A Tough Rookie Season Hampered By Testing Ban Paves Way For Strong Sophomore Effort …

The
NHRA moratorium on testing at national events concluded the moment the
final car crossed the finish line during the AAA Finals in Pomona, Ca.

Bob Tasca was testing the very next weekend in Las Vegas.

Imagine a rookie season with no testing and you’ll understand what life
was like for the former Top Alcohol Funny Car standout and grandson of
the Tasca legend.

Willowbank Raceway’s ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series
(January 2/3 and January 16/17) will see the Group One debut of former
Supercharged Outlaws champion and local Brisbane racing identity Daniel
Reed in the Top Doorslammer category.

The son of high profile husband and wife Top Alcohol racers Steven and
Debbie Reed of the Reed Racing team, the 27 year old is a highly
successful racer in his own right - taking the Willowbank Raceway
Supercharged Outlaws Track Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2007 in
addition to his 2007 National title.

Daniel, an engine builder for the highly successful Team Vodafone V8
Supercar team, will officially join his parents amongst the
Professional ranks by taking the wheel of the Makita Top Doorslammer
for the Brett Stevens Racing Team at round one of the ENZED
International Nightfire New Year Series.

A group of goodwill ambassadors representing NHRA and General Motors is back in the United States after a seven-day USO-sponsored
tour of U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Germany. It marked
the fourth consecutive pre-Thanksgiving holiday visit for the drivers
with American forces stationed overseas, and the addition this year of
the two-day stop in Kuwait provided the group with an even greater
appreciation of the sacrifices made by U.S. troops and their families.

Six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Warren Johnson, two-time NHRA
Pro Stock world champion Jim Yates, Top Fuel veteran Cory McClenathan,
and 2006 NHRA Pro Stock world champion Jason Line (who joined the group
for the first time this year) represented GM and the sport of drag
racing during the troop-morale mission to Kuwait and Germany. The
drivers distributed more than 1,500 goody bags that included racing
caps, T-shirts, racing decals, and other items, signed an even larger
number of photos (supplied by the USO), and brought a precious few
minutes of home to everyone they met. Many NHRA sponsors contributed to
the gift bags, and the troops were very appreciative of what they
received.

The Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing Association is proud to announce a historical AA/Fuel Altered match race series for the 2009
racing season. Rich Guasco’s “Pure Hell” bantam roadster will come out
of retirement to race Dave Hough’s “Nanook” ’23 Ford roadster at all
three Midwestern Goodguys vintage drag racing events throughout the
Midwest. Nostalgia Top Fuel racer Jason Richey will drive Pure Hell
while Nanook will be piloted by longtime Hough family member and
chassis builder Vince Generalao – the car’s regular driver.

zMAX Dragway will open its doors once again on Thursday, Dec. 11, for
the VAULT Assault Street Racing Challenge. The public is invited to
bring their personal vehicles for an evening of heads-up drag racing at
the Bellagio of drag strips.
    
All vehicles entered must be street legal and certified by the
Department of Transportation. Participants must have a current driver's
license and matching registration. No race tires (slicks), nitrous
bottles, or convertibles will be allowed. Also, there will be no
passengers permitted on track.

The eighth SAE Motorsports Engineering Conference (MSEC) presented awards recognizing strides in the sport's safety

John Force (right) accepts the MSEC Motorsports Achievement
Award from Dr. John Melvin. (SAE International).

aspects.
Awards were presented at the Dec. 3 banquet at the Embassy Suites
Charlotte-Concord Golf Resort and Spa, where motorsports broadcast
journalist Bob Varsha was the guest speaker.

Legendary NHRA drag racer John Force received the MSEC Motorsports
Achievement Award for his work in helping to establish The Eric Medlen
Project. Named for the late racer; the goal of the project is to design
a safer race car and to create a safer competitive environment. This
award is presented to an individual who has shown outstanding
leadership or contribution to motorsports over an extended period of
time.

Drivers in both the Pro Modified and Pro Stock classes will have added
incentive to compete at all 2009 IHRA Nitro Jam national events.
Participants in both classes will receive complimentary car and driver
entries as well as three free crew entries for the entire 2009 slate.

Pro Modified on the NHRA tour appears uncertain for 2009 or at least in
its announced capacity, this according to Jegs ProMod Series
administrator Rob Geiger. A letter informing series competitors was
issued today providing options to keep the exhibition category alive.

According to the letter, a failed sponsorship commitment amounting to
$500,000 fell through leaving an increased financial burden on Jegs.

Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal has released the results of
its annual SBJ/SBD Reader Survey, and the results of one question in
particular tell the story of IHRA’s future prospects.

In the category “Motorsports property best positioned for growth,” the
International Hot Rod Association finished fourth in the balloting.
This question took into consideration all motor sports sanctioning
bodies in all forms of racing across the globe. IHRA finished ahead of
NASCAR, World of Outlaws, SCCA, Grand Am Series and Formula 1 to name a
few.

“SportsBusiness Journal is the Bible when it comes to sports marketing,
sponsorship, research and media,” IHRA director of communications
Michael Perry said. “Their poll reinforces what we at the IHRA World
Headquarters have known for some time…that we are in a very unique,
very beneficial position to really build something special. While it’s
nice to be recognized for our potential, we’re looking forward to being
recognized for our results as well. That day is coming very soon.”

Two Redesigned Mustangs in 2009 with Erica Enders Driving One …

Christmas will be coming in July for Pro Stock racer Jim Cunningham.

The long suffering Ford runner confirmed with CompetitionPlus.com that
he will take delivery of his first batch of new Ford engines complete
with technology that he developed in a joint venture with Ford Racing
at that time.

Incorporated into the engines are the latest bells and whistles developed in conjunction with NASCAR.