NHRA NEWSMAKERS: March 6, 2006
NHRA Newsmakers Your inside glimpse at the world's fastest motorsport WHO'S HOT! * NHRA TEAM OWNER FORREST LUCAS: Lucas Oil Products, a California-based motorsports industry leader with strong ties to Indiana, has won the naming rights for the new Indiana stadium in downtown Indianapolis. Beginning with the 2008 season, Lucas Oil Stadium will be home to the Indianapolis Colts, the NCAA men's and women's Final Four tournaments and other major sports events. Lucas Oil Products is the official oil of the NHRA and the sponsor of NHRA's Sportsman drag racing series. In addition, Lucas Oil is the primary sponsor for Morgan Lucas' Top Fuel dragster and the sponsor of a POWERade Series event in Brainerd, Minn. "We were drawn to the Colts organization because their leadership has the same high standards we embrace," said Forrest Lucas, president and CEO of Lucas Oil Products. "As a worldwide company, we see Lucas Oil Stadium as an exciting investment that also makes good business sense." He confirmed that the deal is valued at $122 million over 20 years. Lucas Oil Stadium will be a three-deck, seven-level multi-use building with a retractable roof that will seat 63,000 for football and 70,000 or more for NCAA basketball, concerts and other special events. The stadium is being built on a downtown site bounded on the north by South Street, on the east by Capitol Avenue, on the south by McCarty Street and on the west by Missouri Street. The stadium is scheduled to be open for the Colts 2008 season. NEWS NUGGETS * MULDOWNEY ON BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL: The Biography Channel's feature on drag racing icon Shirley Muldowney, the First Lady of Racing, will air at 8 p.m. ET, on Wednesday, March 8. No one has changed the world of drag racing like Muldowney. She broke the gender barrier, withstood discrimination and hostility, and an almost-fatal bone shattering 250-mph crash. Despite it all, Muldowney, competing in drag racing's ultimate category, Top Fuel, achieved 18 victories, nine runner-up finishes and three NHRA Top Fuel world championship titles. * PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE SEASON OPENS IN GAINESVILLE: NHRA's 190 mph two-wheelers will open the 2006 NHRA POWERade Series season at the upcoming ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, March 16-19 at historic Gainesville Raceway in Florida. The first of 15 races, Gainesville Raceway seems to always bring out the best in Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors. Last season Andrew Hines rode his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the first quarter-mile run quicker than seven seconds. His performance of 6.991 seconds earned him a $10,000 bonus from Mickey Thompson Tires for the milestone effort. Veteran rider Steve Johnson powered his Suzuki to the victory and will try to defend his title as Hines, GT Tonglet, Angelle Sampey, Antron Brown and a host of others look to open the season with a victory. * LEND AMERICA NAMED OFFICIAL MORTGAGE SOURCE OF NHRA: NHRA officials announced today that Lend America, a nationwide leader in the home mortgage industry, has signed a multi-year agreement to become the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA. The official sponsorship is Lend America's first involvement with NHRA. In addition to the official sponsorship, Lend America also will serve as an associate sponsor for the SKULL Gear Chevy Monte Carlo Funny Car, driven by Mike Ashley, who is also a vice president with Lend America. Lend America will be highly visible at all NHRA national events and its mortgage professionals will be available to racers and fans to answer questions and provide consultation. Lend America will introduce "NHRA Member Exclusive" loan programs, such as its AcceleRATE loan series. With its official status, Lend America will have the opportunity to utilize the NHRA logo in advertising and promotional campaigns. Ashley, a multiple race winner in the NHRA Pro Mod Challenge in past seasons, says his goal through the official sponsorship is to get NHRA applicants the best possible terms for their purchase or refinance needs, while at the same time maximizing Lend America's exposure * CAPPS CROWNED INFINEON'S KING OF THE TRACK: Ron Capps took bragging rights among the NHRA drivers participating in the fourth annual NHRA Tour de Charity at the Infineon Raceway Karting Center Saturday, turning the best lap over the circuit at 55.718 seconds. He was followed by Cory McClenathan (56.112) and Gary Scelzi (56.565). Capps has been dubbed King of the Track three of the event's four years, with McClenathan taking the honor in 2004. The event, which coupled race fans with top NHRA drivers for a day of karting on the three-quarter mile, 16-turn kart course, raised $11,000 for Speedway Children's Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway. All proceeds will benefit needy youth organizations in Sonoma County. Approximately 200 people attended the event overall. "I've come to this event three of the four years and it keeps getting better and better," Capps said. "We're supporting a great cause with Speedway Children's Charities, but at the same time we got to kart all day and hang out with the fans. It's been great." INSIDE THE NUMBERS * RARE DOUBLES: In the history of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, eight drivers have won multiple category titles at the same national event. David Rampy accomplished the feat at the recent Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway by winning Comp Eliminator and Stock. It was the third time Rampy had turned a 'double'. The complete list of drivers who have earned 'doubles' at NHRA national events includes: Pat Austin: Topeka 1991, Phoenix 1992; Edmond Richardson: Atlanta 1992, Phoenix 1993, Memphis 1997, St. Louis 1999, Brainerd 1999; Scotty Richardson: Phoenix 1995; Jeff Taylor: Denver 1995, Memphis 2001; Gary Stinnett: Denver 1998; Rampy: Sonoma 1998, Las Vegas 2005, Phoenix 2006; Kevin Helms: Denver 2005; Peter Biondo: Columbus (NHRA SPORTSnationals) 2005. HE SAID, SHE SAID * FULLER READY TO CHALLENGE FOR TF CROWN: Rod Fuller, who raced to the Top Fuel victory at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Phoenix, sits in second place in the POWERade Series standings entering the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals March 16-19 at historic Gainesville Raceway. Last season Fuller raced to a victory in three final round appearances during a limited 15 race schedule. He is running the 23 race schedule this year and feels confident about his chances for winning races and perhaps the world championship title. "A few people said maybe we'd run for a top-five spot," Fuller said. "But mostly we heard we're an unproven team. Well people are starting to see what we're capable of. This team has everything it needs to win. (crew chief) Lee Beard is the best, (team owner) David Powers gives us everything we need, and Valvoline is behind us." DRIVERS TELL ALL * AND SHIRLEY SAID TO HILLARY: Rookie Top Fuel driver Hillary Will has a solid team owner in Ken Black, a proven crew chief in Jim Oberhofer and also a great mentor in legendary driver Shirley Muldowney. Will told NHRA.com reporter Rob Geiger about the best advice she received prior to her first race as a pro. "When it came down to my first race day in Pomona I had so many people giving me advice my head was spinning," Will said. "I got strapped in the car and all these things are going through my head and I see Shirley walking back from the starting line. I didn't think she was coming to talk to me but sure enough she came straight over, leaned down in the cockpit and looked me in the eye and said, 'You just drive this car the way Hillary knows how to drive.' It's the best advice I've ever gotten because she was basically telling me to trust myself. Then I thought, 'Oh my God, Shirley Muldowney just walked all the way over here for me.' It's unreal." -30- 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/> *** Thanks for your coverage of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series ***