The Durango will be offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission for the 2014 model year, but in addition to the new transmission and improved MPG, the Durango will also undergo a facelift and will sport new front and rear fascias, as well as an updated grille.

The team at Brenda Priddy & Co., who provided these shots of the ’14 Durango, are also expecting a new center stack, along with Chrysler’s 8.4-in. LCD screen.

The ’14 Durango will be an early launch, with orders starting in April and deliveries beginning in May 2013.

Photos: Brenda Priddy & Co.

	This year's NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show will provide attendees with a premiere sneak-peek trailer of the upcoming Snake & Mongoose motion picture.

This year's NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show will provide attendees with a premiere sneak-peek trailer of the upcoming Snake & Mongoose motion picture. The movie, which is expected to be released in theaters in spring 2013, was produced by Stephen Nemeth and Robin Broidy and financed by their company, Entertainment Universe.

The NHRA Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m., at the Las Vegas Hotel, Ballrooms A& B. The breakfast is open to all registered SEMA Show attendees, and a continental breakfast will be served.

After showing the exclusive five-minute trailer for the Snake & Mongoose movie, which was shot in Southern California with many scenes filmed at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, the audience will participate in a special Q&A with breakfast panelists Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, along with movie writer Alan Paradise and movie producer Broidy.

In addition, the original Snake and Mongoose NHRA Funny Cars will be on display at the NHRA Breakfast. The voice of NHRA, Bob Frey, will emcee the breakfast.

Following the NHRA Breakfast, there will be an exclusive autograph session with Prudhomme and McEwen, who will be signing limited-edition Snake & Mongoose movie posters at the NHRA Booth.

Tickets are now available for the NHRA Breakfast which is open to all SEMA Show participants, however registration is required for the event. Get your tickets now at www.SEMAShow.com/register.

	This year's NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show will provide attendees with a premiere sneak-peek trailer of the upcoming Snake & Mongoose motion picture.

This year's NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show will provide attendees with a premiere sneak-peek trailer of the upcoming Snake & Mongoose motion picture. The movie, which is expected to be released in theaters in spring 2013, was produced by Stephen Nemeth and Robin Broidy and financed by their company, Entertainment Universe.

The NHRA Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m., at the Las Vegas Hotel, Ballrooms A& B. The breakfast is open to all registered SEMA Show attendees, and a continental breakfast will be served.

After showing the exclusive five-minute trailer for the Snake & Mongoose movie, which was shot in Southern California with many scenes filmed at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, the audience will participate in a special Q&A with breakfast panelists Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, along with movie writer Alan Paradise and movie producer Broidy.

In addition, the original Snake and Mongoose NHRA Funny Cars will be on display at the NHRA Breakfast. The voice of NHRA, Bob Frey, will emcee the breakfast.

Following the NHRA Breakfast, there will be an exclusive autograph session with Prudhomme and McEwen, who will be signing limited-edition Snake & Mongoose movie posters at the NHRA Booth.

Tickets are now available for the NHRA Breakfast which is open to all SEMA Show participants, however registration is required for the event. Get your tickets now at www.SEMAShow.com/register.

 

	Reach a wide media audience by posting company news and new product information to the exhibitor press release section of the official SEMA Show website.

SEMA Show exhibitors are encouraged to post press releases on the official Show site for use by media.

Providing company information for the site an easy way for exhibiting manufacturers to announce new product news, corporate updates and other business-related happenings in front of a wide media audience.  

Access the site now!

 

	Reach a wide media audience by posting company news and new product information to the exhibitor press release section of the official SEMA Show website.

SEMA Show exhibitors are encouraged to post press releases on the official Show site for use by media.

Providing company information for the site an easy way for exhibiting manufacturers to announce new product news, corporate updates and other business-related happenings in front of a wide media audience.  

Access the site now!

	With just 65 days left until Show time, a number of deadlines loom over the next few weeks.

With less than 65 days left until the SEMA Show, it is already time for many important deadlines for SEMA Show planning. Below are those deadlines that will be passing over the next few weeks:

Celebrity Appearance Notification		August 31
Exhibitor Product Training Sessions (to be included in printed material)		August 31
Media Conference Application		August 31
Show Directory Listing Information		August 31
Show Directory Advertising Space Reservations		August 31
Exhibit Space Design Notification		September 7
Hanging Sign Design Notification		September 7
Show Directory Advertising Materials		September 7
PR Company Contact Information		September 14

A complete list of all upcoming deadlines can be found in the Deadline Checklist, located online in the Exhibitor Manual.

Exhibitor Registration: Ensure Your Staff Is Registered for Their Badges

Register for your exhibitor badges today! Complimentary badges are available to exhibitors based on the size of their booth. Additional badges required over the allocated amount are $25 per badge. Unique individual e-mail addresses are required to complete registration for booth personnel. In order to receive a badge, each registrant is required to confirm their e-mail address when they receive their confirmation. If the e-mail is not confirmed prior to the badge mailing, the badges may be held for pick-up at the Show.

If you did not receive your exhibitor registration password via e-mail, please contact customer service at RegMgr@convExx.com or call 702-216-5836. Remember, the password is nine numbers (the first two are zeros) followed by the letter "O."

New this year: If you have to register more than 10 people, there is a new way to register all your staff in four easy steps!

• Click on "Upload a File" on your dash.
• Download the excel file.
• Save the file to your desktop.
• Upload the completed list.

