(NHRA PR)

No sport does a better job of treating its fans as partners than the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series so it should come as no surprise that the league is turning to its fans to determine who will win “The Quest for the Full Throttle Moment of the Year” and the combined purse of $70,000.

Voting has begun.

Fans are encouraged to go to http://www.nhra.com/features/quest.aspx to vote for what they believe was the most unforgettable moment of the 2009 season in each of the four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series pro categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The “Quest for the Full Throttle Moment” is an innovative bonus program developed by Full Throttle and NHRA that recognizes a single unforgettable moment from each of the pro categories at each of the 24 races (the single moments from the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals are not eligible for the overall award).

At the conclusion of the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, ESPN analyst Mike Dunn selected four finalists from each of the four pro categories and those finalists can be found on http://www.nhra.com/features/quest.aspx. The rest is up to the fans, to debate on the merits of Dunn’s selections, and to vote on which “Moment” they think is the most unforgettable.

The winning “Moments” will be announced at the year-end Awards Ceremony, Nov. 16, at the Hyatt Regency Century City.

The winning teams in Top Fuel and Funny Car were awarded $3,000 ($1,500 for Pro Stock, $750 for Pro Stock Motorcycle) each time they were recognized for the Full Throttle Moment at an individual race and the teams identified as having created “The Quest for the Full Throttle Moment of the Year” will be awarded $25,000 ($15,000 for PS, $5,000 for PSM).

The four finalists in each of the four categories are:

TOP FUEL

1) Atlanta – Morgan Lucas scores first career Top Fuel win

2) Chicago – Terry Haddock snaps Tony Schumacher’s 35-race first-round win streak

3) Sonoma – Antron Brown becomes the seventh Pro driver to sweep Western Swing

4) Indy – Tony Schumacher ties Don Garlits with eight career U.S. Nationals wins

FUNNY CAR

1) Gainesville – Bob Tasca III wins first career FC event from No. 1 qualifying spot

2) Brainerd – Tony Pedregon wins after losing crew chief Dickie Venables

3) Indy – Ashley Force Hood becomes first woman to win in Funny Car at U.S. Nationals

4) Memphis – Jeff Arend gets emotional first win with Kalitta Motorsports

PRO STOCK

1) Englishtown – Jeg Coughlin wins despite not having lane choice in final round

2) Norwalk – Jason Line wins sponsor’s event and moves into top 10 all-time in PS wins

3) Denver – Greg Anderson runs first 6-second Pro Stock run in Denver history (6.993)

4) Richmond – Mike Edwards sets national e.t. record in round 1 (6.509)

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

1) Atlanta – Eddie Krawiec gets first career Po Stock Motorcycle win

2) Reading – Michael Phillips runner-up moves him into Top 10 for first time this season

3) Indy – Hector Arana scores first career U.S. Nationals win

4) Las Vegas – Arana defeats Eddie Krawiec on a holeshot in the semifinals

What started as an exhibition in 2001 has become a full-fledged series for 2010, it was announced today by NHRA.   Made possible by funding from Pro Care Rx and its current Get Screened America initiative, the 2010 NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will compete at 10 NHRA Full Throttle Series events and be televised on a tape-delay basis on ESPN2.

“We have been conducting Pro Mod exhibitions for quite some time,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA.  “Clearly they bring entertainment value to our fans and we believe now is the time to highlight this popular form of drag racing.  Now, competitors can race for the coveted Wally trophy and an NHRA world championship title.”

The formation of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series wouldn’t have been possible without the financial commitment of Pro Care Rx and Get Screened America.   A multi-year commitment by the group to fund the series made the series possible.

“I want to thank NHRA for working with us and especially Tom Compton for making the bold decision to add a new series that has been talked about for many years,” said Roger Burgess.  “I look forward to working with NHRA to grow the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series into a fan favorite for many years to come.”

An integral part of the series will be 10 half-hour broadcasts on ESPN2 on a tape delay basis.   The half hour shows will air around current NHRA programming on the worldwide leader in sports and will feature competition from the 10 series events.  Talent for the shows will be announced at a later date.

With body styles ranging from ’41 Willys to '53 Corvettes, ’57 Chevys to ’70 Cudas, and first-generation Camaros and Firebirds, to profiles as racy as the latest Dodge Viper, along with show-quality “themed paint jobs,” Pro Mods have been crowd pleasers at NHRA events for several years as an exhibition. With huge slicks at the rear and superchargers poking through the hoods, there’s no doubt that these cars are a whole lot more than souped-up classics.

