Tony Schumacher received his first Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy Saturday
evening at the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters
Association (AARWBA) awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in downtown
Indianapolis. The Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy, named for the late
journalist and racer, is given annually to honor the driver who earns
the most total votes in balloting for auto racing's official
All-America Team as selected by the membership of AARWBA.

Schumacher, 37, from Chicago, became the 37th winner of the prestigious
trophy, which has been awarded to many of auto racing’s greats. Other
NHRA stars to be honored with the coveted prize include Don Prudhomme
(1976), Shirley Muldowney (1982) and John Force (1996, 1999, 2000 and
2002), the only four-time winner of the Titus award. A.J. Foyt (1975),
Mario Andretti (1977, ’78 and ’84), Darrell Waltrip (1981), Dale
Earnhardt (1987), Nigel Mansell (1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, ’98 and
’01) also have received the honor.

Work began Friday on a big-time makeover at Montgomery Motorsports
Park.
First on the agenda was cutting out both water boxes.  MMP Track
Manager Bob
Carney and Maintenance Director Robert Griffin directed the
effort which
began Friday and ended today (1/13).  The new water boxes will
be placed
early next week, paving the way (pardon the pun) for a major
track
grinding/resurfacing.

V. Gaines
and his Colorado
based Pro Stock are getting ready for another great year.

We have pics of his new scheme for 2007. 

The California
Independent Funny Car Association is pleased that the 2007 Season will mark their
23rd year of competition. With that some exciting events have
happened during the off season

Dan Pikarsky, who has served as director of business development at
Cagnazzi Racing for the past three years, has been promoted to senior
vice president of business development.

In his new role, Pikarsky will build and oversee the operation of the
business development group and will continue his management of sponsor
relations.

Check out the rendering of the new Knoll Gas Motorsports-sponsored dragster to be driven by Clay Millican and tuned by Mike Kloeber.

After consultations with his family, sponsors and his employees, Mark
“Cowboy” Pawuk has decided to forego the 2007 NHRA POWERade Series
season. It will be the first time in 21 years that the Pro Stock
veteran’s colorful Pontiac won’t be part of the national drag racing
scene.

“This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Pawuk
acknowledged from his offices at Empaco Equipment Corporation in
Richfield. “What’s made it even harder for me is that our sponsors, who
have demonstrated amazing loyalty, have been so encouraging. Every
single one of them has indicated that when we return to action next
season they’ll continue to have their logos displayed on our car, and
I’m very grateful for their support.

Bruce Litton recently announced
the hiring of noted veteran Nicky Boninfante as tuning consultant and an
integral part of the Lucas Oil/Torco
Racing Fuel sponsored top fuel team.

“I can’t wait for the new season
to start”, Litton said. “Coming back from my crash in early September, we made
great progress with our back-up car at the IHRA final’s last year, with a new
Hadman chassis being built for this season and adding Nicky makes us excited
for racing to begin.  This will be a very
competitive year in Top Fuel and I feel we need to put our best foot forward to
be in the middle of a season long shoot-out.”

Drag racing team owner and driver Kenny “Captain Chaos” Koretsky has chosen Doug
Davenport as his first director of motorsports for KPK
Motorsports.
 
Koretsky’s racing stable includes a Nitro Fish Pro Stock entry and a Pro Stock
partnership with Greg Hill that has him driving Hill’s Indicom Electric/Nitro
Fish Chevrolet Cobalt.

Dick Landy, the popular cigar-chomping engine builder and driver who campaigned
a successful Dodge and Plymouth factory race cars in a variety of classes
including Pro Stock throughout the 1960s and early 70s, passed away Jan. 11 from
kidney failure. He was 69.