Submit information on your new product releases to editors@sema.org to be included in SEMA eNews.

The SEMA Show annually features the latest product innovations and introductions from all markets within the specialty-equipment industry. The Show's 2008 New Products Showcase featured more than 1,600 product entries.

Create additional awareness and momentum for your 2009 SEMA Show product intros by submitting new product information for inclusion in SEMA eNews.

Here are the latest product announcements:

Ansani Designs (booth #33172) will showcase a number of its latest products at the 2009 SEMA Show. For more information on the Ansani products listed below, call 480/323-0504 or visit www.ansanidesigns.com.

Ansani Designs Super Duty Fiberglass Light Bumper

Ansani Designs offers a fiberglass high-visibility bumper with molded-in light pods for 2008-current Ford Super Dutys. This complete direct-replacement bumper is 40%-50% lighter than the OE steel unit. Ansani's innovative design incorporates mounting pods for three KC Rally 800 8-inch auxiliary lights. Bumpers are shipped paint-ready; custom hydro-printed finishes are optional.

Ansani Designs Toyota Tundra Fiberglass Light Bumper

Ansani Designs offers a fiberglass front bumper insert for 2007-current Toyota Tundras. It’s a direct replacement for the factory urethane piece. The Ansani Designs insert includes three molded light pods for 8-inch KC Rally 800 auxiliary lights.

For strength, construction is from hand-laid-in-America uni-directional fiberglass. The Tundra inserts are shipped in a primer-ready gelcoat. Ansani Designs also offers optional hydro-printing in patterns ranging from carbon-fibers to metal finishes to woodgrains.

Ansani Designs LED Jeep Flares, Grille and Cowl Hood

Ansani Designs introduces high-profile front fender flares, grille and a replacement hood for 2007-current Jeep JK Wranglers. Made from composite material, the direct-replacement flares and grille feature integrated Rigid Industries LED light bars.

The flares, six inches wider than stock, feature a single 6-inch Rigid E-Series LED bar; the production grille will have a single 20-inch LED bar. Ansani Designs replacement hood (not shown) features a wide, low-profile scoop.

Ansani Designs Yamaha Rhino LED Hood Scoop

Ansani Designs offers a fiberglass hood scoop/auxiliary light pod for the Yamaha Rhino. The scoop houses a 10-inch Rigid Industries E-Series bar-style LED light.

Made from hand-laid fiberglass, the scoop is shipped in paint-ready gelcoat. Or, Ansani Designs can apply hydrographic prints ranging from multiple camo patterns to carbon fibers to animal hides to hundred-dollar bills. Rhino fiberglass speaker pods will also be introduced at SEMA.

AutoWare Technologies (booth #42075) released a new eCommerce Package for its successful NextWheels Online program for the 2009 SEMA Show. Customers can now buy custom wheels and tires directly through the NextWheels Online program after they have visually previewed exactly how the wheels and tires will look on their vehicle. With a simple click of the “purchase” button, the selected wheels and tires are added directly to the retailer’s existing shopping cart.

	AutoWare Technologies released a new eCommerce package for its NextWheels Online program.

For more than 14 years, AutoWare has been providing tools to help retailers increase sales of custom wheels and tires through its SoftWheels NX, TreadWare, and NextWheels Online software programs, along with the Technical Tire and Wheel Training DVD Series and the Tire MountMate tool.

While the NextWheels Online program has been available for several years as a tool for visually previewing wheels and tires on their car, only now can retailers actually sell these products directly through the program, giving the instant response that today’s consumers demand when they are ready to buy.

The NextWheels Online ecommerce package is also easily integrated into the retailers existing shopping cart so there is no need to recreate their website to use our application. Our programmers work directly with the web developer to join the programs swiftly and cleanly, and we can have the program up and running in a couple of weeks.

For more information on this product, contact AutoWare Technologies at 877/230-9695, 850/230-9695, or visit booth #42075 at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Be Cool will introduce Be Coolant, an extended-life, super-duty coolant and antifreeze. Be Coolant features a new generation, earth-friendly, biodegradable propylene-glycol formula that protects cooling systems and aluminum components down to 26 degrees below zero (F).

Be Coolant also features a self-sealing capability ideal for sealing hairline cracks in aluminum engine blocks and cylinder heads.

Learn more about Be Coolant at www.becool.com.

BedRyder Inc. will introduce its new truck bed seating product at the 2009 SEMA Show. Useful for getting everyone to the lake, campsite, desert, hunting or fishing spot in one vehicle, and tailgating before the game. According to the company, BedRyder is the only removable truck bed seating device that meets federal safety standards for passenger seating; works with or without truck bed shells or toppers; is completely removable in seconds; fits both compact and fullsize trucks; and it's legal in all 50 states.

Some states do have stipulations for use. Get more information and see your state's requirements at www.bedryder.com.

BedSlide (a brand of IFW Inc.) will introduce the Moab Explorer, a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab customized for the outdoors.

The Moab features one of BedSlide’s most popular cargo organizers—the Classic Weatherdeck—designed for all traditional pickups and constructed with welded steel, four sealed roller bearings, three locking positions with new squeeze handle, powder coated finish and aluminum side rails.

For more information, visit www.bedslide.com. Visit BedSlide and the Moab Explorer a the SEMA Show (Booth #30113).

Product features: Punch turrets have OP-1 and OP-2 punches positioned side-by-side for efficiency; provides the convenience and efficiency of cam lever operation; automatic punch extraction; smooth die channel does not mark tube; comes in a rugged plastic case.

For additional information on BrakeQuip’s high-speed flaring tool, visit www.brakequip.com/tools_ft.html.

C. R. Laurence Co. Inc. will showcase a broad array of windshield repair systems and auto glass urethanes and adhesives at this year’s SEMA Show, including the CRL Windshield Scratch Polishing Kit for light surface scratches, CRL Windshield Saver Kit for stone-damaged windows and the POWR BOND™ Heated Urethane Adhesive.

Windshield Scratch Polishing Kit

Gary Byrum, product manager, remarks, “The CRL Scratch Polishing Kit is designed to meet the need for a low-priced, lightweight, portable tool capable of removing light surface scratches from automobile windshields. It can also be used to polish out rubs, fine lines, stains and discoloration on mirrors or glass of any kind.”

Operating on 110 Volts AC, the CRL Scratch Polisher (Cat. No. CRL9257) is well balanced for smooth action. Included in the kit is a Makita Vertical Polisher with variable speed (600–2,000 rpm), a rubber back-up pad, spanner wrench, side handle, polishing head and 1 lb. of Cerium Oxide.

Windshield Saver Kit

The C. R. Laurence Windshield Saver Kit helps to simplify windshield restoration for stone-damaged windshields and is available in single application and five-application fleet packs.

Gary Byrum, product manager, comments, “The CRL Windshield Saver Kit (Cat. No.WS341) uses a two-part epoxy compound to repair windshields. The compound hardens and bonds to fill chip crevices, preventing radial cracks. There is no drilling required, so application is easy and effective on a wide range of pit types. The clear epoxy will not affect visibility and restores the windshield to nearly new condition. This kit is perfect for smaller operations and comes in single application and five-application fleet packs. The kits contain everything needed for a complete repair.”

POWR BOND Heated Urethane Adhesive

Gary Byrum, product manager, explains, “Our CRL POWR BOND Heated Urethane Adhesive (Cat. No.1214001) is specially formulated as a safe, fast alternative to room-temperature applied, one-component urethanes. This heated urethane accelerates the curing of the material when heated first in a urethane oven. This provides fast and safe driving-release times for customers who demand their vehicle back quickly—as little as 30 minutes when used on vehicles without a passenger side air bag; two hours with passenger air bag at 15°F (-9.4°C) and 25% RH (relative humidity).”

CRL POWR BOND Heated Urethane passes or exceeds U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards FMVSS212 (Barrier Crash Test) and FMVSS208 (Occupant Crash Protection) in the most severe interpretation with dual air bags and unrestrained dummies. CRL urethanes are supported by a One Step Primer and aerosol cleaner formulated for use in all aspects of glass bonding, including the glass frit, pinchweld and EPDM/PVC moldings.

CRL POWR BOND Heated Urethane is packaged in metal cartridges with screw-on cone nozzles included in every case of 12 cartridges. 1214001 Urethane is also part of the LYNX Services Program.

Offering more than 50,000 different products, C. R. Laurence Co. Inc. serves the industry from 24 locations throughout North America, Europe and Australia. For additional information, call 800/421-6144 in the United States and Canada, or 323/588-1281 from outside the United States and Canada. Visit the company’s website at www.crlaurence.com.

