NEWS NUGGETS
HOUSTON, WE ARE GO FOR LAUNCH: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series travels to Royal Purple Raceway in Houston for the 25th annual
O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start
Batteries April 27–29. Houston is traditionally a fast track, which
means that records could be broken, and racing will be extremely quick
and incredibly close. The NHRA’s first stop of the season in the Lone
Star State will include racers in all four professional categories—Top
Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle—as they head to the
dragstrip in hopes of earning a Wally trophy. To purchase reserved
seats, call Royal Purple Raceway, 281-383-RACE (7223), or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com.
Brian Deegan Takes First in Pro Lite and Pro 2 in LOORS Rounds 3 and 4
Metal Mulisha founder and 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORS) Driver of the Year “The General” Brian Deegan took his familiar No. 1 spot on the podium this past weekend at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Round 3 of the Pro Lite and Pro 2 Unlimited 2012 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.
Metal Mulisha founder and 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORS) Driver of the Year “The General” Brian Deegan took his familiar No. 1 spot on the podium this past weekend at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Round 3 of the Pro Lite and Pro 2 Unlimited 2012 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.
Husky Liners Partners with RCR's No. 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Team
Husky Liners, a supplier of automotive accessories for light trucks, SUVs, vans and cars, has entered into a partnership agreement with Richard Childress Racing. The Winfield, Kansas-based company will be the primary sponsor of RCR's No. 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team driven by Joey Coulter for two races during the 2012 season.
Husky Liners, a supplier of automotive accessories for light trucks, SUVs, vans and cars, has entered into a partnership agreement with Richard Childress Racing. The Winfield, Kansas-based company will be the primary sponsor of RCR's No. 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team driven by Joey Coulter for two races during the 2012 season.
NEWS NUGGETS
HIGHT LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY AT ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY: The hottest Funny Car driver on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit is Robert Hight. The California native has won the last four races and holds a commanding lead in the points standings as the series moves to ultrafast Royal Purple Raceway near Houston for the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries, April 27–29. With his fourth consecutive win, Hight joined some elite company in the NHRA record books. Only four other Funny Car drivers have claimed four wins in a row: Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, John Force and Cruz Pedregon. Prudhomme’s mark of seven wins in a row in ’75–’76 stands as the record in the category. The most consecutive Funny Car wins in a single season is five, held jointly by Prudhomme, Pedregon and Force.
HIGHT LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY AT ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY: The hottest Funny Car driver on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit is Robert Hight. The California native has won the last four races and holds a commanding lead in the points standings as the series moves to ultrafast Royal Purple Raceway near Houston for the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries, April 27–29. With his fourth consecutive win, Hight joined some elite company in the NHRA record books. Only four other Funny Car drivers have claimed four wins in a row: Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, John Force and Cruz Pedregon. Prudhomme’s mark of seven wins in a row in ’75–’76 stands as the record in the category. The most consecutive Funny Car wins in a single season is five, held jointly by Prudhomme, Pedregon and Force.
Falken Tire Achieves Three-Peat at Long Beach Formula Drift Opener
Team Falken started the 2012 Formula Drift season the way it finished last year, with one of its factory drivers on top of the podium. For the second year in a row, Justin Pawlak took first place at the Long Beach opening round, making it a three-peat for Falken at Long Beach, one of the tire brand’s two home tracks. Formula Drift defending champion and Team Falken teammate Daijiro (“Dai”) Yoshihara was second.
Team Falken started the 2012 Formula Drift season the way it finished last year, with one of its factory drivers on top of the podium. For the second year in a row, Justin Pawlak took first place at the Long Beach opening round, making it a three-peat for Falken at Long Beach, one of the tire brand’s two home tracks. Formula Drift defending champion and Team Falken teammate Daijiro (“Dai”) Yoshihara was second.
NEWS NUGGETS
NHRA FULL THROTTLE SERIES DRIVERS AND FANS ARE READY FOR THRILL OF FOUR-WIDE RACING: On April 13–15, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will break from the traditional one-on-one format for the third annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte's zMAX Dragway. The different format is a welcome change for many drivers and fans. Fans can purchase two tickets to any day of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals for $60 and receive a choice of two T-shirts, two beer vouchers or two Coca-Cola soft drinks and two hot dogs. Children 13 and younger are admitted for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. To purchase tickets, call 800-455-FANS (3267) or log on to www.zmaxdragway.com. At-track camping options are also available.