If you have any questions, please e-mail aapexsema@compusystems.com or call 866-229-3687.

Confirm Your Directory Listing Is Correct Before It Goes to Print!

Deadline: August 31, 2012

SEMA sent reminder e-mails to each exhibit contact, Tuesday, August 27, providing specific log-in information and instructions for modifying your company’s listing in the printed SEMA Show Directory and the online listing on www.SEMAShow.com. The information for your SEMA Show Directory listing was taken from your Exhibit Space Rental Agreement submission. This information populates your online listing and printed SEMA Show Directory listing. The deadline for changes to appear in the printed SEMA Show Directory is Friday, August 31. After this date, you will only be able to change your online listing. If you have difficulty with any of the procedures or did not receive the e-mail from SEMA on August 27, please contact Marel Del Rio at marled@sema.org or 909-978-6740.

Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase

Deadline: October 5

Does your company have a new product? Does your company have a product, regardless of how long it has been in the market, to highlight and display in a new section of the Ideas Alive showcase entitled, “Featured Products?” Take advantage of this free marketing opportunity by entering your product in the New Products Showcase. Your first product entry is free! Enter your product online. Have questions? E-mail skaye@convexx.com or call 702-216-5844.

Cheap Alternative Offered for Cleaning Your Booth

Looking for a cheap alternative for cleaning your booth on a nightly basis? SEMA has purchased a limited quantity of portable vacuum cleaners that you can purchase from Show management for $65. You can pick them up at the Show in the Show office, and save money each day of the Show by simply vacuuming your booth yourself each night after the Show closes. If interested, please contact Tricia Hanisko at 702-216-5865 or by e-mail at thanisko@convexx.com. Quantities are limited, so call soon if you are interested.

Be Cautious of Vendors Soliciting Your Business

We understand non-official contractors are contacting you offering “better deals” on items and services at the SEMA Show, especially when it comes to hotel rooms. Please know that the SEMA Show only contracts with and endorses the Official Service Contractors listed in the Exhibitor Manual. These contractors are held accountable to provide the best possible customer service and ensure consistent and negotiated rates to all exhibitors at the SEMA Show. SEMA and SEMA’s Show management do not sell exhibitor lists or give contact information to anyone whatsoever. Companies oftentimes use public information available on the Internet to acquire exhibitors’ contact information. SEMA only provides an exhibitor list to our official service contractors to inform your company about services they provide at the SEMA Show, and limit each of them to any communications they can make to you directly. You can find more information regarding this matter in the Solicitations Warning section of the Exhibitor Manual.

Discounted Tickets for the Monorail Available for SEMA Show Attendees

Looking for an alternative form of transportation to get to the SEMA Show while in Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Monorail avoids the traffic of the city streets and drops you right off at the front door of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Stops along the Strip include the MGM Grand, Paris/Ballys, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Harrah’s and extends all the way to Las Vegas Hotel. SEMA has partnered once again with the Las Vegas Monorail to provide discounted fares on multi-day passes if you purchase the tickets in advance.

Official Contractor Spotlight – Detailer

SEMA has entered into a new partnership with Mobile Command Detail—a company with vast experience in show car detailing services. While this is their first SEMA Show, this is not their first time undertaking large projects. Mobile Command Detail is part of the Air Force One detail crew and the Barrett-Jackson auction detailing crew. They will be ready to provide whatever service is needed, whether it is from washes to carpet stains and full paint correction. You can find pricing information in the Exhibitor Manual in their particular form and on their own website at www.mobilecommanddetail.com. You may also contact them directly by e-mail at info@mobilecommanddetail.com or you can talk to Diana directly by texting or calling 702-588-8588. 

	With just 65 days left until Show time, a number of deadlines loom over the next few weeks.

With less than 65 days left until the SEMA Show, it is already time for many important deadlines for SEMA Show planning. Below are those deadlines that will be passing over the next few weeks:

Celebrity Appearance Notification		August 31
Exhibitor Product Training Sessions (to be included in printed material)		August 31
Media Conference Application		August 31
Show Directory Listing Information		August 31
Show Directory Advertising Space Reservations		August 31
Exhibit Space Design Notification		September 7
Hanging Sign Design Notification		September 7
Show Directory Advertising Materials		September 7
PR Company Contact Information		September 14

A complete list of all upcoming deadlines can be found in the Deadline Checklist, located online in the Exhibitor Manual.

Exhibitor Registration: Ensure Your Staff Is Registered for Their Badges

Register for your exhibitor badges today! Complimentary badges are available to exhibitors based on the size of their booth. Additional badges required over the allocated amount are $25 per badge. Unique individual e-mail addresses are required to complete registration for booth personnel. In order to receive a badge, each registrant is required to confirm their e-mail address when they receive their confirmation. If the e-mail is not confirmed prior to the badge mailing, the badges may be held for pick-up at the Show.

If you did not receive your exhibitor registration password via e-mail, please contact customer service at RegMgr@convExx.com or call 702-216-5836. Remember, the password is nine numbers (the first two are zeros) followed by the letter "O."

New this year: If you have to register more than 10 people, there is a new way to register all your staff in four easy steps!

• Click on "Upload a File" on your dash.
• Download the excel file.
• Save the file to your desktop.
• Upload the completed list.

If you have any questions, please e-mail aapexsema@compusystems.com or call 866-229-3687.

Confirm Your Directory Listing Is Correct Before It Goes to Print!

Deadline: August 31, 2012

SEMA sent reminder e-mails to each exhibit contact, Tuesday, August 27, providing specific log-in information and instructions for modifying your company’s listing in the printed SEMA Show Directory and the online listing on www.SEMAShow.com. The information for your SEMA Show Directory listing was taken from your Exhibit Space Rental Agreement submission. This information populates your online listing and printed SEMA Show Directory listing. The deadline for changes to appear in the printed SEMA Show Directory is Friday, August 31. After this date, you will only be able to change your online listing. If you have difficulty with any of the procedures or did not receive the e-mail from SEMA on August 27, please contact Marel Del Rio at marled@sema.org or 909-978-6740.

Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase

Deadline: October 5

Does your company have a new product? Does your company have a product, regardless of how long it has been in the market, to highlight and display in a new section of the Ideas Alive showcase entitled, “Featured Products?” Take advantage of this free marketing opportunity by entering your product in the New Products Showcase. Your first product entry is free! Enter your product online. Have questions? E-mail skaye@convexx.com or call 702-216-5844.

Cheap Alternative Offered for Cleaning Your Booth

Looking for a cheap alternative for cleaning your booth on a nightly basis? SEMA has purchased a limited quantity of portable vacuum cleaners that you can purchase from Show management for $65. You can pick them up at the Show in the Show office, and save money each day of the Show by simply vacuuming your booth yourself each night after the Show closes. If interested, please contact Tricia Hanisko at 702-216-5865 or by e-mail at thanisko@convexx.com. Quantities are limited, so call soon if you are interested.

Be Cautious of Vendors Soliciting Your Business

We understand non-official contractors are contacting you offering “better deals” on items and services at the SEMA Show, especially when it comes to hotel rooms. Please know that the SEMA Show only contracts with and endorses the Official Service Contractors listed in the Exhibitor Manual. These contractors are held accountable to provide the best possible customer service and ensure consistent and negotiated rates to all exhibitors at the SEMA Show. SEMA and SEMA’s Show management do not sell exhibitor lists or give contact information to anyone whatsoever. Companies oftentimes use public information available on the Internet to acquire exhibitors’ contact information. SEMA only provides an exhibitor list to our official service contractors to inform your company about services they provide at the SEMA Show, and limit each of them to any communications they can make to you directly. You can find more information regarding this matter in the Solicitations Warning section of the Exhibitor Manual.

Discounted Tickets for the Monorail Available for SEMA Show Attendees

Looking for an alternative form of transportation to get to the SEMA Show while in Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Monorail avoids the traffic of the city streets and drops you right off at the front door of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Stops along the Strip include the MGM Grand, Paris/Ballys, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Harrah’s and extends all the way to Las Vegas Hotel. SEMA has partnered once again with the Las Vegas Monorail to provide discounted fares on multi-day passes if you purchase the tickets in advance.

Official Contractor Spotlight – Detailer

SEMA has entered into a new partnership with Mobile Command Detail—a company with vast experience in show car detailing services. While this is their first SEMA Show, this is not their first time undertaking large projects. Mobile Command Detail is part of the Air Force One detail crew and the Barrett-Jackson auction detailing crew. They will be ready to provide whatever service is needed, whether it is from washes to carpet stains and full paint correction. You can find pricing information in the Exhibitor Manual in their particular form and on their own website at www.mobilecommanddetail.com. You may also contact them directly by e-mail at info@mobilecommanddetail.com or you can talk to Diana directly by texting or calling 702-588-8588. 

	With just 65 days left until Show time, a number of deadlines loom over the next few weeks.

With less than 65 days left until the SEMA Show, it is already time for many important deadlines for SEMA Show planning. Below are those deadlines that will be passing over the next few weeks:

Celebrity Appearance Notification		August 31
Exhibitor Product Training Sessions (to be included in printed material)		August 31
Media Conference Application		August 31
Show Directory Listing Information		August 31
Show Directory Advertising Space Reservations		August 31
Exhibit Space Design Notification		September 7
Hanging Sign Design Notification		September 7
Show Directory Advertising Materials		September 7
PR Company Contact Information		September 14

A complete list of all upcoming deadlines can be found in the Deadline Checklist, located online in the Exhibitor Manual.

Exhibitor Registration: Ensure Your Staff Is Registered for Their Badges

Register for your exhibitor badges today! Complimentary badges are available to exhibitors based on the size of their booth. Additional badges required over the allocated amount are $25 per badge. Unique individual e-mail addresses are required to complete registration for booth personnel. In order to receive a badge, each registrant is required to confirm their e-mail address when they receive their confirmation. If the e-mail is not confirmed prior to the badge mailing, the badges may be held for pick-up at the Show.

If you did not receive your exhibitor registration password via e-mail, please contact customer service at RegMgr@convExx.com or call 702-216-5836. Remember, the password is nine numbers (the first two are zeros) followed by the letter "O."

New this year: If you have to register more than 10 people, there is a new way to register all your staff in four easy steps!

• Click on "Upload a File" on your dash.
• Download the excel file.
• Save the file to your desktop.
• Upload the completed list.

If you have any questions, please e-mail aapexsema@compusystems.com or call 866-229-3687.

Confirm Your Directory Listing Is Correct Before It Goes to Print!

