The Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

Elite Collection of Cobras to be Displayed in the Speed Merchants of Venice Exhibit
Guest curator Lynn “Mr. Cobra” Park has announced a short list of the extraordinary Cobras to be included in the “Speed Merchants of Venice” 50th Anniversary Cobra Exhibit as part of the Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California.

The rare Cobras to be displayed include the following:

• The first production Cobra kindly loaned by Bruce Meyer.
• FIA 289 loaned by Park.
• Recently restored Shelby School of High-Performance Driving car loaned by David Lerian.
• 427 Comp Car loaned by Anthony Boosalis.
• 427 S/C loaned by Boosalis.
• King Cobra loaned by Bill Hartman.
• “El Cid” Dragonsnake loaned by Park.

The 50th Anniversary Cobra Exhibit will be part of the inaugural Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion, which is open to all Cobras, GT40s, Ford GTs, all Ford, Lincoln, Mercury (FLM) and FLM-powered vehicles, including trucks and Broncos and all Shelby vehicles.

Proceeds benefit the NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Carroll Shelby Foundation.

	Team Falken finished eighth place in the GT class at the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Team Falken Perseveres for Strong Finish at Sebring
The 60th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, Saturday, March 17, was a long and hard run for Team Falken Tire. The American Le Mans Series GT team spent most of the 12-hour endurance race trying to regain ground lost early in the event. Despite the setbacks, the team earned an eighth-place finish in the GT class, marking the team's first finish of the historic event.
 


Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler worked his way through the field and joined the top 10 in the GT class in the first hour, running 37th overall. An hour and 30 minutes into the race, Henzler successfully earned the third GT spot. After 40 laps, veteran racer Bryan Sellers took command of the Porsche, rejoining the field at eighth in class.

The team has much work to do before the Long Beach Grand Prix April 13–14. Historically, the team has raced strong on street courses, racing the Falken Tire Azenis slicks. Walker and the team will work closely with Porsche and Falken Tire to continue to showcase strong competition against the more experienced veterans of the American Le Mans Series.

	Rob MacCachren won at the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, averaging 56.29 mph and finishing the course in four hours, 25 minutes and three seconds.

FOX Athletes Claim Victory in San Felipe SCORE Desert Series Races
FOX extended its SCORE Desert Series Baja Trophy Truck winning streak to nine with Rob MacCachren's recent win at the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250. MacCachren ran the same FOX External Cooling System-equipped bypass suspension, also known as the Cactus Cooler, which helped him win on this course last September.

Averaging 56.29 mph and finishing the course in four hours, 25 minutes and three seconds, MacCachren’s win came four minutes and five seconds before his closest competitor.

Another notable victory came from third-generation racer and Class 1600 champion, Luke McMillin. McMillin made his Class 1 racing debut while sharing driving duties with multi-time short course race winner Justin Smith, who, together, took home the Class 1 win and fourth overall finish.

	The Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

Elite Collection of Cobras to be Displayed in the Speed Merchants of Venice Exhibit
Guest curator Lynn “Mr. Cobra” Park has announced a short list of the extraordinary Cobras to be included in the “Speed Merchants of Venice” 50th Anniversary Cobra Exhibit as part of the Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California.

The rare Cobras to be displayed include the following:

• The first production Cobra kindly loaned by Bruce Meyer.
• FIA 289 loaned by Park.
• Recently restored Shelby School of High-Performance Driving car loaned by David Lerian.
• 427 Comp Car loaned by Anthony Boosalis.
• 427 S/C loaned by Boosalis.
• King Cobra loaned by Bill Hartman.
• “El Cid” Dragonsnake loaned by Park.

The 50th Anniversary Cobra Exhibit will be part of the inaugural Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion, which is open to all Cobras, GT40s, Ford GTs, all Ford, Lincoln, Mercury (FLM) and FLM-powered vehicles, including trucks and Broncos and all Shelby vehicles.

Proceeds benefit the NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Carroll Shelby Foundation.

	Team Falken finished eighth place in the GT class at the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Team Falken Perseveres for Strong Finish at Sebring
The 60th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, Saturday, March 17, was a long and hard run for Team Falken Tire. The American Le Mans Series GT team spent most of the 12-hour endurance race trying to regain ground lost early in the event. Despite the setbacks, the team earned an eighth-place finish in the GT class, marking the team's first finish of the historic event.
 


Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler worked his way through the field and joined the top 10 in the GT class in the first hour, running 37th overall. An hour and 30 minutes into the race, Henzler successfully earned the third GT spot. After 40 laps, veteran racer Bryan Sellers took command of the Porsche, rejoining the field at eighth in class.

The team has much work to do before the Long Beach Grand Prix April 13–14. Historically, the team has raced strong on street courses, racing the Falken Tire Azenis slicks. Walker and the team will work closely with Porsche and Falken Tire to continue to showcase strong competition against the more experienced veterans of the American Le Mans Series.

	Rob MacCachren won at the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, averaging 56.29 mph and finishing the course in four hours, 25 minutes and three seconds.

FOX Athletes Claim Victory in San Felipe SCORE Desert Series Races
FOX extended its SCORE Desert Series Baja Trophy Truck winning streak to nine with Rob MacCachren's recent win at the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250. MacCachren ran the same FOX External Cooling System-equipped bypass suspension, also known as the Cactus Cooler, which helped him win on this course last September.

Averaging 56.29 mph and finishing the course in four hours, 25 minutes and three seconds, MacCachren’s win came four minutes and five seconds before his closest competitor.

Another notable victory came from third-generation racer and Class 1600 champion, Luke McMillin. McMillin made his Class 1 racing debut while sharing driving duties with multi-time short course race winner Justin Smith, who, together, took home the Class 1 win and fourth overall finish.

Through the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF), the association helps prepare the next generation of the automotive workforce for today's competitive market through financial assistance for students attending various universities, colleges, and/or vocational schools in the United States. In fact, the fund has yielded more than $1.5 million in scholarships since 1984.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2012 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The application, available online at www.sema.org/scholarships, requires college transcripts and letters of recommendation.

SEMA's Education Institute (SEI) recently interviewed 2010 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund recipient Ryan Brimhall, who graduated with a double Bachelor's degree from Weber State in Automotive Field Service Technology and Technical Sales. He is currently working as a store manager for O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Brimhall shared some thoughts about why he chose a career in the auto industry and offers advice for students applying for scholarships and for those just starting out in the automotive industry.

SEMA Education Institute: What company do you work for? What is your title and area of responsibility?

Ryan Brimhall: I currently (and temporarily) work for O'Reilly Auto parts as a manager. Throughout my schooling, I worked on and off in retail parts. Working in retail auto parts provides a relatively flexible schedule and easy hours for someone attending college. When I was notified that I was a recipient of the SEMA scholarship, I could not have been more happy.

At the time, I was working for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. in Torrance, California, as a product quality and service support intern. Although this was a paid internship, I was experiencing the real-life cost of living, and the money toward school was a huge financial burden lifted off my shoulders. As the internship came to a close, I was pondering whether or not I should take out a student loan or credit card to pay the next semester of school, but thanks to the scholarship I received, I didn't have to.

I have since completed school (I graduated from Weber State University with a double Bachelor's degree in Automotive Field Service Technology and Technical Sales in December 2011) and have been taking a short break as I search for my next career opportunity.

SEI: Why did you choose to pursue a career in the automotive industry? Was it because of your enthusiasm for street rodding? A family hobby that inspired you?

Ryan Brimhall: I chose a career in the automotive industry because it's something I have always been interested in. I guess you could say cars are in my blood. I remember as a teenager, I used to send in for automotive manufacturer brochures. After reading various magazines and brochures, I would cut them up and hang the pictures on my walls. I eventually ended up with a 20-ft. collage of photos between two walls in my bedroom.

From there, my father encouraged me to go into the automotive program in high school. Coincidentally, Layton High School had one of the best automotive programs in the state of Utah at the time and is closely affiliated with Weber State University. I had two great teachers (Tom Housley and Robert Griffiths) who helped my education take off. I entered and participated in several automotive competitions and ended up winning a one-year tuition waiver to Weber State University upon high school graduation.

SEI: Do you plan to continue your higher education?

Ryan Brimhall: I have graduated with a double bachelor's degree major in Automotive Field Service technology and in the Technical Sales program. Although I am finished for now, I may consider going for a Master's degree in business, management or education. I truly enjoy learning and would go to school the rest of my life it was financially feasible or practical.

SEI: What advice would you give to a student applying for scholarships now?

Ryan Brimhall: Two words: DO IT! I was unsure about even applying for the scholarship from SEMA. At first, it seemed like a whole lot of work to fill out all the required forms, get letters of recommendation, and write a few papers. But, it paid off! I am fortunate enough to have gotten the scholarship, and, in hindsight, it was really almost no work at all to apply.

