(8-3-2006) – America’s Baby Cancer Foundation (ABCF) and SpeedFreaks have inked a long term and integral marketing partnership to help raise the awareness of children's cancer.  In addition, Kenny Sargent and Lugg Nuttz, hosts from the SpeedFreaks Radio and Television programs, have been elected to its Board of Directors.

“SpeedFreaks finally found a cause we could really grab a hold of and make a difference," says Sargent.  "Serendipitously, it was a charity golf tournament that started the Freaks' wheels to roll after we met Samiya, Matthew and Eddy, three of the many children America’s Baby Cancer Foundation's helps from the Kaiser Permanente Hospital ’s Pediatric Cancer program."

"It is with great pleasure that the Board of Directors welcome the SpeedFreaks team," declares Phillis Lane, President and Vice-Chairman of ABCF.  "The Foundation welcomes the commitment and enthusiasm exhibited by both gentlemen and is excited to be working with such a great and ubiquitous media outlet as SpeedFreaks."

Lugg Nuttz became a supporter of America’s Baby Cancer Foundation three years ago by organizing an event at Irwindale Speedway in Los Angeles for the families of UCLA/ Mattel Children's Hospital, Miller Children's Hospital and the Kaiser Permanente Hospitals.  At the Speedway, Lugg met some of the children who are currently battling cancer and their families.  Through his efforts, Irwindale Speedway established a program where it now provides ABCF families with tickets for Saturday night races.

"You talk about a wake up call, baby cancer will affect over 11,000 children under the age of 15 this year," says Lugg Nuttz.  "If that wasn't enough, childhood cancer rates are ncreasing at a rate of approximately 1% each year.  SpeedFreaks' massive blanketed media exposure will without a doubt assist in baby cancer awareness"

Building on the Irwindale Speedway success, SpeedFreaks intend to capitalize on the relationships with other motorsports' venues, drivers, riders, teams and sponsors that have been so kind to the show over the years and come up with creative opportunities and events for these children to enjoy.

(8-3-2006) - Former NHRA Division 4 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Lee Callaway will be able to take the 'interim' off his title as the newly announced driver of the Torco Race Fuels/Conway Automotive A/Fuel Dragster. With two final round appearances in as many outings as the 'interim' driver for the team, the team will continue their pursuit of both the Divisional and National Championship during this weekend's Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Gateway International Raceway just outside of St. Louis.

Callaway, from Baytown, Texas, is excited about the opportunity to drive for Team Owner/Tuner Tom Conway, who not only won last year's National and Division 4 Championship as a car owner, but two National Championships and eight Division 4 Championships as a driver.

"It's really an honor and privilege to get to drive this car," said Callaway. "We kind of tested the water at the past two races, and everything has clicked so far. Tom really has a great team assembled; the car runs good and we have a good time racing. We're also have a good sponsor in Evan Knoll's Torco Race Fuels companies. It really helps when you have a sponsor that's behind you like they are."

The team is also looking forward to competing with 'fresh pipe' at this weekend's event. The car was recently back halved at Joe Monden Racecars following some rough outings earlier in the year.

"We're excited about getting back on track with the new backhalf," stated Team Manager Shane Conway. "The car had been driven through some pretty serious tireshake during the first part of the year. Hopefully the fresh pipe will help us improve our performance this weekend. One of our sponsors Casino Queen is just a few miles from the track, so we'd like to do well for them as well."

(8-3-2006) - Crane Technologies Group Inc., of Daytona Beach, Fla., has been acquired by Mikronite Technologies of Eatontown, N.J., which provides technology and parts for the aerospace, automotive, commercial and medical fields, according to a recent press release. The acquisition will take place within 60 days, subject to shareholder approval.

Crane will continue its operations at 530 Fentress Blvd., according to the press release, and the Mikronite company may move some of its operations and employees to that famous address in Daytona Beach. Present Crane employees and the customers they serve are not expected to be affected by the purchase, the press release said.

The Mikronite company has been involved with Crane Cams for more than a year, and its Mikronite metal finishing process has been used on a variety of Crane hi-po performance parts since then. Mikronite, says the press release. The purchase will provide Crane Cams with more than $8 million in cash equity and equipment-related financing, the release says. Jeff Coats, CEO of Mikronite, will become president and CEO of Crane Cams, while Gene Ezzell, CEO of Crane Cams, will become president of Mikronite Automotive Technologies and will develop new automotive and industrial businesses for Mikronite. --- Dale Wilson

8-3-2006) - NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points leader Ron Capps, who drives the Brut Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, will be a guest of Dave Despain on this Sunday's "Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain" on Speed Channel.

Capps has won five races this season - more than any other Funny Car driver - as he aims for his first Funny Car championship after three seasons as a runner-up. He's in a heated battle with 13-time champion John Force, who is
in second, 70 points behind Capps, with eight events left.

The show airs on Sunday, Aug. 6, from 9-10 p.m. ET, with Capps' live segment from his home in Carlsbad, Calif., scheduled for approximately 9:15 p.m. ET.

Viewers may e-mail questions to windtunnel@speedtv.com or call in at 1-866-WTUNNEL.

(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?

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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)