Enduring three races in one day through triple-digit temperatures is only part of the challenges Team Sahlen faced through last weekend‘s race at Phoenix International Raceway. The team had entries in both Grand-Am Cup class races as well as the Grand American Rolex race. This was in addition to back-to-back race weekends on the west coast. The team faced multiple difficulties during the Phoenix race but managed still to put Team Sahlen cars out on the track for each race.
Problems with the ABS system had Joe and Wayne Nonnamaker struggling for speed in the Grand-Am Cup Grand Sport (GS) class race. Both drivers found the car excellent in practice but shortly before the start of the race the ABS began locking the Porsche 996‘s brakes. This braking problem made it difficult for both Joe and Wayne maneuver the many bending brake zones around Phoenix International Raceway.
“We have two spare ABS computers for the Grand Am Cup Porsche but because there are multiple 996 versions of the ABS computer, both our spares only worked on the other two cars we had there. We have run cars without ABS before, but never the Porsche. Therefore we didn‘t have a setup to go to that would allow for the most drivable car,” stated Wayne Nonnamaker.
In the Team Sahlen No. 44 car was Joe Sahlen and Will Nonnamaker. Sahlen had an excellent stint early on and turned the car over to Nonnamaker. Shortly after Nonnamaker took over for Sahlen, an electrical problem resulted in a blown fuse cutting power to the engine. The problem was quickly diagnosed but resulted in a 29th place finish for the car.
“This electrical situation was very bizarre but we were able to find it quickly. Unfortunately for us we fell back in position significantly,” stated Nonnamaker.
For the Team Sahlen Street Tuner class, the team‘s Ted‘s Hot Dogs Dodge SRT-4 made its first race appearance since a crippling incident at VIRginia International Raceway. After the VIR race Team Sahlen crew members immediately went to work on the vehicle which sustained damage significant enough to keep the car off the track for months. Team Sahlen driver Will Nonnamaker was pleasantly surprised to get the car out on the Phoenix track.
“The hit this car took on the front end was extremely bad but we did get to take it out for a test run at Phoenix. The test run was not as successful as we would have liked but in looking at the car, you cannot imagine it only being a few weeks to get it back out on the track. There were some parts that were damaged in the wreck that we didn‘t discover until too late,” sated Will.
Will attests this quick turnaround on the car is due to the team‘s new location.
“I strongly believe that since we moved into our new shop we are able to do things at a higher level and repair damage to cars even faster than before. The equipment that we have available to us is enabling us to be at the track and competitive as well. From the new lift, to the dynamometer, and our shock dyno we have really made some good moves into our cars’ preparations. In addition we got some very useful help from crew member Troy Miller which was very significant in getting the structural damages repaired,” added Nonnamaker.
Team Sahlen competes in the 2006 Grand-Am Cup season with support from Ted‘s Hot Dogs, HRPWorld.com, GOJO, Kempthorn AutoMall, TheRaceSite.com, TheRaceMarket.com, Grassroots Motorsports, and Racetech Seats.
Racing series NHRA Date 2006-05-21
CAPPS AND FORCE OUT IN COLUMBUS OPENING ROUND
HEBRON, Ohio (May 21, 2006) - The top two in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings were shown the door today in the first round of eliminations at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway, keeping Ron Capps alive in the championship chase and leading second-place John Force by 91 points.
Capps drove the new Brut Dodge Charger R/T (with additional support from Torco Race Fuels) to a rock-solid 4.823-second pass at 311.70 mph in the opening round today, but lost on a holeshot advantage to John Force Racing's Eric Medlen's slower but winning 4.834/294.95. Reaction times: .086 for Capps, .051 for Medlen.
John Force was also eliminated in the first stanza, keeping the points spread relatively status quo. Capps lost just five points for qualifying No. 9 to Force's No. 2.
"It's a disappointment," said Capps, "but we've won a lot of those close races ourselves this year. For me, you live by the sword and you die by the sword, and that's just the way it's been. Those (Force) guys are tough, but it hurts worse because we had one of the quickest runs of the session.
"One good thing about my team," he continued, "no matter what happens, we've all won as a team, we've lost as a team. It's a blessing Force went out as far as the points go.
"It was a close race. Eric was actually out pretty good on me and his car quit and I thought we got him at the finish line. I love this Dodge Charger. It went right down the middle of the track, and, being the first pair out, Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) made a great call. It went right down the track.
"There was adversity again all weekend because we had some dropped cylinder situations and once again race day came around and we had a good car. Now we'll head down I-70 to Topeka.
"The good thing for a driver is when this happens you get to go race next weekend rather than have a few weeks off. So, we'll get right back in it."
McCulloch was realistic: "This is the thing that the people in the grandstands or the people viewing the TV don't see or don't know: Capps got beat on a holeshot. We ran a 4.82, Eric ran a 4.83. In reality, they were both in deep (how they staged at the starting lights), but Eric was way deep. I usually never look at or ever even notice the other car, but he went so far in I thought the top light was going out. It you took that into consideration, Ron really wasn't late (in reaction time), Eric really ran better than what his time slip said."
