NEWS NUGGETS

NEFF, ALBALOOSHI, GAINES SCORE IN READING; PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE FINAL TO RUN IN LAS VEGAS: Funny Car racer Mike Neff kept his championship hopes alive by racing to victory Monday at the rain-delayed Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel) and V. Gaines (Pro Stock) also were winners at the fourth of six playoff events in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship. Neff defeated veteran driver Johnny Gray with a time of 4.030 seconds at 317.94 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to earn his fourth win of the season and his first of the year in the playoffs. With the win, Neff closed in on new series leader Jack Beckman, who set a national record and advanced to the semifinals over the weekend in his Schumacher Electric Dodge Charger. Neff trails Beckman by 54 points, and Ron Capps is in second place, 23 back of Beckman with only two races remaining in the season.

“You have to have it all right to get a win any more,” said Neff, who defeated Tony Pedregon, Jim Head, and John Force to advance to the final. “The biggest thing is it will be exciting. I want to be able to head out west with a chance. It would be a downer if we were out of it at this point. It is nice to be alive for the championship.”

For more on this story, please visit www.nhra.com.

EIGHT ROOKIES ARE ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FOR 2012 AUTO CLUB ROAD TO THE FUTURE AWARD: Eight NHRA rookie drivers, representative of all four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series categories, are the eligible candidates for the 2012 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, it was announced today by officials from the NHRA and the Automobile Club of Southern California. The award, which recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and offers a $20,000 prize and traditional trophy to the winner, will be presented during the NHRA’s annual championship awards ceremony Monday, November 12, at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles. More than 150 of the nation’s leading auto racing journalists will select the winner through a voting system based on the following criteria: number of events participated, performance on and off the racetrack, participation in NHRA promotions and relationships with fans, sponsors and media. The candidates for the award are, in alphabetical order: Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel), Blake Alexander (Funny Car), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Courtney Force (Funny Car), John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Todd Lesenko (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Scotty Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

“For more than 100 years, the Automobile Club of Southern California has represented integrity, commitment and professionalism to our millions of members. The Road to the Future Award has come to symbolize these same attributes in the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing,” said Robert T. Bouttier, president and CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “To be nominated recognizes not only that a rookie driver had a noteworthy first season, but also that they demonstrated exceptional potential for the future. We congratulate all eight of the nominees for this year’s award and look forward to enjoying their achievements both on and off the racetrack for many years to come.”

Visit www.nhra.com for more on this story. 


FREY TO RETIRE AT SEASON’S END: Bob Frey, the long-time announcer and voice of the NHRA, will retire from announcing at the end of the year. “I’ve been doing this since 1966 and traveling extensively, and it’s time to settle down,” Frey said. “There are a lot of things at home I would like to do and take care of. I have six grandsons, and I would like to see them grow up, play ball and be a bigger part of their lives. Plus, after all these years on the road, I’d like to share some time with my wife. In fact, I think next year I’d like to travel and see the world.”

He quickly added that he was only kidding about that last part. “If I never see another airport-security line in my life, I’ll be happy.”

Frey started announcing at Atco Dragway in 1966 and has been a part of the sport ever since. “I’ve been doing this since before Funny Cars or Pro Stocks were even classes,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to meet most of the stars of the sport and to be able to call them friends. It’s been a great ride, but it’s time to move on.”

He went on to say that he intends to stay involved in the sport but in a very limited and selective way. “I plan on doing the Don Garlits Hall of Fame inductions in March and the DRAW auction in October, along with other selected events but not in an announcing capacity. Plus, I hope to be able to continue to write my weekly columns for DragRaceCentral.com. That’s something I really enjoy, plus that’s something I can do from home, and that’s a real bonus. And I hope to continue to provide my stats to the folks at ESPN so they can use them on their shows.”

When asked about some of his most memorable moments, Frey said that it would be tough to pick out any single one. “There has been so much that I have seen, from twin-engine dragsters to today’s fuel cars and everything in between. I love a good Competition Eliminator race as much as a Top Fuel one, so I really can’t single out any particular moment. I’ve enjoyed every aspect of my career, but I’m looking forward to slowing down.”

Frey will finish out the season with the races in Las Vegas and Pomona and then begin his retirement. “I’d like to thank everyone who has been so kind to me over the years, especially everyone at NHRA. It’s been a dream job, and I will miss it.”


COMING ATTRACTIONS

BIG O TIRES NHRA NATIONALS, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 26–28: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its 22nd stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and the fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship—the NHRA’s playoffs. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points towards the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2011 winners of the event were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.


AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, November 8–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its final stop of the 2012 season. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points towards the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. One driver from each category will walk away a champion at the end of the day. The 2011 winners of the event were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

ROOKIE ALBALOOSHI DEFEATED THE BEST IN TOP FUEL EN ROUTE TO FIRST VICTORY: Al-Anabi Racing’s Khalid alBalooshi outran series points leader Antron Brown to earn his first career victory Monday at the rain-delayed Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. alBalooshi, who is not in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, became only the third driver from outside North America to win a Full Throttle Series race joining Australian David Grubnic and Kenji Okazaki from Japan.

“I give my team owner, the crew guys and all the people who work with us thanks for making this win,” he said. “I try my best, and I know that everybody on the team is trying their best, and finally, I won my first race.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

5: NUMBER OF NATIONAL RECORDS RESET DURING READING EVENT: Weather conditions played a key role in the record-setting event that was the 28th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals held at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania. Four different drivers set five national records throughout the weekend. Matco Tools driver Antron Brown set the Top Fuel national record for elapsed time at 3.701 seconds. Jack Beckman, driver of the Schumacher Electric Dodge Charger in Funny Car, set the E.T. record at 3.986 seconds and the national speed record at 320.58 mph. In Pro Stock competition, Jason Line reset the national speed record at 214.35 mph behind the wheel of his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro. Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Andrew Hines set the national elapsed time record at 6.728 seconds on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

DID YOU KNOW…

FRANK MANZO EARNS 100TH CAREER NHRA NATIONAL EVENT VICTORY: Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank Manzo became the second driver in NHRA history to reach the 100-win milestone when he picked up the victory at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading. All-time win leader John Force became the first driver to 100 wins when he scored in Houston April 14, 2002, and the 100-win club finally has a second member in Manzo. Manzo has a combined 217 wins when his 117 wins at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events are added to his 100 national event wins. He also has 21 Northeast Division titles. In the process of driving his Al-Anabi Racing Monte Carlo to his 100th win, Manzo clinched the 16th championship of his illustrious career, breaking his tie with 15-time Funny Car champion Force for most championships in NHRA history. It is his seventh consecutive title and 14th in the last 16 seasons.

“As a young kid when I started racing Alcohol Funny Car, I dreamed about winning one or two national events, beating Dale Armstrong and Ken Veney and all the big guys,” recalled Manzo. “I never really thought about winning the championship. I just thought about winning a race. I would have never dreamed about 100 wins.”

For more about this story, visit www.nhra.com.

NEWS NUGGETS

NEFF, ALBALOOSHI, GAINES SCORE IN READING; PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE FINAL TO RUN IN LAS VEGAS: Funny Car racer Mike Neff kept his championship hopes alive by racing to victory Monday at the rain-delayed Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel) and V. Gaines (Pro Stock) also were winners at the fourth of six playoff events in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship. Neff defeated veteran driver Johnny Gray with a time of 4.030 seconds at 317.94 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to earn his fourth win of the season and his first of the year in the playoffs. With the win, Neff closed in on new series leader Jack Beckman, who set a national record and advanced to the semifinals over the weekend in his Schumacher Electric Dodge Charger. Neff trails Beckman by 54 points, and Ron Capps is in second place, 23 back of Beckman with only two races remaining in the season.

“You have to have it all right to get a win any more,” said Neff, who defeated Tony Pedregon, Jim Head, and John Force to advance to the final. “The biggest thing is it will be exciting. I want to be able to head out west with a chance. It would be a downer if we were out of it at this point. It is nice to be alive for the championship.”

For more on this story, please visit www.nhra.com.

EIGHT ROOKIES ARE ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FOR 2012 AUTO CLUB ROAD TO THE FUTURE AWARD: Eight NHRA rookie drivers, representative of all four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series categories, are the eligible candidates for the 2012 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, it was announced today by officials from the NHRA and the Automobile Club of Southern California. The award, which recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and offers a $20,000 prize and traditional trophy to the winner, will be presented during the NHRA’s annual championship awards ceremony Monday, November 12, at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles. More than 150 of the nation’s leading auto racing journalists will select the winner through a voting system based on the following criteria: number of events participated, performance on and off the racetrack, participation in NHRA promotions and relationships with fans, sponsors and media. The candidates for the award are, in alphabetical order: Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel), Blake Alexander (Funny Car), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Courtney Force (Funny Car), John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Todd Lesenko (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Scotty Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

“For more than 100 years, the Automobile Club of Southern California has represented integrity, commitment and professionalism to our millions of members. The Road to the Future Award has come to symbolize these same attributes in the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing,” said Robert T. Bouttier, president and CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “To be nominated recognizes not only that a rookie driver had a noteworthy first season, but also that they demonstrated exceptional potential for the future. We congratulate all eight of the nominees for this year’s award and look forward to enjoying their achievements both on and off the racetrack for many years to come.”

Visit www.nhra.com for more on this story. 


