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Press Release Zone Canadian NHRA TSN TV schedule is here. The ESPN TV Schedule is here
June 8, 2004 Edmonton Rocky Mountain Nationals weekend wrap-ups John Scialpi Edmonton Wrap-up John Scialpi and the Wappado Pro Mod team made their second showing at Edmonton's Bud Park this past weekend for the Rocky Mountain Nationals. At last year's event John was the #4 qualifier with a 6.34 and made it to the second round. This year, the competition was tougher as more East Coast teams were in attendance. The lack of runs in qualifying due to the lousy weather slowed John by a tenth after the two rounds of qualifying (a 6.464, 9th place in the field), but he stepped up a lot in his first round match-up against Carl Spiering. Both cars improved a lot of their qualifying, and John had a solid .054 rt giving him a .024 hole shot victory. John's 6.350 et was over a tenth quicker than his best qualifying run and he now faced #1 Rick Distefano in the ¼ finals. Rick has been THE best blown car so far so we had to find a little more power and try and get a big hole-shot to have a chance. "We had a pretty good tune-up in the car, probably a low, low 6.30 or 6.29, but I pulled the trigger way too soon". John clicked it just past 200 feet and coasted on through the finish line. This was the second consecutive Rocky Mountain event where the team made the final eight is a pretty good barometer that the team is one of the top Pro Mods on the West Coast. His next race is Boise Idaho and the West Coast Pro Mod event in August and then the team will travel back East to take on the best in the AMS circuit at Memphis and Indy. John would like to thank his crew and family including crew chief Doug Stewart, Curt Moore, Kenneth and Johnny Scialpi, Brian Stevenson and Jayne and Amanda Scialpi. John would like to thank all his sponsors including Major sponsor Red Line Oil, and major associate Tom's Differentials. As well, K & N Filters, Santhuff Shocks, Rodriguez Contracting, JE Pistons, XRP, EastWest Clutches, Ralph Gorr, Schneider Valve Train, and Jaz Products help support the 'Woppado' Race team. Joe Delehay Wrap-up: The Weather.....That was the bane in the side of Joe Delehay's
'72 Chevy Pickup Pro Mod team on the weekend. Since the team had only
one race under their belt, and had a whole new clutch program in the
car, and they were also getting used to the new 20% overdrive ruling,
they knew the weekend was going to be tough. Loosing two of the four
qualifying session made it that much tougher, and that was what ended
their hopes of qualifying for the 2nd annual Rocky Mountain Nationals.
"You have to get out to the track in order to learn anything, and
this season we have not had the opportunity to race. My business has
been so busy, that we have not had the chance to race". This coming weekend, Joe and the team will be out at Billings Montana for the West Coast Pro Mod event. It is another high elevation track, but the team is confident that they will get a handle on both changes to their program and be a threat on race day at Intermountain Motorsport Park. Joe would like to thank all the crew including crew chief Ken Eisler, Mark Launders, Jason Delehay ( JD Web Designs guy)and new crew member clutch specialist David Chabot from Pitt Meadows BC as well Joe's wife Wanda and daughter Ashley and all the well wishers who stopped by to offer support, as well his major sponsor, "Dynamic Concrete Pumping. To keep up to date on all the happenings with the 72 Chevy P/U log on at http://www.joedelehay.com Wayne Torkelson Edmonton Wrap-up: Wayne Torkelson Jr. made his first Pro Mod appearance at Edmonton last
weekend for the Rocky Mountain Nationals. He, like all the competitors
went through a maze of emotions and conditions on his way to eliminations
on Sunday. Friday, Wayne and the Pro Mod contingent got their two qualifying
attempts in the books, while waiting through the odd rain delay, that
put back the final Friday session to close to 9:30 pm, in very cool
air conditions. In the first qualifying shot, Wayne got loose and lifted
just past half-track and coasted through to a 7.70 at 129 mph that put
him as first alternate, #17. The team went back to the pits made their
adjustments, and were confident they would step up big time and get
well into the show. Wayne Sr. has had a lot of experience tuning for
high elevation tracks this year, and they knew the track was in good
condition, so if they could get it to stick, they would run in the 6.40's
for sure. Most of the blown cars were in the mid 6.40-6.50 range. Sunday eliminations were delayed as well due to the rain, but they got underway by 4:00pm, so it would be a very hectic afternoon and evening. We faced fellow West Coast Pro Mod competitor Pat Stoken in round one, and Pat has been pretty strong so far this year. Wayne got a huge holeshot on Pat (a .022 -.102), but the car was very loose and Pat drove by Wayne just at the finish line for a 4/1000ths win. Wayne's et was a 6.64/210 to Stoken's 6.55/216. The next race is this weekend at Billings Montana, for the fifth race in the West Coast Pro Mod Series. Wayne currently sits in second place in the standings in the series and is looking for his first win of the year. Wayne would like to thank all his sponsors for the 2004 season and
they include Red Line Oil, Drive Magazine, West Coast Powder Coasting,
Edge Racing Fuels, Headman Headers, M/T Tires, West Coast Differential,
Mega Power, and Stock to Performance.
June 19, 2004 The Strip at LVMS to host NHRA Top Comp finals Nov. 5-7 LAS VEGAS - The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway once again will host
the NHRA Top Comp Finals as part of the Short Line Express Markets Lucas
Oil Series Finals Nov. 5-7. The Short Line Express Markets Lucas Oil
Series Finals is the largest event on the NHRA Lucas Oil Series schedule. ATTENTION DIVISION SIX RACERS! The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will provide a secured parking area for any racer who wishes to store his/her rig at LVMS between the Lucas Oil Series event on November 5-8 and the Las Vegas Bracket Nationals on November 25-28 (Thanksgiving weekend). We realize that making two long hauls to Vegas in a one month period can be draining on the finances and would force you to have to choose one event or the other…we want you to attend both races! We would ask that you please contact the Strip offices prior to November 1, 2004 to make arrangements for your parking credentials. Please call 1-800-644-4444 and ask for Kimberly Lansing. This storage service is free of charge to all NHRA sportsman category
racers who support The Strip. June 9, 2004 Former LSU football player and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College quarterback Nicky Savoie faces firearms, battery and harassment charges for allegedly breaking into his estranged wife's home and threatening her at gunpoint. A sheriff's office report said Savoie, 30, was arrested May 26. He allegedly fired one round into the floor of Angelle Savoie's home in Mathews, La., and after she tried to escape, he brought her back inside to discuss their pending divorce, the report said. Savoie surrendered at the sheriff's office and he was released from
the Lafourche Parish jail the next day on $100,000 commercial bond.
