Infineon Raceway will again join forces with the public this holiday
season for its 8th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, Nov. 3-21.

These are incredibly difficult times, making this year’s drive
extremely important — all of the non-perishable food items collected
will be given to the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) in Petaluma
and Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) in Sonoma.  The annual food drive
has generated more than 11,000 pounds of food since its inception in
2000, including 2,300 pounds in 2007.

Through the generosity of the public, Infineon Raceway hopes to at least match the number from 2007.

Last evening CompetitionPlus.com posted a news item regarding a group
raising funds for cancer survivor and NHRA announcer Lynn Nickerson to
fulfill a lifelong dream of driving a race car.

Thanks to the
generosity of the Harker Top Alcohol racing family and drag racing
school instructor Frank Hawley, Nickerson will realize his dream.

Competitors in the JEGS ProMod Challenge will be making a record 12
stops in 2009 as they battle for the most prestigious trophy in Pro
Modified drag racing. JEGS officials, working with NHRA, released the
schedule earlier than ever before to allow top-tier racers enough time
to make plans for the upcoming season.
 
"We wanted to make a statement about our commitment to the series,
while also showing our appreciation to NHRA for allowing us to race at
their premier events," series organizer and racer Troy Coughlin said.
"By all accounts, 2008 was the best year in the history of the series.
We plan to build on the solid platform we created this year."
 
The expanded 2009 schedule includes first-time visits to Heartland Park
Topeka in Kansas and zMax Dragway at Concord in North Carolina. The
popular cars and drivers also will headline JEGS SPORTSnationals events
in Belle Rose, La., and Columbus, Ohio. Additionally, Pro Mod action
will take place during NHRA national events in Gainesville, Fla.,
Houston, St. Louis, Bristol, Tenn., Englishtown, N.J., Indianapolis,
Richmond, Va., and Las Vegas.

Team Strange Apparel's Tracy Stange has announced a one-race
sponsorship of the Jim Head Nitro Funny Car team for this weekend's
ACDelco NHRA Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas.

Many of us know the ‘voice’ of NHRA Division 4, Lynn Nickerson.  He brings an unparalleled love of the sport to the
microphone
when he announces.  Many times you can see him walking around the pits
with his notepad to get the inside scoop on what’s going on.  He’s been
a winner off the track as he has battled cancer twice and came out on
top.
 
While he’s announced everything from Jr. Dragsters to Top Fuel, he has
yet to make a pass down the track in a racecar.  It has been a
long-time dream for Nickerson to get on the track, but he has never had
the opportunity.  The financial strains of his battles with cancer have
certainly not helped.

Pro Stock ace Jeg Coughlin, Funny Car dynamo Tim Wilkerson and
soon-to-be-champ-again Tony Schumacher should win Sunday’s NHRA ACDelco
Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Says who?  Says Micah Roberts, veteran oddsmaker for Station Casinos in
Las Vegas.  Roberts has selected Schumacher at 5-to-7 to top the Top
Fuel Dragster field.  Schumacher needs only to qualify for Sunday’s
16-car elimination ladder to earn enough points to clinch the 2008 NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series championship.

On Saturday, November 8, Palm Beach International Raceway will open its
gates for the first event on the newest of all-concrete drag race
surfaces in the country.

After months of rebuilding, this well-known Jupiter, FL, race facility
will again offer racers the opportunity to test and tune their
vehicles.

The PBIR staff and management are looking forward to providing the
racers with a great track and a positive experience!  Gates open 9AM
with racing 10AM to 5PM.
Race entry $50, crew/spectator entry $15 each and children 12 years and under no charge when accompanied by a parent.

CompetitionPlus.com’s
official rendering artist Greg Russell caught wind there’s a good
chance the re-introduced Dodge Avenger could be the Team Mopar vehicle
of choice in the professional categories.

Just call him a rookie with huge expectations.

Matt Hagan finished third in the IHRA Funny Car points championship
after contending for the title right up until the first round of the
last race. The Radford, Va.-based driver wanted so much more.

Hagan had an outside chance to win what could be the final IHRA Nitro
Funny Car crown, and the opportunity evaporated with a double loss to
eventual champion Terry Haddock.

Although 2008 is not history just yet, the 2009 schedule at Bristol Dragway already is coming together.

One of Thunder Valley’s greatest traditions returns next year when the
Super Chevy Show takes place Sept. 25-27 with plenty of the high-octane
entertainment fans have come to expect when the Bowtie Brigade visits
Bristol.

The Super Chevy Show offers exciting exhibition action from the series’
professional drivers, as well as the region’s best bracket competitors.
The Nitro Coupes provide a jaw dropping display of power and precision
as they scream through Thunder Valley. Jet dragsters light up the track
with explosive speed, while wheelstanders and pristine Chevrolet show
vehicles make this event one to remember.