www.nitromater.com - NHRA News http://www.nitromater.com/ en Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:35:20 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.nitromater.com/images/misc/rss.jpg www.nitromater.com - NHRA News http://www.nitromater.com/ “ideal” timing for old friends, fellow drag racers and now nhra -funny car team owner http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24681-ideal-timing-old-friends-fellow-drag-racers-now-nhra-funny-car-team-owner.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:22:45 GMT Fellow Drag Racers, NHRA Premier Crew Chief Tony Shortall and NHRA Funny Car team driver / owner Jeff Diehl have built on an “Ideal Opportunity” to... Fellow Drag Racers, NHRA Premier Crew Chief Tony Shortall and NHRA Funny Car team driver / owner Jeff Diehl have built on an “Ideal Opportunity” to become NHRA Funny Car Team Owners.

The team of Shortall and Diehl, being formally introduced here as Ideal Racing, will make their NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series debut as Funny Car Team Owners on February 11, 2010 at the 50th Annual NHRA Winter Nationals in Pomona, CA.

Jeff Diehl drove for ROCKSTAR Energy Drink in his IHRA Funny Car and also competed in the NHRA as he attended Sonoma, Vegas and Pomona events in the later part of 2009. “The car kept getting better and better every run we made. Tony and I expect a continuation of that same progress at the upcoming NHRA Winter Nationals”.

“Where can we possibly find a better place to start this team than the 50th Anniversary of the NHRA Winter Nationals at Pomona. What we are doing today is no different than what Don Garlits, Don Prudohme and John Force did when they pursued their dreams in their beginnings. Hopefully we can have a glimmer of their success in our future”, said Ideal Racing’s Co-Owner/Crew Chief, Tony Shortall. .

“I’m excited to team up with Tony and do what we have talked many times about doing, starting an NHRA Funny Car Team. We have been friends for a long time and understand what motivates each other, … it’s not complicated… it’s just racing… and that’s how we intend to approach this”, said Ideal Racing’s driver & Co-Owner, Jeff Diehl.

Ideal Racing is currently preparing with their marketing partners for the start of the 2010 NHRA season. Companies interested in value driven marketing please contact Dan Pikarsky of iMagine Marcom (www.iMaginemarcom.com) or Fast Forward Media (Fast Forward Marketing & Media (970) 443-1343) for more information. ]]> NHRA News Deby Martin http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24681-ideal-timing-old-friends-fellow-drag-racers-now-nhra-funny-car-team-owner.html Steve Torrence, Tuttle Motorsports to pursue NHRA Top Fuel playoff berth http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24680-steve-torrence-tuttle-motorsports-pursue-nhra-top-fuel-playoff-berth.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:18:40 GMT Steve Torrence’s NHRA media guide information lists hunting as one of his hobbies, and its season happens to come at a time when the Top Fuel driver from Kilgore, Texas has some spare time.

“Over the last few years, I’ve become an avid hunter,” he said. “I started hunting with my friends. My dad didn’t hunt at all, but last year I took him hunting for the first time. I like spending time in the woods; it’s life at its simplest . . . and that’s an enjoyable experience for me.”

It is, however, the antithesis of the sights, smells and booming sounds found only during the fast-paced action at the drag track. That quieter, simpler life is about to change for Torrence.

NHRA’s 23-race Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is only eight days away. That’s when Torrence sets in motion a far different style of hunting – one that rewards round wins with series points – as he competes for a coveted berth in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

For the first time in his 16-race Top Fuel career, Torrence’s duties begin at the opening event – the 50th Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., Feb. 11-14. He’ll be at the controls of the Torrence Racing/Tuttle Motorsports entry owned by drag racing veteran Dexter Tuttle.

It’s the next step in a career that began when Steve was just 15. “My dad, Billy, has been drag racing as long as I can remember,” said Torrence, of Kilgore, Texas. “And I started in 1998.

“All of us at Torrence Racing/Tuttle Motorsports are excited about the tasks ahead,” Torrence said. “This season is a family effort, running the car out of our pocket. We are very happy to have the opportunity to make a run for the Countdown, and I think it’s fitting that it is with Dexter’s team. I’ve never driven a Top Fuel dragster for anyone else. We are fortunate to still be associated with him. I obviously enjoy working with him.”

In 2006, Tuttle selected Torrence late in the season to be a three-race teammate of J.R. Todd’s, and tabbed him again for nine races midway through the 2008 campaign. Last year, when the Torrence family decided to take the next step, Tuttle was obviously their first choice.

The plan included using four of the last five national events – at Dallas, Memphis, Las Vegas and Pomona – as effective test sessions for their 2010 effort.

“We are going to run as hard as we can to make the Countdown,” Torrence said. “I think that’s a realistic goal. The car has the potential. We proved it was capable of running well at a few races last year. We were successful, too. I went to the semifinals at Memphis and we were number 2 qualifier in the October race at Las Vegas.

“Dexter has a pretty good tune-up and I think our key will be the car’s consistency. While our budget may not be as large as some of the other teams, I feel like we have what it takes to be a contender.”