He is charged with phone harassment, false imprisonment, illegal discharge
of a firearm, simple battery and domestic aggravated burglary. June 2, 2004 Ben Harper and Curt Schendel team up for 2004 and 2005 in TAD. TAD and TAFC driver Ben Harper has formed a partnership to race Curt
Schendel's A/Fuel dragster for the balance of 2004 and in 2005 as well. The 33 year old Harper has been racing for the last 10 years in TAFC and TAD. In 2003 he raced the TAFC class in Division 4 and ran a 5.73 250 career best at the Topeka national event. He is really looking forward to the challenge of racing an A/Fuel car for the next couple seasons and possibly beyond. The team is lead by owner/crew chief Curt Schendel and Craig Rhode of R&B Machine, Craig has experience in both drag racing and boat racing. The team also includes Ben, Tom Tous, Leon Fitzgerald, Jeff Seraphine, Eddie Billet, Amy Conant and Jack. The team has extensive experience in all forms of racing and should prove to be a great mix of guys (and gals). The major sponsors for the teams are INTEGRA Golf Company (www.integragolf.net ) and Regal Advisory Services (www.regaladvisory.com ) INTEGRA is one of the largest Golf club manufacturers in the world and produces everything from golf clubs to golf bags and everything in between. They are very excited to be involved with the NHRA and look forward to getting their name in front of the fans, most of whom play the game. "We think that golf and racing have many common fans. Many of the team owners, crew men, fans and drivers play golf. We hope to put some horsepower in their golf game! " Owner, Jethro Loiu Regal Advisory Services is a CA based company that deals in many types of financial planning for companies and individuals. " We use the races as a place to gain company exposure and to bring our clients out as a form of appreciation." Co-Founder Lisa Lyon's The associate sponsors include Accuflex Golf shafts , Golf pride Grips, UDC Corp, R&B machine, TSI - Titanium services, Billet PRO, Law Offices of David Tous, Lucas oil, Shapeitup.com and Circus Circus Casino Las Vegas. The plan for the team is to run at least five events in 2004 and then
10 or more races in 2005. After their first event at Bakersfield, the
team is quite optimistic they can be a player in the Pacific division
and at the couple West Coast National events they compete at. May 18, 2004 Season Opener on Tap This Weekend at Woodburn Dragstrip The 31st annual Baxter Auto Parts Season Opener presented by Leif's Auto Collision Centers is set for this Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23. The Season Opener is the first major event of the season, and more than 300 race cars are expected to attend. The Opener will feature Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars, plus two Jet Cars. The Top Alcohol Dragster field will include: 2002 NHRA Division 6 champion Brandon Johnson; two-time defending Les Schwab Challenge champion Gregg Lawrence, who holds the track e.t. record at 5.372; 2003 NHRA Division 6 champion Joey Severance; plus Kim Parker, Mike Austin and Bill Edwards Jr. Headlining the Funny Car field is Bucky Austin. Austin finished second in the world in 2003, and is the winningest Top Alcohol Funny Car racer in Division 6 history. Challenging Austin will be 2002 Opener champ Clint Thompson, who has defeated Austin twice already in 2003, as well as John Weaver, who won the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Mission, B.C. on May 9. The Season Opener marks Brian Hough's return to the Funny Car ranks. Hough is one of only seven drivers in NHRA history to win NHRA national events in both Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car. The Top Alcohol Funny Car field will also include: Todd Ashwell, Matt Goss, Dave Germain, Forrest LeBlanc, former national event winner Randy Parker, Jim Peters, John Rice, Ron Richardson, and former top-10 finisher Russ Parker. Racing in Funny Car is done Chicago-style, where the drivers with the two best e.t.'s during the first two rounds Sunday come back for the final Sunday afternoon. Richard Smith and Darin Bay will also be in attendance with their Jet Funny Cars. Other classes in action include: Stock/Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and Motorcycle. Racer entry fee is $70. On Saturday, gates open at 8 a.m., with time trials and qualifying underway at 9 a.m. Adult admission is $20, kids 6-14 $5, and under 6 is free. On Sunday, gates open at 8 a.m. Time trials and qualifying continue at 9 a.m., with first round of Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car and the Jet Cars at 12 noon. Adult admission is $25, kids 6-14 $5, and under 6 is free. All admissions include a pit pass and free parking. For more information, call (503) 982-4461 or go to www.woodburndragstrip.com. April 26, 2004 4/26/2004 NHRA clarifies alcohol engine moratorium Three years ago, in an effort to control escalating long-term costs in the alcohol categories, NHRA released a moratorium on cylinder blocks and head designs that allows only engine combinations used prior to April 1, 2001. After careful review, the NHRA technical department is clarifying the modifications that will be accepted and the dimensions and specifications that must remain unchanged (see below). AMENDMENT TO 2004 NHRA RULEBOOK - April 26, 2004 Only those engine combinations that utilize cylinder blocks and head designs that were in NHRA competition prior to April 1, 2001, will be accepted for NHRA competition. Any modifications or alterations to cylinder blocks and head designs used prior to April 1, 2001, other than those listed below, will be deemed to be a change in design and therefore prohibited. Engine combinations that do not meet the following criteria but were used in NHRA competition in 2003 will be accepted through the 2004 season only. For a complete list of cylinder blocks and head designs that are allowed in NHRA competition, contact the NHRA technical department: phone, (626) 250-2485; fax, (626) 914-7551. All engine combinations must adhere to the following criteria: April 15, 2004 TEAM GOTHAM CITY LOOKING TO “FINISH”
SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Aeroquip Group joins Mike Janis’ EATON Automotive Pro Mod Team for 2004
Aeroquip Corporation was founded in 1940 in Jackson, Michigan, by Peter F. Hurst, a young German aeronautical engineer who held the patent rights to manufacture two new products designed for the aviation industry--detachable, reusable hose fittings and self-sealing couplings. During World War II, Aeroquip products became military standards on all U.S. aircraft, establishing the company's reputation as a quality supplier and leading the way to penetration of the emerging fluid power industry. Aeroquip products include all pressure ranges of hose; fittings, adapters, couplings and other fluid connectors, as well as precision plastic molded and extruded products for the automotive and industrial markets. The company became the Aeroquip Group of Eaton in 1999 and currently operates 36 facilities in 11 countries and employs nearly 8,000 people. For more than 60 years, Aeroquip Performance Motorsport Products have been the number one choice of racing enthusiasts around the world. Aeroquip is a long time supporter of all forms of motorsports, and for 2004 Aeroquip Performance Motorsport Products has contingency programs with both the NHRA and IHRA. “Being involved with the people from EATON Automotive has been a breath of new life into our team, now to be able to add Aeroquip Performance Motorsport Products to our growing list of supporters is just fantastic,” said Janis. Janis and his team will hit the IHRA trail again on the weekend of April, 23rd-25th. The team will be competing at the upcoming 34th Annual IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham, NC. Don’t forget to look for the EATON Automotive team on TV this weekend. Saturday April 17th at 4 pm turn to Speed for coverage of the IHRA season opener from San Antonio, TX. On Sunday morning at 11 am turn the dial to ESPN2 for coverage of the NHRA/AMS Gator Nationals Crew Chief: Mike Janis Jr. Crew: Sean Janis - Data Acquisition, Jeff Brown - Lead Mechanic, Joe Janis - Cylinder Head Specialist/Parachutes, Steve Hermann - Engine/Clutch Assistant, Kevin Peters – Aerodynamics/Chassis and Short Block Prep, Michele Janis – Travel Coordinator, Mike Rasnick – Marketing, and Rob Kozak - Team Manager. Sponsors:
April 14, 2004 The West
Coast Pro Mod Association is proud to announce "Unique Performance"
has come on board as an associate sponsor for the 2004 season. "Unique",
builders of Shelby Mustangs and other "high end" classic cars
for exclusive buyers is the sponsor of Mike Ashley's Pro Mod team in
2004, and the West Coast's Danny Rowe, past champion of the West Coast
series. Ashley drives "Eleanor" the spectacular Shelby Unique Performance, under the tutelage of racing and design legend Carroll Shelby, debuted Mike Ashley's Pro Mod Mustang at the Gatornationals in March and to say it was a hit is the understatement of the young race season. In its first lap in competition, "Eleanor" qualified #1 with a great 6.19/229 mph. Mike ended up #3 on the ladder and ran low et of elimination's as well, before bowing out in the semi finals. For all the news from Unique Performance, go to their web site www.uniqueperformance.com. Mike Ashley's Gotham City race team can be accessed at www.gothamcity.com and the West Coast Pro Mod series internet site is www.westcoastpromods.com The West Coast Pro Mods are also pleased to announce that CC-Racing
from Richmond, B.C. has come on board as an associate sponsor for the
2004 series. CC Racing is a full service chassis and engine shop sevicing
the Pacific North West. Whether it is a blown or nitrous engine combination,
CNC machining, and a new race car, Glen May and the staff at CC-Racing
can take care of all your high performance needs. April, 7, 2004 Bob Vandergriff, Jr. planning to run 10-race schedule
in 2004 starting in Atlanta; Hires Rob Flynn as crewchief April 2, 2004 Hudson Racing wants to one-up his 2003 result here in 2004. Don Hudson came oh so close at the 2003 version of the Summit Nationals, here at the Strip @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He went to the final round against the most buoyed BAD in 2003, David Wells (driving the ex-Rick Santos car and tuned by Norm Grimes), and was side by side against David until late in the run, and ended up losing by half car length. That result set up the Stockton California owner/driver take a more aggressive run in his program. Don ended the year with two runner-ups and a #6 placing in the tough Division 7 point standings and a top 30 placing in the National standings. The team went into the 2004 season with more optimism, and a confidence to improve both placing's. The team had a great start at the season opening Winternational's, as Don qualified #1 with a career best 5.379/251. He backed up that run, in round one, with a win over Randy Johnson with anther 5.30 (a 5.39). In round two, he wheel stood the car big time, and unfortunately had to lift. At the next event, the divisional at Phoenix, Don proved the #1 spot was no fluke, as he took the pole again. He went to the final round, but lost to Chris Demke. His two late round finishes put him in the top ten nationally in this, the early part of the season. Heading into Vegas, he wants to continue the roll. With a very tough field expected at Vegas he knows 5.30's or low 5.40's will be necessary and expected from his "Chase Chevrolet" backed BAD. Beside Chase Chevrolet, Don has some added support for this weekend's event at Las Vegas. It comes from Busted Knuckles garage.com, "The Gift Company with an Automotive Flair", and Tiki Farm.com, "a unique gift mug company". As well, Don wants to thank the team's associate sponsors, Red Line Oil, Clay Smith Cams, Vorn Hagen Body Shop, E-Pels of Palm Spring California, PJ Vaz, Lenco Transmissions and Hudson Classics. While the team is under no illusions that they can ride on the coat
tails of their success of the last two events, especially in a sport
that lasts only 5 seconds, and you can go from "Hero to Zero"
quicker than John Force can say, "I saw Elvis at 1000 feet".
