Jim Paoli, the 1970 and 1971 NHRA Division 3 Top Fuel champion and later Funny
Car racer, died April 3. 

Paoli, who was based out
of Springfield, Ill., was runner-up to Dave Chenevert in the Top Fuel final of
the inaugural Gatornationals in 1970 in his lone national event final-round
appearance.

Although the Comp Eliminator field was excused from the NHRA national
event in Houston this past weekend, the teams certainly weren’t sitting
around with nothing to do, as most were prepping for the Jeg’s Cajun
SPORTSnationals this weekend in southern Louisiana. And with a Comp
Cash Reward bonus of $3000.00 going to this weekend’s winner,
competition will certainly be fierce for the winners circle at Pat
Joffrion’s fabled No Problem Raceway.

Defending champ Craig Bourgeois would love to go to the well one more
time at his home track, but with the Comp Cash Reward bonus money and
the forecast of temps in the mid 70’s for the weekend, pulling off a
“three-peat” may not be in the cards for the nostalgia dragster driver.
Inaugural champ Michael Johnson is scheduled to be back, and with the
likes of former Indy champ Raymond Martin, recent Gainesville winner
Rodger Brogdon, and drivers like Lee Zane, Peter Biondo, Dan Fletcher
and Arnie Martel coming in from the east coast, just surviving round
one of eliminations could become a major accomplishment. Then add in
young gun Chase Williams, Florida hitter Glenn Treadwell and recent No
Problem division race low qualifier Adam Hickey in his B & B Cobalt
and you have a Comp Eliminator field that just might end up second to
none.

Palmdale, California-based Super Stock racer Mark Tallent passed away
on March 26, 2008, after fighting a bout with an aggressive form of
cancer. He celebrated his 48th birthday just three weeks prior to his
death. Tallent is survived by his parents, his wife Karen, four
children and many many friends.

"Mark loved racing - the challenge, the competition, and the
fellowship," said fellow Super Stock racer Alex Denysenko. "He worked
hard on his car, and enjoyed every second of it.  And he was also right
there with a hand to help others.  He may not have won many races over
his lifetime, but his fast, sincere smile and quick wit won him a place
in a lot of hearts."

On Saturday, April 12  Standard 1320, an internet Nostalgia drag race
group, will present its 4th Annual Drag Race and  Reunion at Speedworld
Dragstrip at Wittman Az, Northwest of Phoenix.
         
The Feature Event will be an old fashioned, Best of 3 match race,
between the front engine Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters of  Rick
White/Chuck Neal and the Bill Botelho/Mike Patterson dragster driven by
Mendy Fry. White and Fry have been in the 5-second range and both are
250 MPH club members.

Phoenix Custom Apparel has been named as the Official Apparel Source for the
JEGS ProMod Challenge. The well-respected, Denver-based company is owned and
operated by Top Alcohol Dragster superstar Bruce Bowler and provides uniforms to
many of the top teams in motorsports.

"Their products and professionalism are second-to-none and it's a
pleasure and an honor to have them step into this role," series organizer and
driver Troy Coughlin said. "Bruce is a genuine good guy and his staff members
are always very accommodating to all of our needs. I can't count how many times
we've needed something done in a hurry and they've always delivered. There's a
reason they're No. 1 in the apparel business."

With a totally integrated system of technology and staff, Phoenix Custom
Apparel smoothly takes customers through the process of designing custom
products and digitizing corporate and sponsor logos. They then use high-tech
computerized systems to take products through pattern-making, cutting,
embroidering, decorating, and sewing. Depending on the customers needs, they
seamlessly handle embroidery, sublimation, and screen printing to serve a
variety of needs.

On April 1st while most of the general public was concerned about
having pranks pulled on them John Force Racing drivers Ashley Force and
Robert Hight were pressing the flesh as guests of FADAL at the 2008
WESTEC Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The drag racing tandem met with fans, posed for pictures and talked
about the previous weekends NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston
Raceway Park.

“It was surprising actually because almost every single person that
came up (to us) had watched the race. Sometimes at other shows people
will walk by and they know you are in auto racing or you do something
with cars but, they don’t follow the circuit or they don’t know when
you have raced recently,” said the 2007 Rookie of the Year and driver
of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. “All these people knew I went to the
finals and they knew everything with our team.”

Melanie Troxel will be signing autographs in a meet-and-greet session with drag
racing fans Tuesday, April 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Simayof Diamond Cutters and
Jewelers, located in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Hotel &
Casino
 
Simayof Jewelers is sponsoring the Dodge Charger R/T Troxel will
drive in the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 10-13, at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway.  Tickets to the POWERade Series event will be awarded
during the four-hour funfest. 

Antron
Brown, who made NHRA history last Sunday becoming the first racer to claim
victories in both the Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories, will be a
guest on the popular Speed TV show Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain on Sunday,
April 6. The show airs at 9 p.m. (ET). Brown earned his 17th career NHRA victory
by winning the O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park on March 30.
The Matco Tools driver currently ranks third in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. He
will next compete at the Ninth annual Summitracing.com Nationals, April 10-13,
at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

A free NHRA driver autograph
session will kick off the April 10-13 SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals
at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event will take place
from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Palms Casino Resort
at

Several show cars will be on display, and drag racing fans
will have the opportunity to meet their favorite drivers, including
2007 NHRA POWERade world champions Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Tony
Pedregon (Funny Car), and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock), Greg Anderson,
Jason Line, Cruz Pedregon, Jack Beckman, J.R. Todd, Morgan Lucas,
Melanie Troxel, Hillary Will, Dave Grubnic, Jim Yates, Justin
Humphreys, Kenny Koretsky, Warren Johnson, Kurt Johnson, Antron Brown, Rod Fuller, Bob Bode, Alan Bradshaw, and Urs Erbacher.