Next up is the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan., May 25-28.
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Racing series NHRA Date 2006-05-21
SCELZI GOES TO QUARTERFINALS IN COLUMBUS
HEBRON, Ohio (May 21, 2006) - A rare broken rear-end on the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car put Gary Scelzi on the sidelines today in the quarterfinal round of final eliminations at the Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway.
After switching from a damaged Charger to the Stratus in qualifying and for eliminations, the reigning NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion easily disposed of Scott Kalitta in the opening round with a solid 4.846-second pass at 314.17 mph. The second round, however, saw his demise, as he crossed the finish line in smoke and haze with a 5.053/237.63 pass to Pedregon's winning 4.865/320.74.
"I've broken every race part known to man, and never, since I've been NHRA racing, have I broken a rear end," he said. "They're huge, they're strong, they're reliable.
"We used to get 80-90 runs out of them. We started changing them at 50 and this one broke at 32.
"It probably has a lot to do with the (tire) shake and the race tracks that we've been on, the bumps, loading and unloading. It's hard on equipment. The rev limiter is hard on the equipment, the bumps are hard on the rear end; off and on, and bounce and shake.
"We just found another way to get beat. what are you going to do?
"The good news is we figured out some things aerodynamically with the Charger that I think will make it better, make it more driver-friendly. What I've learned we passed on to (teammates Whit) Bazemore and (Ron) Capps, so they're not going to have the struggles that our car has had, and we should have a pretty good race car come Topeka. Maybe we can break through there.
"We're not giving up on winning, that's for sure."
Scelzi stays 11th in Funny Car points.
Next up is the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan., May 25-28.
-dsr-
Racing seriesNHRADate 2006-05-20
[SIZE=2]
SHAUN CARLSON MAKES PROGRESS, MISSES FIELD IN COLUMBUS
HEBRON, Ohio (May 20, 2006) - Pro Stock Rookie Shaun Carlson hopped into what felt like a new race car to him at National Trail Raceway this weekend, after major adjustments were made to the Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus R/T last week at Jerry Haas' chassis shop in Fenton, Missouri.
The California native made four straight passes, and although he was unable to claim a spot in the ultra-competitive 16-car NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock field here at National Trail, he and the team feel progress is being made.
"My car is doing better and it's getting a lot easier to drive," says Carlson. "It stays straight when the front end is off the ground, and it doesn't carry the front end very much anymore. During the run, everything seems to happen a lot slower now than at the beginning of the season. We're learning a lot and making progress."
The best of his four qualifying runs came Friday night, a 6.751-second pass at 204.01 mph. His other sessions produced a 6.786/203.92, a 6.798/202.94, and a 6.759/203.52.
"We've been making a lot of changes with the car, whether it's stuff inside the cockpit, or mechanical stuff, that David (Nickens, crew chief) and Terry (Adams, assistant crew chief) have been trying. We've found some things out that have helped our performance, and we'll all keep working towards the ultimate goal, and that is to qualify and start to go rounds.
"I've made more passes in the last month than I had in the first few months of the season. These Team Mopar/SRT guys have been working their butts off with all of the testing and races. But, I think that is the key to this class. It takes time to get comfortable and to be competitive here, and I'm glad Don (Schumacher, team owner) is sticking with this and giving me the chance to drive the Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus R/T."
He and the Team Mopar/SRT Dodge team will aim to continue the progress and qualify for next weekend's O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka (Kansas), May 25-28.
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Racing seriesNHRADate 2006-05-21[SIZE=2]NHRA POWERADE SERIES POST RACE NOTES:
42nd annual Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals presented by Summit Racing
May 18-21, National Trail Raceway, Hebron, Ohio
TOP FUEL
* Brandon Bernstein, of Lake Forest, Calif., claimed his 10th career victory in 11 career final rounds, by powering his Budweiser dragster to the win over Cory McClenathan's Jeg's Mail Order dragster, which lost traction near mid-track. Bernstein posted a winning performance of 4.531 seconds at 329.58, while McClenathan's dragster crossed the finish line in 5.784 at 147.47.
* With the victory, Bernstein moved into third place in the POWERade Series point standings, just 21 shy of Doug Kalitta for secnd and 175 shy of Melanie Troxel.
* Tony Schumacher set the track elapsed time record in his U.S. Army dragster at 4.476 seconds. Schumacher lost in the first round to No. 16 qualifier Scott Weis.
* Doug Herbert, whose Snap-on Tools dragster lit up at the finish line in his first-round loss to McClenathan, lost 10 points when he dropped oil onto the racing surface.