CURT Manufacturing (booth #34101) will display its newly released Reflex Brake Controller and Euro Mount Ball Mounts at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Reflex™ Brake Controller

CURT Manufacturing is proud to introduce the Reflex Brake Controller (Part #51130). The Reflex features a dual-axis accelerometer, assuring smooth, safe stops. With one push of a button, the unit self levels and the quick-plug connector literally makes installation a snap. Adjustable power output, a manual override lever and a bright digital display ensure precision performance. The Reflex controls 2–8 brakes and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

Euro Mount Ball Mounts

CURT is also pleased to announce the launch of the Euro Mount. This new line of stylish and intelligent mounts, inspired by European design, will initially include five different configurations; each offered with a 2 or 1 7/8-inch permanently attached trailer ball. The durable carbide black powdercoat finish adds to the look and provides excellent corrosion resistance. All CURT Class 1 & 2 receivers currently include a ball mount. Now, customers will have the option to choose a standard mount or Euro Mount with these hitches. Visit SEMA booth #34101 for more details.

Dynocom Industries will feature its heavy-duty OEM dynamometer that it supplied to OEMs. The Dynocom DC-1250 has several product changes, including an increase in the shaft sizes, from 1.25- to 1.5-inch; the addition of a larger eddy brake rated at 700 hp (instead of 600 hp); X-Cut knurling; and integrated tie down electronic anchoring indication. These features allow the dyno to support higher speeds, higher torque/power and increased repeatability. The best news to end users is the price: $14,995 for 2WD and $34,995 for AWD. The DC-1250 is a compact, quad roller dynamometer suitable for a wide variety of applications, including RWD, FWD cars, trucks and motorcycles. Visit www.dynocom.net for more details.

EngineQuest (EQ) now offers a small block Chevy performance cylinder head with a new modified combustion chamber that is designed to accept either a flat top or dome configured piston, allowing oval track and drag race engine builders greater options.

Developed for maximum power with minimum effort, the new EQ cylinder heads are available with 180cc, 200cc, 220cc and 235cc intake runners, all with 64cc combustion chamber and angle plug. With this wide range of intake runner sizes, EQ has the perfect cylinder head for any small block Chevy engine, from 327 to 400-plus cid.

For more information on EQ’s small block Chevy performance cylinder head with the modified combustion chamber, call 800/426-8771 or visit http://www.enginequest.com.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. plans to offer special Show discounts and hands-on demonstrations of its newest generation of MIG welding, TIG welding and plasma cutting equipment at the 2009 SEMA Show. The company will also introduce the latest designs added to its line of auto-darkening welding helmets.

The company encourages visitors to “get under the hood” and try its newest products, which will be set up for demonstration purposes. Miller also encourages SEMA Show visitors to bring their technical questions to the Show, as the company’s welding professionals have decades of motorsports welding experience. Discount details will be released at Show time.

New products on display and available for demonstration include:

• Diversion™ 165: An easy and affordable AC/DC TIG welder
• Millermatic® 211 Auto-Set™ with MVP™: Features a 30- to 210-amp MIG welding output and a great low-end arc for sheet metal work.
• Millermatic 212 Auto-Set: Also a 210-amp unit, but with a higher duty cycle for making longer welds on thicker material.
• Spectrum® 625 X-TREME™: A 21-lb. plasma cutter with the power to cut 5/8-inch steel.
• Blue Rage, Wicked and other radical designs for Miller’s line of Pro-Hobby™, Performance™, Elite™ and Digital Elite series of auto-darkening welding helmets.
• Arc Armor™ Gloves, welding jackets and other protective apparel that offers an unmatched blend of style, comfort and performance.

To learn more, visit Miller at booth #23813 in the Racing & Performance pavilion, located in the Central Hall of the Convention Center.

OPTIMA® Batteries released the new group 27F YellowTop®, the latest addition to the OPTIMA product family. The group 27F not only offers greater power and more than 300 discharge/recharge cycles, but it is an exact original equipment fit for an extensive line of automobiles. With the addition of the new size, OPTIMA batteries provide exact fitment to more than 1.9 million vehicles on the road in the United States.

The group 27F YellowTop fits Asian SUV/Pickups such as Toyota Tundra, Toyota Landcruiser and Nissan Titan. It also fits several Lexus and Infiniti models and a number of domestic diesel and vintage musclecars.

The new Group 27F YellowTop batteries are available through leading battery distributors internationally. Consumers should look for OPTIMA’s unique colored top and six-pack design for which OPTIMA is known throughout the world. For the nearest retailer, consumers can also call 888/8-OPTIMA (888/867-8462) or visit www.optimabatteries.com.

Performance Labs will display the Embedded FlowBench at the 2009 SEMA Show. The Embedded FlowBench is currently the company's latest product development.

The Embedded FlowBench is a novel tuning aid designed to give performance enthusiasts critical information about engine air flow, enabling consumers to measure the effects of performance-enhancing engine modifications.

The Embedded FlowBench uses a patented technology to measure signals from existing engine sensors, calculate engine airflow in real time and display the results for the user. Data is also logged in the meter and is downloadable via common USB flash drives. All logged parameters can be viewed in the included Embedded FlowBench Analysis Panel software.

This new technology and associated intellectual property is available for licensing from Performance Labs LLC.

To see prototypes and discuss specific applications and licensing details, visit Performance Labs LLC at the 2009 SEMA Show, Booth #21027.

Retrax Truck Bed Covers will introduce its new SILVER Retrax retractable cover. According to the company, this will be the only silver retractable tonneau cover on the market today. The cover has all the same great features and benefits of the original Retrax cover, but with a silver design. All parts are painted silver, and the polycarbonate is also silver. More information will be released at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Royal Purple will introduce its new high-tech oil filters at the 2009 SEMA Show. Commercial fleets use advanced micro-glass oil filters to extend the life of heavy-duty trucks and equipment.

The high-tech oil filters use special synthetic glass microfibers about 10 times smaller than conventional cellulose filter fibers to provide superior filtration. High-performance lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple is now bringing this technology to the consumer market.

Royal Purple’s new high-performance oil filters combine advanced micro-glass technology and high capacity with optimized flow characteristics for maximum performance and filter life.

Each filter features 100% synthetic micro-glass media for superior particle removal with 99% filtration efficiency; a high-performance silicone anti-drain back valve that prevents dry starts even in extreme conditions; a heavy gauge steel back-plate for maximum burst strength; an extra heavy-duty nitrile-rubber base gasket with special lubricity compounds to reduce torque during installation and ensure a leak-free seal; and ultra-strength filter housing that provides extra protection against puncture from road debris.

Royal Purple oil filters allow change intervals to be extended up to 12,000 miles. Vehicles still under warranty should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended filter change intervals.

While Royal Purple filters are fully compatible with all synthetic and conventional oils, Royal Purple recommends using its high-performance motor oil, which also has a 12,000-mile life. For more information, visit www.royalpurple.com.

Rugged Ridge, a division of Jeep, truck and SUV accessory manufacturer Omix-Ada, will introduce several new products during the 2009 SEMA Show.

All Terrain Floor Liners

New All Terrain Floor Liners for Truck and SUV models for Jeep 1976–2010, Ford 1997–2010, GM 2002–2010, and Dodge 2002–2010. Constructed of all weather, injection-molded, durable, OE-quality Thermoplastic Polymer (enhanced PVC), this patent-pending design combines the best features of a deep ribbed floor mat and “old style” floor liners.

The deeply molded chevron-tread pattern channels dirt, mud and snow away from the driver and keeps trapped water from sloshing. The contoured perimeter wall offers maximum interior protection and containment.

The Heavy Duty 8500-lb. Winch

The Heavy Duty 8500-lb. Winch is driven by a durable 5.5 HP Series Wound motor for long life and extra pulling power. A tough three-Stage Planetary Gear box with a 172.8:1 gear ratio delivers power and reliability on each and every pull.

The Heavy Duty 8500-lb. Winch has more power and exclusive features than any other winch in its price range. All the exterior winch body screws and bolts are stainless steel to prevent rust and provide a long life.

All Rugged Ridge steel cable style Winches include off-road light-mount roller fairleads, allowing for the easy mount of two off-road lights. Special solenoid mounting brackets allow for multiple solenoid mounting points and the ability to “tilt” the solenoid for ease of use. This “tilt” feature ensures that each Rugged Ridge winch can be used with almost all off-road bumpers and over riders.

Rugged Ridge Recovery Kit

The Rugged Ridge Recovery Kit includes everything you need to help your buddy next time he gets stuck in the mud.

The durable carrying case is filled with a beefy pair of 9,500-lb. D-Rings, a 20,000-lb. Snatch Block Pulley, the Rugged Ridge Winch Line Dampener, 2-inch x 30-foot 20,000-lb. Recovery Strap, 3-inch x 6-foot 30,000-lb. Tree Trunk Protector Strap, and a pair of leather recovery gloves.

It’s everything you could ever want, except for the koozie you will need to keep your drink cold when your buddy pays you back by mowing your lawn.  

TCS-Tire Power (booth #45169) will display its ePower fully integrated, real-time ecommerce system for wholesale businesses. The newest features include the easiest-to-use single-point search and search analysis in the industry, a product compare and selling price feature, quick order feature and real-time order processing.

