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July 23, 2008
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INTERSTATE DRAGWAYS PHOTO GALLERY
Check the tracks web site for updates and more information.
DRAG RACING NEWS
CONNOLLY, HIGHT, SCHUMACHER EARN NO. 1 QUALIFIERS,
CRUCIAL POINTS KENT, Wash. - Tony Schumacher has been in the final round in Seattle every year since 2004. Out of four consecutive final rounds here, he's won three. He looked primed to add a fifth after qualifying No. 1 Saturday at the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, piloting his U.S. Army dragster to a 3.802-second pass at 316.90 mph in prime conditions Friday for his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 51st of his career. "We've been lucky at a lot of tracks," Schumacher said. "Indy's (O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis) another good track for us, and this is one. If you can hand-pick a few, the Western Swing is a beautiful place to have a good streak on and so is Indy. I'm not going to complain about it and I'm sure not going to look for answers. I'm just going to let them ride out the storm here and enjoy it. It's fantastic." Robert Hight and Dave Connolly also will lead their respective categories into Sunday's eliminations on the power of the No. 1 qualifiers they earned during prime weather conditions of the first day of qualifying, on Friday. Schumacher and competitors in every category got a sneak preview Saturday of what race conditions may be like on Sunday at the Pacific Raceways dragstrip in the NHRA POWERade Series event when final eliminations start at 11 a.m.
CONNOLLY, HIGHT, SCHUMACHER POWER TO PROVISIONAL
NO. 1s AS QUALIFYING KENT, Wash. - Dave Connolly entered the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals near Seattle 53 points below the Top 10 cut in the points - the line that in just one month will separate those who will battle for the 2008 world championship titles from those who won't. Since his return at the Atlanta event in April, Connolly has hunted his way up the point standings with one win in three final-round appearances and it appears he's not ready to stop. Connolly turned in a blistering track-record time of 6.573 seconds at 209.49 mph behind the wheel of his Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt to lead the Pro Stock field into Saturday's final qualifying sessions Friday at Pacific Raceways, where Tony Schumacher and Robert Hight also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories.
A Double Dip for Richard Hartman Grand Bend, Ont. (July 19, 2008) – Richard
Hartman spend a good portion of the day running back and forth between the
pits of Bruce Litton and Andy Kelley. As Crew Chief on both cars he has
little idle time, working with both teams to get them ready between
afternoon and evening qualifying sessions.
Bruce Litton Heads Friday Top
Fuel Qualifying in Grand Bend Grand Bend, Ont. (July 18, 2008) –
Defending World Champion Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Ind.) moved to the top
of the provisional Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel behind the wheel of his Lucas
Oil Canada Hadman Dragster qualifying sheet with his 4.743 pass at 302.75
mph. Litton was in the last pair of cars that went down the track in
Friday’s Top Fuel qualifying session and was just looking to get his feet
under him at Grand Bend Motorplex. He ended up on the top of the list
heading into Saturday’s pair of qualifying sessions at the Mopar Canadian
Nationals.
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.
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.
Rain Washes Out Second Friday Qualifying Session at CARS RV & Sport & Marine Rocky Mountain Nationals EDMONTON, Ab. (July 4, 2008) – The main
attractions of the first day of action at the Rocky Mountain Nationals, the
Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car qualifying sessions, were set to go just as an
aggressive storm front struck, lashing the area with heavy rain and steady
flashes of lightning.
IHRA Swings into Canada for Rocky Mountain Nationals in
Edmonton Norwalk, Ohio (June 19, 2008) – With the 2008 season championship points
races heating up IHRA will head to Canada for the first of two Canadian
races this season July 4-6. The CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain
Nationals Presented by Torco Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton
will bring the thrill of the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam to the rabid racing fans in
Western Canada for the sixth time since the race’s inception in 2003. It is
one of the hottest tickets in town and consistently sets attendance records
as each year the nitro frenzy grows in what is known as “Festival City” and
one of the largest cities in North America area-wise.
ASHLEY FORCE AND TONY SCHUMACHER NOMINATED FOR 2008 ESPY AWARDS GLENDORA, Calif. (July
2, 2008) -- Second-year Funny Car phenom Ashley Force has been nominated for
the ESPY Hummer Like Nothing Else Award and five-time NHRA POWERade Series
Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher was nominated for the ESPY Best
Driver Award, it was announced this week by ESPN.