* POWERade Series points leader Melanie Troxel suffered a second-round loss to McClenathan, but she actually extended her points lead to 154 (over first-round loser Doug Kalitta) heading into the O'Reilly Spring Nationals May 26-28 in Topeka.
* Troxel, who two weeks earlier was named the first quarter winner of the prestigious Driver of the Year award, has advanced out of the first round at every race this season and she has made it into six of eight final rounds with two wins.
* Bob Vandergriff's UPS team won the Full Throttle Pit Crew challenge award.
FUNNY CAR
* Tony Pedregon, of Detroit, Mich., earned his second straight victory of the season by driving his Q Racing Chevy Monte Carlo to the win over Whit Bazemore's Matco Tools Dodge Charger.
* It was Pedregon's 31st career victory and his third victory at National Trail Raceway.
* Pedregon has gone from out of the top-10 in the points up to sixth place with the back to back wins. He is 12 points out of the top-5 and 232 points behind Ron Capps.
* Pedregon has won four of the last 13 POWERade Series events, second only to the five won in that stretch by Ron Capps.
* Hight set the track record for time at 4.715 seconds in his Auto Club Ford Mustang and Gary Scelzi set the track record for speed at 329.58 in his Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T.
* POWERade Series points leader Ron Capps lost in the first round in his Brut Dodge for the second consecutive event, but he still has a 91-point lead over John Force, who also lost in the first round (in a pedal-fest against Del Worsham).
* Tony Pedregon's Q Racing Chevy Monte Carlo team won the Full Throttle Pit Crew challenge award.
PRO STOCK
* Jim Yates, of Alexandria, Va., became the eighth different winner in as many races in the 200 mph category this season when he defeated V Gaines in the final. Yates drove his Sea Ray Boats Pontiac GTO to a 6.726 holeshot victory over Gaines' 6.687 in his Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus.
* Yates was the eighth different winner in the Pro Stock class in eight events thus far in the 2006 season. The record for consecutive races without a repeat winner in Pro Stock is nine (2002).
* The National Trail Raceway track records for time and speed fell in qualifying. The time mark was set by No. 1 qualifier Allen Johnson (6.679) and the speed mark was set by Jason Line (206.64).
* Johnson's No. 1 qualifier was the first of his 11-year career.
* Anderson's streak of four straight wins and 17 straight round wins at National Trail Raceway was snapped with a second-round loss to No.1 qualifier Allen Johnson.
* Anderson had his POWERade Series points lead over teammate Jason Line trimmed from 53 points to just 30.
* V Gaines defeated Allen Johnson by .0032 seconds in the semifinals of final eliminations to earn the Motel 6 Who Got the Light Award.
* Jason Line's Summit Racing team won the Full Throttle Pit Crew challenge award.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
* Angelle Sampey, of Mathews, La., earned her third victory of the season and 40th of her career, when she defeated Matt Smith, who was in just his second career final. Sampey posted a 7.046 at 188.52 on his U.S. Army Suzuki to beat Smith's 7.122 at 185.52 on his G-Squared/Torco Race Fuels Buell.
* This is the fourth straight win in four Pro Stock Motorcycle events in 2006 won by a U.S. Army Suzuki (Antron Brown won in Atlanta).
* Sampey is five wins shy of Matt Schultz (45) for the all-time lead in career Pro Stock Motorcycle wins. She moved into a tie with Greg Anderson for eighth in all-time NHRA POWERade Series wins list (all categories).
* Ellis claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot atop his G-Squared S&S Buell. It was the third career No. 1 qualifier for Ellis.
* Chip Ellis set the track record for time and speed at 7.025 seconds and 193.46 mph.
* Sampey regained the POWERade Series points lead by 36 points over Andrew Hines.
* Antron Brown, who was in first place, fell to third, 74 points behind Sampey.
* Karen Stoffer hit a perfect .000 light in her first-round victory over Shawn Gann.
* Andrew Hines' Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines team won the Full Throttle Pit Crew challenge award.
POWERADE FAN NATIONALS
* Chris Shaffer, 17, of Grove City, Ohio, won the eighth round of the NHRA POWERade Series Fan Nationals. Shaffer defeated hundreds of area fans to claim the POWERade Fan Nationals victory, driving realistic POWERade Funny Car simulators. With the victory, Shaffer will have the opportunity to race for the ultimate title of 2006 POWERade Fan Nationals Series champion in November at the 42nd Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.
HEBRON, Ohio -- The top two in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings were shown the door today in the first round of eliminations at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway, keeping Ron Capps alive in the championship chase and leading second-place John Force by 91 points.
Capps drove the new Brut Dodge Charger R/T (with additional support from Torco Race Fuels) to a rock-solid 4.823-second pass at 311.70 mph in the opening round today, but lost on a holeshot advantage to John Force Racing's Eric Medlen's slower but winning 4.834/294.95. Reaction times: .086 for Capps, .051 for Medlen.