Don Hudson Motorsports is very excited about the team's new web site,
which can be accessed by logging onto www.donhudsonracing.com. It will
be debuting during the event this weekend, so make sure you check it
out weekly, to how our team progresses throughout the 2004 season. Cofini looking for Win #1 in 2004. Mike Cofini is hoping the first three events of the year and last year's successes have given him the information and confidence to take the next step in national event competition. The "Dave Smith Motors/Mopar Performance" Top Alcohol Dragster driver feels he is a win waiting to happen. With the changes over the winter including a new front half and a new clutch program, the first three events were sort of his test n tune session, in hopes of a top ten finish nationally, and a top three finish in the toughest TAD division in NHRA drag racing, "Division 6". His car has made more power this season then it ever has, and the numbers at various points down track have proven that, but he still has yet to turn it into a check mark in the win column. With the expected great track prep at Las Vegas this weekend, he knows he can put all the power to the track and is hoping for 5.30 or very low 5.40 performance. That is the performance that will be necessary if he is going to have a chance to win, at what will be one of the toughest event of the season. 25 cars are expected to do battle and the bump spot could better the current NHRA record, a 5.47. Mike would like to thank his crew and his sponsors, Dave Smith Motors, Mopar Performace, and Lucas Oil. Oh ya, the fishing has been great the last three weeks.
Bucky Austin Ready to get back on Track. Bucky Austin has never been more ready to get back on track then he is this weekend for the Summit Racing Nationals at the "Strip" @ Las Vegas MotorSpeedway. 2004 looked to be a promising year for the Fife Washington and 6 time TAFC Division championship driver. At the season opening Winternational's, he qualified in the top 3 and had 2nd low et in round one of elimination's. In round two, disaster struck. On that run, the car was very loose right off the hit, and he had to pedal it all the way down track. He lost the round, but that wasn't the bad part of the run. His chute(s) failed to open and when Bucky started to get hard on the "Carbon Fiber" brakes, the car just skidded from the oil and grease sweep left on the track after the previous car's oil down. The brakes just would not grab, and he went hard into the sand trap, where the car almost flipped over; It did sustain pretty heavy damage. Bucky was not hurt in the incident, but the damage caused him to miss the next event for the team (Phoenix), so the damage could be repaired. Luckily it was early in the year, and his 2004 schedule is easily adjusted to compensate for the missed race. With repairs completed, the action is ready to heat up and he wants
to put race one in the back of his mind. The "Centennial Battery"
backed 2003 Trans Am is as good or even better then it was to start
the year, and 5.50 performance is a good possibility this weekend with
expected temperature to be unusually cool for the desert facility. This
weekend's race and the one in Houston in two weeks will be a good gauge
to how strong the competition is, and how ready Bucky Austin is, to
challenge for the 2004 TAFC World Championship.
April 2, 2004 Immediate Notice! Trailer Stolen. Wayne Hofer's stacker (trailer only) Stolen Thursay in Alberta. Here is the contact
March 31, 2004 Scott Palmer is partnering up with Western Rock's Larry and Rick Michael's to form a partnership in Top Fuel of 2004. In a surprise move, the "Carrier Boyz" Top Fuel team has fired Jimmy Walsh and hired Todd Smith as crew chief for the Cory Mac driven Top Fuel Dragster. This is a real shocker considering what Walsh did for the team last year with Paul Romine and Andrew Cowin driving the car. No loyalty with that team I guess. March 26, 2004 Rick Distefano is on a Mission in 2004. Rick Distefano has been one of the most visible drag racers to come out of Western Canada over the past decade. And it isn't necessarily by his own vocation. He has always been someone who has beat to his own drum, and competed in classes that intrigued him. He was one of the first in the West to try Pro Mod racing, and owned two very nice rides in the early to mid 90's. He then experimented in the very tough Pro Stock truck and went so far as trying his own engine program. But, after a couple years he realized that Pro Mods were his calling. In 2003, Rick debuted a very sweet 53 Corvette built by Tim McAmis and in early testing he set the AA/PM record at Mission Raceway. The momentum carried him to Edmonton's inaugural IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals where he battled the newly crowned Mitch Stott throughout qualifying and defeated him in the semi finals. From there he qualified #1 at Toronto Motorsport Park's AC Delco Nationals, went to the semis. At the last IHRA event of the year, he qualified for the quickest field in history and ran his first 6 teen pass. Prior to the start of this season the team decided to take the next step in their program, and with the help of the team's major sponsor Shagannapi Chevrolet they will challenge for the 2004 IHRA Pro Mod title. He tested extensively at Las Vegas and ran some very promising 1/8 mile et's. Later this season Rick will debut an all new twin to his record setting Corvette, one that has incorporated both tuner Les Davenport's and chassis builder Tim McAmis' R & D designs. Look for the bright green Shaganappi Corvette and say hi to Rick and the crew. The team's 2004 season can be tracked out at www.rickdistefano.com , www.westcoastpromods.com and www.speedzonemagazine.com Rick would like to thank sponsors Shaganappi Chevrolet in Calgary, Rolling Mix Concrete, T & S Coating Paint, Jet Tools and Equipment Canada and Jet Hot Coatings. March 26, 2004 Glen Kerunsky wants to start off 2004 the way he ended the 2003 season. Glen Kerunsky had a 2003 season that will stay etched in his racing for a long time. He debuted a new 57 Chevy and won the 2003 West Coast Pro Mod series. Here are some of Glen's 2003 highlights " Qualified #1 at Darlington with then career best 6.265. You would think with a year like he had, he would try and keep the status-quo and not meddle with a good thing. Well, Glen doesn't operate that way. Not one to stand pat, Glen went out and added to his already knowledgeable crew. Glen added a second crew chief for the 2004, and it is none other than Tim McAmis. Tim, builder of some the most successful Pro Mods in any sanctioning body, decided at the end of 2003, that he would take a step back from what was a very busy racing schedule, one in which he set the mark for low et's at numerous events including the quickest et in the NHRA AMS series, a 6.084 and a 6.114 in the IHRA. The numbers speak for themselves. When you add in last year's pit boss Terry Morrow, who will still be at numerous events this year, (he is assistant crew chief for Jerry Toliver this year as well), you have a duo act that even the full time Pro Mod teams are jealous and envious of. With this brain trust behind Glen, he is not going into his first event of the year expecting miracles. Most other teams out there have been at the track testing extensively in the first three month's of the year. Glen is using this event as both a test for himself as a driver, but a test for the new crewmembers as well. Also added to the crew this year is Mike Popel, an avid 8.90 racer who is very excited about the opportunity he has. His duties will be a little bit of everything, but primarily clutch related. Jeff Boehler is back, as are Cindy and Elaine. Stop by the pits and say hi to the friendly cigar smoking Albertan, who is right at home next to all the full time Pro Mod teams out there. Go to his web site www.speedzonemagazine.com/kerunsky.html or www.westcoastpromods.com for all the pro mod action.
