Force goes global; Troxel named "Hostess Diva"
NHRA Newsmakers Your inside glimpse at the world's fastest motorsport (Media Only) NEWS NUGGETS * Force goes global. He's known for his quick, wide smile and odd-ball wit - the kind that draws fans who dream of sharing just five minutes of his conversation. There's no doubt that 13-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force is a favorite on this side of the Atlantic, but his fame has long since gone world-wide. Force accepted the Gregor Grant Award for lifetime achievement from AutoSport Magazine (considered "the bible" of motor racing in Europe) at a banquet in London on Sunday. Past winners of the award, named for the publication's founding editor, include Mario Andretti, Bobby Rahal, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Sir Frank Williams, founder of the Williams Formula 1 team, to name a few. Force was escorted to the event by his daughter Ashley, driver Eric Medlen, and NHRA President Tom Compton. "John has always been a great representative of NHRA and all of motorsports," Compton said. "We're proud to see him receive such a prestigious award for his outstanding accomplishments." Back stateside, 2005 rookie of the year Robert Hight accepted the "horsepower trophy" given to 17 drivers named to the Auto Racing All-America Team by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. Tony Schumacher joins Force on first team. EDITOR'S NOTE: Electronic images are available upon request. * Schumacher, who earned his second consecutive and third career Top Fuel title this season after breaking almost every category record in the books, also was named Economaki Champion of Champions by National Speed Sport News and Rocket Brand Racing Fuels on Thursday at the annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Fla. Drivers from all racing disciplines - stock car, open wheel, sprint car, drag racing, midget, late model and sports car - are eligible for the award. Other nominees included: Tony Stewart (NASCAR); Max Angelelli (Grand Am Road Racing Series); Dan Wheldon (IRL Indy Car Series); Sebastien Bourdais (Champ Car); Damion Gardner (USAC-CRA Sprint Car); Steve Kinser and Billy Moyer (World of Outlaws); Fred Rahmer (Open Wheel); and Dave Steele (USAC Silver Crown). * Funny Car driver Bob Gilbertson and Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert are slated to join former NASCAR champion Bobby Allison and current drivers Greg Biffle, Kurt and Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth, among others, at "Stocks for Tots," a holiday gift drive, from 6-10 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Lakeside Business Park, in Mooresville, N.C. Although the event was founded in 1989 as a way to bring stock car racing to fans while spreading awareness about child abuse programs in the area, Gilbertson isn't afraid to show off his own preference for straight-line racing. "NASCAR is a big deal around here," Gilbertson said. "I figured the fans coming to this show should know what real horsepower is, so I'm going to bring my Funny Car up there, sign some autographs and promote NHRA POWERade Drag Racing." The event is a big deal, too - since it's founding, "Stocks for Tots" has raised over $250,000 and distributed almost 30,000 toys to children. * As if pulling out a win in the closest Funny Car points chase in NHRA history wasn't enough, newly crowned POWERade Funny Car world champion Gary Scelzi decided to sate his off-season need to race in a USAC Ford Focus Midget car. Scelzi suited up for the first - and last - time for the 65th annual Turkey Night Grand Prix at Irwindale Speedway on Thanksgiving Day. The rookie qualified 10th out of 35 cars and finished 18th overall in the ride he bought for 15-year-old up-and-comer Michael Faccinto, a mentor for Scelzi's 8-year-old son Dominic. Dominic recently was named Rookie of the Year on the junior sprint car circuit under Faccinto's tutelage. Reports say Don Schumacher, owner of Scelzi's Oakley/Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car, wasn't thrilled about his eccentric driver's plan. But that attitude changed when he found out Scelzi qualified in the top ten and had a chance to win. INSIDE THE NUMBERS * The 2006 season marks a major milestone for one of the NHRA family's favorite stops on the tour. Brainerd International Raceway plays host to the 25th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals this year - and the track known for its laid-back lifestyle, party atmosphere is certain to be a crowd-pleaser once again. HE SAID, SHE SAID * They expected the trip to be emotional. But Jim Yates, Tommy Johnson Jr., Warren Johnson and Cory McClenathan got several surprises while on a recent GM-sponsored trip to visit American troops at Germany's Ramstein Air Force Base. One wounded soldier asked the drivers to sign the inside of the case of his Purple Heart. "That was quite an honor. That caught all of us by surprise. I don't think that young man really knows what that meant to the four of us to be able to do that," Yates said. Another soldier asked Johnson to sign a clutch floater. "I asked him where in the world did he get that? He was on leave last year and went to the race in Sonoma, Calif. He had brought it back for his buddies to see. I never dreamed I would be signing a used floater in Germany," Johnson wrote in his blog. Check out www.nhra.com for a full account of the trip. WHO'S HOT! * Melanie Troxel, according to drag racing faithful. Troxel fans rejoiced when Hostess - maker of the Twinkie - revealed their Race Divas sponsorship program this month. It features Troxel alongside IRL favorite Danica Patrick and NASCAR's Leilani Munter as the faces of the future of motorsports. Straight-line fans immediately proclaimed NHRA's quickest and fastest woman fairest of them all, but they also believe she is not just a pretty face. Troxel leads five contenders - including Morgan Lucas and Erica Enders - in the current NHRA.com fan poll. Who is most likely to get their first Pro win in 2006? Fans say Troxel has the best shot. She's followed by Enders, Lucas, Mike Ashley and Chris Rivas. DRIVERS TELL ALL * Steve Johnson's lucky number used to be seven. And while many simply fall for the "lucky No. 7" cliché, his love affair with the world's most popular number began when he was assigned the number in gym class at Valley Park Baptist grade school in Sepulveda, Calif. It started with an "S" just like his name - and Johnson latched onto it with the enthusiasm he's still known for. Johnson can't remember any specific prizes the number brought, but he stuck with it anyway. "Everything revolved around seven. Whenever I had a dirt bike, I put No. 7 on it. I would take seven backswings, use seven as my code number. As a mechanic, when checking things for tightness, they say give it the 'Golden 10.' I would never give it a Golden 10. I would give it the Lucky 7." His loyalty ended when Johnson won his first NHRA national event in 2004 - in his 18th year with the POWERade Series. Johnson likes to be an original, he said, and 18 is much more unique than seven.