Reporter's Notepad
June 07, 2008 Beckman hosts special friend
Amanda Groeller, an 18-year-old cancer survivor from Des Plaines, Ill., was a special guest today of Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Groeller, who just graduated from high school and plans to go…
June 06, 2008 With offers galore, Koretsky decides to play it safe
As expected, NHRA Pro Stock driver Kenny Koretsky will sit out this weekend's Route 66 Nationals as he continues to recover from a violent accident a few days ago in Topeka, Kan. "My body still hurts," Koretsky said Thursday. "I couldn’t race this weekend if I wanted to. I felt…
June 05, 2008 ION TV to air JEGS.com Cajun SPORTSnationals Saturday
The unique sights and sounds of the JEGS.com Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La., will hit the airwaves this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on ION TV's "Inside Drag Racing" program. The race, which took place April 2-6, featured 422 of the best Sportsman racers in the…
June 05, 2008 Springfield Mayor proclaims Tim Wilkerson Day
Mayor Timothy J. Davlin proclaimed June 3, 2008, as Tim Wilkerson Day in the capital city of Springfield, Ill. In front of a packed house at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Davlin cited the owner, driver, and tuner of the Levi, Ray & Shoup-backed Chevrolet Impala SS Funny Car…
June 04, 2008 Win this car!
It’s not only hot, bad, and fast, it’s the creation of legendary custom-car designer RJ de Vera -- and one lucky fan will win the one-of-a-kind de Vera-inspired 2008 Roush Mustang GT-V in a Valvoline online promotion. Known as the Valvoline Challenge, contestants can enter the Roush Mustang giveaway by…
June 03, 2008 Schumacher to celebrate Army’s birthday at home track
U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher will take part in the U.S. Army’s celebration of its 233rd birthday Saturday at his home track of Route 66 Raceway."For sure, it’s going to be a big weekend for us," Schumacher said. "We’ll certainly have plenty of family and friends on hand…
May 30, 2008 Clash of the Titans season set to begin
The Clash Of The Titans (COTT) season-opening River City Nationals will be held June 7 at San Antonio Raceway in Marion, Texas. Some of the top Outlaw Streetcar racers from across the country are expected to compete, including reigning series champions Dave Pierce, Kevin Hargett, Eric Stubbs, Chip Radderchek, Corey…
May 29, 2008 'Trick My Truck' stars visit drag race
Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil Top Fuel dragster team entertained some special guests at last weekend's Motor City IHRA Nationals in Michigan -- Kelvin Locklear and Rob Richardson of Country Music Television's wildly popular "Trick My Truck" show. "Those guys are like rock stars," McMillen said. "They were a…
May 28, 2008 Another Bike guy sniffing nitro?
Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis had the chance to sit behind the wheel of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for a warm-up start."This all came about after the Rockstar Energy Drink Funny Car suffered a couple of wheelstands in Bristol," Ellis said.…
May 28, 2008 Kern to captain Zizzo's dragster
Long-time Zizzo Racing team member Mike Kern has replaced Dave Settles as crew chief of the Peak/Herculiner Top Fuel dragster. "Mike has been our car chief for the last two seasons," team owner Tony Zizzo said. "He's done a great job working with us. He studies everything, he's a very…
May 25, 2008 Thousands tour JFR Indianapolis shop
Thousands of race fans paraded through the John Force Racing East shop Saturday during the second annual Brownsburg Motorsports Network Open House. For over four hours people steadily walked through the doors and got to see first hand the tools of the trade that have garnered John Force 14 POWERade…
May 22, 2008 Zizzo set for six-race '08 campaign
Top Fuel racer T.J. Zizzo announced a six-race schedule for 2008 that begins this weekend with the Suzuki Motor City IHRA Nationals in Milan, Mich. In all, Zizzo will race two IHRA events (Milan and Martin, Mich.), two NHRA events (Indy and Memphis), and two additional match races in Cordova,…
May 21, 2008 Ellis makes VIP visit to Van Buren Technology Center
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis made a special visit Tuesday to Van Buren Technology Center in Lawrence, Mich. Ellis toured the technical facility, met with hundreds of students, and enjoyed a luncheon with members of the faculty. "It was a very interesting day," said Ellis, who rides the Schumacher…
May 20, 2008 Grandstand to offer drag racing package to Euro fans
For many years, Grandstand Motor Sports has organized tour and holiday programs around Formula One, Le Mans, MotoGP, and World Superbikes. Now Great Britain’s leader in motorsport travel has added America’s NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series to its extensive portfolio.Scheduled for Oct.29-Nov. 18, Grandstand is offering three action-packed itineraries through…
The odds-on favorite heading into the NHRA Circle Track Challenge Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway was former USAC champion Doug Kalitta. So it came as no surprise to see him in victory lane at the end of the 12-lap segment of the NHRA Circle Track Challenge.Kalitta had much more…
Following a first-of-its-kind fan vote, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman will start from the pole in the NHRA Circle Track Challenge, part of Saturday evening's "Saturday Spectacular" at Bristol Motor Speedway.The NHRA Circle Track Challenge makes up one of the supporting events for this week's "Saturday Spectacular," headlined by the…
May 14, 2008 Comp racers can qualify for $25K
Comp eliminator racers will continue to earn a stake in one of the largest Comp eliminator purses in NHRA drag racing history when the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series rolls into Houston Raceway Park this weekend.Comp racers have the opportunity to compete at three of six races in the South…
Doug Herbert, Elliot Sadler, and Ray Evernham will share Herbert's BRAKES (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) message with a captive audience of teenagers from 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, May 14, at North Mecklenburg High School near Charlotte. The event is part of the Allstate Teen Safe Driving Pit Stop.The program…
