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The goal is to gather enough signatures which will then be delivered to NHRA as well as to Powerade. We hope that this will impress upon them the passion of the fans and our dislike of the playoff. We hope that they will listen and reverse this unwise decision.

In brief, some complaints against the proposed system are:

-Every National event is a playoff by design. It is a true win or go home scenario.

-In a true playoff, non playoff teams do not compete at the same time and against playoff teams.

-Nascar has had a similar system with less then stellar results. After an initial surge the first season, their TV ratings have dropped, especially during their playoff races. NHRA can not survive that type of ratings decline.

-This season saw the most amazing comeback ever in Top Fuel Dragster. Last season we saw a 3-way battle for Funny Car. Part of what makes these events so memorable is that they are special. To create a welfare points system with forced drama and fake excitement takes away from the sport. If every year comes down to the same thing then it loses any meaning and feeling.

-Fans want to know that their championships are real and earned throughout a season long effort. Under the new system a racer who has a few good races at the end of the season could win a championship. This season going into the US Nationals, which will start next year’s countdown, the 8th place driver in 3 out of the 4 pro classes had a losing round record. Under the new system they will be eligible to run for a championship.

-Currently the entire season means something, every race, every round, every qualifying position. Under the new system, with losing records being able to get in, only the last 6 races mean anything now.

It is my hope that you will help spread the word. I have been able to access message boards as a way to get the word out however I need help getting this to a larger audience who can help make a difference.

Thank you
PJ Sapienza

Tom Hammonds

"This the culmination of a lot of hard work and a lot of prayers just to have a chance to build our own professional race shop," said Hammonds as he and his crew began clearing the area that will eventually house an 11,000-square-foot facility with an in-house engine program, a machine shop, offices and a showroom for the cars. "It’s a dream come true. God willing, this is how I’m going to spend the next 30 years, hopefully going out there and racing, winning races and having fun."

Royal Purple Ltd. Is located in Porter, TX. "Super Chevy is a perfect fit for a company like Royal Purple that has so many Chevy enthusiasts. Our first company project car was a 1961 Chevy panel delivery truck. Even our company president owns a '69 rag-top Camaro," stated Mark McFann, Marketing Director for Royal Purple.

"We are very excited to have Royal Purple for the 2007 Super Chevy Tour. This is the first oil sponsorship of its kind in our history. We are looking forward to a great partnership for many years to come" said Greg Baumer, National Sales / Advertising Director of AutoStar Productions, Inc.

The Last Hangover Nationals at Los Angeles County Raceway will be held on Monday, Jan. 1, 2007. Right now the annual Hangover’s will feature Jet Cars and Funny Cars with the “Crazy Horse” Mustang (pictured) and the “Predator” Plymouth Satellite Nostalgia Nitro Floppers in a match race. The drag strip will open at 9 a.m. on Dec. 30, 31 and New Year’s Day.

The eminent closure of LACR is coming as the remaining lease on the drag strip goes through the end of April and may possibly extend for a few more months. However, the life of LACR will soon be over and parts of the spectator parking lot and pits have already been removed.

Proprietor Bernie Longjohn has announced the LACR Racers Banquet on December 17th at the Holiday Inn - Palmdale starting at 4 p.m. At this time Bernie has not made or shared any plans for a future drag strip in the area.

Nicole Lyons

Nicole will be a presenter at the Urban Awards to be held in Detroit on January 9th, 2007. The Urban Awards are being hosted by Vivica A. Fox. This huge award show is in conjunction with the North American Auto Show.

Nicole's reality show "The DNA of Racing" is now in post-production and will soon announce the major network it will be shown on, and Black Drag Racers.com will be the first to know. The show is now filming the second season which will focus on the purchase of a new Pro Stock car and all the hard work involved with Nicole coming out as a rookie in Pro Stock.

Nicole has just started a flurry of ad campaign with a up and coming black male Nascar driver which will kick off in January 2007. It will start with them gracing the pages of People, Sports Illustrated, Ebony and Essence, and they will then move on to major television and radio shows. Major sponsorship will be announced reflecting the two drivers in the new year.