March 26, 2004 Dennis Radford is ready for IHRA action. Dennis Radford has a lot on his racing mind for the 2004 season. His
season will be one of the busiest in his long racing career, and he
is excited about it. The top nitrous powered car on the West Coast has
races planned in the "IHRA", the "West Coast Pro Mod"
association, the "AMS" series and "Select Match"
races. For the owner of a very busy trucking company, he will probably
wonder where the hours and days have gone, once he gets into the season.
His season stated just last week with a match race at the "Strip
at Las Vegas" as part of the special Mopar event held there. He
made conservative laps just to get back into the seat, and get comfortable
again. With his business concerns taking priority after the end of racing
season, and the fact he does not live in a geographic area that allows
drag racing all year long, he does not get the chance to go out and
test like a lot of the southeastern based teams. These early events
are just as much testing sessions as they are "Full Race Mode".
The five laps he made last week will give him a bunch of data, data
he hopes he can use in his goal of not just qualifying but going a few
rounds as well. With a track elevation of 600 feet and weather predicted
to be in the mid to high 70's, Dennis is guessing a mid 6.20 will put
him solidly in the field. Dennis like the fact that the nitrous cars
are underdogs and all the hype is on the big name blown teams. If he
flies under their radar, that is a perfect place for the "Poison
Viper" to strike.
March 25, 2004 Carl Big Dog Spiering is ready to Howl.............(courtesy Bruce Biegler) Jordan Station, ON (March 25th) -- Carl “Big Dog” Spiering and the Eaton Cutler-Hammer Motorsports Pro Modified team will kick off a highly anticipated season tour this weekend when they participate at the season-opening IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series at San Antonio, Texas, the 2nd Annual Amalie Oil Texas Nationals (March 26-28th). The event will mark the beginning of a highly visible and very aggressive schedule for the team. Dubbed the “Ultimate Power Trip II”, the 2004 season will see Spiering in competition at all 12 IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series events. In total the team is expected to log over 25,000 KM while competing at events across both Canada and the USA. The Eaton Cutler Hammer Motorsports team will this season have a new look and new attitude with a supercharged ‘63 Corvette replacing the team’s immensely popular ’57 Chevy which was raced the past few seasons. Carl’s new ride is in fact the very same Corvette which former owner Tim McAmis rode to a 6.097 secs at Englishtown, New Jersey during the spring of 2003 which is one of the quickest Pro Mod class runs on record. “We loved racing the '57 Chevy and after three years it had became by far one of the most recognized cars by the fans,” said Spiering. “But we also recognized that to seriously compete, the ’57 Chevy's aerodynamics was not amongst the best in Pro Mod. When I found out that Tim McAmis, one of the most respected racers and builders in the sport, had his car for sale I put myself in position to make that deal. Our pre-season testing went very well and I feel very good about our chances this season. We feel that we have something we can attack the top half of the field with.” Another significant change for the team comes in the motor department. While remaining with tried and true 526 CID Alan Johnson G.M. power, the team has added a new fuel delivery system designed by Terry Morrow. Both SSI and Kobelco superchargers will be employed depending on specific racing conditions this season. Terry Morrow and Tim McAmis will both act as tuning consultants for the Eaton Cutler-Hammer team this season. “We plan to put an honest effort forward and with that the car should finish in the “Top 10” in IHRA,” added Carl. “That is my first season goal. I think we will be easily capable of running career best numbers both elapsed time and mph. We also plan on winning another event this season. Our event win at Maryland International Raceway last September was huge for us but I feel we need to back that up.” Spiering’s Eaton Cutler-Hammer Motorsports team will also receive valuable support from other major and associate sponsors in 2004 including, Pace American, The Trailer Shop, Yamaha, Aeroquip Performance Products, Optima Industries ,VP Fuels , Hoosier Tire Canada, BRP Bicknell, Weld Racing, Fioravanti Custom Engines, Alan Johnson Performance Engineering, Tim McAmis Race Cars, DragRaceCanada.com, Performance Racing News, Pennzoil, and Fast Eddie Racewear.
March 23, 2004 Canadian Jeff Arend is set to debut new team and new sponsor for the entire POWERade Funny Car Season.
Jeff Arend, the Canadian who shocked the funny car class back in 1996 with his heralded win at Maple Grove announced he will compete starting at Las Vegas for the rest of the 2004 season and beyond. Arend signed a primary sponsorship deal with Casavant Mining Company, operating as CMKX Diamonds Inc., a Canadian based diamond-mining group. The team's new, eye-catching car will be called the CMKX-treme Machine Funny Car. "I'm beyond excited about getting back behind the
wheel of a Funny Car," Arend said. "It's been a while but
I have a great support system behind me with Can-Am Motorsports and
the CMKX-treme Machine. We will be entering the points chase four races
in but we are looking for success in those last 20." "This is an exciting new venue for us," Casavant said. "We are hoping to let the world in on the diamond and stock exchange business and have a great time doing it. I feel our partnership with Can-Am Motorsports and the synergy we have together, comprised of members from both sides of the border, will achieve our exposure goal throughout the season." The 1996 season was easily Arend's most memorable. His win at the NHRA's Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals in Paul Smith's Funny Car was the highlight as Arend beat heavyweights Dean Skuza, Al Hofmann, Del Worsham, and Tony Pedregon to earn the title. Arend left on every one of his opponents that day, which helped him take overall reaction time honors at the end of the season when his starts averaged out to a .077-second medium. That same season, Arend became the first Canadian to eclipse the 300-mph barrier when he posted a top speed of 303.95 mph during the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. He also beat John Force at London Motorsport Park in Ontario, Canada, during a match race. CMKX Diamonds Inc. is a new company involved in the exploration of diamonds in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Exploration is being aggressively pursued within the Fort á la Corne area in central Saskatchewan, where the company holds mineral claims to more than 1.4 million acres. This company successfully trades under the letters CMKX on the stock exchange.
March 11, 2004 courtesy Rich Bailey Promotion Motorsports Hurley to campaign "New"
Top
March 10, 2004 Don Sosenka's new Nitro Venture Welcome to Team Caribbean Soul. Caribbean Soul is the
primary sponsor of
Top Fuel team owner and driver Grant Flowers announce the team has procured a one race sponsorship for the season's opener in San Antonio, Texas: www.bet2wingaming.com will adorn the sides of the car as a major presenting sponsor. Having no major deals in place for the 2004 campaign, the team has been aggressively campaigning a single event marketing strategy. This marketing strategy allows for a company with a need to utilize a particular market or venue a dramatic opportunity to promote their products at a rate that is extremely affordable. Commented Flowers: "After a top 5 points finish in 2003, we thought we had some fairly solid deals lined up to help us compete in 2004, when none materialized we had made plans to park the car. Now only weeks before our first race I'm excited to have the opportunity to help promote www.bet2wingaming.com. This season the competition in the Top Fuel category looks as if it may be the best IHRA fans have ever seen. It looks as though there may be 20 fuel cars in Texas and the days of trying to compete in this category without a sponsor may have just come to an end. I love to gamble, fans have been able to see that from the wild bets that Bobby Lagana, Jr and I have made over the years. The San Antonio market is an awesome place to introduce our Texas fans to this new form of entertainment. I have always believed in the dramatic opportunity that a fuel car presents for its product endorsements and I am hoping that we can show the folks at bet2wingaming that our loyal fans support the sports sponsors. So if any of you drag racing fans have any plans that include gambling in the future I hope that you will give bet2wingaming a chance to win your business. Blackjack is my game so if you make it to the tables maybe you will see me there as I plan to get my share of the winnings." Veteran NHRA Communications Department team member Robert Vizcarra has been promoted to Senior Media Relations Manager, it was announced tuesday by Anthony Vestal, director of media relations for NHRA.
