- Ashley, Hagan, Anderson and Herrera take Wins at Charlotte Four-Wide
- TOUGH FINAL ROUND PUTS DAMPER ON WEEKEND FOR JOHN FORCE IN CHARLOTTE NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS
- BO BUTNER WINS JHG MOUNTAIN MOTOR PRO STOCK SEASON OPENER
- AARON STANFIELD RUNNER-UP AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS AT ZMAX DRAGWAY
- JUSTIN ASHLEY WINS NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS AT ZMAX DRAGWAY
- Tony Schumacher Out Early After Jam-Packed Four-Wide Weekend in Charlotte
- HART KEEPS IT CLOSE IN TIGHT QUAD AT CHARLOTTE
Mike Janis to Run PROBELL Bellhousings in 2011
Courtesy of Mike Janis Racing
Elma, NY– Mike Janis Racing is pleased to announce the addition of PROBELL bellhousings to its growing family of sponsors.
“Late last year at the PRI show I first became aware of PROBELL bellhousings and after speaking to their head of Product Development, Dave Flory, I was sold. I was further impressed when Dave delivered our new bellhousings himself. He really feels strongly about his product and that means a lot to me. I’m honored to have PROBELL on my team,” said team owner/driver, Mike Janis.
Crew Chief, Mike Janis Jr., feels PROBELL bellhousings new lightweight hybrid bellhousings offer a significant advantage over other bellhousings while offering racers a new option. “The new hybrid series offers all classes of racers an option from expensive titanium and crack prone aluminum. PROBELL has come up with a design that offers world class performance at a cost effective price. We are proud to have them on our team,” said Mike Jr.
ADRL Taps Former IHRA, NHRA Sales Manager As Director Of Contingency
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL), the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league, 
announced on Tuesday that Karen Raffa has been named the ADRL’s Director of Contingency.
With previous successful stints in both the NHRA and IHRA, Raffa brings an extensive contingency background to the ADRL, which begins its seventh season in 2011.
Raffa’s wealth of experience includes time as the Director of Contingencies in the IHRA and Advertising Sales Manager for Jr. DRAGSTER in the NHRA.
Most recently, Raffa worked as the Sales Manager of Contingency Programs and SPEED Magazine for the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA).
She played a major role in the AHDRA increasing its revenue 79 percent, and is looking to have the same impact in a newly-created position with the ADRL.
“I am very impressed with the ADRL and have been watching them for a while,” Raffa said. “I just love the competitiveness and intensity of these racers. I also think it’s a great place for sponsors to showcase their products, and a wonderful place for fans as well.
2011 WINTERNATIONALS WINNERS, REINHART TONIGHT ON WFORADIO
Courtesy of WFO
HOLLYWOOD, FL – NHRA Winternationals professional class winners, Morgan Lucas, Robert Hight, and Jason Line 
will make appearances on WFO Radio, NHRA Tuesday following their victories in the NHRA’s historic season opener.
The drivers will join Joe Castello along with the NHRA’s Alan Reinhart, live at 7 p.m. ET on WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday. To listen live or on-demand following the show, go to WFORadio.com.
Morgan Lucas, took time out for WFO Radio following his victory at the Winternationals. Lucas will discuss running his teammate and good friend Shawn Langdon in the final round, his team’s strong effort during race day, and the historical significance of winning the first race of NHRA’s 60th year.
Former Anheuser-Busch Sports Marketing Manager Joins ADRL As Director Of Sponsorship Development
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) announced on Monday that Karen Holschlag has been named the new Director of Sponsorship Development for the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league.
The appointment comes after Holschlag’s successful and standout 26-year career at Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the maker of Budweiser Beer, based in St. Louis, Mo.
While there, Holschlag served as Sports Marketing Manager for more than 20 years, negotiating various team, event and series contracts for the beverage industry giant. Some of the teams and series that Holschlag handled were the NHRA, Kenny and Brandon Bernstein, Indy Car, CART Series, Formula One Boat Racing and Michael Andretti.
Her extensive motorsports background was one aspect that interested both the ADRL and Holschlag regarding the newly-created position.
“The things that appealed to me about this position is I will be able to utilize my contacts and experience in the motorsports industry and get back to what I enjoy,” Holschlag said. “I appreciate this opportunity and I am excited to work with the ADRL and take the league to the next level.”
Jay Turner relives terrifying crash at Mardi Gras Nitro Jam
Courtesy of IHRA
BATON ROUGE, LA – The scene was terrifying, the mood in the air tense. For a couple of moments it wasn’t known whether or not longtime Nitro Harley competitor Jay Turner was hurt, or worse.
The sold out crowd at State Capitol Raceway stood on their seats, leaned on the fences, anything to try and catch a glimpse of the man who, just moments before, was rushing down the quarter-mile on only one tire, blasting fire out of the pipes at over 150 miles per hour all to the amusement of one of the largest crowds to ever watch a drag race in the state of Louisiana. But now all they were seeing were the flashing lights of emergency crews surrounding the two-time champ.
