14-Time Champion Drag Racer Captures Crown of Best Story Teller …

Nobody
tells a story like John Force and for one solid month spanning from
December to January, the readers of CompetitionPlus.com agreed.

The fourteen-time champion from Yorba Linda, Ca., called on his older
brother Louie for inspiration to defeat Pat Musi in the final round.
Force edged Musi by the second closest of margins by claiming victory
with a 52.89% – 47.11% margin.

The emotionally and physically drained Force, just in from testing in
Phoenix, said the victory is one he ranks among his greatest accolades.
Driving an 8,000-horse Funny Car is one thing for Force, but telling a
story like a champion is another.

For the eighth consecutive year, NHRA announced that The Sports Network
(TSN) in Canada will televise the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series’ entire 24-event schedule in 2009, dedicating nearly 75 hours of
programming to NHRA, the fastest and most exciting motorsport in the
world.

Highlighting TSN’s 24-event, 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
broadcast schedule will be coverage of final eliminations.

NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, showcasing sportsman racers and NHRA member track network, to air on Inside Drag Racing

NHRA announced that ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will continue to air 16 one-hour
shows with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
national events in 2009.  In addition, the popular NHRA Sportsman
Spotlights, focusing on sportsman racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series and NHRA’s member track network, will return on Inside
Drag Racing.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be showcased on ESPN2 and
ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of NHRA’s exclusive relationship
with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports. ESPN2 is now available in
more than 96 million households.

Drag Racing’s definitive pre-race show, NHRA Race Day, returns for third season

The worldwide leader in sports television will join forces with NHRA
for a ninth consecutive season in 2009 as ESPN2 returns as the
exclusive network of the 24-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
ESPN2 is now available in more than 96 million households.

It’s a partnership that began in 2001 and has grown stronger with each
and every year of the relationship.  In 2008 the fast-growing NHRA Full
Throttle Series delivered nine percent ratings growth on its Sunday
elimination broadcast.

Organization provides capital to racing teams, increases fan participation and loyalty, and supports charitable groups

Veteran motorsports journalist Bob Margolis was named national
development director for the motorsports division of iTeam Sports.  The
non-profit organization provides capital to qualified racing teams and
other sports by giving fans actual, affordable ownership and
participation in their favorite teams.  iTeam Sports also provides
financial support to local and national charitable organizations
through the purchase of team shares and all share dividends.

“Bob is a well respected member of the motorsports community,” said
Steve Levenson, founder and owner of iTeam Sports.  “Having someone of
his caliber and knowledge of the motorsports industry is not only an
asset to our organization, but will also help enhance the fan-racing
team relationship.”

NHRA has announced the continuation of its relationship with the
American Forces Network (AFN) to deliver the unique sights and sounds
of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing to the men and women stationed
overseas.

"NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing programming increases our ability to
provide our worldwide American Forces Network audience with the best
sports coverage from back home,” said Larry Marotta, Chief of
Television at the AFN Broadcast Center.  “We are delighted by the
generosity of the NHRA and proudly welcome their excellent programs to
our showcase of American television.”

Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen, Walker Evans, Frank Kurtis, and Malcolm Smith have been nominated for the 10th Annual
Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award which recognizes those who have made distinguished contributions to motorsports in California.

Named in honor of Shav Glick, who passed away in 2007. Glick was a
long-time motorsports writer for the Los Angeles Times and a member of
the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

After
completing the best season of his drag racing career, Terry McMillen,
driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster, is making plans for an even
bigger 2009 season. McMillen made five final round appearances with two
wins in IHRA competition in route to a third place finish in
championship points. He also competed and qualified in two NHRA events,
including the 13th spot in the fastest field in NHRA 1,000 foot history
during the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals.

"We've been blessed with some of the best partners in the business,"
McMillen said from his Indiana race shop. "It's no secret that this is
probably the toughest economy that most people have faced in their
lifetime. It's been tough on racers, race teams and on families all
over the world. Our partners have remained solid through this down
period and we're focused on helping them grow even more during 2009."

Veteran drag racer Troy Coughlin will race for two world championships in 2009 and with a massive 830 cubic inch powerplant under
the hood of his brand-new Jerry Haas-built JEGS.com Pontiac GXP, he's
certainly going to have the horsepower to get it done.

Coughlin plans to contest the National Muscle Car Association's Pro
Street category as well as the American Drag Racing League's Extreme
Pro Stock class. The classes are similar enough that he can use the
same racecar in both sanctions, and with only one conflicting date
between the NMCA and ADRL, he'll have a chance to race in 16 of 17
events.