In his new position, Vizcarra will continue to provide advance media relations support for select NHRA POWERade Series events and assist in maintaining event and corporate communication initiatives, including the development of press releases and statistics. In addition, he will now be responsible for overseeing media relations operations for the NHRA POWERade Series, coordinating the NHRA media relations intern program, providing media counsel to all NHRA-owned tracks, coordinating media efforts for the NHRA Street Legal program and assisting Vestal with a variety of special media projects and publicity campaigns. "Robert has been a tremendous asset to the communications team over the years and is well deserving of this promotion," Vestal said. "His friendly approach and infectious personality have made him a favorite among the media we work with. A great team-player, his can-do attitude makes him a very reliable source, and someone who takes great pride in making a novice auto racing journalist's experience at an NHRA POWERade event a turn-key process and one to remember." Before joining NHRA, Vizcarra worked in the sports department of the Tribune Newspapers in Mesa, Ariz. A Southern California native, Vizcarra earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism with a business minor from Arizona State University in Phoenix. "I am looking forward to continuing to promote and publicize the sport of NHRA Drag Racing in my expanded role with the NHRA Communications Department," Vizcarra said. "Through my experiences at NHRA I have learned so much and met some really great people. I feel that our media relations team works very hard to elevate the sport to high levels of professionalism and efficiency. I am proud to be a part of the team and I am pleased that my superiors have recognized my abilities and talents by appointing me to this senior position. " Mar. 4, 2004 NHRA News from the
NHRA Technical Department Rules changes Top Fuel/Funny Car The NHRA Technical Department has accepted the MSD Pro Mag Digital Retard Control (part no. 8971) and Graphic Editor (part no. 7570) for use in NHRA competition. The implementation program for the 7530T unit is as follows: The MSD Pro Mag Digital Retard Control (part no. 8971) and Graphic Editor (part no. 7570) will be optional in all Top Fuel and Funny Car vehicles beginning with the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., April 30 - May 2. This unit will not be allowed on any Top Fuel or Funny Car vehicle prior to this event. NHRA has added this digital retard control and graphic editor to the accepted ignition systems in the fuel categories based on on-track test information, a review of the product, and its compatibility with existing pneumatic systems run-data history. The NHRA Technical Department has also decided that the MSD Pro Mag Digital Retard Control and Graphic Editor will not be allowed in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car for the 2004 season. Goodyear's new tire The new Goodyear 2096 tire will be available in ample supply at the
Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 18-21. The use
of this new tire is optional, and Goodyear will continue to have the
current 1486 tire in supply. Goodyear will no longer produce the 1430
tire. For the rest of the rule changes go here Mar. 1, 2004 ERC Fuel use is Suspended until further notice. Based on information gathered at the K&N Filters Winternationals concerning ERC A19DL race fuel, the follow decision has been levied by the NHRA Technical Department. Effective immediately, ERC A19DL fuel has been suspended from the fuel
acceptance list. This suspension will remain in place until such time
that a fuel that a competitor presents to the NHRA Fuel Check trailer
matches the baseline fuel sample that ERC submitted to the NHRA Technical
Department prior to the start of the 2004 season Feb. 19, 2004 New Oil Down penalties in effect for 2004 NHRA has announced new oil down penalties for the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel and Funny Car classes for 2004. The penalties are designed to address the challenge currently faced by NHRA to minimize downtime at national events due to oil downs by professional race teams in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. "We are, by far, the most exciting motorsports on the planet," said NHRA President Tom Compton. "And although we have greatly reduced the amount of oil downs over the last few years, recently we've seen the beginnings of a possible trend going the other way. It is very important that we continue to strive to maintain the exhilarating and fast-paced action on the track that is an integral part of the entertainment experience for our fans." Beginning at the 44th annual K&N Filters Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., each nitromethane team will receive one oildown violation with no penalty. Subsequent violations will be penalized as follows:
NHRA announced that if a team makes 25 consecutive oil-free runs at an NHRA national event, they will earn an additional credit (one) towards a non-penalized oildown at an event. Credits earned in any one given race season, however, will not rollover to the following season. "Downtime due to oil downs at national events is one of the biggest challenges faced at NHRA to maintain the level of entertainment our fans have grown accustomed to expect at a NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event," said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations at NHRA. "It is imperative we continue to provide a quality show on the track not only for current sponsors and fans, but to sell the sport to new sponsors and grow our fan base. "We need to work with, and get the cooperation of, the teams throughout the 2004 season to address the issue of oil downs at national events," said Light. "We believe this new policy is designed to reward teams that have put into place an appropriate system to avoid oildowns, while penalizing those that chronically oildown the track at national events." Feb. 19, 2004 Don The "Snake" one on one. AK Motorsports(Arnie Karp) has joined forces with Jerry Toliver, Jim Head, and Alan Johnson. Lions Gate Entertainment (who bought out Artisan)will be the major sponsor on Jim Heads Toyota funny car.Alan Johnson will also be involved as a partner and tuner. Feb. 18, 2004 Whit Bazemore has signed a multi-year agreement with Don Schumacher Racing to drive the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car in 2004 and beyond in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Team owner Don Schumacher concurs. "I feel it's important to the whole team and my whole organization that we all feel that we have long-term commitments to each other to go out and perform and know that we're all committed and behind the other one," he said. "It's very rewarding to have multi-year agreements in place. It eliminates any of the unknowns for all parties, crew people, crew chiefs, drivers, owners and sponsors. "Whit has been with me for three years and we have developed a closer relationship and a better relationship as the time progressed," added Schumacher, who became a multi-team owner in 2001, and currently owns two Funny Car teams, one Top Fuel Dragster and two Pro Stock Bike teams. "We were two unknowns reading each other and two pretty strong personalities that had different ways of doing things at times. I think both of us have grown together tremendously and are both looking for the one goal that we are working very hard towards." Schick, a division of Energizer Holding, Inc., has been designated as the "Official Razor of NHRA," beginning in 2004. As the "Official Razor of NHRA," Schick will leverage the association with an NHRA-themed consumer activation program in 2004. In addition, Schick Quattro will be the primary sponsor of Toliver Racing's NHRA Funny Car, competing in the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. "The addition of Schick Quattro to NHRA's list of official sponsors reinforces NHRA's commitment to bring consumer brands into the sport of NHRA Drag Racing," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "The exciting part of this deal is the anticipated consumer activation promotion scheduled for 2004, which is sure to drive more general awareness for the sport of NHRA Drag Racing and is an integral part of NHRA's strategic plan." "We are excited about our first endeavor into the sport of NHRA Drag Racing," said Amy Roman, Brand Manager for Schick Quattro. "NHRA provides a perfect demographic for the Schick Quattro brand and, coupled with the sport's media package and return on investment, we are confident that this new association will deliver tremendous dividends." Schick Wilkinson-Sword is a division of Energizer Holding, Inc. [NYSE: ENR], headquartered in St. Louis. For more information on shaving, consumers can call 1-800-SHAVERS (1-800-742-8377) or visit www.SchickQuattro.com. To Go along with the above release we have...........Schick
Quattro, the world's first four-blade razor, has partners
with NHRA Funny Car racer Jerry Toliver. Under the partnership, Schick
Quattro will be the primary sponsor of Toliver Racing's NHRA Schick Quattro is the most technologically advanced razor for men, and is proven to deliver an incredibly close, unbelievably smooth shave. Quattro has two conditioning strips each with Aloe and Vitamin E positioned before and after the blades to minimize nicking and cutting, and an ergonomically designed handle for advanced precision and control. Feb. 16, 2004 Funny Car racer Tim Wilkerson has announced the signing of White Night Rear Lighting Systems as a major associate sponsor on his Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo for the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
"Other than being fat and ugly, I have no handicaps, although I'm considered legally blind even with corrective lenses," said Roger Byers, who owns the parent company to White Night Rear Lighting Systems. "Drag racing is my first love and if I could see, maybe Tim could be tuning for me. But they keep telling me this is not going to happen. So this association with Tim Wilkerson is the best way for me to stay close to what I love and at the same time promote my product through a respected, competitive, and fun-loving group of folks." White Night Rear Lighting Systems mount to virtually any vehicle with a hitch or step bumper. The system produces 130,000 candlepower of light to aid in vision when a vehicle is in reverse during nighttime activity. The company's logo will be prominently displayed on Wilkerson's new Monte Carlo, which will primarily salute Levi, Ray & Shoup's 25th anniversary. It's been a busy off-season for Wilkerson, who has already welcomed Craftsman Tools and Summit Racing Equipment as new associate sponsors for 2004. Wilkerson looks to this year's newcomers complimenting longtime supporters Fram Filters and Goodyear.
