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CAPPS CAPTURES NHRA NATIONALS

Monday, July 19, 2010

Funny Car driver Ron Capps ended a one-year winless streak Sunday with victory at the 23rd annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. Other winners at the 15th race in the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The owner of the NAPA Dodge Charger team, Don Schumacher, switched crew chiefs – bringing in John Medlen to replace Ed “Ace” McCulloch – in June and in the three races since the move Capps reached the quarterfinals in Norwalk, the final round in Seattle, and the Winner’s Circle in Sonoma. “It’s all confidence and confidence is built on success,” said Capps (4.169, 296.44), who defeated teammate Jack Beckman (4.210, 298.93) and the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger team in the final round for his first win since the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in July 2009. “It’s really a pleasure working with (John Medlen). His approach to racing is let’s have fun. Let’s win, but let’s have fun, too. I can’t even tell you how exciting that is for me.”

US DRAG RACING FACES ANOTHER TRAGEDY

Monday, July 12, 2010

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American Drag Racing has been stunned by another fatality, the third this year. In a statement released by the NHRA Top Alcohol dragster racer Mark Niver, 60, from Phoenix, was named as the driver. Niver’s Top Alcohol dragster failed to stop in the braking area after his parachutes came off the car at the end of [...]

FORGET THE EASTERNATS HERE COMES Last Minute NATS

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

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Winton Motor Raceway have moved quickly to take advantage of the sudden cancelation of the Easternats at Calder Park. Called the LastminuteNATS the event has been hastily put together by Adam Ronke at Winton Raceway to give the car enthusiasts somewhere to go this Easter now that EasterNATS has been cancelled. The Event will include most of the regular Easternats favourites including Burnouts. Off Street Drags and general Cruizing. Camping at the circuit will be avaialable. Mr Ronke has warned participants however that loutish and drunken behaviour will not be tolerated and any breaches will mean the end of not only this event but the Performance Car Mania festival later this year. For more information contract Winton Motor Raceway.

AUSSIES ON TOP IN FUNNY CAR DUEL

Sunday, January 17, 2010

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A record breaking 320mph/513kmh pass by Australian Damien Harris, was the highlight as Australia came out on top of the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway. Harris saved the best till last with the new speed record being set in very last run of Nitro Funny Car for the night, which also saw the West Australian alongside Queenslander Ricky Steffens set the quickest Nitro Funny Car side-by side-pass for Australia as well. Harris’ 320.66mph at 4.868 second effort combined with Steffens’ 5.164s pass – a new personal best for the driver – to better the previous side-by side-mark (also featuring Harris alongside fellow West Australian Mark Sheehan in Perth on Boxing Day) by seven one thousandths of a second. “The speed record hasn’t really sunk in as yet to be honest, the guys came on the radio to tell me what had happened while I was slowing down and I was concentrating on the car and things, and it just hasn’t sunk in,” said Harris, who also won the first round on January 2.

NHRA GOES GLOBAL: TODAY POMONA TOMORROW THE WORLD!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

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NHRA GOES GLOBAL: TODAY POMONA TOMORROW THE WORLD!

US Drag Racing sanctioning body the NHRA have signalled its intention to spread it's brand worldwide with the announcement of NHRA Worldwide Network. The new program will enable drag racing facilities around the world to conduct events under the NHRA banner. By becoming a part of the NHRA Worldwide Network, a facility will be able to use the specially-designed “Worldwide Drag Racing” NHRA oval for broad promotional purposes and will be able to draw on NHRA’s decades of experience and history. “We have been receiving many inquiries regarding how facilities outside of North America can become affiliated with NHRA,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “NHRA Worldwide Network provides drag racing facilities around the globe with unique benefits and identification with NHRA.”

AUSSIES ON TOP IN FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE

Sunday, January 3, 2010

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Australian Funny Car driver Damien Harris came out on top in the opening round of the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway. The challenge is part of the two-round International New Year Drag Racing Series with Harris and fellow Aussie Ricky Steffens taking on American Jack Wyatt. Harris was clearly the star of the evening with a series of strong runs highlighted by a 4.968s at over 300mph on his first run of the evening, the first 300mph Nitro Funny Car pass by an Aussie racer at the track. Steffens was also strong with two full passes with a five (5.768s at 186.59mph) and six second pass (6.520s at 148.87mph) for the Regency Downs racer. Wyatt struggled with set up all night , running a 7.150 at 155.74mph and a 7.049 at 126.67mph after having to lift off the pedal at intervals during both runs. “We just kept smoking the tyres and also struggled a bit with the tune up, but we think we know what the issue is now and are confident we will be on the pace come January 16,” he said....

