Nearly half of first-quarter manufacturer sales were to distributors.
	Websites for brick-and-mortar retailers accounted for 7% of first-quarter sales.
	Car and truck dealers accounted for the second-highest volume of WD sales.

Newly released first-quarter sales data gives SEMA-member companies the ability to see current industry sales levels and identify new business opportunities. Data tabulated from the SEMA Industry Benchmarking Program shows the distribution of sales by market for the first quarter of 2009.

The analysis provides an average percent of business by type of customers for three channels: Manufacturers, Retailers and Distributors.

Manufacturers
Nearly half of manufacturers’ first quarter sales were to distributors, which equaled an average of 48.2% of sales. Retail outlets accounted for 21.1% of sales, with chain stores representing 12.8% and jobbers 8.3%.

OEMs accounted for roughly 10% of sales and direct to consumer sales were 8.6%. Internet website sales were a combined 5.4% with most of it (4.7%) coming from company-owned sites.

Retailers
Retail stores and repair service work equaled 49.4% of retail sales in the first quarter of 2009. An average of 25.4% of the quarter’s sales were through retail stores and 24.0% was generated through repair service work.

Parts and accessory installation represented 12.5% of sales. Wholesale business equaled 8.0% of sales and Internet websites were a combined 8.9%. Store sites represented the largest portion of web sales with 7.2%.

Distributors
Distributor sales were spread over a broad number of categories. Repair/Service stations had the highest percent of distributors’ sales in the first quarter with 14.1%. It was followed closely by sales to car and truck dealers, which accounted for 13.4% of the segment's business.

Retailers equaled a combined 25.9% of sales. Independent retailers were 9.4%, chain stores 9.1% and jobbers 7.4%.

To participate in the SEMA Benchmarking Program, click on one of the following links most appropriate to your company’s general profile: manufacturer, distributor or retailer. The program benefits SEMA-member companies by providing current industry-specific data.

Participating companies are the first to receive the monthly SEMA Benchmarking Report, which summarizes data collected in the benchmarking questionnaire.

The program is administered by a third party, Hedges & Company, to ensure privacy and anonymity. For additional information about the program contact Julie@Hedgescompany.com.

	Nearly half of first-quarter manufacturer sales were to distributors.
	Websites for brick-and-mortar retailers accounted for 7% of first-quarter sales.
	Car and truck dealers accounted for the second-highest volume of WD sales.

Newly released first-quarter sales data gives SEMA-member companies the ability to see current industry sales levels and identify new business opportunities. Data tabulated from the SEMA Industry Benchmarking Program shows the distribution of sales by market for the first quarter of 2009.

The analysis provides an average percent of business by type of customers for three channels: Manufacturers, Retailers and Distributors.

Manufacturers
Nearly half of manufacturers’ first quarter sales were to distributors, which equaled an average of 48.2% of sales. Retail outlets accounted for 21.1% of sales, with chain stores representing 12.8% and jobbers 8.3%.

OEMs accounted for roughly 10% of sales and direct to consumer sales were 8.6%. Internet website sales were a combined 5.4% with most of it (4.7%) coming from company-owned sites.

Retailers
Retail stores and repair service work equaled 49.4% of retail sales in the first quarter of 2009. An average of 25.4% of the quarter’s sales were through retail stores and 24.0% was generated through repair service work.

Parts and accessory installation represented 12.5% of sales. Wholesale business equaled 8.0% of sales and Internet websites were a combined 8.9%. Store sites represented the largest portion of web sales with 7.2%.

Distributors
Distributor sales were spread over a broad number of categories. Repair/Service stations had the highest percent of distributors’ sales in the first quarter with 14.1%. It was followed closely by sales to car and truck dealers, which accounted for 13.4% of the segment's business.

Retailers equaled a combined 25.9% of sales. Independent retailers were 9.4%, chain stores 9.1% and jobbers 7.4%.

To participate in the SEMA Benchmarking Program, click on one of the following links most appropriate to your company’s general profile: manufacturer, distributor or retailer. The program benefits SEMA-member companies by providing current industry-specific data.

Participating companies are the first to receive the monthly SEMA Benchmarking Report, which summarizes data collected in the benchmarking questionnaire.

