Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced
that it will be returning as the title sponsor of two-time
International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Pro Modified World Champion
Mike Janis for the 2007 season. Janis will unveil his car and new paint
scheme at Eaton’s display at the 55th Annual Murray’s Autorama held in
Detroit, March 9-11 at Cobo Hall.

“Competitive drag racing is a great venue to highlight our
performance-related product portfolio,” said Tom Nellenbach, marketing
manager for Eaton Performance Products.  “Eaton’s Aeroquip(R) hoses,
connectors, fittings, Detroit Locker(R) differentials and racing engine
valves and lifters have been helping champions like Mike Janis find the
winner’s circle for decades. Mike is a great ambassador for our company
and products.”

The Goodyear 2420 tire will be the only model accepted for competition in both
of IHRA's Nitro classes for the 2007
season.

Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein announced today that Jimmy Walsh
will assume the duties as crew chief of his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil
Dodge Charger Funny Car.  Walsh will be accompanied by right hand man,
Danny DeGennaro.

In a rumor that spread like wildfire, Kenny Bernstein's publicist Suzie Arnold denies any truth to Todd Okahara and Phil Shuler departing the Don Schumacher Racing camp and headed to Kenny Bernstein's Moster Funny Car team. She declined to comment any further citing that an "official" statement is in the works.

Drag racing entrepreneur Evan Knoll’s expanding influence took a new turn with
the announcement this week of a naming rights agreement that will transform US
131 Motorsports Park into Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at US 131. The facility is
home to an IHRA Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series event, the Torco Racing Fuels
Northern Nationals, August 3 – 5.

Knoll, whose holdings
include Knoll Gas, Torco Racing Fuels, Seelye Wright Automotive Group, Skull
Shine, Accelerator and Skull Gear, works out of corporate offices in nearby
Decatur,
Mich., a 45-minute drive
from the track.

“It made sense to put
our name on our home track,” Knoll said. “It’s a great place to spotlight our
complete product line and showcase our drivers and teams.”

The first ever Justice Brothers-sponsored Shav Glick award has been won
by drag racing icon Don “The Snake” Prudhomme. A panel of prestigious
judges from the world of motorsports selected Prudhomme from a list of
five candidates nominated to receive the 8th Annual Shav Glick award.
Prudhomme was honored during the pre-race ceremonies at the NASCAR Auto
Club 500 at the California Speedway on February 25.

MONSTER OF A TIME FOR BOTH BERNSTEINS; WINNERS SHOW HEART; ONE PEDREGON VINDICATED, ONE VOWING COMEBACK

Monroe’s Mike Bell drove Roy Hill’s 2007 Ford Mustang
to best-of-the-event
numbers of 6.013 seconds at 230.17 miles per hour
Saturday at Rockingham
Dragway en route to the Pro Modified championship
at the second annual ROCK
Battery Spring Blast presented by
raceworks.com.

Bell shared the
winners’ circle with six-time IHRA world champion Rickie
Smith of King, who
sailed to an easy Pro Stock victory at the wheel of
the Skull Shine Chevrolet
Cobalt.

Bell, who like Smith is a former IHRA Pro Stock Champion, was
clocked in
6.129 seconds at 201.76 mph in the Pro Modified final, turning
back
second generation driver Scott Cannon of Lyman, S.C., winner of of
last
October’s IHRA World Finals.

You can’t blame Hot Rod Fuller for being overly excited when he repeated as NHRA CSK Nationals Top Fuel champion. After all, in January he wasn’t even sure if he had a ride. Fuller’s Valvoline deal is scheduled for two races and headed into Gainesville, the team is looking for a major deal. 

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 23rd
annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird
International Raceway, the second of 23 events in the  NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series Countdown to the Championship -