Dixie Chopper - www.dixiechopper.com 
* Oakley - www.oakley.com 
* Lend America - www.lendamerica.com 

Lend America is a nationwide direct lender, specializing in residential financing for one to four family homes. Lend America combines a flexible, common sense loan review process with hundreds of loan programs to provide exceptional service for its clients. Lend America's Motto "Don't take NO for an answer" is in direct relation to its commitment to service borrowers with "lending or credit challenges." Contact Lend America today, (877) 4-RACELOAN.
 

Strong Qualifying Performance Allows a Day of Testing for Mike Ashley

Contact: Matthew Brammer - Active Marketing

PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 24, 2007) - Torco Race Fuels nitro Funny Car driver, Mike Ashley, will start eliminations in the No. 5 position Sunday at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Ashley's Friday night best of 4.727 was strong enough to allow the Gotham City team to use the day to test without fear of being bumped from the field.

In Saturday's first round of qualifying, almost to a car no team was able to improve on their previous positions - and Ashley's tire-smoking 7.111/116.12 was in league with the pack. In the final round, Ashley had a great start to the run until his Goodyears lost traction, giving him a 9.594/86.23.

"It was a day of testing for us, and we learned a lot," said Ashley. "Tomorrow's track conditions will be very similar, if not even more extreme, and we were able to try several different things on the car to see what will work for us. It's really nice to be in the position to work like that.

"When the track gets hot, like it did today, it gets slippery, and it won't hold a lot of power, so Brian [Corradi, crew chief] will have to finesse the clutch tomorrow to get the most speed we can without breaking the tires loose. We experimented with a couple of things, and feel we have a really good handle for race day," he said.

"This is where the science of racing becomes an art - and Brian, Mark [Oswald] and the guys are all masters of what they do. I'm very confident that tomorrow will be a great day for all of us," Ashley said.

Pre-race ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday Feb. 25, followed by the first round of eliminations at 11 a.m. where Ashley will face off against Tim Wilkerson in the first round.

TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying at 12 midnight (ET) Saturday night. On Sunday, Feb. 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) and televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).


For more information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: www.mikeashley.com. 

About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing:
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline in addition to methanol, nitromethane and fuel additives. Torco's fuel product line is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of car care appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Products can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website: http://www.torco.com

Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:

* Knoll Gas Motorsports - www.torco.com
* Lucas Oil Products - www.lucasoil.com
* Dixie Chopper - www.dixiechopper.com 
* Oakley - www.oakley.com 
* Lend America - www.lendamerica.com 

Lend America is a nationwide direct lender, specializing in residential financing for one to four family homes. Lend America combines a flexible, common sense loan review process with hundreds of loan programs to provide exceptional service for its clients. Lend America's Motto "Don't take NO for an answer" is in direct relation to its commitment to service borrowers with "lending or credit challenges." Contact Lend America today, (877) 4-RACELOAN.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER USES CAREER-BEST RUN TO QUALIFY SECOND AT POMONA

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2007) - Rod Fuller will defend his CSK Nationals title from the No. 2 qualifying position after using a personal-best lap to record the second quickest pass of the weekend, 4.471 seconds, at Firebird International Raceway. The three-time NHRA winner carded the quickest and fastest run of his career during the first qualifying session of the weekend.

Entering the second race of the 2007 NHRA schedule ranked third in the POWERade standings, Fuller used a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to clock a performance of 4.471 seconds at 331.61 mph in his Valvoline dragster. It was his fourth 4.4-second elapsed time of the season. On his final qualifying attempt, he blasted his David Powers-owned red, white and blue rail to a run of 4.500 at 329.67 to remain second in the 16-car order. Fuller also qualified second at the season-opener at Pomona, Calif. two weeks ago en route to a semifinal finish. Last February, he qualified fifth at the Phoenix race and has won 11 consecutive rounds (Super Comp and Top Fuel) at F.I.R.

"We got the car tuned in early on," Fuller said. "We were going for low E.T. on Saturday's first run. I talked with Rob (Flynn) and there was no sense not to try it. We just picked the wrong time for that tune-up. I'm really confident after that 4.50 on our last run. We didn't hurt any parts. There's no reason we can't win. The fans have been coming up saying I'm their pick to win. I hope they're right."

The Las Vegas racer will face off against No. 15 qualifier and fan favorite "Aussie" Dave Grubnic in the opening round of eliminations which begin at 11 a.m. (ET) at the Arizona facility. Last season, Fuller defeated Melanie Troxel in the final round to claim his second career NHRA Top Fuel victory. Three years ago, he won the Super Comp title at the CSK Nationals.

Q1 4.471 ET, 331.61 MPH No. 1

Q2 9.928 ET, 81.78 MPH No. 2

Q3 12.013 ET, 75.94 MPH No. 2

Q4 4.500 ET, 329.67 MPH No. 2

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE WINDS UP SIXTH AT PHOENIX

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2007) - Despite battling a tricky race track and some consistency issues, Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team raced to the sixth quickest qualifying pass of the weekend at Firebird International Raceway. Entering the day in the No. 18 spot, the veteran nitro pilot reeled off a pass of 4.507 seconds to claim the No. 6 qualifying position.

On the first day of qualifying for the 23rd annual CSK Nationals, Bazemore and his Lee Beard-led race crew missed the tune-up call on both qualifying attempts leaving them on the outside looking in. However, there was no panic in the Matco Tools camp. With 50 career victories under his belt, Beard tuned Bazemore to the quickest run of Saturday's first qualifying session, 4.507 seconds at 327.19 mph. That run gives the first-year Top Fuel driver a lot of confidence heading into Sunday's final eliminations.

"We lost some of the consistency that we had during testing and at Pomona," Bazemore said. "That being said, we learned some things about the race car. We're in a good position to win the race. We can repeat that 4.50; we'll be in good shape. I'm confident that we can run that and even improve a little bit. Now, we just have to go make it happen."

The 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner will match-up against No. 11 qualifier Hillary Will in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (MT). Bazemore qualified 11th last season at the CSK Nationals.

