Post by racingcain on Oct 10, 2005 16:44:12 GMT -5
Sorry I can't figure out how to add the photos along with this. Tony
Monday, October 10, 2005
Wise Clinches USAC
Midget Car Title at Columbus
Josh Wise and the No. 20 Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises team needed to have a solid weekend of racing to wrap up their first USAC National Midget Car Series Championship. What they got was not only solid, it was solid gold. The No. 20 team made their first appearance at the Columbus Motor Speedway in Ohio a memorable one, as Wise drove to a second-place finish in the Open Wheel Oktoberfest event to capture his first USAC National Midget Car Series title.
Tracy Hines returned to the thingypit of the No. 11 Wilke-PAK Motorsports entry for the event, as he continues his assault on open-wheel racing during down time from his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. Hines qualified sixth and transferred through his heat race event to start the feature event. The No. 11 team finished sixth on the day.
The Nicholas Motorsports duo of Dave Steele and Kyle Nicholas also competed in the Oktoberfest event, with Steele adding to Team Mopar's Top-10 tally. Steele piloted the No. 2 machine to a seventh-place finish in the feature event. He was followed by Nicholas in the No. 02 in 17th place. Teddy Beach drove his No. 125 Beach Boys Motorsports entry to a fourth-place finish, helping to pad his sixth-place standing in the USAC National Midget Series points chase.
The USAC National Midget Car Series will resume action on November 24 at Irwindale Speedway in California with the Turkey Night Grand Prix, where Wise will be crowned the USAC National Midget Car champ in the final points race of the year. Wise's 1,000 points is an insurmountable marker for the other Top-10 contenders. Wise needed to enter the final event of the season with a 67-point lead to capture the series title, and he will lead second place Jerry Coons Jr., by 178 points heading into the November 24 event.
For more information regarding Wise, Hines, Steele or the USAC National Midget Car Series, log on to joshwiseracing.com, tracyhines.com, davesteele.com or usacracing.com.
Josh Wise (above), who clinched his first USAC National Midget Car Series title over the weekend, will be crowned the champion at the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Irwindale Speedway in California on November 24.
Danny Lasoski captured the World of Outlaws Sprint Series feature Saturday night at Dodge City Raceway Park.
Lasoski Sweeps at Dodge
City With Two A-Main Wins
Danny Lasoski and the No. 20 Tony Stewart Motorsports team swept their first weekend of racing for the 2005 season, as "The Dude" drove to A-main feature event wins on Friday and Saturday at the Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas. Lasoski kick-started the team's roll with a solid performance in preliminary action on Friday, taking the lead on lap 22 from Kraig Kinser and rolling to a decisive victory in the 30-lap event.
The No. 20 team followed up Friday's performance with a second-place finish in the first dash event, as Lasoski's victory on the previous night excluded him from qualifying. Race fans were privy to flashbacks of Lasoski's trademark move, as he found rubber on the bottom to battle to a victory in the A-main feature event. Lasoski held off Steve Kinser through five caution periods to earn the hard-fought win. He led the first 22 laps of the A-main, and regained the lead on lap 28 to take the checkered flag for the 40-lap event.
"It's great to have this Bass Pro Shops Mopar car in victory lane," said Lasoski. "We've been struggling all year long, but it just goes to show that with hard work, with [engine builder] Paul Kistler and everybody at Mopar, when you get these engines running, these race cars will roll around the racetrack."
Brandon Wimmer and the No. 7TW team continued to make progress in their rookie season, making the A-main field for both nights of racing action. Wimmer drove to a 17th-place finish on Friday night and ended the weekend with a 15th-place finish in the event finale on Saturday. Lasoski maintained his sixth-place standing in the World of Outlaws Series points chase, while Wimmer remained in 17th position.
Lasoski, Wimmer and the World of Outlaws Sprint Series will resume action on October 11 at the Manzanita Speedway in Arizona. The series will wrap up the week at the Thunderbowl Speedway in California on October 14-15. For more information regarding Lasoski, Wimmer or the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, log on to dannylasoski.com, brandonwimmer.com or theworldofoutlaws.com.