Deadline: August 31, 2012

SEMA sent reminder e-mails to each exhibit contact, Tuesday, August 27, providing specific log-in information and instructions for modifying your company’s listing in the printed SEMA Show Directory and the online listing on www.SEMAShow.com. The information for your SEMA Show Directory listing was taken from your Exhibit Space Rental Agreement submission. This information populates your online listing and printed SEMA Show Directory listing. The deadline for changes to appear in the printed SEMA Show Directory is Friday, August 31. After this date, you will only be able to change your online listing. If you have difficulty with any of the procedures or did not receive the e-mail from SEMA on August 27, please contact Marel Del Rio at marled@sema.org or 909-978-6740.

Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase

Deadline: October 5

Does your company have a new product? Does your company have a product, regardless of how long it has been in the market, to highlight and display in a new section of the Ideas Alive showcase entitled, “Featured Products?” Take advantage of this free marketing opportunity by entering your product in the New Products Showcase. Your first product entry is free! Enter your product online. Have questions? E-mail skaye@convexx.com or call 702-216-5844.

Cheap Alternative Offered for Cleaning Your Booth

Looking for a cheap alternative for cleaning your booth on a nightly basis? SEMA has purchased a limited quantity of portable vacuum cleaners that you can purchase from Show management for $65. You can pick them up at the Show in the Show office, and save money each day of the Show by simply vacuuming your booth yourself each night after the Show closes. If interested, please contact Tricia Hanisko at 702-216-5865 or by e-mail at thanisko@convexx.com. Quantities are limited, so call soon if you are interested.

Be Cautious of Vendors Soliciting Your Business

We understand non-official contractors are contacting you offering “better deals” on items and services at the SEMA Show, especially when it comes to hotel rooms. Please know that the SEMA Show only contracts with and endorses the Official Service Contractors listed in the Exhibitor Manual. These contractors are held accountable to provide the best possible customer service and ensure consistent and negotiated rates to all exhibitors at the SEMA Show. SEMA and SEMA’s Show management do not sell exhibitor lists or give contact information to anyone whatsoever. Companies oftentimes use public information available on the Internet to acquire exhibitors’ contact information. SEMA only provides an exhibitor list to our official service contractors to inform your company about services they provide at the SEMA Show, and limit each of them to any communications they can make to you directly. You can find more information regarding this matter in the Solicitations Warning section of the Exhibitor Manual.

Discounted Tickets for the Monorail Available for SEMA Show Attendees

Looking for an alternative form of transportation to get to the SEMA Show while in Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Monorail avoids the traffic of the city streets and drops you right off at the front door of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Stops along the Strip include the MGM Grand, Paris/Ballys, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Harrah’s and extends all the way to Las Vegas Hotel. SEMA has partnered once again with the Las Vegas Monorail to provide discounted fares on multi-day passes if you purchase the tickets in advance.

Official Contractor Spotlight – Detailer

SEMA has entered into a new partnership with Mobile Command Detail—a company with vast experience in show car detailing services. While this is their first SEMA Show, this is not their first time undertaking large projects. Mobile Command Detail is part of the Air Force One detail crew and the Barrett-Jackson auction detailing crew. They will be ready to provide whatever service is needed, whether it is from washes to carpet stains and full paint correction. You can find pricing information in the Exhibitor Manual in their particular form and on their own website at www.mobilecommanddetail.com. You may also contact them directly by e-mail at info@mobilecommanddetail.com or you can talk to Diana directly by texting or calling 702-588-8588. 

	Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes third place in Vegas.

Team Falken Driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. Takes Third at Formula Drift Round 6 "After Dark" in Vegas
Team Falken Driver Vaughn Gittin Jr., took the final step on the podium with his third-place finish at the late-night run in Vegas, keeping him in the lead in the points standings for the final showdown for the Formula D championship to be decided in October.
 
Qualifying fifth in his Monster Energy/Falken Tire ’13 Ford Mustang on a new track configuration at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Gittin Jr. glided through the Top 32 and Top 16 rounds. Falken teammates Justin Pawlak, also in a ’13 Falken Tire Ford Mustang, qualified ninth, and Daijiro “Dai” Yoshihara was 17th. By the Top 8 Round, only Gittin Jr. was left, and he moved on to the Top 4 Round only to lose to Fredric Asabo during a “one more time.” In the Final Round, Gittin Jr. defeated Robbie Nishida for third, while Asabo lost to eventual Vegas winner Rhys Millen.

The third-place finish for Gittin Jr. added more points to his total of 473. He leads second-place Daigo Saito by 25.5 points. Millen moved to third with 428.25.


While Gittin Jr., is in first, Pawlak sits in fourth and “Dai” in fifth, just 1.5 points behind Pawlak. The Title Fight for the championship is scheduled for October 12–13, at Irwindale in Southern California.

Marty Hart captured his fourth win of the Pro 2 season and was awarded for setting fastest lap of the race.

Team ReadyLIFT Racing's Marty Hart Wins at Nevada's New High Speed Wild West Motorsports Park 
After a solid qualifying attempt and some field shuffling, Marty Hart, piloting his ReadyLIFT OffRoad Suspension/Maxxis Tire/GearUp2Go.com Ford, would start last weekend's Round 11 Pro 2 race at the new Wild West Motorsports Park in Spark, Nevada, on the second row with fellow lead point battlers Rob MacCachren and Brian Deegan surrounding him.