Extending an agreement that started in 2003, 104+ Performance Additives will continue to serve as the primary sponsor for Lehman Racing and driver Clay Millican in at least eight NHRA national events in 2004. The company was a primary sponsor for nine of the 12 NHRA events in 2003. "We are very excited to come on board with the Lehman Racing Team again in 2004," said Don Crosse, 104+ Performance Additives brand manager. "We had a very positive inaugural season with the team in 2003, and we're looking forward to continuing our successful partnership this season." Along with 104+ Performance Additives, longtime Lehman Racing sponsor Werner Enterprises will continue its support of the team as a major associate sponsor. The team is confirmed to race in Pomona, Phoenix, Houston, Bristol, Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, and Indianapolis. The team expects to race in up to four additional NHRA events, but will make the final determination as the season progresses. "Our partnership with 104+ Performance Additives has grown and developed since its inception in 2003," said Peter Lehman, owner of Chicago-based Lehman Racing. "We are looking forward to furthering both of our businesses, and getting our first NHRA Top Fuel victory together." This season, drag racing fans should expect to see more promotions similar to the Clay Millican hang-tag and free mini-dragster promotion featured on bottles of 104+ Octane Boost in 2003. 104+ Performance Additives is a product line of Chicago-based Gold Eagle Company, an industry leader in the manufacturing and marketing of branded engine performance and maintenance chemicals. Feb 14, 2004 Eric Medlen is ready for his debut at the 44th Winternationals.. (Courtesy NHRA) For the second season in a row, a rookie will occupy another high-profile ride in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Last year Brandon Bernstein took over for his father, six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein in the Budweiser Top Fuel car. Now, Funny Car has its turn at the youth movement. Eric Medlen, 30, has been selected by John Force, Ford Racing and Castrol Syntec to be the new driver of the Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang. Medlen replaces Tony Pedregon. Remember him? Yeah, Pedregon is the 2003 NHRA Funny Car champion. He left Force Racing to join his brother Cruz in a two-car operation owned by the Pedregon brothers. Medlen not only gets to fill the gap left by Pedregon's departure, but he also gets to work with his father. John Medlen will make all of the tuning calls for his son in 2004. The elder Medlen tuned Pedregon to the title and now he gets to take his son, a former team roper in the rodeo ranks, and make a rookie into an instant winner. Eric Medlen makes his professional debut next week as the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series kicks off at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway for the 44th annual K&N Filters Winternationals, Feb. 19-22. In this Q&A session, Medlen talks about what it is like to spend eight years on the crew, what he wants to accomplish next week and what it took for him to rope a job as a driver. Just when you think it's Force talking, keep reading. It's really all Eric Medlen all the time, we promise. Q: Why do you want to be a professional Funny Car driver? MEDLEN: There is just something about the feeling of accomplishment that you get from the car, being one with the guys, being one with the car. I don't want to say that you can tame the cars, but there is a lot of satisfaction to knowing that you can work with something and if you treat it well it will treat you well. It's a machine, but it is more than a machine. My dad always says that I need to become one with the car. There really is a lot of truth to that. You have to get to know it and know every little scratch. It's like your other girlfriend. In Las Vegas (during the first test sessions) we ran 4.79 seconds at 324 mph and the feeling you get after that is unbelievable. The rewards are pretty phenomenal. Q: What can you contribute to John Force Racing? MEDLEN: I'm younger and I don't necessarily bring new blood to the team, but to this position. Maybe I can try to motivate the guys, not that John doesn't, because he really does. But I can bring a different personality around and a little different view of how the guys look at things. I can go out with all the guys. When we talk about our guys, I don't just mean the Castrol Syntec team. I mean the Syntec guys, the Castrol GTX guys and the Auto Club guys. It's everybody. They know I am still one of the guys and they know me on a different level. Hopefully I can bring a new level of energy to the teams. Q: When did you start throwing your name into the mix as a possible replacement for Castrol Syntec driving job? MEDLEN: Really it goes back to the fact that I only had two dreams. I wanted to go to the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) and I wanted to be a professional race car driver. I wanted to hang out with my dad. Even when you are a kid you realize how extremely difficult it is to get to this position. When my mom and dad split up, I started doing rodeo. Then I got heavy into rodeo. I was always going back and forth seeing my dad. Then I went to Indianapolis for the Indy 500. My dad got me tickets right down on the pit wall. He asked me if I still wanted to race cars. I told him that I did, and that is when he told me most of the guys had their education and degrees in mechanical engineering. I told him, 'Sign me up!' and I went to school. I went to a school in Ohio at a technical university and that is when my dad started working for Chuck (Etchells) and he went back on the road. His wife (Martha) moved back to Arkansas and being a California kid, I packed up and headed back to California and started getting into rodeo. Every once in a while, my dad would call up and tell me they might need a guy to clean oil pans during the summer. Every time I would get beside myself and jump at the chance. He would never call back. It wasn't his fault, it was the team's decision to go with other guys or whatever. So after a while, I would stop getting excited. Right when Gerald Camarillo and I were going to start to go to all of the amateur rodeos. Gerald turned into my father figure when my dad was on the road. He is a world champion team roper and he taught me a lot about being successful and being a good person. We were going to do the amateur rodeos and fill up my PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) card and then the next year, hit the pro rodeo. Just about the time we planned it, my dad called. He told me he was going to work for John Force and I told him that was great. He said, 'I need to get a crew together and you're my first pick.' I told him to call me the next week to let me know and I really thought he wouldn't call me back. I didn't even want to get excited. He called me the next day and the day after that and I realized it was the real deal. He needed to know by the end of the day and suddenly I realized that while I was chasing my new dream, I had a chance to go back to my original dream. I was young (22 years old) and I asked Gerald. He never had his own son but he always wanted one. He was raised in a team roping champion family. Now he had me, kind of his kid. I have the best horses and the best teacher and all I have to do is not screw up, do what he tells me and we are headed to the NFR. It would have been real easy for him to tell me that I should stick with rodeo. He had a lot of time and money invested in me. But he told me that I should get into racing. He also told me that if it didn't work out, I could always come back and we could pick up right where we left off. I called my dad and I left that night. Q: Did you expect to be considered for a driver's job right away or were you happy working on the car? MEDLEN: I started being a mechanic and honestly, I was living a dream. I was working on John and Tony's cars and we won the first eight races (1999) and I was standing in winner's circle and I told my dad that I thought I should quit and go home then. I thought if we lost now, it would stink and that wouldn't be any fun at all. That's the year we won 14 races and it was unreal. As time went on, I noticed that unless you had a ton of money to buy into a ride or unless you were the son of a team owner, there was a pretty slim chance that you can get into one of these cars. I've seen guys try and they get shot down and I didn't want to get myself into that. So I let it go but in the back of my mind, I was always thinking about it. We would be ready to warm up the car and I would think that if the driver was late, I knew what to do and I could warm it up. So I wanted to see what it was like and prove to myself that I could do it. So I went to Frank Hawley's School for drag racing. I was living with John in the winter and I used to stay there and never go anywhere during the offseason. I took him to the airport and he asked what I was doing. I told him I was just hanging around, not going anywhere. I really wanted to keep it quiet because I didn't want it to ever be a distraction. Well, I was raised never to lie and to always answer a