Lil John Buttera, Funny Car Legend, Dead At 67
March 4, 2008 by Robert
Filed under Racing News
Comments Off
Sad news for the car world:
Lil John Buttera, famous for making some of the most visually and technologically unique dragsters and funny cars, died yesterday after a long battle with ...
Tags: Funny Car, KingMelanie Troxel may drive in World Land Speed Record attempt
March 2, 2008 by Robert
Filed under Racing News
Comments Off
Steve Fossett World Land Speed Racing (LSR) Team has announced that NHRA Top Fuel & Funny Car driver Melanie Troxel has made their short list of possible drivers for their newest land speed record attempt. The organization’s newest car is a 48 foot long streamliner powered by a 40,000 HP S&S Turbine jet engine. The team’s goal is to set a new Absolute Supersonic Land Speed Record of more than 800 MPH and they want a woman to pilot the vehicle.
In addition to Melanie, two other NHRA drivers made the short list as well. Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Peggy Llewellyn and newly licensed Top Fuel racer Jessie Harris are also candidates. The list of other potential drivers includes drivers from other motorsports and two pilots.
The selected candidate will have to be available for the team’s test and run schedule for 2008, which may not fit with Melanie's current NHRA racing schedule.
Tags: Funny Car, Melanie Troxel, motorsports, NHRA, race, racing, Top FuelNew SFI Funny Car chassis spec is the product of a combined effort of experts
Since its inception in 1951, the National Hot Rod Association has worked hand in hand with race teams, manufacturers, the SFI Foundation, and other outside parties with the shared goal of enhancing race car safety. The most recent such effort, which produced a new SFI 10.5 chassis specification for nitro Funny Car construction, is the final product of a process that included more than nine months of testing, research, and data analysis. The new specification...
Read the full story about the new Funny Car spec. at NHRA.com
Tags: Funny Car, NHRA, Nitro, race, safety, SFIJack Beckman Wins in Phoenix
Jack Beckman beat Robert Hight to win his fourth Wally in Phoenix at the 24th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway. Beckman qualified his Don Schumacher Racing, Valvoline,Mail Terminal Series Dodge 15th on Saturday. Jack Beckman out ran Mike Neff, then Gary Scelzi, and Jim Head (in that order). To get to the final round, Robert Hight had to beat Gary Densham, independent Bob Bode, and Tommy Johnson, Jr.
Bob Bode deserves special mention, because his self-sponsored AR-BEE Transparent Products Monte Carlo has qualified and competed in both Pomona and Phoenix. He came back from a huge engine explosion on Saturday, that also destroyed the body of his car, to compete against Jack Beckman in second-round eliminations. His performance this season has been better than many big name racers so far. Bob is still looking for sponsors for the 2008 season. If you are interested in having your company's name, or even your own name, on the side of a competitive NHRA Funny Car, please go to Bob Bode's site to learn more about sponsoring his car for a race, or even a season.
Tags: Beckman, Bob Bode, Dodge, Funny Car, Gary Scelzi, Hight, Jack Beckman, Jim Head, Johnson, King, Mike Neff, NHRA, Phoenix, Pomona, race, racing, Robert Hight, Scelzi, Tommy JohnsonWilkerson tops Funny Car qualifying at Firebird International (USA Today)
Tim Wilkerson raced to his second consecutive No. 1 qualifying position of the Funny Car season Saturday, topping qualifying for the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Tags: Funny Car, NHRA, Phoenix, race, Tim Wilkerson, WilkersonLevi, Ray, and Shoup Chevy Impala SS – NHRA.com
Phoenix, Saturday: For the second straight race, Springfield, Ill. Funny Car favorite, Tim Wilkerson captured the No. 1 qualifying position in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Impala. It was a great day for Wilkerson as he took double honors with the quickest run in qualifying, an impressive 4.775 plus the fastest run in Funny Car, an equally impressive, 327.03.
Due to yesterday’s rain out...
Read the rest of Tim Wlkerson's team report at NHRA.com
Tags: Chevrolet, Chevy, Funny Car, NHRA, Phoenix, race, Tim Wilkerson, WilkersonTim Wilkerson qualifies first in Phoenix, Worsham and A. Force DNQ
Rain cancelled Friday's NHRA Funny Car qualifying, leaving drivers with only two Saturday sessions to get into the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix.
Tim Wilkerson impressively leads the field into eliminations on Sunday. With only two sessions to qualify, the list of those that didn't make the field is surprising. Del Worsham experienced the disappointment of not qualifying his Checker Schuck's Kragen sponsored Impala at his sponsor's event. Del wasn't the lone DNQ though. Ashley Force, Melanie Troxel, Bob Tasca III and Terry Haddock were also unable to qualify.
Tags: Ashley Force, Bob Tasca III, Del Worsham, Force, Funny Car, Haddock, Melanie Troxel, NHRA, Phoenix, race, Terry Haddock, Tim Wilkerson, Wilkerson, WorshamHeat ratchets up as NHRA rolls into Arizona
Heat shows up in a variety of ways. For some, heat means pressure – a mental game. For Tony Pedregon, heat was something he could feel.
Pedregon’s Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS exploded in the first round at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif., instantly propelling the reigning POWERade Series Funny Car champ back to the center of attention in a category already ripe with story lines. Since the accident there’s been no rest for Pedregon...
Read full story at Thats Racin
Tags: Chevy, Funny Car, NHRA, Pedregon, Phoenix, Pomona, Powerade, Tony Pedregon