TCS' ePower is a significant piece of the comprehensive products and services the company offers to drive success for its clients. Along with state-of-the-art web design, TCS provides strategic tools for increasing sales and market presence which are an integral part of operating a successful business in today's soft markets. The speed at which new TCS customers are able to get up, running and enjoying increased business results with the ePower system is one of the product's most desirable attributes.

TCS has been serving the needs of the tire, wheel and auto industry for more than 15 years. For more information, visit TCS at http://www.tcstire.com or call 888/449-8473.

TFP Inc. will introduce its LogoVent by TFP Inc.

Instant, simulated fender vent that looks like the real thing.

Available for all Ford F-150 models from 1997–2010 in four designs.

Pictured is the 2004–2008 F-150 Chrome Mesh Curved model.

TR Tools LLC will display the new Tite-Reach Extension Wrench.

The Tite-Reach has been in testing and development for more than two years. This innovative hand tool can access hard-to-reach nuts and bolts by extending 10 inches from the turning point. It can speed up the tightening and loosening of nuts and bolts because of the greater degree of arc with the 3/8-inch socket driver. Having just received a design patent on the device, the company is now focusing on obtaining Utility patent rights.

The Tite-Reach will be officially launched at the SEMA Show.

For more information, call TR Tools LLC at 866/721-9399.
 

TruXedo Inc. will feature the Edge, the newest tonneau cover in the TruXedo family of truck accessory products, at the 2009 SEMA Show. The Edge has great looks and quality at a competitive price. With an easy no-drill, clamp-on installation, it is on the truck in under 20 minutes.

The Edge’s design improves the appearance of any truck, with an aerodynamic arched back which meets the tailgates for a smooth look. It features tension control, which adjusts in seconds to keep the cover tight and taut, and has superior Velcro® fastening, for maximum sealing. The Edge includes a five year warranty, which covers everything, even the fabric.

For more information on the Edge by TruXedo, call 877/878-9336 or visit www.truxedo.com.

For information on the 2009 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

	Submit information on your new product releases to editors@sema.org to be included in SEMA eNews.

The SEMA Show annually features the latest product innovations and introductions from all markets within the specialty-equipment industry. The Show's 2008 New Products Showcase featured more than 1,600 product entries.

Create additional awareness and momentum for your 2009 SEMA Show product intros by submitting new product information for inclusion in SEMA eNews.

Here are the latest product announcements:

Ansani Designs (booth #33172) will showcase a number of its latest products at the 2009 SEMA Show. For more information on the Ansani products listed below, call 480/323-0504 or visit www.ansanidesigns.com.

Ansani Designs Super Duty Fiberglass Light Bumper

Ansani Designs offers a fiberglass high-visibility bumper with molded-in light pods for 2008-current Ford Super Dutys. This complete direct-replacement bumper is 40%-50% lighter than the OE steel unit. Ansani's innovative design incorporates mounting pods for three KC Rally 800 8-inch auxiliary lights. Bumpers are shipped paint-ready; custom hydro-printed finishes are optional.

Ansani Designs Toyota Tundra Fiberglass Light Bumper

Ansani Designs offers a fiberglass front bumper insert for 2007-current Toyota Tundras. It’s a direct replacement for the factory urethane piece. The Ansani Designs insert includes three molded light pods for 8-inch KC Rally 800 auxiliary lights.

For strength, construction is from hand-laid-in-America uni-directional fiberglass. The Tundra inserts are shipped in a primer-ready gelcoat. Ansani Designs also offers optional hydro-printing in patterns ranging from carbon-fibers to metal finishes to woodgrains.

Ansani Designs LED Jeep Flares, Grille and Cowl Hood

Ansani Designs introduces high-profile front fender flares, grille and a replacement hood for 2007-current Jeep JK Wranglers. Made from composite material, the direct-replacement flares and grille feature integrated Rigid Industries LED light bars.

The flares, six inches wider than stock, feature a single 6-inch Rigid E-Series LED bar; the production grille will have a single 20-inch LED bar. Ansani Designs replacement hood (not shown) features a wide, low-profile scoop.

Ansani Designs Yamaha Rhino LED Hood Scoop

Ansani Designs offers a fiberglass hood scoop/auxiliary light pod for the Yamaha Rhino. The scoop houses a 10-inch Rigid Industries E-Series bar-style LED light.

Made from hand-laid fiberglass, the scoop is shipped in paint-ready gelcoat. Or, Ansani Designs can apply hydrographic prints ranging from multiple camo patterns to carbon fibers to animal hides to hundred-dollar bills. Rhino fiberglass speaker pods will also be introduced at SEMA.

AutoWare Technologies (booth #42075) released a new eCommerce Package for its successful NextWheels Online program for the 2009 SEMA Show. Customers can now buy custom wheels and tires directly through the NextWheels Online program after they have visually previewed exactly how the wheels and tires will look on their vehicle. With a simple click of the “purchase” button, the selected wheels and tires are added directly to the retailer’s existing shopping cart.

	AutoWare Technologies released a new eCommerce package for its NextWheels Online program.

For more than 14 years, AutoWare has been providing tools to help retailers increase sales of custom wheels and tires through its SoftWheels NX, TreadWare, and NextWheels Online software programs, along with the Technical Tire and Wheel Training DVD Series and the Tire MountMate tool.

While the NextWheels Online program has been available for several years as a tool for visually previewing wheels and tires on their car, only now can retailers actually sell these products directly through the program, giving the instant response that today’s consumers demand when they are ready to buy.

The NextWheels Online ecommerce package is also easily integrated into the retailers existing shopping cart so there is no need to recreate their website to use our application. Our programmers work directly with the web developer to join the programs swiftly and cleanly, and we can have the program up and running in a couple of weeks.

For more information on this product, contact AutoWare Technologies at 877/230-9695, 850/230-9695, or visit booth #42075 at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Be Cool will introduce Be Coolant, an extended-life, super-duty coolant and antifreeze. Be Coolant features a new generation, earth-friendly, biodegradable propylene-glycol formula that protects cooling systems and aluminum components down to 26 degrees below zero (F).

Be Coolant also features a self-sealing capability ideal for sealing hairline cracks in aluminum engine blocks and cylinder heads.

Learn more about Be Coolant at www.becool.com.

BedRyder Inc. will introduce its new truck bed seating product at the 2009 SEMA Show. Useful for getting everyone to the lake, campsite, desert, hunting or fishing spot in one vehicle, and tailgating before the game. According to the company, BedRyder is the only removable truck bed seating device that meets federal safety standards for passenger seating; works with or without truck bed shells or toppers; is completely removable in seconds; fits both compact and fullsize trucks; and it's legal in all 50 states.

Some states do have stipulations for use. Get more information and see your state's requirements at www.bedryder.com.

BedSlide (a brand of IFW Inc.) will introduce the Moab Explorer, a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab customized for the outdoors.

The Moab features one of BedSlide’s most popular cargo organizers—the Classic Weatherdeck—designed for all traditional pickups and constructed with welded steel, four sealed roller bearings, three locking positions with new squeeze handle, powder coated finish and aluminum side rails.

For more information, visit www.bedslide.com. Visit BedSlide and the Moab Explorer a the SEMA Show (Booth #30113).

Product features: Punch turrets have OP-1 and OP-2 punches positioned side-by-side for efficiency; provides the convenience and efficiency of cam lever operation; automatic punch extraction; smooth die channel does not mark tube; comes in a rugged plastic case.

For additional information on BrakeQuip’s high-speed flaring tool, visit www.brakequip.com/tools_ft.html.

C. R. Laurence Co. Inc. will showcase a broad array of windshield repair systems and auto glass urethanes and adhesives at this year’s SEMA Show, including the CRL Windshield Scratch Polishing Kit for light surface scratches, CRL Windshield Saver Kit for stone-damaged windows and the POWR BOND™ Heated Urethane Adhesive.

Windshield Scratch Polishing Kit

Gary Byrum, product manager, remarks, “The CRL Scratch Polishing Kit is designed to meet the need for a low-priced, lightweight, portable tool capable of removing light surface scratches from automobile windshields. It can also be used to polish out rubs, fine lines, stains and discoloration on mirrors or glass of any kind.”

Operating on 110 Volts AC, the CRL Scratch Polisher (Cat. No. CRL9257) is well balanced for smooth action. Included in the kit is a Makita Vertical Polisher with variable speed (600–2,000 rpm), a rubber back-up pad, spanner wrench, side handle, polishing head and 1 lb. of Cerium Oxide.

Windshield Saver Kit

The C. R. Laurence Windshield Saver Kit helps to simplify windshield restoration for stone-damaged windshields and is available in single application and five-application fleet packs.

Gary Byrum, product manager, comments, “The CRL Windshield Saver Kit (Cat. No.WS341) uses a two-part epoxy compound to repair windshields. The compound hardens and bonds to fill chip crevices, preventing radial cracks. There is no drilling required, so application is easy and effective on a wide range of pit types. The clear epoxy will not affect visibility and restores the windshield to nearly new condition. This kit is perfect for smaller operations and comes in single application and five-application fleet packs. The kits contain everything needed for a complete repair.”