Antron Brown

Earlier this month, at the season finale in Pomona, Calif., Brown’s bid to capture his first POWERade world title fell just short as he finished second to three-time world champion Andrew Hines.

“We want to congratulate Antron on what was still a fantastic season,” said Tissot President Francois Thiebaud. “Antron inspires us all with his charisma, precision and constant drive to be the very best.” (Report courtesy of NHRA.com)

J.R. Todd

Todd became the odds-on favorite to win the coveted prize and accompanying $20,000 check by winning three times in four final-round appearances over the last 11 races of the 23-race season.

Despite missing four races and not qualifying once, Todd parlayed his consistency into a climb from a low of 19th place in the standings all the way up an eighth place finish.

“To win an award that great drivers like Brandon Bernstein, Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi, Doug Kalitta and the late Darrell Russell have won means a lot to me,” said the soft-spoken Todd, of Lawrenceburg, Ind. “I just hope I can come close in comparison to those drivers.

“There were some good rookie drivers out there this year and just to be nominated for the award is an honor ... and to be taking it home is more than I expected.”

Others nominated were Alan Bradshaw, Max Naylor, and Hillary Will.

Todd’s emergence may not have happened had Evan Knoll not approached team owner Dexter Tuttle with sponsorship assistance from his Skull Shine and Torco Racing Fuels companies seven races into the season.

“I really didn’t give us much chance to win this award because we had planned to only run 12 races,” said Todd. “We missed four races early in the year but when Evan came on board we knew we’d be running the rest of the season.

“By mid-season things really turned around for our team. Our crew chief, Jimmy Walsh got a good handle on setting up the car and the guys on the crew were flawless. I was getting more comfortable in the car as the year went along and, sure enough, we started to pick up some round wins.”

Todd first caught the spotlight’s glare at Denver in mid-July when he strung four round wins together and claimed his first victory. That win also was the first by an African American Top Fuel or Funny Car driver in NHRA history.

Two weeks later, Todd added his first exclamation point with another storybook win at Sonoma, Calif., defeating Tony Schumacher – the two-time reigning Top Fuel champion – in the final round for the second straight time.

Todd won again at Reading, Pa. and was runner-up in Las Vegas last month.

“We started opening some eyes, turned some heads and kind of surprised ourselves along the way,” Todd said.

No one was surprised Monday night when Todd won the award.

“For more than 100 years, the Automobile Club of Southern California has represented integrity, commitment and professionalism to our millions of members. The Road to the Future Award has come to symbolize those same attributes in the sport of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing,” said Thomas V. McKernan, president and CEO of the Auto Club. “To be nominated recognizes not only that a rookie driver had a noteworthy first season, but also that they demonstrated exceptional potential for the future.”

The most new rules released related to the IHRA Pro Mod classes where they instituted a series of weight minimums that give “nostalgia” bodied cars a weight break and penalized late model cars including ’63 ‘Vettes. They also are going to allow the nitrous cars to have engines of up a maximum of 820 cubic inches and will take any blower overdrive away.

WEIGHT MINIMUMS: Nitrous Oxide Entries: 2,425 lbs. Supercharged Entries: 2,700 lbs. Accepted Nostalgia body styles may deduct 25 lbs. from minimum weight. Example: ‘53 Studebaker, ’55 or ‘57 Chevy and Buick. ‘38 Chevy and ‘41 Willys may deduct 50 lbs. from minimum weight. Late model entries add 25 lbs. to minimum weight. Example: Cavalier, Cobalt, Stratus, GTO, Mustang, etc.
CUBIC INCH LIMIT: Nitrous Oxide Entries: If 5-inch bore center combination is utilized then the cubic inch maximum is 820 cid OR if larger than 5-inch bore center combination is selected then the cubic inch maximum is 800 cid.
BELLYPAN: Permitted. Must extend beyond leading edge of engine and accessories and incorporate a 1-inch lip on the front edge of all units.
REAR-END RATIO: Supercharged Entries: 4.30 to 1 rear end ratio (final drive) maximum.
SUPERCHARGER CASE: OEM manufacturer’s case mandatory. Billet cases prohibited. The top opening may not be exceed ten (10) inches in length.
ELECTRONICS / DATA ACQUISITION: No sensors may be used to monitor track position, track or tire temperature or ride height other than shock travel. Sensors are prohibited from use on wheels or wheelie bars or on any other moving part other than the drive shaft.
STARTING LINE CONTROL DEVICES: Electronic Starting line RPM limiters (2-step) are prohibited on supercharged entries.

