There’s something about losing early which just doesn’t set right with three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher.

After capturing two wins in the opening three races, Schumacher posted
an early round exit at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals and in the process
had his lead in the Top Fuel standings cut to eight points.

“We’re going to be just fine,” said the defending NHRA POWERade world
champion. “We had a little hiccup down in Houston, but you’re going to
have those from time to time during the course of a 24-race season.
We’re anxiously awaiting the trip out to Vegas.”

Schumacher has a traditionally strong record in Las Vegas with three wins to his credit, including the spring 2004 race.

“How can you not like racing on a state-of-the-art drag strip,” he
added. “We’ve definitely had our share of success which we hope will
carry over into this weekend.”

Bruce Mehlenbacher of The Pro Modified Racing Association will be a featured
guest on this week’s Raceline Radio Network broadcast which is heard coast to
coast across Canada on 19 affiliate stations.

John Force could make history Sunday afternoon at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway.  Likewise for daughter Ashley Force.  But if one
does, the other can’t.

John Force, a 14-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car
champion, is just four rounds short of reaching a milestone of 1,000
round wins.  Coincidentally, eliminations for Sunday’s NHRA
SummitRacing.com Nationals consist of four rounds.

Ashley Force would like to become the first woman in the 40-year
history of Funny Car racing to win an NHRA national event.  Ashley came
close, reaching the final round two weeks ago in Houston, Texas.  She
lost, and the NHRA Funny Car winner’s circle remained an all-male
domain.

Hardee’s, the popular fast-food restaurant chain, has signed on as the
title rights sponsor for the American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL’s) 4th
annual Hardee’s Georgia Drags May 9-10, at South Georgia Motorsports
Park and soon will begin distributing complimentary tickets to the
event in what promises to be the largest ticket giveaway promotion in
the state’s history.

“The ADRL sponsorship provides Hardee’s with a unique opportunity to
bring tens of thousands of new customers through our doors,” said Tim
Weigel, Director of Field Marketing.  “This kind of exposure made it an
easy decision for Hardee’s to get involved.  We understand the ADRL set
a new attendance record at South Georgia Motorsports Park last season
and with Hardee’s help we expect to shatter that mark this year.”

Reigning FIA Top Fuel champion Urs Erbacher of Switzerland will banner Las Vegas
builder and former Pro Stock racer George Marnell's company -- Marnell Masonry
-- as the primary sponsor of his dragster this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway.

"I still love the sport and it's neat to have a car with
your name on it," the former national event winner said from his Las Vegas home.
"It gives all the kids and our employees someone to root for.

"I haven't
met Urs Erbacher in person yet but I hear he's quite a character. I'm interested
to hear his stories about racing in Europe and I know all the guest we have
coming up to the suite can't wait to meet the European champion. It would be
really something if he can go some rounds this weekend."

There are very few race-car drivers who contribute their valuable time
to give back to their sport and to others as much as cancer survivor
Jack Beckman does. The driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services
Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing doesn't spend his
time between and during NHRA national events helping prepare his car
for competition. He has a talented group of crew members and a crew
chief to handle that. Instead, The 41-year-old California native
donates his time to visit schools and hospitals and takes part in
charity events and fund-raisers.
 
The 2003 NHRA Super Comp champion and driving instructor at Frank
Hawley's Drag Racing School became especially motivated to help less
fortunate people after being diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer,
that year. After enduring six months of chemotherapy treatments
Beckman's outlook on life was changed forever. He began to get involved
with charitable organizations and when he joined the Don Schumacher
Racing team in 2006 it broadened his opportunities to reach out to
others who have endured personal hardships.

When young rookie driver,
Diana Harker signed with Championship winning team owner, Randy Meyer, it was to
join a professional competitive team for the ’08 Season and having already
competed at two national events with great results, the Harker-Meyer Team are
certainly living up to their expectations going into this weekend’s LODRS
Division Four event held at the Texas Motorplex April
11-13.

This weekend's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis
has been rescheduled until next weekend, April 18-20. A weekend
forecast with highs in the mid-40s and a significant chance of rain
each day led to the advance postponement.

Cruz Pedregon leads the Funny Car points
standings for the first time since April 25, 1998. Seven different
drivers have reached a final round in the category with just four races
in the books, including Del Worsham, who broke a two-year drought with
his win in Houston after not making the field at the first two races of 2008.

Need a story line? It's take your pick in Funny Car, where as
predicted no team has yet emerged dominant and giants no longer sleep.

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series stops in Las Vegas
for the ninth annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway April 10-13. The event is the fifth of 24 on
the tour. Brandon Bernstein (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and
Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event in
their respective Pro categories.