In the week leading up to the second annual CompetitionPlus.com War
Stories we will re-publish some of the finest moments from last year's
contest. You'll hear some of the finest stories laid down in
competition. The program works like this: 16 figures within the drag
racing community are voted on by the readers of CompetitionPlus.com to
determine who they feel could tell the best story. From that voting, an
NHRA professional elimination ladder pairs the contestants and they
battle it out until one is left.

Today's story comes from Scotty Cannon, the iconic Pro Modified
driver and winner of the inaugural War Stories Showdown. This story
advanced the champion to the final round.

Team owner David Powers notified his team on Saturday that he plans
to park his Top Fuel team for 2009. The impetus behind this decision
was the notification from major sponsor Caterpilar they would not
return next season.

“This is a kick in the gut,” admitted Fuller, who was notified by Powers personally. “I really don’t know that I have the words to express how I am feeling right now. I thought I was pretty safe in having another year with Caterpillar and I thought things were going well. I had just went out and bought a new house."

Fuller finished sixth in the NHRA Top Fuel championship points in 2008 after placing second the season before.

In the week leading up to the second annual CompetitionPlus.com War
Stories we will re-publish some of the finest moments from last year's
contest. You'll hear some of the finest stories laid down in
competition. The program works like this: 16 figures within the drag
racing community are voted on by the readers of CompetitionPlus.com to
determine who they feel could tell the best story. From that voting, an
NHRA professional elimination ladder pairs the contestants and they
battle it out until one is left.

Today's story comes from Roy Hill, legendary mountain motor Pro
Stock racer. Hill used this story to defeat Bob Glidden to move into
the final round where he lost to Scotty Cannon.

A New PRI Experience Greets “The Peoples Champion”

Tim Wilkerson learned the difference between being an also-ran and a
championship contender makes for a better experience at the annual
Performance Racing Industry in Orlando, Fla.

Wilkerson, the giant-killer Funny Car driver who finished second in the
2008 NHRA Funny Car chase, no longer has to introduce himself to the
manufacturers.

“They already know who I am,” Wilkerson smiled, as he stood outside of the JE Pistons booth where his Funny Car was displayed.

Series now called the National Guard American Drag Racing League

ADRL
President Kenny Nowling (left) was joined by SFC John Metzler in
announcing the National Guard as title sponsor for the O'Fallon,
MO-based drag racing series.

The American Drag Racing
League (ADRL) announced today that the National Guard will be the
all-eighth-mile drag racing organization's title sponsor beginning in
2009. The O’Fallon, Missouri-based series will now be called the
National Guard American Drag Racing League.

In 2008, the National Guard served as presenting sponsor for the drag
racing organization. The opportunity to increase their involvement with
the ADRL was the next logical step in a successful relationship.

Official exhaust product also title sponsor for Dragstock VI

Since October 2004, as title sponsor of Dragstock I—the very first race
ever staged by the American Drag Racing League (ADRL)—Flowmaster
Mufflers has been part of the ADRL mix, raising its profile to series
title sponsor the next year and continuing through 2008.

Flowmaster will continue as the official exhaust product of the ADRL,
title sponsor for the Flowmaster Super 44 Extreme 10.5 class and title
sponsor for Dragstock VI, scheduled for September 11-12, 2009 at
Rockingham (NC) Dragway.

Morgan
Lucas Racing and GEICO, Inc., announced today the joint multi-year
sponsorship of the Forrest Lucas-owned NHRA Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster
for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. 25-year old Morgan
Lucas will drive the GEICO/Lucas Oil Dragster with Jimmy Walsh heading
up the drag racing team as crew chief.

"We are very excited to have a sponsorship deal in place with Morgan
Lucas Racing," said Eric Vaden, GEICO's media buyer in charge of
Motorcycle and Powersports products. "We firmly believe this team will
post some wins next year and Morgan will be a great spokesperson for
our company and our line of Powersports insurance products.

Drag champ becomes the first multiple winner of the award, presented by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

Continuing his dominance on and off the drag strip, Six-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher became the first finalist
to win a second Economaki Champion of Champions presented by Speedway
Motorsports trophy,  when he appeared in Orlando to receive his award
from the trophy’s namesake, Chris Economaki.  Schumacher received his
award at the 21st Annual PRI Trade Show, making a special trip to the
show to accept his award from Economaki.

“This young man, who celebrates his birthday on Christmas day, gets
another early present,” Economaki stated, “and that is the recognition
not only from his fans, but also from his peers and the motorsports
industry at large.  We are delighted to recognize Tony’s tremendous
accomplishments on the track – five consecutive NHRA POWERade Top Fuel
championships – six overall – and off it, by awarding him his second
Economaki Champion of Champions presented by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.”

Didn't make it to the Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando,
Florida? Don't sweat it. We'll bring the show to you. Staff
photographer Roger Richards is making the rounds in Orlando, Florida.

PRI SHOW PHOTO GALLERY 

VP Racing Fuels has agreed to enter into a multi-year agreement with
the International Hot Rod Association to serve as the Official Race
Fuel of the sanctioning body. In addition VP will be the presenting
sponsor of IHRA’s seven-event Sportsman Nationals schedule in 2009. The
“Official Race Fuel” agreement extends through the 2011 season.

The deal will be signed in the media center at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando Friday, Dec. 12 at 11:30.

VP will be the exclusive on-site supplier of racing fuels at all IHRA
Nitro Jam national events as well as all IHRA Sportsman Nationals. VP’s
Nitro Race Nitromethane will be designated for use in the Top Fuel
class and C23 the designated spec fuel for Pro Stock. In addition, C23
and VP’s M1 Methanol will also be the spec fuels for IHRA’s Pro
Modified class.