John Force was also eliminated in the first stanza, keeping the points spread relatively status quo. Capps lost just five points for qualifying No. 9 to Force's No. 2.
"It's a disappointment," said Capps, "but we've won a lot of those close races ourselves this year. For me, you live by the sword and you die by the sword, and that's just the way it's been. Those (Force) guys are tough, but it hurts worse because we had one of the quickest runs of the session.
"One good thing about my team," he continued, "no matter what happens, we've all won as a team, we've lost as a team. It's a blessing Force went out as far as the points go.
"It was a close race. Eric was actually out pretty good on me and his car quit and I thought we got him at the finish line. I love this Dodge Charger. It went right down the middle of the track, and, being the first pair out, Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) made a great call. It went right down the track.
"There was adversity again all weekend because we had some dropped cylinder situations and once again race day came around and we had a good car. Now we'll head down I-70 to Topeka.
"The good thing for a driver is when this happens you get to go race next weekend rather than have a few weeks off. So, we'll get right back in it."
McCulloch was realistic: "This is the thing that the people in the grandstands or the people viewing the TV don't see or don't know: Capps got beat on a holeshot. We ran a 4.82, Eric ran a 4.83. In reality, they were both in deep (how they staged at the starting lights), but Eric was way deep. I usually never look at or ever even notice the other car, but he went so far in I thought the top light was going out. It you took that into consideration, Ron really wasn't late (in reaction time), Eric really ran better than what his time slip said."
Next up is the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan., May 25-28.
NHRA FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ron Capps, 666
2. John Force, 575
3. Eric Medlen, 482
4. Robert Hight, 474
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 446
6. Tony Pedregon, 434 (winner today)
7. Del Worsham, 428
8. Whit Bazemore, 412
9. Cruz Pedregon, 402
10. Phil Burkart Jr., 354
McMahan Posts Top Five, Top-10 Finishes at Dodge City Raceway
[SIZE=1][Mopar Speed][/SIZE]
Paul McMahan and the No. 20 Tony Stewart Motorsports team continued to gain momentum in National Sprint Tour Series competition, earning a Top-five and a Top-10 finish at Dodge City Raceway Park over the weekend. McMahan qualified well and battled through the heat race and dash event on Friday night to lock himself into the A-main event. The No. 20 team ran a solid race, resulting in a sixth place event finish. In Saturday’s event finale, McMahan won the second dash event and led laps 9-17 en route to a fifth-place A-main finish. The No. 20 team is currently ranked eighth in National Sprint Tour Series points.
Joey Saldana and the No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing team also posted solid Midwest finishes in World of Outlaws Sprint Series action last week. At Grandview Speedway on May 16, Saldana drove to a fifth-place A-main finish. Rain washed out the Commonwealth Clash event at Lernerville Speedway on May 19, and the team moved on to Sharon Speedway on May 20. Saldana won the second heat race event en route to an eighth-place A-main finish. Saldana is currently ranked fourth in World of Outlaws Sprint Series points.
McMahan and the No. 20 team will resume National Sprint Tour Series action on May 26 at Attica Raceway Park. The team will also compete in the World of Outlaws Sprint Series event alongside Saldana and the No. 9 team at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway on
Clauson Cruises to Mopar All-Star Showdown Win with Mopar Power
[Mopar Speed]
Team Mopar competed in the Mopar All-Star Showdown at Concord (N.C.) Motorsport Park on Sunday, May 21, wrapping up the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge weekend in open-wheel racing style. The Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises trio of Josh Wise, Levi Jones and Kyle Nicholas turned in solid performances, as Wise and Jones earned the seventh and 11th place honors in the 50-lap feature event. Nicholas was involved in a multi-car accident, sidelining him for the evening.
The Hoffman Auto Racing team and Tracy Hines had a strong run in the works when Hines ran into debris from another car in the feature event. Hines came into the pits for quick repairs, but the damage was too much to overcome. The Hoffman team was scored in the 18th finishing position.
The Mopar All-Star Showdown USAC National Sprint Series event was won by Bryan Clauson and the Keith Kunz Motorsports team. Wise continues to lead the USAC National Sprint Car Series points chase, with Jones following closely in third place. Clauson is currently fourth.
Team Mopar will return to USAC National Sprint Car Series action on May 24 at Anderson Speedway. For more information regarding USAC Racing or the Mopar All-Star Showdown, log on to usacracing.com or MetrolinaBrand.com.
Team Mopar driver Whit Bazemore had his strongest performance of the year over the weekend, as the two-time U.S. Nationals champion reached the final round of the Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. The outing was Bazemore’s first finals appearance since he won the Las Vegas 1 event in 2005.
Bazemore qualified fourth, then drove his Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger R/T to wins over Bob Gilbertson, Del Worsham and Eric Medlen. He matched up with Tony Pedregon in the final round and led out of the gate, but a parts failure ended his bid for the win.
