Posted on 03/14/2009 4:53:38 PM PDT by flattorney
2,975 '09 Gatornationals Photos
03.12.09: Hanging on by a string, Pro Stock Motorcycle ace, Craig Treble, calls out NHRA
- - "NHRA has a plethora of marketing people," he said. "They have sponsorship. What they need to do, in my opinion, is support the racers a little more. NASCAR tries to keep their racers out there. They know they need the main teams flowing so they can continue putting on a show and making money. NHRA has a tendency of gathering up money for the NHRA and they dont worry so much about the racers. They need to support the racer more so they can keep the program running. They say, 'If you get somebody, well send some people out there to try and market our program and tell them what its all about.'
NASCAR Could Learn From NHRA's Diversity
Orlando Sentinel by Tania Ganguli
March 12, 2009
A beat-up old khaki Hummer with no top stopped at a light in downtown Orlando and Tom Hammonds pointed at it. "I'd race that if I could," Hammonds said, laughing, as we sat having lunch and chatting about his roots in drag racing. It all started with the most dangerous kind. Street racing in his hometown of Crestview. He even raced in his mother's station wagon. "Needless to say," Hammonds said, "I lost a lot of races in that car." He was drafted into the NBA with the ninth pick of the 1989 draft and suddenly he had enough money to drag race professionally. He raced throughout his 12-year NBA career, doing eight or nine races through the offseason. He even got a clause removed from his contract that would have prevented him from racing or doing other such dangerous activities. Now Hammonds, eight years removed from his retirement from the NBA, is the only African-American driver-owner in the NHRA's Pro Stock division. But diversity isn't in short supply in the racing series.
More than any other type of auto racing, the NHRA attracts women and minority drivers. Last season, two high-profile wins went to funny car driver Ashley Force Hood and African-American Antron Brown who drives a top fuel dragster. It's been that way for a long time. One of racing's female pioneers was drag racer Shirley Muldowney who won NHRA Top Fuel championships in 1977, 1980 and 1982. Angelle Sampey is currently the winningness women in NHRA history and has won Pro Stock Motorcycle("PSM") NHRA championships in 2000, 2001, 2002. She currently holds the NHRA record for the quickest PSM elapsed time at 6.871 seconds. It's a tradition and culture of diversity that NASCAR just can't accomplish. Maybe it can, but so far it hasn't. A lot of bright minds in racing are trying to figure out how to bring more diversity into the sport. Some say there needs to be a way to get young minority kids and young girls involved in the sport, so that by the time they're in their late teens, they'll be preparing for stock car racing at its highest level. Others say the good drivers are there, they just aren't getting sponsorship.
Theories are everywhere. But maybe it's time to stop looking at what doesn't work and start looking at what does. Why does drag racing succeed? "I think all the pieces are in place to have a very diverse group," said Karen Stoffer, who drag races in the NHRA's Pro Stock Motorcycle division. "Many people can do it, everybody understands it and it's very accessible." Stoffer pointed out that people can take their everyday cars to a drag strip and race for a fee. Because of that, it isn't costly to get involved with drag racing at its early stages.
As drivers go higher up in the series to more professional levels, drag racing starts getting more costly. The only reason Hammonds can afford to run his team without a sponsor is he spent 12 years in the NBA. And he likely will need sponsorship to run the whole season. But at its roots, it's easy to start drag racing. Without millions of dollars. Without big-time sponsorship. Without needing a team owner to take a chance on you. As drag racing grows and it is growing that grass-roots feeling will stick around. (Technical edit and added Angelle Sampey info to article - fla)
TAB
FlA's Upcoming Motorsports, and related, Dance Card:
01. Mar 27-29: 22nd annual OReilly NHRA Spring Nationals, Houston (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
02. Mar 27-29: Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne (Season Opener)
03. Apr 02-05: 10th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
04. Apr 03-05: Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur
05. Apr 04-05: NASCAR O'Reilly 300 & Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway
06. Apr 09-11: Barrett Jackson Collector Car Auction, Palm Beach, FL (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
07. Apr 16-19: 29th annual Summit Racing Equip. NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
08. Apr 17-19: 19th annual Miami Super Boat Grand Prix (Season Opener)
09. Apr 17-19: Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
10. Apr 25-26: NASCAR Aaron's 312 & Aaron's 499, Talladega Superspeedway
11. Apr 24-26: Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
----- COMMENTS -----
01. Attending all three days of pro racing. My 17th NHRA Spring Nationals
02. (A) It was great last year and I/we(girlfriend) are F1 fans.(B)(C)
03. (A) Great facility, I/we usually go every other year in the Fall, if no schedule conflict.