Q1 10.217 ET, 73.53 MPH No. 17

Q2 10.521 ET, 73.97 MPH No. 18

Q3 4.507 ET, 327.19 MPH No. 4

Q4 9.083 ET, 76.21 MPH No. 6

www.matcotools.com
 

Pro Modified Series Announces Ten Race Schedule,

Tindle Enterprises named presenting sponsor

PHOENIX (Feb. 14, 2007) - The popular AMS Staff Leasing Pro Modified Challenge announced its final 2007 racing schedule, series director Matthew Brammer said Wednesday. In addition, Tindle Enterprises joined the Series as the presenting sponsor at all 10 events.

"We have been working with the schedule to identify the best markets to include on the schedule, and with the new dates on some of the events, I think the schedule will be both challenging and exciting," Brammer said.

"We've added the Southern Nationals in Atlanta to the agenda this year, and the drivers have all said they are excited to race in what they call 'the backyard of Pro Mod,'" he said.

The 2007 Pro Mod schedule includes stops in Gainesville, Houston, Atlanta, Madison, Bristol, Englishtown, Indianapolis, Dallas, Richmond and Las Vegas.

Brammer went on to say that the addition of Tindle Enterprises, Inc. (TEI) as the Presenting Sponsor will help assure an exciting program for 2007. Tim Tindle, the owner of TEI, sponsored 2006 BAE/RPM Depot Championship runner-up Joey Martin, and will be assuming the driving duties this year behind the wheel of the 1967 Shelby GT Mustang formerly driven by two-time champion Mike Ashley. Tindle and Ashley joined forces when Ashley jumped full time into the nitro Funny Car ranks in 2006.

"Tim is one of the most down-to-earth men you'll ever meet, and I'm very pleased that we will be able to help him grow his company with his association with the powerful and exciting world of Pro Mod drag racing," Brammer said. "I'm sure it will be a long-term, positive relationship for all of us."

Tindle and longtime series title sponsor AMS Staff Leasing have joined to post an increased event purse of $30,000 per event. Event winners will receive $10,000, runners-up $4,000, semi-finalists will earn $1,750, quarter-finalists $1,150 and qualifiers $1,000.

The series is invitation-only. Drivers are invited based on their performance records, past series participation, and availability to commit to scheduled events.

"Our goal is to present an exciting, competitive show which pits the very best blown, nitrous and turbo Pro Mods against each other," Brammer said.

Drivers wishing to be considered for the series are required to fill out the driver registration form on the amspromods.com website, he added.

"It's going to be a great season - and it all starts in Gainesville," he said.


The AMS Staff Leasing Pro Modified Challenge
Presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc.

2007 Event Schedule

March 15-18
ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville, FL

March 30-April 1
O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
Houston, TX

April 26-29
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
Atlanta, GA

May 4-6
O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
Madison, IL

May 18-20
O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol, TN

June 21-24
NHRA SuperNationals
Englishtown, NJ

August 29-September 3
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, IN

September 20-23
O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals
Dallas, TX

October 5-7
Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals
Richmond, VA

October 25-28
ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals
Las Vegas, NV

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER BLASTS TO CAREER-BEST PERFORMANCE FRIDAY AT PHOENIX;
SITS SECOND IN TOP FUEL ORDER

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 9, 2007) - Rod Fuller might not be the biggest name in Top Fuel racing, but if his Rob Flynn-tuned Valvoline rail continues to amass 4.4-second elapsed times, the Las Vegas racer will soon become a household name to racing fans across the land. The third-year Top Fuel pro drove to the quickest and fastest pass of his career Friday to position his David Powers-owned rail second in the 16-car order at the 23rd annual CSK Nationals near Phoenix.

The defending event champion of the Phoenix race - Fuller defeated Melanie Troxel in the final round last February - opened qualifying at the second event on the 2007 NHRA schedule by blistering the right lane at Firebird International Raceway in 4.471 seconds at 331.61 mph. Fuller led the Top Fuel division after the first of four qualifying laps. Fuller's previous career-best performances were 4.482 seconds (Pomona 1, 2007) and 330.96 mph (Joliet, 2006). On Friday's second attempt, Fuller's Valvoline dragster lost traction and slowed to a run of 9.928-seconds. He sits second in the Top Fuel order. Three drivers clocked 4.4-second elapsed times on Friday, Tony Schumacher, Fuller and Troxel.

"We came in really confident," Fuller said. "Our team is building on our momentum at Pomona, and we ran 4.49 here in testing last month. Rob Flynn said it was going to go fast and as soon as hit the throttle the car snapped. It accelerated quicker than I've ever felt. I told the guys on TV that the run felt slow. It was so smooth and perfect; it felt like it was in slow motion. It was awesome. It's about a ride like that that makes me want to drive one these cars.

"The goal on Saturday is to try another 4.47 or maybe a 4.46. We want to get consistent for race day. I'd rather be more consistent, than a car that can run low E.T. but be on the edge of smoking the tires on race day."

Fuller looks to better his 4.47-second pass when Top Fuel qualifying continues on Saturday afternoon with sessions scheduled for 12:30 and 3 p.m. (MT) at the Phoenix-area track. Fuller qualified fourth at F.I.R. last year at 4.505-seconds.

Q1 4.471 ET, 331.61 MPH No. 1

Q2 9.928 ET, 81.78 MPH No. 2

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE STRUGGLES ON OPENING DAY OF QUALIFYING AT PHOENIX

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 23, 2007) - The great thing about the sport of drag racing is that if a team struggles, there's always another day of racing right around the corner. After the first day of qualifying at the 23rd annual CSK Nationals, Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster are on the outside looking in, but the 20-time NHRA winner and his Lee Beard-led race team have two runs on Saturday afternoon to make the 16-car field.

Bazemore's Matco Tools dragster lost traction on both runs on the opening day of qualifying at Firebird International Raceway. Last month, the veteran nitro pilot cross-graded his Funny Car license for eligibility in the Top Fuel category during testing at the Phoenix track. He ran a testing-best run of 4.500-seconds at F.I.R. during testing.

