Possible Stories for FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, July 29-31
Below, please find some storylines entering the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, presented by Supercuts, at Infineon Raceway, July 29-31. It is our second biggest event of the year behind NASCAR, attracting nearly 80,000 fans over three days. It is also covered nationally by ESPN2. If any of these storylines catch your eye, please let us know and we can put you in touch via the phone, or in person. Just drop us an e-mail at jcardinale@infineonraceway.com or drose@infineonraceway.com. Thanks! Women in Drag Racing: The emergence of Danica Patrick in the Indy Racing League has really fueled the role of women in sports. Michelle Wie has also gained quite a bit of national attention in golf. The NHRA was progressive in this area well before it became fashionable and has five women in its series: Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Bike), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), Melanie Troxel (Top Fuel), and Ashley Force (Top Alcohol Dragster). Shirley Muldowney was a pioneer in the sport and actually won three Top Fuel world championships (1977, 1980, 1982). More than 30 women have competed in NHRA Drag Racing over the years. Female World Champion Motorcycle Drag Racer: Angelle Sampey is a three-time world champion in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle class, meaning she has dominated a virtually all-male industry. At less than 5-feet tall, and weighing nearly 100 pounds, Sampey can ride a motorcycle at better than 190 mph over the quarter-mile. She is the winningest female in the history of the NHRA with 35 victories entering 2005, and her seven victories in one season is the most in history by a female competitor in the NHRA. The native of New Orleans is also a huge Oakland Raider football fan, and even has their decal on her cell phone. Angelle is sponsored by the U.S. Army, which is another interesting twist. Erica Enders: From the TV Screen to NHRA Drag Racing: Erica Enders, whose life was portrayed in the Disney Channel movie "Right on Track" in 2003, is a rookie driver in the Pro Stock class. The movie, which starred Beverley Mitchell (7th Heaven), followed the drag racing lives of the Houston-based Enders sisters from their humble beginnings to the NHRA limelight. The movie followed Erica as she broke into the world of NHRA Jr. Drag Racing at the age of 8, followed by her younger sister, Courtney. Here is a link to a story on this: http://www.nhra.com/2003/news/march/031801.html Local Chef Cooks Up Nutritious Meals for John Force Racing: Jonny Roscher, who used to be a chef at the Calistoga Inn and is a former Calistoga resident, was hired in the 2004 off-season by the most powerful team in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing: John Force Racing. Roscher has been hired by the team as its chef, and travels to every event on the schedule. So, instead of burgers and fries, Roscher will prepare gourmet meals for the race team. Meals he has prepared include flour tortilla lasagna with spicy southwestern sauce, salmon with mango salsa, bass with pineapple relish and roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, just to name a few of the dishes. Roscher works just outside the hauler utilizing a 6-foot grill and a portable burner. Pedregons Form All-Hispanic Team in Drag Racing: Brothers Cruz and Tony Pedregon are not only both former NHRA world champions, but they are also the only all-Hispanic drag racing team in the country, and one of the few all-Hispanic teams in all of motor sports. Tony is the 2004 Funny Car world champion, while brother Cruz is the 1992 Funny Car world champion. John Force Racing a Family Affair: John Force is the most decorated driver in NHRA history with 13 Funny Car world championships. This year, he hired his son-in-law, Robert Hight, to drive his Southern California Auto Club Funny Car, and it has paid dividends. Hight has two victories and leads the Funny Car standings entering this weekend's races in Seattle. John's daughter, Ashley Force, will also compete at Infineon Raceway in a Top Alcohol Dragster (AAA level of NHRA Drag Racing). She could be in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series as soon as next year. Ashley is 22 years old and was a cheerleader in high school. Funny Car Driver is also an Expert Marksman: Rookie Funny Car driver Robert Hight, who leads the points standings entering this weekend's races in Seattle is a world-class marksman. Hight won the California trapshooting championship as a 15-year-old growing up in Northern California (Alturas). He had the opportunity to try-out for the U.S. Olympic shooting team but opted to follow his racing dream. He is one of the few shooters in the world to accomplish the "grand slam:" perfect scores in all three disciplines (200 straight targets at the standard 16-yard distance, 100 straight at the maximum handicap distance of 27 yards and 100 straight in doubles). Hight is also John Force's son-in-law. --------------------------- John Cardinale VP of Media/Community Relations Infineon Raceway Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476 wk: 707-933-3907 cell: 707-334-9805