The Agent will go out on a limb and suggest that Dave Wood, his friend Jeff Lynn and Brad Anderson, who owns two cars including that of 2006 series champion Jay Payne, will once again take money out of their own pockets to continue the series. It’s just a matter of them guaranteeing the purse and the vig to NHRA for “track rental” so that the series continues. Interestingly, Dave Wood, who owns a piece of the rival American Drag Racing League Pro Mod-based series, will almost certainly be a major supporter of the NHRA Pro Mods.

The only question remaining is what rules will the NHRA Pro Mods run under for the 2007 season now that IHRA has radically changed their rules. Is it possible that the IHRA, NHRA and the ADRL will all have different rules for their Pro Mod classes?

Mike Hill

The two staged a repeat Sunday night in the 10.5 Outlaw finals and Hill drilled the tree with an .010 for the win. His 2006 Mustang snarled its way to a 4.586 at 160.59 mph.

Hill's '06 Mustang

Candyce Marsh

“The journey of obtaining my professional license has been an experience. Everything I have done both on and off the racetrack has been in an effort to reach this goal and advancing my racing career. It presented challenges that I overcame and opportunities that were well worth the end result.” said Marsh. “I’ve worked hard to prove myself as a professional sportsman, and, I’m grateful for having a dedicated group of individuals with the right expertise to help me to reach this accomplishment.”

One of the criteria that Marsh had to meet in order to successfully reach her professional status was establishing a solid race program. Marsh also had to work to substantiate herself as a competitor by aligning herself with industry leaders. Throughout the years, she has been able to present a professional image through securing a professionally built racecar, transporter, and building relationships with world-renowned parts manufacturers. In addition, she partnered with ACDelco sponsored Harold Martin, who is recognized internationally for his technological advancements in motorsports. As a professional engine builder, Martin expanded Marsh’s race program to include his revolutionary electronic fuel injected engines; thereby, enhancing her race car’s capabilities.

“We've watched Candyce grow over the years and we're very excited to see her professional debut at the World Finals," said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. "She's worked her way to the top.”

As part of the preparation for the World Finals, Marsh’s team will be pulling together a competitive program they feel will ultimately drive them to the finish line. “It is an honor to be able to compete with some of the best professional drivers in the world. We know we have to be ready with our best.”

Marsh, a Raleigh, North Carolina native, is always excited about racing at ‘THE ROCK’. A few hours from home, she is expecting friends and family to share in the excitement of the weekend’s events. “We are pumped about this weekend and showing our best to our hometown crowd,” says Marsh.

In addition, early assessments are indicating that Marsh could be the First African American Female in the history of drag racing to become a professional race car driver. With numerous accomplishments already under her belt, Marsh could easily become the next “Tiger Woods” of motorsports.

J.R. Todd

The award, which is decided by a distinguished panel of auto racing journalists, is presented to the outstanding rookie driver in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series four professional classes – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The 2006 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, along with a check for $20,000 and trophy, will be presented during the NHRA's annual championship awards ceremony on Monday, Nov. 13 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA.

J.R. Todd

"I never thought I'd be standing here with three wins and people talking about Rookie of the Year," Todd said. "We were only going to run part-time this year but [sponsor] Evan Knoll stepped up his involvement and said straight out he wanted to beat Tony Schumacher. I was like, ‘Well who doesn't?’ but he's given us what it takes to do it.

"Jimmy [Walsh, crew chief] has this thing running so strong. I knew all I needed to worry about was doing my job at the starting line and we'd have a chance. He came on a tune-up last week in Dallas when we ran a 4.54 and it showed today. To run a 4.51, 4.50, and a 4.49 in one day is awesome."

Latrell Preston

Preston, who already serves as Chief Financial Officer, for Knoll’s parent company General Sales & Service, will direct the motorsports day-to-day operations as well as manage the various sponsorships of race teams and sanctioning bodies. He retains his position of second Vice President of GSS.