Hart ended up capturing his fourth win of the Pro 2 season and being awarded for setting fastest lap of the race.
 Rounds 13–14 will take place at Las Vegas Motors Speedway September 21–22, 2012.

5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords Technical Editor KJ Jones wins at NMCA event in Pomona
This past weekend, KJ Jones, technical editor of the Source Interlink Media publication, 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords, took first place in the Granatelli Motorsports Mustang Madness class after winning six consecutive rounds of competition at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California.

With his victory, Jones earned a “Wally” trophy at the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) West event, one of four in the season’s circuit.

In a twist of fate, Jones drove to the win in a modified ’91 Mustang LX—featured in an upcoming issue of 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords as the “Cheaper Sleeper” in a story about the best ways to modify the Mustang while minimizing costs—when the car he originally intended to compete with became unavailable.

Jones competed earlier this season in Bakersfield, California, with an unmodified version of the Mustang LX. Prior to the Pomona event, however, he modified the suspension, which proved to be perfectly executed as he took the top title in his class. Jones is writing tech features for the magazine that track each modification he makes.

	Linda Vaughn

Tickets for Linda Vaughn Roast Sold Out
The Quarter Mile Foundation has announced the Linda Vaughn Roast (August 29, 2012) at the Lucas Family Estate in Carmel, Indiana, has sold out. The event is being produced by the Quarter Mile Foundation and hosted by Lucas Oil Products Inc.

The Foundation had earlier announced a full subscription of the sale of sponsor tables for the event. The individual and corporate sponsors include: SEMA, C & R Racing, Paul Candies (Otto Candies LLC), Chip Ganassi Racing, Glazer’s of Indiana, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS), JEG'S High Performance, Lucas Oil Products Inc., Monarch Beverage Co., National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Quick Fuel Technology, Jennifer Revson, the Vaughn Family, the Warren/Schafer Family and Jack (“Doc”) Watson. Proceeds from the Roast will benefit Linda Vaughn and the Quarter Mile Foundation’s production of PROJECT 1320—a documentary film series about the growth of the sport of drag racing and the performance automotive aftermarket.

Michael Cooper Drives MAZDASPEED3 to 2012 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Championship
Michael Cooper may have set a modern-day record in winning the 2012 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Drivers Championship in his MAZDASPEED3.  Cooper’s entire racing career has been less than 50 races, all of them in a Mazda, and all of them since 2009 when he attended the Skip Barber Racing School at Lime Rock Park.

Cooper drove his Atlanta Motorsports Group-prepared MAZDASPEED3 to six wins in the season’s 14 races. During the weekend-closing triple-header at Sonoma Raceway, Cooper finished third, second and ended the season with a flag-to-flag victory, including the fastest race lap, in the final race of the season. As the only Mazda competing against a dozen Hondas and VWs, Cooper came close to giving Mazda a manufacturers’ championship as well.  At the series awards dinner, Cooper also was recognized as the Touring Car Rookie-Of-The-Year and Atlanta Motorsports Group was named Touring Car Team-Of-The-Year.

In addition to his six wins, Cooper started from the pole in seven races, led 11 races and led the most laps in six. He finished in the top-five in 13 of 14 races. His only glitch was crash damage received in the second Mid-Ohio race, which resulted in his only DNF of the year. Cooper’s year-long rival for the championship was Todd Lamb, who won the 2009 MX-5 Cup Championship and the 2008 NASA Spec Miata Championship.

Vollmer Faces Off Against Idaho Rob in Two NHRDA Finals
The Bully Dog race crew set their sights on Billings this past weekend at the NHRDA Big Sky Truck Fest at the Yellowstone Dragstrip.

The Bully Dog Cummins has been completely refreshed with a rebuilt engine and brand-new injectors. So, driver Jarid Vollmer decided to throw his hat into the Pro Stock class in addition to his normal Pro Street category.

Vollmer ran low 10-second and high nine-second quarter-miles all day long. He worked his way through the pack, winning elimination after elimination, until he found himself staging against “Idaho” Rob Coddins in the finals. Vollmer found himself doing this twice, in both the Pro Street finals and the Pro Stock finals.

In both classes, the outcome was the same: Vollmer ran a close second to Coddins’ Duramax. In Pro Street, he ran a 9.90-second quarter-mile to Coddins’ 9.72, and in Pro Stock he ran a 9.83-second quarter to Coddins’ 9.90, but a red light foul cost him the win on that round.

The team continues to dial in the Cummins racer in preparation for the World Finals in Ennis, Texas, October 13.

	The Rodfather/Goodguys Road Tour will feature 100-plus pre-’49 hot rods traveling from the Bonneville Salt Flats to Indianapolis over seven days.

Daily Web Coverage of Rodfather/Goodguys Road Tour to be provided by Route 2 Media and Chad Reynolds
Indiana-based Route 2 Media will provide daily video, photo and blog updates hosted/voiced by Chad Reynolds during the upcoming Rodfather/Goodguys Road Tour set to blast off Friday, September 14. This event will feature 100-plus pre-’49 hot rods traveling more than 3,600 miles, from the Bonneville Salt Flats to Indianapolis over seven days.

Led by Andy “The Rodfather” Brizio and Goodguys founder Gary Meadors, the tour leaves Bonneville, Friday, September 14, and continues east through Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and on to Indianapolis for the Goodguys 2nd WIX Filters Speedway Nationals at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, September 21–23.

