Every father on the planet has a dream for his children and every child
has a dream to pursue, hopefully with the full support of their father.

Bob Gilbertson, NHRA Funny Car driver, put his dream for son Jake, 8 at
the time, into motion after attending an elementary school function.

“I was sitting there, the curtain opens and there is my son sitting at
a grand piano,” said Gilbertson. “I didn't even know he was taking
piano lessons. Not that there is anything wrong with someone playing
the piano. I just didn't know.”

Determined to balance the piano lessons, Gilbertson offered his son
alternatives in the world of motor sports. Jake chose to pursue
motocross, dropping the piano altogether. Drag racing was not one of
the options, even though there are classes in drag racing for younger
kids.

After winning back to back championships, Dale Creasy will defend his
titles in 2008 with a slight change of scenery. The Evan Knoll
sponsored entry will continue to carry the Torco Racing Fuels branding
- this time in black and on the teams new Chevrolet Impala SS Funny Car
body.

"We're excited about the new look and the new body," Creasy said while
enjoying the off season preparing for the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam season
opener April 4-6 at the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in San Antonio,
Texas. "It looks fast standing still."

The classic Torco look was created by Mick Snyder and designed by Jef
Caudle Designs. GO Graphix will produce and install the graphics.

The All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) has
announced immediate revisions to the 2008 Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts
Championship Series schedule that was originally released in early
December.

The first announcement affects the Phoenix, AZ,
event scheduled on March 29th and 30th. Although those dates will remain the
same, the event location has been changed to Speedworld Dragstrip in Wittman,
AZ.

Located approximately 20 miles from Phoenix, the
facility has undergone notable improvements since AHDRA’s last appearance there
in 2000.

AHDRA President Craig Tharpe explained that the
reason for the move from the previous location (Firebird International Raceway)
was a result of scheduling conflicts and concerns expressed over the track’s
length that is needed for the high-powered Top Fuel bikes. “Ultimately, the
track was not available on our desired dates, and fortunately for everyone
involved, Speedworld was available,” he noted.

When you have become known in some circles as the “titanium man”,
chances are you have somewhat of a healthy obsession with the
ultra-lightweight metal.

That is exactly what has happened with Missouri chassis builder Terry
Murphy as construction continues on Charles Carpenter’s next ’55 Chevy.
The buzz generated from Carpenter’s selection of Murphy as the builder
of his new car created quite a stir around Carpenter’s Charlotte, NC
shop, but created an even bigger one at Murphy’s Blue Springs, MO shop.

“It seems like after we announced I was building Charles’ car and that
the goal was to make it as light as possible, the phone has been
ringing off the hook with racers and builders looking for titanium,”
said Murphy. “We used a lot of it in my car and people took note of
that, but we are using even more in Charles’ car.

The following are the pre-entries received for the 8th annual Eastern Spring Test Nationals presented by Torco's CompetitionPlus.com hosted by South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga. 

Chuck Ford has been Mike
Ashley’s crew chief long enough to expect a vision of the absurd from time to
time. In 2008, Ford will get a re-run of the 2005 season when his driver would
make a blazing run in his Evan Knoll-sponsored nitro Funny Car only to hop on a
scooter and race back to the staging lanes at breakneck speed in order to strap
into a supercharged, alcohol-burning Pro Modified entry.

Yes, Mike Ashley plans to
run a 24-race NHRA POWERade schedule in Funny Car but he also plans to run 10
events on the NHRA Pro Modified tour behind the wheel of a new 1968 Camaro.

Contrary to published reports elsewhere, Ashley has confirmed that he will be a
partner in a three-car team with Roger Burgess.

The game plan is totally
different than when Ashley ran as a single team en route to winning his second consecutive
championship in 2005. The focus is certainly on the present, but Ford adds this
plan goes well beyond the present.

Don Gillespie, longtime drag racing
photojournalist and former media relations manager for the IHRA, is working hard at completing
a third installment of his "Lions - The Greatest
Drag Strip" DVD series. Gillespie is gunning for an October 2008 release.

“I was recently able to
conduct on-camera interviews with Dale Pulde, Larry Reyes and Don Hardy,”
Gillespie said. “My Christmas present this year was a plane ticket. I will be flying
to Texas in
two weeks to do same with Hayden Proffitt. After this past year's reunion I was
able to sit down with James Warren and Bones Balogh.”

This compilation of NHRA drag racing dates back to 1971 at Ontario
Motor Speedway. You will find an incredible YouTube compilation of
front-engine fuelers, Funny Cars and Pro Stocks. This six minute clip
is a great way to stir up the memory banks.

Within its continuing efforts in support of
Canada’s drag racing scene, DragRaceCanada is pleased to announce its
4th annual "Canadian Drag Racer of the Year" awards program designed to
recognize top achievements in Canadian drag racing during the past 2007
racing campaign.

The 2007
DragRaceCanada "Drag Racer of the Year" awards program will honor five
winners; one Professional driver, one Sportsman driver, one Crew
chief/Tuner as well as the Most Improved/Up-And-Coming drag racer. In
addition a new category has been added to the ballot this season –
Canadian Drag Strip of the year.

Covering all sanctioned drag racing but limited to Canadian drag racers only, the on-line ballot began on Jan. 1st, 2008 and will close at 23:59 on Jan. 31st, 2008.
After the polls close and the audit is completed the five winners will
be announced. All will receive on-line recognition as well as a
handsome commemorative “NitroMoose” trophy sculpture.

Reigning POWERade Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. began his 2008 racing
season in unique fashion by participating in the third annual Chevy Geoff Bodine
Bobsled Challenge at the U.S. Olympic compound in northern New York. Piloting a
bobsled for the first time, Coughlin was one of five NHRA pros to take on
several NASCAR drivers in the charity event, which raises money for the U.S.
Bobsled team.

Although his experience sledding down a 19-turn course
where racers reach speeds in excess of 60 mph was nonexistent prior to the
practice sessions for this event, Coughlin took home a bronze medal in the
individual race featuring 10 NASCAR and five NHRA professionals. Coughlin was
also third-best in the NASCAR vs. NHRA Challenge.

"I was a little suspect
Thursday morning when we pulled up to that course and I started realizing I was
pretty much committed to this deal," Coughlin said. "It's one thing to say it
would be fun to drive a bobsled when you're sitting in your office back home but
quite another when you get there and see that massive hill.

"Some great
members of our national team took us under their wing and gave us a heap of
instruction and before you know it we were in sleds making our first few runs.
They started us down low and we made enough runs to get comfortable. Then we
moved up to Gate 3, where the women's teams usually start, and we raced from
there.