Team Mopar® drivers
Gary Scelzi, Allen Johnson and Samuel Hübinette will debut Mopar’s new
“Liquid Metal” paint scheme on their HEMI®-powered Mopar race machines
for the 2008 season. The new Mopar “Liquid Metal” design will serve as
the official paint scheme for Mopar’s factory-backed efforts in the
NHRA POWERade Funny Car and Pro Stock Series as well as the Formula
Drift Series.

Scelzi’s Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car and Johnson’s
Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock Car already turned
heads with the new paint scheme at recent test sessions in preparation
for the start of the NHRA season scheduled for Feb. 7–10, 2008 at the
NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

The Mopar “Liquid Metal” scheme was unveiled as a work-in-progress on
Scelzi’s Mopar/Oakley Funny Car at the Specialty Equipment Market
Association (SEMA) show in October 2007. Designed by Competition
Graphics® of Farmington Hills, Mich., the look was tweaked before the
final version was delivered to the Mopar race teams.

Orange County International Raceway [OCIR], the once prize super drag
strip formerly located in Southern California, lobbied for 12 years to
gain a national event. When Ontario Motor Speedway was sold early in
1981, the door opened.

OCIR’s first national event had more than its fair share of calamities,
none of which were limited to power outages, limited pit space and oil,
lots of oil. Where there’s oil seeping in drag racing, fire usually
follows.

“I think that particular weekend was better named the devastation
Nationals,” said Densham, who was one of three drivers eliminated that
weekend by parts attrition and the fires that followed.

The memories of his finest Pro Stock season are still fresh
in Dave Connolly’s mind.  Fervent dreams
of a better 2008, however, are clouded by reality.

With the NHRA’s new 24-race POWERade Series campaign
beginning in less than two weeks, the only thing certain for the talented
driver is his uncertain competitive status.

Connolly, who recently celebrated his 25^th birthday,
is one of the drivers sidelined when Evan Knoll, his team owner and sponsor,
put his Torco Racing teams on a one-year sponsor hiatus due to health
issues.  And Victor Cagnazzi, the team
owner for whom Connolly races, has not yet found a suitable financial
replacement. 

Bennett Motorsports is unveiling a Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car to compete in the
newly formed NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series in addition to other select events in
2008. NHRA Hall of Fame Inductee, Leon Fitzgerald, owner and driver of the famed
Pure Heaven Fuel Altered, has given the team liberties to use the same name and
design on the new 1969 Camaro body. This beautiful tribute funny car will be
lettered as Pure Heaven IV and will carry this prestigious and historic name to
the winner’s circle. Jeff Bennett, No Mercy Fuel Altered/Funny Car driver will
be sharing driving duties with son, Chris Bennett, driver of the Cheeky Monkey
Blown Alcohol Funny car and #7 points finisher of the 2007 California
Independent Funny Car Association (CIFCA) series. Tuning for the team will be
renowned engine builder and tuning expert, “Famous” Amos Satterlee. Pure Heaven
IV is aiming to debut early in the 2008 season.

Sometimes as
a human being, having patience can really take some work. Add drag racer to the
mix and well we just want everything fast and now.

What was
supposed to be a new addition for the Performance by Fisher Racing team in
2007, didn’t happen as planned. Team driver Kevin Fisher was to begin competing
in his new Cannister Motorsports Top
Dragster at the beginning of last season. The two main things that plague most
racers while attempting to complete their projects were the same in this
situation, time and money. 

Some things
just happen for a reason. Although the move to Top Dragster for Kevin was put off
for another year, Performance by Fisher Racing had their best season yet in
Quick Rod. They managed to wrap up their 3rd year of Pro-Am
competition with several final round appearances including a national event win
and a #8 finish for Kathy. Because of this Kathy also landed a spot to compete
in the very first Summit Racing Equipment All-Stars Shootout to take place
during the IHRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway April 18-20.

Memorial services for Jon and James Herbert, sons of Top Fuel driver Doug
Herbert, have been finalized.

Visitation will be held from 6 – 9
p.m. Tuesday, January 29, at Raymer Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Road,
Huntersville, N.C. 28078.

Our kids have always been our best friends and the bond between the two of
us.  As you can imagine, the loss we are
both feeling for Jon and James at the moment is
unimaginable.

As brothers, they were always
together and were each other’s best friend.

Jon loved music and cars.  He was a dreamer, happy, peaceful and was
most pleased when everyone got along.

The two young sons of Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert were killed in an automobile
accident Saturday morning in Lake Norman, N.C. Jon, 17, and James, 12, died
instantly when their Mazda3 collided with a second vehicle.

Herbert, who was in Phoenix for
preseason testing, is devastated and headed home to be with his family.

Tom Compton, NHRA President, appeared a bit overwhelmed by
the hundreds of media attending the recent Speedway Motorsports Inc.,
announcement concerning the construction of a state of the art drag racing
facility in Concord, North Carolina which will host it's first event, The
Carolinas Nationals, on the weekend of September 11^th through the 14^th.

Compton's laid back style stood out in contrast to the high
energy, high profile manner of SMI Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith. Even
following the announcement, Compton relaxed under the weight of two or three
reporters while Smith looked more like the Ring Master at a three ring circus.

Yet, if was Compton who had to face the fire first as the
presentation moved into a traditional NASCAR-style question and answer session.
Half a year after announcing the proposed sale of NHRA assets to HD Partners,
Compton didn't have a decisive answer to the question of when the sale would
close.

Keep up with this weekend's U.S. Street Nationals in Bradenton, Florida by reading our behind-the-scenes event
notebook. We bring you the stories behind the numbers and win-lights throughout
the course of the weekend. Tune in daily for the latest news from the
pits.

EVENT NOTEBOOK 

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