Tuttle, who began his drag racing career in drag boats, says, “The key to this is it’s a family venture. We are going to go out and try to win some races. We have a good crew. I don’t know if we can contend for the championship, but I think we can win a few races.”

Billy Torrence, a 15-year Sportsman racer, likes what he sees. “I think they’ve done well,” he remarked. “They are not a big-funded team. You know these cars run on money, but they’ve been able to make everything count.”

The ability to make each series stop will also enable Steve Torrence to hone his driving skills and get as comfortable as possible for each quick 1,000-foot lap.
“I lack experience, so the big thing for me this year as a driver is the chance to be in the car week in and week out,” he said. “That is going to be a major confidence boost for me.

“Being relaxed and comfortable in the car allows you to think about what the car’s doing and what’s going on around you. Unless you’re in the car at every race, you never get into a routine and you never have the opportunity to make decisions without really thinking about them.

“Heck, these 1,000-foot races only last about four seconds – if everything goes well – so you don’t have time to think about what you should do . . . you just do it.”

Tuttle and the Torrences have done a lot of thinking about their 2010 racing program with the same result. They just did it, and hope a successful effort might attract a marketing partner hunting for a Top Fuel team.
“We are going to help them as much as we can,” Billy said, “and maybe they will get some exposure and somebody will say, ‘Hey, that’s a good team, I want to be on the side of that car.’

“We’ve always raced as a family and we’ve always been self-sufficient. We didn’t do it if we couldn’t afford it. It’s a fun time. It would be nice to be able to recoup some of your investment, but we put it in the context that we’re out there doing it for fun. If you could get paid for having fun . . . that would be great.”
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]]> NHRA News Deby Martin http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24680-steve-torrence-tuttle-motorsports-pursue-nhra-top-fuel-playoff-berth.html DragRaceHose.com Warm Up date remains Mar. 5-7 at HRP http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24679-dragracehose-com-warm-up-date-remains-mar-5-7-hrp.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:14:28 GMT BAYTOWN, Texas – Despite the rescheduling of the season-opening ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI, Houston Raceway Park officials would like to... BAYTOWN, Texas – Despite the rescheduling of the season-opening ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI, Houston Raceway Park officials would like to clarify that the DragRaceHose.com Warm Up presented by Goodridge Hoses & Fittings will remain on the originally scheduled date, Mar. 5-7.

Last year was the first for the event and featured over 100 cars during the three day test. More entries are expected this year.

“Many of the racers in the region and beyond are starting their racing year off at the DragRaceHose.com Warm Up,” stated Hanna. “I really look forward to what the weekend will hold. Houston in March can be fast!”

Nestled the weekend between the NHRA Phoenix and Gainesville National events, the test should provide a great opportunity to teams wanting to test between those stops.

All racers interested in attending are encouraged to pre-enter and save $50 on their weekend pass. The pre-entry deadline is Feb. 22.

Event information:
Top Fuel and Funny Car teams: No charge. All teams must pre-register prior to Feb. 22, by contacting Seth Angel at 281-383-7223 or e-mail: seth@houstonraceway.com.

Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Pro Street, and Outlaw 10.5 teams: Cost to test is $150 for teams registering before Feb. 22 or $200 after deadline. This fee includes car and driver plus two crewmen and is valid for entire weekend.

Other Sportsman teams: Cost to test is $100 for teams registering before Feb. 22 or $150 after deadline. This fee includes car and driver plus one crewmen for a weekend run card. Single day testing passes can be purchased for $75.

Spectators: The event will be open to spectators for $15 per day or a weekend pass for $25.

Schedule:
Thursday, Mar. 4: Credential sales and pit parking from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.


Friday, Mar. 5-Sunday, Mar. 7: Credential sales and tech inspection begin at 7 a.m.

Sportsman and E.T. time trials from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Professional action from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Houston Raceway Park is located off Interstate 10 in Baytown. Race teams and fans should take State Highway 99 (exit 799) and proceed south. Exit at FM 565, and turn right. Houston Raceway Park is located a quarter-mile mile down on your right.

For additional information click to: Houston Raceway Park | Home ]]> NHRA News Deby Martin http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24679-dragracehose-com-warm-up-date-remains-mar-5-7-hrp.html Dote Racing Announces New Driver http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24678-dote-racing-announces-new-driver.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:11:45 GMT Dote Racing, headed by Mike Dote, has announced today that Doug Foley will be the driver of their Top Fuel Dragster for 2010 and beyond. We know our... Dote Racing, headed by Mike Dote, has announced today that Doug Foley will be the driver of their Top Fuel Dragster for 2010 and beyond. We know our first weekend in NHRA Drag Racing was a little rocky, which is never what we intended, but after seeing how the team did their job and not allow the distraction to affect their performance, it was a real credit to what they are about. Even though we were only able to make four runs, it started good and only got better, our last run on Sunday was an early shut off, with incremental numbers estimating a low 3.80’s run.

