PHOTO GALLERY

Goodguys Close Out VRA Racing Season
on a High Note at Famoso Raceway

Auto Club Famoso
Raceway, Bakersfield, CA - An abbreviated 2006
Goodguys/VRA Nostalgia Drag Racing Series came to a picture perfect end today at
Auto Club Famoso Raceway, just north of Bakersfield as all 14 class finals were run at
sunset. It was almost as if Mother Nature was in sync with the drag racing gods
– timing the whole thing just right.

The Nostalgia Top Fuel race outcome and the championship
points battle hung in the balance of the final which featured 2005 Goodguys
champion Rick White against 25 year old hard charger Sean Bellemeur. At stake in
the final for Bellemeur was his first-ever Goodguys Top Fuel event win and his
first-ever Goodguys Top Fuel Championship. His bid fell short just after he left
the line as his Plaza Hotel & Casino entry went up in smoke. White, who had
struggled all season, found the winning combination here at the ‘Finals streaked
away to win the event in 5.873 seconds. Utah’s Brett Harris, who had gone out in
today’s second round, won the Goodguys Top Fuel  Championship as his second
round finish here and big win earlier in the season at Pomona gave him the
needed points for his first-ever Goodguys Top Fuel title. Harris also set a new
Goodguys Top Fuel class speed record this weekend at
261.24.

Let us take you behind the scenes at the Bakersfield Fuel and Gas Championships. Roger Richards has provided us with this photo gallery. 

PHOTO GALLERY

Ron Capps was trying to
qualify at the Goodguys 8^th annual Fuel and Gas Finals and instead
placed first in the wheelstand contest. He also grazed both Bakersfield retaining walls. The end result
was an uninjured Capps, a wounded race car and one for the highlight reel.

At the hit, Capps experienced
exceptional traction in Jeff Gaynor’s classic Mopar flopper and put the car on
the bumper. The car landed hard (with apparent steering damage) and scraped the
left wall before slowing and eventually crossing over to make contact with the
right. (Photo captured from video)

CRASH VIDEO

THE VIDEO

Don Garlits has experienced some wild rides
in his day but few like the one he took during the Southern Nostalgia Shootout
recently at South Georgia Motorsports Park. “Big Daddy” did a 180-degree spin in
a front engine dragster.

Garlits brought his Swamp Rat VIII recreation to put on
a show for the fans. He made a short blast on Saturday and another on Sunday,
and participated in the Cacklefest on Saturday night. He spent hours talking
with his fans and signing autographs.

Check out our extensive photo gally by Roger Richards.

SEMA PHOTOS 

NHRA and ESPN officials announced late yesterday that next Saturday's qualifying
coverage of the Auto Club NHRAFinals will return to its original timeslot,
starting at 10 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 HD.

"ESPN decided it was best to
provide our fans of the NHRA with primetime coverage of qualifying from
Pomona in the heat of this year'schampionship battle," said Frantz Cayo,
ESPN director of motorsportsprogramming. "Therefore, we are keeping the
telecast at 10 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday."

NHRA officials announced today that next Saturday's qualifying coverage of
the Auto Club NHRA Finals willnow be presented during a two-hour live
telecast, starting at 5 p.m.(ET) on ESPN2 HD.

Did you miss last weekend's Orlando World Street Nationals? We have reposted our extensive PHOTO GALLERY and DAILY NOTEBOOK for your viewing pleasure.

Recently licensed Australian Top
Alcohol Dragster driver Kate Harker will drive Tom Conway's Skull Shine/Torco
Race Fuels A/Fuel Dragster during this weekend's NHRA Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series event at "The Strip" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Lee Callaway,
who normally drives the car, will reassume driving duties at next weekend's AAA
Auto Club Finals in Pomona, Calif.