POWR BOND Heated Urethane Adhesive

Gary Byrum, product manager, explains, “Our CRL POWR BOND Heated Urethane Adhesive (Cat. No.1214001) is specially formulated as a safe, fast alternative to room-temperature applied, one-component urethanes. This heated urethane accelerates the curing of the material when heated first in a urethane oven. This provides fast and safe driving-release times for customers who demand their vehicle back quickly—as little as 30 minutes when used on vehicles without a passenger side air bag; two hours with passenger air bag at 15°F (-9.4°C) and 25% RH (relative humidity).”

CRL POWR BOND Heated Urethane passes or exceeds U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards FMVSS212 (Barrier Crash Test) and FMVSS208 (Occupant Crash Protection) in the most severe interpretation with dual air bags and unrestrained dummies. CRL urethanes are supported by a One Step Primer and aerosol cleaner formulated for use in all aspects of glass bonding, including the glass frit, pinchweld and EPDM/PVC moldings.

CRL POWR BOND Heated Urethane is packaged in metal cartridges with screw-on cone nozzles included in every case of 12 cartridges. 1214001 Urethane is also part of the LYNX Services Program.

Offering more than 50,000 different products, C. R. Laurence Co. Inc. serves the industry from 24 locations throughout North America, Europe and Australia. For additional information, call 800/421-6144 in the United States and Canada, or 323/588-1281 from outside the United States and Canada. Visit the company’s website at www.crlaurence.com.

CURT Manufacturing (booth #34101) will display its newly released Reflex Brake Controller and Euro Mount Ball Mounts at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Reflex™ Brake Controller

CURT Manufacturing is proud to introduce the Reflex Brake Controller (Part #51130). The Reflex features a dual-axis accelerometer, assuring smooth, safe stops. With one push of a button, the unit self levels and the quick-plug connector literally makes installation a snap. Adjustable power output, a manual override lever and a bright digital display ensure precision performance. The Reflex controls 2–8 brakes and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

Euro Mount Ball Mounts

CURT is also pleased to announce the launch of the Euro Mount. This new line of stylish and intelligent mounts, inspired by European design, will initially include five different configurations; each offered with a 2 or 1 7/8-inch permanently attached trailer ball. The durable carbide black powdercoat finish adds to the look and provides excellent corrosion resistance. All CURT Class 1 & 2 receivers currently include a ball mount. Now, customers will have the option to choose a standard mount or Euro Mount with these hitches. Visit SEMA booth #34101 for more details.

Dynocom Industries will feature its heavy-duty OEM dynamometer that it supplied to OEMs. The Dynocom DC-1250 has several product changes, including an increase in the shaft sizes, from 1.25- to 1.5-inch; the addition of a larger eddy brake rated at 700 hp (instead of 600 hp); X-Cut knurling; and integrated tie down electronic anchoring indication. These features allow the dyno to support higher speeds, higher torque/power and increased repeatability. The best news to end users is the price: $14,995 for 2WD and $34,995 for AWD. The DC-1250 is a compact, quad roller dynamometer suitable for a wide variety of applications, including RWD, FWD cars, trucks and motorcycles. Visit www.dynocom.net for more details.

EngineQuest (EQ) now offers a small block Chevy performance cylinder head with a new modified combustion chamber that is designed to accept either a flat top or dome configured piston, allowing oval track and drag race engine builders greater options.

Developed for maximum power with minimum effort, the new EQ cylinder heads are available with 180cc, 200cc, 220cc and 235cc intake runners, all with 64cc combustion chamber and angle plug. With this wide range of intake runner sizes, EQ has the perfect cylinder head for any small block Chevy engine, from 327 to 400-plus cid.

For more information on EQ’s small block Chevy performance cylinder head with the modified combustion chamber, call 800/426-8771 or visit http://www.enginequest.com.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. plans to offer special Show discounts and hands-on demonstrations of its newest generation of MIG welding, TIG welding and plasma cutting equipment at the 2009 SEMA Show. The company will also introduce the latest designs added to its line of auto-darkening welding helmets.

The company encourages visitors to “get under the hood” and try its newest products, which will be set up for demonstration purposes. Miller also encourages SEMA Show visitors to bring their technical questions to the Show, as the company’s welding professionals have decades of motorsports welding experience. Discount details will be released at Show time.

New products on display and available for demonstration include:

• Diversion™ 165: An easy and affordable AC/DC TIG welder
• Millermatic® 211 Auto-Set™ with MVP™: Features a 30- to 210-amp MIG welding output and a great low-end arc for sheet metal work.
• Millermatic 212 Auto-Set: Also a 210-amp unit, but with a higher duty cycle for making longer welds on thicker material.
• Spectrum® 625 X-TREME™: A 21-lb. plasma cutter with the power to cut 5/8-inch steel.
• Blue Rage, Wicked and other radical designs for Miller’s line of Pro-Hobby™, Performance™, Elite™ and Digital Elite series of auto-darkening welding helmets.
• Arc Armor™ Gloves, welding jackets and other protective apparel that offers an unmatched blend of style, comfort and performance.

To learn more, visit Miller at booth #23813 in the Racing & Performance pavilion, located in the Central Hall of the Convention Center.

OPTIMA® Batteries released the new group 27F YellowTop®, the latest addition to the OPTIMA product family. The group 27F not only offers greater power and more than 300 discharge/recharge cycles, but it is an exact original equipment fit for an extensive line of automobiles. With the addition of the new size, OPTIMA batteries provide exact fitment to more than 1.9 million vehicles on the road in the United States.

The group 27F YellowTop fits Asian SUV/Pickups such as Toyota Tundra, Toyota Landcruiser and Nissan Titan. It also fits several Lexus and Infiniti models and a number of domestic diesel and vintage musclecars.

The new Group 27F YellowTop batteries are available through leading battery distributors internationally. Consumers should look for OPTIMA’s unique colored top and six-pack design for which OPTIMA is known throughout the world. For the nearest retailer, consumers can also call 888/8-OPTIMA (888/867-8462) or visit www.optimabatteries.com.

Performance Labs will display the Embedded FlowBench at the 2009 SEMA Show. The Embedded FlowBench is currently the company's latest product development.

The Embedded FlowBench is a novel tuning aid designed to give performance enthusiasts critical information about engine air flow, enabling consumers to measure the effects of performance-enhancing engine modifications.

The Embedded FlowBench uses a patented technology to measure signals from existing engine sensors, calculate engine airflow in real time and display the results for the user. Data is also logged in the meter and is downloadable via common USB flash drives. All logged parameters can be viewed in the included Embedded FlowBench Analysis Panel software.

This new technology and associated intellectual property is available for licensing from Performance Labs LLC.

To see prototypes and discuss specific applications and licensing details, visit Performance Labs LLC at the 2009 SEMA Show, Booth #21027.

Retrax Truck Bed Covers will introduce its new SILVER Retrax retractable cover. According to the company, this will be the only silver retractable tonneau cover on the market today. The cover has all the same great features and benefits of the original Retrax cover, but with a silver design. All parts are painted silver, and the polycarbonate is also silver. More information will be released at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Royal Purple will introduce its new high-tech oil filters at the 2009 SEMA Show. Commercial fleets use advanced micro-glass oil filters to extend the life of heavy-duty trucks and equipment.

The high-tech oil filters use special synthetic glass microfibers about 10 times smaller than conventional cellulose filter fibers to provide superior filtration. High-performance lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple is now bringing this technology to the consumer market.

Royal Purple’s new high-performance oil filters combine advanced micro-glass technology and high capacity with optimized flow characteristics for maximum performance and filter life.

Each filter features 100% synthetic micro-glass media for superior particle removal with 99% filtration efficiency; a high-performance silicone anti-drain back valve that prevents dry starts even in extreme conditions; a heavy gauge steel back-plate for maximum burst strength; an extra heavy-duty nitrile-rubber base gasket with special lubricity compounds to reduce torque during installation and ensure a leak-free seal; and ultra-strength filter housing that provides extra protection against puncture from road debris.

Royal Purple oil filters allow change intervals to be extended up to 12,000 miles. Vehicles still under warranty should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended filter change intervals.

While Royal Purple filters are fully compatible with all synthetic and conventional oils, Royal Purple recommends using its high-performance motor oil, which also has a 12,000-mile life. For more information, visit www.royalpurple.com.

Rugged Ridge, a division of Jeep, truck and SUV accessory manufacturer Omix-Ada, will introduce several new products during the 2009 SEMA Show.

All Terrain Floor Liners

New All Terrain Floor Liners for Truck and SUV models for Jeep 1976–2010, Ford 1997–2010, GM 2002–2010, and Dodge 2002–2010. Constructed of all weather, injection-molded, durable, OE-quality Thermoplastic Polymer (enhanced PVC), this patent-pending design combines the best features of a deep ribbed floor mat and “old style” floor liners.

The deeply molded chevron-tread pattern channels dirt, mud and snow away from the driver and keeps trapped water from sloshing. The contoured perimeter wall offers maximum interior protection and containment.

