Coming
off their partial season in 2007, Doug Winters will hit the ground running in
2008.  His ’57 Chevy Nitro Coupe / Outlaw
Pro Mod will continue to carry the Torco banner for Mach Series Accelerator
even though he won’t be officially sponsored by Torco Race Fuels.
 

Tommy Johnson, Jr. admitted the continual references pointing out

he’s one-half of a Funny Car couple hasn’t gotten on his nerves yet. He was expecting the aggravation, though.

“It's not as bad as I expected it to be actually,” Johnson said. “I
guess I was preparing for the worst so anything less would be fine with
me.  It's been alright, it's been good although I wish we could both
get in the show, it might get a little heavier then.”

Johnson raced in Phoenix with his wife Melanie Troxel, driver of the
Gotham City Racing Dodge, serving as his unofficial cheerleader and
supporting cast. Just two weeks earlier, Johnson took up the pom-poms as
Troxel was the second qualifier and he missed the cut in Pomona.

He was patient . . . waiting for his turn to come.  And when it did, Kyle Cultrera grabbed it and
didn’t let go.

The prize was his first NHRA Division 2 Super Comp victory Sunday at
Gainesville, Fla. The fact it came in just his second
series race in his first season of competition in one of the Lucas Oil Series’
toughest categories . . . well, that was much faster then he dared
dream.

Cultrera, of Eliot,
Maine, is 17, but he had been
prepping for a day like that to come along for as long as he can remember.  “My dad (Steve, who works on Jeg Coughlin’s
Pro Stock Chevy at Victor Cagnazzi Racing) used to race Competition Eliminator
and I have been going to the races with him since I was old enough to walk, so I
have been around it all my life,” Kyle Cultrera said.

His search ended when he rented his winning ride from Thomas Stalbas for
the full season.

Many drivers will use IHRA national events scheduled on
off weeks for the NHRA tour to work out some kinks and test in a competitive
situation for NHRA competition. Terry Haddock, the Washington-based driver who
finished third in IHRA points standings last season, is taking the opposite
approach.

Founder Tom Harmsen will be
braving the winter elements, remaining OUTSIDE and SLEEPLESS for 72
hours to raise awareness for this wonderful cause.  Volunteers will be on
hand during the event to accept donations.  The goal is to bring in $125k
in donations to help disabled children and offer scholarships to those disabled
students wishing to further their education.  Donations will also be
accepted in the following cities:  Charlotte
, NC .  Valdosta
, GA. Atlanta ,
GA. Oakland ,
CA. San Diego , CA .  Online Donations are also
available, as well by U.S. Mail.

With March being disability
awareness month, it gives Hollywood
's Dream Foundation the perfect opportunity to gain local, regional, and
national support to those children less fortunate.  Hollywood 's Dream Foundation seeks to
fulfill dreams of any magnitude for the youth in our midst.  This is an
opportunity for society to come together and lift up the hearts and spirits of
this youth.

Funny Car legend Pat Foster needs our help.

Foster remains hospitalized in Post Falls, Idaho
recovering from heart problems he experienced on the day before Thanksgiving.
Several prominent members of the drag racing community have organized a
fund-raiser to defray the costs of Foster’s family support. They have been by
his side since he was hospitalized and with that said; the temporary lodging
and other expenses have piled up.

Boyd Coddington, the creative visionary who took hot rodding to an art form and
custom wheels to a new level dies at 63.  Coddington who was a long-time
diabetic died from complications that were brought on from a recent surgery. It
was Coddingtons' ever forward-looking view at the design and art of the hot rod
and his unconditional desire to create the finest quality cars that became the
"Boyd Look".

"It is a major loss for the automotive enthusiasts and hot
rod aficionados around the world.  Boyd Coddington did so much more than create
automotive trends, he also built the finest hot rods.  He was entertaining on
his TV Show (TLC's- American Hot Rod) and an ambassador who educated.", said
Harry Hibler, former publisher of Hot Rod Magazine.

Coddington who grew
up in Idaho was a car enthusiast from a young age.  At age 12, young Boyd traded
his prized shotgun for a Model A Ford, this began the legacy of the "Boyd
Look".  Moving to Southern California to chase his dreams of chrome and
customizing, he first worked as a shop machinist at Western Gear.  Then in the
1970's, Coddington found work as a maintenance repairman and machinist at
Disneyland.  Coddington would recount fondly his experience at Disneyland and
the companys desire for perfection, a trait that he instilled in everyone who
worked at his hot rod shops.

During the off season the Pro Top Outlaw organization
has been working hard to ensure that 2008 will be their best season yet.  Two
time series champion, Phil Esz, announced at the end of the 2007 season that he
would be stepping out of the driver’s seat and taking over the responsibilities
of running the organization.  The series, based out of Cincinnati, offers
something for everyone with an array of dragsters, funny cars, altereds and pro
mods all running heads up against one another during competition.

Over the winter, the organization is excited to announce
they have teamed up with Goodson which will be the series title sponsor.  Dave
Monyhan, national sales manger at Goodson, is coming on board as well to be the
official announcer.  And the infamous, Nitro Joe Jackson will be on hand at each
event serving as the Goodson PTO event coordinator.  In addition, the Pro Top
Outlaws will have a sponsor support trailer at each event provided by W&M
Enterprises, Inc.  The trailer will be equipped with official Pro Top Outlaw
hero cards, designed by McSnyder Designs, that you can have signed by your
favorite driver, souvenir t-shirts, literature on the series and various
sponsors, as well as other items at each event.