"On the first run, it was too aggressive and it pulled the tires loose," Beard said. "We took some clutch out for the second run and it dropped a cylinder."

Top Fuel qualifying continues on Saturday at 12:30 and 3 p.m. (MT) at the Phoenix-area track. Bazemore qualified his Matco Tools Funny Car in the No. 11 spot last season.

Q1 10.217 ET, 73.53 MPH No. 17

Q2 10.521 ET, 73.97 MPH No. 18

www.matcotools.com
 

SKOAL RACING TEAM LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AT FIREBIRD RACEWAY

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2007) – Tommy Johnson Jr. and his SKOAL Racing Team look to defend their title as they prepare for the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix from Feb. 23-25.

Last year, Johnson took the crown in the Funny Car division from John Force and is hoping to duplicate his performance this year.

“A repeat would be nice,” said Johnson. “Last year, we stumbled at Pomona, but we were able to win it in Phoenix. Going back, being the defending champion, I’m pretty confident. I like how our team is working, and I’m looking forward to defending my win this year.”

The crew is looking forward to the dry desert in Phoenix to overcome their disappointingly damp performance at the 47th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals this past weekend.

Expectations were riding high after Johnson’s initial 4th place qualifying finish with a pass of 4.778 seconds at 322.34 mph. He ended up 9th heading to a first round match-up with Eric Medlen.

In the first event of the 10-month long NHRA season, Johnson’s promising start would soon turn ominous for the SKOAL Racing team as two out of three of Johnson’s qualifying runs lost traction—largely due to the shoddy weather.

In the end, Johnson’s opening race fate came to be as his car lost traction for the third time in Pomona. He lost to Medlan’s run of 4.745 seconds.

Rainy conditions delayed the start of the first round until early afternoon, and lane choice was an issue for the SKOAL Racing team. Notably, Force was also defeated in the early round.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

WHIT BAZEMORE Q&A

PITTSBORO, Ind. (Feb. 18, 2007) - To no one's surprise, Whit Bazemore passed his much talked-about Top Fuel debut with flying colors. With a career-best 4.507-second blast and a quarterfinal effort at the season-opening Winternationals, Baze looked like a seasoned Top Fuel veteran behind the wheel of his Lee Beard-tuned Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster. Now the 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner looks to become just the 14th driver in NHRA history to card victories in both nitro categories. Never shy for words, Bazemore offers his thoughts on adjusting to piloting a Top Fuel car, working alongside Rod Fuller and Beard, and his fitness routine as he prepares for the second race on the 23-race NHRA schedule near Phoenix, Feb. 23-25.

Q: After completing your first race in Top Fuel, what are your thoughts?

BAZEMORE: My first thought is that Pomona was really good for me in terms of building my confidence as far as my ability in a Top Fuel car goes and gaining more experience. It answered a lot of questions for me. I was always very confident in the team and I've been incredibly impressed by the guys on the team and how good they are. It's virtually a mistake-free organization and that's something that's hard to achieve. That's something that's really hard to achieve. They've done tremendous throughout testing and the first race. Even though we didn't come away with a win, we came way with the confidence and knowledge that we are capable of winning races and we identified some areas that we're going to work on in terms of both the performance of the car and driver. That will make us a much stronger team going forward.

Q: Is there any doubt that you can make the Countdown for the Championship and compete for the title this season after what you've seen so far?

BAZEMORE: I wouldn't say I have doubts, but at the same time you have to acknowledge that it's a challenge. Top Fuel, like all the professional categories, is incredibly competitive and there's no room for error. You don't want to say that you have doubts because we don't, our goal is to win a championship and we're capable of doing that, but at the same time you can't take for granted that you're going to be in the top eight because there will be some strong cars that aren't going to make the cut. You need to work hard all season long to make sure you're in the top eight come Indy time.

Q: What's it like working with new teammate Rod Fuller:

BAZEMORE: The situation here is unique for me. My first experience with a two-car team was back in 1996 with Jim Head under the Smokin' Joes banner, and it really wasn't a two-car team in the sense of the Powers organization. It was two cars sharing a sponsor and some technology. The same was true with Alan Johnson in '97 and '98. Then in 2002, Don Schumacher added Scotty Cannon with Oakley sponsorship. That was a real bonafide two-car team, and as everyone knows, it grew into a lot more than two cars. Even though everyone worked for Don, people looked out for themselves a lot more than they did the other team cars.

It's a lot different than at Schumacher's. The way David and Lee and Rob Flynn have set the team up, it's a lot more similar to John Force's organization. It's really one team with two cars, and even though there are two different sponsors on the cars and we compete head-to-head, it really is a win-win situation for the people on the team and the organization. With the setup that we have, it's going to promote cooperation as opposed to what has happened in the past, which was non-cooperation and people with their own agendas.

As far as "Hot" Rod goes, he's a great guy and I've gotten to know him a little bit. He seems like a really cool dude and he's obviously a really good driver. I'm excited to be working with him.

Q: Have you noticed any difference with Lee Beard?

BAZEMORE: He's very similar to what he was before. Lee is a very motivated and driven person. He's an incredible organizer. Our team reflects what I call a Lee Beard team. It's exciting for me to be back working with Lee. We had a lot of success in the past working together and with the people we have on this car and team, I think we'll have a lot of success in the future too.

Q: Do you miss driving a Funny Car?

BAZEMORE: Honestly, I do a little bit. I like Funny Cars. That's what I've driven. I'll always have a place for them and want to know what's going on. That said, the Top Fuel car is very challenging for me now. Whether that's because they're challenging to drive or because it's new, I don't have those answers yet. It's a hard car to drive well. It's still the same challenge. I'd say my plate is pretty full and I enjoy the dragster. I enjoy driving it. It's definitely less stress not worrying about the fire aspect. I've noticed that. Even though a Top Fuel car has its own set of problems, it is a little less stressful. At the same time, you can't take anything granted.

Q: What's the biggest adjustment you've had to make driving the Top Fuel car?

