Defending NHRA Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher prefers to never
make a promise he cannot keep, but this time he can speak with
authority when he says the drag racing world is in for the treat of
their lives. That treat is nothing less, than the best knock-down, drag
out rivalry drag racing could hope for.

It’s Prudhomme versus McEwen, Muldowney versus Garlits and Glidden
versus Shepherd all rolled up into one 8,000-horsepower duel that’s
bound to inspire fans to buy more tickets.

Schumacher and Larry Dixon could possibly go down in drag racing history as the one rivalry to end all rivalries.

“It’s as big as anything I have been a part of in my career,”
Schumacher admitted. “I enjoyed having a rivalry with [Doug] Kalitta
because he’s a great driver. I can’t go out and say all the things
others did, like he’s [Alan Johnson] cheating and that stuff. No one is
cheating and they have a bad-ass team with a bad-ass driver and a
bad-ass tuner. Those are the kinds of teams you want to race against
and beat.”

Make no mistake about it, Schumacher always had a feeling that Dixon
would become Johnson’s driver and in getting him, Schumacher believes
his former tuner has a very talented driver.

Thursday afternoon NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon
seemed more concerned with getting proper decal placement on his
Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara than he did with missing any of the
preseason testing and with good reason. The decals had more priority.

“We’re going to have a new look for this year and it takes a little
more time to dial-in just the right look,” Pedregon admitted, as he
talked while he worked. “I’m just running a little behind.”

Pedregon doesn’t plan to undergo any preseason testing because in his
assessment, the process produces very little positive impact on the
team.

Last year, Jeg Coughlin Jr. captured the title of the preseason Pro Stock Showdown at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

and used the momentum of that fast start to charge into the season at
full speed. Nine moths later, the 38-year-old from Delaware, Ohio, was
hoisting his fourth championship trophy.

If he could repeat that feat again this year in his JEGS.com Chevrolet
Cobalt, Coughlin would move even deeper into the drag racing history
books and further cement his status as one of the best drivers ever.

Team Hammonds will have a preliminary start to the 2009 NHRA Full
Throttle Pro Stock season by competing in the  Las Vegas Pro Stock
Showdown this weekend.

Coming off of a disappointing season, Team Hammonds is excited about
using the Showdown to take inventory of what is ahead for this coming
drag racing season.

The Pro Modified Racing Association is pleased to welcome the
involvement of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and Wheels as a
contingency sponsor for 2009.
 
Mickey Thompson“We’re excited to join the PMRA,” said Carl Robinson,
Motorsports Manager and Wheel Products Manager of Mickey Thompson
Performance Wheels and Tires. “We’ve been watching the series since its
inception, and we’re happy to be associated with the PMRA.”
 
Now entering its fifth year of competition, the PMRA is dedicated in
presenting some of the best in Pro Modified drag racing, and the
support of Mickey Thompson reinforces this influence in the series,
according to PMRA Director of Operations Bruce Mehlenbacher.

Lucas Oil renewed a 13-year partnership with Bruce Litton Racing to carry through the 2009 season. This renewal is especially significant
at a time when many other nitro teams are losing long-standing backing.
The partnership between Lucas Oil and Litton's Top Fuel team began as
an associate sponsorship in 1997. In 2002 Lucas Oil increased their
commitment to Litton, becoming the primary sponsor and retaining that
position now through 2009. Relationships spanning this length of time
in the motorsports world are rare, but not without reward. Litton has
been a consistent top 5 finisher with Lucas Oil backing, also taking
home the 2007 IHRA Top Fuel World Championship.

Lucas Oil has been one of motorsports most commendable supporters, and
has done much for the furtherance of the sport through team, event, and
series sponsorship. Litton notices the value of such a sponsorship and
is very grateful to be included in the Lucas Oil family for yet another
season.

NHRA will suspend oildown penalties for the 2009 season in both the
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series. The move is designed to save teams money and is possible
given the success in recent years to minimize oildowns during national
events to enhance the fan experience.

The oildown policy, which was first enacted in 2000 in the Professional
classes and later in the Sportsman categories, was created to improve
the quality of the show for fans attending NHRA Full Throttle Drag
Racing Series events. The policy has been effective in reducing the
amount of downtime caused by oildowns in the Professional and Sportsman
classes at national events.

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.