NHRA Newsmakers

Your inside glimpse at the world’s fastest motorsport

NEWS NUGGETS

·         NHRA DRIVERS GIVE THEIR TIME TO CHARITY: Several NHRA racers will attend the 2006 Stock for Tots charity drive on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Charles Mack Citizens Center in Mooresville, N.C.  NHRA Pro Stock champion Jason line, KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson, and Funny Car driver Bob Gilbertson will join NASCAR stars for an evening of fun benefiting local charities in the hotbed of racing teams “There is a large group of racing teams housed in the Mooresville area, and KB Racing is proud to be a part of that group,” Anderson said.  “Stocks for Tots allows us to forget about our work and come together for one night to benefit the community.  It’s a great time of the year, and we’re glad that we can be a part of this year’s fundraising.”

·         COUGHLIN SR. TO LEAD HOT ROD REUNION: Jeg Coughlin Sr., former racer and founder of Jeg’s Automotive, Inc., has been chosen grand marshal of the fifth annual NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion presented by Dupont Automotive Finishes.  The event will be held June 15-17, 2007 at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.  “I am very honored and flattered to be chosen as the grand marshal for the Hot Rod Reunion,” said Coughlin.  “I’m especially excited since the race will be moving to our hometown this year.  I believe it will be a great event for National Trail Raceway and the people of Columbus.”  Coughlin’s contributions to the sport of drag racing are immeasurable.  As a driver he actively competed more than 30 years, racing in every class from Super Gas to Top Fuel.  He is one of only a handful of drivers to race in three professional categories: Top Fuel; Funny Car; and Pro Stock.

·         MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY UPDATES: Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa. is set to undergo some facility upgrades in 2007.  There are several projects planned including additional pit parking, milling the track and installing LED scoreboards.  The first planned project is to provide additional pit parking for the racers and their hospitality areas.  In the spring the track plans to mill the track surface.  The constant shifting of the land in the northeast has caused some irregularities to the track surface that need be smoothed out.  Finally, the track plans to install LED scoreboards.  These will upgrade the CompuLink scoreboards that were installed in 1995.  All of these projects are set to be completed by the time the NHRA POWERade Series comes to town Aug. 16-19.

·         DUPUY JOINS ADVANCE AUTO PARTS FUNNY CAR TEAM: Cruz Pedregon Racing, Inc., has announced that Wayne Dupuy will join the team as crew chief for the 2007 POWERade Series season.  Prior to joining Pedregon’s team, Dupuy has been the crew chief for several drivers including Cory McClenathan, Phil Burkhart Jr., Darrell Russell, Morgan Lucas, and most recently Doug Herbert. “Everyone at Cruz Pedregon Racing is really excited to have such an experienced crew chief like Wayne Dupuy on our side heading into the 2007 season,” said owner/driver Cruz Pedregon. “His reputation on the NHRA circuit is unmatched, and he is highly regarded by everyone that knows him.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS

·         NITRO BLAST OFF, LAS VEGAS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, JAN. 19-21: The elite teams of the NHRA POWERade Series will have the first opportunity to begin preparing for the 2007 season at this first of three optional showcase pre-season test sessions. Media are invited. Please contact NHRA Media Relations at (626) 914-4761 for more information.

·         NATIONAL TIME TRIALS, PHOENIX, FIREBIRD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, JAN. 26-28: Pre-season action moves from Nevada to Arizona as the professional teams continue to tweak off-season changes at this second of three optional test sessions. Open to media. Please contact NHRA Media Relations at (626) 914-4761 for more information.

·        LAST CHANCE TEST SESSION, LAS VEGAS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, FEB. 2-4: This aptly named test session is the final of three optional events that allow professional drivers the chance to test their rides before the 2007 NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to the Championship gets underway. Open to media. Please contact NHRA Media Relations at (626) 914-4761 for more information.

·        CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, POMONA, CALIF., AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, FEB. 8-11: Get a front seat as defending world champs Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) begin the 2007 NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to the Championship.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

.0003: If a spectator blinked he or she would have missed seeing who won the first round of eliminations between Richie Stevens Jr. and Jim Yates in St. Louis this past season.  That is the margin of victory in a fraction of a second that Stevens Jr. used to beat Yates.  His close margin of victory earned him to win the Motel 6 “Who Got the Light?” season-ending award of $25,000.

DRIVERS TELL ALL

THESE ARE THE TRUE HEROES:  Melanie Troxel was impressed with the morale of injured soldiers when she and several other NHRA drivers recently visited American soldiers in Germany as guests of the USO and GM Performance Parts.  “The hospital visit made the biggest impact on me,” said Troxel. “What amazed me the most was the unselfish desire of these wounded troops to get back with their buddies and their dedication to getting the job done.”  The soldiers had returned from fighting to receive medical services at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.  Tommy Johnson Jr., Warren Johnson, Jim Yates, and Cory McClenathan also made the trip.