Jim Head embraces 1,000-foot drag racing for safety and financial
reasons. His only disappoinment is the NHRA has labeled this as a
temporary decision.

The world of drag racing's nitro classes encountered a major
change on Wednesday afternoon when the NHRA announced the shortening of
their national event race course to 1,000 feet. This move is designed
to be a temporary one while the investigation into Scott Kalitta’s
tragic death continues to move forward.

The move to a shorter run was the topic of many roundtable discussions
since the NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J., two weeks ago.

"We all talked about this a lot, last weekend in Norwalk, and the
1,000-foot idea was the one we were all discussing the most,” said NHRA
POWERade Funny Car racer Del Worsham. “We need to do something while
people analyze how to make the sport safer for the nitro cars; we can't
just close our eyes to what happened and hope it doesn't happen again.
I know this is pretty radical, but we have some issues with 330-mph
race cars and tracks that weren't built to hold them, and until we
settle those issues we have to be aggressive and not just stand by.

When the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League (ADRL) presented by the
National Guard visits Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Virginia July 4-5,
for the 2nd annual ADRL Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags, fans and
racers alike will be in for a history-making experience.

The conclusion of the first day of this year’s Independence Drags will
feature a unique event as all four finals from the ADRL’s
rain-shortened previous event in Martin, Michigan will be run with ADRL
President Kenny Nowling personally starting each pair of competitors
with hand signals. The unusual format came about as a result of severe
electrical storms in Michigan taking out the track’s starting-line tree
and scoreboard displays, but leaving the staging and timing equipment
intact.

ATTENTION DRAG RACERS:

Break the kids' piggy banks.  Check the couch cushions for loose change.

Chris Blair, LVMS' Vice President of Racing Operations, is "going in the tank."

The NHRA confirmed that 1,000-foot drag racing will be implemented at the NHRA Mile High
Nationals in Denver, Co. The official announcement from the NHRA is expected this afternoon.

Track operators were notified of the NHRA's decision this afternoon in a teleconference. 

The shortening of the racing surface is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and
determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing
safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with
the sport.

This
interim change was made by NHRA in collaboration with professional race teams. 
NHRA believes that racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet will
allow NHRA and the racing community time to evaluate, analyze and implement
potential changes based on the safety initiatives
outlined last week. 

The JEGS ProMod Challenge field for the 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
will be one of the most star-studded in NHRA history. Four of six former JEGS
series champions -- Josh Hernandez (2007), Jay Payne (2006), Shannon Jenkins
(2002), and "Tricky Rickie" Smith (2001) -- will lead the way, but will
certainly be challenged by many of today's top drivers.

Tour regulars
like points leader Tony Pontieri will be joined by two-time '08 winner Joe Baker
and Bristol
champ Steve Engel in the fight for drag racing's biggest prize.

Six-time
IHRA champion Scotty Cannon, veteran Von Smith, and NOS standout Mike Castellana
also will compete.

For the second straight year, U.S. Army Top Fuel driver, Tony “The
Sarge” Schumacher, has been nominated for the ESPY Best Driver Award.

The ESPY Awards, which are distributed for Excellence in Sports
Performance Yearly, was created by ESPN in 1993. Fans determine the
winners in all categories (except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and
other special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv. Voting will
take place through July 12.

The 16th annual ESPYs will be hosted by Justin Timberlake on Wednesday,
July 16, at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The
awards show will be televised by ESPN on Sunday, July 20, at 9 p.m. ET.

The official Scott Kalitta tribute decal and Scott Kalitta tribute T-shirt are
both now available for purchase from the Kalitta Motorsports Web site,
www.teamkalitta.com .

All proceeds from the sale of the Scott Kalitta tribute decals and T-shirts
will go to Racers For Christ and B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone
Safe). The tribute decals and T-shirts will also be available for purchase at
the track-side Kalitta Motorsports apparel trailer beginning at the next NHRA
national event in Denver.

Scott Palmer could have whined that if it weren't for poor luck he'd
have none at all. Or he could have grumbled that no good deed goes
unpunished.
 
Instead, the Top Fuel driver found out just how many people care about him.
 
Call it karma. Call it proof that drag-racing folks aren’t jaded. Call
it a sign that decent and generous people still step up to help a
friend in need.
 
How Scott Palmer found this out started with a phone call from the IHRA
office. Today's sudden economic downturn had taken its toll on the Top
Fuel class preparing for the recent President's Cup Nationals at Budds
Creek, Maryland. Only six drivers were planning to attend, and Palmer,
who was fourth in the standings after scoring his career-first No. 1
qualifying position at Milan, wasn't among them. So IHRA Director of
Operations Sharon Ramlow called Palmer and persuaded him to make the
22-hour trip from Marionville, Missouri, to Maryland International
Raceway.

Defending Funny Car world champion Tony Pedregon likes the progress
sports and entertainment company IMG is making at marketing NHRA Drag
Racing.

He’s already seeing an impact made on his behalf with the Hispanic markets.

IMG was retained to assist the NHRA in conducting brand studies and
prepare recommendations on how to enhance sales, marketing and branding
efforts of the NHRA.

“I’m impressed,” said Pedregon of his introduction to Latin Nation, a popular Hispanic television show.

Aeromotive’s Business Development Director, Kyle Fickler has assumed
the duties of Chairman-Elect for the SEMA Motorsports Parts
Manufacturer Council (MPMC), effective July 1, 2008. Fickler was
elected to the position of MPMC Chairman-Elect during a Select
Committee meeting held on January 25, following the annual MPMC Media
Trade Conference. Fickler is also a current member of the MPMC Select
Committee and the Motorsports Awareness Task Force. On that same date,
current Chairman-Elect Bill Floyd of AFCO/Dynatech becomes Chairman of
MPMC when Lisa Chissus’ two-year term as MPMC Chairperson ends.