Popular Pro Stock racer Erica
Enders will compete full time in the 2009 Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series behind the wheel of Jim and Gloria Cunningham's Mastercam Ford
Mustang. With technical support from Ford Racing, Enders will begin the
season in the same car she drove when she filled in for Cunningham
earlier this year at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

"After personally seeing Erica's incredible fan base and how
she conducted herself with the fans and in the car at Indy, we asked
her to drive for Jim next year and she agreed to race with us," said
Cunningham Motorsports crew chief Marcus Bowen. "She did an outstanding
job driving our car and produced four outstanding runs. We are pleased
to have her driving the car and marketing Cunningham Motorsports and
Ford."

After several meetings with Brian Wolfe, the director of Ford
Racing, and Doug Hervey, the operations manager of Ford Racing North
America, as well as several others from within the Ford Racing
Technology group, the Cunningham's have agreed to fully fund the
program until appropriate corporate funding can be found.

In the week leading up to the second annual CompetitionPlus.com War Stories we will re-publish some of the finest moments from last year's contest. You'll hear some of the finest stories laid down in competition. The program works like this: 16 figures within the drag racing community are voted on by the readers of CompetitionPlus.com to determine who they feel could tell the best story. From that voting, an NHRA professional elimination ladder pairs the contestants and they battle it out until one is left.

Warren and Kurt Johnson Notified Primary Manufacturer Support Rescinded …

The inevitable came Friday for Warren and Kurt Johnson when a phone
call came from General Motors informing the front-running Pro Stock
team their longtime factory backing would end immediately.

Mopar Pro Stock Runner Poised for Strong Championship Run in 2009 …

Allen Johnson would like to provide notice in case no one is paying
attention. The Greeneville, Tenn.-based driver is pulling out all of
the stops to make a run for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock
championship.

He’s testing, bringing in the right personnel and his mindset is that he’s never been more focused on the task at hand.

“That’s what we’re all about and we’re trying to put all of the pieces
together to make it go,” Johnson said. “Just like Greg and them did six
years ago. I want everything to be perfect. We’re working hard to get
in position next year to win championships.”

Don’t worry, Johnson points out, the driver’s head is no longer in a dark place, as he once eloquently stated.

Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Doesn’t Have A Ride for 2009

Angelle Sampey was notified shortly after the season ended that her
contract at Klement Racing would not be renewed for 2009, this
according to a report by Kevin McKenna at National DRAGSTER.

"I still want to race, and I feel like I still have what it takes to
get the job done," Sampey said in the article posted at NHRA.com.
"After the disappointment we had this year, I am more motivated than
ever to go out and show that I can win races. Physically, I am in the
best shape of my career, and I'm doing great in my personal life. I
just need a job for next year."

Sponsorship Issues Have the 2008 ADRL Champion Concerned for 2009 …

Billy Glidden’s plans aren’t concrete for 2009 but that’s not going to deter him from planning for the future.

“If I can come up with the funding to continue racing throughout the
season then I will do it,” Glidden said. “We’ll keep picking at our
performance to get better with what we have, but it’s going to be
tough.”

It’s not been for a lack of effort on the second generation drag
racer’s behalf that he hasn’t attained a major sponsorship at this
point.

A Tough Rookie Season Hampered By Testing Ban Paves Way For Strong Sophomore Effort …

The
NHRA moratorium on testing at national events concluded the moment the
final car crossed the finish line during the AAA Finals in Pomona, Ca.

Bob Tasca was testing the very next weekend in Las Vegas.

Imagine a rookie season with no testing and you’ll understand what life
was like for the former Top Alcohol Funny Car standout and grandson of
the Tasca legend.

Willowbank Raceway’s ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series
(January 2/3 and January 16/17) will see the Group One debut of former
Supercharged Outlaws champion and local Brisbane racing identity Daniel
Reed in the Top Doorslammer category.

The son of high profile husband and wife Top Alcohol racers Steven and
Debbie Reed of the Reed Racing team, the 27 year old is a highly
successful racer in his own right - taking the Willowbank Raceway
Supercharged Outlaws Track Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2007 in
addition to his 2007 National title.

Daniel, an engine builder for the highly successful Team Vodafone V8
Supercar team, will officially join his parents amongst the
Professional ranks by taking the wheel of the Makita Top Doorslammer
for the Brett Stevens Racing Team at round one of the ENZED
International Nightfire New Year Series.

A group of goodwill ambassadors representing NHRA and General Motors is back in the United States after a seven-day USO-sponsored
tour of U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Germany. It marked
the fourth consecutive pre-Thanksgiving holiday visit for the drivers
with American forces stationed overseas, and the addition this year of
the two-day stop in Kuwait provided the group with an even greater
appreciation of the sacrifices made by U.S. troops and their families.

Six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Warren Johnson, two-time NHRA
Pro Stock world champion Jim Yates, Top Fuel veteran Cory McClenathan,
and 2006 NHRA Pro Stock world champion Jason Line (who joined the group
for the first time this year) represented GM and the sport of drag
racing during the troop-morale mission to Kuwait and Germany. The
drivers distributed more than 1,500 goody bags that included racing
caps, T-shirts, racing decals, and other items, signed an even larger
number of photos (supplied by the USO), and brought a precious few
minutes of home to everyone they met. Many NHRA sponsors contributed to
the gift bags, and the troops were very appreciative of what they
received.