The new NHRA television package was not an improvement, said 52-percent of the 6,700-plus CompetitionPlus.com readers polled in the ARP Question of the Week.

Drunk drag racing is a terrible, terrible idea on so many levels.

But according to a report from a British Columbia radio program, CBC’s “Daybreak South,” the sprightly Christmas tune “Jingle Bells” is really a Thanksgiving song that’s a bawdy salute to reckless, alcohol-fueled sleigh races down the middle of Salem Street in Medford, Mass., in the early 1800s.

Racing has always been a part of Jamie Farrell’s life. His father, Kenny Farrell is a multi-time national event champion in the IHRA.

Back in 1993, the elder Farrell formed Carbon Fiber Manufacturing. Farrell, a former United States Marine and composite technician at US Airways, formed CFM to provide affordable composite technology to industries other than aerospace. Farrell chose to produce drag racing components.

Tanner Gray is going to compete in NHRA’s Pro Stock class in 2017.

The 17-year-old rookie is taking the seat of his father, Shane. Shane competed in Pro Stock from 2010-16, winning five career national events and finishing a career-best third in the 2016 points standings.

A triumvirate of nitro tuning talent will serve as co-crew chiefs in 2017 for Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car with driver Jack Beckman at Don Schumacher Racing.

Dean Antonelli joins John Medlen and veteran U.S. Army Top Fuel assistant Neal Strausbaugh at DSR. It will be the 10th season for Strausbaugh, third for Medlen and first for Antonelli at DSR.

Antonelli, 52, served as general manager at John Force Racing the past two seasons after being a crew chief and assistant crew chief at that company where he spent 12 years working under Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly. Antonelli was an assistant crew chief on four world championship Funny Car teams.

The first year of Shirley's Kids, the 501(c)(3) charity bearing the name of NHRA drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney, was a huge success with seven children and their families being helped through the generosity of charity founders Stan and Sheila Holt and several corporate and individual sponsors.
 
Started as a way for Muldowney to show appreciation for the less fortunate among her legion of drag racing fans, Shirley's Kids easily lived up to its goal of helping children in need at traditional stops along the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Even with Muldowney sidelined for a few months due to her own health concerns, lives were definitely changed and the organization already is making big plans for 2017 and beyond.

Sonoma Raceway will open its 12-turn road course to walkers and runners alike as it hosts the West Coast’s only major fundraising event for gastric cancer on Saturday, Jan. 21. The 6th annual John’s March Against Stomach Cancer will support the fight against the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

John’s March offers a unique chance to raise funds for No Stomach For Cancer, a global advocate for stomach cancer awareness, early detection, treatment and prevention (www.nostomachforcancer.org), and enjoy a symbolic “march” around the raceway’s 2.52-mile road course. John’s March has raised more than $67,000 over the past five years.

Aaron Brooks wasn’t out of work for long.

Brooks, who served as a crew chief at Morgan Lucas Racing since 2013, was left looking for employment when Morgan Lucas announced following the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., Nov. 13, his team was disbanding.

The Mopar brand is adding horsepower to its support of amateur, non-professional NHRA Sportsman racers with a slate of new programs and resources for the 2017 season. Initiatives include factory-backing for select Mopar and Dodge NHRA Sportsman teams, a new “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Drag Pak Rewards” program, technical at-track assistance for grassroots racers and increased outreach and communication with Sportsman competitors.

Mopar will team up with the Dodge brand to provide factory-backed support for three supercharged, 354-cubic-inch Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak NHRA Sportsman machines that will carry the official Mopar and Dodge colors next year. In addition, the new “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Drag Pak Rewards” program will provide monetary awards to the dedicated amateur racers who compete in the Mopar brand’s modern-day package car, the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

NHRA officials announced that Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Fla., has joined the NHRA Member Track Network within the Southeast Division, NHRA’s Division 2.
 
Bradenton Motorsports Park opened in 1974 as DeSoto Memorial Dragway and held a Lucas Oil series event beginning that season. The track has also been host of the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals since it opened and is known for record setting passes and being the winter testing grounds.