PANEL DISCUSSION: New Indy Racing League CEO Randy Bernard has formed an advisory committee to help determine which chassis design will be selected as the new IZOD IndyCar Series chassis in 2012.

RETAINED: The NHRA will allow Top Fuel and Funny Car teams to use new wheel-retention devices designed in the aftermath of Antron Brown’s crash at Firebird International Raceway in Arizona that resulted in the death of a spectator.

NEW PROCESS: The FIA has revealed a new selection process to determine possible new entries into Formula One next year, which includes selecting reserve teams in case a team is unable to make the final Formula One field.

GOODBYE WING: An official NASCAR test at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, this week officially welcomed back the spoiler to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition in place of the wing, which was introduced in 2007.

NIFTY FIFTY: Jimmie Johnson moved into the lead late in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol (Tennessee) Motor Speedway to earn his 50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, moving him into a tie for 10th all time with Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett.

FLAWLESS: Team Peugeot Total swept the first two spots during Saturday’s 12 Hours of Sebring, with the entry driven by Anthony Davidson, Marc Gene and Alexander Wurz leading from flag to flag.

NEW CONQUEST: Conquest Racing will field an entry for Belgian Bertrand Baguette for the remainder of the IZOD IndyCar Series season, beginning with the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, April 11. He will drive the No. 34 with sponsorship from the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium.

DEBUT: Ryan Truex, the reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, will enter up to six NASCAR Nationwide Series events for Michael Waltrip Racing this year.

RECOVERING: A brutal crash during the Scotts EZ Seed Showdown at Bristol Motor Speedway left NASCAR legends Charlie Glotzbach and Larry Pearson hospitalized. Pearson got the worst of the incident, suffering broken bones in three places.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

PANEL DISCUSSION: New Indy Racing League CEO Randy Bernard has formed an advisory committee to help determine which chassis design will be selected as the new IZOD IndyCar Series chassis in 2012.

RETAINED: The NHRA will allow Top Fuel and Funny Car teams to use new wheel-retention devices designed in the aftermath of Antron Brown’s crash at Firebird International Raceway in Arizona that resulted in the death of a spectator.

NEW PROCESS: The FIA has revealed a new selection process to determine possible new entries into Formula One next year, which includes selecting reserve teams in case a team is unable to make the final Formula One field.

GOODBYE WING: An official NASCAR test at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, this week officially welcomed back the spoiler to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition in place of the wing, which was introduced in 2007.

NIFTY FIFTY: Jimmie Johnson moved into the lead late in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol (Tennessee) Motor Speedway to earn his 50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, moving him into a tie for 10th all time with Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett.

FLAWLESS: Team Peugeot Total swept the first two spots during Saturday’s 12 Hours of Sebring, with the entry driven by Anthony Davidson, Marc Gene and Alexander Wurz leading from flag to flag.

NEW CONQUEST: Conquest Racing will field an entry for Belgian Bertrand Baguette for the remainder of the IZOD IndyCar Series season, beginning with the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, April 11. He will drive the No. 34 with sponsorship from the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium.

DEBUT: Ryan Truex, the reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, will enter up to six NASCAR Nationwide Series events for Michael Waltrip Racing this year.

RECOVERING: A brutal crash during the Scotts EZ Seed Showdown at Bristol Motor Speedway left NASCAR legends Charlie Glotzbach and Larry Pearson hospitalized. Pearson got the worst of the incident, suffering broken bones in three places.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

Mark Mojica was appointed to the role of director of sales, aftermarket for N-Fab. Mojica will lead global aftermarket sales and account marketing activities for the company. He enjoyed a successful 21-year career with Rancho Suspension, where he held several leadership positions in customer service, marketing, product management and sales.

	Christine LeMay

Sales and marketing veteran Christine LeMay has joined The Marx Group and Marx Group Advisors as the firm's new customer relations manager. She will focus on customer service, new-business development and sales management. During her career LeMay has held sales and marketing positions with Sybervision, Siemens, Silicon Valley Job Seeker Center, Kaiser Permanente and Solarcraft.

Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. (TNA) promoted Allan Huggins to CFO and senior director of finance and accounting. Huggins, who joined TNA in 2005 as senior procurement manager, served as director of finance and purchasing prior to his promotion. A certified public accountant, Huggins holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Kentucky, a degree in accounting from University of Akron and an MBA from Bellarmine College.