FREY TO RETIRE AT SEASON’S END: Bob Frey, the long-time announcer and voice of the NHRA, will retire from announcing at the end of the year. “I’ve been doing this since 1966 and traveling extensively, and it’s time to settle down,” Frey said. “There are a lot of things at home I would like to do and take care of. I have six grandsons, and I would like to see them grow up, play ball and be a bigger part of their lives. Plus, after all these years on the road, I’d like to share some time with my wife. In fact, I think next year I’d like to travel and see the world.”

He quickly added that he was only kidding about that last part. “If I never see another airport-security line in my life, I’ll be happy.”

Frey started announcing at Atco Dragway in 1966 and has been a part of the sport ever since. “I’ve been doing this since before Funny Cars or Pro Stocks were even classes,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to meet most of the stars of the sport and to be able to call them friends. It’s been a great ride, but it’s time to move on.”

He went on to say that he intends to stay involved in the sport but in a very limited and selective way. “I plan on doing the Don Garlits Hall of Fame inductions in March and the DRAW auction in October, along with other selected events but not in an announcing capacity. Plus, I hope to be able to continue to write my weekly columns for DragRaceCentral.com. That’s something I really enjoy, plus that’s something I can do from home, and that’s a real bonus. And I hope to continue to provide my stats to the folks at ESPN so they can use them on their shows.”

When asked about some of his most memorable moments, Frey said that it would be tough to pick out any single one. “There has been so much that I have seen, from twin-engine dragsters to today’s fuel cars and everything in between. I love a good Competition Eliminator race as much as a Top Fuel one, so I really can’t single out any particular moment. I’ve enjoyed every aspect of my career, but I’m looking forward to slowing down.”

Frey will finish out the season with the races in Las Vegas and Pomona and then begin his retirement. “I’d like to thank everyone who has been so kind to me over the years, especially everyone at NHRA. It’s been a dream job, and I will miss it.”


COMING ATTRACTIONS

BIG O TIRES NHRA NATIONALS, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 26–28: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its 22nd stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and the fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship—the NHRA’s playoffs. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points towards the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2011 winners of the event were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.


AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, November 8–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its final stop of the 2012 season. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points towards the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. One driver from each category will walk away a champion at the end of the day. The 2011 winners of the event were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

ROOKIE ALBALOOSHI DEFEATED THE BEST IN TOP FUEL EN ROUTE TO FIRST VICTORY: Al-Anabi Racing’s Khalid alBalooshi outran series points leader Antron Brown to earn his first career victory Monday at the rain-delayed Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. alBalooshi, who is not in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, became only the third driver from outside North America to win a Full Throttle Series race joining Australian David Grubnic and Kenji Okazaki from Japan.

“I give my team owner, the crew guys and all the people who work with us thanks for making this win,” he said. “I try my best, and I know that everybody on the team is trying their best, and finally, I won my first race.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

5: NUMBER OF NATIONAL RECORDS RESET DURING READING EVENT: Weather conditions played a key role in the record-setting event that was the 28th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals held at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania. Four different drivers set five national records throughout the weekend. Matco Tools driver Antron Brown set the Top Fuel national record for elapsed time at 3.701 seconds. Jack Beckman, driver of the Schumacher Electric Dodge Charger in Funny Car, set the E.T. record at 3.986 seconds and the national speed record at 320.58 mph. In Pro Stock competition, Jason Line reset the national speed record at 214.35 mph behind the wheel of his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro. Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Andrew Hines set the national elapsed time record at 6.728 seconds on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

DID YOU KNOW…

FRANK MANZO EARNS 100TH CAREER NHRA NATIONAL EVENT VICTORY: Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank Manzo became the second driver in NHRA history to reach the 100-win milestone when he picked up the victory at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading. All-time win leader John Force became the first driver to 100 wins when he scored in Houston April 14, 2002, and the 100-win club finally has a second member in Manzo. Manzo has a combined 217 wins when his 117 wins at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events are added to his 100 national event wins. He also has 21 Northeast Division titles. In the process of driving his Al-Anabi Racing Monte Carlo to his 100th win, Manzo clinched the 16th championship of his illustrious career, breaking his tie with 15-time Funny Car champion Force for most championships in NHRA history. It is his seventh consecutive title and 14th in the last 16 seasons.

“As a young kid when I started racing Alcohol Funny Car, I dreamed about winning one or two national events, beating Dale Armstrong and Ken Veney and all the big guys,” recalled Manzo. “I never really thought about winning the championship. I just thought about winning a race. I would have never dreamed about 100 wins.”

For more about this story, visit www.nhra.com.

