NHRA Conference Call / Media Advisory
Please find below (copy attached as well) an advisory regarding an NHRA conference call next Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 3 p.m. ET.
If you wish to participate, please reply with a short note to this email that you will be joining.
Thank you.
Best,
Michael Padian
NHRA Media Relations Manager
O: 626-250-2217
C: 626-278-0312
NOTE: The phone number to access the teleconference is for media use only and not for publication.
* * M E D I A A D V I S O R Y * *
MEDIA ARE INVITED TO JOIN A CONFERENCE CALL PREVIEWING
THE 2005 SEARS CRAFTSMAN NHRA NATIONALS
JUNE 24-26 AT GATEWAY RACEWAY
WHAT: Media are invited to participate in a teleconference featuring the crew chief/owner and the driver of the Lucas Oil drag racing team as well as the winningest NHRA driver of all time and two of the top three all-time winningest drivers among current Top Fuel drivers.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 14, 2005, beginning at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT / noon PT and lasting approximately 45 minutes to an hour (We will have Dixon, Schumacher and Force on for approximately 10 minutes each and then we will take a short break before introducing Joe Amato and Morgan Lucas.)
CONTACT: Media can join the teleconference by calling 1-800-793-6775 and then entering 8964 7712. Once signed in you will be instructed to hit *1 on your phone pad to ask a question. You will be put in a queue and must wait to be introduced before asking your question. NOTE: Please phone in a few minutes prior to the beginning of the teleconference so we can properly identify you if you wish to ask a question.
WHO: �?? LARRY DIXON, TOP FUEL: Was the driving force with his wife Allison behind the coordinated effort of the racing community – from motocross riders to NASCAR drivers -- to raise more than $300,000 via a live, silent and EBAY auction for the Russell family. Dixon’s 36th career win at Las Vegas 1 (SummitRacing.com Nationals) earlier this season moved him past Don Garlits and into sole possession of third place on the NHRA Top Fuel all-time wins list (and first among active drivers).
�?? TONY SCHUMACHER, TOP FUEL: The two-time and defending NHRA POWERade champion is back in the championship points mix in 2005, just 26 points behind first-place Doug Kalitta. Schumacher has wins this season in Phoenix (Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals), Houston (O’Reilly Spring Nationals) and Columbus (Pontiac Performance Nationals) to give him 24 for his career, third among current Top Fuel drivers.
â—??? JOHN FORCE, FUNNY CAR: Force is the all-time wins leader in NHRA history with 118 and his 13 Series championships are also unmatched in NHRA history. Force is back on top again in 2005 with the largest points lead in any of the four pro categories. He is committed to driving for seven more years, but he has also begun to assert himself as an owner as well with Robert Hight and Eric Medlen in Funny Car and the expectation that he will have a ride for his daughter, Ashley, in 2007.
â—??? MORGAN LUCAS, TOP FUEL: Lucas has done exceedingly well since he began piloting the Lucas Oil dragster formerly driven by Darrell Russell. The 21-year old has advanced to three final rounds (losing on all three occasions to Tony Schumacher) and currently is positioned in fifth place in the Top Fuel standings.
â—??? JOE AMATO, OWNER/CREW CHIEF, LUCAS OIL DRAGSTER: The all-time winningest driver in NHRA Top Fuel history with 52 victories, Amato is the crew chief and team owner of the Lucas Oil drag racing team.
CONTACTS: Michael Padian at (626) 250-2217, (626) 278-0312 (cell);
Joe Zydlo, Gateway Raceway Public Relations, at (618) 482-2495
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* NOT FOR PUBLICATION, MEDIA INFORMATION ONLY *