HERBERT RACES TO EMOTIONAL TOP FUEL VICTORY AT
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS
NORWALK, Ohio – Doug Herbert raced to an emotional Top Fuel
victory Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals and dedicated
his first win of the season to the memory of his two young sons who were
tragically killed in a highway auto accident in late January.
JOHNSON DRIVES MOPAR TO K&N CHALLENGE VICTORY
NORWALK, Ohio – Allen Johnson drove his Dodge Stratus to the
$50,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge victory Saturday at Summit Racing Equipment
Motorsports Park.
FRIDAY'S RACING CANCELLED AS WATER SEEPAGE PROBLEM
SURFACES ON TRACK
NORWALK, Ohio -- NHRA officials cancelled most of Friday's
professional racing portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park due to a water seepage problem on
the racing surface.
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.
BROWN RACES
MATCO TOOLS RAIL TO QUARTERFINALS 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.
Litton Takes Over Points Lead
with Final Round Appearance in Maryland MECHANICSVILLE, MD (June 16, 2008) – Bruce
Litton fell one round short of claiming his second consecutive IHRA national
event victory, but he did not leave Maryland International Raceway
empty-handed as his strong showing during qualifying, coupled with two round
wins, put him on top of the IHRA Top Fuel championship points standings.
Creasy Cruises to First Win in
2008 Mechanicsville, Md. (June 15, 2008) – Last
season Dale Creasy Jr. was a regular visitor to the winner’s circle at IHRA
Nitro Jam events. He won six times during the 2007 season in easily cruising
to his second consecutive world championship.
IHRA Video Flashback Pro Mod's
Carl Spiering crashes his Pro Mod Corvette while racing Kenny Lang at the 2006 San Antonio Nitro Jam (IHRA Video's)
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Canadian Late Model Touring Series
Hosts Civic Holiday Challenge By James Baker BLENHEIM, ON, CANADA - Canada's only touring series for dirt late model racers, the "Ontario Dirt Late Models," will take national stage on the coming civic holiday week-end with a two-day show set for two Ontario speedways. "The Civic Holiday Challenge" opens at the 3/8 mile dirt oval Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, ON on Saturday, August 2 and concludes Sunday August 3 at another nearby 3/8 mile dirt oval, Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, ON. In an effort to increase the series' visibility on a national level, the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" have invited 37 of Canada's top dirt late model drivers to compete in the organization's 2008 events. The invitation to western province drivers is the first step in eventually crowning a true Canadian national dirt late model champion. Included in the invitees are Thunder Bay, ON drivers Tom Nesbitt, Joel Cryderman, Danny Young and Bob Slater and Manitoba racers Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Ricky Weiss of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Dave "Turk" Tyrchniewicz of St. Andrews, MB, Kevin Sexton of Lorette, MB, Mike McCaughan of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Shawn Holden of Winnipeg, MB, Scott Greer of East St. Paul, MB, Jeff Pritchard of Carman, MB, Les Pritchard of Rolland, MB, Tom Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Gord Hochkevich of Winnipeg, MB and Terry Newhouse of Brandon, MB.
SCHUMACHER CONTINUES DREAM-TEAM SEASON AS BARTONE,LINE ALSO WIN IN
SEATTLE
KENT, Wash. - After a shaky first half of the season that included six DNQs, Tony Bartone raced to his first NHRA POWERade Series victory Sunday at the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals after more than six years of professional racing. Bartone defeated veteran driver Ron Capps, also looking to break out of a winless streak that dates back to Richmond 2007, in the final round. Bartone powered his Canidae Pet Foods Chevy Monte Carlo to a 4.454-second pass at 238.17 mph to get the long-awaited win, while Capps posted a 4.708 at 227.46 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T. Tony Schumacher and Jason Line also were winners at scenic Pacific Raceways, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Series. Before beating Capps in the final, Bartone outran Gary Scelzi, Mike Neff and Tony Pedregon in earlier rounds. "Looking back at last weekend in Denver, we had an extreme amount of trouble getting down the track," Bartone said. "We blew up and were on fire many times, and we were able to turn our program around and put together a pretty good racecar to race with today and we went the four rounds and brought home the bacon. We made the qualifying passes on Friday and we chose to sit out yesterday in the heat, and we were lucky enough to come up with a good race-day tune-up today. It wasn't perfect, but it went rounds."