For the past three years, Mail Terminal Services (MTS) has sent more than 300,000 postcards with encouraging notes from MTS employees and families, schools, service organizations and NHRA fans to men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq through its "Mail From Home" program. MTS is expanding the program and encourages companies in the specialty-equipment industry to get involved. It's simple: MTS supplies the postcards; members of your organization write notes of thanks and encouragement to service men and women; and MTS collects all of the postcards, adds several drag-racing publications and ships the bundle to the troops to share with others in their base camp. MTS will send you all of the postcards you need; all you need to do is follow the content guidelines. For more information and to get involved, contact Karen Comstock at 626/233-2637.

The Enertia Powercycle motorcycle.

Avon Motorcycle Tyres North America’s Roadrider tire was selected as original equipment for the Enertia Powercycle motorcycle. Manufactured by Brammo, the Enertia is capable of traveling 15,000 miles on $85 worth of electricity. The Roadrider tire was built for midsize motorcycles and has a speed rating of 149 mph.

The Advanstar Automotive Group reached an agreement with Messe Frankfurt North America to help promote the U.S. Pavilions at Automechanika 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany. Advanstar will disseminate information about the event through its SearchAutoParts.com website and produce a U.S. Exhibitor Directory to distribute through the show's five U.S. Pavilions. Automechanika 2010 is set for September 14–19.

	Detroit Engineering's Chevy II Deep Tubs.

Detroit Speed Inc. received the Paint & Body Innovation Award for its Chevy II Deep Tubs during the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show in Indianapolis. The award was one of seven awards in the New Products category. The DSE Deep Tubs are inner wheel housings designed to accommodate wider tire and wheel packages.

ODYSSEY Battery by EnerSys partnered with Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) as an affiliate sponsor for the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. ODYSSEY Battery will provide product and technical support throughout the 2010 season. In return, the ODYSSEY® Battery logo will appear on the US ARMY Top Fuel Dragster, MATCO Tools Top Fuel Dragster, FRAM Top Fuel Dragster and Valvoline/MTS NHRA Funny Car.

NEWS NUGGETS

John Force	Antron Brown	Brandon Bernstein	Cory McClenathan

IT’S FOUR-WIDE OR NOTHING! DRIVERS PREPARE FOR INAUGURAL EVENT AT zMAX DRAGWAY: For the first time ever in NHRA national event history, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will hold an entire event, qualifying and eliminations, using four lanes instead of the traditional two. At the very special and history-making inaugural event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first of two races in the season held at zMAX Dragway, drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag racing series will go head-to-head-to-head-to-head to compete for valuable points toward the Full Throttle world championships and a chance to hoist the coveted Wally at the end of eliminations on Sunday.

With all the excitement that an event like this brings it’s only understandable that the drivers are pumped and ready to end their week off and hit the track in Concord, North Carolina. “We’re going four wide. Wow,” said Top Fuel dragster pilot Antron Brown. “We experienced it already last year, and we made a good showing in the four-wide exhibition even though we didn’t have the results we were looking for during the regular race.”

“With two 8,000hp nitro-breathing dragsters or Funny Cars on the ready line, it’s bone-rattling,” said Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein. “But with 32,000 hp on the starting grid, it’s pretty indescribable.”

“It’s going to be exciting,” said 14-time Funny Car world champion and NHRA legend John Force. “You’re talking over 30,000 hp at one time. You’re talking over 1,200 mph out there on that racetrack.”

“The qualifying is going to be pretty crazy and interesting,” said Top Fuel pilot Cory McClenathan. “We’re there to put a show on, and obviously everybody wants to win the race. I think the roar of three other dragsters, when you’re in your own car, is going to be a real rush.”

Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling Charlotte Motor Speedway at 800/455-FANS (3267) or online at zmaxdragway.com. Right now, O’Reilly Auto Parts and zMAX Dragway have teamed up to offer fans $8 off on $45 tickets for Saturday and Sunday through purchasing tickets at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana and Ohio. After purchasing the tickets, fans will receive a receipt that can be redeemed at the zMAX Dragway ticket window on event days or at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office in advance.