NEWS NUGGETS

NEFF, ALBALOOSHI, GAINES SCORE IN READING; PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE FINAL TO RUN IN LAS VEGAS: Funny Car racer Mike Neff kept his championship hopes alive by racing to victory Monday at the rain-delayed Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel) and V. Gaines (Pro Stock) also were winners at the fourth of six playoff events in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship. Neff defeated veteran driver Johnny Gray with a time of 4.030 seconds at 317.94 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to earn his fourth win of the season and his first of the year in the playoffs. With the win, Neff closed in on new series leader Jack Beckman, who set a national record and advanced to the semifinals over the weekend in his Schumacher Electric Dodge Charger. Neff trails Beckman by 54 points, and Ron Capps is in second place, 23 back of Beckman with only two races remaining in the season.

“You have to have it all right to get a win any more,” said Neff, who defeated Tony Pedregon, Jim Head, and John Force to advance to the final. “The biggest thing is it will be exciting. I want to be able to head out west with a chance. It would be a downer if we were out of it at this point. It is nice to be alive for the championship.”

For more on this story, please visit www.nhra.com.

EIGHT ROOKIES ARE ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FOR 2012 AUTO CLUB ROAD TO THE FUTURE AWARD: Eight NHRA rookie drivers, representative of all four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series categories, are the eligible candidates for the 2012 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, it was announced today by officials from the NHRA and the Automobile Club of Southern California. The award, which recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and offers a $20,000 prize and traditional trophy to the winner, will be presented during the NHRA’s annual championship awards ceremony Monday, November 12, at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles. More than 150 of the nation’s leading auto racing journalists will select the winner through a voting system based on the following criteria: number of events participated, performance on and off the racetrack, participation in NHRA promotions and relationships with fans, sponsors and media. The candidates for the award are, in alphabetical order: Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel), Blake Alexander (Funny Car), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Courtney Force (Funny Car), John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Todd Lesenko (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Scotty Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

“For more than 100 years, the Automobile Club of Southern California has represented integrity, commitment and professionalism to our millions of members. The Road to the Future Award has come to symbolize these same attributes in the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing,” said Robert T. Bouttier, president and CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “To be nominated recognizes not only that a rookie driver had a noteworthy first season, but also that they demonstrated exceptional potential for the future. We congratulate all eight of the nominees for this year’s award and look forward to enjoying their achievements both on and off the racetrack for many years to come.”

Visit www.nhra.com for more on this story. 


FREY TO RETIRE AT SEASON’S END: Bob Frey, the long-time announcer and voice of the NHRA, will retire from announcing at the end of the year. “I’ve been doing this since 1966 and traveling extensively, and it’s time to settle down,” Frey said. “There are a lot of things at home I would like to do and take care of. I have six grandsons, and I would like to see them grow up, play ball and be a bigger part of their lives. Plus, after all these years on the road, I’d like to share some time with my wife. In fact, I think next year I’d like to travel and see the world.”

He quickly added that he was only kidding about that last part. “If I never see another airport-security line in my life, I’ll be happy.”

Frey started announcing at Atco Dragway in 1966 and has been a part of the sport ever since. “I’ve been doing this since before Funny Cars or Pro Stocks were even classes,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to meet most of the stars of the sport and to be able to call them friends. It’s been a great ride, but it’s time to move on.”

He went on to say that he intends to stay involved in the sport but in a very limited and selective way. “I plan on doing the Don Garlits Hall of Fame inductions in March and the DRAW auction in October, along with other selected events but not in an announcing capacity. Plus, I hope to be able to continue to write my weekly columns for DragRaceCentral.com. That’s something I really enjoy, plus that’s something I can do from home, and that’s a real bonus. And I hope to continue to provide my stats to the folks at ESPN so they can use them on their shows.”

When asked about some of his most memorable moments, Frey said that it would be tough to pick out any single one. “There has been so much that I have seen, from twin-engine dragsters to today’s fuel cars and everything in between. I love a good Competition Eliminator race as much as a Top Fuel one, so I really can’t single out any particular moment. I’ve enjoyed every aspect of my career, but I’m looking forward to slowing down.”

Frey will finish out the season with the races in Las Vegas and Pomona and then begin his retirement. “I’d like to thank everyone who has been so kind to me over the years, especially everyone at NHRA. It’s been a dream job, and I will miss it.”


COMING ATTRACTIONS

BIG O TIRES NHRA NATIONALS, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 26–28: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its 22nd stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and the fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship—the NHRA’s playoffs. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points towards the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2011 winners of the event were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.


AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, November 8–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its final stop of the 2012 season. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points towards the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. One driver from each category will walk away a champion at the end of the day. The 2011 winners of the event were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

ROOKIE ALBALOOSHI DEFEATED THE BEST IN TOP FUEL EN ROUTE TO FIRST VICTORY: Al-Anabi Racing’s Khalid alBalooshi outran series points leader Antron Brown to earn his first career victory Monday at the rain-delayed Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. alBalooshi, who is not in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, became only the third driver from outside North America to win a Full Throttle Series race joining Australian David Grubnic and Kenji Okazaki from Japan.

