Recently flexing his
competitive muscles behind the wheel of a Funny Car racing simulator at the 25th
annual Lucas Oil Nationals, Minot’s Jim Tarasenko, 53, beat out hundreds of
participants to become the local POWERade Fan Nationals Event Champion. Now,
Tarasenko will travel to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the end of the season to
compete for the national championship.

Tarasenko, a technician for the North Central Research Center,
will ultimately be one of 23 Event Champions from drag strips across the country
to compete to become the Series Champion. He and one guest will travel to the
42nd Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.
the weekend of Nov. 9-12, 2006. There, Tarasenko will compete in a series of
qualifying rounds for the chance to claim the title of POWERade Fan Nationals
Series Champion.

“This is one of the best experiences of my life,” Tarasenko said.
“I never thought I’d win the Fan Nationals. I can’t believe it. This is the
fourth time I’ve competed in the Fan Nationals; I’m thrilled to win.”