The program is administered by a third party, Hedges & Company, to ensure privacy and anonymity. For additional information about the program contact Julie@Hedgescompany.com.

	Nearly half of first-quarter manufacturer sales were to distributors.
	Websites for brick-and-mortar retailers accounted for 7% of first-quarter sales.
	Car and truck dealers accounted for the second-highest volume of WD sales.

Newly released first-quarter sales data gives SEMA-member companies the ability to see current industry sales levels and identify new business opportunities. Data tabulated from the SEMA Industry Benchmarking Program shows the distribution of sales by market for the first quarter of 2009.

The analysis provides an average percent of business by type of customers for three channels: Manufacturers, Retailers and Distributors.

Manufacturers
Nearly half of manufacturers’ first quarter sales were to distributors, which equaled an average of 48.2% of sales. Retail outlets accounted for 21.1% of sales, with chain stores representing 12.8% and jobbers 8.3%.

OEMs accounted for roughly 10% of sales and direct to consumer sales were 8.6%. Internet website sales were a combined 5.4% with most of it (4.7%) coming from company-owned sites.

Retailers
Retail stores and repair service work equaled 49.4% of retail sales in the first quarter of 2009. An average of 25.4% of the quarter’s sales were through retail stores and 24.0% was generated through repair service work.

Parts and accessory installation represented 12.5% of sales. Wholesale business equaled 8.0% of sales and Internet websites were a combined 8.9%. Store sites represented the largest portion of web sales with 7.2%.

Distributors
Distributor sales were spread over a broad number of categories. Repair/Service stations had the highest percent of distributors’ sales in the first quarter with 14.1%. It was followed closely by sales to car and truck dealers, which accounted for 13.4% of the segment's business.

Retailers equaled a combined 25.9% of sales. Independent retailers were 9.4%, chain stores 9.1% and jobbers 7.4%.

To participate in the SEMA Benchmarking Program, click on one of the following links most appropriate to your company’s general profile: manufacturer, distributor or retailer. The program benefits SEMA-member companies by providing current industry-specific data.

Participating companies are the first to receive the monthly SEMA Benchmarking Report, which summarizes data collected in the benchmarking questionnaire.

The program is administered by a third party, Hedges & Company, to ensure privacy and anonymity. For additional information about the program contact Julie@Hedgescompany.com.

	As the overall market retracted in 2008, the Restoration market held its own and picked up market share.
	This 1967 Chevrolet Camaro R/S Z28 featured original paint and only 44,000 odometer clicks when it was displayed in the Camaro tribute section at the 2008 SEMA Show.

In 2008, the restoration market held its ground and fended off economic troubles. With the overall market shuddering in the wake of myriad disasters, enthusiasts looking to restore their automotive passion and collector cars came through decidedly.

Despite a small dip in retail sales, the restoration marketplace survived 2008 with $1.45 billion in retail sales, just 3% off the previous year—not bad considering how other parts of the industry ended the year. One of the many reasons for this stability is the types of consumers who participate in the restoration hobby.

Other segments, namely the light-truck market, depend heavily on new customers and, to a great extent, non-endemic customers. Being fickle and uninvested in the hobby lends them to ditching the market quickly. Restoration and collector vehicle consumers are less capricious and have more market loyalty.

For these reasons the restoration market picked up market share in comparison to the rest of the industry. Some segments receded while the restoration market remained fairly flat.

“Call volume is down from 12 months ago, but the quality jobs are still coming," says Jim Barber, owner of Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists and member of SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) council. "We have 'ate' into our backlog to a certain degree.”

Times are certainly tough, but the opportunities are still out there and companies can take the crisis to realign with their audience.

“The slow down has given my staff time to focus on cost-saving measures and better customer communication," Barber adds.

Calling old customers, reaching out to new ones and reestablishing a strong customer service ethic will build sales and customer loyalty, something beneficial when economic conditions force people to make difficult financial decisions.

Look for an in-depth report on the restoration market in an upcoming issue of SEMA News magazine. —SEMA Research & Information Center

	As the overall market retracted in 2008, the Restoration market held its own and picked up market share.
	This 1967 Chevrolet Camaro R/S Z28 featured original paint and only 44,000 odometer clicks when it was displayed in the Camaro tribute section at the 2008 SEMA Show.

