:::::: News ::::::

JEGS NHRA PRO MODIFIED

JEGS Mail Order will bring the exciting world of ProMod drag racing to the NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series as an exhibition class for the eighth year in a row
in 2008 with the JEGS ProMod Challenge. Hosting 10 events this season, the JEGS
ProMod Challenge begins March 13-16 at the 39th annual ACDelco NHRA
Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

"This is an exciting time for
ProMod, the drivers, their sponsors, and the multitude of fans across the
country and around the world," driver and series organizer Troy Coughlin said.
"We've seen the competition grow from a small exhibition deal in 2001 to full
16-car fields of extremely well-matched racecars in just seven years.

HARTFORD ADJUSTING TO PRO STOCK

Matt Hartford made a name for himself racing four-cylinder, turbo doorslammers on the

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NHRA
Sport Compact series. He’s prepared to give the same effort to
establish a reputation on the big stage of 500-inch NHRA Pro Stock
racing.

Hartford is driving the David Nickens Stratus for a limited amount of races in 2008.

“I'm going to try to run Pro Stock as much as I humanly can but what that means?” Hartford said. “I don't know.”

Hartford made the Phoenix field, his second consecutive qualifying race. He’s not shy about showing his excitement, either.

”This is great,” said Hartford. “David's great to work with.  How long
this deal lasts I don't know but we're going to enjoy it while we can. 
Any seat time is good seat time.  I've got Mike Sullivan up there
telling me how the world is round and if I listen to him and David then
I should be pretty good.”

NEW LOOK FOR MARK THOMAS

thomasDSA_2258.jpgSeven-time IHRA Alcohol Funny Car World Champion Mark Thomas will have
a different look this season. The mop-topped farmer from Ohio will be
the first drag racer to drive a 2008 Impala SS body in competition.

“There is another Impala SS out there, I know there is an NHRA driver
who has one, but I don’t think he will be on the track before us,”
Thomas said. “Other than that I don’t know of anyone else who has one.
And you should see this thing…it is thoroughly wild. It looks like a
Batmobile. The wind tunnel numbers on this thing are incredible so
we’re expecting to be very fast.”

How fast? Well, Thomas has a number in mind.

FIRST LOOK - DAVID REESE PROCHARGER MUSTANG

David Reese is switching gears and is getting ready to run Pro Mod for
2008. See his new Mustang.

FORMER NSCA CHAMPION JOINS PMRA TOUR IN 2008

PMRA.gifTwo-time NSCA Top Street World Champion Randy Jewell spent many years
following the National Street Car Association circuit behind the wheel
of Patrick Budd’s nitrous assisted Corvette. During that time he took
two World Championships and one Championship runner-up back to his
Holley, NY, home, but he never really got to race in his own backyard.
The closest he came was when the NSCA ventured into Canada to the Grand
Bend Motorplex. Now armed with the JFM Racing twin turbo Camaro he is
getting that opportunity when he joins the 2008 Pro Modified Racing
Association tour.
 
Built by his own RJ ProFab concern, the Jewell, Falco & Mars Racing
Camaro ran a restricted schedule in late 2007, cumulating in an end of
season visit to the Orlando World Street Nationals.

DON PRUDHOMME RACING SIGNS OKUMA

snakeokuma.jpgOkuma America Corp., a world leader in the development of machine-tool
technology and computer numerical control (CNC), has entered into a
manufacturing and technology partnership agreement with Don Prudhomme
Racing for its NHRA Top Fuel team. The two-year associate sponsorship
deal through the 2009 season will give Okuma further exposure as the
official machine tool supplier for Snake Racing and provide Don
Prudhomme Racing the CNC machine technology it needs to be even more
competitive.

“Our success with Bill Miller Engineering, Don Schumacher Racing,
Richard Childress Racing, and Competition Cams has certainly helped us
show Don Prudhomme that we are interested in helping the Snake Racing
team both on and off the track,” said Okuma America Corp. President and
COO Larry Schwartz. “It’s an opportunity to become an associate sponsor
with another world-class organization and continue the momentum we have
providing quality CNC machine tools to the high-performance racing
industry.”

PROLONG RE-SIGNS FOR 2008 TWILIGHT CRUISE SPONSORSHIP AT PARKS NHRA MUSEUM

For the second consecutive year, GoldenWest Lubricants and its Prolong® brand
will be the title sponsorship for the Prolong® Twilight Cruise Nights at the
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of
Southern California.

"We're pleased with the results we've seen from our
marketing efforts at the Museum's Twilight Cruise Nights," said Dan Griffiths,
president of GoldenWest Lubricants.  "Our sales to this important performance
car market have increased as has our brand recognition, as we support the Parks
Museum."

"GoldenWest Lubricants is an important marketing partner for
us," said Tony Thacker, executive director of the Parks Museum.  "We're pleased
that their marketing and sales results reflect the depth of their commitment. 
This renewal shows that they're getting tangible results from their Museum
connection."

DRAG RACER HITTING THE WEIGHT ROOM

dejoria topeka.jpgNHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Alexis De Joria and the Tequila
Patrón/Jack O'Bannon Racing team will be looking to bounce back during this
weekend's Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series opener at Firebird Raceway
just outside of Phoenix.  The team tested extensively in Phoenix during the
preseason and backed that up with another test session in Bakersfield, Calif.,
after the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. 
De Joria hopes to duplicate the career-best numbers she has run in testing in
the Tequila
Patrón Dodge Charger and make a strong showing in Phoenix this
weekend.
 
De
Joria, 30, the daughter of Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products and
Patrón Spirits Company founder John Paul De Joria, cites while the team is
working around the clock to make the car better, she is training hard to make
herself better.  To build her upper body strength to handle the rigors of
driving a Top Alcohol Funny Car, considered by many to be the hardest car in all
of drag racing to drive, she is working five days a week with a professional
boxing trainer.

OHIO VALLEY SCCA GIVES TO THE JEG'S FOUNDATION

The Ohio Valley Region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) presented a
check for the fourth consecutive year.  To date this group has given more than
$13,000 and remains dedicated The JEGS Foundation and the efforts surrounding
the "Racing for Cancer Research" program.
 
John, Troy, Mike, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. all on hand to receive this years
check from Barry Baker. The privately-funded entity of the JEGS Foundation for
Cancer Research benefits the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research
Institute.

RICKIE SMITH SIGNS NEW ASSOCIATE SPONSOR FOR PRO MODIFIED TEAM

Seven-time IHRA Champion Rickie Smith signed Bailey Trucking
to an associate sponsorship on his 1963 nitrous-injected Pro Mod Corvette for
the 2008 racing season.

Smith will compete at the season-opening ADRL Drag Illustrated
Dragpalooza IV in Houston, Texas, March 7-8. 

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