After originally stating that Todd Okahara would replace Mike Neff as the tuner for Gary Scelzi and Phil Shuler would assume the sole duties as crew chief on Jack Beckman's entry, Don Schumacher has revised his plan to ensure both cars will be tuned by both. Mike Neff will remain in an advisory role. 

"Mike Neff is an extremely talented crew chief, and everyone of us at Don
Schumacher Racing wishes him well next season in his new position," said
Schumacher. "The entire DSR operation is filled with capable and talented people
and my goal is - and always has been - to promote from within the team.
Therefore, I prefer not to seek a new crew chief from outside the organization
to replace Neff.

"Todd and Phil have already demonstrated their
tremendous expertise this season by tuning the MTS Dodge and driver Jack Beckman
into one of the hottest combinations in the Funny Car class," added Schumacher.
It started back at the end of 2006, when Funny Car rookie Beckman, after joining
DSR for the last five races of the season, set both the national elapsed-time
and top speed records, qualified No. 1 once, and won once after reaching two
final rounds.

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has confirmed with Bob Glidden that he's
returned in a consultant role with Dick Maskin and the Justin Humphreys
Pro Stocker.

The absence of the Foley & Lewis team at IHRA events has been very
noticeable. Today comes word the team intends to pursue regular status
on the NHRA POWERade tour. When Doug Foley was a no-show for Grand
Bend, the speculation swirled.

Doug Foley said, “We have been negotiating for a while with our
sponsor, Evan Knoll and Torco, in order to be able to run full-time on
the NHRA POWERade circuit. Our skipping the Grand Bend race was already
in the works and really had no bearing on our future plans

The Foley & Lewis team has run a limited amount of NHRA races so
far this year and have proven themselves quite well with two semi-final
round finishes along with qualifying at each event attended after the
Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona. It was then when
crew chief Doug Kuch returned to the team after a short hiatus. His
stay since that time has resulted in consistent qualifying performances
that have translated into round wins during Sunday eliminations.

NHRA Top Fuel points leader and Las Vegas resident Rod Fuller will join 14-time
NHRA Funny Car champion John Force in an autograph session at the Bullring at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Wednesday (Aug. 8) evening from 6-7 p.m.

Fuller, who has five Top Fuel wins to his
credit, will join Force at the Bullring’s autograph table beneath the main
grandstands before they head to the next NHRA event in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 9-12.

“It’s the old bull joined by the new
bull,” Fuller joked. “I told John (Force) it’s the changing of the guard in the
staging lanes at Sonoma (Calif.). It’s my hometown
and I’ve been to the bull ring a few times. I enjoy going out there. It’s always
good to see the Las
Vegas race fans on a non-race weekend.”

Nitro Funny Car racer Paul Lee announced that he would no longer drive the Nitro
Funny Car of Jeff and Bonnie McGaffic.  Lee, who has driven for the J&B
Motorsports team since 2003, won 3 NHRA national events in the alcohol Funny Car
class with them and moved up to the nitro class with the team in 2005.

Monday's final results from the Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals
at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at US 131.  The race is the sixth of 11
in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

Final round-by-round results from the Torco Racing Fuels
Northern Nationals at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at US 131, the sixth
of 11 events in the $19.5 million 2007 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing
Series:
 
TOP FUEL:
 
ROUND ONE -- Bobby Lagana Jr., 13.712, 62.80 def. Clay Millican, foul;
Melanie Troxel, 4.662, 326.71 def. Scotty Cannon, 4.795, 271.24; J.R.
Todd, 4.595, 314.97 def. T.J. Zizzo, 12.160, 74.85; Bruce Litton,
4.695, 299.26 def. Doug Foley, 10.873, 87.46;

SEMIFINALS -- Litton, 4.671, 322.34 def. Troxel, 4.664, 321.58; Todd, 4.632, 311.13 def. Lagana Jr., 11.611, 83.10;

FINAL -- Litton, 4.707, 287.72 def. Todd, 11.254, 80.71.