Capps, Kalitta And Line Win At O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals
April 30, 2006
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Ron Capps beat drag racing legend John Force by one-hundredth of a second Sunday at Bristol Dragway to extend his Funny Car lead in the POWERade Drag Racing Series championship chase. Capps was joined by Doug Kalitta and Jason Line in the winner’s circle at the $1.5 million O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q, the sixth of 23 races in the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Rain Owns Aaron’s 499
April 30, 2006
Persistent rains forced delay of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Aaron’s 499 race until noon ET, Monday. Elliott Sadler will start from pole, flanked by defending series champion Tony Stewart. Earlier this season, the Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Golden Corral 500 ran on Monday, March 20, thanks to rain on the Georgia track. Check with us here for a race report after the action ends Monday.
Talladega Qualifying Notes & Quotes
April 30, 2006
Elliott Sadler won the pole for Talladega Superspeedway’s Aaron’s 499: “It’s a great qualifying effort for us. This is my Daytona car that we qualified pretty well with at Daytona and won the Duel race with and finished in the top five with it in the 500, so we knew coming down here we were gonna be pretty close. We made about a 20-lap run yesterday in race trim and we thought, ‘Man, this is as good as we can get it.’ I knew the guys, when we rolled off today, we were gonna be in good shape. Going early was an advantage because it was not as windy and to be able to get the pole like we did is just great. I’m the lucky one sitting up here talking to you guys, but Doug Yates and his engine shop are just doing an unbelievable job. I think he’s got three out of the top five and six out of the top 10 are his motors, so that’s just a lot of hard work. Tom Gant and the guys have done a good job back at the shop in getting these motors prepared for this race. I’m the lucky one to drive it today. Today shows off how much hard work is going on with all the engine stuff and all the body and chassis work that these guys do. It’s just an honor to be able to drive a car that’s that fast.”
Elliott Sadler Takes Talladega Pole
April 30, 2006
Elliott Sadler, driving the No. 38 Ford out of the Robert Yates stable, beat out Tony Stewart by nearly a quarter second to take pole position for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race. Sadler’s qualifying lap of 50.798 sec/188.511 mph beat out Tony Stewart’s lap by 0.237 sec. The quick time gave Sadler his third ‘dega pole in the last six races and his seventh career pole position. Sadler started on pole in last season’s second race at the 2.66 mile Alabama superspeedway but ended the race after only 20 laps when he got hit from behind, setting off one of Talladega’s dreaded “Big One” multiple car crashes.
Troxel, Medlen And Line Earn No. 1 Qualifying Positions At O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals
April 29, 2006
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Melanie Troxel became the seventh woman in NHRA history to top a professional elimination field after qualifying No. 1 Saturday at Bristol Dragway. Troxel posted a 4.539 at 324 mph in her Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels dragster to lead the sixth annual O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q, the sixth of 23 events on the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Talladega News & Notes
April 29, 2006
Looking to ride the momentum of his weekend sweep at Phoenix International Raceway, Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM Goodwrench/Reese’s Chevrolet) will make his next stop at a track where he has been a model of consistency, despite having never won there.
Troxel, Medlen And Anderson Top Qualifying Order At O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals
April 29, 2006
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Top Fuel points leader Melanie Troxel raced to the qualifying lead Friday at the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway and was joined at the top by rookie Hillary Will. It was the first time that women anchored the top two positions in an NHRA qualifying order.
The Big Lie: Renault Has Many Threats This Year
April 24, 2006
We have heard it throughout preseason testing and right through the first four races: Any of four teams can win it all this year. Not from where I sit and what I’ve seen to date.
Helio on a Roll Towards Indianapolis
April 24, 2006
Helio Castroneves’ victory in the Honda Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi propels him toward the month of May with momentum and motivation for another Indy 500 championship.
Role Reversal At San Marino GP: Results
April 23, 2006
Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alsonso and Juan Pablo Montoya. If you are leading the race you love Imola. If you are in a close second place you hate it. Ask Alonso this year and Schumacher at last years event.