"It's a huge effort and it's fun," said Bazemore, who improved to eighth in the NHRA POWERade Funny Car points standings. "We're having fun. I'm having fun. The car is so perfect. We had to fight it a little bit going down the track, but I love it."
Current Funny Car points leader and Team Mopar driver Ron Capps exited in the first round, but took comfort in the fact second-place John Force also went to the trailer after the first round. Capps, who debuted his Brut Dodge Charger R/T at Columbus, currently has a 91-point lead over Force. Reigning NHRA Funny Car Champion Gary Scelzi racked up another quarterfinals appearance in his Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T [he was forced to switch from the Charger after damage in qualifying], but he was unable to go any further after suffering a rare broken rear-end. Scelzi is currently 11th in the points race.
Next up for the Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing trio is the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, scheduled for this Thursday through Sunday. Qualifying coverage can be seen on ESPN on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Finals coverage begins Sunday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more info on Capps, Scelzi, Bazemore or the NHRA, log on to shoeracing.com or nhra.com
Allen Johnson put together an impressive outing in his J&J Racing Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T at the Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, capturing the No.1 qualifier spot and advancing to the semifinals for the first time in 2006.
Johnson took the pole with a pass of 6.679 at 205.82 mph. He dispatched of Greg Stanfield in the first round, then defeated defending and three-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson in the quarterfinals, setting up a Hemi vs. Hemi match up in the semis against V. Gaines. Johnson was unable to get to the final, as Gaines took the win in his Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus R/T (Gaines lost in the final to Jim Yates).
Richie Stevens Jr., driving his Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T, had the misfortune of facing Greg Anderson without lane choice in the first round. Despite a slightly better reaction time (.044 for Stevens Jr.; .045 for Anderson) and the lead at half-track, Stevens Jr. couldn’t hold off the defending champ. Stevens Jr.’s fellow Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Shaun Carlson, continued to get valuable seat time in his Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus R/T, but was unable to qualify in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock class.
Johnson, Stevens Jr., and Carlson will head next to the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, scheduled for this Thursday through Sunday. Qualifying coverage can be seen on ESPN on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Finals coverage begins Sunday, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more info on Stevens Jr., Carlson, Johnson or the NHRA, log on to shoeracing.com, allenjohnson.com or nhra.com.
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FAST FACTS
Aaron Fike, the 23-year-old driving phenom out of Galesburg, Ill., eyes his 50th career NASCAR Busch Series start when he takes the wheel of the #43 Smith Transport Dodge of the Curb Agajanian Performance Group in preparation for Saturday night’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway outside Charlotte.
Fike has two previous NBS starts on the legendary 1.5-mile tri-oval, including his second-best career NBS finish of 14th in the #43 CAPG entry last fall. He made his Lowe’s Motor Speedway NBS debut in the Fall 2004 race in the #43 CAPG Dodge, qualifying 17th before having to leave the race after a Lap-154 accident.
The 14th-place finish here at Charlotte is not only Fike’s second-best career NBS finish, but the best in recent years for the #43 entry. In 10 appearances since the 2000 NBS season, brothers Jay and Johnny Sauter, Hermie Sadler and Todd Bodine all have piloted the #43 racing machine here.
Tops among his efforts in the #43 CAPG Dodge at this year’s previous 12 NBS events, Fike qualified second in the season-opener at Daytona, and sixth at Talladega. He also added top-20 qualifying runs at Atlanta and two weekends ago at Darlington. Fike’s best finishes to date are his 15th-place run at Nashville, and an 18th-place effort at Bristol.
On board with the #43 CAPG Dodge team this weekend is Smith Transport, the Roaring Spring, Pa.-based trucking firm. Its national “Driver of the Year,” Brian Musselman of New Enterprise, Pa., served as honorary crew member with the #43 team earlier this season at the Nicorette 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
AARON FIKE QUOTES ON CHARLOTTE – “As is always the case at Lowe’s, I’m excited about running here this weekend. We’ve had a weekend off to regroup a little bit after some tough love the weekend at Darlington threw at us. We tested at Lowe’s a while back and I think we ended that test feeling pretty good about the car. We had a good run there last fall with a 14th-place finish. But with the repaving they did on the track, it’ll be a whole new ballgame. I’m a little nervous about qualifying because it’s a go-or-go-home situation for us and there are so many entries (52). And a lot of those drivers and teams had a chance at the Open and the All-Star race last weekend to see what the track is like, now, so they’ll have the advantage. Fortunately, (crew chief) Joe (Shear) had a chance to work there last weekend with Michael Waltrip’s team and gained some first-hand knowledge of what to expect. Hopefully, we’ll unload for practice where we left off at the test and things will run smoothly for us. We’re due for a big weekend, and Lowe’s would be the perfect place to do it.”
Birthdate: November 24, 1982
Hometown: Galesburg, Ill.
Residence: Cornelius, N.C.
