NHRA MAC TOOLS U..S. NATIONALS - SPORTSMAN NOTEBOOK

SUNDAY NOTEBOOK -

Torco power – Torco Race Fuel is one of the most visible sponsors currently in the NHRA. With countless teams backed by Torco and Skull Shine, it isn’t surprising to see Torco with a great Top Alcohol Dragster program. “Dyno” Dave Heitzman is running in only his second NHRA National Event and is already excited about where his Top Alcohol Dragster program is taking him and Torco. “We qualified No. 7, and this is only our second national we’ve ever been to, and we’re here in Indy,” said Heitzman. “So, we’re doing good I think. It feels great. We’re just going to go out and do like we have every other run. Shane Conway told me that we treat every run like it was the finals, so we’re going to do the same thing we’ve done every other run.”

Heitzman and his Torco backed A/Fuel Dragster was able to get the win light in round one of Top Alcohol Dragster competition. Heitzman raced to the win light with a 5.42, 260.16 MPH against Dave Hirata.

Pulling double duty – As if Morgan Lucas doesn’t have enough to worry about, he has added to his driving responsibilities. With a full Top Fuel program going, Lucas decided to step back into his A-Fuel Dragster. During the height of the NHRA western swing, Lucas began pulling double duty, and is hoping for the best in both cars here in Indy. “Yeah, I have a lot of fun doing this, said Lucas. “Honestly, the fuel car has been coming around, and this thing [the A-Fuel Dragster] is still running pretty good too. We’ve struggled a little bit here in Indy, but it’s still a lot of fun regardless, win, lose, or draw. It’s fun, it’s drag racing. Honestly, my driving hasn’t been its best lately and I’m just trying to figure-out my problems and at the same time everything else. All I’ve done is made it worse, so I’m just trying to get through. You just have to go up and do the best you can I guess.”

Craving an Indy win – Acclaimed sportsman racer David Rampy loves to win, but is craving a big Indy win. Running two cars, one in Stock and one in Comp Eliminator, Rampy feels his chance for success is pretty good. “I didn’t do good in the Stocker, so we just have the Comp car in, said Rampy. “We got past first round and second round, so the car is running good. We’ll wait and see what happens here. Strange things happen in Indy, so we’ll have to wait around and see what happens.”

Because of a mandatory re-run of Comp Eliminator competition, Rampy who originally won the second round, did not win during the re-run. Rampy was timed-out during staging, and Vinny Barone took the win.

Drag Racing re-run – Fresh off his announcement to return to Pro Stock competition, Jeg Coughlin Jr. wants to top off his good weekend with a US Nationals win. With multiple Team Jeg’s cars still in Lucas Oil Sportsman competition, Coughlin will have to make an extra unexpected run. “We’ve got Brad Plourd in the Super Comp car and I’m still in Comp and Super Stock, said Coughlin. “So far so good. I just got a call that we’re going to re-run some of the second round because there was oil on the track. The guy that I beat, even though he ran within a .01 of his best run all weekend, we’re going to re-run that round. At any rate, everything seems to be running very good.”

During the re-run race, Coughlin was able to again take the win light. Coughlin won with a 8.89, on a 9.45 index over Douglas Stewart.

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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK

Figuring things out – One of the top A/Fuel Dragster racers in Top Alcohol Dragster is undoubtedly Randy Meyer. Finishing in the top 3 in the world for the past two years, Meyer and team typically has what it takes to win rounds. Despite his winning history, Meyer has endured a season of struggles and disappointment this year; however, it seems the team is back in winning form. Coming off a very productive weekend at Heartland Park Topeka during the NHRA Division 5 Lucas Oil race, Meyer was hoping to keep up the momentum.

“Hopefully we’ve turned the corner,” said Meyer. “We’ve been struggling, as most people know. We kind of turned the corner last week in Topeka, and my guys have all just been hanging in there. The car has been running very well, and running consistent like it used to. We’re looking for good things tomorrow, and Sunday and Monday. All we’ve got to do is keep fine tuning a little more. We’re pretty close, but we’re not quite 100%, but we’re definitely in the right direction.”