04. (A) I really like this track and excellent facility. Rain can be a problem.
05. (A) Not my favorite track but a great Texas event that draws massive crowds.
06. Attending the final day on Saturday. NHRA & NASCAR drivers will be in attendance.
Many racing cars to be auctioned.
07. (A) I would like to attend this race more frequently but schedule usually conflicts.
08. Third year racing. SBIP/APBA lost two big Florida races this season due to loss of
cities/local sponsorship. The recession takes no prisoners.
09. (A) Great track and facility. I boycott watching or reading about anything held in communist China,
which included the 2008 Summer Olympics, but my girlfriend likes this race so. .
10. Attending both races. My 6th time this decade.
11. (A) I'm not a fan of this facility but usually flip through the recording to see if the race is good.
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(A) DVR record to watch.
(B) You think NHRA & NASCAR are having sponsorship problems? In the off-season F1 had their heads
handed to them by a huge sponsorship pull-out. F1 has always been the most expensive motorsports
in the World, and in a major global recession, many sponsors said no thanks for 2009.
(C) If interested, see my Formula 1 Section on my FlAttorney's FR Racing.
It will be updated again after the Australian Grand Prix.
I'm also a big NHL hockey fan so I'll have to find time for the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs which begins on April 15, 2009 and lasts until June.
(Talking about his very busy Van Halen touring schedule) "Ya know. . . it's kinda like my pants. It's hard to fit it all in" - Diamond David Lee Roth, 1980
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22nd annual |
WEDNESDAY, Mach. 25, 2009 |
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Sponsor Midway Parking | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | |
Competitor Parking only (all categories) | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | |
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THURSDAY, March 26, 2009 - Parking, Registration & Tech (all categories) |
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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FRIDAY, March 27, 2009 |
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Spectator Gates Open |
7:30 AM
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Registration/Tech Inspection (all categories) |
7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sportsman Qualifying |
8:00 AM
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Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session |
10:00 AM
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Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Dragster) |
11:30 AM
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Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session |
12:30 PM
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Pro Mod Qualifying Session |
1:00 PM
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Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) |
1:30 PM
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Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster) |
2:30 PM
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Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Dragster) |
3:30 PM
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Pro Mod Qualifying Session |
4:30 PM
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Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) |
5:00 PM
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Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster) |
6:00 PM
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Secure Track |
7:30 PM
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SATURDAY, March 28, 2009 |
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Spectator Gates Open |
7:30 AM
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Sportsman Eliminations |
8:00 AM
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Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session |
9:00 AM
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Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Dragster / Funny Car) |
9:30 AM
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Pro Mod Qualifying Session |
10:30 AM
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Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) |
11:00 AM
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Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car) |
12:00 PM
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Top Alcohol (Dragster / Funny Car) - Round 1 |
1:00 PM
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Comp Eliminator - Round 1 |
2:00 PM
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Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) |
2:30 PM
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Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car) |
3:30 PM
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Pro Mod - Round 1 |
4:30 PM
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Secure Track |
6:30 PM
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SUNDAY, March 29, 2009 |
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Spectator Gates Open |
8:30 AM
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Sportsman Eliminations |
9:00 AM
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Pre-Race Ceremonies |
10:00 AM
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Final Eliminations |
11:00 AM
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Secure Event |
4:30 PM
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Schedule subject to change | ||
NOTE: Local ordinances require that no race car engines be operated prior to 7:30 AM any day of the event | ||
(this includes driving to and from the staging lanes). Also, engines may not be operated after 10:00 PM any | ||
day of the event. |
Houston Raceway Park's Drag Strip Gets an Extreme Makeover After Hurricane Ike
John Force Racing News
03.26.09: John Force Spring National Preview
03.24.09, ESPN Video: Quarter Mile Profile - Ashley Force Hood
FlA's Personal High Notes from 2008 Spring Nationals
FlA Says: 2008 Spring Nationals -- It was an incredible win by my main man Del Worsham. Del winning his first "Wally" since 2005 made the Spring Nationals my favorite NHRA event attended last year. Del had a great and consistent Spring Nationals qualifying fourth, 4.881 @ 313.66, and his low E.T.'s gave him lane choice in 3 of 4 elimination rounds on Sunday. And, man-o-man did Del, and his team run by his father Chuck, put a one-two K.O. on Team Force to earn the honor to hug the NHRA trophy girls as part of his big payday. On Sunday, Del took down John Force in the Semi-Finals, (.086) 4.917-313.37 to John's losing (.063) 5.005 303.57. In the Funny Car Finals, he sent Ashley Force packing with another great pass of (.033) 4.933-316.60 to Ashley's losing (.142) 4.971-302.62. Even if Ashley had not been so late on the tree, she still didn't have the car to beat Del. Worsham's reaction time of .033 was the second lowest in eliminations. He left nothing to chance against "Princess". Here's a good background article that O'Reilly Auto Parts did last year on Del and Chuck Worsham entitled Just Me N' Dad.