In 2008, the restoration market held its ground and fended off economic troubles. With the overall market shuddering in the wake of myriad disasters, enthusiasts looking to restore their automotive passion and collector cars came through decidedly.

Despite a small dip in retail sales, the restoration marketplace survived 2008 with $1.45 billion in retail sales, just 3% off the previous year—not bad considering how other parts of the industry ended the year. One of the many reasons for this stability is the types of consumers who participate in the restoration hobby.

Other segments, namely the light-truck market, depend heavily on new customers and, to a great extent, non-endemic customers. Being fickle and uninvested in the hobby lends them to ditching the market quickly. Restoration and collector vehicle consumers are less capricious and have more market loyalty.

For these reasons the restoration market picked up market share in comparison to the rest of the industry. Some segments receded while the restoration market remained fairly flat.

“Call volume is down from 12 months ago, but the quality jobs are still coming," says Jim Barber, owner of Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists and member of SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) council. "We have 'ate' into our backlog to a certain degree.”

Times are certainly tough, but the opportunities are still out there and companies can take the crisis to realign with their audience.

“The slow down has given my staff time to focus on cost-saving measures and better customer communication," Barber adds.

Calling old customers, reaching out to new ones and reestablishing a strong customer service ethic will build sales and customer loyalty, something beneficial when economic conditions force people to make difficult financial decisions.

Look for an in-depth report on the restoration market in an upcoming issue of SEMA News magazine. —SEMA Research & Information Center

	As the overall market retracted in 2008, the Restoration market held its own and picked up market share.
	This 1967 Chevrolet Camaro R/S Z28 featured original paint and only 44,000 odometer clicks when it was displayed in the Camaro tribute section at the 2008 SEMA Show.

In 2008, the restoration market held its ground and fended off economic troubles. With the overall market shuddering in the wake of myriad disasters, enthusiasts looking to restore their automotive passion and collector cars came through decidedly.

Despite a small dip in retail sales, the restoration marketplace survived 2008 with $1.45 billion in retail sales, just 3% off the previous year—not bad considering how other parts of the industry ended the year. One of the many reasons for this stability is the types of consumers who participate in the restoration hobby.

Other segments, namely the light-truck market, depend heavily on new customers and, to a great extent, non-endemic customers. Being fickle and uninvested in the hobby lends them to ditching the market quickly. Restoration and collector vehicle consumers are less capricious and have more market loyalty.

For these reasons the restoration market picked up market share in comparison to the rest of the industry. Some segments receded while the restoration market remained fairly flat.

“Call volume is down from 12 months ago, but the quality jobs are still coming," says Jim Barber, owner of Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists and member of SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) council. "We have 'ate' into our backlog to a certain degree.”

Times are certainly tough, but the opportunities are still out there and companies can take the crisis to realign with their audience.

“The slow down has given my staff time to focus on cost-saving measures and better customer communication," Barber adds.

Calling old customers, reaching out to new ones and reestablishing a strong customer service ethic will build sales and customer loyalty, something beneficial when economic conditions force people to make difficult financial decisions.

Look for an in-depth report on the restoration market in an upcoming issue of SEMA News magazine. —SEMA Research & Information Center

PPG Industries appointed Steve Lampe vice president of purchasing and distribution. Lampe began his career with the company in 1978 as senior auditor. Following progressive positions in both auditing and purchasing, he was named global raw materials director in 2006. In his new role, Lampe will continue to be based in Pittsburgh and report directly to PPG’s J. Rich Alexander, senior vice president of performance coatings.

EnerSys Energy Products Inc., makers of the ODYSSEY line of batteries, and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) reached an agreement that makes ODYSSEY the technical partner of RCR. The ODYSSEY logo will be included on the No. 7 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet team with driver Casey Mears.

Paul Garzelloni

Hastings Manufacturing Co. named Paul Garzelloni as the company’s senior applications engineer. Garzelloni has more than 30 years of experience in piston ring design, process and applications engineering.

Kumho Tires has opened Tires 4U, an outlet in North America dedicated to the Kumho Tire global retail format. The store, which opened on June 3 in Buena Park, California, sells a full line of passenger, competition, light truck, and SUV tires and includes mounting, balancing and alignment services.