The Heavy Duty 8500-lb. Winch

The Heavy Duty 8500-lb. Winch is driven by a durable 5.5 HP Series Wound motor for long life and extra pulling power. A tough three-Stage Planetary Gear box with a 172.8:1 gear ratio delivers power and reliability on each and every pull.

The Heavy Duty 8500-lb. Winch has more power and exclusive features than any other winch in its price range. All the exterior winch body screws and bolts are stainless steel to prevent rust and provide a long life.

All Rugged Ridge steel cable style Winches include off-road light-mount roller fairleads, allowing for the easy mount of two off-road lights. Special solenoid mounting brackets allow for multiple solenoid mounting points and the ability to “tilt” the solenoid for ease of use. This “tilt” feature ensures that each Rugged Ridge winch can be used with almost all off-road bumpers and over riders.

Rugged Ridge Recovery Kit

The Rugged Ridge Recovery Kit includes everything you need to help your buddy next time he gets stuck in the mud.

The durable carrying case is filled with a beefy pair of 9,500-lb. D-Rings, a 20,000-lb. Snatch Block Pulley, the Rugged Ridge Winch Line Dampener, 2-inch x 30-foot 20,000-lb. Recovery Strap, 3-inch x 6-foot 30,000-lb. Tree Trunk Protector Strap, and a pair of leather recovery gloves.

It’s everything you could ever want, except for the koozie you will need to keep your drink cold when your buddy pays you back by mowing your lawn.  

TCS-Tire Power (booth #45169) will display its ePower fully integrated, real-time ecommerce system for wholesale businesses. The newest features include the easiest-to-use single-point search and search analysis in the industry, a product compare and selling price feature, quick order feature and real-time order processing.

TCS' ePower is a significant piece of the comprehensive products and services the company offers to drive success for its clients. Along with state-of-the-art web design, TCS provides strategic tools for increasing sales and market presence which are an integral part of operating a successful business in today's soft markets. The speed at which new TCS customers are able to get up, running and enjoying increased business results with the ePower system is one of the product's most desirable attributes.

TCS has been serving the needs of the tire, wheel and auto industry for more than 15 years. For more information, visit TCS at http://www.tcstire.com or call 888/449-8473.

TFP Inc. will introduce its LogoVent by TFP Inc.

Instant, simulated fender vent that looks like the real thing.

Available for all Ford F-150 models from 1997–2010 in four designs.

Pictured is the 2004–2008 F-150 Chrome Mesh Curved model.

TR Tools LLC will display the new Tite-Reach Extension Wrench.

The Tite-Reach has been in testing and development for more than two years. This innovative hand tool can access hard-to-reach nuts and bolts by extending 10 inches from the turning point. It can speed up the tightening and loosening of nuts and bolts because of the greater degree of arc with the 3/8-inch socket driver. Having just received a design patent on the device, the company is now focusing on obtaining Utility patent rights.

The Tite-Reach will be officially launched at the SEMA Show.

For more information, call TR Tools LLC at 866/721-9399.
 

TruXedo Inc. will feature the Edge, the newest tonneau cover in the TruXedo family of truck accessory products, at the 2009 SEMA Show. The Edge has great looks and quality at a competitive price. With an easy no-drill, clamp-on installation, it is on the truck in under 20 minutes.

The Edge’s design improves the appearance of any truck, with an aerodynamic arched back which meets the tailgates for a smooth look. It features tension control, which adjusts in seconds to keep the cover tight and taut, and has superior Velcro® fastening, for maximum sealing. The Edge includes a five year warranty, which covers everything, even the fabric.

For more information on the Edge by TruXedo, call 877/878-9336 or visit www.truxedo.com.

For information on the 2009 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

NEWS NUGGETS  

BROWN, T. PED, COUGHLIN, KRAWIEC HOPE TO STAY NO. 1 THROUGH PLAYOFFS: With the Countdown to 1 standings set, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to zMAX Dragway for the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals this weekend, the first of six races in the Countdown playoffs. As teams and crews prepare for the upcoming playoffs which will begin with a four-races-in-four-weeks grueling stretch, points leaders Antron Brown, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Eddie Krawiec hope to do the one thing that has only happened twice in NHRA history—keep their top spots in the standings and win NHRA Full Throttle Series world championships.

Tony Schumacher (2008) and Matt Smith (2007) are the only drivers to have ever entered the Countdown playoffs in the top spot, and remain in the top spot until the end of the season. That means that since its inception in 2007, out of all four categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, only two out of a possible of eight points leaders in the Countdown to the Championship have ever gone on to win the world championship.

“I’m just excited and geared up for the new challenge,” said Brown. “Indy knocked our team back to reality a little bit on how tough this Top Fuel class really is. We have to race our own lane and do what we do.”

Brown, Pedregon, Coughlin and Krawiec enter the Countdown with 30-point leads over second-place, which includes a 20-point bonus for finishing the regular season in the top spot in the standings.

“Now we start over, for all intents, and we need to reset and get set for the playoffs,” said Coughlin. “It’s going to be a thrill. It’s a six-race dash for the Full Throttle Championship. Let me tell you, it’s going to be one interesting battle in Pro Stock.”

The Countdown to 1 playoffs begin this weekend with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX dragway.

50TH NHRA WINTERNATIONALS TICKES ON SALE: Tickets for what is anticipated to be one of the most memorable events in NHRA history, the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, have gone on sale starting today. The 50th running of the Winternationals, Feb. 11–14, 2010, at storied Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, will be a must-see event not just for fans of today’s 300-mph nitromethane-burning dragsters, but perhaps even more so for those NHRA fans who long for the days of front-engine dragsters being push-started under the iconic Winternationals banner.

Despite the heavy demand for Winternationals tickets, NHRA is making it easier than ever to attend by lowering the cost of Top Eliminator Club tickets and reducing the price of Saturday and Sunday general-admission tickets to $50 to commemorate the 50th anniversary. The scheduled events will include the Golden 50: a collection of the greatest cars in Winternationals history, the Classic Legends Dinner, Exhibition runs by legendary tribute cars, daily cacklefests, car parades and autograph sessions with stars of the last 50 years and the top five moments in the top 25 moments in Winternationals history countdown will be revealed.

PRO STOCK RACERS HAMMONDS AND McBRIDE TO RETURN TO CHARLOTTE AND DALLAS: Pro Stock driver and former NBA power forward Tom Hammonds will return to racing action this weekend at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway. It has been a little more than four months since Hammonds last drove at a national event, the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Illinois.

“I haven’t been in a car in a long time, and I’m anxious to see exactly what our engines can do,” said Hammonds. “We’ve made some improvements since the last time we went down the quarter-mile, and now we’ll see exactly where we stand against the field. That will give us a good indication of where we need to go over the winter.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie McBride will also return to action aboard the Karl Klement’s Buell at the O’Reilly NHRA Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Dallas. McBride has been competing sporadically on the tour this year aboard one of fiancée and former world champion Matt Smith’s bikes, and hopes that the Dallas audition might lead to a more full-time role for 2010. “I’m excited because this may be a stepping-stone to the future,” said McBride.

LANDMARK TOP FUEL, FUNNY CAR EXHIBITION PLANNED FOR NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS: For the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will race four-lanes, four-wide, unleashing a powerful assault of 28,000 horsepower on spectacular zMAX Dragway. In what is sure to be a must-see demonstration of the ultimate in high-horsepower performance, four NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and four NHRA Funny Cars will race in a four-wide configuration during separate races in a special exhibition event just prior to the final round of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, on Sunday, September 20.

The drivers of each of the four-wide exhibition races will be determined that day among those drivers who lose in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Those who have the higher standing in the NHRA championship points order will be given the first opportunity to participate in the unique exhibition.

“With Bruton Smith’s state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway, which features four lanes for competition, we have an opportunity to offer this incredible attraction to our fans,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “It will be the first time that fans can witness modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars running four-wide. With 28,000 horsepower it certainly will be a memorable spectacle to see.” For more information on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.
 
NHRA’S NEW POINT SYSTEM TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND IN CONCORD: NHRA announced that with the start of the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, it will recognize national records in Top Fuel and Funny Car and create a new bonus point system for pro qualifying sessions. Both programs will instantly make the battle for the NHRA Full Throttle world championship just a little more interesting for professional competitors on the eve of the start of the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs.

NHRA will recognize official national elapsed time and speed records to 1,000 feet for both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Teams that set a national record for elapsed time (E.T.) will be awarded 20 points. Speed records are not eligible for bonus points. The starting point for the national record will be established using the quickest time and fastest speeds to 1,000-feet that were backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend, occurring since 1,000-foot racing started at the midway point of 2008. Those drivers who currently hold the national record in each category will not retroactively receive the 20 point bonus.

In order for performances to be certified as NHRA national records, the eligible performance must be backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend. Only one 20-point bonus will be awarded in each category per event.

