Tony Stewart has captured his third NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

Tony Stewart Captures NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, Extends MOOG Winning Streak to 46 Years
It took a tiebreaker to decide it, but Tony Stewart's come-from-behind victory in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami (Florida) Speedway gave the 40-year-old driver his third NASCAR Sprint Cup title and extended the MOOG steering and suspension brand's Cup Series championship streak to 46 years.

Stewart and the MOOG-equipped No. 14 Office Depot/Mobile 1 Chevrolet entered the race just three points behind leader Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford). Edwards led most of the race, while Stewart faced a number of challenges, including front-end damage sustained during the first 20 laps. Yet, each time it seemed Stewart was out of contention, he somehow fought his way back to the front. He took the lead for good with 34 laps remaining and fought off the No. 99 car's challenge for his fifth win in 10 Chase starts.

Stewart's win continues the MOOG brand's Cup Series dominance, which began with 1966 champion David Pearson. All three of Stewart's Cup Series titles have come in MOOG-equipped cars, as did each of the previous champion, Jimmie Johnson's, five consecutive titles. Among the other Cup racing legends who have relied exclusively on MOOG parts to capture their championships are Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough.

 

TEAM SUMMIT VISITS TROOPS IN GERMANY: For the second consecutive year, 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champion Jason Line, joined by 2010 world champion Greg Anderson, Pro Mod driver Rickie Jones, and driver of the legendary Bigfoot monster truck, Dan Runte, visited troops this week stationed at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. The group met with soldiers, visited with staff at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and signed autographs. The drivers will head to another facility in Spangdahlem, Germany, to visit with more troops stationed abroad. For more information, visit www.NHRA.com.

2011 NHRA FULL THROTTLE TOP FUEL CHAMPION DEL WORSHAM RETIRES: Al-Anabi Racing driver and 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel Champion Del Worsham announced his retirement this week. In his first full competitive season in the Top Fuel class, Worsham raced his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a career-high seven No. 1 qualifiers, three runner-up finishes and eight race wins, the most in the category in 2011, en route to his first career NHRA Full Throttle world championship.

In his 21-year career competing in both Top Fuel and Funny Car Worsham racked up 33 race wins (25 coming in Funny Car), 12 No. 1 qualifiers and 438 round wins. “I’ve been thinking about retiring for a while,” said Worsham. “After winning the Full Throttle championship last week, I made my final decision, and it was 100% my decision. It wasn’t easy; it was sad, but at the same time, I am comfortable with it. I enjoyed driving the Al-Anabi Top Fuel car this year, but it really is the right time for me to retire. I’ve driven for a long time, and I’m just ready to move to the next chapter of my career.”

“We are definitely sorry to see Del retire, but we support his decision and wish him all the best,” said Al-Anabi Racing team manager Alan Johnson. “Not only did Del do a fantastic job driving and winning a championship, he helped make racing fun. I cannot imagine the last three years without Del’s enthusiasm to compete and his dedication to the entire Al-Anabi Racing team. He will be missed dearly.” For more information, visit  www.NHRA.com.

FORD WINS 2011 NHRA MANUFACTURERS CUP: Ford Motor Co. earned its first NHRA Manufacturers Cup since 1982 and its fourth ever behind the efforts of wins, runner-ups and No. 1 qualifiers in the Funny Car, Pro Stock, Super Stock and Stock categories. The Blue Oval also brought home the title in 1964 and 1965.

It is the second such award earned by Ford’s iconic Mustang model in a major racing series this year. Two weeks ago, Ford also clinched its first NASCAR Nationwide Series Manufacturers Championship since 2002 with the Ford Mustang. Dodge finished second in the standings and Toyota third.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 9–12, 2012: The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series kicks everything off in Southern California. Defending event winners are Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock).

HE SAID, SHE SAID
 

UNDER PRESSURE? NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan on the pressure of defending his 2011 world title once the 2012 season begins at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California: “I don’t think there is a whole lot of pressure coming in. You know, it’s a new start, new slate. That’s the way I look at it anyway. We have a new opportunity to go win another one. I don’t look at it as somebody can take something away from you as much as we can go out there and win another one.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

80: That’s how many days are left until the first round of qualifying for the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season at the 52nd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.NHRATIX.com.