Marx Group Advisors launched a new resources page on its website at www.marxgroupadvisors.com/resources. The new resources provide information and advice to anyone undergoing a merger or acquisition.

Helio Castroneves and teammate Ryan Briscoe visit Snap-on’s Milwaukee manufacturing facility.

Advanstar Communications has launched its 2009 Top Shop Contests for Motor Age and Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN) magazines. The competition for Motor Age identifies the top 10 U.S. mechanical repair shops, and the ABRN competition, in its inaugural year, honors the top 10 collision-repair facilities. For complete information and registration, visit www.searchautoparts.com/TopShops.

Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves and his Penske Racing teammate Ryan Briscoe visited Snap-on’s Milwaukee manufacturing facility on May 29. Both drivers received a tour of the plant and signed autographs for the Snap-on associates who work at the facility.

NEWS NUGGETS

PEDREGON GRABS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON; MASSEY FIRST WIN OF HIS CAREER IN CHICAGO: In similar fashion to so many previous title runs, Tony Pedregon grabbed his first win of the season at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois—just one race past the halfway point for the regular season in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.

Pedregon dominated all weekend, picking up the No. 1 qualifier Friday and Saturday and driving past Ashley Force Hood in the final round to pick up his second consecutive and fourth overall win at the track. The win also boosted Pedregon from the fourth to second spot in the point standings, just 58 points behind first-place driver Ron Capps. But the win wasn’t an easy one for Pedregon and his team.

“We had a lot of drama in our pits,” said Pedregon. “We had to change a motor, and once they were done with the motor, they were changing front tires. Our car was so good in qualifying, and it gave me a lot of confidence going into race day. It’s not often that I would say (Ron) Capps is going to have to be a pretty bad cat to beat us, but I really felt that with the way the car was running.”

In Top Fuel, Auto Club Road to the Future Rookie of the Year candidate, Spencer Massey, grabbed the first win of his Top Fuel career when he drove his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster past runner-up Antron Brown in the final round. Though he didn’t pick up the win, Brown was able to leave Route 66 Raceway with the points lead in the class, just 18 points ahead of second-place Tony Schumacher.

Defending Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin continued his dominance of the class when he drove past runner-up driver Mike Edwards in the final round to pick up his fourth win of the season as well as fourth at Route 66 Raceway, while Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Guidera held off defending world champion Eddie Krawiec to grab his first win of the 2009 season.

NEXT STOP: UNITED ASSOCIATION NHRA SUPERNATIONALS IN ENGLISHTOWN: This weekend, the last leg of a three races in three weeks run comes to an end at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, for the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals. For many drivers, a trip to Englishtown is a trip back through drag racing history:

“The history at Englishtown is almost unparalleled. It’s a track that my grandfather performed very well at and had countless match races over the years. There are magic moments in everyone’s life and for me, one of the greatest magic moments was Englishtown when I won that first national event in my alcohol funny car and my entire family was there.”—Funny Car driver Bob Tasca

“There are NHRA race tracks that I consider PGA TOUR major championships, and Englishtown is one of them. Englishtown ranks up there with Indianapolis, Pomona and Gainesville; they are all places I used to read about as a kid, and I hoped that someday, I’d get to race there. Racing at Englishtown, and especially winning four times there, is definitely a highlight of my career.”—Top Fuel pilot Larry Dixon

“I listened to my dad talk about racing in Englishtown for years. If you were a drag racing fan, you probably attended an event at Englishtown, it had and still has, a place of prestige on the NHRA circuit.”—Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein

REICHERT SEALS JEGS ALLSTARS TITLE FOR DIVISION 3 TEAM: With his win in the Top Alcohol Dragster category, Bill Reichert was able to top off the win for the North Central Division team at the 25th annual JEGS Allstars event at Route 66 Raceway. Ben Wenzel Sr. (Stock) and Ricky Shipp (Super Street) picked up wins in there respective categories to help strengthen the points lead, but it was Reichert’s win that gave the Division 3 team that extra push past the defending champions from Division 1 for their sixth team win, but first in over a decade.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Frank Manzo continued his dominance and nearly pulled out the team win for Division 1 with his win, while Division 5’s Bruno Massel pulled away with the win in the Comp category. Division 7’s Greg Luneack (Super Stock) and Aaron Kinard (Super Comp) walked away with wins in their respective categories, while Division 1’s Mike Sawyer rounded out the competition with a win in Super Gas. For more information on the 25th annual JEGS Allstars event, visit www.nhra.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

UNITED ASSOCIATION NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, JUNE 11–14: A historic event in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, all four categories will head to New Jersey for the 40th annual visit to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK, JUNE 25–28: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to Norwalk, Ohio, for its third annual event. Defending event winners include Doug Herbert (Top Fuel); Tony Pedregon (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Norwalk is also the site of the K&N Horsepower Challenge Pro Stock bonus event.

MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS, BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY, JULY 10–12: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to the Mile-High city for the 30th national event at Bandimere Speedway. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID

EVERYONE REMEMBERS THEIR FIRST WIN: Top Fuel pilot Spencer Massey, who won his first event in Top Fuel at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals last weekend in Joliet, Illinois: “This whole season has been a dream. I’ve been watching NHRA racing and wanting to drive a Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA since I was 4 years old and saw my first race. I watched Don Prudhomme win his last Top Fuel race in Dallas in 1994, and now he’s high-fiving me in the winner’s circle. That’s unbelievable.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

23: That’s the number of different drivers in Top Fuel that have won at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Of the 23, only seven have won more than once at the historic track and out of that seven, Larry Dixon (2007, 2005, 2004, 1995) and Doug Kalitta (2003, 2000) are the only active drivers to have repeat wins at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that NHRA President Tom Compton, Coca-Cola North America Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing Bea Perez, Coca-Cola North America Director of Motorsports Marketing Ben Reiling and George Pyne, President of IMG’s Sports and Entertainment Group rang the Opening Bell today at the New York Stock Exchange? Drivers Antron Brown, Ashley Force Hood, Bob Tasca, Tony Pedregon, Eddie Krawiec, Morgan Lucas and Karen Stoffer also participated in this event and a fan fest was held in front of the NYSE.

NEWS NUGGETS

PEDREGON GRABS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON; MASSEY FIRST WIN OF HIS CAREER IN CHICAGO: In similar fashion to so many previous title runs, Tony Pedregon grabbed his first win of the season at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois—just one race past the halfway point for the regular season in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.

Pedregon dominated all weekend, picking up the No. 1 qualifier Friday and Saturday and driving past Ashley Force Hood in the final round to pick up his second consecutive and fourth overall win at the track. The win also boosted Pedregon from the fourth to second spot in the point standings, just 58 points behind first-place driver Ron Capps. But the win wasn’t an easy one for Pedregon and his team.

“We had a lot of drama in our pits,” said Pedregon. “We had to change a motor, and once they were done with the motor, they were changing front tires. Our car was so good in qualifying, and it gave me a lot of confidence going into race day. It’s not often that I would say (Ron) Capps is going to have to be a pretty bad cat to beat us, but I really felt that with the way the car was running.”

In Top Fuel, Auto Club Road to the Future Rookie of the Year candidate, Spencer Massey, grabbed the first win of his Top Fuel career when he drove his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster past runner-up Antron Brown in the final round. Though he didn’t pick up the win, Brown was able to leave Route 66 Raceway with the points lead in the class, just 18 points ahead of second-place Tony Schumacher.

Defending Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin continued his dominance of the class when he drove past runner-up driver Mike Edwards in the final round to pick up his fourth win of the season as well as fourth at Route 66 Raceway, while Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Guidera held off defending world champion Eddie Krawiec to grab his first win of the 2009 season.

NEXT STOP: UNITED ASSOCIATION NHRA SUPERNATIONALS IN ENGLISHTOWN: This weekend, the last leg of a three races in three weeks run comes to an end at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, for the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals. For many drivers, a trip to Englishtown is a trip back through drag racing history:

“The history at Englishtown is almost unparalleled. It’s a track that my grandfather performed very well at and had countless match races over the years. There are magic moments in everyone’s life and for me, one of the greatest magic moments was Englishtown when I won that first national event in my alcohol funny car and my entire family was there.”—Funny Car driver Bob Tasca