Knoll pointed out that he’s groomed Preston for the position since 2004 and the time is now to let him take control of the vast responsibilities.

“Latrell has been my right hand for the last two years and someone I fully trust and see more than capable of directing this company,” Knoll said. “I probably would have pursued this sooner but we needed to fill some key infrastructure positions before we could step forward with this plan.

“I am very excited this opportunity is available. It makes sense that he controls my sponsorships because he’s the one signing the checks anyway.”

Preston, a University of Indiana graduate and basketball player, plans to keep the momentum rolling strong.

“Momentum means everything in this industry and we certainly have a lot working in our favor now,” Preston said. “I am totally elated that Evan has entrusted me with this position. It has given me goose bumps just thinking about the future and the things we have planned.”

Knoll Gas Motorsports – Torco Race Fuels, Inc., stands as one of the largest single sponsors in drag racing and extends its sponsorship interests to include off-road motorsports, moto-cross, off-shore boating and oval track racing.

For more information on Knoll Gas Motorsports – Torco Race Fuels, Inc, visit their website at http://www.torco.com/.

Black Sunday, the largest African American drag racing event in the country, fell victim to Sunday’s torrential rains, but all is not lost – a race date has been scheduled for Sunday October 15th at Gateway International Raceway (GIR) in Madison, Illinois.

Spectators are urged to keep their ticket stubs from that date because those stubs will be honored for admission into the event on October 15th. The 15th promises to be as exciting as this past Sunday’s event with all of the Quick 16 cars and motorcycles slated to return as well as many racers from other classes. For those who were unable to attend on Sunday, September 17th, tickets for October 15th will be available for purchase at the gate on October 15th.

Other events that will also be included in the October 15th program will be the UBDRA charitable contributions to Faith House, East St. Louis Community Camp, Old Community Baptist Church Youth Program and the Emma L. King Foundation and lots of fun and excitement for the entire family. For more information contact:

Darrell Williams (UBDRA President) 314-968-1720 James Wilford 618-593-4226 Or GIR 866-35-SPEED (866-357-7333)

Duce Staley

While helping the Steelers defend their Super Bowl title remains his top priority and main focus, Staley is also looking at his entry into motorsports as a business opportunity. Staley’s interest in the NHRA is long-standing, and he wanted to have more of an integral participation in the sport.

"I am very excited to establish this competitive racing team and am looking forward to engaging in a new challenge,” said Staley. “The competition level in Pro Stock is so tight now; I believe that my experience with the elite competition in the NFL and the parity among NFL teams is transferable to the parity in NHRA Pro Stock.”

“It is very exciting to see NFL star and Super Bowl champion Duce Staley become an NHRA team owner,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “With naming Jim Yates and Billy Gibson to his team Duce has selected two talented drivers and I wish the team much success as they pursue an NHRA POWERade Series world championship in Pro Stock.”

Staley started his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997 after being drafted in the third round out of the University of South Carolina. Staley had seven productive seasons with the Eagles including three 1,000 yard rushing seasons, and three consecutive trips to the NFC title game. Staley signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2004 season where he rushed for 707 yards in his first seven games as the Steelers' starting halfback.

Established NHRA driver Jim Yates will compete as a Catch 22 Motorsports driver. Yates has won two NHRA Pro Stock Championships, and has finished in the top-two five times and in the top-five eight times in 10 years. Additionally, Yates has a 3.11 average finishing position, has won 25 NHRA POWERade national events and finished as a runner-up at an additional 35 events to date. Prior to establishing Jim Yates Racing, Yates was affiliated with another NFL star involved in motorsports – Joe Gibbs – as a member of Joe Gibbs Racing.

"It is incredible to have a driver of Jim’s stature on my racing team,” said Staley. “We’re going to try as hard as we can to add more championships to both our resumes.” Yates saw certain qualities in Staley that led him to think that this could be a mutually beneficial partnership. “A major factor that attracted me to Catch 22 Motorsports was the competitiveness Duce has shown on the field throughout his NFL career,” said Yates. “I know he is going to do everything he can to make our team a success.”