Lunati Now Master Warehouse Distributor for Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Products
Lunati has announced that it is now a master warehouse distributor for Joe Gibbs Driven racing oil products.

Dave Mason Jr. gained his first podium finish in the pro-buggy class.

Dave Mason Jr. Beats out Veteran Racers to First Podium Finish
Rookie Dave Mason Jr., piloting the #65 Competitive Metals/JAMAR Alumi Craft Pro Buggy, started last Friday's Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) event by beating out the field and posting the fast qualifying time. After the inversion, he started sixth for last Saturday's round 11 at the newly built Wild West Motorsports Park in Reno, Nevada. Mason finished in fourth place. Starting fifth for last Sunday's round 12, Mason gained his first podium finish in the pro-buggy class.

Teammate Geoffrey Cooley qualified just behind Mason, posting the second-fastest time. But shortly after the race start, Cooley would get hit from behind and his car went airborne flipping upside down. Cooley continued the race and finished in 13th place.  With a repaired car, Cooley came out fast for last Sunday's qualifying, again posting the second-fastest lap time. But Cooley was again caught up in an incident that dropped him way back in the field in the early laps of Sunday's race. Cooley drove back up through the field to finish with a top five. 

Justin Smith had a rough weekend in the #19 Competitive Metals/Alumi Craft Pro Lite. In last Saturday's race, Smith had a power-steering issue that dropped him back to a 16th-place finish. His crew worked hard to prepare the truck for Sunday's race and those efforts paid off as Smith was up to sixth place. But after contact left his truck with a bent lower trailing arm, Smith dropped back to salvage a top-10 finish. 

	Larry Bani won his first Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) race ever at Thunderhill earlier this month.

Larry Bani Wins Tight Race at Thunderhill and Becomes Fourth Different Winner in the GoGoGear.com/UTI BMW M3
Larry Bani won his first Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) race ever at Thunderhill earlier this month driving the GoGoGear.com/Universal Technical Institute BMW M3. Bani, who was last year’s iGrille Top Rookie, became the fourth different race winner in as many races this season. Finishing only one second behind Bani was the Roger Kraus Racing Honda Prelude of Chris Lock, who was also the iGrille Top Rookie of the race. Lock was followed by theTNI Racing Mazdaspeed 3 of Felipe Cabezas.

In the GT class, Ken Kurtz was victorious in his Yokohama/TPIS Pontiac Firebird just ahead of the European Motor Works BMW M3 of John Handal.  

The teams now start their preparations for the big race of the season at Sonoma Raceway with the FIA World Touring Car Championship, September 21–23, 2012. 

Roush-Yates Drivers Race to Success Last Weekend
ARCA Series points leader Chris Buescher rose to victory at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin. The 19-year-old raced side by side with Frank Kimmel for several laps in the Herr's Live Life with Flavor 200 before he was able to regain the lead. He then withstood three restarts and won a one-lap sprint to claim his fourth victory of the season.

Buescher extended his points lead to 60 over Kimmel with three races left in the series.

Jason Johnson and Roush Yates Engines won both last Friday and Saturday nights in the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series.

Last Friday, the series raced at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Oklahoma, where Johnson's #41 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-owned sprint car started in the fourth position. Johnson powered through the field past race leader Logan Forler to win by a straightaway.

I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas, was the next stop for the #41 crew. Johnson started back in the eight position and used his Ford powerplant to pass for lead on lap 18. This marks Johnson's 64th overall ASCS National Tour win in his career.

Metaled Olympian and Roush Yates Engines driver Brian Deegan ventured to the Wild West Motorsports Park in Reno, Nevada, where he picked up a win in last Sunday's Lucas Oil Off Road Truck Series Pro 2 Unlimited race. After numerous cautions, the race concluded with a two-lap sprint to the finish. Deegan held off Carl Renezeder to claim the first spot on the podium.

Turkey Night Grand Prix Tickets on Sale Now
Tickets for the 72nd running of Midget racing's longest running race, the Turkey Night Grand Prix for the Mopar USAC National and Western Midgets, went on sale earlier this week. After 13 seasons of racing on pavement, the race will return to the dirt at Perris Auto Speedway on Thanksgiving night, November 22.

New Castle, Indiana's Caleb Armstrong, who turned 20 earlier this month and is currently fourth in Mopar USAC National Midget points, is the defending race champion after winning last year's event at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.  

Fans can purchase tickets in advance online at Tix or by calling 800-595-4849. 

	Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes third place in Vegas.

Team Falken Driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. Takes Third at Formula Drift Round 6 "After Dark" in Vegas
Team Falken Driver Vaughn Gittin Jr., took the final step on the podium with his third-place finish at the late-night run in Vegas, keeping him in the lead in the points standings for the final showdown for the Formula D championship to be decided in October.
 
Qualifying fifth in his Monster Energy/Falken Tire ’13 Ford Mustang on a new track configuration at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Gittin Jr. glided through the Top 32 and Top 16 rounds. Falken teammates Justin Pawlak, also in a ’13 Falken Tire Ford Mustang, qualified ninth, and Daijiro “Dai” Yoshihara was 17th. By the Top 8 Round, only Gittin Jr. was left, and he moved on to the Top 4 Round only to lose to Fredric Asabo during a “one more time.” In the Final Round, Gittin Jr. defeated Robbie Nishida for third, while Asabo lost to eventual Vegas winner Rhys Millen.