My advice is to apply for all the scholarships you can. Many students are lazy, forgetful or don't even bother to complete scholarship applications. I have seen students get scholarships time and time again while attending college just because they filled out a few scholarship requests. Also, some of the documents used for scholarship applications, such as the recommendation letters, are great for applying for jobs as well. For the students that don't believe, it's just that easy. Just look at me as an example!

SEI: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to pursue an education/career in the automotive industry?

Ryan Brimhall: I would say great choice in your education or career. The automotive industry is fast paced and dynamic. The automotive industry is changing rapidly and with so many emerging technologies, you will have a million different ways you could go with your career. You will never be bored with the possibilities in the automotive industry, just take a look at what the SEMA Show has to offer and realize that's only a fraction of the industry. You don't necessarily have to know what you want to do in life, but if you have a passion for automotive, at least you'll know you'll have a career in an industry that you love.

Through the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF), the association helps prepare the next generation of the automotive workforce for today's competitive market through financial assistance for students attending various universities, colleges, and/or vocational schools in the United States. In fact, the fund has yielded more than $1.5 million in scholarships since 1984.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2012 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The application, available online at www.sema.org/scholarships, requires college transcripts and letters of recommendation.

SEMA's Education Institute (SEI) recently interviewed 2010 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund recipient Ryan Brimhall, who graduated with a double Bachelor's degree from Weber State in Automotive Field Service Technology and Technical Sales. He is currently working as a store manager for O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Brimhall shared some thoughts about why he chose a career in the auto industry and offers advice for students applying for scholarships and for those just starting out in the automotive industry.

SEMA Education Institute: What company do you work for? What is your title and area of responsibility?

Ryan Brimhall: I currently (and temporarily) work for O'Reilly Auto parts as a manager. Throughout my schooling, I worked on and off in retail parts. Working in retail auto parts provides a relatively flexible schedule and easy hours for someone attending college. When I was notified that I was a recipient of the SEMA scholarship, I could not have been more happy.

At the time, I was working for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. in Torrance, California, as a product quality and service support intern. Although this was a paid internship, I was experiencing the real-life cost of living, and the money toward school was a huge financial burden lifted off my shoulders. As the internship came to a close, I was pondering whether or not I should take out a student loan or credit card to pay the next semester of school, but thanks to the scholarship I received, I didn't have to.

I have since completed school (I graduated from Weber State University with a double Bachelor's degree in Automotive Field Service Technology and Technical Sales in December 2011) and have been taking a short break as I search for my next career opportunity.

SEI: Why did you choose to pursue a career in the automotive industry? Was it because of your enthusiasm for street rodding? A family hobby that inspired you?

Ryan Brimhall: I chose a career in the automotive industry because it's something I have always been interested in. I guess you could say cars are in my blood. I remember as a teenager, I used to send in for automotive manufacturer brochures. After reading various magazines and brochures, I would cut them up and hang the pictures on my walls. I eventually ended up with a 20-ft. collage of photos between two walls in my bedroom.

From there, my father encouraged me to go into the automotive program in high school. Coincidentally, Layton High School had one of the best automotive programs in the state of Utah at the time and is closely affiliated with Weber State University. I had two great teachers (Tom Housley and Robert Griffiths) who helped my education take off. I entered and participated in several automotive competitions and ended up winning a one-year tuition waiver to Weber State University upon high school graduation.

SEI: Do you plan to continue your higher education?

Ryan Brimhall: I have graduated with a double bachelor's degree major in Automotive Field Service technology and in the Technical Sales program. Although I am finished for now, I may consider going for a Master's degree in business, management or education. I truly enjoy learning and would go to school the rest of my life it was financially feasible or practical.

SEI: What advice would you give to a student applying for scholarships now?

Ryan Brimhall: Two words: DO IT! I was unsure about even applying for the scholarship from SEMA. At first, it seemed like a whole lot of work to fill out all the required forms, get letters of recommendation, and write a few papers. But, it paid off! I am fortunate enough to have gotten the scholarship, and, in hindsight, it was really almost no work at all to apply.

My advice is to apply for all the scholarships you can. Many students are lazy, forgetful or don't even bother to complete scholarship applications. I have seen students get scholarships time and time again while attending college just because they filled out a few scholarship requests. Also, some of the documents used for scholarship applications, such as the recommendation letters, are great for applying for jobs as well. For the students that don't believe, it's just that easy. Just look at me as an example!

SEI: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to pursue an education/career in the automotive industry?