IHRA standout Billy Gibson, an up-and-coming NHRA driver, is the second driver for Catch 22 Motorsports. Gibson has experience in racing go-carts, streetcars, eliminator classes, pro-stocks, pro-modifieds, alcohol dragster, and alcohol funny car. Gibson started his racing career at age seven at the Virginia State cart series and has been racing ever since.

"Duce’s involvement with motorsports is very positive for the sport,” said Gibson. “He has name recognition with people who wouldn’t ordinarily follow the NHRA and we hope to capitalize on his NFL fan base.”

When looking at Gibson’s career, Staley was immediately attracted to the experience the young driver will bring to the team. “There is really no substitute for Billy’s vast driving experience,” said Staley. “Billy has basically seen it all and will be prepared for any situation that comes his way.”

In addition to the drivers, Catch 22 Motorsports has announced that Doug Kline will be the General Manager for the team. Additionally, Kline will work with the crew in the pits as he has throughout his career. When not on the race track, Kline co-owns Precision Chassis, Inc. in Temple, Pennsylvania, which offers a wide variety of race cars and services.

"Doug is going to be integral to the success of Catch 22 Motorsports,” said Staley. “He brings 20 years of motorsports experience to the team and I am confident that we have an outstanding team in place to compete at the highest level of Pro Stock.”

Kline looks forward to the opportunity of working with this ownership group and with their experienced drivers. “From the first day they contacted me, Catch 22 Motorsports has shown a tremendous commitment to success,” said Kline. “I am very excited to be working with Jim, Billy, and Duce as well as the rest of the team.”

Staley has also retained the services of TRESELER ZALBE LLC for marketing services to leverage motorsports sponsorships for Catch 22 Motorsports. TRESELER ZALBE LLC is a nationally recognized sports & entertainment marketing agency specializing in corporate consulting, event marketing, property representation, sponsorship activation and celebrity integration.

The best Sportsman racers on the West Coast will converge on Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway for the NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals presented by K&N on September 28 - October 1.

Everything from Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street as well as the division's Top Comp and Super Eliminator categories will be showcased during the Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway event. A $5,000-to-win Mopar Hemi Shootout will also take place during the weekend.

Racers from throughout the region will vie for national recognition and a chance to accumulate national contingency points for end of season payouts. The event is similar to a national competition because competitors need a certain amount of grade points to qualify. One grade point is required to compete. All competitors should pre-register online. For more information on how to register, go to http://www.nhradiv7.com/. Entries will be accepted at the gate for a penalty late registration fee.

Competitor parking will begin as early as Monday, September 25th. There will be a track test n tune session on Thursday, September 28th. Only competitors who are eligible and participating in the race weekend may take advantage of the test n tune opportunity on Thursday.

Gates open each day (Friday - Sunday) at 8 a.m. Time Trials and Qualifying begins on Friday at 8 a.m. with Top Comp and Competition Eliminator Qualifying at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Stock Class Eliminations will take place throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday. Time trials and qualifying begins on Saturday at 8 a.m. with Top Comp and Competition Eliminator Qualifying at 11 a.m. Mopar Hemi Challenge Round 1 will take place at noon with eliminations starting at 2 p.m. and Top Comp and Competition Eliminator round 1 begin at 5 p.m. Eliminations will continue on Sunday.

When race fans purchase tickets to an Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway event, it always includes a pit pass and free parking. Thursday and Friday tickets are $10 per person, per day with Saturday and Sunday tickets at $20 per person, per day. Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult admission.

It was announced in November 2005 that the Automobile Club of Southern California signed a five-year entitlement agreement for the new quarter-mile strip, home to a very competitive Division 7 Junior Drag Racing program sponsored by the Auto Club and the AAA-sponsored NHRA Street Legal Drag Racing program. In addition to these events, NHRA's Summit Series, Pacific Street Car Association and Super Categories use the strip. Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway is a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) sanctioned track.

Drag racing has taken place at California Speedway since 2001 where the dragstrip was previously located in Lot 1 behind the Speedway's main grandstand. An announcement was made in November that the strip would be permanently relocated to the North side of the facility in Lots 6 and 8 along. Construction began in February and Auto Club Dragway opened in June for Jr. Drag and Summit racing events. The dragstrip hosted an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 7 event on June 22-25, 2006, the first major NHRA event on the new strip. This weekend's NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals will mark the first national competition on the strip.