	The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

OLYMPIC GOLD-MEDAL U.S. BOBSLEDDERS NAMED GRAND MARSHALS OF NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, March 25–28 at zMAX Dragway. As honorary grand marshals, the crewmembers of the famous Night Train bobsled will be honored during pre-race festivities with a commemorative plaque, participate in a question-and-answer session during opening ceremonies and experience 30,000 hp firsthand as they stand on the starting line for the first four-wide pass during Sunday’s eliminations.

“It’s an honor to be named grand marshal for this event,” said Steven Holcomb, pilot of the gold-medal-winning bobsled. “The support of the racing community has been instrumental in our success, and it’s great to have this opportunity. Now I get to cheer for some of our biggest advocates that have supported us over the last few years. They’ve earned this gold medal too.”

The team, led by driver Holcomb and consisting of pushers Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen and Curt Tomasevicz, made history as it piloted the Night Train to a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The victory marked the first time in 62 years that the United States won an Olympic gold medal in bobsled competition. The famed Night Train sled was created by the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, a combination of NASCAR legend Geoff Bodine and Chassis Dynamics. For more information on this story, visit www.NHRA.com.

FULLER TAKES TWO OF THREE MATCH RACES ON DAY TWO OF YAS DRAG FESTIVAL: “Hot Rod” Fuller was the big winner on day two of the Yas Drag Festival, taking two of three races against teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. Fuller and Johnson finished the inaugural event at Yas Drag Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with three wins each.

“There are so many people who made this great event a success,” Fuller said. “The Yas Marina team and everyone at DSR all worked together, and now we have thousands of new Top Fuel fans. This is a great start for NHRA Drag Racing in Abu Dhabi.”

After earning one win light in Friday’s three races, Fuller evened the score at two wins each by powering to a run of 3.898 seconds at 499.97 kph to hold off Johnson.

“We’ve worked for months to come here and put on a good show, and I really think we did that,” said Johnson. “This entire event has been beyond my wildest imagination. What a great two days of drag racing.”

For more on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, March 25–28: For the first time in NHRA Nationals history, qualifying and eliminations for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event will be conducted four-wide instead of two.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, April 9–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops in the Lone Star State. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car); Ron Krisher (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, April 16–18: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes the first of two stops in Sin City. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!: Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson on racing in the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway this weekend:

“Side-by-side Funny Car racing is pretty impressive on any track, but going four-wide just doubles everything up, and it’s kind of hard to believe. Maybe somebody ought to talk to Doublemint gum about this. You know the old slogan, ‘Double your pleasure, double your fun.’ This is going to be pretty intense, with points on the line, and it will be interesting to think about the strategies and how we can advance and earn as many Full Throttle points as possible.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: That’s the number of drivers, who by winning the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, would not only be the first drivers to win the first national event held completely using four lanes, but would also become the first driver to win a second event at zMAX Dragway. Below are a list of drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the years they won their first event at zMAX Dragway:

TOP FUEL
Cory McClenathan (2009)
Tony Schumacher (2008)

FUNNY CAR
Jack Beckman (2008)
Robert Hight (2009)

PRO STOCK
Mike Edwards (2009)
Justin Humphreys (2008)

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Hector Arana (2009)
Steve Johnson (2008)

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Todd Smith was named crew chief for the Copart/Lucas Oil Kenny Bernstein Racing Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein. “Todd has a wealth of experience and some new ideas that we felt might be beneficial, so we are going to try a new path,” said team owner Kenny Bernstein. Smith will make his debut as crew chief at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at zMAX Dragway.

NEWS NUGGETS

John Force	Antron Brown	Brandon Bernstein	Cory McClenathan

IT’S FOUR-WIDE OR NOTHING! DRIVERS PREPARE FOR INAUGURAL EVENT AT zMAX DRAGWAY: For the first time ever in NHRA national event history, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will hold an entire event, qualifying and eliminations, using four lanes instead of the traditional two. At the very special and history-making inaugural event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first of two races in the season held at zMAX Dragway, drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag racing series will go head-to-head-to-head-to-head to compete for valuable points toward the Full Throttle world championships and a chance to hoist the coveted Wally at the end of eliminations on Sunday.

With all the excitement that an event like this brings it’s only understandable that the drivers are pumped and ready to end their week off and hit the track in Concord, North Carolina. “We’re going four wide. Wow,” said Top Fuel dragster pilot Antron Brown. “We experienced it already last year, and we made a good showing in the four-wide exhibition even though we didn’t have the results we were looking for during the regular race.”

