They are the unsung heroes. The ones who all too often sit back, pace
the floor and worry endlessly when a trusting father puts their “baby”
in a high-horsepower race car. They are the ones who provide the wind
beneath the wings of champions.
 
They are the moms.

Past and present Top Fuel champions Clay Millican (six-time IHRA), Tony
Schumacher (six-time NHRA) and Shirley Muldowney (three-time NHRA,
one-time AHRA) all credit a large portion of their success to strong
maternal support.

Millican describes Martha Millican, a.k.a. “Momma”, as his cheerleader,
coach, protector and counselor all rolled up into one. He credits her
with helping him to attain a championship attitude and molding him into
the man he is today.

“Momma not only supported me in every way she could but she also
greatly influenced the way I drove a race car,” Millican said. “Dad
taught me the skills of how to drive a race car but it was momma who
influenced my attitude and the way I approached situations. She made me
a better race car driver.

Every
Friday, CompetitionPlus.com brings you our Feedback letters.
Read what our readers have to say about our feature articles and you
can even offer your opinions.

FEEDBACK FRIDAY - MAY 8, 2008

In keeping up with the ever-evolving world of the internet, Mike Ashley Racing has added many new updates to its website, www.mikeashleyracing.com
. Race fans will notice very subtle changes to the clean look of the
MAR site while enjoying the many new features the site now offers.

Fans of Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team that visit the
MAR website can now enjoy links to the team's Twitter and Facebook
pages, free fan downloads of screensavers and backgrounds, a video
gallery, an enhanced photo gallery, and a link to Antron's online
store. NHRA fans also can sign up to receive news and race updates on
Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team.

One of Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running partnerships is about
to make some noise at Bristol Dragway during the May 15-17, 2009 NHRA
Thunder Valley Nationals.

Food City officials announced today that they will sponsor the return
of night qualifying to Bristol Dragway on Friday, May 15, 2009.  Food
City Qualifying Under The Lights At Thunder Valley brings NHRA’s
nitro-powered machines to the line in primetime for an awesome show of
power and performance.

On Wednesday May 6th 2008 Auto Club Road to the Future Rookie of the Year Mike Neff met with the Bristol area media to talk up the
9th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The Ford
Drive One Mustang driver also met with employees of Food City, one of
Bristol Motor Speedway’s major sponsors. During the meet and greet Neff
was afford the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the famed Food
City Big Cart. Neff familiarized himself with the controls of the
600+hp, 2500 lb racing cart and while he was not able to fire it up he
was impress none the less.

NHRA Funny Car superstar and 2007 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future winner Ashley Force Hood would like fans
to join her in helping “Stamp Out Hunger.” Please join her in the fight
to end hunger on Saturday, May 9, 2009, by leaving non-perishable food
donations in a bag next to your mailbox for your letter carrier. Stamp
Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Last year,
over 73 million pounds of food were donated to food banks.

Quick Fuel Technology (QFT), a major contingency sponsor for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series, has introduced its new series of QFX race-engineered
carburetors now approved for Pro Stock, Pro Mod and several Super
Stock, Comp Eliminator and Super Eliminator classes.

Known for his exploits in Pro Stock Motorcycle, George Bryce sent us a few pictures of his latest Hemi endeavor.

Bryce and Ray Barton have formed a unique partnership to offer a
re-creation of the 1968 Super Stock Dodge Darts and Plymouth
Barracudas.  Designed by Bryce Customs, manufactured and assembled by
Ray Barton Racing these vehicles will be limited to just 10 units: 5
Darts and 5 Barracudas, and each one will be handcrafted to exacting
standards and will carry its own serial number designating it as an
authentic B2 creation.

John Force Racing tuner John Medlen has said that eventually all of
John Force Racing’s Mustangs would run the Boss 500, the special Ford
nitro engine, developed by JFR, Ford and Medlen.

The time is drawing near for Force Hood’s team to make the transition, although there’s no set date.

Force Hood’s crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli believes the engine
combination will make an already successful team, even better. The team
is tied for fourth in the point standings after seven events.