McMillen Thunders to Top Fuel Ironman
at Grand Bend Motorplex
Paul Noakes’ Alcohol Funny Car win completes dream weekend for McMillen’s Hoosier Thunder Motorsports Grand Bend, Ont. (July 20, 2008) – Terry McMillen was not satisfied with one Ironman. After watching Paul Noakes, driving his Amalie Oil InstiGator, claim the Alcohol Funny Car championship at the Mopar Canadian Nationals, McMillen figured he might as well put the icing on the proverbial cake. He knocked off rookie Spencer Massey in the Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel final round to put a second Hoosier Thunder Motorsports car in the winner’s circle at Grand Bend Motorplex. “What a weekend…this is something you can just dream about,” McMillen said. “Getting both cars to the finals was a goal, to be fortunate enough to have both cars win is really amazing.” McMillen (Elkhart, IN) defeated Spencer Massey in the Top Fuel final while Noakes knocked off Larry Dobbs in the AFC class. Noakes drives the car McMillen left behind when he stepped into a Top Fueler, a car McMillen never took to the winner’s circle. “My hat is off to Les Mellows, Paul’s crew chief, and his entire crew for what they were able to accomplish this weekend,” McMillen said. “I also have to give the credit to my team here and the entire gang at the shop back home. (Crew Chief) Doug Kuch gave us the power and all my guys busted their butts and they never gave up their faith in this team. And here we are. They deserve all the credit, I’m just the nut behind the wheel.” McMillen, who broke Clay Millican’s 2-year-old track speed record in his first elimination round against Kevin Jones, ran a 4.867 at 278.52 mph in the final to top Massey’s tire-spinning 5.393/201.43 pass. His first-round 322.42 pass set the new Grand Bend Motorplex speed standard.
ODLM Looks for National Exposure;
Invites Western Drivers to 2008 Shows By James Baker BLENHEIM, ON, CANADA- Canada's only dirt late model touring series, the "Ontario Dirt Late Models," has invited the top drivers from the western provinces to participate in the series' 2008 events. Included on the invite list are top late model drivers from Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Thunder Bay, Ontario. The effort is the first step in eventually crowning a true Canadian national dirt late model champion. Heading the list of invitees are Tom Nesbitt and Joel Cryderman, both from Thunder Bay, ON , Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Ricky Weiss of St. Francois Xavier, MB and Dave Smith of Edmonton, AB. The 68-year old Nesbitt, a 2005 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee, began racing in 1959 and has won 601 features. Cryderman has won 175 main events and eight track championships in a career that began in 1979. Balcaen is a six-time track champion at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND while Weiss captured the 2007 track title at Red River Co-Op Speedway in Winnipeg, MB. Smith was the 2007 track champion at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, AB. Also invited were Dave "Turk" Tyrchniewicz of St. Andrews, MB, Kevin Sexton of Lorette, MB, Mike McCaughan of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Shawn Holden of Winnipeg, MB, Scott Greer of East St. Paul, MB, Jeff Pritchard of Carman, MB, Les Pritchard of Winnipeg, MB, Tom Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Gord Hockevich of Winnipeg, MB, Terry Newhouse of Brandon, MB, Brad Cameron of Virny, AB, Stewart Hayward of Calgary, AB, Ed Turnbull of Estevan, SK, Danny Young of Thunder Bay, ON and Bob Slater of Thunder Bay, ON.
