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

JUSTIN GRANT'S STARDUST TRIBUTE SHOWS

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has acquired some photos of the Justin Grant Stardust nostalgia tribute on display at the Drag
Expo this past weekend in Chicago.

A YEAR OF CHANGE FOR SOROKIN

Nostalgia Top Fuel pilot Adam Sorokin is excited for the coming 2007
season
which will bring a few changes.  The driver of Brian Van Dyke’s
“RB
Entertainment” Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster will drive the same car
in which
he ran the quickest pass ever recorded for a front engine
dragster (5.703
ET) last November at the Bakersfield Fuel and Gas
Finals, however, with
Goodguys getting out of the nostalgia drag racing
scene, the future of the
class is evolving and Adam is excited about
the change.

BRAD JETER RETURNS TO IHRA PRO STOCK

Ten years is a long time to wait, the last time Brad Jeter raced IHRA as
a Professional was 1997, but in 2007 he will once again be letting the clutch
out on a IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock. The Former IHRA and NHRA national
event winner will be the wheel man for the Larry Overby owned, Mike Kennedy
Tuned Haas Ford Mustang.

ORTIZ TO START 2007 WITH NEW LOOK , NEW PROGRAM

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Fresh off a stellar
rookie season behind the wheel of a twin turbo PRO car, Erica Ortiz looks to
keep the momentum rolling in 2007 with significant upgrades in her racing
program.   The 26 year-old made monumental progress in her first year running
the Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 class, finishing 2nd in the points chase with
consistent 6 second, 200 mph performances. 

HECKLE SIGNS GOODRIDGE FOR 2007

Current NHRA B/Dragster National Record Holder Shane Heckel has announced the
signing of Goodridge Hoses & Fittings as an associate sponsor for the 2007
season.  Heckel will use Goodridge's XF-900 Smoothbore hose and fittings in his
quest for the Division 4 title.
 
Heckel, who helps run the family businesses, HHH
Car Ports and Ballistic Race Craft, in La Porte, Texas, is excited about the
newest addition to his 200 mph dragster.

DON PRUDHOMME'S SKYTEL DRAGSTER

Brian Losness provides us with a glimpse of the new Don Prudhomme Racing Skytel-sponsored dragster driven by Larry Dixon, Jr.

IHRA CHANGES NATIONAL EVENT FORMAT

Beginning with the 2007 season, a winner will be crowned after the night
qualifying sessions at each IHRA Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series event in the
professional categories. Announcing the “Last Man Standing” program, IHRA will
ensure fans an entertaining day at the races by giving drivers an extra
incentive to perform well, all while creating on-track
excitement.

 

Competitors will be attempting to qualify for
Sunday’s eliminations during the Friday and Saturday night sessions. The
traditional qualifying process will still be utilized to set the field. However,
those qualifying sessions will have an immediate outcome for all the fans in
attendance that evening.

MTS "MAIL FROM HOME PROGRAM" TO LAUNCH IN POMONA

Mail Terminal Services, sponsor of the MTS
Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car that Jack Beckman will drive in the 2007 NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series for Don Schumacher Racing, will introduce the
"Mail from Home" program at the season-opening event at the Auto Club
Raceway at Pomona (Calif.), Feb. 8-11.

DSR and MTS, through its partnerships with the U.S. Post Office and DHL
Globalmail, will honor service personnel of a different war-zone camp in
Iraq and Afghanistan at each of the 23 NHRA national events in 2007 by
displaying the camp name on the MTS Funny Car.

PAUL PAGE TO LEAD ESPN2 TEAM

When ESPN2 comes to the starting line for its coverage of
the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, fans will notice an exciting new look
and feel to the telecasts as well as a new lead announcer. The season kicks off
at Pomona, Calif., Feb. 8-11, and veteran motorsports announcer Paul Page will
bring more than 30 years of experience to the booth for ESPN2’s coverage of the
NHRA.

Page, who anchored select NHRA telecasts on ESPN2 in 2006,
has been a familiar face and voice to race fans since 1974. He served as lead
announcer for the Indianapolis 500 on either radio or TV for more than 25
years. 

“Last year was an incredibly close season for the NHRA not
only in the round-by-round competition but also in the championship battles,”
said Page. “I’ve done a team tour over the winter and that’s really gotten me
pumped for the new season.”

JEGGIE PULLING DOUBLE DUTY IN POMONA

While his main focus remains the pursuit of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock
championship, Jeg Coughlin will also remain active in NHRA’s sportsman classes
when the new season opens at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 8-11.
In addition to his full-time ride in the Slammers Ultimate Milk/Jegs.com Pro
Stock Cobalt, the three-time NHRA World Champion will also be racing a JEGS.com
Chevy Cavalier in Super Stock.
 
“I'm really looking forward to driving a second car in Pomona,” said
Coughlin. “Last year, I had the opportunity to do a lot of sportsman racing in a
number of different cars and I really enjoyed it. I made over 500 runs which is
obviously many more than I would have made if I was just racing in Pro Stock. I
have always believed that there is no substitute for seat time and I try to
treat every runs as a learning experience, no matter what I'm racing so I think
that racing in Super Stock will be beneficial for me as a driver. It should also
be a lot of fun.

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