With the recent announcement and the change over of the
national event series name from NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series to the
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, there are some new provisions
that all national event participants need to be aware of. , No energy
sponsors will be allowed unless they were existing as of April 24,
2008, and fall under the "Grandfather Clause." This includes both
energy drink and energy drink-branded products. ,The Grandfather Clause
and a form that must be filled out completely, notarized, ,and
submitted with photographs to NHRA no later than June 20 can be found here if you believe your team falls under the Grandfather Clause.

Caravan Films, an independent production company based in the UK is
currently filming a documentary series following Swedish racer Adam
Flamholc on his Pro Stock racing journey to the European Championships.

The current episodes feature Adam doing test runs in Valdosta, Georgia
and then going on to participate in the World Championships in
Gainesville, Florida. To view the episodes, please click on the link: TheCaravanTube

Subsequent episodes will document Adam's races on May 23 2008 at Santa
Pod in the UK and the rest of the races of the 2008 European
Championships which will last throughout the summer.

THROWBACK FUNNY CARS 

What is the only thing that could have trumped our Throwback Funny Car version of Dale Pulde's War Eagle?

How about Dale Pulde returning with a nostalgia version of the Pontiac Firebird he made famous in the 1970s and 1980s.

Pulde
confirmed he will return with this John Powers-owned version of the War
Eagle in which he will drive and maintain. He sent the readers of
CompetitionPlus.com a couple of sneak peek photos.

Professional racers Clay Millican Erica Enders, Jeremy Mayfield and Phil Burkart are on an 11-day tour visiting the United States military personnel in Iraq and the surrounding territories.

Millican will share his experiences with the readers of CompetitionPlus.com through this blog. 

Doug
Herbert exercises different driving habits since both sons were killed in an automobile accident. (Roger Richards)

Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert’s two young sons, Jon and James,
were killed in a car crash down the street from the family’s home. In
at least 24 events, race fans offer their condolences to Herbert, which
is greatly appreciated from the veteran drag racer.

He’s taken the experience of losing his sons to bring awareness to
responsible teenage driving through their B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible
And Keep Everyone Safe) program. The program was created in January of
this year through the determination of Jon’s classmates at South Lake
Christian Academy.

Clyde West, longtime crew chief for V. Gaines, continues his
recovery from a ruptured colon. According to Gaines, he’s getting
better every day and in the past few days, he’s been able to eat again.

“That’s a big step,” Gaines said. “Hopefully this week he's going
to be out and I'm sure he'll be at the race shop the next day.”

J.W. Performance Transmissions will sponsor the JEG’S US Open Bracket
Championship Happy Hour and Pit-Pro golf cart race. The JEG’S US Open
will take place June 12-15, 2008 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in
Indianapolis, Indiana.

Four-time world champion drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. will join a
contingent of NHRA professionals deep into the heart of NASCAR Country
at this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte to promote the inaugural
NHRA Carolinas Nationals, to be held Sept. 11-14 at zMax Dragway at
Concord, N.C.

"I always try to take in a few NASCAR races each year as a fan,"
Coughlin said. "JEGS is a contingency sponsor in that series and Kenny
Wallace and Kevin Harvick are part of Team JEGS so we go and support
them when our schedule allows.

"It'll be a treat to show the assembled media a little more into our
world. I was there for the unveiling when our friends Bruton and Marcus
Smith announced the new drag strip and I can't wait to see how
construction is progressing. You just know that whatever Bruton does,
it's going to be spectacular."

Pro Modified Racing Association driver Scott Wildgust had a nasty ride
during a qualifying attempt at the Third Annual PMRA Challenge event at
Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario May 17, and although he
crashed heavily in the Ajax Engines/Torco Racing Fuels Ontario 1967
Chevrolet Camaro owned by Kirk and Maria Silbermann of Ajax, Ontario in
the third round of qualifying, he is now recuperating after getting
checked out in the hospital.
 
“We’ll survive,” said Wildgust who is resting at home from the crash. “I’m pretty sore, but I was given a clean bill of health.”
 
Wildgust, an experienced drag racer of 17 years, including several
seasons in the Pro Modified ranks and in Funny Cars, said he does not
really remember what happened at Cayuga last Saturday before the car
crashed into the left lane wall.

Lucas Oil Products will be the title sponsor of the 2008 Lucas Oil NHRA
SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown,
N.J., June 19-22.

Lucas Oil Products has sponsored many events through the years in the
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.  Currently, the company sponsors the
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.  Along with their
sponsorship of the two races Lucas Oil flies its colors on the Top Fuel
dragster driven by Morgan Lucas, the Pro Stock car of Larry Morgan and
the Pro Stock Motorcycle of Hector Arana.