4th Annual NAPA Auto Parts
Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge
Mark Dobmeier # 13 of Grand Forks, North Dakota is shown
going through turn four at Winnipeg's Red River Co-op Speedway. Mark would
later go on to win the 25 lap, NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car
Challenge. Fargo, ND racer, Wade Nygaard # 9 swapped the lead a number of
times with Dobmeier throughout the feature race, but had to settle for a
2nd place finish. Winnipeg's Lou Kennedy Jr. # 21k, a three time winner of
this race crossed the line in 3rd place. (Photo by Tim Johnson)
Red River Co-op Speedway set to host the 4th Annual
NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge
Winnipeg's Red River Co-op Speedway will be the site for
the 4th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge this
Thursday July 10th. Advance tickets are available at the NAPA Auto parts
stores in Winnipeg. As an added bonus, customers buying their advance
tickets at the NAPA stores will be entered into a draw for a 250cc quad,
to be given away at the race. Veteran Sprint Car racer, Lou Kennedy Jr.
will be behind the wheel of the famous # 21k. Lou has won the race three
times and will be looking for his fourth win on Thursday night. Last years
race saw the Sprint Car Racing debut of Lou's eldest son, and 3rd
generation racer, Thomas Kennedy driving the # 20k. This years race will
see the debut of another racer, Lou's second eldest son, Sean.
Pictured above from the left, the man who started it all
Lou Kennedy Sr.,
Lou Kennedy Jr. #21k, Louie Kennedy, Sean Kennedy #32k,
and Thomas Kennedy #20k. (Photos by Tim Johnson)
DRIVEN TO PERFORM
Congratulations to Catherine for being named "Miss DTP
Winnipeg" at the Convention Center last night. (Photo by Tim Johnson)
A Second Home Track: Kinser Looks for Third Consecutive Win at
Tri-State Speedway
Haubstadt, IN— July 5, 2008—Bloomington Speedway is Steve Kinser’s home track, though Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana can also be considered a home track as well for the native of Bloomington, Indiana. The high-banked ¼-mile is just a about a 100-mile jaunt from his home, and he and his family has many ties to the track, which is in its 51st year of operation this season. Over the years, Kinser, the 20-time Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion has had unmatched success at Tri-State Speedway. He made his first start at the track in 1976, finishing sixth in that event, and since that time has racked up 34 Top-Five finishes at the track, including 21 wins. In his last two starts with the World of Outlaws at the track, he has led all 80 laps of A-Feature competition to pick up two wins. He will look for his third consecutive win at Tri-State Speedway this weekend, as the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series make their annual visit to the always racy southern Indiana track on Sunday, July 6 for an event which was postponed by rain earlier this season. It will be the second consecutive event on a ¼-mile for the series, after a race at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas on Saturday.
Dustin Daggett Dominates Opening Night of ASCS Northern Summer
Nationals at Ohsweken
By Rich Vleck,
OHSWEKEN, Ont. (July 4, 2008)- Dustin Daggett was one of the strongest cars all night long at Ohsweken, but he needed a big chunk of luck early in the feature to open up the door to his fifth career win at his favorite racetrack. Daggett was the beneficiary of a lap seven crash, which took out the top three runners and opened up the track to one of Ohsweken's Most Dominant Cars. The Portland, MI driver, who had captured the last four ASCS Sprints on Dirt Features at Ohsweken, pulled away over the final 18 laps through expert maneuvers for the win. "I just love this race track," said the driver of the Mott Motorsports No. 2M in Victory Lane. "Those three guys getting caught up in that wreck made it a lot easier for us."
Wayne Johnson Snaps ASCoT Slump
with Lakeside Fireworks!
By Lonnie Wheatley,
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (July 4, 2008) Oklahoma City native Wayne Johnson snapped a victory drought spanning more than a year's length in O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National action by wiring the field in Friday night's 25-lap main event atop the ½-mile Lakeside Speedway clay oval. The 2000 ASCS National champion muscled past Natalie Sather for the lead on the opening circuit and never looked back en route to his first ASCoT checkered flag since June 20 of last year in Brainerd, MN. "It's about time," a relieved Johnson commented in victory lane. "It sure didn't hurt starting near the front either." Moments after Johnson flashed underneath the checkered flag in Mike and Tim Hammers' Wesmar-powered H&H Enterprises/Pearson Farms No. 94 Maxim, Jesse Hockett got a head start on the night's fireworks by plowing into the frontstretch wall exiting turn four while trying to dodge a disabled lapped car. Hockett climbed from his mangled and charred mount uninjured. Still carrying 2008 ASCoT title aspirations, Johnson gridded the feature field inside the second row as reigning ASCS Midwest Region champion Sather led the way to the green flag with Chris Walker alongside on the front row. While Sather gunned into the lead in the opening pair of corners, Johnson wasted no time making his move. First, Johnson disposed of Walker for second in turn one. Then, Johnson pounced on the 23-year-old Fargo lass, diving to the low side of turn three to take command on the opening round.