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Twenty-three-year-old Aaron Fike is one of the latest in a long line of standout driving talents from the ultra-competitive United States Auto Club ranks. In 2006, Fike is slated to drive the full NASCAR Busch Series season for the CAPG Dodge team.
Fike competed in 37 NASCAR Busch Series races in 2004 and 2005, sharing time behind the wheel of entries by Brewco Motorsports and the Curb Agajanian Performance Group (CAPG). In 2005, Fike raced to a career-high finish of eighth at Pikes Peak International Raceway in July, and a top qualifying effort of fourth at Nashville in June. He has established himself as one of the most diverse drivers in the country by racing in all three USAC divisions, the Infiniti Pro Series, the ARCA RE/MAX series and the NASCAR Busch Series over the last two seasons.
In 2003, Fike successfully defended the National Midget Driver of the Year title he earned in 2002, becoming the first back-to-back winner. He won four times in the USAC Midget Series in 2003, including the 58th renewal of the prestigious “Night Before the 500,” and he won his second race on the Infiniti Pro Series Tour. Fike also made two late-season starts in the ARCA RE/MAX series in 2003.
During an outstanding 2002 season, Fike was picked to drive in the Indy Racing League’s Infiniti Pro Series. Proving to be a quick study, he immediately won during his rookie year in the rear-engined car. Fike won seven times in the Midget Series that year enroute to the Badger Midget Racing Association Championship. He also has the distinction of being the 2001 USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year, breaking Jeff Gordon’s record as the youngest winner in the series, and was also the 2000 USAC National Midget Series Rookie of the Year.
Career Highlights
2006 Started first full-time NASCAR Busch Series season in the #43 Curb Agajanian Performance Group Dodge. Qualified on the front row (outside pole) at the season-opening Hershey’s Kissables 300 at Daytona.
2005 Made 24 NASCAR Busch Series starts with a best finish of eighth at Pikes Peak and best qualifying effort of fourth at Nashville.
2004 Made NASCAR Busch Series debut at Rockingham; finished 17th at Fall Dover NBS race.
2003 National Midget Driver of the Year; Won World Championship Midget feature in Auckland, New Zealand; Won IRL Infiniti Pro Series race at Pikes Peak; Won 58th “Night Before the 500” Midget race at IRP; Won One Feature with the Badger Midget Association; Finished Ninth in ARCA RE/MAX Series event at South Boston.
2002 National Midget Driver of the Year; Badger Midget Racing Association Champion; Won Infiniti Pro Series race at Chicagoland; Seven Midget feature wins during the season.
2001 USAC Silver Crown Series Rookie of the Year; Youngest driver to ever win a Silver Crown event with win at Richmond … record previously held by Jeff Gordon; Finished 10th in series points.
AARON FIKE – CAREER NASCAR BUSCH SERIES YEAR-BY-YEAR
Year Age Races Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led Earnings Rank AvSt AvFn RAF Miles LLF
Lux and White to Debut Miller Motorsports Park NayKid Racing Vipers to Strike at Amer
2006-05-25
Dodge Viper SRT10 drivers Cindi Lux (Aloha, Ore.) and Scotty B. White (Puyallup, Wash.) enter this weekend’s Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Touring One (T1) event on an upturn. The two NayKid Racing drivers have piloted their matching Viper SRT10 Coupes to six victories in ten races this season and are finding a rhythm that is so crucial to success in the long summer months leading into the championship race in October. Up until this point in the year, Lux and White have competed at tracks that the two are familiar with. However, this weekend marks a new event at a new venue; Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Their debut at this pristine course will give a strong sense of how the two KUMHO Tires/ Dodge Motorsports/ SRT Dodge Vipers will fare at the remaining events on the calendar.
Built over the last year, Miller Motorsports Park in suburban Salt Lake City is destined to become one of North America’s premier race courses. This weekend’s event will take place on the 2.183-mile, 10-turn, West Course. The track is just recently completed and few, if any, of the teams will have had an opportunity to test on the track. The teammates’ professional approach should give them an edge over many of their competitors that will get frustrated by Miller’s daunting layout.
“I am all about driving new tracks, especially ones that Alan Wilson designs,” enthused Lux. “I think one of the strong points in our team is the ability to read and attack new tracks much quicker than most teams. Plus, not having a promoter’s test day will really add to the drama of getting up to speed. I know my teammate Scotty will be on the gas so I have my work cut out for me. This weekend should be a lot of fun. It will be interesting to see how our KUMHO Tires work on such a ‘green’ racetrack. There are a lot of unknowns going into this race; we will see how it turns out.”
With so many different and technically challenging corners, setup becomes a key ingredient in success at Miller. The Viper’s inherent horsepower and braking prowess will help here with the track’s one long straightaway, several tight turns and multiple sweeping corners.