“There are NHRA race tracks that I consider PGA TOUR major championships, and Englishtown is one of them. Englishtown ranks up there with Indianapolis, Pomona and Gainesville; they are all places I used to read about as a kid, and I hoped that someday, I’d get to race there. Racing at Englishtown, and especially winning four times there, is definitely a highlight of my career.”—Top Fuel pilot Larry Dixon

“I listened to my dad talk about racing in Englishtown for years. If you were a drag racing fan, you probably attended an event at Englishtown, it had and still has, a place of prestige on the NHRA circuit.”—Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein

REICHERT SEALS JEGS ALLSTARS TITLE FOR DIVISION 3 TEAM: With his win in the Top Alcohol Dragster category, Bill Reichert was able to top off the win for the North Central Division team at the 25th annual JEGS Allstars event at Route 66 Raceway. Ben Wenzel Sr. (Stock) and Ricky Shipp (Super Street) picked up wins in there respective categories to help strengthen the points lead, but it was Reichert’s win that gave the Division 3 team that extra push past the defending champions from Division 1 for their sixth team win, but first in over a decade.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Frank Manzo continued his dominance and nearly pulled out the team win for Division 1 with his win, while Division 5’s Bruno Massel pulled away with the win in the Comp category. Division 7’s Greg Luneack (Super Stock) and Aaron Kinard (Super Comp) walked away with wins in their respective categories, while Division 1’s Mike Sawyer rounded out the competition with a win in Super Gas. For more information on the 25th annual JEGS Allstars event, visit www.nhra.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

UNITED ASSOCIATION NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, JUNE 11–14: A historic event in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, all four categories will head to New Jersey for the 40th annual visit to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK, JUNE 25–28: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to Norwalk, Ohio, for its third annual event. Defending event winners include Doug Herbert (Top Fuel); Tony Pedregon (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Norwalk is also the site of the K&N Horsepower Challenge Pro Stock bonus event.

MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS, BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY, JULY 10–12: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to the Mile-High city for the 30th national event at Bandimere Speedway. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID

EVERYONE REMEMBERS THEIR FIRST WIN: Top Fuel pilot Spencer Massey, who won his first event in Top Fuel at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals last weekend in Joliet, Illinois: “This whole season has been a dream. I’ve been watching NHRA racing and wanting to drive a Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA since I was 4 years old and saw my first race. I watched Don Prudhomme win his last Top Fuel race in Dallas in 1994, and now he’s high-fiving me in the winner’s circle. That’s unbelievable.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

23: That’s the number of different drivers in Top Fuel that have won at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Of the 23, only seven have won more than once at the historic track and out of that seven, Larry Dixon (2007, 2005, 2004, 1995) and Doug Kalitta (2003, 2000) are the only active drivers to have repeat wins at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that NHRA President Tom Compton, Coca-Cola North America Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing Bea Perez, Coca-Cola North America Director of Motorsports Marketing Ben Reiling and George Pyne, President of IMG’s Sports and Entertainment Group rang the Opening Bell today at the New York Stock Exchange? Drivers Antron Brown, Ashley Force Hood, Bob Tasca, Tony Pedregon, Eddie Krawiec, Morgan Lucas and Karen Stoffer also participated in this event and a fan fest was held in front of the NYSE.

NEWS NUGGETS

PEDREGON GRABS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON; MASSEY FIRST WIN OF HIS CAREER IN CHICAGO: In similar fashion to so many previous title runs, Tony Pedregon grabbed his first win of the season at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois—just one race past the halfway point for the regular season in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.

Pedregon dominated all weekend, picking up the No. 1 qualifier Friday and Saturday and driving past Ashley Force Hood in the final round to pick up his second consecutive and fourth overall win at the track. The win also boosted Pedregon from the fourth to second spot in the point standings, just 58 points behind first-place driver Ron Capps. But the win wasn’t an easy one for Pedregon and his team.

“We had a lot of drama in our pits,” said Pedregon. “We had to change a motor, and once they were done with the motor, they were changing front tires. Our car was so good in qualifying, and it gave me a lot of confidence going into race day. It’s not often that I would say (Ron) Capps is going to have to be a pretty bad cat to beat us, but I really felt that with the way the car was running.”

In Top Fuel, Auto Club Road to the Future Rookie of the Year candidate, Spencer Massey, grabbed the first win of his Top Fuel career when he drove his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster past runner-up Antron Brown in the final round. Though he didn’t pick up the win, Brown was able to leave Route 66 Raceway with the points lead in the class, just 18 points ahead of second-place Tony Schumacher.

