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

DSR, STEVENS AND JOHNSON TOGETHER IN 2007

Don Schumacher confirmed today that Don Schumacher Racing and Johnson &
Johnson Racing will continue their Pro Stockpartnership into the 2007 NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series, and RichieStevens Jr. will again drive the Team
Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T as teammate to Allen Johnson's Mopar/Johnson
& Johnson Racing Dodge StratusR/T.

Schumacher partnered with
J&J, based in Greeneville, Tenn., at the end of 2006 to move Stevens and
the DSR-owned Pro Stock Dodge to the J&J team.Stevens' performance
improved markedly, as he won two of the five eventsentered under the new
banner, as well as the "Who Got the Light Award" for the closest margin of
victory in 2006 (.003 of a second).

"I am thrilled to be able to continue
this association with Allen Johnsonand J&J Racing with Richie," said
Schumacher. "J&J clearly knows how to build, prepare and set up a Pro
Stock Mopar Dodge. The team's ability to puttogether a winning combination
last year, both for Allen and Richie, was demonstrated race after race. We
look forward to continuing to make stridesand advancements in the overall
Mopar program with J&J.

CAST YOUR VOTES FOR THE DOT COMS

Since 1999, Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has offered the spirit of
friendly competition amongst the racing community in a "Best of"
competition. Our readers have assisted us in voting on everything from
the best drag racers to their favorite journalists to the presigious
Person of the Year. Please cast your vote in this annual tradition.

 

THE NAUGHTY AND NICE LIST

12-22-06-christmascover.jpgThe Beach Boys sang about him: "A real famous cat all dressed up in red. And he spends the whole year workin' out in his sled . . . Just a little bobsled we call it Old Saint Nick, but she'll walk a toboggan with a four-speed stick. She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel. And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel." (Ha!

MCGEE CAMS TO SPONSOR JUNIOR DRAGSTER PROGRAM

Former Top
Fuel racer, Chris McGee of McGee Cams, announced today that McGee
Cams would become the series sponsor for the SCEDA Junior Dragster
program. McGee Cams
manufactures their own design, single cylinder engines for Junior
Dragsters. McGee engines and components are
available for all junior dragster classes, with the fastest producing over 60
horsepower propelling the cars from a standing start to e.t.’s of 7.90 at 85
miles per hour in the 1/8th mile. 

IHRA.COM HAS A NEW LOOK

IHRA.com has a new look, but looks are not everything. While the design project,
spearheaded by IHRA Director of Internet and New Media Jeff Lee and IHRA Senior
Graphics Designer Kim Parsons, gives the website a cleaner, more exciting look
than ever before it is the added features and navigation tools that place the
new IHRA.com (http://www.ihra.com/) among the premiere
websites in all of motor sports.

“Kim and I were given a challenge to
create a new IHRA.com everyone would be able to use easily,” Lee said. “At the
same time we wanted to make it pleasing to the eye and exciting. With Kim’s
outstanding design ability and my knowledge of what is wanted by your typical
website visitors I think we came up with a new, edgy look that accomplishes both
goals. I must also give mad props to Agency
BCM (parent company of RacingJunk.com) and
Edison Information Technologies for their role in developing this new
website.”

IHRA ANNOUNCES THUNDER DIVISION SUMMIT PRO-AM SCHEDULE

Byron
Dragway steps up to host two double-weekend events

 

IHRA has announced the remaining
events for the 2007 Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by Mr. Gasket.
The Thunder division now consists of events at Byron Dragway and US 131
Motorsports Park.

 

“We want to
applaud Byron Dragway and owners Ron Leek and
BJ Vangsness for stepping up and making a major
commitment to our Thunder division competitors,” IHRA director of competition
and technical services Mike Baker said. “With
the recent shake-up in this division, it’s
great to see such dedication from one of our member tracks.

MIKE ASHLEY TREATS TEAM

72.jpg

Holidays came early for the team members of the Knoll Gas-TORCO Race Fuels, Inc.
Funny Car; driver and team owner Mike Ashley treated every member of his team to
a three-day licensing experience at Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School in
Gainesville, Fla. Every person now working on Ashley's car is licensed to drive
either Super Comp or Super Gas in NHRA competition.


"These guys worked so hard this year, and were incredibly successful in a
short amount of time. I wanted to say thank you in a special way, and, since
they all have a passion for racing, I don't think there was a better choice,"
Ashley said.

COUGHLIN OKAY AFTER MINOR MISHAP

Troy Coughlin was uninjured when his turbocharged Pontiac made contact with the wall during testing yesterday at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga.

ESTN PRE ENTRY OPENED

estn.jpgIn an effort to give attending drivers as much publicity as possible, the
Eastern Spring Test Nationals presented by Torco's CompetitionPlus.com is open
to pre-entry registration. The seventh annual event will be held at South Georgia
Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga., during the weekend of March 8 - 14, which is
the week prior to the NHRA MAC Tools Gatornationals and two weeks for the IHRA
Texas Nationals in San Antonio, Texas.

JOHN COUGHLINS SUCCESSES IN 2006

bio_john_car.jpgWhen Team JEGS driver John Coughlin reflects on the recently completed 2006
racing season, he will recall fondly a number of successes, both on and off the
race track. As a racer, Coughlin once again did double-duty, driving his Super
Stock Cavalier and Super Comp dragster at NHRA events across the eastern U.S.
One of the highlights of the season was a late-round finish at his home event,
the Pontiac Performance Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus. Like
his younger brother, Jeg, John also participated in several big money E.T.
bracket races and enjoyed a fair amount of success, including a $5,000 victory
at Farmington Dragway. He also reached the late rounds of a $20,000 to win event
at Atco Dragway and posted a semifinal finish at the Drag Race Results Bracket
Series event at National Trail Raceway.
 
“I got off to a mediocre start this year in Super Stock and Super Comp, but
I started to win some rounds when we began bracket racing,” said Coughlin. “I
hadn't bracket raced much over the last few years so I had almost forgotten how
much fun it is. I think the highlight of the year was the Farmington race in
May. I won $5,000 the first night and Jeggie and I both won a lot of rounds over
the weekend. I also enjoyed the Drag Race Results race here in Columbus. At that
race, you are allowed to enter two cars, so I drove my dragster and Jeg’s Chevy
II. I ended up going to the quarterfinals in the Chevy II and the semifinals in
the dragster. That was a busy day.

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