Capps, Bazemore Reach Quarterfinals at Dallas
The going got tough for Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals over the weekend, as the Texas Motorplex proved itself a challenging obstacle for the DSR Funny Car trio. Ron Capps and Whit Bazemore were able to post quarterfinal appearances, but teammate Gary Scelzi suffered a first-round red-light loss, dropping him to second in the tension-packed Funny Car points championship behind event winner John Force.
Capps drove his Brut Dodge Stratus R/T to the no. 1 qualifying position with a track record-breaking and career best ET of 4.694, at 327.83 mph. Capps easily dispatched Jack Wyatt before losing to Frank Pedregon in the second round. Bazemore, who qualified sixth in his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T, defeated Bob Gilbertson in the first round, but was unable to advance any farther, after suffering a tire-smoking exit in the quarterfinals against Tony Bartone. Capps remains third in the point standings, only 57 behind Force; Bazemore also held steady at his points position of seventh.
The weekend was roughest for Scelzi, the points leader entering the event. After qualifying the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T fifth, Scelzi red-lighted against Phil Burkart Jr., in the first round with a reaction time of -.023. The misstep knocked Scelzi down to second, 36 markers behind Force.
"It's just going to make it that much harder the rest of the season, but we're not giving up, obviously," said Scelzi of the early exit. "So we're going to load up, go to Vegas, and run the wheels off this thing, and it's going to be, 'Everybody stand back.'"
The bright spot of the weekend for Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing was the Hemi-powered U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster of Tony Schumacher, who won his third straight event with Mopar power. Schumacher needs to make only one qualifying pass at the next event in Las Vegas to clinch the Top Fuel championship for the second straight year.
Next up for the Team Mopar Funny Car trio is the second-to-last race of the season, the AC Delco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, scheduled for October 21-23. For more info on the Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Capps, Scelzi, or Bazemore, log on to nhra.com, brutracing.com, garyscelzi.com or whitbazemore.com.
"Unfortunately, we're letting Force back up there instead of making a huge run with this. It's just going to sell a few more tickets in Vegas and Pomona and make it interesting for the fans."
— Ron Capps (above), who posted a career-best ET and advanced to the quarterfinals at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals over the weekend, on the tightening up of the NHRA Funny Car points race.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., makes a run on his way to a semifinal appearance at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Dallas, Texas.
Coughlin Jr. Steams
into Semis at Dallas
Team Mopar's Jeg Coughlin Jr., put together a strong outing at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas over the weekend, overcoming an 11th-place qualifying position to advance to the semifinals.
In what has become an unfortunate yet common sight in the 2005 NHRA Pro Stock season, Coughlin's first round win in his Jeg's Mail Order/Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T came at the expense of his Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Richie Stevens Jr. In his fifth matchup of the season against his teammate, Coughlin won a tight battle based on the strength of his better reaction time, .020 to Stevens's .027.
"We had a better run, he was better on the light," said Stevens, who posted a pass of 6.707/205.69 in his Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T to Coughlin's slower pass of 6.710/205.32. "When I heard Jeg had won, I thought I had red-lighted, and I was really upset with myself. But that didn't happen. He beat us fair and square." Stevens is currently ninth in Pro Stock points.
Coughlin then knocked off Kurt Johnson, setting up his semifinal appearance against Jason Line. With a reaction time of .033 to Line's .083, Coughlin led early, but Line chased him down with a pass of 6.728/206.13 to Coughlin's 6.787/204.85 to grab the win. Coughlin is eighth in points.
Allen Johnson drove his Mopar J and J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T to the quarterfinals, defeating the Dodge Stratus R/T of Larry Morgan in the first round. In his second round match against Jason Line, Johnson nearly posted a perfect reaction time but instead red-lighted with -.004, taking the loss. Johnson is 11th in points.
The Team Mopar Pro Stockers will head next to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the AC Delco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, the second-to-last race of the season, scheduled for October 21-23. For more information regarding Stevens Jr., Coughlin Jr., Johnson, or the Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, log on to richiethekidstevens.com, teamjegs.com, allenjohnson.com or nhra.com.