The third-place finish for Gittin Jr. added more points to his total of 473. He leads second-place Daigo Saito by 25.5 points. Millen moved to third with 428.25.


While Gittin Jr., is in first, Pawlak sits in fourth and “Dai” in fifth, just 1.5 points behind Pawlak. The Title Fight for the championship is scheduled for October 12–13, at Irwindale in Southern California.

Marty Hart captured his fourth win of the Pro 2 season and was awarded for setting fastest lap of the race.

Team ReadyLIFT Racing's Marty Hart Wins at Nevada's New High Speed Wild West Motorsports Park 
After a solid qualifying attempt and some field shuffling, Marty Hart, piloting his ReadyLIFT OffRoad Suspension/Maxxis Tire/GearUp2Go.com Ford, would start last weekend's Round 11 Pro 2 race at the new Wild West Motorsports Park in Spark, Nevada, on the second row with fellow lead point battlers Rob MacCachren and Brian Deegan surrounding him.

Hart ended up capturing his fourth win of the Pro 2 season and being awarded for setting fastest lap of the race.
 Rounds 13–14 will take place at Las Vegas Motors Speedway September 21–22, 2012.

5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords Technical Editor KJ Jones wins at NMCA event in Pomona
This past weekend, KJ Jones, technical editor of the Source Interlink Media publication, 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords, took first place in the Granatelli Motorsports Mustang Madness class after winning six consecutive rounds of competition at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California.

With his victory, Jones earned a “Wally” trophy at the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) West event, one of four in the season’s circuit.

In a twist of fate, Jones drove to the win in a modified ’91 Mustang LX—featured in an upcoming issue of 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords as the “Cheaper Sleeper” in a story about the best ways to modify the Mustang while minimizing costs—when the car he originally intended to compete with became unavailable.

Jones competed earlier this season in Bakersfield, California, with an unmodified version of the Mustang LX. Prior to the Pomona event, however, he modified the suspension, which proved to be perfectly executed as he took the top title in his class. Jones is writing tech features for the magazine that track each modification he makes.

	Linda Vaughn

Tickets for Linda Vaughn Roast Sold Out
The Quarter Mile Foundation has announced the Linda Vaughn Roast (August 29, 2012) at the Lucas Family Estate in Carmel, Indiana, has sold out. The event is being produced by the Quarter Mile Foundation and hosted by Lucas Oil Products Inc.

The Foundation had earlier announced a full subscription of the sale of sponsor tables for the event. The individual and corporate sponsors include: SEMA, C & R Racing, Paul Candies (Otto Candies LLC), Chip Ganassi Racing, Glazer’s of Indiana, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS), JEG'S High Performance, Lucas Oil Products Inc., Monarch Beverage Co., National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Quick Fuel Technology, Jennifer Revson, the Vaughn Family, the Warren/Schafer Family and Jack (“Doc”) Watson. Proceeds from the Roast will benefit Linda Vaughn and the Quarter Mile Foundation’s production of PROJECT 1320—a documentary film series about the growth of the sport of drag racing and the performance automotive aftermarket.

Michael Cooper Drives MAZDASPEED3 to 2012 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Championship
Michael Cooper may have set a modern-day record in winning the 2012 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Drivers Championship in his MAZDASPEED3.  Cooper’s entire racing career has been less than 50 races, all of them in a Mazda, and all of them since 2009 when he attended the Skip Barber Racing School at Lime Rock Park.

Cooper drove his Atlanta Motorsports Group-prepared MAZDASPEED3 to six wins in the season’s 14 races. During the weekend-closing triple-header at Sonoma Raceway, Cooper finished third, second and ended the season with a flag-to-flag victory, including the fastest race lap, in the final race of the season. As the only Mazda competing against a dozen Hondas and VWs, Cooper came close to giving Mazda a manufacturers’ championship as well.  At the series awards dinner, Cooper also was recognized as the Touring Car Rookie-Of-The-Year and Atlanta Motorsports Group was named Touring Car Team-Of-The-Year.

In addition to his six wins, Cooper started from the pole in seven races, led 11 races and led the most laps in six. He finished in the top-five in 13 of 14 races. His only glitch was crash damage received in the second Mid-Ohio race, which resulted in his only DNF of the year. Cooper’s year-long rival for the championship was Todd Lamb, who won the 2009 MX-5 Cup Championship and the 2008 NASA Spec Miata Championship.

Vollmer Faces Off Against Idaho Rob in Two NHRDA Finals
The Bully Dog race crew set their sights on Billings this past weekend at the NHRDA Big Sky Truck Fest at the Yellowstone Dragstrip.

The Bully Dog Cummins has been completely refreshed with a rebuilt engine and brand-new injectors. So, driver Jarid Vollmer decided to throw his hat into the Pro Stock class in addition to his normal Pro Street category.

Vollmer ran low 10-second and high nine-second quarter-miles all day long. He worked his way through the pack, winning elimination after elimination, until he found himself staging against “Idaho” Rob Coddins in the finals. Vollmer found himself doing this twice, in both the Pro Street finals and the Pro Stock finals.

In both classes, the outcome was the same: Vollmer ran a close second to Coddins’ Duramax. In Pro Street, he ran a 9.90-second quarter-mile to Coddins’ 9.72, and in Pro Stock he ran a 9.83-second quarter to Coddins’ 9.90, but a red light foul cost him the win on that round.

