NHRA Newsmakers: May 29, 2006
NHRA Newsmakers Your inside glimpse at the world's fastest motorsport WHO'S HOT? ERICA ENDERS: Enders who is in only her second full season of competition in Pro Stock added another first to the long list of firsts in 2006. She became the first woman to qualify No. 1 in Pro Stock at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. "This is pretty cool," the 22-year-old Enders said. "It's another check mark we get to put on the list of things we want to accomplish. I'm proud of my guys. They've never failed to give me a racecar that's capable of winning. Being a girl in Pro Stock is pretty unique. It was exciting for us to qualify for the first time. It was exciting to win our first round, to get to a final for the first time...it's all been amazing. It's neat to share the podium with (Top Fuel No. 1) Melanie (Troxel). I just hope we get to share it again tomorrow. That's the next thing we need to check off that list." While she didn't make it to the podium on Sunday, she did stay at number four in points. NEWS NUGGETS * WALLY PARKS HONORED: The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (AARWBA) has honored Parks with the Bob Russo Founder's Award. It is presented annually to a member who has worked diligently to further the organization in its goals to represent the media who cover the sport of motor racing throughout the United States. Parks was cited for his profound interest, tireless efforts and undying dedication to auto racing exemplified by Russo throughout his lifelong career. Russo brought together several of the leading motor racing writers of that era on August 16, 1955, and AARWBA was formed. It since has become the largest organization of its sort in the United States. Russo, a motor sports journalist and historian, later was the Publicity Director of the National Hot Rod Association. * LET THE GAME PLAYING BEGIN: THQ Inc. has announced that its NHRA Drag Racing: Quarter Mile Showdown drag racing video game for the PC is currently in development. More than 600,000 units of the company's NHRA Drag Racing line has been sold across the PC and PlayStation platforms. This new game, which is being developed by Coresoft and will be published by THQ's ValuSoft division, is scheduled to ship to retailers throughout North America during summer 2006. NHRA Drag Racing: Quarter Mile Showdown launches players into the ultimate drag racing experience, putting them in control of more than 100 Top Fuel dragsters, Funny Cars, and Pro Stock cars at 23 NHRA national events from Gainesville to Pomona, and pits them against NHRA's top drivers, including Tony Schumacher, Gary Scelzi, and Greg Anderson. * POWERADE FAN NATIONALS: Steven Walker, 18, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was the winner of the local POWERade Fan Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. He beat out many others who participated to earn a spot at the national championships to be held at the 42nd Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona the weekend of Nov. 9-12, 2006. COMING ATTRACTIONS * CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS, JOLIET, ILL., JUNE 8-11: This is the only opportunity for Chicagoland fans to witness the 300 mph action of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at Route 66 Raceway in 2006. * MOUNTAIN MADNESS NHRA SPORT COMPACT NATIONALS, DENVER, JUNE 10-11: The world's quickest and fastest sport compact cars invade scenic Bandimere Speedway as drivers pursue NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series titles. * K&N FILTERS SUPERNATIONALS, ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., JUNE 15-18: All eyes will be on Larry Dixon as the Miller Lite Top Fuel driver tries to win on Father's Day for the sixth consecutive year. * O'REILLY NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS PRESENTED BY CASTROL, ST. LOUIS, JUNE 23-25: NHRA teams will compete under the lights in three spectacular nights of racing at Gateway International Raceway. INSIDE THE NUMBERS * 0: The number of final round participants in Top Fuel this year who have been the No. 1 qualifier after nine events. Melanie Troxel rounded out the group after being the top qualifier at The O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals and losing in the second round to Brandon Bernstein. Others who have been unsuccessful have been HE SAID, SHE SAID * WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU DUDE?: That's what Gary Scelzi says some fans ask him about his 2006 season. "Some people are pretty blunt," says Scelzi. "That's okay. People want to know. I understand that." Scelzi has finally cracked the top ten in points of Funny Car, but he has a long way to go to catch leader Ron Capps. He is 381 points behind Capps. "Is it too late for us to win the championship this year?" Scelzi asks. "It's probably down to a very, very distant hope at this point. I don't like it; that's just the facts." DRIVERS TELL ALL * THE BIG DINNER: As reported in the Out of the Groove section of National Dragster, Hillary Will knows whom she would invite to dinner if she could have a mythical dinner party. "One would definitely be Martha Stewart. She's making a good living doing what she loves; she's a smart business-woman. The second would be (New England Patriots quarterback) Tom Brady. He's a good athlete and very mentally tough. He was given a unique opportunity, and he lived up to expectations. I'd also like for my great-grandfather to be there. He lived to be 101 years old and just passed away last May. We used to go to lunch all the time, and I miss having lunches with him. Finally, John Force. He has figured things out about racing and sponsors, and that's obviously my next step, trying to get a sponsor for our team. I probably couldn't get enough information from him."