Though it has been nearly five months that the ROUSH Performance drag team has
been sidelined, the drivers are more than anxious to return to action with the
March 8-11 running of the 6th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Ford Nationals. This
event will take place at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park and is the first of
the seven race NMRA Ford Nationals season.

But don't make the mistake
that the offseason has been a leisurely time for the ROUSH team. In fact, it has
been anything but that.

Susan Roush-McCleneghan, daughter of motorsports
legend Jack Roush, will be competing in the ROUSH Modular Muscle class this
season, moving up from the Open Comp ladder. Her car, a 2003 Ford Mustang, has
been repainted over the winter and now sports a blue and silver scheme with
flames across the base.

The official 2007 March Meet poster and T-shirt will be a work of
art…literally. That's because renowned motorsports painter Kenny
Youngblood will create the artwork. Youngblood  will be on hand to sign
the poster and shirts at Auto Club Famoso Raceway during the famous
Mar. 9-11 event. Youngblood will also sell the original artwork, with
part of the proceeds going to the nonprofit Wally Parks NHRA
Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif.

The following are the pre-entries received for the 7th annual Eastern Spring Test Nationals presented by Torco's CompetitionPlus.com hosted by South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga. Pre-enter today. Information about pre-entry can be found HERE .

WEATHER FORECAST FOR ESTN

Weather.com 

Over 110 professional entries
will attend this week's Eastern Spring Test Nationals presented by Torco's
CompetitionPlus.com and race officials have ensured there will be enough octane
to go around. Eric Zerbe of Torco Race Fuels will have the same 18-wheeler on
the grounds of South Georgia Motorsports Park that he uses to service the IHRA
Nationals events.

Don “Snake” Prudhomme was at California Speedway for the NASCAR race
there Sunday, February 24 as he was being honored as the seventh
recipient of the Shav Glick/Justice Brothers Memorial Award for service
to Motorsports by a Californian. While there, he ran into Kevin Costner
and the conversation, as excerpted from Bill Center’s story in the San
Diego Union-Tribune, went like this:

Doug Herbert and the Snap-on Tools Top Fuel dragster team welcomed the newest
member of the team on Monday, March 05, 2007.

Dave Fletcher comes aboard filling the position of car
chief.

Originally hired into the drag racing world by Austin
Coil in 1984 to work on the Chi-Town Hustler Funny Car, Fletcher brings years of
experience to the Snap-on Tools team. Throughout his career, he has worked with
several drag racing notables, such as John Force, the Kalittas, Kenny Bernstein
and Del Worsham. The knowledge gained while working with such influential teams
will be invaluable as he becomes part of the Doug Herbert/Snap-on Tools team. In
his position as car chief, Fletcher will be responsible for managing the daily
activities of the crew as well as working with crew chief Jim Brissette to
ensure the Snap-on Tools team and dragster perform at peak level at all
times.

Now it’s official!

After weeks of internet leaking, Doug Foley and Tim Lewis have formally
announced that Terry McMillen will be the driver of the team’s second
Top Fuel car. Sponsorship will come from Evan Knoll’s Torco Race Fuels
as it has over the last several years.

“We’ve been searching for the driver of our second car for a while
now,” says Foley, “and we had quite a few applicants, but after
reviewing them all we decided that Terry would be the best fit for what
we are trying to accomplish. Terry licensed in Top Fuel in 2005 and
competed in the World Finals that same year in Evan Knoll’s personal
Top Fuel Dragster. I personally observed Terry’s transition from an
alcohol Funny Car to a Top Fuel dragster, which is normally not an easy
one and he handled it extremely well,” said Foley.

When the Pro Top Outlaw Series begins its 6th
season this year, the racing action is expected to be stronger than ever.  New
sponsors, new members, and new tracks have been secured in the off-season and
they will all come together to put on a show which is unlike anything else
offered today.  The series, which is a step up from Top Dragster and not quite
Top Alcohol, is comprised of dragsters, altereds, and funny cars, either blower
or nitrous, all racing heads-up against one another.  And on May 12th
of this year, PTO will break new ground when the season opening Bluegrass
Nationals will be filmed by Inside Drag Racing with Bob Frey announcing the
event.

“The members help each other.  We’ve got blowers and
nitrous; dragsters, altereds, and funny cars.  Because the tracks can get
tricky, the fastest car doesn’t always win.  No dial-ins, no lifting before the
lights, no throttle stops and it doesn’t take a years pay to get into it.  Isn’t
that the way drag racing is supposed to be,” said Ron Bales, President of PTO. 

AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts points standings

effective March 4, 2007

(through 1 of 8 events)

PRO EXTREME

1.      Mike Bell                        533

2.      John Lynam                     439

3.      Joshua Hernandez            338

4.      Todd Tutterow                241

5.      Jason Scruggs                  240

6.      Bobby Booth                   237

7.      Bubba Stanton                 232

8.      Steve Engel                     231

9.      Bil Clanton                      136

10.    Troy Critchley                 135