NHRA NEWSMAKERS - SNEAK PEEK AT REALITY SHOW, PHOENIX FANFEST
NHRA Newsmakers Your inside glimpse at the world's fastest motorsport NEWS NUGGETS * HERE'S JOHN: Can't wait to see John Force's ultimate close-up? The preview trailer for the upcoming A & E reality show, "Driving Force", can now be seen on John Force's (Yorba Linda, Calif.) website. The show, which follows the 13-time NHRA Funny Car world champion and his drag racing daughters, Ashley (23) who drives a top alcohol dragster, Brittany (19) who drives a super comp dragster, and Courtney (17) who drives a super comp dragster, is scheduled to begin showing this summer. * ONE WINNING FAMILY: Funny car driver, Tommy Johnson, Jr., (Avon, Ind.) learned last week what it is like to have another winner in the family, and to celebrate he gave his online blog audience what they've been asking for - a blog from his wife, Top Fuel dragster pilot Melanie Troxel (Avon, Ind.) Both Johnson and Troxel are hoping that the family success continues this week in Phoenix. The Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol. Check out how NHRA's elite are prepping for Firebird International Raceway at nhra.com <http://www.nhra.com/> . Current releases are posted at media.nhra.com. * FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH: John Force better hope he doesn't come up against Phil Burkart (Yorkville, N.Y.) any time soon. Burkart has the hottest streak of any driver against Force. In the past two seasons, Burkart has a 7-3 won-loss record when the two compete head-to-head. Gary Scelzi (Fresno, Calif.) and Robert Hight (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) also have winning records against Force. Scelzi has a 9-8 record and Hight has a 2-1 record. While Burkart and Force have not met in the finals in the past two seasons, Burkart has won four times in the first round, twice in the quarterfinals, and once in the semi-finals. * FANFEST: Fans are invited to come out for an evening of NHRA Fun at the Checker Schuck's Kragen (CSK) NHRA Nationals FanFest Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 5-8 p.m., in the parking lot of the Arizona Mills Mall. POWERade drivers expected to attend include: CSK drivers Del Worsham (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Phil Burkart, Tony Schumacher (Chicago), John Force, Ron Capps (Carlsbad, Calif.), Morgan Lucas (Indianapolis), Cory McClenathan (Anaheim, Calif.), Dave Grubnic (Ypsalanti, Mich.), Hillary Will (Ypsalanti, Mich.), Frank Pedregon (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), "Hot Rod" Fuller (Las Vegas), Tony Bartone (Manhasset, N.Y.), Erica Enders (Houston), and Eric Medlen (Indianapolis). Other events include, display vehicles, ultra-realistic POWERade Funny Car simulators, and more. There will also be a Pit Crew Challenge in which the two CSK teams will fire up, shut down, rebuild, and then refire their vehicles in the shortest time possible. Fans can also enter to become an Honorary Pit Crew member at the event. WHO'S HOT! * A HOT REWARD: Robert Hight will be hot when he and his wife, Adria, vacation in Hawaii courtesy of team sponsor Automobile Club of Southern California. After overcoming the odds of barely qualifying and then winning the Funny Car championship in the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Calif., Auto Club president Tom McKernan felt Hight and his team should be rewarded for their teamwork. Hight's crew chief, Jimmy Prock and his wife Jill will also be vacationing in Hawaii courtesy of Auto Club. In addition, every individual who contributed to the victory will receive a $500 bonus voucher for their efforts. * ... OR, NOT!: After basking in the 80-degree temperatures of Southern California for the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals, Dave Grubnic, driver of the StriVectin-SD Top Fuel dragster, went home to Montana last week. The temperature outside was 20 degrees below zero. As Grubnic wrote in his blog <http://www.nhra.com/2006/nhrablogs.asp?blog=grubnic> , "...It took the heater in my place all night to get the house back up to comfortable temperature." He wasn't even sure if the heater was working at time, so he kept checking on it. Although he has enjoyed being home, which meant paying bills and opening his mail, Grubnic is looking forward to getting back on the track in Phoenix. INSIDE THE NUMBERS * NUMBER 2: Melanie Troxel hopes to continue her winning and become only the second female driver to win at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol. Shirley Muldowney was the other female winner in 1989 when she beat Darrell Gwynn in a very close race to the finish line. HE SAID, SHE SAID * LOVE ON THE 50-YARD LINE: Erica Enders is glowing after her surprise engagement announcement on Valentine's Day. The Pro Stock driver told NHRA.com's Rob Geiger, "It's a Valentines Day I'll never forget, that's for sure." Her fiancée, Brant Hall, popped the question on the 50-yard line at Kyle Field, home of the Texas A&M Aggies football team. Both Enders and Hall are students at the university For more information, contact NHRA Communications at (626) 914-4761. To access the latest NHRA press releases, electronic images and other information please visit the NHRA Media Center at http://media.nhra.com <http://media.nhra.com/> Brian Hacker NHRA, Media Relations Manager O - (626) 250-2424 C - (626) 428-0280