In addition, NHRA announced a new bonus points structure that will offer teams opportunities to score critical points during qualifying sessions in all four professional categories. The team in each category with the quickest elapsed time during each qualifying session will receive three bonus points. In all, a team records the lowest E.T. in all four sessions could receive a total of 12 bonus points during qualifying. Teams with the second and third quickest elapsed times during each qualifying session will receive 2 and 1 bonus points, respectively.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, SEPTEMBER 17–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads down to the Charlotte area for the second annual event at zMAX Dragway and first race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Jack Beckman (Funny Car); Justin Humphreys (Pro Stock); and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY SUPER START BATTERIES NHRA FALL NATIONALS, TEXAS MOTORPLEX, SEPTEMBER 24–27: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its second stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the second race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners are J.R. Todd (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock); and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY NHRA MID-SOUTH  NATIONALS, MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK, OCTOBER 2–4: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to the land of the Delta Blues for its third stop in the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Mike Edwards (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle). 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR: Brandon Bernstein on entering the Countdown to 1 playoffs just after securing Copart Inc. as the title sponsor on the Kenny Bernstein Racing dragster for 2010:

“Everybody knows that the team is going forward next year, so that’s a load off everyone’s mind. Also Rob Flynn, our crew chief, along with all the members of our team have put in a lot of hours chasing a clutch gremlin we’ve been fighting recently. We think we’ve turned the corner there and are enthusiastic about a strong performance in Charlotte and a run at the championship.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

150: That’s the maximum number of points a driver in any of the four pro categories can earn per event, starting at this weekend’s NHRA Carolinas Nationals. If a driver runs the table by posting the quickest runs in each qualifying session (three points each day, 10 points to all entrants and 8 points for the No. 1 qualifier), wins the race (100 points for a win) and sets a national record (20 points), that driver could walk away with 150 points at the end of the event.

DID YOU KNOW 

…that B.R.A.K.E.S. and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner up for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament this weekend in Concord, N.C.? B.R.A.K.E.S., the safe driving organization founded by Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament on opening day of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Thursday, September 17. For tickets to the dinner and tournament, call 704/732-8950 or visit www.putonthebrakes.org.

NEWS NUGGETS  

BROWN, T. PED, COUGHLIN, KRAWIEC HOPE TO STAY NO. 1 THROUGH PLAYOFFS: With the Countdown to 1 standings set, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to zMAX Dragway for the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals this weekend, the first of six races in the Countdown playoffs. As teams and crews prepare for the upcoming playoffs which will begin with a four-races-in-four-weeks grueling stretch, points leaders Antron Brown, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Eddie Krawiec hope to do the one thing that has only happened twice in NHRA history—keep their top spots in the standings and win NHRA Full Throttle Series world championships.

Tony Schumacher (2008) and Matt Smith (2007) are the only drivers to have ever entered the Countdown playoffs in the top spot, and remain in the top spot until the end of the season. That means that since its inception in 2007, out of all four categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, only two out of a possible of eight points leaders in the Countdown to the Championship have ever gone on to win the world championship.

“I’m just excited and geared up for the new challenge,” said Brown. “Indy knocked our team back to reality a little bit on how tough this Top Fuel class really is. We have to race our own lane and do what we do.”

Brown, Pedregon, Coughlin and Krawiec enter the Countdown with 30-point leads over second-place, which includes a 20-point bonus for finishing the regular season in the top spot in the standings.

“Now we start over, for all intents, and we need to reset and get set for the playoffs,” said Coughlin. “It’s going to be a thrill. It’s a six-race dash for the Full Throttle Championship. Let me tell you, it’s going to be one interesting battle in Pro Stock.”

The Countdown to 1 playoffs begin this weekend with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX dragway.

50TH NHRA WINTERNATIONALS TICKES ON SALE: Tickets for what is anticipated to be one of the most memorable events in NHRA history, the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, have gone on sale starting today. The 50th running of the Winternationals, Feb. 11–14, 2010, at storied Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, will be a must-see event not just for fans of today’s 300-mph nitromethane-burning dragsters, but perhaps even more so for those NHRA fans who long for the days of front-engine dragsters being push-started under the iconic Winternationals banner.

Despite the heavy demand for Winternationals tickets, NHRA is making it easier than ever to attend by lowering the cost of Top Eliminator Club tickets and reducing the price of Saturday and Sunday general-admission tickets to $50 to commemorate the 50th anniversary. The scheduled events will include the Golden 50: a collection of the greatest cars in Winternationals history, the Classic Legends Dinner, Exhibition runs by legendary tribute cars, daily cacklefests, car parades and autograph sessions with stars of the last 50 years and the top five moments in the top 25 moments in Winternationals history countdown will be revealed.

PRO STOCK RACERS HAMMONDS AND McBRIDE TO RETURN TO CHARLOTTE AND DALLAS: Pro Stock driver and former NBA power forward Tom Hammonds will return to racing action this weekend at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway. It has been a little more than four months since Hammonds last drove at a national event, the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Illinois.

“I haven’t been in a car in a long time, and I’m anxious to see exactly what our engines can do,” said Hammonds. “We’ve made some improvements since the last time we went down the quarter-mile, and now we’ll see exactly where we stand against the field. That will give us a good indication of where we need to go over the winter.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie McBride will also return to action aboard the Karl Klement’s Buell at the O’Reilly NHRA Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Dallas. McBride has been competing sporadically on the tour this year aboard one of fiancée and former world champion Matt Smith’s bikes, and hopes that the Dallas audition might lead to a more full-time role for 2010. “I’m excited because this may be a stepping-stone to the future,” said McBride.

LANDMARK TOP FUEL, FUNNY CAR EXHIBITION PLANNED FOR NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS: For the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will race four-lanes, four-wide, unleashing a powerful assault of 28,000 horsepower on spectacular zMAX Dragway. In what is sure to be a must-see demonstration of the ultimate in high-horsepower performance, four NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and four NHRA Funny Cars will race in a four-wide configuration during separate races in a special exhibition event just prior to the final round of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, on Sunday, September 20.

The drivers of each of the four-wide exhibition races will be determined that day among those drivers who lose in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Those who have the higher standing in the NHRA championship points order will be given the first opportunity to participate in the unique exhibition.

“With Bruton Smith’s state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway, which features four lanes for competition, we have an opportunity to offer this incredible attraction to our fans,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “It will be the first time that fans can witness modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars running four-wide. With 28,000 horsepower it certainly will be a memorable spectacle to see.” For more information on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.
 
NHRA’S NEW POINT SYSTEM TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND IN CONCORD: NHRA announced that with the start of the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, it will recognize national records in Top Fuel and Funny Car and create a new bonus point system for pro qualifying sessions. Both programs will instantly make the battle for the NHRA Full Throttle world championship just a little more interesting for professional competitors on the eve of the start of the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs.

NHRA will recognize official national elapsed time and speed records to 1,000 feet for both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Teams that set a national record for elapsed time (E.T.) will be awarded 20 points. Speed records are not eligible for bonus points. The starting point for the national record will be established using the quickest time and fastest speeds to 1,000-feet that were backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend, occurring since 1,000-foot racing started at the midway point of 2008. Those drivers who currently hold the national record in each category will not retroactively receive the 20 point bonus.

In order for performances to be certified as NHRA national records, the eligible performance must be backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend. Only one 20-point bonus will be awarded in each category per event.

In addition, NHRA announced a new bonus points structure that will offer teams opportunities to score critical points during qualifying sessions in all four professional categories. The team in each category with the quickest elapsed time during each qualifying session will receive three bonus points. In all, a team records the lowest E.T. in all four sessions could receive a total of 12 bonus points during qualifying. Teams with the second and third quickest elapsed times during each qualifying session will receive 2 and 1 bonus points, respectively.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, SEPTEMBER 17–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads down to the Charlotte area for the second annual event at zMAX Dragway and first race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Jack Beckman (Funny Car); Justin Humphreys (Pro Stock); and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY SUPER START BATTERIES NHRA FALL NATIONALS, TEXAS MOTORPLEX, SEPTEMBER 24–27: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its second stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the second race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners are J.R. Todd (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock); and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY NHRA MID-SOUTH  NATIONALS, MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK, OCTOBER 2–4: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to the land of the Delta Blues for its third stop in the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Mike Edwards (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle). 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR: Brandon Bernstein on entering the Countdown to 1 playoffs just after securing Copart Inc. as the title sponsor on the Kenny Bernstein Racing dragster for 2010:

“Everybody knows that the team is going forward next year, so that’s a load off everyone’s mind. Also Rob Flynn, our crew chief, along with all the members of our team have put in a lot of hours chasing a clutch gremlin we’ve been fighting recently. We think we’ve turned the corner there and are enthusiastic about a strong performance in Charlotte and a run at the championship.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

150: That’s the maximum number of points a driver in any of the four pro categories can earn per event, starting at this weekend’s NHRA Carolinas Nationals. If a driver runs the table by posting the quickest runs in each qualifying session (three points each day, 10 points to all entrants and 8 points for the No. 1 qualifier), wins the race (100 points for a win) and sets a national record (20 points), that driver could walk away with 150 points at the end of the event.