Sherman Wins ASCS Canyon Region Firecracker 40
By Lonnie Wheatley,
PHOENIX, Ariz. (July 4, 2008) - Reigning Discount Tire Co. American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region champion Jeremy Sherman kicked off the Fourth of July Weekend double header by racing to victory lane in Friday night's Firecracker 40 atop Manzanita Speedway's 1/3-mile clay oval. After starting the 40-lapper from the third position, Sherman made his way past front row starters Bob Ream, Jr., and Ken Caskey in the early going and led the rest of the way aboard Fred Bryan's Wesmar-powered F&E Development No. 77 for his fifth series triumph of the season. Sherman was chased across the line by fellow second row starter Charles Davis, Jr., with Shon Deskins taking the show position. Ream was fourth, with Mike Leslie rounding out the top five.
UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Night 15: Moyer Sets New Track Record On
Way To Tri-City Speedway Victory
PONTOON BEACH, IL – July 4, 2008 – By Kellen Burns/DIRTcar Racing P.R. - Records are meant to be broken. But when it comes to Billy Moyer, he doesn’t just break records, he shatters them. Moyer smashed the one-lap Super Late Model standard for the three-eighths-mile Tri-City Speedway in qualifying on Friday night, then backed it up by pulling off an memorable outside pass to win the 40-lap UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals A-Main. The Batesville, Ark., legend’s lap of 14.144 seconds during the 51-car group time-trial session reduced the existing track record of 14.526 seconds that had been held by Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill. Things certainly didn’t go all Moyer’s way throughout the night, though. While he dominated the first heat from start-to-finish to emerge victorious, his Victory Circle M1 Chassis suffered a broken rearend as he crossed the finish line.
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.
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.
RED RIVER CO-OP SPEEDWAY
Mid-Canada Sprint Car challenge coming to RRCS July 10th. Contact the track for more
info. RRCS (photo by Tim Johnson)
NHRA SHORTENS RACE DISTANCE FOR TOP FUEL
AND FUNNY CAR CLASSES TO 1,000 FEET
AS INTERIM SAFETY STEP WHILE KALITTA
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
GLENDORA, Calif. (July 2, 2008) -- As the investigation
continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott
Kalitta, NHRA announced today that beginning at the Mopar Mile High
Nationals in Denver, Colorado, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes
will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or
one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA
continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build
upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and
ever-present dangers associated with the sport.
This interim change was made by NHRA in collaboration with professional race teams. NHRA believes that racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet will allow NHRA and the racing community time to evaluate, analyze and implement potential changes based on the safety initiatives outlined last week. With the change, fans will still be able to enjoy the sights, sounds and thrill of NHRA nitro racing with speeds around 300 mph and quick elapsed times to 1,000 feet. Over the years, NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety including measures to limit speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements, and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip.
The Show-Me State and the Fourth of July Holiday
await the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division
This Weekend!
 Lexington,
Michigan (Friday, July 4, 2008): Happy Birthday to the United States of
America! Our great nations 232nd birthday celebration is here and the cars
and stars of the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM
Performance Parts will help bring in the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend in
the Show-Me State!The ASALMS Northern Division family of Crews, Drivers, Fans, Officials, and Teams are on the road and heading over to Odessa, Missouri for one of the biggest and pivotal races of the 2008 racing season! The wicked-fast high-banks of I-70 Speedway, located East of Kansas City in Odessa, Missouri will serve as hosts for the extended distance Light Up The Night 150 on Saturday, July 5, 2008. This is the ASALMS North's fourth race of the 2008 campaign and there will be an optional Practice Day on Friday, July 4, 2008 during the late afternoon / early evening hours. ASALMS Northern Division Points Leader, Eddie Hoffman, the winner of the first three North races of the season, will go for an unprecedented fourth straight Feature Win to start off the season, but he'll have to deal with the likes of 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Champion and Two-Time I-70 Feature Winner last year. Trent Snyder!