DID YOU KNOW

…that video from the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series awards ceremony is now available to watch? Fans can see NHRA Full Throttle racers Del Worsham, Matt Hagan, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec crowned world champions, along with the Auto Club Road to the Future Award winner and the Full Throttle Hard-Working crews awarded by logging on the www.NHRA.com.

 

TEAM SUMMIT VISITS TROOPS IN GERMANY: For the second consecutive year, 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champion Jason Line, joined by 2010 world champion Greg Anderson, Pro Mod driver Rickie Jones, and driver of the legendary Bigfoot monster truck, Dan Runte, visited troops this week stationed at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. The group met with soldiers, visited with staff at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and signed autographs. The drivers will head to another facility in Spangdahlem, Germany, to visit with more troops stationed abroad. For more information, visit www.NHRA.com.

2011 NHRA FULL THROTTLE TOP FUEL CHAMPION DEL WORSHAM RETIRES: Al-Anabi Racing driver and 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel Champion Del Worsham announced his retirement this week. In his first full competitive season in the Top Fuel class, Worsham raced his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a career-high seven No. 1 qualifiers, three runner-up finishes and eight race wins, the most in the category in 2011, en route to his first career NHRA Full Throttle world championship.

In his 21-year career competing in both Top Fuel and Funny Car Worsham racked up 33 race wins (25 coming in Funny Car), 12 No. 1 qualifiers and 438 round wins. “I’ve been thinking about retiring for a while,” said Worsham. “After winning the Full Throttle championship last week, I made my final decision, and it was 100% my decision. It wasn’t easy; it was sad, but at the same time, I am comfortable with it. I enjoyed driving the Al-Anabi Top Fuel car this year, but it really is the right time for me to retire. I’ve driven for a long time, and I’m just ready to move to the next chapter of my career.”

“We are definitely sorry to see Del retire, but we support his decision and wish him all the best,” said Al-Anabi Racing team manager Alan Johnson. “Not only did Del do a fantastic job driving and winning a championship, he helped make racing fun. I cannot imagine the last three years without Del’s enthusiasm to compete and his dedication to the entire Al-Anabi Racing team. He will be missed dearly.” For more information, visit  www.NHRA.com.

FORD WINS 2011 NHRA MANUFACTURERS CUP: Ford Motor Co. earned its first NHRA Manufacturers Cup since 1982 and its fourth ever behind the efforts of wins, runner-ups and No. 1 qualifiers in the Funny Car, Pro Stock, Super Stock and Stock categories. The Blue Oval also brought home the title in 1964 and 1965.

It is the second such award earned by Ford’s iconic Mustang model in a major racing series this year. Two weeks ago, Ford also clinched its first NASCAR Nationwide Series Manufacturers Championship since 2002 with the Ford Mustang. Dodge finished second in the standings and Toyota third.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 9–12, 2012: The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series kicks everything off in Southern California. Defending event winners are Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock).

HE SAID, SHE SAID
 

UNDER PRESSURE? NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan on the pressure of defending his 2011 world title once the 2012 season begins at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California: “I don’t think there is a whole lot of pressure coming in. You know, it’s a new start, new slate. That’s the way I look at it anyway. We have a new opportunity to go win another one. I don’t look at it as somebody can take something away from you as much as we can go out there and win another one.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

80: That’s how many days are left until the first round of qualifying for the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season at the 52nd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.NHRATIX.com.

DID YOU KNOW

…that video from the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series awards ceremony is now available to watch? Fans can see NHRA Full Throttle racers Del Worsham, Matt Hagan, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec crowned world champions, along with the Auto Club Road to the Future Award winner and the Full Throttle Hard-Working crews awarded by logging on the www.NHRA.com.

