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

FULLER'S ST. LOUIS SPONSOR

Four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Rod Fuller will
compete behind the wheel of the yellow-and-black Caterpillar dragster for the
second time this season. David Powers Motorsports and Fenton, Mo.-based Fabick
Cat have partnered to back the Fuller-driven rail during the 11th annual
O’Reilly Midwest Nationals, May 4-6, at Gateway International Raceway, team
owner David Powers announced today. Linn State
Technical College, located in Linn, Mo.,
also will be involved during the weekend.

 

The
relationship between David Powers Motorsports and the Cat dealer groups is
designed as a pilot program to increase technician recruiting. Caterpillar
dealers are experiencing a shortage of technicians, and NHRA drag racing offers
a technician-rich recruiting environment to find qualified candidates with
experienced mechanical backgrounds. Fabick Cat is
the authorized dealer for Caterpillar equipment, prime and stand-by power
systems, parts and service, compact construction, and rental equipment for 99
counties in southern Missouri and Illinois. David Powers
Motorsports partnered with Caterpillar and Houston-based Mustang Cat during the
Houston NHRA event in late March.

 

“After the great success with the Caterpillar program in
Houston, we’re now to do our second venue, this
time in St.
Louis,” Powers said. “For all the parties involved,
Caterpillar and Fabick Cat, our hopes are to create the same result that we
experienced for Mustang Cat. We learned from the Houston event and we have a few new ideas for
this program.”

'WALLY'S GARAGE" OPEN

New interactive area will allow visitors to watch while cars are being restored

"Museums shouldn't be dusty places full of stuff just sitting around,
kind of like an abandoned yard sale. Museums should be lively,
interactive places where old stuff is used to learn new things." Those
are the words of Tony Thacker, executive director of the Wally Parks
NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Auto Club of So. Calif.
That's why he's excited about Wally's Garage, the just-opened
interactive area within the Museum.

According to Thacker, "the idea behind Wally's Garage was to have
a place in the Museum where our staff could work on vehicles that needed
minor restoration and where, when appropriate, the public could come and
watch and be involved. They can ask questions but not lift wrenches!"

NSCA OPENER PHOTOS

The 2007 National Street Car Association season is off and running, and we have photos to prove it!

YATES UPBEAT ABOUT FUTURE

J_Yates.jpgAs the 23-race NHRA POWERade tour leaves Atlanta Dragway and heads north up I-75
for next weekend's event outside St. Louis at Gateway International Raceway,
two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Jim Yates finds himself at a racing crossroads
that many drivers have faced before, competing with others for the precious
funding that is the lifeblood for any professional racer. But the veteran
remains upbeat and optimistic as he prepares his Pontiac GTO for a racetrack
where he's had success in the past, besting Allen Johnson for the win in 1999 as
well as finishing runner-up to Warren Johnson both in 1997 and
2001.

"Contrary to some reports, I'm not quitting or retiring," Yates
said. "I want to race, (son) Jamie wants to race, (wife) Toni wants to race,
Grumpy (engine builder Bill Jenkins) wants to race. We love to race and we think
we have something good together.  Unfortunately, not only do you need half-inch
wrenches in your toolbox, you also need money in your toolbox. It's no secret
that to run at the winning level of Pro Stock it takes the proper funding and in
the past we have proven that we've got the talent to run with the best cars out
here.

"We had some very positive opportunities lined up at the end of
last year, but, unfortunately they just didn't work out. As a result, it left
our program in a hole financially.  We still love what we are doing and we are
still the same talented team that has won POWERade championships and national
event races in the past. Bill (Jenkins) continues to improve the horsepower in
our engines every week and our new Pontiac GTO is working better than ever.
We're really excited about our program and the potential we have and we'd love
to have the money to stay out here and race."

AUSSIE TOP ALCOHOL RACING

This weekend's fourth running of the annual Snap-On Nitro Champs will be the
last time that the quickest Alcohol powered Dragsters and Funny Cars are seen in
Sydney for the 2006/2007 season. As always, regardless of where these cars are
running they always put on one hell of a sho w and this weekend is definitely
not going to be an exception to that rule.