Francis Competes in UMP Late Model Action at Eldora
Steve Francis and the No. 15 team kicked off their run at the UMP Late Model National Championship event at Eldora Speedway in Ohio with a great start, but an accident would sideline Francis during the A-main event. Francis transferred to the A-main event with a second-place run in the third heat race event and started the event in fourth-place. On the start, Francis slipped to the sixth position, but then regained momentum and had climbed back to fourth before hitting the wall, ending his night prematurely.
"The Kentucky Colonel" will resume action this week in the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship event at K-C Raceway in Ohio on October 13-15. Francis will kick off the three-day event with an appearance at Herrnstein Chrysler in Chillicothe, Ohio, on October 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.
For more information regarding Francis, the UMP Late Model National Championship or the Dirt Track World Championship, log on to stevefrancisracing.com, eldoraspeedway.com or dtwc.net.
Steve Francis is currently second in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, which will return to action on October 26 at the Golden Isles Speedway in Georgia.
Team Mopar drivers such as Josh Wise (above) will compete in the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals this Wednesday at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Mopar Sprint Car Nationals Blast Off This Wednesday
The mudslinging machines of the USAC National Sprint Car Series will again invade the land of NASCAR this week as the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals return to The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. In conjunction with the fall NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals showcase the thrilling speed and excitement of open-wheel racing at one of the country's premier dirt track facilities. It also provides some of NASCAR's biggest stars a chance to return to their short track roots, as Tony Stewart and other open-wheel veterans come out to watch and sometimes participate in the show.
Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises' Josh Wise and Jay Drake are poised to present the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals title to their team owner and title sponsor this year, which would mark the first win at the facility for either entity. Drake enters the event ranked third in the USAC National Sprint Car Series points chase, with Wise following in the fifth position. Drake will pilot the No. 21 entry in the event, with Wise driving the No. 20 machine.
Longtime USAC National Sprint Car Series staple Hoffman Auto Racing is set to campaign two entries in the upcoming Mopar Sprint Car Nationals event at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Tracy Hines and USAC standout Jerry Coons Jr., will compete for the team.
Hines, who will utilize downtime from his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series duties with ThorSport Racing, will pilot the No. 69 machine under the Hoffman Auto Racing banner. Coons Jr., will take to the dirt in the No. 69OT machine for the event, carrying the "OT" in honor of Gus "Old Timer" Hoffman. The Hoffman Auto Racing teams utilize Mopar powerplants built by Gary Stanton and Gaerte Engines.
The 2004 Mopar Sprint Car Nationals event was won by Levi Jones, who is currently leading the USAC National Sprint Car Series points battle. Hot laps are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. EST on October 12. Heat races will follow qualifying, and the non-qualifiers event starts at 8 p.m. EST. The spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. EST for the Second Annual Mopar Sprint Car Nationals event at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
For more information regarding the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals, Wise, Drake or Hoffman Auto Racing, log on to lowesmotorspeedway.com, joshwiseracing.com, jaydrake.com or hoffmanracing.com.
Kahne to Carry Mopar
Primary Colors in NASCAR
Cup Race at Charlotte
Kasey Kahne had the most dominant car in the race when the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Charger last carried the distinctive blue, black and silver Mopar paint scheme in the fall 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Kahne is hoping for that same Charlotte magic this Saturday, when he once again sports the Mopar colors in the primary position on his Dodge Charger.
"The last time that I ran the Mopar paint scheme at Charlotte, it was the best car I had in my life," Kahne said. "It's cool to run a completely different paint scheme, especially under the lights. We were dominant last year, leading over 200 laps. Hopefully, this year we can come back as a tough competitor."
The Mopar "bling-bling" paint scheme that Kahne will carry was designed by Competition Graphics of Farmington Hills, Mich. Featuring the Mopar "M" logo, as well as the barbed wire paint scheme utilized by Team Mopar throughout the 2005 season, Kahne's car will carry on the brand's unique and authentic motorsports influence.
"We are proud to have Kasey Kahne carry the Mopar logo for the UAW-GM 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway," said Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Performance Parts Portfolio and Brand Strategy for Mopar. "The race drivers who compete under the Mopar banner are among the best in the business, and Kasey Kahne is indicative of what the Mopar brand stands for. Having the Mopar logo showcased in a premier event such as the fall NASCAR race at Lowe's Motor Speedway represents what Mopar's racing endeavors encompass - the longevity and staying power of the sport."