Ryan Brimhall: I would say great choice in your education or career. The automotive industry is fast paced and dynamic. The automotive industry is changing rapidly and with so many emerging technologies, you will have a million different ways you could go with your career. You will never be bored with the possibilities in the automotive industry, just take a look at what the SEMA Show has to offer and realize that's only a fraction of the industry. You don't necessarily have to know what you want to do in life, but if you have a passion for automotive, at least you'll know you'll have a career in an industry that you love.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is hosting a webinar next Tuesday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) designed to maximum U.S. company sales with international buyers at trade shows.

Participants will learn the following:

• How to effectively communicate with buyers and partners from other cultures to turn a show lead into a buyer or channel partner.
• Understand the varied business and communication practices at trade shows from different parts of the world.
• What happens after the show; strategies for turning leads into profit.
• How to present yourself to international visitors at your booth and during networking events.
• How to avoid "worst practices" for trade shows.

Speakers will include:

• Andrew Gately, principal commercial officer, U.S. Commercial Service – China
• Volker Wirsdorf, senior commercial specialist, U.S. Consulate – Frankfurt, Germany
• Daniel Crocker, senior commercial officer, U.S. Embassy Panama, U.S. Commercial Service
• Geoff Sauer, vice president, International Sales Group, Reed Exhibitions U.S.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is hosting a webinar next Tuesday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) designed to maximum U.S. company sales with international buyers at trade shows.

Participants will learn the following:

• How to effectively communicate with buyers and partners from other cultures to turn a show lead into a buyer or channel partner.
• Understand the varied business and communication practices at trade shows from different parts of the world.
• What happens after the show; strategies for turning leads into profit.
• How to present yourself to international visitors at your booth and during networking events.
• How to avoid "worst practices" for trade shows.

Speakers will include:

• Andrew Gately, principal commercial officer, U.S. Commercial Service – China
• Volker Wirsdorf, senior commercial specialist, U.S. Consulate – Frankfurt, Germany
• Daniel Crocker, senior commercial officer, U.S. Embassy Panama, U.S. Commercial Service
• Geoff Sauer, vice president, International Sales Group, Reed Exhibitions U.S.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is hosting a webinar next Tuesday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) designed to maximum U.S. company sales with international buyers at trade shows.

Participants will learn the following:

• How to effectively communicate with buyers and partners from other cultures to turn a show lead into a buyer or channel partner.
• Understand the varied business and communication practices at trade shows from different parts of the world.
• What happens after the show; strategies for turning leads into profit.
• How to present yourself to international visitors at your booth and during networking events.
• How to avoid "worst practices" for trade shows.

Speakers will include:

• Andrew Gately, principal commercial officer, U.S. Commercial Service – China
• Volker Wirsdorf, senior commercial specialist, U.S. Consulate – Frankfurt, Germany
• Daniel Crocker, senior commercial officer, U.S. Embassy Panama, U.S. Commercial Service
• Geoff Sauer, vice president, International Sales Group, Reed Exhibitions U.S.

NEWS NUGGETS

Brown	Hight	Edwards

NHRA HEADS TO SIN CITY FOR THE SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: When the NHRA heads to Las Vegas March 30–April 1, defending Funny Car winner Robert Hight hopes to capitalize on his early season success and earn his third consecutive victory this year. Reigning Top Fuel event champ Antron Brown will look to earn his second win of the season, as will Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards, who also won the 2011 event at The Strip. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock racers will battle on the track all weekend for the most coveted trophy in all of drag racing—the Wally.

NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidsons will be featured throughout the race weekend, with exhibition runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The high-powered, nitromethane-fueled Nitro Harleys can reach speeds of more than 200 mph and are always a huge hit with fans. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

LAS VEGAS FAN FEST TO KICK OFF RACE WEEKEND: More than 25 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers will be at the annual Fan Fest on the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, including all seven Don Schumacher Racing drivers and the Summit Racing duo of Greg Anderson and Jason Line. The party starts at 5:00 p.m., with driver autographs from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. The free event will be hosted by Team Full Throttle and include music and giveaways. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

