NHRA News: NHRA Newsmakers, Sept. 18, 2006

NHRA Newsmakers Your inside glimpse at the world's fastest motorsport

NEWS NUGGETS

* THE DUCE IS LOOSE IN NHRA RACING: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley and his newly formed Catch 22 Motorsports team will field a pair of Pro Stock entries in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series to be wheeled by former two-time NHRA Pro Stock champ Jim Yates and past IHRA standout Billy Gibson. Staley grew up watching professional drag racing with his father. Now, Staley has the opportunity to participate firsthand as an owner with the formation of Catch 22 Motorsports. While helping the Steelers defend its Super Bowl title remains his top priority and main focus, Staley is also looking at his entry into motorsports as a business opportunity. Staley's interest in NHRA is long-standing, and he wanted to have more of an integral participation in the sport. "I am very excited to establish this competitive racing team and am looking forward to engaging in a new challenge," said Staley. "The competition level in Pro Stock is so tight now; I believe that my experience with the elite competition in the NFL and the parity among NFL teams is transferable to the parity in NHRA Pro Stock."

* TROXEL FEATURED IN RACE DIVAS CALENDAR: Hostess' Race Divas -- NHRA Top Fuel ace Melanie Troxel and the IRL's Danica Patrick and NASCAR's Leilani Münter -- are featured in a limited-edition 2007 Hostess Race Divas calendar. In addition to monthly Hostess Race Divas photos, the calendar lists monthly racing milestones and provides an insider's take on Race Divas' stats and background with insight from the drivers on their success. Each month also includes a Hostess recipe, such as Twinkie Lemon Fruit Tarts and a Black Forest Dessert made with Hostess Cup Cakes. The calendar also includes coupons for savings on Hostess products. Starting Sept. 12 through Sept. 30, the limited-edition calendar is available free by mail with the purchase of specially marked multipacks of Hostess Twinkies, Cup Cakes and HoHos or snack packs of Hostess Twinkies, Cup Cakes, HoHos, and Frosted and Powdered Donettes plus the cost of shipping and handling. See specially marked multipack cartons and snack packs for details or motor to www.hostesscakes.com for redemption information.

* AWARDS CEREMONY RETURNS TO THE DESERT: The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony will be held at The Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 13, 2006. It is the third consecutive year that NHRA will crown its POWERade world champions at the scenic resort near Palm Springs. The ceremony, which will take place the day following the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, will be highlighted by the crowning of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series world champions in all four Professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle). More than $3 million in awards will be given out during the evening as drivers finishing in the NHRA POWERade top 10 in each category also will be honored. The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony will feature a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by a formal banquet at 7 p.m., awards presentation at 8 p.m., and an after-party. The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series awards presentation also will take place at the Westin Mission Hills Resort, also on Nov. 13, and will be held prior to the night's festivities for the Professional categories.

* HOSPITALITY CENTER IS ON TARGET FOR FINALS: Work continues seven days a week at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on the new hospitality building that will sit atop the east grandstands of the venerable facility on the grounds of Fairplex at Pomona. The structure should be completed in time for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, the final event of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Series. To see photos of the progress that has been happening visit nhra.com <http://www.nhra.com/> .

COMING ATTRACTIONS

* O'REILLY NHRA FALL NATIONALS, DALLAS, SEPT. 21-24: The all-concrete quarter-mile Texas Motorplex, the sport's first 'Super Track,' will host the world's fastest Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars as teams chase NHRA POWERade Series world championship glory.

* TOYO TIRES NHRA NATIONALS, READING, PA., SEPT. 29- OCT. 1: Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher looks to continue his winning ways at scenic Maple Grove Raceway as the POWERade series returns for the rain-delayed event. Schumacher has driven his U.S. Army dragster to the last three Top Fuel victories at the Pennsylvania track.

* NHRA SPORT COMPACT FALLNATIONALS, ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., SEPT. 30-Oct. 1: The world's quickest and fastest sport compact cars battle for the prestigious NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series world championship titles at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

* TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA NATIONALS, RICHMOND, VA., OCT. 6-9: The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series returns to Virginia Motorsports Park for the first time since the 2000 season. At stake: NHRA POWERade Series world championship titles. NHRA Funny Car dominator John Force is looking forward to returning to the Mid-Atlantic quarter-mile track where he has won four of the six previous races held there.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

* 0: Number of career starts in Funny car for Jack Beckman who entered in this week's O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas. He will be driving the Matco Tools Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in place of Whit Bazemore for the remainder of 2006. Beckman had 12 starts in 2005 in a Top Fuel dragster when he finished 15th in the points standings. He won the Super Comp world championship on the Lucas Oil Series and Division 7 Super Comp championship in 2003.

DRIVERS TELL ALL

* PAWUK TALKS CATS ON STOVES, MAALOX AND CHICLETS: Mark Pawuk, driver of the Mark Pawuk Pontiac GTO pro stocker, gives his description of competing in the 'Countdown to the Championship' and being within the Top Eight. "A tight points chase that boils down to the final six events - about a quarter of our season - seems like a great idea. It will give frustrated competitors an opportunity to reel in a dominant driver, and because I've always been a chaser, making the Elite Eight would make me feel that I'd still have a chance. And if I were lucky enough to be the dominant guy, I'd be as nervous as a cat on a hot stove wondering who was going to overtake me. That's heart-pounding, sweaty-palms, ready-to-throw-up stuff that's great even if it does end up with drivers chewing Maalox like Chiclets."