The inaugural NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will kick off in Gainesville, Fla.   The schedule includes stops at some of the biggest events on the circuit including Houston, St. Louis, Atlanta, Englishtown, Bristol and Norwalk.    The second half of the season will see the 240 mph machines race at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, the second Charlotte event, and conclude at the second Las Vegas event in October.  

The series will conform to the NHRA Rulebook and competitors will race to the quarter-mile.  Each event will feature 16-car fields, where thanks to the Get Screened America sponsorship, they will compete for world championship points and an overall purse, including event purses and year-end bonus monies of $470,000.

In addition to the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA national events feature the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and the premier series of the sport, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, featuring Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.         

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.

2010 NHRA Get Screened Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Schedule

41st annual                   NHRA Gatornationals                                                      March 11-14

                                    Gainesville, Fla.

23rd annual                   O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals                                    April 9 - 11

                                    Houston 

14th annual                   NHRA Midwest Nationals                                               April 30 – May 2

                                    St. Louis 

30th annual                   Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals     May 14-16      

                                    Commerce, Ga.

41st annual                   United Association NHRA SuperNationals                      June 10-13

                                    Englishtown, N.J. 

10th annual                   NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals                                    June 18-20

                                    Bristol, Tenn.

Fourth annual              Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals                      June 24-27

                                    Norwalk, Ohio  

56th annual                   Mac Tools U.S. Nationals                                               Aug. 31 – Sept. 5

                                    Indianapolis  

Third annual                NHRA Carolinas Nationals                                              Sept. 16-19

                                    Concord, N.C.

10th annual                   NHRA Las Vegas Nationals                                           Oct. 28-31

                                    Las Vegas  

(NHRA PR)

On behalf of all NHRA racers, fans and sponsors, we are very disappointed to learn about Dover Motorsports Inc.’s decision to close Memphis Motorsports Park. We had been in discussions with the management team at Dover Motorsports regarding the track’s future in recent weeks and were aware that this action was a possibility. We appreciate the great support we received from the fans throughout the western Tennessee region as well as the cooperation from all those who worked at the facility.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Dover Motorsports group and conducting the national event at Gateway International Raceway at St. Louis.   At this time, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule for 2010 will be reduced to 23 events. 

Here are the amendments to the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Series rule book:

• Double-file restarts “shootout style” will be implemented to further enhance the close competition and offer additional excitement for the fans. The format will be the same as in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series.

• The addition of fuel and changing of tire(s) will be permitted on the same pit stop.

• During any pit stop, under yellow- or green-flag conditions, six pit crew members will be permitted in the truck servicing area. This is an increase from five pit crew members in 2009.

• A new self-venting fuel-can will be introduced as an option for teams to use in addition to the conventional fuel can.

• The tire lease program will remain the same with these new options available to teams.

• Tires will continue to be transferred between events with the same D-codes as recommended by Goodyear. 
• The transfer of tires between the different national series at combo events with the same D-codes will be permitted. 
• At track, Goodyear will provide surplus tires. Goodyear will notify teams weeks in advance of availability.

• A team will run no more than two consecutive races without using an engine previously sealed by NASCAR officials. This excludes events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The current rule allows teams to run no more than three consecutive races without using a sealed engine.

• A SPEC engine will be introduced as an option for teams at tracks less than 1.25-miles in length. This will help to reduce costs for current teams and encourage participation from the regional series.

• NASCAR has also made a schedule change for the 2010 schedule. Easter weekend becomes a double-header in Nashville. The scheduled Memphis NCWTS race will be run at Nashville Superspeedway on Friday, April 2, preceding the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday night. Meanwhile, Gateway International Raceway will have a second NASCAR Nationwide Series race which will be held October 23. 

“These rule adjustments are the results of ongoing conversations NASCAR has had with team owners, drivers and crew chiefs,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. “They will not only continue to assist teams with their costs, but they will help intensify the tough competition of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.”

“I am excited about the continued progression of NASCAR’s efforts to contain the costs in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said Kevin Harvick, co-owner, Kevin Harvick, Inc. “The truck counts have been great this year and I hope with all these changes they will continue to grow and I believe the competition will be as tough as it’s ever been.”

”We have seen several new team owners participate in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season and that has been a real positive sign,” said Series Director Wayne Auton. “Not only will these new revisions that we are introducing benefit our current teams but they should help encourage new teams and continue to grow the ownership base.”

(NASCAR MEDIA PR)

Allmendinger has violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.