The second annual SEMA Award was presented to the Ford F-Series for the Hottest Truck, the Chevrolet Camaro for Hottest Car, Fiat 500 for the Hottest Sport Compact Car and the Jeep Wrangler for the Hottest 4x4-SUV. The winners were announced on the opening day of the 2011 SEMA Show. View the the Ford F-150s on display at the 2011 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Award winners represent the models that industry experts—the SEMA Show exhibitors—most often feature in their booths as the hottest rides for the enthusiast market.

The SEMA Award honors those vehicles that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorization and that showcase this year’s coolest products. The award recognizes four outstanding vehicle models in four categories—“Hottest Truck,” “Hottest Car,” “Hottest Sport Compact Car” and “Hottest 4x4-SUV.” It also underscores the cooperative relationship between the automakers and SEMA-member companies.

The second annual SEMA Award was presented to the Ford F-Series for the Hottest Truck, the Chevrolet Camaro for Hottest Car, Fiat 500 for the Hottest Sport Compact Car and the Jeep Wrangler for the Hottest 4x4-SUV. The winners were announced on the opening day of the 2011 SEMA Show. View the the Ford F-150s on display at the 2011 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Award winners represent the models that industry experts—the SEMA Show exhibitors—most often feature in their booths as the hottest rides for the enthusiast market.

The SEMA Award honors those vehicles that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorization and that showcase this year’s coolest products. The award recognizes four outstanding vehicle models in four categories—“Hottest Truck,” “Hottest Car,” “Hottest Sport Compact Car” and “Hottest 4x4-SUV.” It also underscores the cooperative relationship between the automakers and SEMA-member companies.

The spy shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. tell us that it's bad enough when they capture prototypes, but automakers really hate it when the team ambushes a press photoshoot. That's exactly what Priddy's crew did last week near sunset when they caught Land Rover's L.A. Auto Show concepts.

Although Land Rover has already shown the DC100 in both hardtop and open-air versions, they've been very open about their plans for tweaking and modifying the vehicles for their debut here in the United States—and the shooter caught them sitting pretty on a local beach awaiting the perfect California sunset.

It appears the hardtop version gets a few more updates, starting off with a nearly FJ Cruiser-blue paint job, while keeping the white roof. A combination roof rack, light bar and snorkel were added, matching the vehicle's trim. Also, easy to spot are new wheels and tires. Putting everything together definitely gives the DC100 more of a California beach feel, but they saved the surfboard rack for the open-air version.

Fewer changes were made to the open-air concept, but the addition of a surfboard rack and a “roof” box for wetsuits will likely go over very well with auto show visitors.

Photo Credit: Mike Gardner for Brenda Priddy & Co.

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 15–22, 2012.

Limited-edition Chip Foose-inspired WD-40 Smart Straw cans were introduced at the 2011 SEMA Show.

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger, last seen parked inside the 2011 SEMA Show’s Grand Lobby in front of a life-size banner that simulated a live auction, is now less than two months away from being auctioned to benefit children’s charities at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 15–22, 2012.

For those who couldn’t get enough of the vehicle, you can check out the custom ’12 Dodge Challenger SRT8 at the San Diego International Auto Show, December 29, 2011–January 1, 2012, and race a virtual version of the vehicle in Nitto 1320 Legends—an online racing game and social network with more than 2 million registered members.

Also introduced at the SEMA Show were limited-edition Chip Foose-inspired WD-40 Smart Straw cans.

Each collectible can features a classic Foose sketch of a ’56 Nomad, ’56 F-100, ’67 Camaro or concept ’09 Camaro, and were created to honor automotive professionals’ and enthusiasts’ commitment to using WD-40 Multi-Use Product for more than 50 years.

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 15–22, 2012.

Limited-edition Chip Foose-inspired WD-40 Smart Straw cans were introduced at the 2011 SEMA Show.

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger, last seen parked inside the 2011 SEMA Show’s Grand Lobby in front of a life-size banner that simulated a live auction, is now less than two months away from being auctioned to benefit children’s charities at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 15–22, 2012.