For a few minutes the loudest sport in the world was reduced to silence. For a few moments thousands of fans, officials and even fellow competitors were reminded just how dangerous this sport can be. Despite all of the pageantry, despite all the flashy cars and can-you-believe it moments the sport of drag racing creates, behind the wheel, or in this case behind the handlebars, are human beings doing what they love most all while trying to put on a show for the fans.
WORLD RECORD E.T. PROPELS BARTONE TO 32nd NHRA WALLY
Courtesy of Jackson Racing
Pomona, CA – Tony Bartone has captured yet another NHRA National Event title for Rick Jackson Racing. The Long Island City, NY driver did so in dramatic fashion after setting a National Record elapsed time while winning the Top
Alcohol Funny Car division at the 51st Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline contested at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. The victory was Bartone’s 32nd of his career and his third national event victory driving for Rick Jackson Racing.
Bartone’s march to the event title began with a round two match-up against Alexis Dejoria, the daughter of Paul Mitchell Hair Products and Tequila Patron founder John Paul Dejoria. The race, which was the first time Dejoria and Bartone had met in NHRA competition, was over before it officially began; as Dejoria had difficulty staging her Tequila Patron sponsored Monte Carlo bodied TAFC within the 7-second time limit. This triggered the red-light in her lane and sent the Centre Pointe Collision Center sponsored Mustang on a solo run. Bartone covered the quarter mile track in 5.521 seconds at a speed of 263.92 miles per hour and propelled him to a semi-final rubber match with West Covina, Calif.’s Steve Gasparrelli.
Steve Legare getting geared up for upcoming PMRA season
Courtesy of PMRA
TROIS-RIVIERES, QUEBEC – After a season getting his feet wet in Pro Modified Racing Association action, Steve Legare plans on making his mark in the upcoming PMRA drag racing season.
“For the 2011 season we have made lots of changes, and we’ll be ready for the first race,” he said.
The Legare Racing Team campaigns a 1968 Chevy Camaro, and Legare noted there have been many updates to the green Pro Modified for 2011. The car, which came from Finland’s Hakan Nilsson and captured the FIA world title in its class for 2004, is a Tommy Mauney car powered by a 728-cubic inch Fulton Racing Engines powerplant. Legare added the engine has received not only new heads but a complete rebuild to the bottom end, along with a lot of tweaking to the nitrous system and the Braswell Carburetors.
An AFT four-speed Lenco sits behind the big engine, and this car will be one of a handful of non-supercharged entries in the PMRA.
JACKSON RACING RIDES LOW ET TO SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
Courtesy of Jackson Racing
Pomona, CA – It is believed by many the phrase, “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” is the official creed of the United Postal Service. The
Rick Jackson Racing team will happily take possession of this motto today after recording the low elapsed time in eliminations during their first round victory at the 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline contested in Pomona, California at Auto Club Raceway.
The Centre Pointe Collision Center sponsored Ford Mustang Top Alcohol Funny Car team of car owner Rick Jackson entered the pit area of one of NHRA’s most hallowed grounds today under rain, near freezing temperatures and even some hail. The prospects of racing today seemed bleak; however, the sun came out, the track dried and the Santa Clarita, Calif. team prepared for the final qualifying session of the event. Although a tire-shaking mid-8 second elapsed time was the result, driver Tony Bartone was quietly optimistic his Steve Boggs lead crew could fine tune their Blown Alcohol Funny Car for a round one rematch from last week’s disappointing loss against Ken Webster in Phoenix.
Kopp Motorsports to debut new combination, new sponsors in 2011
Courtesy of Quick 32
Burlington, ON – As the 2011 season quickly approaches, preparations are in full swing for the Kopp Motorsports 
drag racing team as it prepares to enter its first full season of competition in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts.
The team, led by owner and driver Rick Kopp, will introduce a new major sponsor to the world of drag racing.
“These guys are really excited to be onboard with our program and are looking forward to utilizing every marketing advantage drag racing has to offer.” said Kopp. “Although the sponsorship is completely finalized, an official announcement won’t be made until closer to our first event.”
ADRL Reveals Significant Event Payout Increases In All Classes For 2011 Tour
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The reward for performing well at an American Drag Racing League (ADRL) event will be greater than it has ever been in 2011.
The world’s top eighth-mile drag racing league announced on Thursday that it will increase the purse and payouts for all five professional classes (Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock) at each national event on the 2011 ADRL Tour.
In all, there will be a $330,000 increase in purse payouts from 2010, a sign that the ADRL continues to grow and build lasting partnerships with numerous sponsors, and provide even more opportunities for its competitors.
“The level of competition just keeps getting better in the ADRL and we know that requires more investment from our competitors,” ADRL Executive Vice President Jeff Fortune said. “By working closely with our sponsors, we were able to significantly increase our payouts, and we are confident this exciting move will lead to even more memorable action in the ADRL in 2011.”
