Four-time NHRA world champion Gary Scelzi, driver of the Mopar/Oakley
Dodge Charger Funny Car, took his first stint behind the wheel of his
Scelzi Enterprises/Jeg's/K&N Filters USAC car in a practice session
for
the Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals this past Tuesday night.

For Scezli, those laps were the culmination of several years of
planning and going to school to learn how to drive a sprint car. For
some the sight of a drag racer climbing into a car that has to make
four left turns might be a jaw dropper. However, for Scelzi it's just
another experience in the world of motorsports.

“It is absolutely true,” Scelzi replied when initially asked over the
winter if he was going to compete in the Chili Bowl. “ I own a USAC
pavement car and a USAC dirt car that (17-year-old) Michael Faccinto
drives. And one of the things I've wanted to do since I drove the Ford
Focus celebrity race in 2003 (at the Chili Bowl) was to race the Chili
Bowl itself. And now that I own my own USAC team I told everybody on my
team that, OK I'm going to run the Chili Bowl this year.

After many months of negotiations, Bob Gilbertson announced that after five
years of support from the Honeywell Consumer Products Group, he will go into the
2008 drag racing season without Autolite and Prestone as associate
sponsors. 

Chris Powell of Las Vegas Motor Speedway has responded to a letter
distributed to professional nitro racers not attending the upcoming
Nitro Blast Off, January 18 - 20, 2008 at the Strip in Las Vegas.

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. 

Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com has learned the NHRA will not sanction the upcoming Nitro
Blast Off hosted by The Strip in Las
Vegas. We also learned that there is a letter sent
to members and non-members of the Professional Racers Organization [P.R.O.], with
Bernstein quoting Graham Light as pointing to tire safety as one of the leading reasons for the NHRA's decision.

Big changes are coming at DSR but nothing is confirmed and contracted.

The largest news will be the addition of a fourth nitro Funny Car by Jerry Toliver and bringing along the Rockstar sponsorship.

"Nothing is signed and finalized," Schumacher said of the Toliver consolidation. "We will see what develops." 

Recent
Bob Gilbertson crew chief Tommy Delago has also been signed along with
Rick Cassell. Both are expected to tune for Beckman.

CANIDAE® All Natural Pet Foods, a leading manufacturer of super premium dog and
cat foods, has announced that it will be the primary sponsor on Jim Dunn
Racing's Chevrolet Funny Car for the 2008 NHRA POWERade season.

"CANIDAE
Pet Foods was founded on the love of dogs and cats, the importance of family,
and the belief in having fun and enjoying life," said a spokesperson on behalf
of CANIDAE. "We found no better arena to share our philosophy of 'Responsible
Pet Ownership' through proper nutrition and care than with Jim Dunn Racing and
the passionate fans of the NHRA.

"At CANIDAE Pet Foods, www.canidae.com,
we are committed to providing our valued customers and their pets with the
highest standard of excellence for product quality, palatability and customer
satisfaction. We stand behind the guaranteed analysis of each and every one of
our products and invite NHRA fans to discover the benefits of feeding their pets
CANIDAE and FELIDAE® All Natural Pet Foods."

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.