question straight. So I told him I was going to Frank Hawley's and he wanted to know why. I told John that I always wanted to drive and since I knew I wasn't going to get the chance to drive (professionally) I at least wanted to see what it was like in the driving school. He didn't say anything. He was real quiet. He called me the next day and asked if Ashley (Force) could go with me. He wanted me to watch over her and I would be doing him a favor. We ended up going over there and making 16 runs. I got back from Hawley's and he asked how I liked it. I told him I thought it was unbelievable and I was going to try to go back if he didn't mind, only when we weren't working. So I kept going back. Then Ben Marshall, the driver of Mike Dakin's Warrior car, and I were talking. I told him I wanted to get my license and he said I should talk to Mike and see if I could drive the car. We were testing for the biggest race of the year in Indianapolis and how do you go up to Austin Coil and ask if I could maybe not work and drive another car? John and I got to talking about it and I told him I had the chance to get my Top Alcohol license but that it was while we were testing so I couldn't do it. He talked to Coil and they slipped me out enough to get it done. That was in 2002. That year I entered the Las Vegas divisional event with Texas Stagecoach car. I did that. At that time, I used to race shifter cars, I had three or four of those. I built a real nice trailer for those. It was first class and I built it all. I had a chopper that I built myself. I probably had about $35,000 invested in this bike. It was just cool. But you have to have money to race. So I sold all of the stuff for probably 10 cents on the dollar. But I was chasing a dream. OK, so I lost $30,000 on both of those deals. Was that worth passing up the chance? I didn't think so because if it didn't work out, I could build those things again. I did it once, I could do it again. The next year (2003) we were testing and John asked why I hadn't been driving. I told him I ran out of money. I sold all the stuff, but I went to Hawley's four or five times, ran the Warrior car and the Stagecoach car and I'm out of money. I did it, I know I can drive and that is it. At the time, I didn't care because I was living a dream. He asked if I wanted to make a couple of laps in the Funny Car. Just to see what it was like. I just about fell over. It's not like it came out of the blue. I had mentioned I wanted the chance just to get in one of those cars to see what it was like. He was just being loyal and showing me that he was just trying to repay me for spending a lot of time and money with everything. The guys put the spare car together so I could drive it. They spent all night working on it. We went to warm it up and my dad asked if I wanted to move anything. My foot didn't fit very well with the throttle pedal, but the guys had already put so much work into it, I didn't want them to have to change anything. My first run, my foot slipped back and the car went out of the groove. So I figured I would push down harder next time. If I could have broken that thing through the car, I would have been happy. But I think from pushing on the gas, I was pulling on the wheel. The wheel broke off and I shut it off. The car was still going straight and I didn't want to pull the chutes in case it would veer the car over. The track was black, I couldn't see that well. I tried to guide it over with my hands, but forget it, that is never going to work. So I started to think that I should probably get on the radio and tell them what is going on because they are going to wonder why I was in the center lane. So I tell them, 'Um, the steering wheel came off.' (Co-crew chief) Bernie Fedderly, who is Mr. Calm, gets on the radio and says, 'Do you think you could get it stopped?' I thought for a second before I said, 'Yes, I can get it stopped. Sure.' On and off I got a couple of more chances. Then Las Vegas happened and serious word got out that Tony was going to leave and I think John got frustrated and thought he may as well give the guy a chance. He asked if I had my firesuit with me. Are you kidding? Of course I had it. He asked if I could run Monday and of course I did. The worst case scenario was that I was going to at least try to get my license. We made a run, it went to half track before I shut it off. I had asked my dad how far he wanted me to drive it and he said as far as I wanted. He told me that if I should drive it until I get uncomfortable. I finally made a pass that made it all the way to the end. It was great. The third run it ran 4.97 at 260 mph. It started to get a little out of the groove, so I shut it off. But it was going pretty good. They called that into (director, Top Fuel and Funny Car) Ray Alley and he said the time was good, but I had to run a faster speed. The guys were just beat. We just won the championship the day before but the car pretty much was burnt up from the final pass on Sunday. Here are a bunch of guys who won the championship. You would think they would just celebrate all night. Don't even put the car in the trailer, just leave it out all night. Just go and celebrate. No, we were working until midnight so we could test the same car the next day. That is what championships are made of. John talked everyone into making one more run that day just so I could go for the license. The guys were cool and they were all for it. We got up to the line and it was dark. John came up to me and said, 'OK, you are going to experience something new. It's called header fire and it is going to scare the daylights out of you. But it's OK. It's going to look like the car's on fire, but it's fine. Just keep driving. No matter what you do, keep on driving it until the lights.' I asked him what happens if it blows up but he told me not to worry. It put out a cylinder and it got to the point where I could hear the crew chiefs yelling for me to turn it off. But in the back of my mind I kept hearing John telling me to get it to the lights. I kept going and shut it off at the lights. It caught on fire. When I got out there were flames two or three feet high. I felt bad for the guys because I knew how much work they did on that car and I knew they had a bigger mess than they did from the night before. I apologized to the guys because I knew I was just being selfish and going for the license. But the car went 280 mph and that was just at the requirement for the license. But I stayed with them and helped with the entire cleanup. We all had to go to Pomona and the guys had to build eight motors just to run at Pomona. They guys never complained once. They thought it was the coolest thing. You can't buy that from crew guys and you can't teach it, it's just there. There is just something about John. He is able to put all these guys together and that is how he builds championships. Q: When did you find out that you were going to be the next Force Racing driver? MEDLEN: It wasn't until after Pomona and after the (awards ceremony) that it came out. Even a week after the final race we honestly thought Tony was going to change his mind and stay with Force. That is a big deal and I think he actually thought about staying for a long time. We thought he would stay and everything would be OK. Then Tony announced what he was doing. John was contacted by a lot of drivers for the opening. I told him that if there was ever a chance, I would love to drive with you. But I would be perfectly happy to keep working on the clutch or cleaning oil pans or anything you need. He told me he was trying to sell me to the sponsors, but now the sponsors have a big say in the drivers too. They put a lot of money into the deal and they wanted a young guy just like me, but with a big name and a lot of driving experience. But I told John that person didn't exist unless you give guys like me a chance. Otherwise, you are going to have the same 16 drivers every weekend for the next 20 years. I really didn't know until a few days before we made the announcement was made in early January. Q: When did you get into rodeo? MEDLEN: My dad was always my buddy. He used to race hydro-planes and he got into a real bad crash and was paralyzed. The doctors said he would never walk and even if he did, he would be really messed up. Well my dad got into a weight training program and then got into body building and I would go to the gym with him every night. We would spend two hours a day there. I was always with my dad. When he left, I thought, 'Now what do I do?' and that is when I started doing rodeo. In high school I roped calves and did team roping. I was moderately successful. I always had the nicest horses and the best equipment and the best teacher, but I was little. If I drew a little calf, I was pretty good. If I drew a big calf, I wasn't so good. Once I got out of the high school ranks, the calves got better and I couldn't do that anymore. So team roping was were I spent my time. I helped with clinics. We had clinics for team roping just like we have Hawley's school for drag racing. I'm not going to say that I was so good that everyone should have seen me, but I was getting better. There are about a dozen guys that go to NFR every year and I used to rope with them and