:::::: News ::::::

MEDLEN MEMORIAL PLANNED

Tue, 2007-04-03 17:40

A memorial service that will allow his hometown to grieve the loss of Eric
Medlen, one of professional drag racing’s most popular young drivers, will be
held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the River Oak Grace Community Church, 7712 Rodden
Road in Oakdale. 

 
 Medlen, 33, succumbed on March 23 to a severe closed head injury suffered
in the crash of his race car during a test session four days earlier at
Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway

THANKS!

Tue, 2007-04-03 16:03

Greg Ozubko and the staff at Vandergriff Apparel Group deserve
thanks and recognition for providing Eric Medlen tribute tee shirts at the
O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.

LIFE OUTSIDE THE LINES - CAPPS & BECKMAN

Tue, 2007-04-03 09:37

During breaks in Friday’s qualifying rounds at the
2007 O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, Ron Capps and Jack
Beckman from the Don Schumacher Racing Team stopped by for a visit with Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com to discuss the lighter side of life outside the quarter
mile, including favorite guilty pleasures, signing autographs, and reality TV.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew
up?

Capps—I
wanted to be Don Garlits … “Big Daddy” Don Garlits.

Beckman—Rock
star, jet fighter pilot, drag race driver. 
Those were the only 3 things I ever wanted to be.  Problem is, I can’t sing, I went in the Air
Force for 4 years and they wouldn’t let me anywhere near the planes, and now
I’m a nitro pilot.  To be a rock star and
get up in front of 20,000 and captivate them, that’s pretty badass.  But you know what?  This ain’t so bad, either.

 

WORLD FOOTBRAKE CHALLENGE RESCHEDULED

Tue, 2007-04-03 08:57
Coalburg Racing Promotions and Bristol Dragway have been forced to re-schedule
the inaugural World Footbrake Challenge to July 27-29 from it’s original date of
April 13-15.  The change of schedule is due to track surface problems at the
Bristol facility that will require repaving of the racing surface
immediately.
 
“I’d like to first apologize to each and every pre-entrant and competitor
planning to attend the ‘World’s Greatest Footbrake Race’, the World Footbrake
Challenge,” said Coalburg Racing Promotions’ Jared Pennington.  “With the race
less than two weeks away, this announcement is tough timing, and it’s
unfortunate for everyone involved.  Believe me, a delay in this event is not
what (co-promoter Steve Stites and I) wanted, but it’s out of our control and we
respectBristol Dragway’s decision to ensure that Bristol is the premier facility
in the country, and in the long run make the WFC a stronger event.”

J.R. TODD'S MONTH OF UPS AND DOWNS

Mon, 2007-04-02 16:49

J.R. Todd experienced a tough month of March. Houston's triumph provided an
opportunity to cheer.The trials began with the abrupt departure of tuner
Jimmy Walsh and just last week the passing of close friend Eric Medlen. Today
was the completion of his most crucial mission ever.


"You bet your ass it was mission
accomplished," said Todd. "All week long I worried how long it would take me to
win a race so I could dedicate it to Eric and John Force Racing. I want to win
every race and every final round I am in. I know Eric was looking down on us. We
needed it for sure."

ONE WAY TO LOSE; ANOTHER TO ALMOST

Mon, 2007-04-02 16:12

Two former teammates had one thing in common with two different outcomes. Their helmets controlled their respective destiny. 

Both
Ron Capps and Whit Bazemore experienced incidents where their helmets
got out of alignment temporarily breaking their attention and line of
sight. Capps won and Bazemore lost.

HARTLEY'S CINDERELLA BID

Mon, 2007-04-02 15:07

Some dreams conclude when you wake up. But for Joe Hartley, he kept pinching and  each time he was awake.

 

Hartley opted for a Cinderella impersonation instead.

 

Houston Top Fuel runner-up Hartley enjoyed the greatest day of his short
racing career by reaching his first Top Fuel final round.

HERNANDEZ THREE-PEAT

Mon, 2007-04-02 13:42

From the start of the day with a cruel April
Fool's joke and learning why pits are called pits, to the final addition to the
AMS Five Second Club and a final round under the full moon, the AMS Staff
Leasing Pro Modified Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. proved once
again to be a stellar performance of top talent in the Pro Modified
world.
 
Conroe, Texas resident, Josh Hernandez, made it two in a row for
2007 and a three-peat in Houston as he won the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at
Houston Raceway Park and the coveted AMS eagle, defeating Scott Cannon, Jr. in a
peddle-fest final round under the lights, 6.208/225.26 to
6.227/233.72.

CAPPS SAYS "ENOUGH!"

Sun, 2007-04-01 23:34

Funny Car driver Ron Capps has a plea to race fans and members of
the media:  Leave it alone.
 

Capps, who assumed the points lead Sunday in Robert Hight's absence, said he
wants the drag racing message boards, Internet sites, and newspapers to cease
speculation on what caused Eric Medlen's fatal accident. He said he's confident
that John Force Racing will release the information as soon as it is
100-percent certain. 

"I read the Internet sites just like anyone else," Capps
said. "I go for the news of our sport. I'm still a big fan of the sport. I
like to read up on the latest stuff.

FINAL ROUND RESULTS FROM HOUSTON

Sun, 2007-04-01 22:38

Sunday's final results from the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race is the fourth of 23 in
the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

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