After the second qualifying session, Meyer is in the No. 7 spot with a 5.33, 269.89 MPH.

Looking for an Indy repeat – Along with the Force name comes big pressure. Being the daughter of the winningest NHRA drag racer is sometimes tough, but Ashley Force also has her fathers competitive mind. “We qualified 4th and ran a 5.31, so we’re hoping to go rounds this weekend, said Force. “We didn’t do too well here in Indy last year, but we won here before. I’m really hoping we can get back the luck here.”

Ashley Force won her first National Event here during the US Nationals in 2004. Heading into Indy, Force is 7th in Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster national standings.

Words of motivation – Sometimes being the fastest car doesn’t mean winning the race. Often is the case with Mick Snyder in his Torco Racing Fuel Firebird Top Alcohol Funny Car. Although Snyder is arguably one the best drivers in Top Alcohol Funny Car, it was pointed out that he is not necessarily the fastest. In the Tricky Tipster published in National Dragster, Snyder was noted to be slower despite his winning history. Those words were enough for Snyder and team to step-up their game. According to Larry Snyder, Mick’s father, “Yeah, we had to step-it-up and show we can run with everyone else. Somebody had to fire me up. Somebody had to get me going. It was motivation – it was a motivational thing.”

After two rounds of qualifying Snyder is the No. 1 qualifier with a 5.643, 256.26 MPH. Although the No. 2 qualifier Frank Manzo also ran a 5.643, Snyder took the provisional pole by less then two miles per hour.

Racing with a message – Super Stock driver Jerry Jenkins takes his racing serious and even tries to send an unspoken message to the fans and fellow competitors alike. Printed in large, bold lettering on each door of his ’68 Hemi Cuda the statement “Life is all about Jesus”, along with scripture printed on the rear window. With hundreds of cars with printed with nicknames and sponsors, Jenkins thought he would show his passion on his doors. “That’s the main part of life,” said Jenkins. “If it wasn’t for God, we wouldn’t be here. Life wouldn’t be worth living. He died for us, and saved us, and did everything for us. If it wasn’t for him, there wouldn’t be any reason to get-up in the morning. “

Sharing his faith is what it’s all about for Jenkins. He went on to say, “To share and encourage people, or to make people think who don’t believe. It isn’t all about racing.”

.001 is all the difference – Most everyone in drag racing knows how important just a fraction of a second is. Such is the case in Super Comp. Super Comp is one of the toughest classes in NHRA sportsman racing. Everyone is required to race on an 8.90 index, and if you race too quick you break-out and are disqualified, but if you run too slow you loose the race. According to Super Comp racer Jeff Olschefsky of Michigan, “Well, first round I did a 8.899, against a 9.05. It was close, but I broke-out. This is the hardest class there is.”

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK -

Tough competition – Todd Patterson and the Sharp Contracting team is quickly becoming one of the best teams in Comp Eliminator. Patterson, who qualified 19 out of 64 entries feels he and the car are performing very well. “My car is solid,” said Patterson. “We picked-up .02 and ran a 7.89, so I’m satisfied with my car. The other car must gain .4 to .5 so, we’re going to try a different transmission ratio. Hopefully we both can step-up and go some rounds tomorrow.”

Repeat? – Randy Wilkes of Zanesville, Ohio is hoping to win another Wally. The Stock Eliminator racer just won the NHRA National Event in Bristol, Tennessee earlier this year and is looking to repeat this weekend at the Mac Tools US Nationals. “We had to go through a teardown this morning, but of course we passed,” said Wilkes. “We have first round early tomorrow morning and I expect to win. I hope to repeat Bristol.”

What a class! – With over 170 cars entered into the Stock Eliminator class, everyone is working hard to meet the competition challenge. Russell Linke from Old Bridge, New Jersey is just one trying to make it. “Things aren’t bad,” said Linke. We qualified 54 out of a lot of cars. Tomorrow we are just expecting to go a couple rounds.” Linke is proud to be a part of a family tradition. The second generation racer feels he learned all he knows about racing from his father. He also made comment about a cousin who also races in Stock.

