There will be a new driver in the black and yellow BME machine when the 2008
season kicks off in February. Second-generation racer Troy Buff will replace
Alan Bradshaw, who is moving to Dexter Tuttle's Top Fuel team.

While the 2007 IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam World Champions were at the top of the bill at the championship banquet held at the Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Ohio it was the IHRA Sportsman of the Year who stole the show.

An emotional Jack Wyatt earned IHRA’s most prestigious award through his deeds and demeanor away from the strip during the 2007 season. Wyatt was moved by the shootings at Virginia Tech and used his Nitro Funny Car as a moving, visible tribute to those who lost their lives in that terrible tragedy

While most Americans will be enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving weekend holiday, Australians will be gathering at Shepparton in Victoria for the 15th Annual Street Commodores Spring Nats Car Show, said to be among the largest in the nation.

Highlighting the weekend’s activities will be Brett “The Boss” Stevens’ Jack Daniels-sponsored Falcon Burnout Ute, a Down Under-produced pickup powered by a 2,500 horsepower alcohol-fueled engine.

New chassis configurations are reportedly pending for the Funny Car
division and one particular area that is being monitored is the use of
heat treated tubing under the current S.F.I. specs.
 
Like every other competitor, Funny Car veteran Ron Capps has heard the
arguments about the use of heat treated versus normalized tubing in
chassis applications. In a post-run interview by Alan Reinhart over the
track PA in Las Vegas, Capps left no doubt where he stood on the issue
by offering his support of heat treat tubing in his Murf McKinney
chassis.
 
“I personally don’t think it’s got anything to do with it being heat
treated,” Capps told Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com recently. “I’ll
continue to drive whatever Murf McKinney will build for me.  People
have to be educated before they make assumptions and before they go
making public statements.  Part of that whole thing with the chassis is
we’ve been running a slip tube and they’ve all been heat treated cars.

In May, Torco's CompetitionPlus.com proudly announced that a sale of Quaker City Raceway had been comsummated.

QUAKER CITY RESCUED

Mark and Tammy Mazzant had purchased the track and hoped to open by June 1. Unfortunately, that sale fell through.

SALE FALLS THROUGH 

The IHRA Nitro Jam professional and sportsman world champions were
crowned Saturday evening in Norwalk, Ohio. Roger Richards was on hand
with this photo gallery.

IHRA AWARDS BANQUET 

The new '70 Plymouth Duster promod body
designed by Andy McCoy Race Cars and Burke Designs is near completion
and will debut at the 2007 PRI Show in Orlando, FL.

After months of fabrication, the sculptured body was sent to Jeff
Hoskins and Chris Werner of Lake Road Rod & Custom. Jeff will be
adding his magic touch to finalize the body shape and apply the retro
paint scheme.

When you’re
traveling forward at breakneck speed, it’s important to know those who have
traveled before you.

Clay Millican
and Evan Knoll’s Top Fuel team gained that opportunity on Thursday when they
attended the Memphis Rodders Reunion.

This year’s reunion featured Larry
Reyes and the Hawaiian Funny car. This reunion is held every year with all the
proceeds raised going to the Al Chymia Burn Transportation Fund.

Chuck Worsham has informed Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com that his team
will field a second entry during two NHRA POWERade Series national
events in 2008, although as of this date exactly which races is yet to
be determined. 

The car will carry Shell Oil signage and colors
for those outings, and will undoubtedly be the car that Jeff Arend
drove regularly during the 2007 season.  Arend may remain with the
team, and if he does will certainly be the driver for those two races. 

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced Brian Wood has
been named Editorial Director of their in-house publication, DRM.

Wood
will report directly to Managing Editor Pam Marchyshyn and be
responsible for the editorial and photo content of DRM and assisting
with the integration of IHRA print, internet and public relations
interests. 

“I’m pleased to announce the addition of Brian to
the DRM team,” stated Marchyshyn. “Brian is well respected in the drag
racing industry and the perfect person to lead DRM’s editorial
direction.   

“His appointment allows me to focus on the
production and financial aspects of DRM, areas that demand my full
attention. Brian’s addition is about growth and expansion,” Marchyshyn
added. 

DRM recently went to full-color printing and changed format to a newsstand size periodical.

“I’m
looking forward to the challenges and rewards of working with the
entire DRM team,” stated Wood. “Editorially and graphically, they have
taken the magazine to new levels and there are big plans ahead.  I’m
proud to be part of the energetic IHRA, DRM and Live Nation team.”