For more information on Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway and the NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals, please visit http://www.californiaspeedway.com/ or call 909-429-5060.

Tom Hammonds

"I'm excited about this program because for the first time, I will be able to put a full 100-percent effort into racing NHRA Pro Stock," said Hammonds. "When I raced before, I was still playing in the NBA, and then when I retired from basketball, I was devoted to completing the GM Minority Dealership program. I couldn't give my full attention to racing, and given the limited amount of time we had on the track, I still think we were pretty successful. I'm a big believer in that you get out of something what you put into it. If you devote 100 percent of your time and effort into something, you're going to get good results regardless of what it is. I'm confident that we can be competitive and that we will be successful."

"Team Chevy is proud to support Tom Hammonds upon his return to NHRA Pro Stock racing in 2007," said Fred Simmonds, GM drag racing marketing manager. "Tom was a valued member of our team when he raced his Pro Stock Chevy Cavalier several years ago, and we're looking forward to renewing our relationship with one of the class acts among professional athletes."

A former NBA power forward and two-time all-ACC basketball standout at Georgia Tech, Hammonds entered his first NHRA Pro Stock race in Englishtown (N.J.) in 1997 and qualified for his first 16-car field later that September in Reading (Pa.). Hammonds announced his retirement from the NBA in September 2001, then three weeks later, advanced to his first final round at an NHRA national event in Dallas. He made his second final-round appearance the following week in Las Vegas.

In 2002, Hammonds qualified a career-best second in Gainesville (Fla.) and Chicago (where he was runner-up to Bruce Allen). At the 2003 NHRA season opener in Pomona, Calif., Hammonds recorded a career-best speed of 202.52 mph. His best finish was in 2002 when he won 12 eliminator rounds and ended the season 14th in the points standings.

"Sitting on the outside looking in, the class has changed dramatically since I last raced in 2003," said Hammonds. "It was competitive when I raced, but now there are so many good teams with Greg Anderson, Warren Johnson, Allen Johnson, Jim Yates, the Cagnazzi program; they've all taken the sport to a higher level, and we'll have to be ready for that."

Following his sabbatical from the sport in 2003, the 39-year-old Hammonds completed final coursework in the GM Minority Dealer Development Program and opened Tom Hammonds Chevrolet in Darlington, S.C., in May 2004. He sold the dealership in December 2005 to focus full time on his Pro Stock drag racing career.

"We're going to have our own in-house engine program, and we're in the process of building a brand-new race shop in my hometown of Crestview, Fla.," said Hammonds. "The good thing about that is that it's only 10 minutes away from our local dragstrip, which will give us the opportunity to test. That will be a key component for us."

"I want to do business with IHRA and Live Nation. After what has happened this week, there is no doubt the IHRA has the potential to be the hottest property in drag racing. I'm certainly going to do my part to ensure that comes to pass.”

“After the grueling 17-race schedule, the field will be reduced to the top eight in the points standings, for a four-race playoff series to determine the field of four who will ultimately vie for NHRA POWERade World Championships. This format makes every race in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule that much more important,” said Tom Compton. “There is nothing in motorsports that rivals the traditional Sunday elimination brackets that have been a part of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing for years. By applying that elimination concept to determine the series points standings, we have by far the most intriguing and suspenseful battle for any championship in all of motorsports.”

In the “Countdown to Eight,” representing the first 17 races of the season, competitors in all four NHRA POWERade professional categories, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, will battle each and every race to secure a position in the Top Eight in the points standings, with the final race to reach the “NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship” being the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., Aug. 16-19.

Once set, the “Countdown to Four” begins at the most prestigious drag racing event in the world, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at historic O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Labor Day weekend. The Top Eight in each category will have their points adjusted. First place in the standings will begin the countdown with 2,070 points; second place with 2,060 points and so on to eighth place starting with 2,000 points. The “Countdown to Four,” will consist of four races with the last race being the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond, Va., Oct. 5-7. Following that race, the “Countdown to One” begins when the top four in each category have their points adjusted yet again. First place in the standings will begin the final two races with 3,030 points; second place with 3,020 points; third place with 3,010 points and fourth place with 3,000 points.