Controversy – Stock Eliminator driver Jim Conte is upset over some happenings in Stock and wants the world to know about it.

“I’m aggravated,” said Conte, who runs a 1969 Mustang. “I’m not too happy with the new intake manifold we have to run. It seems to me the new manifold is some an aftermarket manifold and gives a break to the Chevy guys. Chevys have picked-up a .10 - .15 second. It all came out of the clear blue and is NHRA mandated. Nobody from Edelbrock seems to know where the new intakes came from. It all happened all of a sudden. After a class win in Bristol and K&N SuperNationals in New Jersey, I went from the one of the fastest to one of the slowest. Many other Stock drivers are not happy with the new change. I would just like to know where NHRA come-up with this replacement intake. This isn’t good in the middle of the season. Many of us work with legal bottom ends and this makes it real hard for those us non-Chevy guys to be competitive. As the wind blows, we are behind the eight-ball again.”

Not quite – Bucky Hess knows all too well how important cutting a good light can be, especially in the sportsman classes. Going to the final round during the Hemi Shootout, he was hoping to bring home the big pay check. According to Hess, “We went to the final round out of 26 cars. The other guy just cut a better light and out run me. I had out run him in a previous round, but he got the win. Regardless, we had a good day. My engine builder Joe Clark, and my crew Jeannie, Travis, and Lauren did great. I really wanted to do this in memory of Ronnie Sox.”

Welcome back – The famous Jeg’s yellow was out tearing down the quarter-mile today, but not in Pro Stock, in sportsman. Jeg Coughlin Jr. ran in both Super Stock and Comp Eliminator.

“It’s been great so far,” said Coughlin. “I got beat in the semi’s of the Hemi Challenge but both cars qualified well for the Mac Tools US Nationals. Hopefully my weekend won’t be over too soon.” Coughlin also commented on his plans for the remainder of the year. Starting in Richmond, Virginia, Coughlin will be in a different yellow Pro Stock car. “I’ll be driving for Victor Cagnazzi in the Slammers car. I’m excited and we are doing some different things. We will be offering Slammers Milk through Jeg’s Mail Order. We can ship it anywhere since it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. They are a great brand with a lot of great flavors.”

BUSY COUGHLIN PULLING DOUBLE DUTY AT INDY

Team JEGS driver Jeg Coughlin Jr., will race a pair of sportsman entries during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park Aug. 30-Sept. 4. Coughlin will be racing in Super Stock during NHRA’s largest and most prominent event, and he will also be making a long-awaited return to Competition Eliminator.

The three-time NHRA world champion will assume his now familiar role as the guest driver of Michael Ogburn’s West Coast Hemis Super Stock Barracuda and he recently finalized a deal to drive a new Chevy Cobalt in Comp for Oklahoma-based team owner Richard Freeman. “I plan to stay very busy while I'm at Indy, but I'm really looking forward to it,” said Coughlin. “The West Coast Hemis Barracuda is one of my favorite cars to drive and I'm also excited about getting a chance to race in Comp Eliminator again.”

Behind the wheel of Ogburn’s Harry Holton-tuned Barracuda, Coughlin will once again be a top contender for the $10,000 top prize in the popular Mopar Performance Hemi Challenge on Friday, Sept. 1. Coughlin won the Hemi Challenge at Indy in 2004 and recorded a runner-up finish last year.

“The Hemi Challenge is a fantastic event,” said Coughlin. “I was fortunate enough to win it two years ago and I'd like nothing more than to win it again. The guys on the West Coast Hemis team have spent a lot of time this summer preparing especially for this race and even though the field is very competitive, I think we'll have a car that can give them a run for their money.”

Coughlin last raced in Competition Eliminator in 1997, winning several events and contending for the world championship until the final weekend of the season. He recently got the opportunity to return to the class following a casual conversation with Freeman.

“I talk to Richard Freeman fairly often and when he told me that he'd just purchased a new Cobalt from Rod Dorsey, I half-jokingly asked him if I could drive it,” said Coughlin. “The next thing I knew, my [NHRA competition] number was on the side of it and I had an entry for the U.S. Nationals. Obviously, I haven't driven the car yet, but knowing how competitive Richard Freeman is, I'm sure he’s going to put me in a hot rod that is capable of going deep into eliminations.”

