Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Doesn’t Have A Ride for 2009

Angelle Sampey was notified shortly after the season ended that her
contract at Klement Racing would not be renewed for 2009, this
according to a report by Kevin McKenna at National DRAGSTER.

"I still want to race, and I feel like I still have what it takes to
get the job done," Sampey said in the article posted at NHRA.com.
"After the disappointment we had this year, I am more motivated than
ever to go out and show that I can win races. Physically, I am in the
best shape of my career, and I'm doing great in my personal life. I
just need a job for next year."

Sponsorship Issues Have the 2008 ADRL Champion Concerned for 2009 …

Billy Glidden’s plans aren’t concrete for 2009 but that’s not going to deter him from planning for the future.

“If I can come up with the funding to continue racing throughout the
season then I will do it,” Glidden said. “We’ll keep picking at our
performance to get better with what we have, but it’s going to be
tough.”

It’s not been for a lack of effort on the second generation drag
racer’s behalf that he hasn’t attained a major sponsorship at this
point.

A Tough Rookie Season Hampered By Testing Ban Paves Way For Strong Sophomore Effort …

The
NHRA moratorium on testing at national events concluded the moment the
final car crossed the finish line during the AAA Finals in Pomona, Ca.

Bob Tasca was testing the very next weekend in Las Vegas.

Imagine a rookie season with no testing and you’ll understand what life
was like for the former Top Alcohol Funny Car standout and grandson of
the Tasca legend.

Willowbank Raceway’s ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series
(January 2/3 and January 16/17) will see the Group One debut of former
Supercharged Outlaws champion and local Brisbane racing identity Daniel
Reed in the Top Doorslammer category.

The son of high profile husband and wife Top Alcohol racers Steven and
Debbie Reed of the Reed Racing team, the 27 year old is a highly
successful racer in his own right - taking the Willowbank Raceway
Supercharged Outlaws Track Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2007 in
addition to his 2007 National title.

Daniel, an engine builder for the highly successful Team Vodafone V8
Supercar team, will officially join his parents amongst the
Professional ranks by taking the wheel of the Makita Top Doorslammer
for the Brett Stevens Racing Team at round one of the ENZED
International Nightfire New Year Series.

A group of goodwill ambassadors representing NHRA and General Motors is back in the United States after a seven-day USO-sponsored
tour of U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Germany. It marked
the fourth consecutive pre-Thanksgiving holiday visit for the drivers
with American forces stationed overseas, and the addition this year of
the two-day stop in Kuwait provided the group with an even greater
appreciation of the sacrifices made by U.S. troops and their families.

Six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Warren Johnson, two-time NHRA
Pro Stock world champion Jim Yates, Top Fuel veteran Cory McClenathan,
and 2006 NHRA Pro Stock world champion Jason Line (who joined the group
for the first time this year) represented GM and the sport of drag
racing during the troop-morale mission to Kuwait and Germany. The
drivers distributed more than 1,500 goody bags that included racing
caps, T-shirts, racing decals, and other items, signed an even larger
number of photos (supplied by the USO), and brought a precious few
minutes of home to everyone they met. Many NHRA sponsors contributed to
the gift bags, and the troops were very appreciative of what they
received.

The Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing Association is proud to announce a historical AA/Fuel Altered match race series for the 2009
racing season. Rich Guasco’s “Pure Hell” bantam roadster will come out
of retirement to race Dave Hough’s “Nanook” ’23 Ford roadster at all
three Midwestern Goodguys vintage drag racing events throughout the
Midwest. Nostalgia Top Fuel racer Jason Richey will drive Pure Hell
while Nanook will be piloted by longtime Hough family member and
chassis builder Vince Generalao – the car’s regular driver.

zMAX Dragway will open its doors once again on Thursday, Dec. 11, for
the VAULT Assault Street Racing Challenge. The public is invited to
bring their personal vehicles for an evening of heads-up drag racing at
the Bellagio of drag strips.
    
All vehicles entered must be street legal and certified by the
Department of Transportation. Participants must have a current driver's
license and matching registration. No race tires (slicks), nitrous
bottles, or convertibles will be allowed. Also, there will be no
passengers permitted on track.

The eighth SAE Motorsports Engineering Conference (MSEC) presented awards recognizing strides in the sport's safety

John Force (right) accepts the MSEC Motorsports Achievement
Award from Dr. John Melvin. (SAE International).

aspects.
Awards were presented at the Dec. 3 banquet at the Embassy Suites
Charlotte-Concord Golf Resort and Spa, where motorsports broadcast
journalist Bob Varsha was the guest speaker.

Legendary NHRA drag racer John Force received the MSEC Motorsports
Achievement Award for his work in helping to establish The Eric Medlen
Project. Named for the late racer; the goal of the project is to design
a safer race car and to create a safer competitive environment. This
award is presented to an individual who has shown outstanding
leadership or contribution to motorsports over an extended period of
time.

Drivers in both the Pro Modified and Pro Stock classes will have added
incentive to compete at all 2009 IHRA Nitro Jam national events.
Participants in both classes will receive complimentary car and driver
entries as well as three free crew entries for the entire 2009 slate.