Thunder Nationals bring the noise to Martin – Exhibition Race
May 15, 2008 by Robert
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MARTIN -- The wheels on his tricycle might have smoked when Les Shockley was a toddler, but that ride certainly didn't have the fire and noise his machine had before 15,000 fans at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at U.S. 131.
Driving a twin jet-powered 1957 Chevy "ShockWave" pickup, Shockley, 64, easily won the unofficial title for most thunder Saturday night during the 38th annual National City Thunder Nationals.
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Although 2006 IHRA Nitro Funny Car Champion Dale Creasy's 304.29 mph pass in 4.99 seconds had to be considered an exhibition run because he was the only entry in his class...
Read the full article in the The Grand Rapids Press
Racing deal keeps Gastonia Funny Car driver on NHRA track
It takes more than courage to drive a nitromethane-burning Funny Car dragster down a quarter-mile track at a speed of more than 320 mph.
Few people know that better than Bob Gilbertson of Gastonia, who came close to parking his 7,000-horsepower hot rod this year over money...
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Jay Pennington, the managing director of Extraordinario Brands, said his 109 proof tequila seems like a good fit with the super-powered world of drag racing.
Read the full article by Kevin Ellis in the Gaston Gazette
Notes: Staying atop NHRA points standings not Wilkerson’s focus
Tim Wilkerson's breakthrough didn't hit him until he returned to his motor coach, and the first-time NHRA Funny Car points leader will use the Powerade Drag Racing Series' week off determining how to build on his performance.
"I'm not going to get caught up in being in or out of first place," says Wilkerson, 47, one of a handful of...
Read the full article by Gary Graves at USA Today
Crew Chief Chris Cunningham’s Contract Extended at Tasca Racing
CRANSTON, Rhode Island (May 8, 2008) - Chris Cunningham, who took over full crew chief responsibilities for Bob Tasca III's Motorcraft/Quick Lane/Custom Accessories Shelby Mustang nitro Funny Car in early April, has received a three-year contract extension from Tasca Racing.
"Chris has been a crucial component in building this race team, and I can't give him and the crew enough credit for what we've been able to achieve over the last six months," said Team Owner and Driver, Bob Tasca III. "He has a plan for this team and he is making sure that we continue to build and progress each time down the track. We're building this program for the long term and we're building it around Chris."
Immediately following the move from sharing the position of crew chief to taking over fulltime, Cunningham tuned Tasca's Shelby Mustang to its best qualifying position ever, earning the No. 3 spot in Las Vegas.
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Focused Neff Takes Success in Stride
BRISTOL (May 9, 2008) --- Mike Neff and the Old Spice Ford Mustang team are once again looking for one round win as they head into Bristol Dragway for the 8th annual O’Reilly Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals.
This weekend instead of their first round win Neff and crew chief John Medlen are looking for their first final round win. Two weeks ago Neff ended an 0-8 first round losing streak with a win over Melanie Troxel to start the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals in St. Louis. Neff then out ran Mike Ashley and teammate Robert Hight to land in his first final round as a driver....
Read the full story at John Force Racing.com
Bookends of drag racing on display at US 131
MARTIN -- For 51-year-old alcohol funny car driver Bobby Martin, drag racing as a kid was Hot Rod magazine and Saturday nights in the stands at the track.
For the man pitted four trailers over at the National City ThunderNationals Saturday at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at US 131, drag racing as a kid was -- well, is -- drag racing.
``I guess my dad just got me started young,'' shrugged Jason Hamstra, who, at age 20, is hitting the top ranks of drag racing's premiere Pro Mod class. ``I started in this class three years ago but I've been racing with my dad since I was 8.''
Hamstra and Martin symbolized the bookends of ...
Read the full article by Doug Vanderlaan in The Kalamazoo Gazette
Tags: IHRA, NHRANew National Event Date for Pittsburgh Raceway Park
Good things come to those who wait!
Don’t panic! It’s only a delay. Current economics played a crucial role in the decision to move the Nitro Jam event from May 2009 to a similar time in 2010.
Considering the key factors; economic climate, rising fuel prices, and an election year, a collective decision was made to reassign the Nitro Jam event to...
Tags: IHRACatch Nitro Jam PM, AFC, PS Action From San Antonio on SPEED and SPEED HD Saturday May 10 at 7:00PM
The second Knoll Gas Nitro Jam television show of the season, featuring the Pro Modified, Alcohol Funny Car , and Pro Stock classes from the 2008 Amalie Oil Texas Nationals held at San Antonio Raceway, will be shown Saturday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. eastern time. The program will air in high definition on SPEED TV. The 2008 Nitro Jam show on SPEED will feature...
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