“I give my team owner, the crew guys and all the people who work with us thanks for making this win,” he said. “I try my best, and I know that everybody on the team is trying their best, and finally, I won my first race.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

5: NUMBER OF NATIONAL RECORDS RESET DURING READING EVENT: Weather conditions played a key role in the record-setting event that was the 28th annual Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals held at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania. Four different drivers set five national records throughout the weekend. Matco Tools driver Antron Brown set the Top Fuel national record for elapsed time at 3.701 seconds. Jack Beckman, driver of the Schumacher Electric Dodge Charger in Funny Car, set the E.T. record at 3.986 seconds and the national speed record at 320.58 mph. In Pro Stock competition, Jason Line reset the national speed record at 214.35 mph behind the wheel of his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro. Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Andrew Hines set the national elapsed time record at 6.728 seconds on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

DID YOU KNOW…

FRANK MANZO EARNS 100TH CAREER NHRA NATIONAL EVENT VICTORY: Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank Manzo became the second driver in NHRA history to reach the 100-win milestone when he picked up the victory at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading. All-time win leader John Force became the first driver to 100 wins when he scored in Houston April 14, 2002, and the 100-win club finally has a second member in Manzo. Manzo has a combined 217 wins when his 117 wins at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events are added to his 100 national event wins. He also has 21 Northeast Division titles. In the process of driving his Al-Anabi Racing Monte Carlo to his 100th win, Manzo clinched the 16th championship of his illustrious career, breaking his tie with 15-time Funny Car champion Force for most championships in NHRA history. It is his seventh consecutive title and 14th in the last 16 seasons.

“As a young kid when I started racing Alcohol Funny Car, I dreamed about winning one or two national events, beating Dale Armstrong and Ken Veney and all the big guys,” recalled Manzo. “I never really thought about winning the championship. I just thought about winning a race. I would have never dreamed about 100 wins.”

For more about this story, visit www.nhra.com.

SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees can utilize UPS My Choice to control and manage their package deliveries.

Automotive parts and accessories are increasingly being sold online. And, shoppers not only want to know when they will receive a package, but also use technology to stay on top of their delivery.

UPS has a service that can ease your mind and give you a new level of flexibility and control over your home deliveries. UPS My Choice enables busy consumers to control and manage their incoming package deliveries to fit their busy lifestyles. Members will receive phone, e-mail or text alerts notifying them a day in advance of when packages will arrive and provide a four-hour window for the delivery. No more missed package deliveries.

Members also have the option to electronically authorize release of packages that require a signature and, for a $5 transaction fee, reroute a package to another delivery address or have it delivered to the nearest The UPS Store location.

More than 1.8 million consumers have signed up for UPS My Choice and more than 20 million packages have been delivered to UPS My Choice members. Sign up today, and take control of your package deliveries!

UPS is the Preferred Carrier for the 2012 SEMA Show and the official logistics provider to SEMA members. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees can utilize UPS My Choice to control and manage their package deliveries.

Automotive parts and accessories are increasingly being sold online. And, shoppers not only want to know when they will receive a package, but also use technology to stay on top of their delivery.

UPS has a service that can ease your mind and give you a new level of flexibility and control over your home deliveries. UPS My Choice enables busy consumers to control and manage their incoming package deliveries to fit their busy lifestyles. Members will receive phone, e-mail or text alerts notifying them a day in advance of when packages will arrive and provide a four-hour window for the delivery. No more missed package deliveries.

Members also have the option to electronically authorize release of packages that require a signature and, for a $5 transaction fee, reroute a package to another delivery address or have it delivered to the nearest The UPS Store location.

More than 1.8 million consumers have signed up for UPS My Choice and more than 20 million packages have been delivered to UPS My Choice members. Sign up today, and take control of your package deliveries!

UPS is the Preferred Carrier for the 2012 SEMA Show and the official logistics provider to SEMA members. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

Customizing a vehicle can often be broken down into a series of tasks that can then be scheduled and executed—at least until the clock runs out. Then all bets are off. And so it goes for the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge teams with time to complete their ambitious builds coming to a close in about two weeks, just before voting begins on October 20. And just like a race car, these one-off rides must be ready to go when the green flag drops.

Kyle Busch's "Rowdy Edition" Camry is "getting close." Busch's team at Detroit Speed has extensively reworked the Camry's body with strong fender flares, a NASCAR-style splitter and front and rear belly pans to direct airflow under the car. All of these parts have been custom designed and fabricated by hand. More recently, the team has been scrambling to finish custom interior touches with completely redone seats and a custom electronic entertainment package.

Getting a complex collection of custom-built electronics to work seamlessly in his "Tekked-Out Prius" seems to be keeping Clint Bowyer's RKM Performance Center team awake into the wee hours. It's loaded with high-tech gadgets, such as side-view cameras that replace the mirrors, 45 ft. of fiber optic interior lighting and a 16-speaker stereo with six crossovers and dual amplifiers. Then there's the suspension, which has dropped the Prius "lower than a Sprint Cup car." Their build will sport no less than 364 copies of the Toyota logo.