NHRA FULL THROTTLE SERIES DRIVERS AND FANS ARE READY FOR THRILL OF FOUR-WIDE RACING: On April 13–15, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will break from the traditional one-on-one format for the third annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte's zMAX Dragway. The different format is a welcome change for many drivers and fans. Fans can purchase two tickets to any day of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals for $60 and receive a choice of two T-shirts, two beer vouchers or two Coca-Cola soft drinks and two hot dogs. Children 13 and younger are admitted for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. To purchase tickets, call 800-455-FANS (3267) or log on to www.zmaxdragway.com. At-track camping options are also available.
Cooley Leads Team Competitive Metals to the Podium at Lucas Oil Off Road Season Opener
Rookie Driver Geoffrey Cooley piloted his No. 22 Alumi Craft/Competitive Metals Pro-Buggy to a fifth-place finish in Round 1 and battled for the win placing third in Sunday's Round 2 of the season opening Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at Firebird International Raceway. Cooley qualified with the fastest time of 44.548. He was the only driver to crack the 44-second mark. The team entered the event with a goal of just finishing the race and possibly getting into the top 10. But Cooley had bigger expectations as he raced in the lead pack competing against and beating some of the series long time veterans.
Rookie Driver Geoffrey Cooley piloted his No. 22 Alumi Craft/Competitive Metals Pro-Buggy to a fifth-place finish in Round 1 and battled for the win placing third in Sunday's Round 2 of the season opening Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at Firebird International Raceway. Cooley qualified with the fastest time of 44.548. He was the only driver to crack the 44-second mark. The team entered the event with a goal of just finishing the race and possibly getting into the top 10. But Cooley had bigger expectations as he raced in the lead pack competing against and beating some of the series long time veterans.
NEWS NUGGETS
TOBLER NAMED NEW CREW CHIEF FOR CAPPS IN RESTRUCTURING AT DON SCHUMACHER RACING: Rahn Tobler has been named crew chief for the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car of Ron Capps effective immediately, team owner Don Schumacher has announced. Don Schumacher Racing also has hired veteran tuner Todd Smith as the new crew chief for the Valvoline NextGen Funny Car driven by Jack Beckman in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Smith's first race with the team will be the April 13–15 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte (North Carolina) Motor Speedway's zMAX Dragway. Tobler also will be the lead tuner for Beckman's team for at least the next two Full Throttle events as Smith transitions to his new position. John Collins will assist Tobler on the NAPA Auto Parts team and Terry Snyder will assist Smith on Beckman's car.
TOBLER NAMED NEW CREW CHIEF FOR CAPPS IN RESTRUCTURING AT DON SCHUMACHER RACING: Rahn Tobler has been named crew chief for the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car of Ron Capps effective immediately, team owner Don Schumacher has announced. Don Schumacher Racing also has hired veteran tuner Todd Smith as the new crew chief for the Valvoline NextGen Funny Car driven by Jack Beckman in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Smith's first race with the team will be the April 13–15 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte (North Carolina) Motor Speedway's zMAX Dragway. Tobler also will be the lead tuner for Beckman's team for at least the next two Full Throttle events as Smith transitions to his new position. John Collins will assist Tobler on the NAPA Auto Parts team and Terry Snyder will assist Smith on Beckman's car.
NEWS NUGGETS
POPULAR NEW YORK-NEW YORK HOTEL AND CASINO FANFEST RETURNS TO KICK OFF RACING ACTION AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: More than 25 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers will be at the annual Fan Fest March 29 on the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, including all seven Don Schumacher Racing drivers and the Summit Racing Equipment duo of Greg Anderson and Jason Line. The party starts at 5:00 p.m., with driver autographs from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. The free event will be hosted by Team Full Throttle and include music and giveaways. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.
POPULAR NEW YORK-NEW YORK HOTEL AND CASINO FANFEST RETURNS TO KICK OFF RACING ACTION AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: More than 25 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers will be at the annual Fan Fest March 29 on the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, including all seven Don Schumacher Racing drivers and the Summit Racing Equipment duo of Greg Anderson and Jason Line. The party starts at 5:00 p.m., with driver autographs from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. The free event will be hosted by Team Full Throttle and include music and giveaways. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.
Grand Marshal Parnelli Jones Headlines Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion Panel Discussion
On Saturday, April 21, legendary racer and Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion (FCSR) Grand Marshal Parnelli Jones will be joined by a stellar group of contemporaries on the panel discussion as part of the FCSR festivities at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California.
On Saturday, April 21, legendary racer and Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion (FCSR) Grand Marshal Parnelli Jones will be joined by a stellar group of contemporaries on the panel discussion as part of the FCSR festivities at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California.