The “Old School-RacersReunion.com Shootout”
comes to Music city Motorplex, Nashville, TN July 18, 2008 Mooresville, NC (July 2, 2008) - Old school Racing (OSR) will bring retired NASCAR legends back to the track for its inaugural event on July 18th. The “Old School-RacersReunion.com Shootout” will be held at the famed Music City Motorplex (MCM) in Nashville, TN as apart of MCM’s 50 Years of Asphalt Racing Celebration, July 18-20, 2008. OSR, in conjunction with RacersReunion.com, will bring the July 18th event live to the web with the veteran racing analyst Randy Pemberton in the broadcast booth with many special guest that will bring the fans racing stories that may never be heard again. Fans not attending the event will be able to view it live in it’s entirety along with some special surprises at www.RacersReunion.com Some of the greatest drivers of all time have been slated to compete in this long anticipated inaugural event. They include names such as; Harry Gant, Sterling Marlin, Geoff Bodine, Dave Marcis, Jack Ingram, Larry Pollard, James Harvey Hylton, Charlie Glotzbach, Joe Ruttman, Ronnie Thomas, Tommy Houston, and Randy Lajoie.
Huge Advance Sale for Biggest Race
in Nitro Jam Schedule
Record-setting ticket sales to provide festive backdrop for
CARS RV & Sport & Marine Rocky Mountain Nationals
Presented by Torco Racing Fuels
NORWALK, OHIO; June 30, 2008 – The Canadian fans that pack
Castrol Raceway in Edmonton for the Rocky Mountain Nationals keep upping
the ante. For the third consecutive season the advance ticket sales are
off the charts, setting records for duckets sold. The Rocky Mountain
Nationals have come to the forefront as the premiere event on the IHRA
Knoll Gas Nitro Jam schedule due to a variety of factors…the rabid passion
of the fans, the hard work and forward thinking of track operators Rob and
Kim Reeves and the commitment IHRA has made to making the Rocky Mountain
Nationals something special.
“NHRA has the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis and the rest of their events kind of lead up to that one,” IHRA president Aaron Polburn said. “We have the Rocky Mountain Nationals. While our other national event venues are strong with great fans, there is just a different kind of feeling when you walk into Castrol Raceway on race day. Rob Reeves and his entire team put on a great show but, honestly, you can find the major difference in the stands. Those fans are unbelievable.” Case and point, Dr. Tom Carter has a memory of Castrol Raceway he will never forget. “This was a couple of years ago. It was raining really hard and there was no way we were going to race for quite some time,” the Alcohol Funny Car driver from Cuero, Texas said. “I looked up in the stands and there were hundreds, literally hundreds, of fans sitting there having a great time. There was no shot we were going to get any racing in for hours but they were there having a blast. You just don’t find passion for drag racing like that anywhere else.”
Late Move Nets Jason Johnson ASCoT Loot at Huron!
By Lonnie Wheatley,
HURON, S.D. (June 28, 2008) - The annual ASCS Northern Swing ended in spectacular fashion on Saturday night as Jason Johnson nabbed his sixth O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National victory of the year with a late move in traffic to top the 25-lap feature event at Dakota State Fair Speedway. Johnson snared the point from race-long leader Garry Lee Maier on the 23rd lap and then fought off Maier as well as Wayne Johnson over the final two circuits to claim his 34th career ASCS National Tour feature win aboard Lanny Row's Wesmar-powered The Shop Motorsports/Custom Equipment Design No. 41 Eagle. Maier and Jason Johnson led the feature field to the green flag, with Maier gunning into the early lead and pacing the early rounds aboard Scott Brown's ASI-powered Lubbock Wrecker Service No. 11x Maxim. The initial ASCS National champion never could rest easy though, as Jason Johnson kept the pressure on throughout. In fact, Johnson briefly took the lead away from Maier on the ninth lap when he slid into the top spot in turns one and two. Maier wasted little time returning the favor however, racing back into the lead a half lap later in turns three and four.
