Mopar Funny Car Trio Chasing Same Goal U.S. Nationals Victory

Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing NHRA POWERade Funny Car drivers Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi and Whit Bazemore all have the same agenda heading into the U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indiana this weekend, with slight twists. Capps will be looking for his first ever U.S. Nationals victory, Scelzi for his first in a Funny Car (he won the U.S. Nationals in 1998 driving a Top Fuel dragster). Bazemore, a two-time U.S Nationals champ, will be looking for his third trophy. But the ultimate goal remains the same for the Mopar trio: just win!

"Every year the big emphasis on the drivers, the teams and the sponsors is the U.S. Nationals and what winning this event would mean to them," said Capps, driver of the Brut Dodge Charger R/T and second in points to John Force by only 17 markers. He has five Funny Car wins this year. "It's a huge race and until you've won it, you can only dream of what it would feel like."

Teammate Scelzi, driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T, will dream about notching his second win of the year at the U.S. Nationals. Scelzi grabbed his first win in July at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals, the showcase event for sponsor Mopar. Bazemore will hunt for win No. 2 as well, as the pilot of the Matco Tools Dodge Charger R/T has one win (Seattle) in 2006. Scelzi is currently seventh in the Funny Car rankings, with Bazemore eighth.

The U.S. Nationals kick off this Friday with qualifying rounds on Friday through Sunday. Eliminations are set for Monday, September 4. For more info on the U.S. Nationals or the NHRA, log on to nhra.com.

Gary Scelzi will look to grab his second win of the year at this weekend's U.S. Nationals. Scelzi has won the event in top Fuel, but never as a Funny Car driver.

Talking about the goals for the U.S. Nationals, Allen Johnson said, "We'd love to get back to the semifinals or break into the final round this year. If we qualify well, get lane choice and have a little bit of luck go our way, we should be in good shape. We've been qualifying well and our Roy Johnson-built engines have been making great power in the past few weeks. We're looking forward to heading to Indy this weekend."

Mopar Pro Stockers Point to U.S. Nationals This Weekend

Team Mopar’s NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Series racers are ready to return to the legendary quarter-mile track at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis this week, as Richie Stevens, Jr., Erica Enders and Allen Johnson do battle at the 52nd Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. J & J Racing’s Johnson enters this weekend’s event ranked seventh in the points chase and is looking to move the Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T into the top five with a solid performance. The J & J Racing team has been on an upswing in recent weeks, making one final round appearance and three semifinal round appearances in their last four events. Johnson made the semifinal round at the U.S. Nationals in 2005 and is looking to repeat or improve on that performance this week.

Don Schumacher Racing’s Stevens, Jr. is ranked 11th in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Series championship heading into the event. After leaving his New Orleans home to escape Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Stevens, Jr., and the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T team rallied to a final round appearance in last year’s U.S. Nationals. He was stopped short of a victory by Greg Anderson.

"I’d like to change the outcome of last year’s U.S. Nationals when we lost in the final. We can’t go back in time, but we could do the next best thing and win this year. I just barely got there in time for the race last year because of Hurricane Katrina, and we ended up doing really well. It would be nice to get there again this year, not under those circumstances, but to still do well and enjoy it a little more."

Enders will compete in her sixth NHRA POWERade Pro Stock event for Don Schumacher Racing this weekend. Behind the wheel of the Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Stratus R/T, Enders will look to qualify and take another shot at eliminations in this year’s event. Qualifying solidly for the 2005 U.S. Nationals, Enders was defeated by Rickie Smith in the first round of eliminations last year.

"Indy is a lot of fun, and it’s a long race since it is spread out over four days. You really have to focus. I’m excited to participate there as a member of Don Schumacher Racing and under the Mopar umbrella. It’s going to be really neat to see all of their fans that come out for the U.S. Nationals."

The 52nd Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will take place at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, from August 30 to September 4. Pro qualifying is set to begin on Friday, September 1. Qualifying will continue Saturday and Sunday, with eliminations beginning on Monday, September 4, at 11 a.m. EST. For more information regarding the schedule, television air times or NHRA Drag Racing, log on to nhra.com.

Sixth Mopar Hemi Challenge Revs Up at O’Reilly Raceway

The Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge is poised to make its sixth appearance at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals this Friday, September 1. Featuring the hottest SS/AH cars in the country, the event will also feature former Mopar Direct Connection and Mopar Ramcharger program engineer Tom Hoover, former U.S. Nationals Pro Stock Champion Herb McCandless and Buddy Martin, manager of the famous Sox & Martin race team. Martin will act as the Grand Marshal for the Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge, while Diane Sox, the widow of the legendary Ronnie Sox, will be the honorary starter for the event. Sox passed away earlier this year after a battle with cancer.

The Mopar Hemi Challenge event winner will receive an additional $1,000 from Mickey Thompson Tires, Ray Barton Racing Engines and Jessel Rocker Arms, bringing the winner’s purse to $13,000. The event runner-up will receive an additional $500 from the three contingency sponsors for an additional $1,500 payday. Competitors ending their runs in the semi-final round will receive $250 from Mickey Thompson Tires and Ray Barton Racing Engines, as well as a $250 certificate from Jessel Rocker Arms.