“With two 8,000hp nitro-breathing dragsters or Funny Cars on the ready line, it’s bone-rattling,” said Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein. “But with 32,000 hp on the starting grid, it’s pretty indescribable.”

“It’s going to be exciting,” said 14-time Funny Car world champion and NHRA legend John Force. “You’re talking over 30,000 hp at one time. You’re talking over 1,200 mph out there on that racetrack.”

“The qualifying is going to be pretty crazy and interesting,” said Top Fuel pilot Cory McClenathan. “We’re there to put a show on, and obviously everybody wants to win the race. I think the roar of three other dragsters, when you’re in your own car, is going to be a real rush.”

Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling Charlotte Motor Speedway at 800/455-FANS (3267) or online at zmaxdragway.com. Right now, O’Reilly Auto Parts and zMAX Dragway have teamed up to offer fans $8 off on $45 tickets for Saturday and Sunday through purchasing tickets at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana and Ohio. After purchasing the tickets, fans will receive a receipt that can be redeemed at the zMAX Dragway ticket window on event days or at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office in advance.

	The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

OLYMPIC GOLD-MEDAL U.S. BOBSLEDDERS NAMED GRAND MARSHALS OF NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, March 25–28 at zMAX Dragway. As honorary grand marshals, the crewmembers of the famous Night Train bobsled will be honored during pre-race festivities with a commemorative plaque, participate in a question-and-answer session during opening ceremonies and experience 30,000 hp firsthand as they stand on the starting line for the first four-wide pass during Sunday’s eliminations.

“It’s an honor to be named grand marshal for this event,” said Steven Holcomb, pilot of the gold-medal-winning bobsled. “The support of the racing community has been instrumental in our success, and it’s great to have this opportunity. Now I get to cheer for some of our biggest advocates that have supported us over the last few years. They’ve earned this gold medal too.”

The team, led by driver Holcomb and consisting of pushers Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen and Curt Tomasevicz, made history as it piloted the Night Train to a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The victory marked the first time in 62 years that the United States won an Olympic gold medal in bobsled competition. The famed Night Train sled was created by the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, a combination of NASCAR legend Geoff Bodine and Chassis Dynamics. For more information on this story, visit www.NHRA.com.

FULLER TAKES TWO OF THREE MATCH RACES ON DAY TWO OF YAS DRAG FESTIVAL: “Hot Rod” Fuller was the big winner on day two of the Yas Drag Festival, taking two of three races against teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. Fuller and Johnson finished the inaugural event at Yas Drag Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with three wins each.

“There are so many people who made this great event a success,” Fuller said. “The Yas Marina team and everyone at DSR all worked together, and now we have thousands of new Top Fuel fans. This is a great start for NHRA Drag Racing in Abu Dhabi.”

After earning one win light in Friday’s three races, Fuller evened the score at two wins each by powering to a run of 3.898 seconds at 499.97 kph to hold off Johnson.

“We’ve worked for months to come here and put on a good show, and I really think we did that,” said Johnson. “This entire event has been beyond my wildest imagination. What a great two days of drag racing.”

For more on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, March 25–28: For the first time in NHRA Nationals history, qualifying and eliminations for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event will be conducted four-wide instead of two.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, April 9–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops in the Lone Star State. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car); Ron Krisher (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, April 16–18: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes the first of two stops in Sin City. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!: Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson on racing in the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway this weekend:

“Side-by-side Funny Car racing is pretty impressive on any track, but going four-wide just doubles everything up, and it’s kind of hard to believe. Maybe somebody ought to talk to Doublemint gum about this. You know the old slogan, ‘Double your pleasure, double your fun.’ This is going to be pretty intense, with points on the line, and it will be interesting to think about the strategies and how we can advance and earn as many Full Throttle points as possible.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: That’s the number of drivers, who by winning the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, would not only be the first drivers to win the first national event held completely using four lanes, but would also become the first driver to win a second event at zMAX Dragway. Below are a list of drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the years they won their first event at zMAX Dragway:

TOP FUEL
Cory McClenathan (2009)
Tony Schumacher (2008)

FUNNY CAR
Jack Beckman (2008)
Robert Hight (2009)

PRO STOCK
Mike Edwards (2009)
Justin Humphreys (2008)

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Hector Arana (2009)
Steve Johnson (2008)

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Todd Smith was named crew chief for the Copart/Lucas Oil Kenny Bernstein Racing Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein. “Todd has a wealth of experience and some new ideas that we felt might be beneficial, so we are going to try a new path,” said team owner Kenny Bernstein. Smith will make his debut as crew chief at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at zMAX Dragway.