NITRO GENERATION PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS: In celebration of the year of the Nitro Generation, the NHRA is offering a limited number of NHRA Nitro Generation Family Packs for the 32nd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 4–6. The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Pack offers a great day of fun and racing action for a family of four, including two adult and two child reserved seats, preferred parking, four hot dogs, four small Coca-Colas and an event program. The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Packs are available in limited quantities and for each day of the event, with Friday priced at $82 and Saturday or Sunday at $114. In addition, the NHRA is waiving the service fee on each Family Pack order, which can be placed by logging on to NHRATix.com or calling (800) 884-NHRA (6472). The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Pack must be purchased in advance.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, March 30–April 1: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops of the season in Sin City for the fourth race of the season. Defending event winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, April 13–15: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops of the season in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the only four-wide national event. Winners from 2011 are Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-455-FANS (3267) or log on to CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com. For media credentials, contact Media Relations Manager Alex Baca at abaca@nhra.com.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUPER START BATTERIES, ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, April 27–29: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the sixth race of the season. Winners from 2011 are Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 281-383-RACE (7223) or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID	INSIDE THE NUMBERS
ADDING TO THE TEAM: Funny Car driver Bob Tasca announced this week that his team has hired veteran tuner Dickie Venables. Venables has earned two championships in Funny Car, and Tasca is looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the team: “At the end of the day, it’s about people. People win championships, not race cars. Dickie has experience that will be a valuable asset to our team. I have all the confidence in the world in (tuners) Chris (Cunningham) and Marc (Denner), but when you have the opportunity to add to your arsenal, you take it. Having Dickie onboard can only help.”	24: The number of years that Mopar has sponsored the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, making it the longest continuous title sponsorship in the NHRA. The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is scheduled to take place July 20–22 and will kick off the three-race NHRA Western Swing, which also includes stops in Sonoma, California, and Seattle, and a five-race sprint to the start of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Mopar also sponsors Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

DID YOU KNOW

… The lead roles for the hotly anticipated movie “Snake & Mongoose” have been cast and announced. Jesse Williams, known for his work in “Grey’s Anatomy,” will be playing Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, and Richard Blake will play Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen. Award-winning British commercial director Wayne Holloway will make his feature-film directing debut on the project, which he wrote with Alan Paradise. The story details the friendship, rivalry, personal tragedies, triumphs and business successes of “the Snake” and “the Mongoose.”

NEWS NUGGETS

Brown	Hight	Edwards

NHRA HEADS TO SIN CITY FOR THE SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: When the NHRA heads to Las Vegas March 30–April 1, defending Funny Car winner Robert Hight hopes to capitalize on his early season success and earn his third consecutive victory this year. Reigning Top Fuel event champ Antron Brown will look to earn his second win of the season, as will Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards, who also won the 2011 event at The Strip. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock racers will battle on the track all weekend for the most coveted trophy in all of drag racing—the Wally.

NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidsons will be featured throughout the race weekend, with exhibition runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The high-powered, nitromethane-fueled Nitro Harleys can reach speeds of more than 200 mph and are always a huge hit with fans. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

LAS VEGAS FAN FEST TO KICK OFF RACE WEEKEND: More than 25 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers will be at the annual Fan Fest on the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, including all seven Don Schumacher Racing drivers and the Summit Racing duo of Greg Anderson and Jason Line. The party starts at 5:00 p.m., with driver autographs from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. The free event will be hosted by Team Full Throttle and include music and giveaways. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

NITRO GENERATION PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS: In celebration of the year of the Nitro Generation, the NHRA is offering a limited number of NHRA Nitro Generation Family Packs for the 32nd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 4–6. The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Pack offers a great day of fun and racing action for a family of four, including two adult and two child reserved seats, preferred parking, four hot dogs, four small Coca-Colas and an event program. The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Packs are available in limited quantities and for each day of the event, with Friday priced at $82 and Saturday or Sunday at $114. In addition, the NHRA is waiving the service fee on each Family Pack order, which can be placed by logging on to NHRATix.com or calling (800) 884-NHRA (6472). The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Pack must be purchased in advance.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, March 30–April 1: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops of the season in Sin City for the fourth race of the season. Defending event winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, April 13–15: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops of the season in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the only four-wide national event. Winners from 2011 are Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-455-FANS (3267) or log on to CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com. For media credentials, contact Media Relations Manager Alex Baca at abaca@nhra.com.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUPER START BATTERIES, ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, April 27–29: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the sixth race of the season. Winners from 2011 are Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 281-383-RACE (7223) or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID	INSIDE THE NUMBERS
ADDING TO THE TEAM: Funny Car driver Bob Tasca announced this week that his team has hired veteran tuner Dickie Venables. Venables has earned two championships in Funny Car, and Tasca is looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the team: “At the end of the day, it’s about people. People win championships, not race cars. Dickie has experience that will be a valuable asset to our team. I have all the confidence in the world in (tuners) Chris (Cunningham) and Marc (Denner), but when you have the opportunity to add to your arsenal, you take it. Having Dickie onboard can only help.”	24: The number of years that Mopar has sponsored the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, making it the longest continuous title sponsorship in the NHRA. The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is scheduled to take place July 20–22 and will kick off the three-race NHRA Western Swing, which also includes stops in Sonoma, California, and Seattle, and a five-race sprint to the start of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Mopar also sponsors Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

