(8-2-2006) - NHRA POWERade Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson confirmed that discussions have taken place in an effort to improve the performance of Team Mopar even if that meant bringing Shaun Carlson over to the "other" Mopar camp.

Johnson says details have yet to be finalized.

"There are some things up in the air," Johnson said. "If some things happen - it will happen for the betterment of all of us. We want the best for Mopar as I am sure everyone wants. We have always tried to be team players. We will do what is best for Kevin Miller and Mopar."

"We are all teammates here...Mopar...Don Schumacher Racing and our team," Johnson said. "Kevin Miller and Mopar have been awful good to me and I want to do my part to help out...whatever that may be.

"Our team thinks a lot of Sean and he did a great job filling in for Darrell Alderman when we needed him to. We'll just let the chip fall where they may in this situation."

(8-2-2006) - Okuma America Corporation, a world leader in the development of Computer Numeric Controls (CNC) and machining technology, has entered into a manufacturing and marketing partnership agreement with Don Schumacher Racing, becoming the "Official Machine Tool Supplier" for Don Schumacher Racing.

"With the rapid expansion of Don Schumacher Racing comes the need to design and manufacture more and more proprietary parts in house," said Don Schumacher. "To make that happen we needed to align ourselves with a world leading company in the CNC industry. We knew that Okuma already had a variety of successful programs in the motorsports industry, including Bill Miller Engineering, Competition Cams and with Richard Childress Racing. On top of those programs, Okuma partnered with the NHRA as the Official Machine Tool Company. We did our homework and we realized we didnˇt need to look very far. It made sense for Don Schumacher Racing to partner with Okuma."

Larry Schwartz, president of Okuma America Corporation, said: "I couldnˇt think of a better organization for Okuma to partner with than Don Schumacher Racing. This partnership allows Okuma America to further expand it's High Performance Motorsports Industry program by adding to our motorsports family. Our new partnership with Don Schumacher Racing will allow Okuma the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the Schumacher engineers and crew chiefs on some new and exciting projects."

In addition to Okuma machines being used in the Don Schumacher Racing shop in Brownsburg, Ind., Okuma identification will appear on all Don Schumacher Racing race vehicles, transporters and hospitality trailers.

(8-1-2006) - Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has learned from multiple sources that Don Schumacher Racing driver Shaun Carlson's future may be in serious jeopardy and there's a likely chance he will be absent from the next event in Brainerd.

"I have no comment on the situation," team owner Don Schumacher said. "I can't say whether or not Shaun will be driving the car in Brainerd."

When asked if Mopar had given its blessings to any changes, Schumacher declined comment.

An unsubstantiated rumor suggests that Carlson will end up in Allen Johnson's camp.

(8-1-2006) - Whit Bazemore denies he was giving anyone "the finger" during Sunday's ESPN2 telecast.

"I was not making an inappropriate gesture to anyone. I was telling a young fan to wait a minute while I went back into the trailer to retrieve a Sharpie," Bazemore said. "If you study the TV footage in slow motion you can see that it is clearly my index finger. It does look suspect in real time, but I would never flip someone off in the presence of fans, especially young ones, who had started to crowd around when I walked out behind the car to pack the parachute.

"Plus, I do not know Scott Kalitta well enough to make that kind of gesture, even jokingly, and I had no reason to do it anyway.

"I am extremely disappointed in ESPN's lack of discretion to air something that is so misleading."

(8-1-2006) - With the recent split of Erica Enders and Victor Cagnazzi Racing and the sponsorship with SLAMMERS, we have witnessed similar situations facing NASCAR and IRL. Ad Age asks the question, "Who owns the sponsorship?"

We've often wondered the same thing.

Who Owns the Sponsorship?

Editors Note - You may required to register (at no charge) to read this article.

8-9-2006) – Troy Critchley put the Dr. Moon’s Rage AMS ’57 Chevy in the sand, and in the air, at the end of his qualifying attempt on Friday in Martin, Michigan, and in an interview with John Waldie and 1320 TV he explained what happened and how he managed to walk away from the scary crash with no ill effects.

“We seem to be testing the boundaries right now,” he said. “Our other car, the ’70 Cuda, has been 237 miles an hour three times now, but the second time we did it we had problems with the chutes. The chutes went down under the car and wrapped around the rear-end, actually. It’s pretty hard to pull one of these things up – 2700 pounds at 237 miles an hour.

“The Cuda is in the chassis shop, so we put the engine out of it into the ’57. On the pass, I rolled the lights, so I didn’t get a time, but by the computer it did 235 plus, and it had trouble with the chutes again. They crossed over and wrapped themselves around the wheelie bar. It was going too fast and I couldn’t get it stopped. If you had a mile or two you might be able to get it stopped. I thought it was going to slide through the sand, but a header dug in and it flipped once in the air and it landed on all fours again.

"I spent the last month getting used to a HANS device. It felt a little awkward to start with but my hat goes off to those guys. I flipped a car yesterday and I’m not sore anywhere." (Check out the entire video at 1320 TV.com)