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

EVAN KNOLL NOT SOLD ON PARITY IN NHRA PRO STOCK

img_4720.jpgSponsor extraordinaire and Pro Stock team owner Evan Knoll can’t help but
have concerns about his future in Pro Stock. In a recent interview, Knoll
alluded that the NHRA Pro Stock field might just be battling for a third place
finish at best. That has him carefully examining his future in the class.

 
“I have some concerns with three cars coming out of the Cagnazzi camp and
if you ask me, it’s hard enough to put two competitive cars out there much less
three. I have some concerns. We’ll see how that works out at the end of the
year.”
 
Knoll expects the Summit Pontiacs of Greg Anderson and Jason Line to drive
to the title virtually unchallenged.
 
“I have to give it to Anderson and Line, those guys are just badass,” Knoll
said. “When you look at who they have involved in the operation – Ken Black,
Greg Anderson and Jason Line – they are rightfully ahead of everyone. That’s a
package that’s equal to a Thanksgiving dinner, you just can’t beat it. The only
thing I have…and I’m in third place…and I’m not ashamed to say it is a turkey
leg and a giblet. I still want some dressing and potatoes.

NHRA PRO MODS NOT RETURNING TO VMP

The Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Richmond, the second-to-last race of
the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge, was rained out without a single car
ever going down the track. Now, it all comes down to one race, the final event
of the now nine-race season.
 
"This was an incredibly difficult
situation, very unfortunate for everyone," said series director Matthew Brammer.
"We didn't want to make everybody have to come back for the rain date next
weekend, and half the people couldn't make it anyway due to scheduling conflicts
and prior commitments. There's no guarantee what the weather will be next week,
so it was a no-win situation for everyone."
 
The solution? Double the
purse from top to bottom for the season-ending ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals
and settle everything there - one last race for everything.

NHRA TORCO NATIONALS RESCHEDULED

RAIN
POSTPONES TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA NATIONALS AT VMP UNTIL OCT.
13-15
 
racelogo.gifA steady soaking rain and chilling temperatures Saturday
and a wet weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend
have forced NHRA officials to postpone the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at
Virginia Motorsports Park until next weekend, Oct. 13-15.
 
The $1.6 million race, the
21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, marks the
first time NHRA has held an event at the quarter-mile drag strip near Richmond,
Va. since 2000. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin(
Pro Stock) earned victories here that season.

RAIN POSTPONES FRIDAY VMP QUALIFYING

FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT VMP CANCELED DUE TO
RAIN SHOWERS

Persistent rain showers forced NHRA
officials to cancel Friday's racing at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at
Virginia Motorsports Park.The $1.6 million race, the 21st of 23 events in the
$50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, marks the first time NHRA has held
an event at the quarter-mile drag strip near Richmond, Va. since 2000. Larry
Dixon (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin( Pro Stock) earned
victories here that season.
Weather permitting, two rounds of pro qualifying
will be held Saturday (noon and 3 p.m.) to set the 16-car fields in the three
pro categories for Sunday's 11 a.m. eliminations.

The value of tickets
purchased for Friday's racing can be applied to tickets for Saturday and Sunday
or next season's event.

A FRAZZLED FORCE

John Force seems always to
be in a tizzy.

For instance, at the U.S.
Nationals this Labor Day weekend, the rabid Indianapolis Colts fans heard
announcer Bob Frey (speaking on incorrect information given to him) say that
the paint job on the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang was a salute to the NFL’s Dallas
Cowboys. Frey later apologized over the PA system but not before entire
grandstands of Colts fans booed Force. Instead the scheme was a tribute to
event sponsor MAC Tools.

DSR DRIVERS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT TI IN VEGAS OCT. 26

All nine Don Schumacher Racing drivers willparticipate in a special
fan autograph session on Thursday, Oct. 26, at theTI (Treasure Island) hotel
in Las Vegas in advance of the Las Vegas NHRA
Nationals at The Strip at Las
Vegas that weekend.

U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher and Skull
Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco
Race Fuels Top Fuel pilot Melanie Troxel - both
involved in a fierce battle
for the 2006 Top Fuel championship - will sign
from 5:30-6:00 p.m.

U.S. Army Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Angelle Sampey
and Antron Brown - also
in a fight for the class championship - will sign for
one hour between 6-8
p.m.

NEW SPONSOR FOR IHRA WORLD FINALS

UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF IHRA WORLD FINALS

IHRA has announced Universal Technical Institute, Inc., (UTI) will sponsor the upcoming World Finals at Rockingham (N.C.) Dragway, October 20 – 22. With nine campuses and 22 dedicated training centers in the United States, Universal Technical Institute is a provider of technical education training for automotive, motorcycle and marine applications.

“Universal Technical Institute is proud to serve as title sponsor of the 2006 IHRA Nitro Jam™ World Finals, and like motorsport enthusiasts across North America, we’re looking forward to seeing the IHRA crown five world champions at this landmark event,” said Terry Emig, UTI’s Director of Event Marketing. “UTI’s commitment to turn our students’ passion for automobiles into rewarding careers as professional technicians has driven us to build a strong, mutually beneficial partnership with the IHRA.”

TROY COUGHLIN NOT GIVING UP YET

In all likelihood, Troy Coughlin's inaugural season in the Edelbrock Drag Racing
Series will end with a very respectable runner-up finish in the Denso Pro Street
championship standings. But there is still one event left on the seven-race
schedule and until it's mathematically impossible for Coughlin to catch points
leader Vinny Budano, he'll be racing as hard as he can in his JEGS Mail Order
Chevrolet Cavalier.
 
"We'll approach this race like we have a chance to
win the title because we still do," Coughlin said. "Vinny and that group have
done a great job but I'm very proud of the way we've pushed them to be better,
especially considering this was our first full year racing in the NMCA.
 

CARL ROBINSON PROMOTED AT MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES

Mickey
Thompson promoted Carl Robinson to the position of Motorsports Manager. Carl is
a native of Smithtown, NY
and has previously been employed by Weld Wheel Industries, Inc. in Kansas City, MO
as the Director of Motorsports. Carl has over 20 years experience in motorsports
marketing and is the former President of Race Wheel Enterprises Inc. in Dania, FL. 

 

MAPLE GROVE ACCEPTS CHALLENGE

George Case, vice president and general manager at Maple
Grove Raceway, has accepted the Pro Stock Motorcycle challenge issued by
Infineon Raceway in Sonoma with open
arms.

Maple Grove Raceway and Infineon Raceway are considered the
two fastest quarter-mile dragstrips in the country for the Pro Stock Motorcycle
class in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Pages