BAZEMORE: A couple things, like the steering part. The dragster steers so much quicker. I've talked to a lot of people that have driven both and that was a common thing that most people said. What I didn't expect is how different it really is. It's incredibly different. It's night and day. Any characteristic that would help you in a Funny Car works against you in a dragster. I'm having to re-learn some things. It's coming along. The other thing that really got my attention is the intensity in Top Fuel. These people are really good drivers. When Funny Car people cut an .060 light, chances are they're taking a really good chunk. Top Fuel is a lot different. The crutch of deep staging is gone with the exception of just a few guys. But most of the guys like (Larry) Dixon, (Doug) Kalitta, Cory Mac (McClenathan), (David) Grubnic, the really good guys, and it's most of the drivers in Top Fuel, they don't go in on race day and they?re still cutting .060, .050, .040 lights. It's pretty intense.

Q: And finally, how has the cycling been going?

BAZEMORE: It's been slow. We have about a foot of snow in Indy and it's been really cold. At Pomona, I had the flu. I rode once with the flu before I knew I had it and I didn't feel well during the ride. I'm starting to get back in the swing of the fitness routine, but it's been tough with the travel. My goals are the same, to ride and use it as training and I'll have good fitness routines this spring and knock a few pounds off. It's all good. I'll do about 6,000 miles. That's what I've done the past couple years. The year my son was born, it was about 4,800 miles. We're moving and I may actually ride more this year.

www.matcotools.com 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER DRIVES TO SEMIS AT PHOENIX, SITS THIRD IN TOP FUEL STANDINGS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2007) - Last season, Rod Fuller drove his David Powers-owned Valvoline dragster to a fifth place finish. Well, if the start of the '07 season is any indication, the rest of the Top Fuel contingent better watch out for the red, white and blue dragster. The three-time NHRA Top Fuel winner opened the 2007 NHRA season by racing to a semifinal finish at the 47th annual Winternationals and leaves the first race of the season positioned in third place in the Top Fuel standings.

The Las Vegas resident drove his Rob Flynn-tuned dragster to the No. 2 qualifying position with a stout 4.481-second pass. That matched Fuller with longtime racer Doug Herbert in the opening round. The Valvoline dragster had a soft tune-up and Fuller had to pedal the throttle, while Herbert's red and green dragster suffered a mechanical problem and slowed to a run of 6.453. Fuller sped to a performance of 4.807 seconds at 323.04 mph to earn the trip to round two. It was his slowest run of the weekend.

"The car was weak and shook," Fuller said. "I pedaled it and it was like that old adage, it ain't over til it's over. He was ahead of me and we got the win light."

In round two, the Las Vegas resident matched up against teammate Whit Bazemore. It marks the first time they have met during eliminations. In a great drag race, Fuller scored a narrow victory over the Matco Tools racer. Fuller powered to a run of 4.557 to Bazemore's pass of 4.561. With the win, it is the first time that Fuller has advanced passed the second round of eliminations at the historic Pomona drag strip.

"That was great for our team to have two good cars race side-by-side," Fuller said. "It was an awesome race and great to see a David Powers car in the semis."

Facing one of the hottest teams in the sport, Fuller/Flynn and the Valvoline put on another great show. The longtime NHRA sportsmen driver raced to a blistering run of 4.515 at 325.32, but Bernstein was slightly quicker at 4.496 seconds to score the trip to the final round.

"We have nothing to hang our heads on," Fuller said. ?We made great runs all weekend. We didn't make a mistake, they just ran better. Hats off to Brandon (Bernstein) and the Bud team. We're number three in the points and we're going to a track where we won last year. I'm excited."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 23rd annual CSK Nationals, Feb. 23-25, at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Last February, Fuller defeated Melanie Troxel in the final round of the CSK Nationals to collect his second career NHRA Top Fuel victory.

R1 FULLER (.071) 4.807 ET, 323.04 MPH def. Herbert (.096) 6.453 ET, 111.63 MPH

R2 FULLER (.054) 4.557 ET, 323.27 MPH def. Bazemore (.065) 4.561 ET, 319.90 MPH

R3 Bernstein (.026) 4.496 ET, 326.71 MPH def. FULLER (.060) 4.515 ET, 325.32 MPH

www.matcotools.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE OPENS SEASON WITH SUCCESSFUL START AT POMONA

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2007) - Whit Bazemore opened the 2007 season NHRA to rave revues from he peers and fans. While the 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner didn't collect his 21st career "Wally" trophy, the veteran nitro pilot proved he can drive a Top Fuel dragster with the sport's best.

After qualifying his Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster in the No. 7 position with a personal-best 4.507-second elapsed time, Bazemore was paired with veteran Top Fuel ace Cory McClenathan in the opening round of eliminations. The talented nitro pilots used nearly identical reaction times, and in a surprising pedal-fest race, Bazemore collected his first career Top Fuel round win. The Matco Tools rail clocked a tire-smoking time of 6.499 seconds to Cory Mac's 7.492-second effort.

"That one worked out in our favor," Bazemore said. "Cory (McClenathan) smoked them at the hit and we spun the tires further down track. I had yet to drive a Top Fuel car when it spins the tires. It's actually easier to drive when the tires are spinning. Normally, it turns so quick, I find myself thinking about not over steering. I do have to work on pedaling a little better."

In round two, the avid cyclist was pitted against teammate Rod Fuller and the Valvoline team. The two David Powers-owned cars put on a great show for the fans in attendance at Auto Club Raceway. In one of the closest races of the day, Bazemore was defeated by one hundredth of-a-second. The Matco Tools dragster clocked a performance of 4.561 seconds at 319.90 to Fuller's slightly quicker 4.557 at 323.27.

"It was a good drag race and we came up short," Bazemore said. "We were going against our teammate and (Rod) Fuller is an excellent driver. We got beat by one hundredth (of-a-second).

"What I found is that Top Fuel is very intense. It's intense in Funny Car too, but a lot of times your opponent beats himself because they're harder to drive. There's also a smaller tuning window in Funny Car. Dragsters go down the track more. So, the starting line plays a bigger role in Top Fuel. The cars are closer and more consistent and it comes down to the driver a lot of times. It's intense, which I like."

