Gary Scelzi, a four-time NHRA champion, will be the keynote speaker for
the Mel Larson Night of Champions on Wednesday, April 11. Scelzi
replaces John Force, who asked to be excused from the engagement in the
wake of the death of teammate Eric Medlen.

The event, which will honor local NHRA team owner and businessman Ken
Black, is set for Bellagio’s grand ballroom. All proceeds from the
event will benefit the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children’s
Charities.

Torco's CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Richard Maskin and his
driver Tom Martino have parted ways in the days following their Houston
DNQ. Maskin will reportedly park his team and join forces with Justin
Humphrey. Humphrey will provide the car and Maskin will provide the
horspower.

Bristol Dragway officials announced today that the first 190 feet of the track –
or the concrete launching pad – will be replaced before the O’Reilly NHRA
Thunder Valley Nationals, May 18-20.

After extensive asphalt resurfacing and grinding in the off-season to ensure
the best possible track surface for 2007, issues arose with the concrete portion
of the track during Friday’s Test & Tune session for bracket racers. Due to
those concerns, all events scheduled for the month of April have been postponed.
Action is expected to continue in Thunder Valley on May 3 with a Street Fights
event.

It is with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of
the patriarch of the Spiering Family.
 
Gordon Spiering, father of Pro
Modified competitor Carl Spiering, succumbed after a courageous battle with
cancer Tuesday, April 3, 2007.
 
A mechanic by trade, Gordon was born
December 5, 1933 in Holland and immigrated to Canada in 1947. He operated Gord's
Auto Repair in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas has hired three-time champion tuner Rahn
Tobler as crew chief of his Lucas Oil dragster.  Tobler spent the last
three years heading Doug Kalitta's operation and tuned the standout pro
to 14 national event wins and two second-place finishes in the POWERade
points.  Previously, Tobler captained
teams that won three world titles and 18 NHRA victories.

Lucas has struggled finding consistency over the past six months and
has yet to win an elimination round this year.  He currently holds the
14th spot in the Countdown to the Championship rankings and recorded
the second DNQ of his career at the season opener in Pomona, Calif. 
Lucas' former crew chief, John Stewart, has been relived of his duties
with the team effective immediately, while recently hired car chief
Lance Larsen has been retained and will assist Tobler.
"I'm very excited to be working with a person of Rahn's abilities and
talents," Lucas said.  "He's such an easy-going guy and he's always
been super nice to me ever since I got started.  We knew someone as
talented as Rahn wouldn't stay available for long so we moved quickly
to get him when he became available.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Speedway Children’s Charities will honor local
businessman and NHRA team owner Ken Black at the Mel Larson Night of Champions
on April 11 at the Bellagio.

“I am honored and humbled by this
recognition,” said Black.  “My association with motorsports goes back a long way
and it is ironic that I can be honored for what to me is a love and passion.  I
thank Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Speedway Children’s Charities for this
recognition and hope that the event raises a large sum for the children’s
charities in the Las Vegas area.”

Black is the owner of KB Racing LLC,
with three-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson, reigning NHRA Pro Stock
Champion Jason Line, and Top Fuel driver Hillary Will handling the driving
duties.

The Silverton Casino and Lodge in Las Vegas will
serve as team headquarters for NHRA Top Fuel powerhouse David Powers Motorsports
during the spring event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was
announced today.

The
David Powers Motorsports operation, which includes Las Vegas racer and four-time
NHRA Top Fuel winner Rod Fuller and 20-time NHRA winner and longtime Matco Tools
driver Whit Bazemore, will call the
Silverton home during the eighth annual Summit Racing.com Nationals, April
12-15, at The Strip at LVMS. Fuller, who won the Phoenix race in February, currently leads the
NHRA Top Fuel standings, while Bazemore is ranked fourth.

“We’re excited to have a local casino partner with our
team,” Fuller said. “The Silverton is my local hangout. I live close to there
and spend a lot of time at The Silverton. The Twin Creek’s Steakhouse is
fantastic. It’s a casino that appeals to all crowds. I’m excited for our team.
It’s a really nice place.”

Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr.,
still waiting for his first round-win of the season, had an exciting time at
Houston even before the race began.

He and wife Melanie Troxel, a Top
Fuel dragster driver, toured NASA for an ESPN reality show and tried out the
facility’s flight simulators.

G-Force Race Cars will once again be sponsoring the Pro Modified Racing
Association as the series enters its third season.