2009 Spring Nationals -- Del is an excellent driver and very level headed. The problem with he and his father's nitro Funny Car team was they didn't have the big bucks to be a serious championship contender. They couldn't afford to blow up a bunch of parts, to get a win, like many of the other top teams. Del doesn't have this problem for 2009. Al-Anabi Racing has the big bucks to give him the opportunity to step it up and run for a NHRA World Championship. His teammate, Top Fuel dragster jockey Larry Dixon - previously with Don Prudhomme Snake Racing - won at the Gatornationals two weeks ago. It would be incredible if Del could win the Spring Nationals again this weekend.
01.16.08: NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series Change in Qualifying Format
Given the significant impact weather and atmospheric conditions have had on qualifying for NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in past seasons, NHRA announced today it has modified its race qualifying procedure. Beginning with the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 7-10, the top 12 elapsed times in each pro category will be provisionally recorded prior to the last day of qualifying. Those teams who were unable to earn a provisional spot in the top 12 will have an opportunity to make the 16-car starting order during the final day of qualifying. While the 12 provisional times are officially recorded prior to the last day of qualifying, those positions are not locked-in. All teams will have the opportunity to improve their positions during the final day of qualifying and can bump in or be bumped out of the field.
"There are no guarantees with this system," said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations, NHRA. "If you are one of the 12 quickest cars, you can still be bumped out on the final day of qualifying, or you can improve your position in the order. However, if weather conditions change and become less optimal and as a result the performances are not as good throughout the field, the four quickest cars from outside the provisional 12 on the final day of qualifying will complete the 16-car lineup."
The field of 16 for each of the four professional categories will be set at the conclusion of the final round of qualifying, using the traditional 16-car race bracket for eliminations. "We feel this new qualifying format will heighten the intensity for each and every qualifying session throughout the weekend," Light said. "We're certain it will make the racing on the track even more entertaining for fans."
All qualifying elapsed times will count in the Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship standings as well as towards national records(1). The Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship awards the top-performing pit crews in each of the four professional categories at each event as well as a year-end champion. Teams are rewarded based on performance and consistency during qualifying runs, with points deducted for quarter-mile passes that result in oil on the racetrack.
(1) National records were suspended in the two nitro classes after the Saturday, June 21, 2008 track death of Scott Kalitta during qualifying. - fla
(1) The book Darrell Russell: Broad Smiles, Quarter-Miles can be purchased online at Jegs.com for $24.95. All proceeds are donated in Darrells name to the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW).
09.26.07: SpeedTV's Book Review.
Darrell was an outstanding fellow Houstonian, Texan, and drag racer who I still greatly miss. ~ fla
Great News! - fla
03.24.09: John Force Racing's John Medlen Returns - Will Be At Spring Nationals
Recovered From Heart Issues, Medlen Is Houston Bound - - Pulling double duty is a challenge that sophomore Funny Car driver Mike Neff didnt shy away from, however a return to his original role of driving only wont require much coercion. This weekend in Baytown, Texas., at the NHRA OReilly Springnationals, Neffs crewchief, John Medlen, will return following a medical leave of absence to correct coronary issues. Medlen missed two events while he recuperated at home in Indianapolis from a heart procedure. Prior to the event in Phoenix Medlen checked himself into an Indianapolis hospital with chest discomfort and eventually spent five days in the hospital as a number of tests and procedures were conducted to regulate his heart rate.
While Medlin was out, Neff was a trooper pulling double duty, driving and handling all the on-site tuning responsibilities. He got plenty of input from Medlen via cell phone and text messages but it was not the same as having his crew chief a few feet away. For his efforts Neff raced to a runner-up finish in Phoenix but an aggressive tune-up in the first round of the Gatornationals in Gainesville ended his day early. The conditions were a little better (on race day) and we tried to get more aggressive. We gave it a little bit too much. It went up in smoke as it went past the tree. I am just kicking myself for that. We gave it our best shot. All in all it wasnt the best weekend but it certainly wasnt the worst either. We are still learning and trying to get some things figured out, said Neff. Few driver and tuner combinations could have pulled off this kind of arrangement, but considering both Neff and Medlen are championship winning tuners, the challenge wasnt that overwhelming.