For more information regarding Mopar, Kahne or Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, log on to moparspeed.com, mopar.com, kaseykahne.com or lowesmotorspeedway.com.
Kasey Kahne will look to put his No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Charger, which will carry the Mopar paint scheme, in the winner's circle this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.
Steve Francis will be signing autographs for fans at Herrnstein Chrysler in Chillicothe, Ohio, this Wednesday, October 12.
Francis to Make Appearance
at Herrnstein Chrysler
Team Mopar's Steve Francis will appear at Herrnstein Chrysler on Wednesday, October 12, to kick off the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. Francis and the No. 15 Mopar/Rocket Chassis/Gary Stanton Racing Engines Dodge Intrepid car will headline the public appearance, which is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.
Race fans are invited to take part in the appearance, which will feature autograph and photograph opportunities with Francis. Clear Channel radio WKKJ 94.3 FM will host a live radio broadcast from the event. All fans attending the appearance will be eligible to win door prizes, as well as enter to win two tickets to the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship, which will be held at K-C Raceway in Ohio on October 13-15.
Francis, a World of Outlaws Late Model Series star, will lead competitors into the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship event on a high note. "The Kentucky Colonel," as Francis is known, is currently second in the World of Outlaws Series Late Model points championship. He has posted 11 victories during the 2005 racing season and is on track to winning his first-ever series title.
Herrnstein Chrysler is a certified DaimlerChrysler Five Star dealership located at 133 Marietta Road in Chillicothe, Ohio. More information regarding Herrnstein Chrysler can be found at herrnstein.fivestardealers.com or by calling 740-773-2203.
The 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship will kick off on Thursday, October 13, with an open practice session. Qualifying and heat race events are scheduled for Friday, October 14, with the event finale slated for Saturday, October 15. The rain date for the event has been named as Sunday, October 16. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.dtwc.net or by calling 1-800-536-5277.
For more information regarding Francis, Mopar, Herrnstein Chrysler or the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship, log on to stevefrancisracing.com, moparspeed.com, mopar.com, herrnstein.com or dtwc.net.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Wise Clinches USAC
Midget Car Title at Columbus
Josh Wise and the No. 20 Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises team needed to have a solid weekend of racing to wrap up their first USAC National Midget Car Series Championship. What they got was not only solid, it was solid gold. The No. 20 team made their first appearance at the Columbus Motor Speedway in Ohio a memorable one, as Wise drove to a second-place finish in the Open Wheel Oktoberfest event to capture his first USAC National Midget Car Series title.
Tracy Hines returned to the thingypit of the No. 11 Wilke-PAK Motorsports entry for the event, as he continues his assault on open-wheel racing during down time from his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. Hines qualified sixth and transferred through his heat race event to start the feature event. The No. 11 team finished sixth on the day.
The Nicholas Motorsports duo of Dave Steele and Kyle Nicholas also competed in the Oktoberfest event, with Steele adding to Team Mopar's Top-10 tally. Steele piloted the No. 2 machine to a seventh-place finish in the feature event. He was followed by Nicholas in the No. 02 in 17th place. Teddy Beach drove his No. 125 Beach Boys Motorsports entry to a fourth-place finish, helping to pad his sixth-place standing in the USAC National Midget Series points chase.
The USAC National Midget Car Series will resume action on November 24 at Irwindale Speedway in California with the Turkey Night Grand Prix, where Wise will be crowned the USAC National Midget Car champ in the final points race of the year. Wise's 1,000 points is an insurmountable marker for the other Top-10 contenders. Wise needed to enter the final event of the season with a 67-point lead to capture the series title, and he will lead second place Jerry Coons Jr., by 178 points heading into the November 24 event.
For more information regarding Wise, Hines, Steele or the USAC National Midget Car Series, log on to joshwiseracing.com, tracyhines.com, davesteele.com or usacracing.com.
Josh Wise (above), who clinched his first USAC National Midget Car Series title over the weekend, will be crowned the champion at the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Irwindale Speedway in California on November 24.
Danny Lasoski captured the World of Outlaws Sprint Series feature Saturday night at Dodge City Raceway Park.