Defending Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin continued his dominance of the class when he drove past runner-up driver Mike Edwards in the final round to pick up his fourth win of the season as well as fourth at Route 66 Raceway, while Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Guidera held off defending world champion Eddie Krawiec to grab his first win of the 2009 season.

NEXT STOP: UNITED ASSOCIATION NHRA SUPERNATIONALS IN ENGLISHTOWN: This weekend, the last leg of a three races in three weeks run comes to an end at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, for the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals. For many drivers, a trip to Englishtown is a trip back through drag racing history:

“The history at Englishtown is almost unparalleled. It’s a track that my grandfather performed very well at and had countless match races over the years. There are magic moments in everyone’s life and for me, one of the greatest magic moments was Englishtown when I won that first national event in my alcohol funny car and my entire family was there.”—Funny Car driver Bob Tasca

“There are NHRA race tracks that I consider PGA TOUR major championships, and Englishtown is one of them. Englishtown ranks up there with Indianapolis, Pomona and Gainesville; they are all places I used to read about as a kid, and I hoped that someday, I’d get to race there. Racing at Englishtown, and especially winning four times there, is definitely a highlight of my career.”—Top Fuel pilot Larry Dixon

“I listened to my dad talk about racing in Englishtown for years. If you were a drag racing fan, you probably attended an event at Englishtown, it had and still has, a place of prestige on the NHRA circuit.”—Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein

REICHERT SEALS JEGS ALLSTARS TITLE FOR DIVISION 3 TEAM: With his win in the Top Alcohol Dragster category, Bill Reichert was able to top off the win for the North Central Division team at the 25th annual JEGS Allstars event at Route 66 Raceway. Ben Wenzel Sr. (Stock) and Ricky Shipp (Super Street) picked up wins in there respective categories to help strengthen the points lead, but it was Reichert’s win that gave the Division 3 team that extra push past the defending champions from Division 1 for their sixth team win, but first in over a decade.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Frank Manzo continued his dominance and nearly pulled out the team win for Division 1 with his win, while Division 5’s Bruno Massel pulled away with the win in the Comp category. Division 7’s Greg Luneack (Super Stock) and Aaron Kinard (Super Comp) walked away with wins in their respective categories, while Division 1’s Mike Sawyer rounded out the competition with a win in Super Gas. For more information on the 25th annual JEGS Allstars event, visit www.nhra.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

UNITED ASSOCIATION NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, JUNE 11–14: A historic event in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, all four categories will head to New Jersey for the 40th annual visit to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK, JUNE 25–28: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to Norwalk, Ohio, for its third annual event. Defending event winners include Doug Herbert (Top Fuel); Tony Pedregon (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Norwalk is also the site of the K&N Horsepower Challenge Pro Stock bonus event.

MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS, BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY, JULY 10–12: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to the Mile-High city for the 30th national event at Bandimere Speedway. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID

EVERYONE REMEMBERS THEIR FIRST WIN: Top Fuel pilot Spencer Massey, who won his first event in Top Fuel at the United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals last weekend in Joliet, Illinois: “This whole season has been a dream. I’ve been watching NHRA racing and wanting to drive a Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA since I was 4 years old and saw my first race. I watched Don Prudhomme win his last Top Fuel race in Dallas in 1994, and now he’s high-fiving me in the winner’s circle. That’s unbelievable.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

23: That’s the number of different drivers in Top Fuel that have won at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Of the 23, only seven have won more than once at the historic track and out of that seven, Larry Dixon (2007, 2005, 2004, 1995) and Doug Kalitta (2003, 2000) are the only active drivers to have repeat wins at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that NHRA President Tom Compton, Coca-Cola North America Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing Bea Perez, Coca-Cola North America Director of Motorsports Marketing Ben Reiling and George Pyne, President of IMG’s Sports and Entertainment Group rang the Opening Bell today at the New York Stock Exchange? Drivers Antron Brown, Ashley Force Hood, Bob Tasca, Tony Pedregon, Eddie Krawiec, Morgan Lucas and Karen Stoffer also participated in this event and a fan fest was held in front of the NYSE.