In order to be eligible for the bonus awards, Super Stock competitors in the Mopar Hemi Challenge will be required to utilize either Ray Barton’s patented rocker system or the qualifying Jessel Shaft Roller Rocker Arm product in their Hemi engines. To collect the Mickey Thompson payout, that company’s tires must be run during the competition on both the front and rear of the car. Decals for each company must also be displayed throughout the competition and product verification will take place at the conclusion of the event. Approved decals can be obtained before the race from representatives of each company.

Competitors in the Super Stock/A-Hemi (SS/AH) division are eligible to compete in Mopar’s Super Stock Hemi Challenge event. Featuring more than 25 Hemi-powered factory lightweight SS/AH 1968 Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts, the event winner will receive a $10,000 bonus. The final round will feature an all-or-nothing format as the competitors vie not only for bragging rights but also the cash prize. The event will crown an overall Mopar Hemi Challenge series points champion based on rounds won at the two NHRA Sportsnationals held earlier this year. The Challenge Series winner will receive a $5,000 prize.

For more information about the 52nd Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge, Mopar Direct Connection or Team Mopar, visit oreillyracewaypark.com or nhra.com

This year's Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge is sure to bring smiles to the faces of a number of competitors as they vie for thousands of dollars in prize money.

"When Bob Panella Sr. came up with the idea to run the Sox & Martin tribute car, I knew I wanted to be a part of it," Buddy Martin said. "I’ve loved racing and all of the aspects of the sport that I’ve been a part of. I knew that Monte and Bob’s operation would do things well, and I think a lot of them. I also had talked with Ronnie [Sox] before he passed away and seeing his excitement about the project made me want to be a part of it even more. I’m looking forward to returning to Indianapolis."

Sox & Martin Tribute Set for 52nd Annual U.S. Nationals

Race fans attending the 52nd Annual U.S. Nationals event at O’Reilly Raceway Park will see history repeat itself, as the legendary names of Sox & Martin will once again take to the quarter-mile. Bailey-Panella Racing is set to debut the Sox & Martin tribute car, and race driver Bob Panella Jr., will compete in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Series under the Sox & Martin colors. Monte Bailey and Bob Panella Sr., are joined by Mopar-legend Buddy Martin as co-owners of the entry.

Panella Sr., brought the idea of competing at Indianapolis to Martin and Bailey, who quickly jumped on board. It was decided that three-time NHRA Pro Stock Truck Series champion Panella Jr., would pilot the machine, which will also feature Mopar power provided by Larry Morgan Racing and Mopar Direct Connection graphics. Panella Jr., and the Sox & Martin tribute car will make its debut at O’Reilly Raceway Park on Friday, September 1, with the first round of NHRA POWERade Pro Stock qualifying. The team may compete in other series events as the season progresses.

"We’re going to see what happens at Indianapolis," Martin said. "It’s possible that if things go well in Indy that we may compete at Las Vegas, Richmond and Pomona. We’re going to take it one race at a time."

For more information regarding Mopar, the Sox & Martin tribute car or the 52nd Annual U.S. Nationals, log on to moparspeed.com or nhra.com

Lineup Finalized as NASCAR Drivers and Drifters Prepare for 'Mopar D1 All-Star Duel'

Irwindale Speedway race fans will witness history Thursday as NASCAR stars and Drifting hot shots battle in the "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear." The exhibition is the first-ever to feature Drifting and NASCAR stars in head-to-head competition.

The lineup features the best of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and D1 Professional Drift Grand Prix Series. Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger and a four-time winner this year on the Nextel Cup circuit, will be joined by past Cup champions Matt Kenseth and Bill Elliott, along with Greg Biffle, Robby Gordon, Scott Wimmer and Casey Mears, driver of the Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger. Team Mopar’s Samuel Hubinette will lead the drifters into battle, with stars such as Rhys Millen, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Tanner Foust, Ken Nomura, Tatsuya Sakuma, Toshika Yoshioka, Takahiro Ueno, and Hideo Hiraoka.

The exhibition will feature drivers from each series competing against one another in the NASCAR vs. D1 Challenge, with the NASCAR stars piloting drift cars provided by D1. The drifters will also test their mettle against one another in the D1 All-Star match race, then go at it again with their Nextel Cup counterparts in a NASCAR vs. D1 tire-smoking competition. Fans will not want to miss the D1 All Eight tandem drift, which will showcase all eight D1 drivers drifting simultaneously in a full-bank formation on the Irwindale track. Fans will also be able to take part in a brief autograph session with the drivers.

The official "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear" Web site, kaseykahne.com/drift, is also now online. Gates for the event open at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets for the event are still available, and can be purchased online at irwindalespeedway.com.

"This is a win-win for both the NASCAR guys and the drifters. We have the opportunity to raise money for the Kasey Kahne Foundation and raise the profile of the sport of drifting. It really shows how popular drifting has become. The bonus is that we get to have fun while doing it. But make no mistake, the drifters want to win this competition."

— Samuel Hubinette, on tomorrow's "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear" drifting exhibition.