Alexis DeJoria's Pre-Runner Tundra concept has her Racer Engineering team working on virtually every aspect of the truck. Long-travel suspension (20 in. in the rear), an elaborate custom roll cage wrapped in leather and a TRD-supercharged engine are all part of her design to make a serious off-road tool. The team is also squeezing in a JBL audio system and a specially built fuel cell. It’s all more than enough to keep them busy right up to the due date.

Some builds are more ambitious than others, and Antron Brown's “DragQuoia” is a big concept that's challenging its capable builders. The "family dragster" idea means that whatever they do has to leave room for the family to ride safely and comfortably. And they're doing quite a lot. For starters, the Motorsports Technical Center team is lopping more than 2,000 lbs. off the factory curb weight. A TRD blower and nitrous coax the 5.7L V8 to pump out more than 650 hp for those "quick" runs to the supermarket. Massive 21.5-in.-wide rear tires put the power to the ground, which in turn need big fender mods—inside and out—to keep the hot rubber bits contained in the wheel wells. Brown will be secured with his own five-point racing harness. And between runs, he can watch his favorite DVD on the seat-back media player.

Every one of the Dream Build vehicle teams has the chops and experience to deliver for their driver. The simple question on delivery day may come down to which team will be the least sleep deprived.

All four of the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge vehicles will be unveiled at the Toyota display during the company's press conference October 30 at the 2012 SEMA Show. Fans can vote for their favorite team beginning October 20, and may vote once per day through October 29.

For more information, go to the home page at www.ToyotaRacingDreamBuild.com.

Customizing a vehicle can often be broken down into a series of tasks that can then be scheduled and executed—at least until the clock runs out. Then all bets are off. And so it goes for the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge teams with time to complete their ambitious builds coming to a close in about two weeks, just before voting begins on October 20. And just like a race car, these one-off rides must be ready to go when the green flag drops.

Kyle Busch's "Rowdy Edition" Camry is "getting close." Busch's team at Detroit Speed has extensively reworked the Camry's body with strong fender flares, a NASCAR-style splitter and front and rear belly pans to direct airflow under the car. All of these parts have been custom designed and fabricated by hand. More recently, the team has been scrambling to finish custom interior touches with completely redone seats and a custom electronic entertainment package.

Getting a complex collection of custom-built electronics to work seamlessly in his "Tekked-Out Prius" seems to be keeping Clint Bowyer's RKM Performance Center team awake into the wee hours. It's loaded with high-tech gadgets, such as side-view cameras that replace the mirrors, 45 ft. of fiber optic interior lighting and a 16-speaker stereo with six crossovers and dual amplifiers. Then there's the suspension, which has dropped the Prius "lower than a Sprint Cup car." Their build will sport no less than 364 copies of the Toyota logo.

Alexis DeJoria's Pre-Runner Tundra concept has her Racer Engineering team working on virtually every aspect of the truck. Long-travel suspension (20 in. in the rear), an elaborate custom roll cage wrapped in leather and a TRD-supercharged engine are all part of her design to make a serious off-road tool. The team is also squeezing in a JBL audio system and a specially built fuel cell. It’s all more than enough to keep them busy right up to the due date.

Some builds are more ambitious than others, and Antron Brown's “DragQuoia” is a big concept that's challenging its capable builders. The "family dragster" idea means that whatever they do has to leave room for the family to ride safely and comfortably. And they're doing quite a lot. For starters, the Motorsports Technical Center team is lopping more than 2,000 lbs. off the factory curb weight. A TRD blower and nitrous coax the 5.7L V8 to pump out more than 650 hp for those "quick" runs to the supermarket. Massive 21.5-in.-wide rear tires put the power to the ground, which in turn need big fender mods—inside and out—to keep the hot rubber bits contained in the wheel wells. Brown will be secured with his own five-point racing harness. And between runs, he can watch his favorite DVD on the seat-back media player.

Every one of the Dream Build vehicle teams has the chops and experience to deliver for their driver. The simple question on delivery day may come down to which team will be the least sleep deprived.

All four of the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge vehicles will be unveiled at the Toyota display during the company's press conference October 30 at the 2012 SEMA Show. Fans can vote for their favorite team beginning October 20, and may vote once per day through October 29.

For more information, go to the home page at www.ToyotaRacingDreamBuild.com.

	Refer to the SEMA Show's Deadline Checklist so you don't miss out on important dates.

Many SEMA Show deadlines are tomorrow, October 12, so continuously review the Deadline Checklist to ensure you're taking advantage of the advance rate as much as possible. Many relate to Freeman services. The hyperlinks below take you directly to a pdf that you can print on your computer. Ordering services online can be made through Freeman.