NEWS NUGGETS

John Force	Antron Brown	Brandon Bernstein	Cory McClenathan

IT’S FOUR-WIDE OR NOTHING! DRIVERS PREPARE FOR INAUGURAL EVENT AT zMAX DRAGWAY: For the first time ever in NHRA national event history, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will hold an entire event, qualifying and eliminations, using four lanes instead of the traditional two. At the very special and history-making inaugural event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first of two races in the season held at zMAX Dragway, drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag racing series will go head-to-head-to-head-to-head to compete for valuable points toward the Full Throttle world championships and a chance to hoist the coveted Wally at the end of eliminations on Sunday.

With all the excitement that an event like this brings it’s only understandable that the drivers are pumped and ready to end their week off and hit the track in Concord, North Carolina. “We’re going four wide. Wow,” said Top Fuel dragster pilot Antron Brown. “We experienced it already last year, and we made a good showing in the four-wide exhibition even though we didn’t have the results we were looking for during the regular race.”

“With two 8,000hp nitro-breathing dragsters or Funny Cars on the ready line, it’s bone-rattling,” said Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein. “But with 32,000 hp on the starting grid, it’s pretty indescribable.”

“It’s going to be exciting,” said 14-time Funny Car world champion and NHRA legend John Force. “You’re talking over 30,000 hp at one time. You’re talking over 1,200 mph out there on that racetrack.”

“The qualifying is going to be pretty crazy and interesting,” said Top Fuel pilot Cory McClenathan. “We’re there to put a show on, and obviously everybody wants to win the race. I think the roar of three other dragsters, when you’re in your own car, is going to be a real rush.”

Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling Charlotte Motor Speedway at 800/455-FANS (3267) or online at zmaxdragway.com. Right now, O’Reilly Auto Parts and zMAX Dragway have teamed up to offer fans $8 off on $45 tickets for Saturday and Sunday through purchasing tickets at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana and Ohio. After purchasing the tickets, fans will receive a receipt that can be redeemed at the zMAX Dragway ticket window on event days or at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office in advance.

	The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

OLYMPIC GOLD-MEDAL U.S. BOBSLEDDERS NAMED GRAND MARSHALS OF NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, March 25–28 at zMAX Dragway. As honorary grand marshals, the crewmembers of the famous Night Train bobsled will be honored during pre-race festivities with a commemorative plaque, participate in a question-and-answer session during opening ceremonies and experience 30,000 hp firsthand as they stand on the starting line for the first four-wide pass during Sunday’s eliminations.

“It’s an honor to be named grand marshal for this event,” said Steven Holcomb, pilot of the gold-medal-winning bobsled. “The support of the racing community has been instrumental in our success, and it’s great to have this opportunity. Now I get to cheer for some of our biggest advocates that have supported us over the last few years. They’ve earned this gold medal too.”

The team, led by driver Holcomb and consisting of pushers Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen and Curt Tomasevicz, made history as it piloted the Night Train to a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The victory marked the first time in 62 years that the United States won an Olympic gold medal in bobsled competition. The famed Night Train sled was created by the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, a combination of NASCAR legend Geoff Bodine and Chassis Dynamics. For more information on this story, visit www.NHRA.com.

FULLER TAKES TWO OF THREE MATCH RACES ON DAY TWO OF YAS DRAG FESTIVAL: “Hot Rod” Fuller was the big winner on day two of the Yas Drag Festival, taking two of three races against teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. Fuller and Johnson finished the inaugural event at Yas Drag Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with three wins each.

“There are so many people who made this great event a success,” Fuller said. “The Yas Marina team and everyone at DSR all worked together, and now we have thousands of new Top Fuel fans. This is a great start for NHRA Drag Racing in Abu Dhabi.”

After earning one win light in Friday’s three races, Fuller evened the score at two wins each by powering to a run of 3.898 seconds at 499.97 kph to hold off Johnson.

“We’ve worked for months to come here and put on a good show, and I really think we did that,” said Johnson. “This entire event has been beyond my wildest imagination. What a great two days of drag racing.”

