Hillary Will & John Force Quickest in Las Vegas Tests
January 24, 2006
Top Fuel rookie Hillary Will and 13-time NHRA POWERade Series world champion John Force were quickest in their respective categories during four days of pre-season testing that concluded Monday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
NHRA Announces Partnership with Harley-Davidson
January 24, 2006
With the big announcement between the NHRA and Harley-Davidson motorcycles made recently, one can’t help but wonder where the Nitro Harley class fits in with all of this. Could this mean the return of the Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel Harley’s to the NHRA schedule?
Dana and Ethanol to Rahal-Letterman
January 24, 2006
Dana, Danica…Danica, Dana! Paul Dana and his Ethanol sponsorship have hitched their wagon to the star of late-night television and 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal’s team for the coming Indy Racing League season.
Monday on the Media Tour
January 23, 2006
Thanks to the staff of Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s PR Department, we’ve been priveleged to attend this year’s NASCAR NEXTEL Media Tour hosted by Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The day started with registration of course, followed a bus ride to the NASCAR R&D center, where the assembled journalists were fed lunch. Immediately after that, we attended an open session with NASCAR leadership, discussing the Car of Tomorrow. Following that, Toyota’s announcement was made. The Speedway has graciously allowed us to link to their web site posting of notes from the day.
NASCAR’s Fourth Manufacturer Steps In
January 23, 2006
In the announcement referred to in another posting here, NASCAR and Toyota announced Monday that the Toyota Camry will begin competing in the Busch Series and NEXTEL Cup Series in the 2007 season. The relatively low-key announcement was made at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, NC, just across the Interstate from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, hosts of the Media Tour. Following is the text of the release as posted on NASCAR’s site:
Toyota to Join Cup in ‘07; Competitors Doubt Success
January 23, 2006
2007 will see Toyota field cars in the Nextel Cup and Busch Series. It’s almost official that Micheal Waltrip and Bill Davis will be involved in a deal with Toyota.
Q&A with 2005 Top Fuel Driver Larry Dixon
January 23, 2006
While Larry Dixon’s drag racing accomplishments and gaudy statistics speak volumes about the veteran Top Fuel driver’s place in NHRA history, things will be slightly different around the Miller Lite Top Fuel pits this season. For the first time since the 1999 NHRA season, Dixon will be without tuning services of Dick LaHaie. LaHaie rode off into the sunset last November after calling the shots on Dixon’s second-place Miller Lite rail last season. In this Q&A, Dixon gives his thoughts on the 2006 season and reflects back upon a solid ‘05 campaign that saw him add three more wins to his resume, including a third career Mac Tools U.S. Nationals title.
Q&A with 2005 Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher
January 23, 2006
The 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season is on the horizon and U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher has history on his mind. Having captured the last two NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world championships, Schumacher has a shot in ‘06 to become only the second Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to win three consecutive titles, joining Joe Amato who held the crown from 1990 through 1992. While prepping for pre-season testing at Firebird International Raceway this weekend, Schumacher took time out to discuss his record-setting 2005 campaign, while looking ahead to his 11th season of NHRA competition.
Happy Birthday Wally Parks; NHRA Founder Turns 93 Today
January 23, 2006
NHRA Founder Wally Parks celebrates his 93rd birthday today. A motorsports pioneer who moved drag racing off the streets and into safer, organized race tracks, Parks continues to be actively involved in NHRA by serving on the drag racing sanctioning body’s board of directors. In addition, he is chairman of the board for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The popular museum, which features a wide variety of historical race cars from drag racing as well as other motorsports, is located in Pomona, Calif.
Michael Waltrip Joins Forces with Jasper For New Team
January 22, 2006
President and CEO of Michael Waltrip Racing, Inc., Michael Waltrip and President of JASPER, Doug Bawel, announced today they have formed Waltrip-Jasper Racing Company, LLC. Waltrip-Jasper Racing will field the #55 NAPA AUTO PARTS NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Dodge in 2006, driven by Waltrip.