For those who couldn’t get enough of the vehicle, you can check out the custom ’12 Dodge Challenger SRT8 at the San Diego International Auto Show, December 29, 2011–January 1, 2012, and race a virtual version of the vehicle in Nitto 1320 Legends—an online racing game and social network with more than 2 million registered members.

Also introduced at the SEMA Show were limited-edition Chip Foose-inspired WD-40 Smart Straw cans.

Each collectible can features a classic Foose sketch of a ’56 Nomad, ’56 F-100, ’67 Camaro or concept ’09 Camaro, and were created to honor automotive professionals’ and enthusiasts’ commitment to using WD-40 Multi-Use Product for more than 50 years.

	A special engine built by the legendary Ed Pink using only premium-quality, high-performance components from leading automotive aftermarket manufacturers was recently auctioned to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. Pink is shown here checking the plugs for the one-off powerplant.

Legendary builder Ed Pink assembled a very special engine using a complement of premium-quality, high-performance components from leading manufacturers in the automotive aftermarket, all of whom are SEMA members. The engine sold for $8,200 and proceeds from the auction will benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF), which provides assistance to students seeking careers in the automotive industry.

This is not your ordinary crate engine, as absolutely no factory-stock parts were employed. The engine was based on the popular small-block Ford design, and a roster of the components include:

• Dart 302 Ford block and Pro 1 aluminum cylinder heads
• COMP Cams hydraulic roller camshaft, lifters and valvetrain components
• Scat 4340 forged-steel crankshaft and H-beam connecting rods
• ARP chrome-moly head and main studs, rod bolts and polished stainless-steel fasteners
• Milodon oil pan, oil pump, drive and dipstick
• ATI Super Damper and flex plate
• Crane Cams distributor, coil and ignition box
• Moroso “Blue Max” sparkplug wires, separators and hold-down
• Fel-Pro high-performance gaskets
• Champion sparkplugs
• Edelbrock intake manifold, carburetor, valve covers, water pump and air cleaner
• Speed Pro bearings
• Joe Gibbs Driven lubricants
• Manley Performance valves and pushrods
• Powermaster alternator and starter
• Mahle pistons
• Total Seal piston rings
• Hedman Exhaust headers

The engine, meticulously blueprinted and assembled by “The Old Master” and technicians at Ed Pink Racing Engines, produced 404 hp at 5,900 rpm and 403 lb.-ft. of torque on the dyno under SAE testing parameters.

	A special engine built by the legendary Ed Pink using only premium-quality, high-performance components from leading automotive aftermarket manufacturers was recently auctioned to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. Pink is shown here checking the plugs for the one-off powerplant.

Legendary builder Ed Pink assembled a very special engine using a complement of premium-quality, high-performance components from leading manufacturers in the automotive aftermarket, all of whom are SEMA members. The engine sold for $8,200 and proceeds from the auction will benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF), which provides assistance to students seeking careers in the automotive industry.

This is not your ordinary crate engine, as absolutely no factory-stock parts were employed. The engine was based on the popular small-block Ford design, and a roster of the components include:

• Dart 302 Ford block and Pro 1 aluminum cylinder heads
• COMP Cams hydraulic roller camshaft, lifters and valvetrain components
• Scat 4340 forged-steel crankshaft and H-beam connecting rods
• ARP chrome-moly head and main studs, rod bolts and polished stainless-steel fasteners
• Milodon oil pan, oil pump, drive and dipstick
• ATI Super Damper and flex plate
• Crane Cams distributor, coil and ignition box
• Moroso “Blue Max” sparkplug wires, separators and hold-down
• Fel-Pro high-performance gaskets
• Champion sparkplugs
• Edelbrock intake manifold, carburetor, valve covers, water pump and air cleaner
• Speed Pro bearings
• Joe Gibbs Driven lubricants
• Manley Performance valves and pushrods
• Powermaster alternator and starter
• Mahle pistons
• Total Seal piston rings
• Hedman Exhaust headers

The engine, meticulously blueprinted and assembled by “The Old Master” and technicians at Ed Pink Racing Engines, produced 404 hp at 5,900 rpm and 403 lb.-ft. of torque on the dyno under SAE testing parameters.