John Medlen won his crown tuning Tony Pedregon to the championship in 2003 and Mike Neff steered Gary Scelzi to his lone Funny Car championship in 2005. Both men have a tremendous amount of respect for each other and it was Medlen who championed Neff to fill the drivers seat formerly occupied by his son, Eric, who passed away just over two years ago following a testing accident in Florida. Theres only one Eric Medlen and no ones ever going to take his place, but to fill that spot and carry on where he left off is a real honor. John Medlen was one of the main reasons I came over here to work with him, said Neff. I have high expectations. I know the performance of the car will be there plus we should be better just because we have a year of experience behind us. I know that if I do my job, we should be in the hunt for the Full Throttle Funny Car championship. The experience of running the Funny Car almost solo for two races is believed to have given Neff a leg up when it comes to understanding where the car needs to be in qualifying as well as race day. It is an advantage that Neff hopes to exploit when he and Medlen get back on the track together again. I think we will be better now that I have been able to learn more about the car. I think Ill be able to give Medlen a better perspective since Im now a lot more aware how it is all working, summed up Neff. - Credit: CP
# # # # #
03.24.09: Dave Connolly To Race At Spring Nationals
- - Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly will make his 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series debut this weekend at the OReilly Spring Nationals in Houston. But he will be driving Kenny Koretskys colorful Nitro Fish Dodge instead of the familiar Cagnazzi Racing Charter Communications Chevrolet Cobalt. Connolly, one of the categorys best, has been sidelined by the current economic downturn for the first three 2009 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events, so he accepted the offer to drive Koretskys car. Connolly, a 21-race winner, is eager to get back to racing, even if it is for one race. Im still part of Cagnazzi Racing and when Kenny offered his car for me to drive this weekend, I was excited. But I wanted the blessings of Victor, General Motors and (crew chief) Tommy Utt, and they said yes. It will be good to get behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car again. Im honored they picked me to drive the car. Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, Cagnazzi Racing can find someone to partner with Charter Communications and I can get back in my Chevy Cobalt. Then we can get back to trying to win a championship. Im looking forward to racing again with Tommy Utt and the rest of my team.
FlA Says: I don't follow pro stock very closely except for Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team. However, five years ago, the one guy that really caught my attention was Dave Connolly. He is a great PS driver and I am equally impressed with Dave when I've gone to his pit. He had the same sponsorship problem last year missing the first five races.
01.05.09: The Kid is Back - 75th Anniversary of the 1933-34 Ford Model
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum - - The 75th Anniversary of the 1933-34 Ford Model 40, arguably one of Fords sleekest designs, will be celebrated in a special exhibit at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, Jan. 23, 2009 through June 2009. The 1933-34 Ford Model 40 was a very important car both for Ford and for hot rodders. It helped pull Ford out of the depression and powered racers from Indy to El Mirage. Its an important milestone anniversary that the Parks Museums is excited to celebrate, said Tony Thacker, executive director of the museum. This exhibit is for all the racers and rodders who embraced the Model 40.
The exhibit, will feature a number of legendary 1933-34 Ford hot rods, including the Pierson Brothers Coupe; the SO-CAL Coupe; the famed Mooneyham & Sharp 554 car (courtesy of Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing); and the Allison V-12-powered Big Al. Representing the hot rod community will be the California Kid, the Super Bell Coupe, Jake Jacobs coupe and, just announced, Billy Gibbons Eliminator made famous in rock band ZZ Tops award-winning music videos. Other cars will also be on display, including the new, all-steel 34 3-window coupe from Steves Auto Restorations. The exhibit will also include photographs, memorabilia and artifacts that tell the story of the iconic 1933-34 Ford. # SNIP#.
TAB
‘Always fascinated me how a pro drag rider might get into the high nines on a stock bike like a Hayabusa, but put a regular street rider on the bike for the Friday night drags and hell be lucky to get into the low elevens.’
If anybody could do it, no one would watch.
Thanks for the PING, ready to radc...WOO HOO
Thank you for the thread
Hell of a lead in, hope the races follow through!
Not pretty pictures. "Houston we have a problem" - TAB
TAB
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