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

2008 SUPER CHEVY SCHEDULE

Roger Gustin, President of AutoStar Productions, Inc. released the 2008
Super Chevy Show Event Schedule.  The Super Chevy Show has 15 events on
tap for the upcoming season.

TOP TEN REASONS TO LOVE THE IHRA

Some items really don't need a caption.

NHRA NOPI SCHEDULE

NOPI Motorsports has announced the schedule for the 2008 “NOPI Drag Racing
Series sanctioned by NHRA.” 

The eight-race series features stops at NHRA member
tracks around the country, including two stops at Old Bridge Township in
Englishtown, N.J.

DAVID POWERS MOTORSPORTS RELOCATES

NHRA Top Fuel team David Powers Motorsports has relocated to a new,
state-of-the-art facility in Brownsburg, Ind. The 40,000 square-foot race shop
is located on Southpoint Circle in the Indianapolis suburb.

 

The shop will house both the Matco
Tools and Caterpillar Top Fuels teams and allows for future expansion. The
building features a modern look and offers a fan-friendly viewing area for race
fans. The building was constructed by ACME Buildings, Inc. and is owned by Tim
Buckley, President of Vintage Design Inc. and financial partner of David Powers
Motorsports. The team had previously worked out of a facility in Pittsboro,
Ind.

IHRA AWARDS VIDEO ONLINE

If you were not able
to attend the year-end Knoll Gas Nitro Jam championship celebration at the
Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio you can now see all the video that accompanied
the Saturday evening ceremony. Simply go to www.nitrojam.com, click on
the “Featured Video” link and enjoy season highlights and championship profiles
from the 2007 Knoll Gas Nitro Jam.

RON CAPPS Q&A

Schumacher Racing to a fourth-place season result in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series. In a dynamic season which saw a new Countdown to the Championship
points playoff system, and another dramatic battle to the finish, Capps won
three national events in seven final rounds, ending with a season round win-loss
record of 32-19.

It was tough for Capps, who led the point standings
through 14 of the first 17 events (of 23 in all) by as much as 154 markers, to
be in such a close fight for the crown in the last three seasons and once again
find himself without a trophy. But, as you'll see from his answers, he continues
to support the Countdown, and will focus even harder in 2008, if that's
possible, on capturing his first Funny Car championship.

After three
years being backed primarily by the Brut brand, in 2008 the Dodge Charger Capps
drives for DSR will be sponsored by NAPA AUTO PARTS, something he is looking
forward to with eager anticipation. He also answers the critics' questions as to
why Brut departed the team and series.

Outspoken on safety matters, the
42-year-old California native discusses his views on how NHRA will approach this
subject in the future and he compares the NHRA to ultra-successful NASCAR. He
also talks about his goals for the future and gets up close and personal about
his family.

Capps' professional NHRA career began in 1995. His
performance statistics since then include 25 national-event wins in 52 final
rounds in 271 races, and a career round win-loss record of 313-231.

NEW NHRA TF CHASSIS SPEC

The NHRA has legalized a
new chassis specification for the Top Fuel division and labeled it as SFI Spec
2.3N and it will become effective as of April 21, 2008. The gives all teams the
opportunity to have new cars or existing ones brought into spec by the NHRA
Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Ga.

The new spec will be
one-and-a-half inch .095 chromoly tubing on the top and bottom rail with
sleeves in each bend. The bend at the rear firewall, at top and bottom will
require a sleeve. The bend at the front of the motor that goes up to the hoop
will also require a sleeve in it too.

“It can be the same size
tubing and wall thickness but the kicker is that it can be heat-treated or
non-heat treated,” said chassis builder Brad Hadman. “That a legal thing for
the NHRA. No one is going to build a heat-treated car because there’s no reason
to.

JR. DRAG FINALS RETURNS TO BRISTOL & DENVER

NHRA has announced that the O’Reilly Auto Parts Junior Drag
Racing League Eastern and Western Conference Finals will return to Bristol
Dragway and Denver’s Bandimere Speedway in 2008.  Bristol Dragway will host the
Eastern Conference Finals July 10-12 and Bandimere Speedway’s Western Conference
Finals is slated for July 24-26.

O'NEILL ADMITS AWARD A SURPRISE

Jeff O’Neill admitted that
he was caught a bit off guard during the recent IHRA Championship Awards
Banquet last weekend. The freshman Top Fuel driver was in attendance to
celebrate with mentor and team owner Bruce Litton on Litton’s world championship
triumph.

In addition to that observance,
O’Neill was on the receiving end of the IHRA’s Rookie of the Year accolades
despite only competing in half of the scheduled events.

“We attended the banquet
looking to celebrate Bruce’s title.  And
that was great--to see a true champion like Bruce accept that title after so
many years of hard work, that was as special for me as any personal achievement
I could imagine,” explained O’Neill. 
“But then they called me up to the stage as the ‘Rookie of the year,’”
he exclaimed.  “I wasn’t prepared for
that at all!”

CHANGE OF PACE FOR SNYDER

Three-time Division 3 Top Alcohol
Funny Car champion, Mick Snyder, will be competing in the Snowbird Nationals
this weekend in Bradenton,
Florida, but for the first time in
about 5 years, he will be behind the wheel of a Top Alcohol Dragster.  The car
owned by Evan Knoll and tuned by Brian Pfeifer is equipped with a clutch,
something Snyder, who’s funny car uses a converter, hasn’t experienced in the
past.

“Ever since Brian called and asked
if I wanted to drive I have really been looking forward to this weekend.  I was
really excited to get my feet wet behind the wheel of a clutch car and after
testing on Wednesday, I am feeling pretty good about it,” said Snyder.

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