against them. They beat me plenty, but I used to beat them too. If I would have progressed with them, I could have been there too. I used to work the clinics with Gerald, which made me feel pretty honored because he was a world champion. I was progressing and I was getting bigger and a little better. I was teaching guys when it wasn't too long before that when I was being taught. I was on a good path. Then my dad called. Q: What do you think about working with the same crew you have been working with for so long? MEDLEN: It feels awkward. Growing up my dad and his brother started working full time when they were just 14 years old. They instilled a hard working ethic in me. When someone else is working around you, that means you need to work too. Always keep your nose to the grindstone. These guys are working so hard and I don't feel that I am working as hard as they are. But when I get out of the car, I'm already exhausted. You can't do both. The guys have been so supportive and they remind me that I'm not supposed to do both (work on the car and drive it) and that helps. They still tease me a bit, which is good. This is so special to be able to do this with the guys but especially my dad. When he was racing hydro-planes or stock cars, I always had a toy version. To be able to do this professionally, with my dad, is very special. I know the guys mean a lot to him. I don't care if the car blows up in the water box. Every time I get out of the car I tell the guys what a good job they have done because I know what it takes just to get it up to the line. Q: What are you looking forward to the most about Pomona? MEDLEN: Qualifying. Pomona is tricky and it can get cold there. You need to get qualified on the first run. I want to be able to show the sponsors that even though they took a huge risk on a little Western kid from California, but hey, we're qualified. I want them to know they made the right choice. If we don't qualify, we won't tuck our tails and walk away. You can't keep champions down. When Tiger Woods is seven strokes out on Saturday, people should never count him out. He's a champion and that is proven when he is four strokes up at the end of the day on Sunday. Champions know what to do. If we give it our hearts, we'll get qualified and hopefully we'll get qualified in the top half. Q: Do you feel extra pressure knowing that you are replacing the 2003 NHRA POWERade Funny Car champion? MEDLEN: I think having my dad there takes some pressure off. Our communication lines are very open. Having John there is great. He's not John Force, 12-time Funny Car champion. He's just John. He's there and he is great to talk to and that takes pressure off. There is some pressure because we know we have the best car. But I also have a lot of confidence knowing that I don't have just some car that we pieced together for $100. This is the championship car. The same reasons that can cause pressure are the same reasons why we should have confidence. John tells me just to get out there and have fun because that's when I will be at my best. Q: What expectations do you have for yourself? MEDLEN: At the end of the year I would like to know that we did better than everyone thought we would do. I would like for us to surpass the sponsor's expectations. If you prove yourself, they will go to bat for you. I don't expect respect from the beginning, but I want to be able to earn some.
The NHRA accepted suppliers of nitromethane, DOW/Angus and Wego, will
present a nitromethane safety and security training program at the date
and time noted. The program is free of charge. Wednesday, February
18, 2004 This educational seminar is designed for all Professional and Sportsman racing operations that handle, mix, use or transport nitromethane. The two-hour seminar will focus on proper handling, storage and other information pertaining to the use of ni |
Eden
Prairie, MN --- Eaton’s Aeroquip Performance Products is happy
to announce the partnership with Pro Modified Racer, Mike Janis, for
the 2004 NHRA and IHRA seasons. “Teaming up with the “WidowMaker”
for this season is yet another example of the relationships we have
forged with top teams. The Aeroquip Performance Products line has a
long tradition of being the choice of great teams at this level of racing”
said Mike Manos, Sales Manager for Aeroquip Performance Products, “and
we look forward to a great season with Mike Janis and his team this
year”.
Mustang
competing in the NHRA's AMS series. Doug Hasty, President of Unique
Performance is very excited about his company's association with the
West Coast Pro Mod Association. "The quality of competitors and
cars in the West Coast Pro Mod series lends itself perfectly to our
company. The West Coast series is the largest independent pro mod series
in North America and has a number of champions that race in both the
NHRA AMS and the IHRA Pro Mod class. Unique Performance aligns itself
with quality race teams and quality racing series', and this was a no
brainer for Unique Performance". 
London,
ON March 25. 2003 IHRA Funny Car Champion Rob Atchison driver of
the Erickson Manufacturing Pontiac is ready to defend his title at the
Texas Nationals at San Antonio Dragway Mar 26-28. " I can't wait
to get back racing after the long winter" Atchison stated. I have
spent the off season doing Celebrity Dinners and Car Shows and I am
ready to get back to what I love. This is my first Texas Nationals because
I missed the race last year because the weather was so bad at home we
couldn't load the car or pack the trailer. This year we have added Mattress
Depot, Performance Racing News, Pennzoil Lubricants and Tool and Cutter
Supply as associated sponsors joining with TEAM Truck Centres, Ultimate
Touch Collision and Custom and West Coast Transportation. Our primary
sponsor continues to be Erickson Manufacturing makers of Tie Downs and
Tow Straps. They have added a complete performance line and have a dedicated
performance website www.ericksonperformance.com . We will continue to
run the two Pontiacs with the same paint schemes as last season. We
have revamped our website and have put new pictures and video on for
2004. Our website is www.atchisonracing.com .
Don
has carried his good luck charm to the races for years: a 2 1/2 foot
long
Vizcarra,
who celebrated his five-year anniversary with NHRA last November, has
played a key role in the development of many of the innovative media
service programs and procedures NHRA since he joined the company in
1998. 
Bazemore,
runner-up in the 2001 and 2003 NHRA Funny Car championships, joined
Don Schumacher Racing in 2001, and since then has amassed five wins
in 11 final rounds of his career total of 15 in 36 final rounds. Bazemore's
crowning achievement with the Schumacher Racing team came just last
year, where he led the Funny Car point standings for the first time
in his career, took the battle for the title to the penultimate race,
and finished ahead of 12-time Funny Car champion John Force in the standings.
"This is my fourth year with Schumacher Racing and actually the
first time I have a contract with Don," said Bazemore, 40, of Indianapolis.
"The team has come a long way and has been competitive from the
very first year. Part of being a good race car driver is putting yourself
with the team that enables you to best accomplish your goals. I think
that's what I've done here with Schumacher Racing and with Matco Tools.
"Having a multi-year contract shows the confidence and the support
that I have earned within the team and with Don," he continued.
"It's a big vote of confidence. It means a lot. It takes off a
little bit of stress. I've never in my entire career had a multi-year
agreement with anybody. When I had my own team all of my sponsorships
were year to year. Having a multi-year agreement is going to be enable
my wife Michelle and me to better plan our future." 
Funny
Car and will mark the four-time winner's return to the sport after a
brief hiatus. Schick Quattro is also the Official Razor of the NHRA.
Schick will leverage the Toliver Racing and NHRA sponsorships with direct
to consumer communications, including in-store sweepstakes around the
racetracks and sampling at the races. "Jerry is an incredible driver
and a key competitor in the association, having four NHRA national event
wins in eight Funny Car final rounds," said Amy Roman, Brand Manager
Schick Quattro. "Like Quattro, the NHRA celebrates performance,
and this partnership allows Schick to reach more men who want performance
in their shave and their sport." This season, Toliver will race
a custom-designed Schick Quattro/Toyota Celica Funny Car. The Toyota
Celica features black with silver accents and Quattro's iconic "4"
logo is prominently displayed on the car's hood. Front and side spoilers
feature rivets that match that of the ergonomically designed handle.
"It's very exciting to have Schick Quattro become a partner in
our program," said Toliver. "We have a strong team and we
are looking forward to getting out there and racing." 
"We're
proud to be associated with a company like White Night," Wilkerson
said. "We are looking forward to a great year with the Levi, Ray
& Shoup Monte Carlo and feel we can put the White Night name and
product in front of thousands of excited NHRA fans."