TEAM MOPAR NHRA PRO STOCK FIELD DEEP FOR DENVER EVENT
July 10, 2006 Center Line, Mich. — When qualifying for the 27th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals begins on Friday, July 14, Team Mopar will have one of the deepest fields in the series’ recent events. Of the 23 pre-entries posted for the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Series event at Bandimere Speedway, nine will be propelled by Mopar/HEMI power. “The resurgence of HEMI power in the NHRA Pro Stock series has led to the record number of teams competing under the Mopar umbrella,�?? said Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Mopar Brand Performance & Motorsports. “Having earned the No. 1 qualifier position three times in the last four events, we’re very proud of the caliber of all of our teams. We’re also pleased to welcome Erica Enders to the Don Schumacher Racing team, and we’re extremely excited to see Gene Wilson drive the Scott Geoffrion tribute car in this year’s Mopar Mile-High Nationals. We wish all of our competitors the best of luck in this week’s event.�?? Team Mopar’s entries include Don Schumacher Racing’s Richie Stevens Jr., and Shaun Carlson, who will be joined by the recently signed Enders. A fourth Don Schumacher Racing entry will be piloted by Wilson. J&J Racing’s Allen Johnson will look to keep his recent hot streak alive, along with privateer drivers Larry Morgan, V. Gaines, Max Naylor and Mike Thomas. Entering this week’s Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, there are four Mopar drivers currently ranked in the Top-10 in NHRA POWERade Pro Stock points. Enders will head to Denver in seventh place, followed by Morgan in eighth. Johnson has come on strong of late to take over the ninth place ranking, with Gaines rounding out the Top-10. The tenth-place standing marks the first time in his career that Gaines has run in the Top-10 in series points. The Mopar Big Block Party will kick off the event at 6 p.m. MDT in downtown Golden, Colo., on Thursday, July 13. There is no charge for admission. Mopar will host an open press conference on the stage from 6:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. MDT, followed by a MoPowered wedding, in which newly ordained minister Gary Scelzi will lead a Mopar-crazed couple in taking their vows. Ron Capps and Angelle Sampey will look on as the duo’s best man and maid of honor. An autograph session featuring more than 20 of the top drivers and crew chiefs in the NHRA will headline the Mopar Big Block Party. The autograph session is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. MDT. Headlining the entertainment for the Mopar Big Block Party will be Chicago’s best cover band, Maggie Speaks. The fabulous foursome of David Calzaretta, Blake Cooper, Shawn Sommer and Samir Varma will again appear on Chi-town’s behalf, as their gigs have included the coveted “Taste of Chicago�?? event. Featuring a play list that ranges from AC/DC and Aerosmith, to Nelly and Matchbox 20, partygoers are sure to find their musical tastes covered by Maggie Speaks. For more information regarding Mopar, Team Mopar, Bandimere Speedway, Maggie Speaks or the SpeedFreaks, log on to _www.mopar.com_ (http://www.mopar.com/) , _www.moparspeed.com_ (http://www.moparspeed.com/) , _www.bandimere.com_ (http://www.bandimere.com/) , _www.maggiespeaks.com_ (http://www.maggiespeaks.com/) or _www.speedfreaks.tv_ (http://www.speedfreaks.tv/) . Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles.