:::::: News ::::::

ASHLEY CONFIRMS TROXEL IN 2008

Thu, 2007-11-01 13:54

One year ago, Mike Ashley announced he would field a championship-contending
Nitro Funny car team in 2007. As he rolls into Pomona this weekend with his
Torco Race Fuels, Inc.-sponsored Dodge Charger R/T for the Automobile Club of
Southern California NHRA Finals, he has fulfilled his goal and expanded his
vision for the future.
 
Ashley's sponsor and longtime friend Evan Knoll
was so pleased with the progress of the team after only one year, he decided to
move his driver, Melanie Troxel, from the Lucas Oil-operated Top Fuel dragster
she raced this season and put her in a Knoll Gas Motorsports /Torco Race
Fuels-backed nitro Funny Car under Ashley's Gotham City Racing team. As of this
point, it has been confirmed by Torco that Gotham City Racing will definitely be
running two Funny Cars and Ashley said he will be driving alongside Troxel,
subject to his commitments in the ongoing business requirements of Lend America.

DOUBLE THE HARKERS AT POMONA

Thu, 2007-11-01 13:14

Twenty-year-old Australian twins Diana and Kate Harker will have their first
opportunity to compete together in an NHRA national event in the NHRA Lucas Oil
Drag Racing Series this weekend at the season ending Automobile Club of Southern
California NHRA Finals. Kate, who has been driving all season, will pilot Tom
Conway's Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels A/Fuel Injected Nitro Dragster, and Diana,
in just her third race of the season, will drive Randy Meyer's  Championship
A/Fuel Dragster with the sponsorship of ProCare Rx.
 
"After an exciting
year I am looking forward to finally having my twin sister, Diana, join me in
the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks this weekend in Pomona," Kate said.

 
"This certainly could not be a better way to end our season, we have
had an up and down year and having Diana competing alongside me and Tom Conway's
Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels team is an exciting experience," she
said.

JFR MUSEUM, STORE OPEN

Thu, 2007-11-01 13:03

To accommodate race fans attending this week’s 43rd annual Automobile Club of
Southern California Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, the John Force Racing
museum will be open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday at the
JFR shop facility at 22722 Old Canal Road.

THE NEW IHRA.COM

Thu, 2007-11-01 12:53

Live Nation Motor Sports, promoters and producers of the International
Hot Rod Association announced today the two-phase rollout of the new
series’ web sites: NitroJam.com, StreetWarriorz.com, ThunderJam.com,
ProAm.ihracom, and SuperSeries.ihracom. The new and improved sites will
be fan and competitor friendly sites, with much improved navigation,
and they are set to rollout with phase one on November 2, 2007.

SURGERY WON'T IMPEDE FORCE'S PROGRESS

Wed, 2007-10-31 18:49
j_force.jpgWith casts now on both feet, John Force won’t be breaking any speed records this
week when the 2008 NHRA POWERade drag racing season races to close with the 43rd
running of the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
 
 The 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion underwent additional scheduled surgery
Tuesday at Kerlan-Jobe Medical Center in Los Angeles where doctors inserted a
pin in his right foot to support a broken bone discovered after he had flown
home to Yorba Linda, Calif., following 27 days in a Dallas, Texas, hospital. 
Doctors also cleaned and repaired a troublesome nail bed on the middle finger of
his right hand.
 
 The new cast will further restrict Force’s mobility.  The 125-time tour
winner was able to use a walker to get to and from the starting line during last
week’s ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, but, with a new boot cast on the right foot,
he will be confined to a wheelchair or his the cab of his Ford truck this
week.
 
 Nevertheless, it is just a temporary setback for the 14-time Auto Racing
all-America selection, who plans to be back in the cockpit of his Castrol GTX
High Mileage Ford Mustang in time for pre-season testing in January.

TROXEL'S FINAL TF RACE

Wed, 2007-10-31 14:45

0718-05306D_200.jpgMelanie Troxel has
traveled many roads during her Top Fuel driving career, but this weekend a
career that has spanned since 2000 and encompassed 82 starts with four victories
out of 15 final rounds will come to an end. She’s headed to Funny Car in 2008
to drive under the Gotham City Racing umbrella.

That’s why Troxel would
love to win this weekend in her final race behind the wheel of the Evan Knoll-donated Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA tribute dragster.

“That would be the
ultimate way to go out on top in my last race in Top Fuel,” said Troxel.  “As a team, that is something we would really
enjoy to be able to finish our season and our time together.  As many of you know, I’m moving over to Evan
Knoll’s Funny Car team and our present team will be going on with a different
driver.  I’m excited for them because I
know how incredible this car is running. 
This is a serious championship contending team.  I’m honored to be a part of the team and
really enjoyed working with this group of guys.

EXPANDED POMONA COVERAGE

Wed, 2007-10-31 12:29

Television coverage of the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals from Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD has been expanded.

ORLANDO PHOTO GALLERY

Wed, 2007-10-31 11:39

Did you miss the Orlando World Street Nationals? Check out our photo gallery from this blockbuster event.

PHOTO GALLERY 

WHEN SKATEBOARDING CROSSES DRAG RACING

Wed, 2007-10-31 11:36

Professional skateboarder Nick Dompierre has made a name for himself on
half-pipes around the globe. He's also become a favorite of drag racing fans as
he often sports a JEGS T-shirt in competition. It turns out the pride of New
Bedford, Mass., is an avid drag racer when not performing his incredible aerial
maneuvers, powering his nitrous-aided 1987 Camaro with a 383 small block through
9.7-second passes at 140 mph.

O'BANNON RE-SIGNS PATRON

Wed, 2007-10-31 11:00
dejoria_headshot.jpgFormer five-time NHRA World Champion team owner Jack O'Bannon announced today
that his two-car NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car team will continue to carry Tequila
Patrón as the team's primary sponsor in 2008.  Current drivers Sean O'Bannon and
Alexis De Joria will once again be at the controls of the 250 mph Dodge
Chargers.
 
This
season marked the first year for Jack O'Bannon Racing in the Top Alcohol Funny
Car ranks.  After winning five NHRA World Championships with Rick Santos as his
driver in Top Alcohol Dragster and finishing second nationally last season with
son Sean behind the wheel, the team made the 'full' switch to the Funny Car
ranks this year.  The team started the year with intentions of running one car
in both categories, but opted to go with a two-car Funny Car team after the
season's first event.
 
"I
am extremely pleased to know that the great people at Patrón Spirits will
continue on with us next year," said O'Bannon.  "This team has come a long way
this year and we look at the Pomona race as the first race of our new year. 
This is a winning combination and the cars will see the winner's circle next
year."

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