“Man, we are so stoked about running the new track,” said White. “This is exactly the type of challenge that should make our team shine; brand new track, no test day, no practice, no warm up, no nothing! Just strap your baby to the hood and haul butt on a brand new track nobody has ever seen before. It’s kind of like a big autocross where you have to figure it out as you go. I am hoping that my autocross experience and Cindi’s phenomenal ability to learn new tracks quickly pays off for us. Then it’s just a matter of fine tuning the awesome handling of the SRT Viper Coupes to the surface to optimize the KUMHO bite.”
“This weekend is the first National for the SCCA to visit Miller Motorsports Park and we are thrilled that NayKid Racing drivers Cindi and Scotty have chosen to make the trip from the west coast with their Vipers to visit our new facility,” said Dan McKeever, Driving School Director at Miller Motorsports Park. “The west track is a good combination of fast corners and technical sections. It will favor a good handling race car and a driver that is a quick study. This racing facility is working very hard to bring top level races and teams into the Salt Lake area.”
With four event weekends under her belt thus far this season, Lux has stood on the top-step of the podium twice in the No. 78 KUMHO Tires/ Dodge Motorsports/ SRT/ Nike/ MOMO USA/ Forgeline Viper. She leads the Northern Pacific (NorPac) Division of the T1 class entering Sunday’s 30-minute race at Miller. Currently, White is in a battle to recapture his early season points lead and his sixth-straight Southern Pacific (SoPac) Division title. He took the class victory, just ahead of Lux, at Portland International Raceway on May 14 driving the No. 3 KUMHO Tires/ Dodge Motorsports/ SRT/ CORSA Exhaust/ Red Line Oil Dodge Viper SRT10. Portland, the home track for both Lux and White, was the most recent race for the two Vipers.
The Don Schumacher Racing Mopar-backed Pro Stock heading Topieka
2006-05-25
The Don Schumacher Racing Mopar-backed Pro Stock team led by crew chief David Nickens aims to qualify well and go rounds with both Richie Stevens Jr.‘s Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T and Rookie Shaun Carlson‘s Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus R/T this weekend at the O‘Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, Kansas.
Richie Stevens Jr. is looking for the consistency that has allowed him to qualify in the top half of the highly-competitive 16-car Pro Stock field in five of eight NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events this year. “We found out in Columbus (Ohio, last weekend) how tough Sunday can be if you don‘t have lane choice, so that is really our priority for Topeka,” he says. “Let‘s get in the top of the field and go from there. You can‘t look too far ahead in this class.
“The car isn‘t very far off,” continues Stevens, who was No. 1 qualifier here in 1999. “David (Nickens, crew chief) has been working really hard on getting it to be a top-five car, and to start winning some races. Don (Schumacher, team owner) has brought in some really good people to do that, and I would love for the results to start showing this weekend.”
Stevens would like to become the ninth different winner in the Pro Stock class this season.
Shaun Carlson is getting more comfortable in his rookie season. “We are coming off a positive weekend for the Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus team. Granted, we didn‘t qualify for the event in Columbus, but we made four clean passes down the track (in qualifying), which was the first time all year we have done that,” said the 32-year old California native. “I know I sound like a broken record, but the things Terry (Adams, assistant crew chief) has been doing with the four-link suspension has done wonders for me and this car.”
RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS: * Fourteenth in 2006 Pro Stock standings after eight events * At 2005 O‘Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, he qualified No. 14, lost second round to Greg Stanfield * Qualified No. 1 here in 1999 * Joined Don Schumacher Racing after sending in a resume for 2005 season * Eighth in 2005 Pro Stock points, reached final round twice, was No. 1 qualifier once * Cut short driving career in 2002 to run family business while dad Richie Sr. underwent open-heart surgery * With dad Richie Stevens Sr. owns Stevens Collision Center in New Orleans * Born and raised in New Orleans, is 27 years old (Sept. 27, 1978) * His career-best ET and speed so far: 6.669 ET (Englishtown 2005) and 207.08 mph in Gainesville, Fla., 2005 * Has longtime relationship with associate sponsor Valspar * Capped off rookie season in 1998 with a victory in his first final-round appearance (Pomona 2) * Is youngest Pro Stock driver to win a national event, at 20 and one month, in 1998 * Has four career wins in nine final rounds, two No. 1 qualifiers to his credit * In 1999 he became the eighth member of the Speed Pro 200-mph Pro Stock Club with a 200.08 mph run in Richmond, Va. * Competed in Roy Hill‘s Pro Mod car in 2004, with a semifinal finish at the U.S. Nationals his best result
SHAUN CARLSON QUICK FACTS: * Qualified for his first event of 2006 in Las Vegas (No. 12) * Has never competed at Heartland Park Topeka * Rookie season in Pro Stock class * First year with Don Schumacher Racing * Was named second DSR Pro Stock driver after February ‘06 test session at LVMS * Quickest elapsed time to date: 6.740 seconds (Gainesville, Fla.) * Fastest speed to date: 205.60 mph (Pomona 1) * Owned and drove his Team Mopar SRT4 in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series in 2005, grabbing one win and finishing fourth in points. * Finished fourth in 2004 Sport Compact points standings * Is a two-time Sport Compact event winner * Subbed for an injured Darrell Alderman in the 2004 NHRA Winternationals Pro Stock event at Pomona, grabbing an early round win and nearly advancing to the semifinals in his Pro Stock debut * Finished third in ‘03 Pro FWD points * 2002 Xbox Cup champion in the Pro Outlaw class * A famous engine builder and FWD performance guru, Carlson has worked on projects such as the world record-holding import drag car driven by Stephan Papadakis. * First FWD builder to run in the 9s and 8s. * Built the first Sport Compact drag car with a tube chassis * Has been drag racing professionally since 1999 * President and founder of NuFormz, an 11-year-old company that builds aftermarket components in Ontario, Calif.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Friday, May 26, Professional Qualifying Sessions are at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27, Professional Qualifying Sessions are at noon and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28, Final Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, May 27, ESPN and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, May 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, May 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, May 26, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, May 27, 9:30 -10 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Sunday, May 28, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Feeds include action with natural sound of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, plus interviews with winners on Sunday.