The championship will come down to Las Vegas and Pomona, where the championship will be determined between the final four points holders in each class.

In a welcome move for all professional racers NHRA also added $275,000 to the points fund. The Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will receive an extra $100,000 with Pro Stock getting an additional $50,000, and Pro Stock Motorcycle $25,000.

At the press conference held at Indianapolis, the NHRA also announced that a 16th Pro Stock Motorcycle event will be held at the Texas Motorplex.

NHRA also announced significant changes to its schedule, moving the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway to April 26-29, followed by the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, May 4-6. The O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway, which traditionally held a late-April date, will move to May 18-20, while the NHRA Supernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., just outside New York City, will continue to run June 21-24.

Another change to the schedule will be the move of the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. to Aug. 16-19, which will be the last race to determine the Top Eight positions for the NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship.

The O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.), will move off Memorial Day weekend to the following week, becoming a three-day event, June 1-3, followed by the NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, just south of Chicago.

“Moving the World Nationals to the state-of-the-art facility Mansfield Motorsports Speedway is constructing takes the event and IHRA to the next level,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “We’ve had major success in Ohio throughout the years, and without a doubt, Mansfield will continue IHRA’s dominance in the state.

“This is a beautiful track, a true showcase of what a respected motorsports facility should look like,” said Polburn. “The attention to detail the track owner put into this facility is comparable to the finest racetracks in America. If you like US 131 Motorsports Park, with its impeccable design and construction, you’re going to love Mansfield Motorsports Speedway.”

The track, located in Mansfield, Ohio, in the north-central part of the state, between its NASCAR event, Hooters Pro Cup event and other significant races, will have nearly 350,000 spectators through the gates by the end of 2006. Mansfield is located within an hour from Cleveland, Columbus, Akron and Canton, all major Ohio markets.

“Of all the aspects that make this facility great, it’s our location,” said Mansfield Motorsports Speedway owner Mike Dzurilla. “We’re midway between Cleveland and Columbus, located 10 minutes from downtown Mansfield and close to a major highway. We’ll have no curfew and plenty of parking and camping.”

Topography surveys have been done on the grounds of Mansfield Motorsports Speedway and architects and engineers are in the midst of mapping out the details for the facility. While it will be a new drag strip, the infrastructure necessary for the operational functioning of running a race are already in place with the circle track.

“We have a staff of people here that are customer-service oriented towards racers, sponsors, sanctioning bodies and fans. In addition, the city of Mansfield is a major supporter of this facility,” said Dzurilla. “This part of the U.S. is IHRA country. We’ll make the racers feel welcome and give them a facility they can call home.

“With the addition of the drag strip, we’ll now have a true motorsports park in Ohio,” added Dzurilla.

The architects designing the drag strip at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway have built several various motorsports facilities, including US 131 Motorsports Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., home to IHRA’s Torco Northern Nationals. IHRA and Mansfield Motorsports Speedway officials will announce the date of the event upon confirming construction details.

“We’ll be getting a construction timeline within the next ten days and that will determine whether we can add this to the 2007 or 2008 schedule, although everyone’s goal is 2007,” added Polburn.

The track is located at 100 Crall Road, across from Lahm Municipal Airport, which boasts one of the largest runways in Ohio. For more information on Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, go to http://www.mansfield-speedway.com/ or call (419) 525-RACE

"Our schedule has grown and the variety of our events has expanded," said Chris Blair, LVMS Sr. Director of Drag Racing Operations. "We're looking for people who have friendly personalities, a strong work ethic and a great sense of pride in a job well done. You don't have to have a racing background to work for us; you just need to be a team player with a willingness to learn."