The versatile Coughlin estimates that he’s driven eight different race cars during the 2006 season including a pair of JEGS Mail Order dragsters, two different Stock Eliminator entries, and his award-winning Chevy II bracket car. He’s been successful in nearly every one of them, winning several major E.T. bracket events, the Mopar Hemi Challenge race at the Mopars at the Strip event in Las Vegas, and the Top Dragster title at the third annual JEGS.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals in Belle Rose, La.

“Sometimes it’s hard to drive so many different cars, but I just try to do the best job I can, no matter what I'm driving,” said Coughlin. “Thankfully, the West Coast Hemis guys and the Freeman team are very good at what they do so that should help accelerate the learning curve. I'm very grateful to both teams for giving me this opportunity.”

SIXTH ANNUAL MOPAR SUPER STOCK HEMI CHALLENGE ON TAP FOR NHRA U.S. NATIONALS

The Mopar Super Stock HEMI Challenge is poised to make its sixth appearance at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals next Friday, September 1. Featuring the hottest SS/AH cars in the country, the event will also feature former Mopar Direct Connection and Mopar Ramcharger program engineer Tom Hoover, former U.S. Nationals Pro Stock Champion Herb McCandless and Buddy Martin, manager of the famous Sox & Martin race team. Well-regarded for their on-track contributions to drag racing, Mopar will honor these men for their part in the advancement of the sport.

Martin will act as the Grand Marshal for the Mopar Super Stock HEMI Challenge, while Diane Sox, the widow of the legendary Ronnie Sox, is noted as the honorary starter for the event. Sox passed away earlier this year after a battle with cancer. David Hakim, Portfolio Manager for Performance Mopar Parts, is looking forward to the excitement and nostalgia that these former racers and Mrs. Sox will bring to the event.

“Mopar is truly honored to have an influential group such as this as a part of this year’s Mopar Super Stock HEMI Challenge,” said Hakim. “Tom, Herb and Buddy are a part of the HEMI’s legacy, and it’s great to have them return to see the progress of their work. These gentlemen are also a part of the original Chrysler Racing program of the 1960s and 1970s, and it’s because of their dedication that the SS/AH class continues to flourish.”

Hoover was heavily involved in the development of the 1968 HEMI Barracuda and Dodge Dart Package Cars. Sox and Martin were instrumental in the progress and popularity of the Mopar Super Stock and Pro Stock drag racing campaign in the 1960s and 1970s. Also highlighted in this year’s event is the Mopar Direct Connection Racer Support trailer. Mopar’s Direct Connection program uses interactive web-based technologies to help grassroots and sportsman racers evaluate their runs, as well as provide on-track product support.

“The Mopar Super Stock HEMI Challenge is an outstanding event; it truly showcases the awesome influence that the HEMI powerplant and Mopar have had on drag racing’s history,” Hakim said. “With 30 entries pre-entered, we’re expecting the largest group of competitors for the event to date. Race fans will have an opportunity to see some of the most wicked SS/AA class cars do battle for the bragging rights as the Mopar Super Stock HEMI Challenge champion. It’s going to be a great show.”

Competitors in the Super Stock/AH-HEMI (SS/AH) division are eligible to compete in the Super Stock HEMI Challenge event. Featuring more than 25 Hemi-powered factory lightweight SS/AH 1968 Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts, the event winner will receive a $10,000 bonus. The final round will feature an all or nothing format as the competitors compete for not only the bragging rights but the cash prize. The event will also crown an overall Mopar HEMI Challenge series points champion based on rounds won at the two NHRA Sportsnationals held earlier this year. The Mopar HEMI Challenge Series winner will receive a $5,000 prize.

The Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge will take place on Friday, September 1, during the 52nd Mac Tools U.S. Nationals event at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

For more information about the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge, Mopar Direct Connection or Team Mopar, visit www.oreillyracewaypark.com, www.moparspeed.com, www.mopar.com or www.nhra.com.

Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep®
vehicles.