Last month, four-time NHRA world champion Gary Scelzi took to El Mirage
Dry Lake Bed in the Mojave Desert in California to test drive a new
Dodge Challenger SRT8 and its 6.1-liter SRT Hemi SMPI engine for the
show Test Drive, hosted by four-time SCCA Trans-Am champion Tommy
Kendall. The 30-minute episode is scheduled to air on SPEED TV this
Saturday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The show will also feature appearances by late-night host and car
aficionado Jay Leno, actress Carmen Electra and NASCAR driver Kyle
Petty.

It was a unique experience for the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series who is
more accustomed to racing an 8000-hp race car at over 330 mph in under
four seconds on a closed quarter-mile track. The challenges of the
desert were intimidating. Scelzi's goal? To see if the Challenger would
reach a speed of 165 mph. You'll have to watch the show to find out if
the goal was accomplished.

The John Force Racing family will be featured in the national spotlight next Tuesday night, Sept. 30, on ESPN's newsmagazine show, E:60, which airs at 7 p.m. (ET). John Force has won an unprecedented 14 NHRA POWERade Series world championships and an incredible 126 race victories. His daughter Ashley is a rising star on the circuit who has become wildly popular and is building quite a fan base.

Three Super Stock Hemi Barracudas up for auction ...

$10
million worth of racing parts, cars and accessories will be up for
grabs Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Wynnewood, Ok., home of Elite Motor
Sports, LLC when the Mendenhall Auction Company will conduct the 1st
Annual Elite Motor Sports Inventory Reduction Sale.

Trailers, race cars, engines, tools…anything you could possibly need to
stock or improve your racing operation will be up for auction. From
full-size deluxe motor coaches to high-end pit vehicles and golf carts
the Elite Motor Sports Auction will be a great opportunity to pick up
quality racing components. And, as with any auction, you will be able
to name your price.

John and Ashley Force, Bob Tasca III to participate in ad campaign ...

Ford’s Drive One campaign has proven to be a successful
marketing initiative that has helped draw attention to new Ford cars
and trucks and showcasing the company’s innovative technology.  This
week, Ford Racing launches its own version of the campaign, ‘I’m
Driving One,’ that will make its debut online on various Ford, team and
driver websites.

Seven high-profile Ford Racing personalities will comprise the core of
the ‘I’m Driving One’ initiative, which will be aimed at uniting these
racing heroes and their fan base with Ford’s diverse 2009 line-up of
products.

The seven-week campaign will kick off September 24 featuring the
father-daughter tandem of 14-time Funny Car champion John Force and
2007 NHRA Rookie of the Year Ashley Force will be joined by 2008 NHRA
Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Bob Tasca III.

The drag racers will be joined by NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards, the
current Chase for the Sprint Cup points leader, Greg Biffle, the winner
of the last two NASCAR Sprint Cup races, and 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup
champion Matt Kenseth, along with their boss, Roush Fenway Racing
principal Jack Roush. 

Today’s open house at MPE Motorsports shows the team can do more than sling wrenches …

The
MPE Motorsports building was formerly a fun park  converted to
a race shop. The team installed the doors and did all the inside
fabrication.

Clay Millican is hoping to shine both on and off the racetrack this weekend.

MPE Motorsports, Mark Pickens Enterprises, will open up the doors to
the public to their new facility this afternoon at 2pm in Mumford, Tn.,
an easy 20 minute drive from Memphis Motorsports Park, the site of this
weekend's NHRA Mid South Nationals.

Two weeks have passed since Laurie Cannister officially clinched the
IHRA Alcohol Funny Car title and she’s kind of at a loss

of what to do
with herself.

Sure, she still has a focus on racing.

There’s no longer a reason for them to make fifteen calls back and
forth with husband/tuner Dale Cannister passing along ideas as to what
could make the Kevin and Wendy Sims Alcohol Funny Car run quicker.

They only need about nine to get the job done.

“We’re still very much focused,” said Cannister, who stands as the only
IHRA professional to have clinched a championship prior to next month’s
World Finals in Rockingham, N.C.

Speedtech Nitrous added as presenting sponsor for major doorslammer event …

Al Anabi Racing will sponsor the 6th annual Shakedown at E’town event, October 4 – 5, in Englishtown, N.J.

Tape delay television coverage on SPEED TV will also be included as
part of the title sponsorship. The air dates for the event will be
announced later.

Former Pro Modified world champion and current front-runner Mike
Castellana spearheaded the Al Anabi Racing effort to sponsor the event.

Rockingham Dragway is among the most historic, revered venues in
American motor sports. It seems fitting that one of the most
hotly-contested seasons in IHRA history will come to a conclusion at
Steve Earwood’s quarter-mile strip in south-central North Carolina.
It’s also fitting that this season’s final race will be one of the
richest in drag racing history as over $2 million will be up for grabs
at the World Finals.

Undefeated on the dragstrip, Tony Schumacher was voted third-quarter Driver Of The Year 2008.

Schumacher won every NHRA POWERade Series event in the third
quarter, which ended Sept. 14. That included his 53rd victory, breaking
a tie for all-time Top Fuel wins with Joe Amato. It was his seventh
straight win and 12th of the year.

The 39-year-old known as "the Sarge" continues to lead the points standings.

"It's an honor to be singled out for this award," said U.S.
Army Top Fuel driver Schumacher. "Of course, I wouldn't be in the
position that I'm in right now if I didn't have the best team that's
ever been assembled in the history of the NHRA."

Barry Schmoyer, president of the Driver Of The Year
Foundation, said, "You have to salute a driver who was so consistent, a
consistent winner that is."

As another way for Motorcraft and Quick Lane
to raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
(JDRF), the two brands have placed the helmet and fire suit worn by Bob Tasca
III during the U.S. Nationals up for auction on eBay, and will donate all
proceeds earned from the auction to JDRF.

“With how much attention our
online design contest for Indy received, we wanted to keep that momentum going
by placing the suit and helmet that Bob wore during that weekend up for auction
to raise even more funds for JDRF,” said Al Giombetti, executive director, Ford
Customer Service Division. “With just a couple of days left on the auction,
we’re hoping that fans will help bid whatever they can to raise as much as
possible for JDRF.”