Positions currently available include: event announcers and announcer assistants; tech officials; and customer service representatives.All applicants should send a resume and cover letter to: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Talent Search, 7000 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89115 or e-mail ewonnacott@lvms.com

Mr. Scott, who is an African-American male, was employed as a motor coach operator by the Penske-Kranefuss racing team between the years 1998 and 2000. On his first assignment he transported the Penske-Kranefuss Inc.’s motorcoach to a motor speed way in Bristol, Tenn. where he suffered many disparaging racial comments that were directed towards him. While sitting with another motorcoach driver, David was approached by another driver, Ray Labee, who worked for the Terry La Bonte team, who exclaimed loudly: “Oh shit! I can’t believe they hired another nigger!” Approximately one week later in Fort Worth, Texas, Ray Labee shouted another disparaging racial comment, “Hey Lamont, I mean, hey Leroy!”

David was subjected to fear, humiliation, harassment, and a racially hostile work environment from his very first assignment. Threats continued to build at the hands of Ray Labee.

Once the horrendous acts were brought to light, and NASCAR became aware that the media began seeking interviews with Mr. Scott, they offered David a job with NASCAR and sent their corporate jet to remove him from Watkins Glen, N.Y., site of a NASCAR race, to get him away from the media’s accessibility. With NASCAR promising Scott a job with NASCAR, they kept him from bringing to light the horrific experiences he had been subjected to. They also kept the racing teams comfortable by not having Scott’s presence at the races to make the other drivers uncomfortable.

“I believe NASCAR thought I would just go away, but I will not because I did nothing wrong. I like the sport and the people in the sport and I am not going to let the actions of a few knock me down, or get me off balance to focus on other things besides the discriminatory behavior of these NASCAR senior leaders,” stated Scott.

David added, “I believed and kept believing what I was being told by NASCAR Senior Management. They told me I would always have a job with them and that they were my friends. They also said, ‘Trust us. We are going to do the right thing’. I had no reason to believe otherwise, but in the end the result was entirely negative. I was lied to and strung on for many years.”

Ricardo Aguirre of Codelia, Aguirre & Socorro, David Scott’s attorney stated, “What is astounding is that in this day and age, one of the largest corporations in the sporting industry can get away with such a blatant racial discriminatory act."

Mr. Aguirre added, “If NASCAR was sincere about promoting diversity in racing, why couldn’t they find a simple job within the racetrack for David Scott after they promised they would?” He added, “The answer is simple-NASCAR did not want David anywhere near the track because the color of his skin would possibly stir more trouble...so they victimized the victim again!"

J.R. Todd

“We’re going to have a bowling tournament – Wednesday, August 30th, at Sunset Bowl, 10809 E. US Highway 136, in Clermont – that, we hope, will bring in a lot of money for a good cause – Racer’s for Christ.” said Todd, a native of Lawrenceburg, Ind. now living in Avon, Ind.

Race fans are invited to watch and participate. A silent auction – featuring a special Chip Foose Mac Tools tool box, drag racing items and sporting event tickets – also will take place. There is a minimum $5 donation for those attending. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Todd’s interest in bowling began when he was 14. “I was looking for something to do and I bowled for two or three years,” he said. “I wasn’t really serious about it; I just wanted something to do when I wasn’t drag racing. My average was between 180 and 190.

“I’ll occasionally get some of the guys from other teams together and we’ll go bowling.”

Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas, Funny Car drivers Del Worsham and Phil Burkhart Jr. and several of their crewmen are among those who will on hand to help Todd in this first of what he and Racers For Christ promise will be an annual event.

Racers For Christ was established in 1971 and was incorporated as non-profit in 1978 as a fellowship for Christians in the sport of motor racing and has developed into a growing organization with international impact. The overall purpose of RFC's involvement in motor racing is to service emotional and spiritual needs. Realizing that racing is more than just a mechanized existence, team members strive to bring a more balanced perspective in providing inspiration and encouragement to motorsports.

Weld Wheels, a family-owned business established in 1985, moved its location and expanded into a 290,000-square-foot facility in 2003. According to court records, the company is seeking court approval that would allow for the submission of competing bids, an auction and final sale hearing within six weeks. Still to be negotiated are how many of Weld’s 380 employees would be retained by American Racing Equipment.

Antron Brown

Brown's fourth Brainerd victory lifted his final-round record to 2-2 on the year and 16-16 lifetime. He held the points lead earlier this year after the Atlanta race, which was his last win.

"I just wanted to get my head out of my butt