We appreciate the inquires from all of the qualified drivers but after careful consideration, the family felt Doug was best suited for the job. He assisted us with driving during testing and has done a good job preparing the team for the season. His long term relationship with crew chief Doug Kuch, made it that much more sensible, “the chemistry is already in place and I feel that will be necessary to get this team to the level we would like to perform at,” said Mike. We have secured a multi year agreement with Doug Foley to continue acting as team manager and driver, working together with Connie Dote on the day to day operations.

The team plans to participate in their first event at the 41st Annual NHRA GatorNationals along with approximately 6 to 10 additional races.

The teams plans to have their website www.doteracing.com completed prior to their first event.
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]]> NHRA News Deby Martin http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24678-dote-racing-announces-new-driver.html Cruz Pedregon, Bucky Austin Team To Run Nostalgia Funny Car http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24633-cruz-pedregon-bucky-austin-team-run-nostalgia-funny-car.html Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:21:15 GMT BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Two-time NHRA Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon and 10-time NHRA Division 6 champion Bucky Austin have teamed to campaign Pedregon's Pisano Nostalgia Funny Car during the 2010 Hot Rod Heritage Series season.

Beginning with the 52nd Bakersfield March Meet at Auto Club Raceway Famoso, Pedregon will drive this replica of the Joe Pisano 1978 Plymouth Arrow Funny Car that debuted at here last October at the California Hot Rod Reunion.

"Bucky's going to run it and tune it, and I'm going to drive it," Pedregon said, anticipating the March 5-7 kickoff of the Hot Rod Heritage Series season.

"I built that car to race it," he said. "It would be a shame for it to sit and collect dust. I'm a big fan of vintage Funny Cars."

Of the nostalgia tour's five races that feature the Funny Car class, the historic March Meet is the one that Pedregon said he's most eager to attend. The Funny Car lineup will have 32 cars, four times more than at last year's California Hot Rod Reunion, when Pedregon qualified seventh among 31 entries.

Auto Club Famoso Raceway is where Pedregon earned his competition license and was a track where he recalls watching his father, "Flamin' Frank" Pedregon, compete in the 1960s. He said that in a return to the facility about six years ago he "saw a couple of Funny Cars run and [with] the sound and look . . . the hair on my arms was standing up -- and I had to build one."

So he did in 2009, with the blessing of Joe Pisano's brother, Frank, and the expertise of builder and drag-racing veteran Donnie Couch.

"We finished the car the night before [qualifying for the race]," he said with a laugh. "We'll come back in a more polished fashion."

Austin contacted Pedregon during the winter and asked if he would like to run the vibrant, '70s-style Plymouth that Pedregon had designed as a salute to the late Pisano, who was one of his mentors.

"I wanted to continue to race in a nostalgia class. It infatuated me, the nitro," Austin said. "Driving's not a big priority. I'm infatuated with making 'em run. I wanted to be with someone who has a good car and good parts. I knew Cruz had one, and I knew he is really, really busy with his pro stuff."

Austin said he will slide behind the wheel on occasion.

"If he can't make it, I'll drive it or I'll find someone good to drive," Austin said.

Austin won the Hot Rod Heritage Series Nostalgia Funny Car championship in the series inaugural 2008 season, the same year Pedregon won the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car crown. The Fife, Wash., resident was runner-up last season, driving a Steve Plueger-owned car.

In NHRA Full Throttle Series competition, he has won 23 national events. As the winningest driver in the Pacific Northwest and experience in nearly every class from Super Stock to Top Fuel, Austin is a member of three halls of fame (NHRA Division 6, Northwest Motor Sports, Tacoma Athletic Commission).

Austin has dominated at the legendary Auto Club Famoso in the past two years, winning both March Meets and both California Hot Rod Reunions and setting records at each. He owns the lowest elapsed time in Nostalgia Funny history (5.72 seconds).

Southern California native Pedregon races out of Brownsburg, Ind., where he and younger brother, Tony, also a two-time Funny Car champion, operate their shop.

"Cruz has given me an opportunity, and I've given him an opportunity," Austin said. "He knows when the car comes to the racetrack it will be well-prepared."

Couch built the Plymouth with a 426-cubic-inch, TFX-block engine with BAE cylinder heads and a PSI supercharger. It uses Venolia Pistons on BME Rods with a Winberg crankshaft, Mahle rings, Clevite bearings, Manton pushrods, and Lucas Oil. The vintage Steve Plueger chassis is supported by a Strange Engineering rear, Lenco Transmission, Good Vibrations Motorsports, Impact safety belts and DJ Safety blankets.


ABOUT THE MARCH MEET: The Bakersfield March Meet is a three-day affordable speedfest that enthusiasts call "The Jewel of Nostalgia Racing.' It attracts drag racers and spectators from around the world and includes a hot rod car show, swap meet, and vendors midway.
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]]> NHRA News Shannon Timm http://www.nitromater.com/nhra-news/24633-cruz-pedregon-bucky-austin-team-run-nostalgia-funny-car.html