DID YOU KNOW

… The lead roles for the hotly anticipated movie “Snake & Mongoose” have been cast and announced. Jesse Williams, known for his work in “Grey’s Anatomy,” will be playing Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, and Richard Blake will play Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen. Award-winning British commercial director Wayne Holloway will make his feature-film directing debut on the project, which he wrote with Alan Paradise. The story details the friendship, rivalry, personal tragedies, triumphs and business successes of “the Snake” and “the Mongoose.”

NEWS NUGGETS

Brown	Hight	Edwards

NHRA HEADS TO SIN CITY FOR THE SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: When the NHRA heads to Las Vegas March 30–April 1, defending Funny Car winner Robert Hight hopes to capitalize on his early season success and earn his third consecutive victory this year. Reigning Top Fuel event champ Antron Brown will look to earn his second win of the season, as will Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards, who also won the 2011 event at The Strip. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock racers will battle on the track all weekend for the most coveted trophy in all of drag racing—the Wally.

NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidsons will be featured throughout the race weekend, with exhibition runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The high-powered, nitromethane-fueled Nitro Harleys can reach speeds of more than 200 mph and are always a huge hit with fans. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

LAS VEGAS FAN FEST TO KICK OFF RACE WEEKEND: More than 25 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers will be at the annual Fan Fest on the Brooklyn Bridge in front of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, including all seven Don Schumacher Racing drivers and the Summit Racing duo of Greg Anderson and Jason Line. The party starts at 5:00 p.m., with driver autographs from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. The free event will be hosted by Team Full Throttle and include music and giveaways. For tickets to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

NITRO GENERATION PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS: In celebration of the year of the Nitro Generation, the NHRA is offering a limited number of NHRA Nitro Generation Family Packs for the 32nd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 4–6. The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Pack offers a great day of fun and racing action for a family of four, including two adult and two child reserved seats, preferred parking, four hot dogs, four small Coca-Colas and an event program. The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Packs are available in limited quantities and for each day of the event, with Friday priced at $82 and Saturday or Sunday at $114. In addition, the NHRA is waiving the service fee on each Family Pack order, which can be placed by logging on to NHRATix.com or calling (800) 884-NHRA (6472). The NHRA Nitro Generation Family Pack must be purchased in advance.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, March 30–April 1: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops of the season in Sin City for the fourth race of the season. Defending event winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, April 13–15: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops of the season in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the only four-wide national event. Winners from 2011 are Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-455-FANS (3267) or log on to CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com. For media credentials, contact Media Relations Manager Alex Baca at abaca@nhra.com.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUPER START BATTERIES, ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, April 27–29: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the sixth race of the season. Winners from 2011 are Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 281-383-RACE (7223) or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID	INSIDE THE NUMBERS
ADDING TO THE TEAM: Funny Car driver Bob Tasca announced this week that his team has hired veteran tuner Dickie Venables. Venables has earned two championships in Funny Car, and Tasca is looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the team: “At the end of the day, it’s about people. People win championships, not race cars. Dickie has experience that will be a valuable asset to our team. I have all the confidence in the world in (tuners) Chris (Cunningham) and Marc (Denner), but when you have the opportunity to add to your arsenal, you take it. Having Dickie onboard can only help.”	24: The number of years that Mopar has sponsored the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, making it the longest continuous title sponsorship in the NHRA. The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is scheduled to take place July 20–22 and will kick off the three-race NHRA Western Swing, which also includes stops in Sonoma, California, and Seattle, and a five-race sprint to the start of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Mopar also sponsors Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

DID YOU KNOW

… The lead roles for the hotly anticipated movie “Snake & Mongoose” have been cast and announced. Jesse Williams, known for his work in “Grey’s Anatomy,” will be playing Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, and Richard Blake will play Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen. Award-winning British commercial director Wayne Holloway will make his feature-film directing debut on the project, which he wrote with Alan Paradise. The story details the friendship, rivalry, personal tragedies, triumphs and business successes of “the Snake” and “the Mongoose.”