Lasoski Sweeps at Dodge
City With Two A-Main Wins
Danny Lasoski and the No. 20 Tony Stewart Motorsports team swept their first weekend of racing for the 2005 season, as "The Dude" drove to A-main feature event wins on Friday and Saturday at the Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas. Lasoski kick-started the team's roll with a solid performance in preliminary action on Friday, taking the lead on lap 22 from Kraig Kinser and rolling to a decisive victory in the 30-lap event.
The No. 20 team followed up Friday's performance with a second-place finish in the first dash event, as Lasoski's victory on the previous night excluded him from qualifying. Race fans were privy to flashbacks of Lasoski's trademark move, as he found rubber on the bottom to battle to a victory in the A-main feature event. Lasoski held off Steve Kinser through five caution periods to earn the hard-fought win. He led the first 22 laps of the A-main, and regained the lead on lap 28 to take the checkered flag for the 40-lap event.
"It's great to have this Bass Pro Shops Mopar car in victory lane," said Lasoski. "We've been struggling all year long, but it just goes to show that with hard work, with [engine builder] Paul Kistler and everybody at Mopar, when you get these engines running, these race cars will roll around the racetrack."
Brandon Wimmer and the No. 7TW team continued to make progress in their rookie season, making the A-main field for both nights of racing action. Wimmer drove to a 17th-place finish on Friday night and ended the weekend with a 15th-place finish in the event finale on Saturday. Lasoski maintained his sixth-place standing in the World of Outlaws Series points chase, while Wimmer remained in 17th position.
Lasoski, Wimmer and the World of Outlaws Sprint Series will resume action on October 11 at the Manzanita Speedway in Arizona. The series will wrap up the week at the Thunderbowl Speedway in California on October 14-15. For more information regarding Lasoski, Wimmer or the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, log on to dannylasoski.com, brandonwimmer.com or theworldofoutlaws.com.
Capps, Bazemore Reach Quarterfinals at Dallas
The going got tough for Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals over the weekend, as the Texas Motorplex proved itself a challenging obstacle for the DSR Funny Car trio. Ron Capps and Whit Bazemore were able to post quarterfinal appearances, but teammate Gary Scelzi suffered a first-round red-light loss, dropping him to second in the tension-packed Funny Car points championship behind event winner John Force.
Capps drove his Brut Dodge Stratus R/T to the no. 1 qualifying position with a track record-breaking and career best ET of 4.694, at 327.83 mph. Capps easily dispatched Jack Wyatt before losing to Frank Pedregon in the second round. Bazemore, who qualified sixth in his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T, defeated Bob Gilbertson in the first round, but was unable to advance any farther, after suffering a tire-smoking exit in the quarterfinals against Tony Bartone. Capps remains third in the point standings, only 57 behind Force; Bazemore also held steady at his points position of seventh.
The weekend was roughest for Scelzi, the points leader entering the event. After qualifying the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T fifth, Scelzi red-lighted against Phil Burkart Jr., in the first round with a reaction time of -.023. The misstep knocked Scelzi down to second, 36 markers behind Force.
"It's just going to make it that much harder the rest of the season, but we're not giving up, obviously," said Scelzi of the early exit. "So we're going to load up, go to Vegas, and run the wheels off this thing, and it's going to be, 'Everybody stand back.'"
The bright spot of the weekend for Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing was the Hemi-powered U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster of Tony Schumacher, who won his third straight event with Mopar power. Schumacher needs to make only one qualifying pass at the next event in Las Vegas to clinch the Top Fuel championship for the second straight year.
Next up for the Team Mopar Funny Car trio is the second-to-last race of the season, the AC Delco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, scheduled for October 21-23. For more info on the Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Capps, Scelzi, or Bazemore, log on to nhra.com, brutracing.com, garyscelzi.com or whitbazemore.com.
"Unfortunately, we're letting Force back up there instead of making a huge run with this. It's just going to sell a few more tickets in Vegas and Pomona and make it interesting for the fans."
— Ron Capps (above), who posted a career-best ET and advanced to the quarterfinals at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals over the weekend, on the tightening up of the NHRA Funny Car points race.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., makes a run on his way to a semifinal appearance at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Dallas, Texas.