With 22 races remaining on the 2007 NHRA schedule, Bazemore sits sixth in the Top Fuel category. The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 23rd annual CSK Nationals, Feb. 23-25, at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Last February, Bazemore qualified his Matco Tools Funny Car in the No. 11 position and lost in the first round to Ron Capps at the Phoenix race.

R1 BAZEMORE (.076) 6.499 ET, 200.98 MPH def. McClenathan (.078) 7.492 ET, 265.95 MPH

R2 Fuller (.054) 4.557 ET, 323.27 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.065) 4.561 ET, 319.90 MPH

www.matcotools.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER RACES TO QUICKEST RUN OF CAREER,
QUALIFIES SECOND AT WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2007) - Rod Fuller continues to impress behind the wheel of his David Powers-owned Valvoline dragster. The three-time NHRA winner raced to the No. 2 qualifying position Saturday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona with a career-best 4.481-second blast in the left lane at the historic drag strip.

In the quickest field in NHRA Top Fuel history, Fuller posted three qualifying laps in the 4.4-second range. On Saturday afternoon, the longtime sportsmen racer used a tune-up from veteran crew chief Rob Flynn to card the quickest run of his career, 4.481 at 327.27. It bettered his previous career-best of 4.493 seconds. On his final run of the weekend, Fuller powered to his third 4.4-second pass, 4.489 seconds at 329.75 mph to finish in the No. 2 qualifying position. It is the second time that he has qualified second in Top Fuel.

"With testing, we've run four 4.40s in our last five runs; that's pretty cool," Fuller said. "I went through the entire 2006 season without a 4.40. As a longtime bracket racer, it's like I'm back to my roots. I can stick 4.48 or 4.49 on the index and let it rip. I've got a car and a team that can win. I plan on being on my game and getting this Valvoline car in the winner?s circle. I feel very confident with our consistency."

Fuller will face off against No. 15 qualifier Doug Herbert in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (PT). Fuller has a 5-2 career mark versus the North Carolina driver.

Q1 4.497, 329.34 No. 3

Q2 4.520, 327.43 No. 4

Q3 4.481, 327.27 No. 1

Q4 4.489, 329.75 No. 2
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE DRIVES TO NO. 7 QUALIFYING POSITION
IN FIRST CAREER TOP FUEL RACE

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2007) - So far, so good. Through qualifying of the 2007 NHRA season-opener, longtime Matco Tools racer Whit Bazemore's Top Fuel career is off to a good start. The 20-time NHRA winner qualified his Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster in the No. 7 position at the 47th annual Winternationals after carding a 4.507-second elapsed time.

"I'm getting more comfortable and we're making progress with the car and the driving," Bazemore said. "I can't say enough about how easy Lee (Beard) and the guys have made it on us. The car has been perfect. That makes it nice. We'll be focused on Sunday. We're determined to get our first Top Fuel race started on the right foot and have a good day."

Entering the day in the No. 8 position, Bazemore used a tune-up from champion crew chief Lee Beard to drive the Matco Tools rail to a performance of 4.516 seconds at 329.75 Saturday's first qualifying attempt. He then clocked his best performance of the weekend, 4.507 at 325.14, to earn the No. 7 qualifying position in the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history. The 4.507-second E.T. is Bazemore's career-best.

"We made three good runs," Beard said. ?We dropped a hole on the one run. All the equipment on (Whit) Bazemore's car is brand new. It's not all synchronized yet like (Rod) Fuller's car is. We're getting better and better. Our cars ran a 4.50 and a 4.48, that's not far off. That was the goal, to have both cars in the top half."

Bazemore will battle veteran Top Fuel star Cory McClenathan in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations on Sunday morning at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. After 318 career Funny Car races, Baze makes his first career Top Fuel start on Sunday morning.

Q1 4.533, 324.28 No. 7

Q2 4.980, 210.37 No. 8

Q3 4.516, 329.75 No. 7

Q4 4.507, 325.14 No. 7
 

SkyTel Races Into NHRA with Legendary Snake Racing Team
Taps Two-Time Champion Larry Dixon to Pilot Top Fuel Dragster
Unleashes SkyGuard™ Vehicle Reassurance System

Vista, CA. (February 8, 2007) – SkyTel, a nationwide wireless service provider and division of Bell Industries, Inc. (AMEX: BI) announced today that it is a primary sponsor of the SkyTel/Don Prudhomme Racing Top Fuel dragster, driven by two-time NHRA top fuel champion Larry Dixon.

SkyTel is the only wireless brand sponsoring an NHRA POWERade Series team in 2007, replacing long-time sponsor Miller Lite on Dixon’s car. The alliance with Don Prudhomme “Snake” Racing is designed to fuel rapid growth of SkyTel’s SkyGuard™ vehicle reassurance system.

“We see the NHRA as a tremendous platform for building SkyTel’s brand awareness and sales,” said Brad Richards, executive vice president of sales and marketing for SkyTel. “By partnering with Don Prudhomme, we have associated our brand with not only the best team owner in the business, but one of its finest drivers – Larry Dixon. I have every confidence that the SkyTel dragster will be competing for a Top Fuel championship from the very first race.”

SkyTel (www.SkyTel.com) will promote a number of innovative wireless products including SkyGuard™ at NHRA races throughout the 23-event season. SkyGuard™ is a state-of-the-art GPS tracking, monitoring and theft recovery system for motor vehicles. Its web based interface is designed for ease of use by both individuals and families. The complete line of SkyTel’s vehicle reassurance products will be distributed later this year through major automotive dealers, distributors and retailers in the U.S. and abroad.

“This is a great day for the entire Snake Racing family,” said Prudhomme. “While we will all miss working with the folks from Miller, who were so supportive of us for over a decade – including two championship seasons – we couldn’t be more excited about our new relationship with SkyTel. They are an outstanding brand with substantial growth potential in a category that has been absent from the NHRA until now.”