JAMES KOUNDOURIS has come one step closer to scoring his first round win in the 2006 Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship.
The Canberra-based driver took his Dare Coffee Shots / Supabarn Supermarkets Porsche GT3 Cup Car to a competitive second overall in last weekend’s fourth championship round, a wet and wild weekend at Victoria’s Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit two hours south east of Melbourne.
The result builds on the third overall that Koundouris scored at Sydney’s Oran Park two weeks ago, has lifted the Porsche driver even closer to the battle for the championship lead and places Koundouris as one of the most likely drivers to score a win in the second half of the championship season.
For the first time it was only a one-car Koundouris racing operation this season, Theo’s #19 SKILLED Workforces car sitting out the weekend thanks to business commitments that kept the driver overseas for the weekend.
The weekend started strongly enough for Koundouris, who entered the weekend third in the championship standings following his strong performance in Sydney.
The #69 entry carded second-fastest time in the opening practice session Saturday morning, his lap of 1m36.66 less than a second away from the quickest time set.
Koundouris was second in Practice two, as well – just a scant .03 from the quick time and proof positive that the Dare Shots / Supabarn Supermarkets car would be one to watch at the fast and flowing 4.45km circuit, one the driver said he particularly relished competing at.
“I really rate this track,” Koundouris told Melbourne Radio station SEN following Practice.
“It’s right up there with Bathurst as far as I’m concerned. It’s fast and flowing and everything a driver wants. Things have been going very well so far – we have been inside the top three and things are looking pretty good.”
A second row starting position for the first of three races was the result following the sole 20-minute qualifying session held Saturday afternoon, James’ best lap of 1m36.6963 just 1.1 from pole position and only eight tenths behind defending series’ champion Bryce Washington – who made it an all GT3 Cup Car second row.
Following two days of near perfect weather conditions, Sunday’s race day dawned full of the changeable weather conditions Phillip Island is notorious for producing – competitors forced to adapt to regularly changeable wet / dry conditions over the course of the events three, 12-lap races.
Koundouris scored a solid third in the opening race, the result scored after a battle with fellow Porsche driver John Kaias that lasted a majority of the race – Koundouris slipping by with two laps to go and holding on to the podium finish.
A wild second race was held later in the day, positions regularly swapping throughout the shortened 9-lap affair that once again saw the #69 car jump to third with just a lap remaining.
Wet conditions greeted competitors for the final race of the day, Koundouris involved in a major race-long dice for the minor positions that raged for each of the twelve laps.
After running as high as third, and as low as fifth, the Dare Shots car came home a strong fourth after a battle that included heavy hitters including David Stevens (Ferrari), Stuart Kostera (Porsche, Bryce Washington, Sven Burchartz – amongst others.
The trio of race results gave the #69 car enough points for a strong second overall, the second consecutive top three round placing for the team.
“Thing have gone well this weekend,” said Koundouris.
“It was all about staying out of trouble and keeping the car straight and on the track. It has been a very competitive weekend so to be in the top three again is really good.”
James and Theo Koundouris / Koundouris Racing is supported by Dare Coffee Shots with Guarana, Skilled, Michael Newton Automotive, and Supabarn Supermarkets.
The next round of the championship will be held at Mallala Raceway on June 23 – 25.
Championship Points:
1. Greg Crick – Dodge Viper ACR - 333 2. Bryce Washington – Porsche GT3 Cup Car - 280 3. James Koundouris – Porsche GT3 Cup Car - 254
TV ALERT - Action from the third round (Oran Park) of the Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship, featuring strong performances by both James & Theo, can be seen on SPEEDWEEK (SBS) this Sunday from 12:00PM.
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