For more on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, March 25–28: For the first time in NHRA Nationals history, qualifying and eliminations for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event will be conducted four-wide instead of two.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, April 9–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops in the Lone Star State. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car); Ron Krisher (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, April 16–18: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes the first of two stops in Sin City. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!: Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson on racing in the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway this weekend:

“Side-by-side Funny Car racing is pretty impressive on any track, but going four-wide just doubles everything up, and it’s kind of hard to believe. Maybe somebody ought to talk to Doublemint gum about this. You know the old slogan, ‘Double your pleasure, double your fun.’ This is going to be pretty intense, with points on the line, and it will be interesting to think about the strategies and how we can advance and earn as many Full Throttle points as possible.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: That’s the number of drivers, who by winning the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, would not only be the first drivers to win the first national event held completely using four lanes, but would also become the first driver to win a second event at zMAX Dragway. Below are a list of drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the years they won their first event at zMAX Dragway:

TOP FUEL
Cory McClenathan (2009)
Tony Schumacher (2008)

FUNNY CAR
Jack Beckman (2008)
Robert Hight (2009)

PRO STOCK
Mike Edwards (2009)
Justin Humphreys (2008)

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Hector Arana (2009)
Steve Johnson (2008)

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Todd Smith was named crew chief for the Copart/Lucas Oil Kenny Bernstein Racing Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein. “Todd has a wealth of experience and some new ideas that we felt might be beneficial, so we are going to try a new path,” said team owner Kenny Bernstein. Smith will make his debut as crew chief at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at zMAX Dragway.

NEWS NUGGETS

John Force	Antron Brown	Brandon Bernstein	Cory McClenathan

IT’S FOUR-WIDE OR NOTHING! DRIVERS PREPARE FOR INAUGURAL EVENT AT zMAX DRAGWAY: For the first time ever in NHRA national event history, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will hold an entire event, qualifying and eliminations, using four lanes instead of the traditional two. At the very special and history-making inaugural event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first of two races in the season held at zMAX Dragway, drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag racing series will go head-to-head-to-head-to-head to compete for valuable points toward the Full Throttle world championships and a chance to hoist the coveted Wally at the end of eliminations on Sunday.

With all the excitement that an event like this brings it’s only understandable that the drivers are pumped and ready to end their week off and hit the track in Concord, North Carolina. “We’re going four wide. Wow,” said Top Fuel dragster pilot Antron Brown. “We experienced it already last year, and we made a good showing in the four-wide exhibition even though we didn’t have the results we were looking for during the regular race.”

“With two 8,000hp nitro-breathing dragsters or Funny Cars on the ready line, it’s bone-rattling,” said Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein. “But with 32,000 hp on the starting grid, it’s pretty indescribable.”

“It’s going to be exciting,” said 14-time Funny Car world champion and NHRA legend John Force. “You’re talking over 30,000 hp at one time. You’re talking over 1,200 mph out there on that racetrack.”

“The qualifying is going to be pretty crazy and interesting,” said Top Fuel pilot Cory McClenathan. “We’re there to put a show on, and obviously everybody wants to win the race. I think the roar of three other dragsters, when you’re in your own car, is going to be a real rush.”

Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling Charlotte Motor Speedway at 800/455-FANS (3267) or online at zmaxdragway.com. Right now, O’Reilly Auto Parts and zMAX Dragway have teamed up to offer fans $8 off on $45 tickets for Saturday and Sunday through purchasing tickets at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana and Ohio. After purchasing the tickets, fans will receive a receipt that can be redeemed at the zMAX Dragway ticket window on event days or at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office in advance.

	The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

OLYMPIC GOLD-MEDAL U.S. BOBSLEDDERS NAMED GRAND MARSHALS OF NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, March 25–28 at zMAX Dragway. As honorary grand marshals, the crewmembers of the famous Night Train bobsled will be honored during pre-race festivities with a commemorative plaque, participate in a question-and-answer session during opening ceremonies and experience 30,000 hp firsthand as they stand on the starting line for the first four-wide pass during Sunday’s eliminations.

“It’s an honor to be named grand marshal for this event,” said Steven Holcomb, pilot of the gold-medal-winning bobsled. “The support of the racing community has been instrumental in our success, and it’s great to have this opportunity. Now I get to cheer for some of our biggest advocates that have supported us over the last few years. They’ve earned this gold medal too.”