MELBOURNE’S NEW DRAG STRIP ? 4 LANES, NO WAITING

Friday, December 11, 2009

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MELBOURNE’S NEW DRAG STRIP ? 4 LANES, NO WAITING

After almost a decade in the Drag racing wilderness, details have been released of an ambitious project to build a brand new dedicated Drag Racing facility for Melbourne. According to a media release from ANDRA (The Australian National Drag Racing Association) a group calling itself "Motorvate Melbourne" have unveiled the plans which would feature Australia's first Four Lane Drag Stip. Plans for the track also feature areas for burnouts and a two kilometre long "sprint" circuit. The new website http://www.motorvatemelbourne.com gives little information about those behind the plan, with the only information being that they are "a collection of stakeholders that support the work that the ANDRA Project Team and many other motor enthusiasts are doing."

LIFES A DRAG AS CRASH ROBS REED

Sunday, June 7, 2009

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For a slender moment during the Top Alcohol Final of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Ipswich’s Willowbank Raceway Debbie Reed appeared to have re-written the Australian Drag Racing record books. Having to win the Final against Aaron Hambridge to become the first female to win an Australian Drag Racing professional championship Reed appeared to have achieved the honour when Hambridge jumped the start lights. However, as fate would have it Reed made contact with the concrete wall at around the 330ft mark while travelling at over 200 km/h resulting in exclusion, handing the Winternationals win to Hambridge and the Championship to Gary Phillips. “I am absolutely heartbroken,” said Reed. “I would really love to come back next season and fight for it, to have it over again. “Unfortunately at the moment though, as much as I want to keep going with our current funding situation it just isn’t looking possible without a corporate partner, but you never know and I guess we will just have to wait and see.”

AUSSIE DRAG RACING CHAMP ON DRUGS CHARGES

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

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Australian Drag Racing Legend Brett Stevens who recently retired from the sport has been arrested and charged on serious drug charges. Stevens, 44, of Narangba, was bailed to appear on March 30 after a brief appearence in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Stevens was charged with six drug offences including trafficking, producing and supplying drugs as well as possessing drug property. The court was told that authorities had a court order to freeze assets connected to Mr Stevens including his race team & race car & bike fabrication business. Magistrate Sheryl Cornack granted bail, noting Mr Stevens had known he was under investigation for some time and had made no attempt to flee. Steven's recently retired from the sport of drag racing at the height of his success in a move that shocked many connected with the sport. Steven's known to his fans as "The Boss" recently attended the Calder Park True Blue Drag Championships assisting a fellow competitor. Speaking with Melbourne TV show In Pit Lane, Stevens said that he had retired due to the fact that he was no longer enjoying the sport. "My wife said one morning, if you're not enjoying it any more then give it away, I thought, yeah she's right so I did." Stevens said that he still harboured the dream to compete in Nitro Funny Cars in the USA and run against his hero John Force. The Australian National Drag Racing Association, the peak govening body for the sport in Australia issued a statement saying the news of the charges was an enormously disappointing situation for everyone involved in the sport. “It is imperative that it is made clear that ANDRA, its members and our corporate partners do not condone in any way the illegal activities that have allegedly occurred." said ANDRA CEO, Tony Thornton.

EMOTIONAL WIN TO WILL IN KALITTA TRIBUTE RACE

Monday, December 29, 2008

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US Drag Racer Hillary Will took out an emotional victory driving her Kalitta racing Dragster to a win in the inaugural Scott Kalitta Memorial meeting at Sydney's Eastern Creek Dragway. Will defeated local racer Terry Sainty in a rain delayed final running here fastest time of the weekend with a 4.743 at 303.16 mph to beat Sainty's 5.284 at 260.51 mph pass. The meeting which started on Boxing Day was marred by rain which saw the final eliminations delayed until Sunday. The weekend's biggest incident happened Friday when Mildura driver Darren Morgan lost a wheel in his race with Alan Dobson. Morgan's car rolled and crossed into the path of Dobson who thankfully managed to avoid Morgan's car. Of more concern was the errant wheel which bounced into the area at the side of the track narrowly missing track officials and photographers. The wheel eventually came to stop when it hit a trackside ambulance. The spectacular crash made National television news in Australia with the Nine Network in particular beating the story up into “again questioning the safety of the sport.” Will's victory driving the Kalitta team car was highly emotional as she won the trophy bearing the name of her former team mate and friend Scott Kalitta who was tragically killed in a Funny Car crash in the USA earlier in 2008. Speaking after the win Will said "This means so much to me and this team, to get this trophy and take it back to the States is such an honor for us. Scott was my mentor, and he was like a brother to me. We miss him so much, but we are so happy to win this trophy for Connie, Doug, Scott's wife Kathy, and his boys, Corey and Colin and the entire Kalitta family." Hillary Will KB Racing/MAC Tools 4.743 @ 303.16 mph def. Terry Sainty Sainty Engineering 5.284 @ 260.51 mph