The SkyTel Racing Team will debut its distinctive orange-dominant motif at the opening weekend of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals will kick off the season February 8-11 in Pomona, CA.

Don Bender returns for his second year as crew chief of Dixon’s Top Fuel dragster, and is currently busy preparing for a 2007 season that he hopes will bring a third NHRA top fuel crown to the Snake Racing team.

“I am extremely excited about driving the SkyTel dragster,” said Dixon, the third winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history. “SkyTel is a great company, and SkyGuard™ is an invaluable resource for any parent concerned about their children’s safety and security.”

The agreement between SkyTel and Don Prudhomme Racing was negotiated by Ladd Biro, president of Dallas-based sports and entertainment marketing agency Champion Management LLC (www.championmgt.com). Champion has also been engaged to secure associate sponsors for the team.

About Don Prudhomme Racing

Don Prudhomme Racing is headquartered in Vista, Calif., with a second shop – Don Prudhomme Racing, Brownsburg, Ind. – serving as the base for racing operations. Drivers Larry Dixon and Tommy Johnson, Jr. complete the roster of Don Prudhomme Racing drivers and proudly represent such racing partners as SkyTel, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., Torco Race Fuels, Lucas Oil Products, Chevrolet, Raybestos, Summit Racing Equipment and SPY Optic.

About SkyTel, Bell Industries, Inc.

Headquartered in Clinton, Mississippi, SkyTel provides nationwide wireless services and support, including email, interactive two-way messaging, vehicle reassurance services, wireless broadband and telemetry services and traditional text and numeric paging, to business and government customers throughout the United States. In addition to SkyTel, parent company Bell Industries, Inc., is comprised of two additional diversified operating units. The Technology Solutions business offers a comprehensive portfolio of technology products and managed lifecycle services, including planning, product sourcing, deployment and disposal, and support services. The Recreational Products Group distributes after-market parts and accessories primarily to the recreational vehicle and boating markets.
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

FULLER OPENS 2007 NHRA SEASON WITH SECOND QUICKEST PASS OF CAREER, SITS THIRD AT WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2007) - Rod Fuller made quite a name for himself last season racing to two victories and a fifth-place finish in the tough Top Fuel division. The rising Top Fuel star can no long fly under the radar, as "Hot" Rod Fuller is now a household name to drag racing fans across the land. Fuller didn't disappoint as he powered his Valvoline dragster to a run of 4.497 seconds at 329.34 mph to open the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

The David Powers-owned team, led by veteran crew chief Rob Flynn, faced a bit of adversity as they struggled with a mechanical gremlin during the pre-run warm-up procedure. However, when the Valvoline-backed rail hit the always-fast Pomona quarter-mile, Fuller blasted to the second quickest pass of his short professional driving career, 4.497 at 329.34. His career-best E.T. is 4.493-seconds (Dallas 2005). He did not record one 4.4-second elapsed time last season.

"Not only did we have a problem during the warm-up, but we spent most of our testing with the monostrut wing," Fuller said. "We didn't have one full lap at testing with the setup we ran today. We had an ignition failure during the warm-up and our backs were against the wall. We've got a new pit crew and it showed where this team is headed. I was confident in Rob Flynn and my crew guys. We felt it could run a 4.40 and it did. Now, we've run back-to-back 4.49s with two different setups. That's kind of cool. It really takes the pressure off and now we can try and run a mid-4.40."

With a solid first pass, Fuller and the Valvoline team aim to improve when qualifying continues on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (PT). The final two qualifying sessions are scheduled for 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Pomona.

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com
 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

BAZEMORE RACES TO SOLID OPENING RUN AT POMONA, 4.533 SECONDS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2007) - With all the off season hoopla of the switch from Top Fuel to Funny Car now in the rear view mirror, Whit Bazemore finally strapped into his Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster for real on Thursday afternoon at Pomona Raceway. The veteran nitro pilot, with 20 career Funny Car wins to his credit, didn't disappoint racing to a run of 4.533 seconds.

"The thing that was exciting for me was how comfortable I felt in the car when I was in the staging lanes," Bazemore said. "I felt at home and that was good for my confidence. This team is unbelievable and they've made the transition so easy. My car is perfect. With Lee (Beard) and Rob (Flynn), and you can see by how "Hot" Rod's (Fuller) car ran, this is a great organization. Success in this sport comes from your team and they've made it easy on me."

Having not competed in an NHRA national event since his runner-up finish last September at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Bazemore didn't miss a beat. The first-year Top Fuel driver, who joined David Powers Motorsports last fall, used a solid tune-up from champion crew chief Lee Beard to card a run of 4.533 seconds at 324.28 mph to claim the No. 7 qualifying position on the opening day of qualifying at the 47th annual Winternationals. The quickest Bazemore had ever gone in his Funny Car was 4.674 seconds.

"Being the first car in that left lane, we weren't in position to really push it," Beard said. ?We knew that a low 4.50 would put us in the top half of the field and that's where we wanted to be. We're comfortable with that run. Now, we can go out and push it and try to run with the big dogs like Rod Fuller"

Bazemore and the Matco Tools team hope to join teammate Fuller in the 4.4-second range when Top Fuel qualifying resumes on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (PT). There also are qualifying sessions at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the historic drag strip.

www.matcotools.com
 

The Fuller Times
The prerace release of three-time NHRA Top Fuel winner
"Hot" Rod Fuller and the Valvoline Racing Top Fuel team
Contact: Ted Yerzyk

47th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals
February 8-11, 2007
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.

"I'm very confident that we have a car that can win at Pomona," Fuller said. "We spent most of the testing trying to figure out the monostrut wing. We weren't concerned about running fast, but we did run a 4.490, which is a career-best for me and we shut off early. I know we have a mid-4.4-second car. I?ve won there twice, and that would be a great way to start off the year. It's exciting with the changes and going into the race with a teammate."

Fuller Winternationals Notebook

Last season, Fuller finished fifth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings, with two victories in five final-round appearances. He also was the runner-up in the lucrative Top Fuel Shootout at Las Vegas. The 2006 season was Fuller's first full season in Top Fuel competition.