Coughlin Jr. Steams
into Semis at Dallas
Team Mopar's Jeg Coughlin Jr., put together a strong outing at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas over the weekend, overcoming an 11th-place qualifying position to advance to the semifinals.
In what has become an unfortunate yet common sight in the 2005 NHRA Pro Stock season, Coughlin's first round win in his Jeg's Mail Order/Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T came at the expense of his Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Richie Stevens Jr. In his fifth matchup of the season against his teammate, Coughlin won a tight battle based on the strength of his better reaction time, .020 to Stevens's .027.
"We had a better run, he was better on the light," said Stevens, who posted a pass of 6.707/205.69 in his Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T to Coughlin's slower pass of 6.710/205.32. "When I heard Jeg had won, I thought I had red-lighted, and I was really upset with myself. But that didn't happen. He beat us fair and square." Stevens is currently ninth in Pro Stock points.
Coughlin then knocked off Kurt Johnson, setting up his semifinal appearance against Jason Line. With a reaction time of .033 to Line's .083, Coughlin led early, but Line chased him down with a pass of 6.728/206.13 to Coughlin's 6.787/204.85 to grab the win. Coughlin is eighth in points.
Allen Johnson drove his Mopar J and J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T to the quarterfinals, defeating the Dodge Stratus R/T of Larry Morgan in the first round. In his second round match against Jason Line, Johnson nearly posted a perfect reaction time but instead red-lighted with -.004, taking the loss. Johnson is 11th in points.
The Team Mopar Pro Stockers will head next to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the AC Delco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, the second-to-last race of the season, scheduled for October 21-23. For more information regarding Stevens Jr., Coughlin Jr., Johnson, or the Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, log on to richiethekidstevens.com, teamjegs.com, allenjohnson.com or nhra.com.
Francis Competes in UMP Late Model Action at Eldora
Steve Francis and the No. 15 team kicked off their run at the UMP Late Model National Championship event at Eldora Speedway in Ohio with a great start, but an accident would sideline Francis during the A-main event. Francis transferred to the A-main event with a second-place run in the third heat race event and started the event in fourth-place. On the start, Francis slipped to the sixth position, but then regained momentum and had climbed back to fourth before hitting the wall, ending his night prematurely.
"The Kentucky Colonel" will resume action this week in the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship event at K-C Raceway in Ohio on October 13-15. Francis will kick off the three-day event with an appearance at Herrnstein Chrysler in Chillicothe, Ohio, on October 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.
For more information regarding Francis, the UMP Late Model National Championship or the Dirt Track World Championship, log on to stevefrancisracing.com, eldoraspeedway.com or dtwc.net.
Steve Francis is currently second in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, which will return to action on October 26 at the Golden Isles Speedway in Georgia.
Team Mopar drivers such as Josh Wise (above) will compete in the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals this Wednesday at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Mopar Sprint Car Nationals Blast Off This Wednesday
The mudslinging machines of the USAC National Sprint Car Series will again invade the land of NASCAR this week as the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals return to The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. In conjunction with the fall NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals showcase the thrilling speed and excitement of open-wheel racing at one of the country's premier dirt track facilities. It also provides some of NASCAR's biggest stars a chance to return to their short track roots, as Tony Stewart and other open-wheel veterans come out to watch and sometimes participate in the show.
Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises' Josh Wise and Jay Drake are poised to present the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals title to their team owner and title sponsor this year, which would mark the first win at the facility for either entity. Drake enters the event ranked third in the USAC National Sprint Car Series points chase, with Wise following in the fifth position. Drake will pilot the No. 21 entry in the event, with Wise driving the No. 20 machine.
Longtime USAC National Sprint Car Series staple Hoffman Auto Racing is set to campaign two entries in the upcoming Mopar Sprint Car Nationals event at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Tracy Hines and USAC standout Jerry Coons Jr., will compete for the team.
Hines, who will utilize downtime from his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series duties with ThorSport Racing, will pilot the No. 69 machine under the Hoffman Auto Racing banner. Coons Jr., will take to the dirt in the No. 69OT machine for the event, carrying the "OT" in honor of Gus "Old Timer" Hoffman. The Hoffman Auto Racing teams utilize Mopar powerplants built by Gary Stanton and Gaerte Engines.
