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

LEAH PRUETT-LEDUC TO PILOT NITRO JEEP

Leah Pruett-LeDuc will be the driver for Ed and Ron Lenarth at the upcoming running of the 51st March Meet in Bakersfield, CA.

Mike Thompson, crew chief of the Lenarth’s “Holy Toledo” Jeep said, “This past weekend, it was confirmed that Leah Pruett-LeDuc will be driving the Holy Toledo Jeep at the March Meet and the entire team has happy to have her on board!”

Leah will be one of approximately 24 drivers looking to win the coveted March Meet title in either the gold or silver nitro Funny Car field.

FAS MART CONVENIENCE STORES BECOMES NEW BRISTOL PARTNER; ALSO WILL SPONSOR STREET FIGHTS

Bristol Motor Speedway officials today announced an agreement with Fas
Mart Convenience Stores naming the company as a new partner during
major event weekends. 

Fans in town for NASCAR races and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
will be able to find Fas Mart convenience items without having to leave
the BMS campgrounds.

“Fas Mart is proud to continue our tradition of motorsports and raceway
sponsorship support with the announcement of our newest partnership as
Official Partner of Bristol Motor Speedway,” said Fas Mart President
and CEO Dave McComas. “This creates exciting opportunities for Fas
Mart’s valued customers and race fans with Ultimate Race Fan NASCAR
ticket giveaways, discount event tickets and an on-site convenience
store during major race events”.

WILLOWBANK FAST-PACED AS AUSSIE TIN TOPS COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

As the countdown to April’s Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway
continues, the quarter mile at Ipswich has been a buzz of activity.

Over 200 Nostalgia machines took to the strip at the weekend for the
first day/night Nostalgia event in Australia and to pay tribute to
recently passed legend Roly Leahy, while the Morgan and Wacker
Motorcycle Shootout will hit the track this Sunday.

The racing this Sunday from the Competition Bike, Pro Street Bike,
V-Rod, Harley/Buell, Modified Bike and Stock Street categories will see
a strong entry of bike competitors following up last weekend's action
on their two-wheeled machines.

PRO STOCK RACER GAYDOSH SIGNS SIX-RACE SPONSORSHIP

Gaydosh Performance and Competition Products have joined forces for a six race deal. 

Competition Products is a high performance mail order company that
specializes in hard core internal engine parts and many other high
performance parts.  Competition Products has been in business since
1970.

LAS VEGAS EVENTS RENEWS PRESENTING SPONSORSHIP OF NHRA LAS VEGAS NATIONALS

Las Vegas Events has renewed its presenting sponsorship of the NHRA Las
Vegas Nationals, NHRA officials announced today.   Las Vegas Events, a
private, non-profit organization has been the presenting sponsor of the
event since 2003.

“The NHRA has become a valued partner for Las Vegas,” said Pat
Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events.   “Since 2003, the NHRA Las
Vegas Nationals have driven thousands of race fans to our city, and we
are very appreciative to the NHRA for their continued support of this
event and the destination.  We look forward to continuing our
partnership with the NHRA now and in the years to come.”

Las Vegas Events has played an instrumental role in developing
awareness for the event, which has become one of the premier
destination events for NHRA fans across the country.

NOWLING: THERE WILL BE STRICT ADHERANCE

ADRL President Kenny Nowling might not be enthused about reducing
the nitro percentage for his injected-nitro, Pro Extreme entries, but
on Wednesday evening he said he will enforce the spirit of the rule for
anyone that chooses to run the combination.

"We will run our event this weekend as always, with a strict
adherence to the ADRL rule book which has been amended to reflect that
the maximum percentage of nitromethane used by any competitor in Pro
Extreme shall be no higher than 50%," Nowling said in a prepared
statement.
 

"Our tech staff, along with representatives from National Guard
ADRL official fuel supplier VP Race Fuels, will work throughout the
weekend to verify that no competitor is in violation of this rule.

CAPPS - BROWN: MAINTAINING MOMENTUM IS THE OBJECTIVE

capps.jpgA couple of surprise leaders are out of the gate early in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

While much of the pre-season predictions about who would contend in Top
Fuel revolved around a potential season-long rivalry with Tony
Schumacher and Larry Dixon, Antron Brown’s Matco Tools dragster has
been impressive in advancing to the final round in each of the opening
two races. In Funny Car, last season’s eighth-place points finisher,
Ron Capps, who failed to win a race in ‘08, has quickly erased those
memories with back-to-back wins and a top qualifying position in his
NAPA Dodge Charger.

Capps and Brown will try to increase their respective leads in the NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series points standings at the tradition-rich
ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, March 12-15 at historic Gainesville
Raceway. The race, which will be televised on ESPN and ESPN2, is the
third of 24 in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.
Defending race winners include Tony Schumacher, Tony Pedregon, Jeg
Coughlin and Matt Guidera.

UPDATED: DON WOOTEN: WE'RE RACING AT 50%

The NHRA has apparently won the first battle of wills in the skirmish
against the ADRL in regards to injected nitro doorslammers competing
this weekend ADRL Saftey-Kleen Dragpalooza 5 at Houston Raceway Park in
Houston, Tex.

Don Wooten has said he will compete at 50% nitro if that's what it takes to get to race.

“If they [NHRA] say we have to knock the nitro out of it, then that’s
what we gotta do,” Wooten told CompetitionPlus.com. “We’re going to
show up and be there and this is nothing more than the NHRA flexing
their muscles. I don’t know what this has to do with the NHRA but that
is what this is all about.

SHOOTING A COMMERCIAL - GEICO STYLE

Karen Stoffer and Morgan Lucas visited South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil
Georgia on March 2 and 3 to film a new Geico television commercial.  Watch for
it on a NHRA telecast near you.  Karen Stoffer is sporting wild new yellow
colors this year.   Look for her debut at the Gatornationals.

ADRL ON VERSUS IN 2009

The American Drag Racing League races will be featured on the Versus
Network, a station known primarily for its coverage of Indy Racing
League, National Hockey League and Professional Bull Riding events. The
shows will be in-house within the ADRL’s St. Louis-based offices and
will air on Sunday afternoons 3:00 – 4:00 PM, two weeks after each
event.

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