The team continues to dial in the Cummins racer in preparation for the World Finals in Ennis, Texas, October 13.

	The Rodfather/Goodguys Road Tour will feature 100-plus pre-’49 hot rods traveling from the Bonneville Salt Flats to Indianapolis over seven days.

Daily Web Coverage of Rodfather/Goodguys Road Tour to be provided by Route 2 Media and Chad Reynolds
Indiana-based Route 2 Media will provide daily video, photo and blog updates hosted/voiced by Chad Reynolds during the upcoming Rodfather/Goodguys Road Tour set to blast off Friday, September 14. This event will feature 100-plus pre-’49 hot rods traveling more than 3,600 miles, from the Bonneville Salt Flats to Indianapolis over seven days.

Led by Andy “The Rodfather” Brizio and Goodguys founder Gary Meadors, the tour leaves Bonneville, Friday, September 14, and continues east through Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and on to Indianapolis for the Goodguys 2nd WIX Filters Speedway Nationals at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, September 21–23.

Lunati Now Master Warehouse Distributor for Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Products
Lunati has announced that it is now a master warehouse distributor for Joe Gibbs Driven racing oil products.

Dave Mason Jr. gained his first podium finish in the pro-buggy class.

Dave Mason Jr. Beats out Veteran Racers to First Podium Finish
Rookie Dave Mason Jr., piloting the #65 Competitive Metals/JAMAR Alumi Craft Pro Buggy, started last Friday's Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) event by beating out the field and posting the fast qualifying time. After the inversion, he started sixth for last Saturday's round 11 at the newly built Wild West Motorsports Park in Reno, Nevada. Mason finished in fourth place. Starting fifth for last Sunday's round 12, Mason gained his first podium finish in the pro-buggy class.

Teammate Geoffrey Cooley qualified just behind Mason, posting the second-fastest time. But shortly after the race start, Cooley would get hit from behind and his car went airborne flipping upside down. Cooley continued the race and finished in 13th place.  With a repaired car, Cooley came out fast for last Sunday's qualifying, again posting the second-fastest lap time. But Cooley was again caught up in an incident that dropped him way back in the field in the early laps of Sunday's race. Cooley drove back up through the field to finish with a top five. 

Justin Smith had a rough weekend in the #19 Competitive Metals/Alumi Craft Pro Lite. In last Saturday's race, Smith had a power-steering issue that dropped him back to a 16th-place finish. His crew worked hard to prepare the truck for Sunday's race and those efforts paid off as Smith was up to sixth place. But after contact left his truck with a bent lower trailing arm, Smith dropped back to salvage a top-10 finish. 

	Larry Bani won his first Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) race ever at Thunderhill earlier this month.

Larry Bani Wins Tight Race at Thunderhill and Becomes Fourth Different Winner in the GoGoGear.com/UTI BMW M3
Larry Bani won his first Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) race ever at Thunderhill earlier this month driving the GoGoGear.com/Universal Technical Institute BMW M3. Bani, who was last year’s iGrille Top Rookie, became the fourth different race winner in as many races this season. Finishing only one second behind Bani was the Roger Kraus Racing Honda Prelude of Chris Lock, who was also the iGrille Top Rookie of the race. Lock was followed by theTNI Racing Mazdaspeed 3 of Felipe Cabezas.

In the GT class, Ken Kurtz was victorious in his Yokohama/TPIS Pontiac Firebird just ahead of the European Motor Works BMW M3 of John Handal.  

The teams now start their preparations for the big race of the season at Sonoma Raceway with the FIA World Touring Car Championship, September 21–23, 2012. 

Roush-Yates Drivers Race to Success Last Weekend
ARCA Series points leader Chris Buescher rose to victory at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin. The 19-year-old raced side by side with Frank Kimmel for several laps in the Herr's Live Life with Flavor 200 before he was able to regain the lead. He then withstood three restarts and won a one-lap sprint to claim his fourth victory of the season.

Buescher extended his points lead to 60 over Kimmel with three races left in the series.

Jason Johnson and Roush Yates Engines won both last Friday and Saturday nights in the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series.

Last Friday, the series raced at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Oklahoma, where Johnson's #41 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-owned sprint car started in the fourth position. Johnson powered through the field past race leader Logan Forler to win by a straightaway.

I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas, was the next stop for the #41 crew. Johnson started back in the eight position and used his Ford powerplant to pass for lead on lap 18. This marks Johnson's 64th overall ASCS National Tour win in his career.

Metaled Olympian and Roush Yates Engines driver Brian Deegan ventured to the Wild West Motorsports Park in Reno, Nevada, where he picked up a win in last Sunday's Lucas Oil Off Road Truck Series Pro 2 Unlimited race. After numerous cautions, the race concluded with a two-lap sprint to the finish. Deegan held off Carl Renezeder to claim the first spot on the podium.

Turkey Night Grand Prix Tickets on Sale Now
Tickets for the 72nd running of Midget racing's longest running race, the Turkey Night Grand Prix for the Mopar USAC National and Western Midgets, went on sale earlier this week. After 13 seasons of racing on pavement, the race will return to the dirt at Perris Auto Speedway on Thanksgiving night, November 22.

New Castle, Indiana's Caleb Armstrong, who turned 20 earlier this month and is currently fourth in Mopar USAC National Midget points, is the defending race champion after winning last year's event at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.  

Fans can purchase tickets in advance online at Tix or by calling 800-595-4849.