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Dollar General named title-rights sponsor of NHRA Summernationals at Topeka
(Glendora, CA) NHRA announced on Thursday that Dollar General, the nation’s largest small-box discount retailer, will become the title rights sponsor of the annual NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event in Topeka, Kan. The Dollar General NHRA Summernationals will be held May 18-20 at Heartland Park Topeka. For tickets, go to www.NHRATIX.com.


Mark Lyle named new official NHRA Chief Starter
(Glendora, CA) NHRA officials have announced that Mark Lyle, long-time starter in NHRA’s Division 6 and a certified team member of the NHRA Safety Safari presented by AAA, has been named the official NHRA Chief Starter, one of the most storied positions in all of NHRA Drag Racing. There have only been two chief starters in the sport’s 60-plus year history, Buster Couch (1955-1996) and Rick Stewart (1996-2011).


Medlen returns to John Force Racing
(Yorba Linda, CA) John Medlen, who won an NHRA Funny Car championship as crew chief to Tony Pedregon, helped design and develop the BOSS 500 Ford nitro motor and served as the “safety conscience” for drag racing after the tragic death of his son, Eric, confirmed Tuesday that he will return to JFR in the new capacity of Director of Technology and Safety.


NHRA Winternationals two weeks away
(Glendora, CA) The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is set to launch Feb. 9-12 in Pomona with the 52nd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, and race fans heading to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona will get the first look at what promise to be interesting storylines.


Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champ Coughlin getting back up to speed
(Glendora, CA) It's hard to imagine a drag racer with five overall world championships and a whopping 67 national event victories being anything but comfortable in a race car, yet 41-year-old Jeg Coughlin Jr. admitted to being a little edgy at the start of his preseason test session in South Florida. PHOTO CREDIT: NHRA Photo


NHRA stars complete day two at PRO Winter Warm-Up
(Palm Beach, FL) Robert Hight ended the two day PRO Winter Warm-Up with a thundering, 4.034 seconds at 316.67 mph run, which was the quickest and fastest Funny Car run of testing. Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang were also the quickest Funny Car in the first session posting a 4.071 second run at 315.49 mph. PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Lewis Photography


Hight shines on Day one of PRO Winter Warm-ups
(Palm Beach, FL) The 2nd annual PRO Winter Warm-Ups got off to a hot start for Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang team. The 2009 NHRA Funny Car champion recorded two of the quickest runs of the evening sessions including a blazing run, 4.056 seconds, to close out the night versus Jack Beckman in the Funny Car finale.


Pro Mod champ named second Top Fuel driver at Al-Anabi
(Brownsburg, IN) Khalid alBalooshi is the new driver of the Al-Anabi Racing gold Top Fuel dragster, it was announced today. alBalooshi, who replaces retired driver Del Worsham, began his tenure in the Al-Anabi Top Fuel car with a test session this week in West Palm Beach, Fla. Shawn Langdon, the driver of the Al-Anabi silver Top Fuel dragster, is also participating in the test.


Langdon joins Al-Anabi Racing team
(Brownsburg, IN) Shawn Langdon has joined the Al-Anabi Racing team, it was announced today. Langdon replaces Larry Dixon who drove the last three seasons for the team. Langdon begins his Al-Anabi Racing employment immediately. “This is probably one of the biggest moments of my life and the biggest moments of my racing career,” Langdon said. PHOTO CREDIT: NHRA Photos


Dixon and Johnson part ways
(Brownsburg, IN) Alan Johnson Racing and driver Larry Dixon have agreed to a mutual separation, it was announced on Monday. Alan Johnson Racing manages the two-car Top Fuel operation of the Al-Anabi Racing Team. PHOTO CREDIT: Toyota Racing


Bernstein proud of great NHRA ride
(Lake Forest, CA) Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein has turned the final page and closed the book on his career as a competitor and NHRA racing team owner. “My wife Sheryl and I have come to a place in our lives where we want to pursue other interests,” said Bernstein. PHOTO CREDIT: Kenny Bernstein Racing


Knee surgery makes Force 100 percent for 2012 title run
(Yorba Linda, CA) John Force answered any questions about his level of commitment to winning another NHRA Funny Car Championship by undergoing post-season surgery to repair a damaged right knee originally injured playing high school football. PHOTO CREDIT: NHRA Photos