DID YOU KNOW 

…that B.R.A.K.E.S. and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner up for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament this weekend in Concord, N.C.? B.R.A.K.E.S., the safe driving organization founded by Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament on opening day of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Thursday, September 17. For tickets to the dinner and tournament, call 704/732-8950 or visit www.putonthebrakes.org.

NEWS NUGGETS  

BROWN, T. PED, COUGHLIN, KRAWIEC HOPE TO STAY NO. 1 THROUGH PLAYOFFS: With the Countdown to 1 standings set, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to zMAX Dragway for the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals this weekend, the first of six races in the Countdown playoffs. As teams and crews prepare for the upcoming playoffs which will begin with a four-races-in-four-weeks grueling stretch, points leaders Antron Brown, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Eddie Krawiec hope to do the one thing that has only happened twice in NHRA history—keep their top spots in the standings and win NHRA Full Throttle Series world championships.

Tony Schumacher (2008) and Matt Smith (2007) are the only drivers to have ever entered the Countdown playoffs in the top spot, and remain in the top spot until the end of the season. That means that since its inception in 2007, out of all four categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, only two out of a possible of eight points leaders in the Countdown to the Championship have ever gone on to win the world championship.

“I’m just excited and geared up for the new challenge,” said Brown. “Indy knocked our team back to reality a little bit on how tough this Top Fuel class really is. We have to race our own lane and do what we do.”

Brown, Pedregon, Coughlin and Krawiec enter the Countdown with 30-point leads over second-place, which includes a 20-point bonus for finishing the regular season in the top spot in the standings.

“Now we start over, for all intents, and we need to reset and get set for the playoffs,” said Coughlin. “It’s going to be a thrill. It’s a six-race dash for the Full Throttle Championship. Let me tell you, it’s going to be one interesting battle in Pro Stock.”

The Countdown to 1 playoffs begin this weekend with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX dragway.

50TH NHRA WINTERNATIONALS TICKES ON SALE: Tickets for what is anticipated to be one of the most memorable events in NHRA history, the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, have gone on sale starting today. The 50th running of the Winternationals, Feb. 11–14, 2010, at storied Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, will be a must-see event not just for fans of today’s 300-mph nitromethane-burning dragsters, but perhaps even more so for those NHRA fans who long for the days of front-engine dragsters being push-started under the iconic Winternationals banner.

Despite the heavy demand for Winternationals tickets, NHRA is making it easier than ever to attend by lowering the cost of Top Eliminator Club tickets and reducing the price of Saturday and Sunday general-admission tickets to $50 to commemorate the 50th anniversary. The scheduled events will include the Golden 50: a collection of the greatest cars in Winternationals history, the Classic Legends Dinner, Exhibition runs by legendary tribute cars, daily cacklefests, car parades and autograph sessions with stars of the last 50 years and the top five moments in the top 25 moments in Winternationals history countdown will be revealed.

PRO STOCK RACERS HAMMONDS AND McBRIDE TO RETURN TO CHARLOTTE AND DALLAS: Pro Stock driver and former NBA power forward Tom Hammonds will return to racing action this weekend at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway. It has been a little more than four months since Hammonds last drove at a national event, the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Illinois.

“I haven’t been in a car in a long time, and I’m anxious to see exactly what our engines can do,” said Hammonds. “We’ve made some improvements since the last time we went down the quarter-mile, and now we’ll see exactly where we stand against the field. That will give us a good indication of where we need to go over the winter.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie McBride will also return to action aboard the Karl Klement’s Buell at the O’Reilly NHRA Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Dallas. McBride has been competing sporadically on the tour this year aboard one of fiancée and former world champion Matt Smith’s bikes, and hopes that the Dallas audition might lead to a more full-time role for 2010. “I’m excited because this may be a stepping-stone to the future,” said McBride.

LANDMARK TOP FUEL, FUNNY CAR EXHIBITION PLANNED FOR NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS: For the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will race four-lanes, four-wide, unleashing a powerful assault of 28,000 horsepower on spectacular zMAX Dragway. In what is sure to be a must-see demonstration of the ultimate in high-horsepower performance, four NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and four NHRA Funny Cars will race in a four-wide configuration during separate races in a special exhibition event just prior to the final round of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, on Sunday, September 20.

The drivers of each of the four-wide exhibition races will be determined that day among those drivers who lose in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Those who have the higher standing in the NHRA championship points order will be given the first opportunity to participate in the unique exhibition.

“With Bruton Smith’s state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway, which features four lanes for competition, we have an opportunity to offer this incredible attraction to our fans,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “It will be the first time that fans can witness modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars running four-wide. With 28,000 horsepower it certainly will be a memorable spectacle to see.” For more information on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.
 
NHRA’S NEW POINT SYSTEM TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND IN CONCORD: NHRA announced that with the start of the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, it will recognize national records in Top Fuel and Funny Car and create a new bonus point system for pro qualifying sessions. Both programs will instantly make the battle for the NHRA Full Throttle world championship just a little more interesting for professional competitors on the eve of the start of the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs.

NHRA will recognize official national elapsed time and speed records to 1,000 feet for both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Teams that set a national record for elapsed time (E.T.) will be awarded 20 points. Speed records are not eligible for bonus points. The starting point for the national record will be established using the quickest time and fastest speeds to 1,000-feet that were backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend, occurring since 1,000-foot racing started at the midway point of 2008. Those drivers who currently hold the national record in each category will not retroactively receive the 20 point bonus.

In order for performances to be certified as NHRA national records, the eligible performance must be backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend. Only one 20-point bonus will be awarded in each category per event.

In addition, NHRA announced a new bonus points structure that will offer teams opportunities to score critical points during qualifying sessions in all four professional categories. The team in each category with the quickest elapsed time during each qualifying session will receive three bonus points. In all, a team records the lowest E.T. in all four sessions could receive a total of 12 bonus points during qualifying. Teams with the second and third quickest elapsed times during each qualifying session will receive 2 and 1 bonus points, respectively.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, SEPTEMBER 17–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads down to the Charlotte area for the second annual event at zMAX Dragway and first race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Jack Beckman (Funny Car); Justin Humphreys (Pro Stock); and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY SUPER START BATTERIES NHRA FALL NATIONALS, TEXAS MOTORPLEX, SEPTEMBER 24–27: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its second stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the second race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners are J.R. Todd (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock); and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY NHRA MID-SOUTH  NATIONALS, MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK, OCTOBER 2–4: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to the land of the Delta Blues for its third stop in the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Mike Edwards (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle). 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR: Brandon Bernstein on entering the Countdown to 1 playoffs just after securing Copart Inc. as the title sponsor on the Kenny Bernstein Racing dragster for 2010:

“Everybody knows that the team is going forward next year, so that’s a load off everyone’s mind. Also Rob Flynn, our crew chief, along with all the members of our team have put in a lot of hours chasing a clutch gremlin we’ve been fighting recently. We think we’ve turned the corner there and are enthusiastic about a strong performance in Charlotte and a run at the championship.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

150: That’s the maximum number of points a driver in any of the four pro categories can earn per event, starting at this weekend’s NHRA Carolinas Nationals. If a driver runs the table by posting the quickest runs in each qualifying session (three points each day, 10 points to all entrants and 8 points for the No. 1 qualifier), wins the race (100 points for a win) and sets a national record (20 points), that driver could walk away with 150 points at the end of the event.

DID YOU KNOW 

…that B.R.A.K.E.S. and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner up for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament this weekend in Concord, N.C.? B.R.A.K.E.S., the safe driving organization founded by Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament on opening day of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Thursday, September 17. For tickets to the dinner and tournament, call 704/732-8950 or visit www.putonthebrakes.org.

NEWS NUGGETS  

BROWN, T. PED, COUGHLIN, KRAWIEC HOPE TO STAY NO. 1 THROUGH PLAYOFFS: With the Countdown to 1 standings set, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to zMAX Dragway for the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals this weekend, the first of six races in the Countdown playoffs. As teams and crews prepare for the upcoming playoffs which will begin with a four-races-in-four-weeks grueling stretch, points leaders Antron Brown, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Eddie Krawiec hope to do the one thing that has only happened twice in NHRA history—keep their top spots in the standings and win NHRA Full Throttle Series world championships.

Tony Schumacher (2008) and Matt Smith (2007) are the only drivers to have ever entered the Countdown playoffs in the top spot, and remain in the top spot until the end of the season. That means that since its inception in 2007, out of all four categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, only two out of a possible of eight points leaders in the Countdown to the Championship have ever gone on to win the world championship.

“I’m just excited and geared up for the new challenge,” said Brown. “Indy knocked our team back to reality a little bit on how tough this Top Fuel class really is. We have to race our own lane and do what we do.”

Brown, Pedregon, Coughlin and Krawiec enter the Countdown with 30-point leads over second-place, which includes a 20-point bonus for finishing the regular season in the top spot in the standings.