The team, led by driver Holcomb and consisting of pushers Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen and Curt Tomasevicz, made history as it piloted the Night Train to a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The victory marked the first time in 62 years that the United States won an Olympic gold medal in bobsled competition. The famed Night Train sled was created by the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, a combination of NASCAR legend Geoff Bodine and Chassis Dynamics. For more information on this story, visit www.NHRA.com.

FULLER TAKES TWO OF THREE MATCH RACES ON DAY TWO OF YAS DRAG FESTIVAL: “Hot Rod” Fuller was the big winner on day two of the Yas Drag Festival, taking two of three races against teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. Fuller and Johnson finished the inaugural event at Yas Drag Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with three wins each.

“There are so many people who made this great event a success,” Fuller said. “The Yas Marina team and everyone at DSR all worked together, and now we have thousands of new Top Fuel fans. This is a great start for NHRA Drag Racing in Abu Dhabi.”

After earning one win light in Friday’s three races, Fuller evened the score at two wins each by powering to a run of 3.898 seconds at 499.97 kph to hold off Johnson.

“We’ve worked for months to come here and put on a good show, and I really think we did that,” said Johnson. “This entire event has been beyond my wildest imagination. What a great two days of drag racing.”

For more on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, March 25–28: For the first time in NHRA Nationals history, qualifying and eliminations for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event will be conducted four-wide instead of two.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, April 9–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops in the Lone Star State. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car); Ron Krisher (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, April 16–18: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes the first of two stops in Sin City. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!: Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson on racing in the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway this weekend:

“Side-by-side Funny Car racing is pretty impressive on any track, but going four-wide just doubles everything up, and it’s kind of hard to believe. Maybe somebody ought to talk to Doublemint gum about this. You know the old slogan, ‘Double your pleasure, double your fun.’ This is going to be pretty intense, with points on the line, and it will be interesting to think about the strategies and how we can advance and earn as many Full Throttle points as possible.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: That’s the number of drivers, who by winning the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, would not only be the first drivers to win the first national event held completely using four lanes, but would also become the first driver to win a second event at zMAX Dragway. Below are a list of drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the years they won their first event at zMAX Dragway:

TOP FUEL
Cory McClenathan (2009)
Tony Schumacher (2008)

FUNNY CAR
Jack Beckman (2008)
Robert Hight (2009)

PRO STOCK
Mike Edwards (2009)
Justin Humphreys (2008)

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Hector Arana (2009)
Steve Johnson (2008)

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Todd Smith was named crew chief for the Copart/Lucas Oil Kenny Bernstein Racing Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein. “Todd has a wealth of experience and some new ideas that we felt might be beneficial, so we are going to try a new path,” said team owner Kenny Bernstein. Smith will make his debut as crew chief at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at zMAX Dragway.

NEWS NUGGETS

John Force	Antron Brown	Brandon Bernstein	Cory McClenathan

IT’S FOUR-WIDE OR NOTHING! DRIVERS PREPARE FOR INAUGURAL EVENT AT zMAX DRAGWAY: For the first time ever in NHRA national event history, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will hold an entire event, qualifying and eliminations, using four lanes instead of the traditional two. At the very special and history-making inaugural event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first of two races in the season held at zMAX Dragway, drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag racing series will go head-to-head-to-head-to-head to compete for valuable points toward the Full Throttle world championships and a chance to hoist the coveted Wally at the end of eliminations on Sunday.

With all the excitement that an event like this brings it’s only understandable that the drivers are pumped and ready to end their week off and hit the track in Concord, North Carolina. “We’re going four wide. Wow,” said Top Fuel dragster pilot Antron Brown. “We experienced it already last year, and we made a good showing in the four-wide exhibition even though we didn’t have the results we were looking for during the regular race.”

“With two 8,000hp nitro-breathing dragsters or Funny Cars on the ready line, it’s bone-rattling,” said Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein. “But with 32,000 hp on the starting grid, it’s pretty indescribable.”

“It’s going to be exciting,” said 14-time Funny Car world champion and NHRA legend John Force. “You’re talking over 30,000 hp at one time. You’re talking over 1,200 mph out there on that racetrack.”

“The qualifying is going to be pretty crazy and interesting,” said Top Fuel pilot Cory McClenathan. “We’re there to put a show on, and obviously everybody wants to win the race. I think the roar of three other dragsters, when you’re in your own car, is going to be a real rush.”

Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling Charlotte Motor Speedway at 800/455-FANS (3267) or online at zmaxdragway.com. Right now, O’Reilly Auto Parts and zMAX Dragway have teamed up to offer fans $8 off on $45 tickets for Saturday and Sunday through purchasing tickets at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana and Ohio. After purchasing the tickets, fans will receive a receipt that can be redeemed at the zMAX Dragway ticket window on event days or at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office in advance.

	The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

OLYMPIC GOLD-MEDAL U.S. BOBSLEDDERS NAMED GRAND MARSHALS OF NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: The U.S. gold-medal-winning bobsled team will serve as honorary grand marshals for the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, March 25–28 at zMAX Dragway. As honorary grand marshals, the crewmembers of the famous Night Train bobsled will be honored during pre-race festivities with a commemorative plaque, participate in a question-and-answer session during opening ceremonies and experience 30,000 hp firsthand as they stand on the starting line for the first four-wide pass during Sunday’s eliminations.

“It’s an honor to be named grand marshal for this event,” said Steven Holcomb, pilot of the gold-medal-winning bobsled. “The support of the racing community has been instrumental in our success, and it’s great to have this opportunity. Now I get to cheer for some of our biggest advocates that have supported us over the last few years. They’ve earned this gold medal too.”

The team, led by driver Holcomb and consisting of pushers Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen and Curt Tomasevicz, made history as it piloted the Night Train to a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The victory marked the first time in 62 years that the United States won an Olympic gold medal in bobsled competition. The famed Night Train sled was created by the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, a combination of NASCAR legend Geoff Bodine and Chassis Dynamics. For more information on this story, visit www.NHRA.com.

FULLER TAKES TWO OF THREE MATCH RACES ON DAY TWO OF YAS DRAG FESTIVAL: “Hot Rod” Fuller was the big winner on day two of the Yas Drag Festival, taking two of three races against teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. Fuller and Johnson finished the inaugural event at Yas Drag Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with three wins each.

“There are so many people who made this great event a success,” Fuller said. “The Yas Marina team and everyone at DSR all worked together, and now we have thousands of new Top Fuel fans. This is a great start for NHRA Drag Racing in Abu Dhabi.”

After earning one win light in Friday’s three races, Fuller evened the score at two wins each by powering to a run of 3.898 seconds at 499.97 kph to hold off Johnson.

“We’ve worked for months to come here and put on a good show, and I really think we did that,” said Johnson. “This entire event has been beyond my wildest imagination. What a great two days of drag racing.”

For more on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, March 25–28: For the first time in NHRA Nationals history, qualifying and eliminations for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event will be conducted four-wide instead of two.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, April 9–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops in the Lone Star State. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car); Ron Krisher (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, April 16–18: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes the first of two stops in Sin City. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!: Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson on racing in the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway this weekend:

“Side-by-side Funny Car racing is pretty impressive on any track, but going four-wide just doubles everything up, and it’s kind of hard to believe. Maybe somebody ought to talk to Doublemint gum about this. You know the old slogan, ‘Double your pleasure, double your fun.’ This is going to be pretty intense, with points on the line, and it will be interesting to think about the strategies and how we can advance and earn as many Full Throttle points as possible.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: That’s the number of drivers, who by winning the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, would not only be the first drivers to win the first national event held completely using four lanes, but would also become the first driver to win a second event at zMAX Dragway. Below are a list of drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the years they won their first event at zMAX Dragway:

TOP FUEL
Cory McClenathan (2009)
Tony Schumacher (2008)

FUNNY CAR
Jack Beckman (2008)
Robert Hight (2009)

PRO STOCK
Mike Edwards (2009)
Justin Humphreys (2008)

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Hector Arana (2009)
Steve Johnson (2008)

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Todd Smith was named crew chief for the Copart/Lucas Oil Kenny Bernstein Racing Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein. “Todd has a wealth of experience and some new ideas that we felt might be beneficial, so we are going to try a new path,” said team owner Kenny Bernstein. Smith will make his debut as crew chief at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at zMAX Dragway.

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities. Click on an item for more details.

Updated pickup-bed dimension reference sheets and updated keyless entry wiring sheets are now available as downloadable PDFs on the Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA) website. Go to www.sema.org/TORA to download the latest versions. Both sheets are excellent reference tools for salespeople and installers. If your particular application is not listed, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org with a request, and TORA will try and add it.