• After-Hours Events
• Carpet and Cleaning Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Electrical Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Exhibit Accessories (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor (EAC) Application
• Exhibitor Booth Insurance (if purchased from John Buttine)
• Exhibit Furnishings (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Exhibitor Product Training Sessions
• Exhibitor Registration Due – Domestic (To Receive Badges in Mail)
• Hanging Truss, Chain Hoist, Lighting and Stagehand Labor (Advance Rate) - Freeman
• Labor, Installation and Dismantle – Freeman
• Manufacturer’s Rep Matching Service
• Meeting/Function Space Reservation 
• Payment Authorization Form – Freeman 
• Press Release Submission – Online
• Rigging Equipment Labor Order – Freeman
• Special Signs and Graphics (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Third-Party Payment – Freeman
• Utilities: Air/Water/Drain Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Vehicle Detailing (Advance Rate) – Mobile Command Detail

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

Parking at the SEMA Show—Plan Ahead

The SEMA Show is going to be bigger than ever, with activities and displays taking over much of the parking lots on and around the Las Vegas Convention Center. One particular parking lot, the Gold Lot, will be closed for all parking beginning the week prior to the SEMA Show until Wednesday of the Show due to the Global RallyCross taking place the evening of October 30. Therefore, it is important you plan ahead if you intend to park or stage a vehicle or truck at the SEMA Show. SEMA will continue to offer complimentary shuttle service to more than 30 partner hotels. SEMA and the Las Vegas Convention Center has also secured an additional parking lot nearby for overflow parking, just north on Paradise Road across the street from the Las Vegas Hotel. Complimentary shuttle service also will be provided from that parking lot. Meanwhile, the monorail is a great option for commuting to the Las Vegas Convention Center. More information on the monorail, including a link to discount ticket options, is located below.

Save Time—Take the Monorail to the SEMA Show

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

Bringing a Vehicle to Display at the Show? Understand the Process and Differences for Booth Vehicles and Feature Vehicles Before You Arrive

Vehicles are all around the SEMA Show, and it is oftentimes confusing to understand the differences between booth vehicles and feature vehicles, and when they can be placed. Booth vehicles are those that are located inside an exhibitor’s actual booth. These can be displayed whenever an exhibitor is ready to place it in their booth. There is no specific date or time the vehicle can enter the exhibit hall; it can simply go directly to the nearest freight door and Freeman will help escort the vehicle to the booth at no charge. Feature vehicles are those vehicles sponsored by exhibitors that are placed in and around the convention center property, yet not in an exhibitor’s booth. Placement of feature vehicles is determined according to confirmations previously sent to the exhibitors when applications were submitted for feature vehicles. Most vehicles will be placed Sunday, October 28, from one check-in location in the Green Lot. Each confirmation has a check-in time, and all vehicles must proceed directly to the Green Lot entrance off of Desert Inn Road, just east of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Any questions, e-mail featurevehicle@convexx.com.

Know When Your Freight Should Arrive at the SEMA Show

Deadline to Receive Freight at the Advance Warehouse: October 19

The tremendous size of the SEMA Show necessitates a scheduled freight move-in plan that ensures an orderly and efficient set-up. Every exhibitor has the ability to ship their freight in advance to the SEMA Show. The deadline for the freight to arrive in advance is October 19. After that date, freight must arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center directly according to a specific schedule. Each exhibitor is assigned a target time, which is the time for your freight to arrive at the SEMA Show. You can find all target times in the bottom left corner of the Exhibitor Manual page on www.SEMAShow.com. Answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding freight delivery and when/how your freight should come to the Las Vegas Convention Center is available on the informational sheet, which is the last link located on the left column of the Exhibitor Manual. If the time assigned does not work for you, don’t hesitate to contact Ron Pickens at Freeman by e-mail at ron.pickens@freemanco.com. He will use his best efforts to accommodate your requests. 

	Refer to the SEMA Show's Deadline Checklist so you don't miss out on important dates.

Many SEMA Show deadlines are tomorrow, October 12, so continuously review the Deadline Checklist to ensure you're taking advantage of the advance rate as much as possible. Many relate to Freeman services. The hyperlinks below take you directly to a pdf that you can print on your computer. Ordering services online can be made through Freeman.