“Now we start over, for all intents, and we need to reset and get set for the playoffs,” said Coughlin. “It’s going to be a thrill. It’s a six-race dash for the Full Throttle Championship. Let me tell you, it’s going to be one interesting battle in Pro Stock.”

The Countdown to 1 playoffs begin this weekend with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX dragway.

50TH NHRA WINTERNATIONALS TICKES ON SALE: Tickets for what is anticipated to be one of the most memorable events in NHRA history, the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, have gone on sale starting today. The 50th running of the Winternationals, Feb. 11–14, 2010, at storied Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, will be a must-see event not just for fans of today’s 300-mph nitromethane-burning dragsters, but perhaps even more so for those NHRA fans who long for the days of front-engine dragsters being push-started under the iconic Winternationals banner.

Despite the heavy demand for Winternationals tickets, NHRA is making it easier than ever to attend by lowering the cost of Top Eliminator Club tickets and reducing the price of Saturday and Sunday general-admission tickets to $50 to commemorate the 50th anniversary. The scheduled events will include the Golden 50: a collection of the greatest cars in Winternationals history, the Classic Legends Dinner, Exhibition runs by legendary tribute cars, daily cacklefests, car parades and autograph sessions with stars of the last 50 years and the top five moments in the top 25 moments in Winternationals history countdown will be revealed.

PRO STOCK RACERS HAMMONDS AND McBRIDE TO RETURN TO CHARLOTTE AND DALLAS: Pro Stock driver and former NBA power forward Tom Hammonds will return to racing action this weekend at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway. It has been a little more than four months since Hammonds last drove at a national event, the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Illinois.

“I haven’t been in a car in a long time, and I’m anxious to see exactly what our engines can do,” said Hammonds. “We’ve made some improvements since the last time we went down the quarter-mile, and now we’ll see exactly where we stand against the field. That will give us a good indication of where we need to go over the winter.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie McBride will also return to action aboard the Karl Klement’s Buell at the O’Reilly NHRA Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Dallas. McBride has been competing sporadically on the tour this year aboard one of fiancée and former world champion Matt Smith’s bikes, and hopes that the Dallas audition might lead to a more full-time role for 2010. “I’m excited because this may be a stepping-stone to the future,” said McBride.

LANDMARK TOP FUEL, FUNNY CAR EXHIBITION PLANNED FOR NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS: For the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will race four-lanes, four-wide, unleashing a powerful assault of 28,000 horsepower on spectacular zMAX Dragway. In what is sure to be a must-see demonstration of the ultimate in high-horsepower performance, four NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and four NHRA Funny Cars will race in a four-wide configuration during separate races in a special exhibition event just prior to the final round of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, on Sunday, September 20.

The drivers of each of the four-wide exhibition races will be determined that day among those drivers who lose in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Those who have the higher standing in the NHRA championship points order will be given the first opportunity to participate in the unique exhibition.

“With Bruton Smith’s state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway, which features four lanes for competition, we have an opportunity to offer this incredible attraction to our fans,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “It will be the first time that fans can witness modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars running four-wide. With 28,000 horsepower it certainly will be a memorable spectacle to see.” For more information on this event, visit www.NHRA.com.
 
NHRA’S NEW POINT SYSTEM TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND IN CONCORD: NHRA announced that with the start of the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, it will recognize national records in Top Fuel and Funny Car and create a new bonus point system for pro qualifying sessions. Both programs will instantly make the battle for the NHRA Full Throttle world championship just a little more interesting for professional competitors on the eve of the start of the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs.

NHRA will recognize official national elapsed time and speed records to 1,000 feet for both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Teams that set a national record for elapsed time (E.T.) will be awarded 20 points. Speed records are not eligible for bonus points. The starting point for the national record will be established using the quickest time and fastest speeds to 1,000-feet that were backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend, occurring since 1,000-foot racing started at the midway point of 2008. Those drivers who currently hold the national record in each category will not retroactively receive the 20 point bonus.

In order for performances to be certified as NHRA national records, the eligible performance must be backed up by another performance within 1% during the course of a single event weekend. Only one 20-point bonus will be awarded in each category per event.

In addition, NHRA announced a new bonus points structure that will offer teams opportunities to score critical points during qualifying sessions in all four professional categories. The team in each category with the quickest elapsed time during each qualifying session will receive three bonus points. In all, a team records the lowest E.T. in all four sessions could receive a total of 12 bonus points during qualifying. Teams with the second and third quickest elapsed times during each qualifying session will receive 2 and 1 bonus points, respectively.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, SEPTEMBER 17–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads down to the Charlotte area for the second annual event at zMAX Dragway and first race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Jack Beckman (Funny Car); Justin Humphreys (Pro Stock); and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY SUPER START BATTERIES NHRA FALL NATIONALS, TEXAS MOTORPLEX, SEPTEMBER 24–27: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its second stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the second race of the Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners are J.R. Todd (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock); and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

O’REILLY NHRA MID-SOUTH  NATIONALS, MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK, OCTOBER 2–4: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to the land of the Delta Blues for its third stop in the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Mike Edwards (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle). 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR: Brandon Bernstein on entering the Countdown to 1 playoffs just after securing Copart Inc. as the title sponsor on the Kenny Bernstein Racing dragster for 2010:

“Everybody knows that the team is going forward next year, so that’s a load off everyone’s mind. Also Rob Flynn, our crew chief, along with all the members of our team have put in a lot of hours chasing a clutch gremlin we’ve been fighting recently. We think we’ve turned the corner there and are enthusiastic about a strong performance in Charlotte and a run at the championship.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

150: That’s the maximum number of points a driver in any of the four pro categories can earn per event, starting at this weekend’s NHRA Carolinas Nationals. If a driver runs the table by posting the quickest runs in each qualifying session (three points each day, 10 points to all entrants and 8 points for the No. 1 qualifier), wins the race (100 points for a win) and sets a national record (20 points), that driver could walk away with 150 points at the end of the event.

DID YOU KNOW 

…that B.R.A.K.E.S. and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner up for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament this weekend in Concord, N.C.? B.R.A.K.E.S., the safe driving organization founded by Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert and Speedway Children’s Charities will partner for their second annual benefit dinner and PPG Paintball Tournament on opening day of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Thursday, September 17. For tickets to the dinner and tournament, call 704/732-8950 or visit www.putonthebrakes.org.

	SEMA's unprecendented buyer outreach includes a 16-page brochure detailing Show benefits to more than 100,000 buyers.

SEMA has launched an unprecedented push to reach new, potential buyers for the 2009 SEMA Show. More than 100,000 buyers are receiving a comprehensive 16-page brochure highlighting the Show's business, educational and networking benefits.

The brochure includes a comprehensive breakdown of all 11 Show sections, including key exhibitors and free educational seminars of possible interest to various buyer categories. A complete guide to all educational events and seminars, as well as Show events including the SEMA Keynote, New Products Awards Breakfast and the Industry Awards Reception and Banquet, is also included.

Finally, important details on travel savings, including the SEMA Buyer Bus Program, and airfare, hotel and car rental discounts assure that buyers know exactly where to find savings during this vital industry event.   

View the complete digital edition of the brochure here. And for further information on the 2009 SEMA Show, click here. 

Running a new product demo, giveaway, promotion, or discount pricing special at your booth during the SEMA Show? Let us know about it.

SEMA will be promoting SEMA Show exhibitor special offers in upcoming editions of eNews and in emails targeted to attending buyers. Exhibitors can send us information on any special offers, giveaways, promotions, new products, or discounted inventory pricing that they will offer at the SEMA Show.

Don't miss this great pre-Show promotional opportunity to generate interest in your company through the SEMA Matchmaking program and ultimately drive more traffic to your booth.

For more information or to provide your specials, contact Dan Hobgood at 909/396-0289, ext. 220 or danh@sema.org.

Running a new product demo, giveaway, promotion, or discount pricing special at your booth during the SEMA Show? Let us know about it.

SEMA will be promoting SEMA Show exhibitor special offers in upcoming editions of eNews and in emails targeted to attending buyers. Exhibitors can send us information on any special offers, giveaways, promotions, new products, or discounted inventory pricing that they will offer at the SEMA Show.

Don't miss this great pre-Show promotional opportunity to generate interest in your company through the SEMA Matchmaking program and ultimately drive more traffic to your booth.

For more information or to provide your specials, contact Dan Hobgood at 909/396-0289, ext. 220 or danh@sema.org.

Running a new product demo, giveaway, promotion, or discount pricing special at your booth during the SEMA Show? Let us know about it.

SEMA will be promoting SEMA Show exhibitor special offers in upcoming editions of eNews and in emails targeted to attending buyers. Exhibitors can send us information on any special offers, giveaways, promotions, new products, or discounted inventory pricing that they will offer at the SEMA Show.

Don't miss this great pre-Show promotional opportunity to generate interest in your company through the SEMA Matchmaking program and ultimately drive more traffic to your booth.

For more information or to provide your specials, contact Dan Hobgood at 909/396-0289, ext. 220 or danh@sema.org.