Fuller qualified fifth at the 2006 Winternationals with a 4.518-second elapsed time. He was defeated in the quarterfinals by Morgan Lucas.

Fuller has yet to advance passed the second round of eliminations in Top Fuel competition at Pomona Raceway in five career races at the historic Southern California drag strip.

Fuller has scored two sportsmen victories at Auto Club Raceway. He won Pomona 3 (Super Comp) in 2001 and claimed the Super Gas title at the Auto Club Finals in 2003.

Fuller on Pomona

The Winternationals: "Come out of the box strong"

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona: "Tradition"

Favorite local restaurant: "La Paloma"

Favorite Pomona memory: "Winning the 50th anniversary race in 2001"

Favorite activity while at Pomona: "Hanging out in Hollywood"

Rod Fuller's Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona

Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver

1996 DNQ

2005 No. 15 First round-David Grubnic

2005* No. 5 First round-David Grubnic

2006 No. 5 Second round-Morgan Lucas

2006* No. 7 Second round-Tony Schumacher

*Auto Club of So. Calif. Finals

Fuller's Pomona 1 Schedule

Date & Time Event and Location

Thurs., Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Pomona Raceway

Fri., Feb. 9, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Pomona Raceway

Sat., Feb. 10, 12:30, 3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Pomona Raceway

Sun., Feb. 11, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Pomona Raceway
 

Fuller's Career-Best Performances

E.T.- 4.493 seconds Ennis, Texas Oct. 2005

MPH - 330.96 mph Joliet, Ill. June 2006

E.T. - 4.501 seconds Pomona, Calif. Nov. 2005

MPH - 328.14 mph Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2006

CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)

Date & Time (ET) Coverage

Sat., Feb. 10, 9-11 p.m. Qualifying Highlights

Sun., Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m.-Noon NHRA 2Day

Sun., Feb. 11, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.valvoline.com 
www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 
 

The Bazemore Bulletin
The prerace release of 20-time NHRA winner Whit Bazemore
and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Top Fuel team
Contact: Ted Yerzyk

47th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals
February 8-11, 2007
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.

"Going in with a new team and a new type of race car, it's very exciting to me," Bazemore said. "I think the success we had in testing takes some of the pressure off. I like pressure, but it give us confidence in the team, car and entire program. We have a lot of confidence and we're going there with expectations of being able to win the race given how we ran at testing at Phoenix."

Bazemore Winternationals Notebook

Last season, Bazemore finished ninth in the NHRA Funny Car standings despite missing the final five races of the season. He earned one victory (Seattle) in three final-around appearances in 2006.

Bazemore qualified sixth last season at the Winternationals with a 4.763-second elapsed time. He fell in the opening round of eliminations to Bob Gilbertson despite having the best reaction time of the round (.055 of-a-second).

Bazemore has advanced to the final round at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona twice: Pomona 2 2001 (to Del Worsham), Pomona 3 2001 (to John Force).
Bazemore has qualified in the No. 1 position twice at Auto Club Raceway: Pomona 2 2001 (4.741 seconds), Pomona 3 2001 (4.816 seconds). The highest he has qualified at the Winternationals is second (2002-03).

Auto Club Raceway is one of 9 current tracks where Bazemore has yet to win a race. He has claimed victories at 12 race tracks, and multiple wins at 6 tracks.

Baze Banters About Pomona...

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:

"The Winternationals"

Favorite Pomona-area cycling route: "Glendora Mountain Road to Mount Baldy"

Favorite local restaurants: "All India Caf頩n Pasadena and El Cholo Caf頩n South Pasadena"

Favorite Pomona Raceway memory: "The first time I went there, as a junior in high school, it was also my first time in California. The next morning I saw snow on Mount Baldy. Going to the Winternationals was the pinnacle for me at that point in my life. Living in Atlanta, I wouldn't have seen any new cars until the springtime. It was as if I had died and gone to heaven."

Whit Bazemore's Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona

Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver

1989 DNQ

1992 No. 10 1st round-Did Not Show

1993 No. 12 1st round-Gary Clapshaw

1995 No. 10 2nd round-John Force

1996 No. 4 2nd round-John Force

1997 No. 12 2nd round-Tony Pedregon

1998 No. 10 1st round-Tony Pedregon

1999 No. 3 2nd round-Tony Pedregon

2000 No. 7 2nd round-Jerry Toliver

2001 No. 10 Semifinals-Bruce Sarver

2002 No. 2 1st round-Johnny Gray

2003 No. 2 2nd round-Tommy Johnson, Jr.

2004 No. 5 2nd round-Gary Scelzi

2005 No. 8 Semifinals-Tommy Johnson, Jr.

2006 No. 6 1st round-Bob Gilbertson

Whit Bazemore's Pomona 1 Schedule

Date & Time Event and Location

Thurs., Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Pomona Raceway

Fri., Feb. 9, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Pomona Raceway

Sat., Feb. 10, 12:30, 3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Pomona Raceway

Sun., Feb. 11, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Pomona Raceway

Whit Bazemore's Career-Best Performances

E.T.- 4.674 seconds (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2006

MPH - 333.25 mph (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2004

CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)

Date & Time (ET) Coverage

Sat., Feb. 10, 9-11 p.m. Qualifying Highlights

Sun., Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m.-Noon NHRA 2Day

Sun., Feb. 11, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

www.matcotools.com 

www.davidpowersmotorsports.com 


 

News From
David Powers Motorsports
CONTACT: Ted Yerzyk, David Powers Motorsports

ROD FULLER Q&A

PITTSBORO, Ind. (Feb. 3, 2007) - Rod Fuller is one of the more polished competitors in the sport of drag racing. The veteran racer has collected victories in four different categories, including three in Top Fuel. Last season, Fuller and his David Powers Motorsports-owned Valvoline team surprised many winning two races on the way to a fifth-place finish in the Top Fuel division. Now, the Las Vegas resident is part of a two-car team with Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools dragster joining the Powers camp. As Fuller enters his second full season as a Top Fuel driver, he divulges how he acquired his catchy nickname, and discusses the upcoming 23-race NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, which begins on February 8 in Pomona, Calif.

