Team Mopar combined for three Top-five finishes and nine Top-10 finishes in the 11th Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway in California over the weekend. As the first of the final two weekends of USAC National Sprint Car Series action for 2006, the Budweiser Oval Nationals proved to be pivotal in the championship battle, as Mopar and Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises drivers Josh Wise and Levi Jones remained 1-2 respectively heading into the season finale.

Wise and Jones kicked off the weekend with strong qualifying runs on Thursday, as Wise set quick time, turning a lap of 16.385 seconds around the half-mile oval. Jones timed in fourth quick. Jones turned in a sixth-place effort in the feature; Wise was credited with 23rd after flipping on lap 14. On Friday, the duo battled through the heat race and semi-feature events, with Wise taking the checkers in 11th and Jones following at 19th. Jones battled back on Saturday night, as he drove the No. 21 machine to a second-place finish in the event finale. Wise also drove a solid race, taking the No. 20 to a seventh-place finish.

Hoffman Auto Racing's Jerry Coons Jr., and the No. 69 team also had a strong finish in the three-day event. Coons Jr., took the checkered flag in 14th-place on Thursday night, ninth-place on Friday and in eighth-place on Saturday to end the week's action.

Keith Kunz Motorsports' Darren Hagen and Brady Bacon also racked up some impressive numbers. Hagen won his respective heat race events on both Thursday and Friday nights to advance to the feature. After an 18th-place finish on Thursday, Hagen and the No. 67 team finished eighth on Friday and 12th on Saturday. Bacon also made an impressive mark, finishing eighth on Thursday, second on Friday and wrapping up the event with a fifth-place finish in the No. 67k entry in Saturday's finale.

As the USAC National Sprint Car Series wraps up the 2006 season this week, the stage has been set for an all-out championship battle. Wise leads the points race heading into the three-day event with only an 87-point edge over second place Jones. Hagen is currently in fifth, with Coons Jr., seventh. Bryan Clauson, who is currently out of action due to injury, is ranked sixth. The 39th Annual Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser Western World Classic event will take place at Manzanita Speedway on November 9-11. For more information regarding USAC Racing or the Western World Classic, log on to usacracing.com.

By Matthew Brammer

Team Mopar Funny Car driver Mike Ashley may be commonly known today for his exploits behind the wheel of his Skull Gear Racing Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, but at least once a year he ventures into his old stomping grounds of Pro Modified to race for charity. This weekend, Ashley drove his way to a runner-up finish at Emerald Coast Dragway's 2nd annual Heads Up Nationals.

Ashley dropped a tough final round to local favorite Rodney Rosentiel on a cold (55-degree) track. The final round combatants made a show out of it as Rosentiel recorded a 4.26, 175 to stop Ashley's valiant 4.38, 175. Ashley concluded the season with a 7-1 win/loss ratio in Pro Modified. Earlier in the season, Ashley captured the NHRA AMS title in St. Louis, Mo.

In this instance, everyone that raced emerged as a winner. The proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society. In fact, Ashley donated his entire earnings for the weekend to the charity.

"I think at least everybody in this sport and beyond has been touched by cancer in some shape, form or fashion," said Ashley. "To race in an event that supports finding a cure just adds more value to an already great time."

For more info on the NHRA, log on to nhra.com.

Team Mopar is once again drawing the spotlight on Mo-Pod.com, Mopar's podcast and Web site dedicated to videos that showcase the lifestyle and passion of all things Mopar. The Web site is featuring a two-part video chronicling Mopar Drift driver Samuel Hübinette's recent championship-winning effort at Southern California's Irwindale Speedway.

Part one of the two-part podcast, titled "Drift Ya Later, Champ," debuted last week, with part two set to premiere today. Hübinette has been featured regularly on the site during the 2006 season, appearing in six other videos that were introduced in the "Xtreme" and "Racing" sections of Mo-Pod.com.

Part one of the two-part video catches Hübinette taking practice runs in his Mopar Dodge Viper SRT10 on the Irwindale course, then follows Hübinette home for a behind-the-scenes look at how the "Crazy Swede" prepares for race day. The first chapter concludes with Hübinette laying down some stellar runs in a great qualifying effort. Part two picks up as the "Final Fight" for the Formula D championship ends, with Hübinette and his NuFormz team celebrating his title win on the Irwindale track, including a must-be-seen victory lap by the "Crazy Swede." Nick Hogan, the aspiring drifter and son of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, gives his two cents on Hübinette's drifting talents, and the clip closes out with the team celebrating its championship Mopar-style the following day, at the Formula D banquet.

Launched in May 2006, Mo-Pod.com encourages video submissions from Mopar enthusiasts and offers fans the chance to show exactly what makes them dedicated members of the Mopar Nation. These unique videos can be viewed free of charge on the Web site and through popular podcast subscription services such as iTunes and Podcast Alley. Enthusiasts whose submissions are chosen will receive a free one-year subscription to Mopar Magazine. Mopar enthusiasts who would like to submit their videos for consideration should visit mo-pod.com for submission details and instructions.

For more information on Mopar or Samuel Hubinette, log on to mopar.com, moparspeed.com or samuelhubinette.com.