The 2004 Mopar Sprint Car Nationals event was won by Levi Jones, who is currently leading the USAC National Sprint Car Series points battle. Hot laps are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. EST on October 12. Heat races will follow qualifying, and the non-qualifiers event starts at 8 p.m. EST. The spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. EST for the Second Annual Mopar Sprint Car Nationals event at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
For more information regarding the Mopar Sprint Car Nationals, Wise, Drake or Hoffman Auto Racing, log on to lowesmotorspeedway.com, joshwiseracing.com, jaydrake.com or hoffmanracing.com.
Kahne to Carry Mopar
Primary Colors in NASCAR
Cup Race at Charlotte
Kasey Kahne had the most dominant car in the race when the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Charger last carried the distinctive blue, black and silver Mopar paint scheme in the fall 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Kahne is hoping for that same Charlotte magic this Saturday, when he once again sports the Mopar colors in the primary position on his Dodge Charger.
"The last time that I ran the Mopar paint scheme at Charlotte, it was the best car I had in my life," Kahne said. "It's cool to run a completely different paint scheme, especially under the lights. We were dominant last year, leading over 200 laps. Hopefully, this year we can come back as a tough competitor."
The Mopar "bling-bling" paint scheme that Kahne will carry was designed by Competition Graphics of Farmington Hills, Mich. Featuring the Mopar "M" logo, as well as the barbed wire paint scheme utilized by Team Mopar throughout the 2005 season, Kahne's car will carry on the brand's unique and authentic motorsports influence.
"We are proud to have Kasey Kahne carry the Mopar logo for the UAW-GM 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway," said Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Performance Parts Portfolio and Brand Strategy for Mopar. "The race drivers who compete under the Mopar banner are among the best in the business, and Kasey Kahne is indicative of what the Mopar brand stands for. Having the Mopar logo showcased in a premier event such as the fall NASCAR race at Lowe's Motor Speedway represents what Mopar's racing endeavors encompass - the longevity and staying power of the sport."
For more information regarding Mopar, Kahne or Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, log on to moparspeed.com, mopar.com, kaseykahne.com or lowesmotorspeedway.com.
Kasey Kahne will look to put his No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Charger, which will carry the Mopar paint scheme, in the winner's circle this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.
Steve Francis will be signing autographs for fans at Herrnstein Chrysler in Chillicothe, Ohio, this Wednesday, October 12.
Francis to Make Appearance
at Herrnstein Chrysler
Team Mopar's Steve Francis will appear at Herrnstein Chrysler on Wednesday, October 12, to kick off the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. Francis and the No. 15 Mopar/Rocket Chassis/Gary Stanton Racing Engines Dodge Intrepid car will headline the public appearance, which is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.
Race fans are invited to take part in the appearance, which will feature autograph and photograph opportunities with Francis. Clear Channel radio WKKJ 94.3 FM will host a live radio broadcast from the event. All fans attending the appearance will be eligible to win door prizes, as well as enter to win two tickets to the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship, which will be held at K-C Raceway in Ohio on October 13-15.
Francis, a World of Outlaws Late Model Series star, will lead competitors into the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship event on a high note. "The Kentucky Colonel," as Francis is known, is currently second in the World of Outlaws Series Late Model points championship. He has posted 11 victories during the 2005 racing season and is on track to winning his first-ever series title.
Herrnstein Chrysler is a certified DaimlerChrysler Five Star dealership located at 133 Marietta Road in Chillicothe, Ohio. More information regarding Herrnstein Chrysler can be found at herrnstein.fivestardealers.com or by calling 740-773-2203.
The 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship will kick off on Thursday, October 13, with an open practice session. Qualifying and heat race events are scheduled for Friday, October 14, with the event finale slated for Saturday, October 15. The rain date for the event has been named as Sunday, October 16. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.dtwc.net or by calling 1-800-536-5277.
For more information regarding Francis, Mopar, Herrnstein Chrysler or the 25th Annual Dirt Track World Championship, log on to stevefrancisracing.com, moparspeed.com, mopar.com, herrnstein.com or dtwc.net.