Q: How did you get the nickname "Hot" Rod?

FULLER: My uncles raced in the 60s in the St. Louis and Chicago areas. My mom always wanted to race and when I was born, she knew I was going to be a race car driver. She wanted to name me Hot Rod Fuller. My dad was like, you're not naming my boy Hot Rod Fuller on his birth certificate. They compromised and chose Rod. She told the doctor I would be a race car driver and on my birth blanket it says Hot Rod Fuller. A lot of people think I came up with the nickname when I started racing. I've had it since birth. When I was growing up and playing sports like football and baseball and soccer, that's what everyone called me. It's been with me forever and it's a part of me.

Q: You've won races in four different categories, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Top Fuel. What's your favorite class to compete in?

FULLER: I really enjoyed Super Gas. When I first started, I had a '27 T-Roadster. I call it the car that made my career because it was the car I started winning some races in. I gained confidence and it put me at a level where I could afford to race. That helped acquire the Valvoline sponsorship and let me run national events and be out there on a full-time basis. That car was a lot of fun.

Q: How did you adapt to going from an 8.90 (second) car to a Top Fuel dragster?

FULLER: I adapted quickly. When I first came over, my guys were betting on how soon I'd lift when I first got in the car. Richard Hogan told me to run it to 330' and the first time I hit the throttle, it didn't startle me. I went to 330 feet. All my crew guys were impressed. I always tell people that a race car driver is a race car driver. You can stick them in any kind of race car and they'll do well. This is what I love to do. The thing about a Top Fuel car is the concussion when you hit the throttle. That's what takes the most getting used to.

Q: Who is your favorite opponent?

FULLER: Doug Kalitta. I feel like he brings out the best in me and he is the best. Like Rick Flair used to say, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. I like running Kalitta. He's very fair and when you race him, you know there won't be games. He's a straight-up racer and I respect that.

Q: Last season, you snuck up on the class with a fifth-place finish. What's in store for 2007?

FULLER: We were in six final rounds counting the (Top Fuel) Shootout and our goal is to improve on our final-round win percentage. My goal is to win four races and I think that's a realistic goal. We could have gotten it last year had we caught some breaks and didn't have parts failure. I'd like to make another six or seven finals. I really think we can fight for a championship this year. I have no reason not to believe that after what we did last season. We did well at testing in Phoenix and I have a great team. And I think having a teammate will benefit us. I don't see any reason why we can't fight for the championship.

Q: Are you excited to have Whit Bazemore join the team?

FULLER: I am excited to have a teammate. It's not competition, but more to have someone to compare yourself with and talk with. That will be helpful to me. I can say I felt this or it did that and I'll have someone to talk with. I think we'll both benefit from sharing information with each other. I think being competitive will make both of us better drivers.

Q: You debuted the next generation monostrut wing last weekend during the National Time Trials. What are your thoughts on it?

FULLER: It makes things exciting. You can engineer things, but you really don't know how it reacts until it hits the track. You have to be on top of things. I always wanted to be a fighter pilot growing up, and to have the opportunity to do something for the first time is really cool. One of my favorite movies when I was a kid was called The Right Stuff. It was about test pilots and astronauts in the 60s and 70s. That's what I felt like. When I made the first pass, the team was so excited. I feel like we're going to advance and better the sport. It's been run before, but this is the latest version of it and I think it will make the sport safer. I'm excited about the monostrut.

Q: How is your relationship with crew chief Rob Flynn?

FULLER: Rob and I have very identical personalities. I don't think you can find a better fit for a crew chief for me. We're both out here for the love of the sport. We both want to succeed. We communicate well with each other. I come back after a run and I can tell him what I felt and what the car did, and he gets me involved in the tune-up. I think that will help our race team. That's only going to make us stronger. Communication is very important.

Q: You're a Chicago Bears fan. What's your Super Bowl XLI prediction?

FULLER: I think that the Bears will win 31-28. I think the first half will be slow, and then there will be a lot of scoring in the second half and that the Bears will hold them off.
 

TOMMY JOHNSON JR. REVVED FOR START OF NEW SEASON
-Makes Super Bowl Prediction-

VISTA, Calif. (Feb. 2, 2007) –Tommy Johnson Jr. can’t wait for the 2007 NHRA season to begin next week at the Winternationals in Pomona, (Calif.). Coming off another strong season, coupled with the way his Chevy Impala has performed in testing, TJ is chomping at the bit to hit the track and do it for real.

“I can’t wait to get going,” said Johnson as the Don Prudomme Skoal racing team concluded testing in Phoenix this week. “The car ran really well last year and has run really good in testing. We’ve tried a lot of new things during the test sessions and have learned a lot.”

In order to make sure all the parts are looking good before making full runs, TJ and the crew never went past 1,000 feet during the testing. Last Monday in Las Vegas in his first pass, TJ shut off at 1,000 feet, as the car ran a 4.72 at 279 mph. The car was on a pace to run a 4.65 or 66 on a full run.

“This is what testing is for, to try out new things. There was no reason to go a full run. I was really thrilled in Las Vegas when the car ran its quickest half-track speed ever for eight miles,” added TJ, as he hopes to create that opening season magic like he did in 2005 when he won the season’s first race.

With a new Impala body and the same stalwart crew headed by Mike Green, there’s no reason to doubt the confidence TJ is feeling.

The 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series kicks-off Feb. 8-11 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona with the 47th annual Winternationals.

Johnson equaled his career best sixth-place finish in the highly-competitive Funny Car class last year. He scored wins at the NHRA Nationals in Phoenix in February and Brainerd, MN in August.

TJ feels a win by his beloved Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl this Sunday would be a nice way to start the week.

“I thought seriously about going to Miami to see them, but then I looked at what the prices were for tickets and thought I’d just head to California. I really hope the Colts can do it!”

Just for the record, TJ says it’ll be Colts over the Bears 34-17.