Perhaps the most exciting
thing about this class is that Dragsters and Funny Cars have the opportunity to
duke it out to determine who really is king of the sport.

According to
the racing that has already taken place this season, it would be fair to say
that the Dragsters are definitely the Kings of the Sport. This conclusion has
been the forced truth all because of the efforts of Wayne Newby, pilot of the
Gatorz eye-wear sponsored Top Alcohol Dragster.

D'APRILE - NEW CAR, MIAMI INK

Tommy D'Aprile will roll out his brand new Vanishing Point Race Car at the
ADRL's  Camp Motorsports Georgia Drags, May 4-5 at the South Georgia Motorsports
Park in Valdosta. The IHRA's 2006 Pro Rookie Driver of the Year is looking
forward to racing this weekend and a little extra television time for his
sponsors.

While the Sir Thomas Inc. / Access Able Mobility 1963
split-window Corvette will be making its first competitive passes of the year,
D'Aprile hopes the car will be competitive once the car is out of the trailer.
"We want to get a few runs under our belt. It's the same crew and same tuner
that we used to finish fifth in IHRA points last year."

D'Aprile will
utilize journeyman racer and tuner Quain Stott to turn the wrenches. "I keep
teasing Quain and telling him I'm going to find out just how good of a tuner he
really is," D'Aprile joked. "This is an outlaw event, so it's not exactly the
same set up we would use at other events. But, I have all the confidence in
Quain and my guys to make this car competitive from the start. This is our first
outing since October, we just want to go out and have some fun."

J.W. PERFORMANCE DURING THE JEG’S BRACKET CHAMPIONSHIP!

J.W. Performance Transmissions to sponsor “Happy Hour” with a live DJ and Pit
Pro Golf Cart Challenge during the JEG’S US Open Bracket Championship presented
by Race craft Chassis and LB Trailers, The event will be held May
31st to June 3, 2007 at Tri State Drag way in Hamilton, Ohio.

The Live DJ and Pit Pro Golf
Cart Challenge will take place Saturday evening following the 20K bracket
race.  For details on the event contact
Mike Fuqua at 615-207-4152, Dave Szerlag at 517-376-0361 or the track at
513-863-0562.  Come race with J.W.
Performance Transmissions at www.racewithjw.com to learn more about
J.W. Performance Transmissions Inc.

STANFIELD’S NEW DEAL?

NHRA Pro Stock team owner
Bart Price has seen it happen many times. Open your mouth to discuss a
potential deal and watch it fade away.

Price is close to securing
a deal and his lips are clenched as tight as he can clench them. All he’ll say
is that they came to him.

“If everything continues
down the path it is headed, our racing efforts will change dramatically,” Price
said. “I refuse to jinx myself and I will be content waiting until the deal is
inked before I say a word. Once the contract is signed and the check is in my
hand – you won’t be able to shut me up.”

The company in question is
non-automotive, and this will be their first foray into drag racing. Best of
all - Price adds, they are Fortune 500.

GILBERTSON SKIPS ST. LOUIS

Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has elected to skip the next race on the
NHRA schedule, this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts Midwest Nationals in St.
Louis.
 
Gilbertson, who is currently 14th in the NHRA
POWERade points standings, regrets having to miss the race but was forced to
make that decision due to budget restraints, availability of parts and the cost
of having to travel to the Midwest for a single event.
 

ATLANTA SUNDAY FINAL

Second-generation driver Brandon Bernstein raced to the Top Fuel victory Sunday
at Atlanta Dragway and moved into first place in the POWERade Series standings.
The son of NHRA legend Kenny Bernstein has won the last two races and 14 in his
brief career.

Bernstein was joined in the winner's circle at the Summit Racing Equipment
NHRA Southern Nationals by Robert Hight, who claimed the Funny Car title over
Mike Ashley, Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson, and Karen Stoffer, who won
her second race of the year in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Bernstein posted a 4.662 at 305.01 in his his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to
claim the Top Fuel victory over Doug Herbert, who posted a 4.714 at 297.02 in
his Snap-on Tools dragster.

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