Tony Stewart Racing -
WEEKLY REWIND
Week of June 29
Northwest Speedweek will be busy and fast
By ASCS Northwest Region Media The inaugural ASCS Northwest Region season has been somewhat slow in getting started. That changes soon. The American Sprint Car Series Northwest Region kicks into high gear with Northwest Speedweek July 14-19. Over the span of six nights, the top 360 Sprint car drivers in the Northwest will be racing six nights. In the past, Speedweek included a night off for teams to regroup. But not this year. Teams started the season with a May 24-25 Memorial Day weekend doubleheader at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.
World of Outlaws Event at Red River Valley Speedway Tonight, Postponed
by Inclement Weather
& Dangerously High Winds
West Fargo, ND— June 28, 2008— Persistent rain along with dangerously high winds, gusting up to 50 and 60 miles per hour have forced the postponement of the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series originally scheduled for tonight (Saturday, June 28) at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota. The event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, August 12. The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series has three events remaining in the Gerdau Ameristeel Northern Tour which kicked off last night at River Cities Speedway. In addition to the rescheduled finale of the Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway on August 12, the series will make their inaugural visit to Dacotah Speedway in Mandan on August 16, followed by a stop at Nodak Speedway in Minot on August 17.
Patience, Perseverance & A Little Luck Pay Off for Schatz on Wild Night
at River Cities Speedway
Grand Forks, ND— June 27, 2008— On the second lap of the
first heat race on Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North
Dakota, Donny Schatz’s night took an unexpected turn, which could have
been disastrous. After setting fast time and lining up fourth in the heat
race, he was battling for the lead when Jac Haudenschild spun, leaving him
no place to go and severely damaging the front end of his car.
The two-time defending Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion was forced to race his way into the A-Feature by way of the B-Main, which he handily won. He used a little luck late in the 40-lap A-Feature to inherit the lead when Jason Meyers and Kerry Madsen got together, while they were battling for the lead. He had a late battle with Craig Dollansky to pick up his series leading eighth A-Feature win of the 2008 season, in the opener of the 2008 Gerdau Ameristeel Northern Tour which also served as the opener of the Duel in the Dakotas. “It was a good night,” said the winner after conquering the high-banked three-tenths mile. “The car really came on at the end and we had a very good car late in the race. We could roll through the middle in (turns) one and two. We need lapped traffic and we got it. That allowed us to get some spots and watch the battle-fest with the 14 (Jason Meyers) and 55 (Kerry Madsen).”
A Perfect Fit: River Cities Speedway
Suits Haudenschild Just Fine
Grand Forks, ND— June 26, 2008—If ever there was a track
that was perfectly suited for Jac Haudenschild’s always aggressive, no
holds barred, take no prisoners driving style, it would River Cities
Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The high-banked three-tenths-mile
bullring lends itself to side-by-side racing with blazing fast speeds as
the drivers run just inches off of the wall, with all of this happening in
just about 10 seconds each lap.
Haudenschild will visit River Cities Speedway for the second consecutive season with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Friday, June 27 in the opener of the Gerdau Ameristeel Northern Tour which will encompass a total of four events in the state of North Dakota this weekend, along with the final two races in August. This weekend’s race will be part of the Duel in the Dakotas which will wrap up at Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday, June 28. Haudenschild won the overall title for the Duel in the Dakotas last season, after finishing second at River Cities Speedway and winning at Red River Valley Speedway. “Short tracks are always fun to race on,” said the veteran driver in regards to his return to River Cities Speedway. “They have always put a good show on there in the past and I imagine it will be the same way this year. We can’t wait to get up there.” River Cities Speedway is one of just three tracks on the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series schedule at which the drivers turn sub-10 second laps. Last season, the quickest lap in time trials at the high-banked track was 9.952 seconds, while the track record is 9.66 seconds. Haudenschild would like nothing more than to break the track record on Friday night, as the best sprint car drivers in the world invade the track for a full night of racing, capped off by a 40-lap main event.
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Dirt From The Stands
2008 - Schedules
Red River Co-op Speedway Feature Winners - 7/17/08
Kevin Sexton - Modified
Luke Dykstra - Super Stock
Dave Buffie - Super Truck
Henry Peters - Street Stock
Red River Co-op Speedway Race Results... Click Here!!! Updated July 23, 2008
River Cities Speedway Race Results... Click Here!!! Updated July 22, 2008
Canadian Racer Spotlight Canadian Late Model Racer - Chris Ross
By James Baker
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