• After-Hours Events
• Carpet and Cleaning Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Electrical Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Exhibit Accessories (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor (EAC) Application
• Exhibitor Booth Insurance (if purchased from John Buttine)
• Exhibit Furnishings (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Exhibitor Product Training Sessions
• Exhibitor Registration Due – Domestic (To Receive Badges in Mail)
• Hanging Truss, Chain Hoist, Lighting and Stagehand Labor (Advance Rate) - Freeman
• Labor, Installation and Dismantle – Freeman
• Manufacturer’s Rep Matching Service
• Meeting/Function Space Reservation 
• Payment Authorization Form – Freeman 
• Press Release Submission – Online
• Rigging Equipment Labor Order – Freeman
• Special Signs and Graphics (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Third-Party Payment – Freeman
• Utilities: Air/Water/Drain Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
• Vehicle Detailing (Advance Rate) – Mobile Command Detail

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

Parking at the SEMA Show—Plan Ahead

The SEMA Show is going to be bigger than ever, with activities and displays taking over much of the parking lots on and around the Las Vegas Convention Center. One particular parking lot, the Gold Lot, will be closed for all parking beginning the week prior to the SEMA Show until Wednesday of the Show due to the Global RallyCross taking place the evening of October 30. Therefore, it is important you plan ahead if you intend to park or stage a vehicle or truck at the SEMA Show. SEMA will continue to offer complimentary shuttle service to more than 30 partner hotels. SEMA and the Las Vegas Convention Center has also secured an additional parking lot nearby for overflow parking, just north on Paradise Road across the street from the Las Vegas Hotel. Complimentary shuttle service also will be provided from that parking lot. Meanwhile, the monorail is a great option for commuting to the Las Vegas Convention Center. More information on the monorail, including a link to discount ticket options, is located below.

Save Time—Take the Monorail to the SEMA Show

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

Bringing a Vehicle to Display at the Show? Understand the Process and Differences for Booth Vehicles and Feature Vehicles Before You Arrive

Vehicles are all around the SEMA Show, and it is oftentimes confusing to understand the differences between booth vehicles and feature vehicles, and when they can be placed. Booth vehicles are those that are located inside an exhibitor’s actual booth. These can be displayed whenever an exhibitor is ready to place it in their booth. There is no specific date or time the vehicle can enter the exhibit hall; it can simply go directly to the nearest freight door and Freeman will help escort the vehicle to the booth at no charge. Feature vehicles are those vehicles sponsored by exhibitors that are placed in and around the convention center property, yet not in an exhibitor’s booth. Placement of feature vehicles is determined according to confirmations previously sent to the exhibitors when applications were submitted for feature vehicles. Most vehicles will be placed Sunday, October 28, from one check-in location in the Green Lot. Each confirmation has a check-in time, and all vehicles must proceed directly to the Green Lot entrance off of Desert Inn Road, just east of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Any questions, e-mail featurevehicle@convexx.com.

Know When Your Freight Should Arrive at the SEMA Show

Deadline to Receive Freight at the Advance Warehouse: October 19

The tremendous size of the SEMA Show necessitates a scheduled freight move-in plan that ensures an orderly and efficient set-up. Every exhibitor has the ability to ship their freight in advance to the SEMA Show. The deadline for the freight to arrive in advance is October 19. After that date, freight must arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center directly according to a specific schedule. Each exhibitor is assigned a target time, which is the time for your freight to arrive at the SEMA Show. You can find all target times in the bottom left corner of the Exhibitor Manual page on www.SEMAShow.com. Answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding freight delivery and when/how your freight should come to the Las Vegas Convention Center is available on the informational sheet, which is the last link located on the left column of the Exhibitor Manual. If the time assigned does not work for you, don’t hesitate to contact Ron Pickens at Freeman by e-mail at ron.pickens@freemanco.com. He will use his best efforts to accommodate your requests. 

The build.

Best in Show will be auctioned live during the HRIA Reception.

Jesse Greening of Greening Auto Co. was awarded the coveted “Best in Show” designation from the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) for the 2012 HRIA Builder’s Challenge and Pinewood races. Fifteen well-known builders created one-of-a-kind miniature hot rods in the style of pinewood derby cars. The cars were raced at the annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races in Pomona, California. These cars will be on display at the annual SEMA Show and then 12 will be placed on eBay for auction from October 30–November 8, and three will be auctioned live. All proceeds from the auction will go to support SEMA Cares and its two children’s charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction.

Greening’s custom build will be one of the three auctioned live during the HRIA Industry Reception, Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at the Las Vegas Hotel in Ballrooms A and B. Joining Greening for the live auction will be Mike Cooper of Spanky’s Hot Rod & Customs, who received “Best Engineered” honors, and three-time race winner Derek White of Street Vizions. The live auction will immediately precede the Awards Presentation, emceed by the voice of the NHRA and SEMA, Dave McClelland. The night will honor the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association’s Trendsetter, the National Street Rod Association’s Achievement Award, the International Car Show Association’s Legends of Hot Rod Award, as well as the prestigious Industry Recognition of an Individual, Business of the Year and Hall of Fame honors from SEMA’s hot-rod council—HRIA.

Be sure and join HRIA for this special evening that will honor the hot-rodding industry and help support a great cause by participating in the live auction. RSVP today!

Contact Zane Clark for more details at 909-978-6696.