Joey Saldana opened the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Series' first-ever visit to Tennessee's Volunteer Speedway on March 24 by setting a new track record in qualifying. He ended it in victory lane.

Saldana banked his third A-main win of the still-young season in his Mopar-powered Kasey Kahne Racing Sprinter. The Brownsburg, Ind., native picked a fine night to shine: his team owner, NASCAR Nextel Cup star Kasey Kahne, took time out of his stock car schedule at nearby Bristol Motor Speedway to serve as grand marshal at the event in Bulls Gap, Tenn.

Saldana waged a fierce battle with defending World of Outlaws Sprint Series champion Donny Schatz and Pennsylvania veteran Tim Shaffer. At various points, each driver stuck the nose of his car into the lead. But Saldana, running the high groove, was careful to keep momentum on his side, and off the final corner that momentum carried him past Shaffer and beneath the checkered flag for the $10,000 top prize.

Also noteworthy was the fourth-place run of Mopar-powered Sammy Swindell. A former WoO champion and one of Sprint Car racing's genuine living legends, Swindell will run a limited schedule in 2007. The World of Outlaws Sprint Series heads next to Woodstock, Ga., for a date this Saturday, March 31 at Dixie Speedway. For more info on the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, log on to worldofoutlaws.com.

Reigning Formula Drift champion, Samuel Hübinette of Team Mopar, will have a new look when the Formula Drift 2007 pro championship series kicks off in Long Beach, Calif., on April 7. The "Crazy Swede" begins his title defense with the Formula D debut of his much-anticipated Mopar Dodge Charger SRT8.

In the three years since the Formula D series was formed, Hübinette has claimed two championship crowns. Hübinette is a definite threat in his title defense, and while confident, he's also well aware that the talent-laden drifters on the Formula D circuit will not allow him a title repeat without a hard-fought battle.

"There are just so many drivers that can win at any given event," said Hübinette, who took the top spot on the podium three times in 2006 - at Long Beach, Chicago and New Jersey. "I had such a tight battle for the championship. All the drivers on the circuit are fierce competitors, which is good. I know I always have to be on the top of my game when I compete."

"Samuel Hübinette is truly one of the stars of Team Mopar," said Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Brand Strategy & Mopar Performance. "Mopar has been involved in drifting since the motor sport's U.S. debut. The Mopar brand has been there since the beginning. As the sport has grown, so has the recognition of Mopar as one of the leaders in the drifting scene. That has a lot to do with the success Sam has achieved. With Sam behind the wheel of the Mopar Dodge Charger SRT8 in 2007, it's sure to be another successful and exciting season for Team Mopar."

Round One of the Formula Drift 2007 pro championship series kicks off in Long Beach on April 7. ESPN2 will now provide coverage of the 2007 Formula D season. For ticket and event information, visit Formula D's new Web site at formuladrift.com.

Mopar and HEMI engine fans will feel like they have hit the jackpot in Las Vegas this weekend. The first 2007 HEMI Challenge race series will take place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, March. 31. The HEMI challenge race series runs in conjunction with the 5th Annual Mopars at the Strip event on March 30-31.

The Las Vegas stop is new to the ever-growing HEMI Challenge race series, which features competitors from the NHRA Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) division. The head-to-head Mopar match ups are guaranteed to fill the Las Vegas desert with roars from HEMI engines and cheers from the crowd.

The HEMI Challenge has expanded from a single event into a series of races throughout the year. HEMI-powered 1968 Plymouth Barracudas and 1968 Dodge Darts do battle during the HEMI Challenge season. The series champion will be crowned at the U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Aug. 29-Sept. 3. Following Mopars at The Strip, the HEMI Challenge race series will travel to Belle Rose, La., for the Jeg's NHRA Cajun Sportsnationals on April 20-22.

The two-day Mopars at the Strip event kicks off Thursday, March 29, when caravans of Mopar muscle cars will leave for Las Vegas. The "Cruise to the Strip" starts at various locations including Salt Lake City, Grand Junction, Colo., Glendora, Calif. and Phoenix. The caravans converge in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the Cannery Hotel & Casino. Mopar will also name another winner of its "Top Eliminator" award that recognizes the most passionate and skilled Mopar enthusiasts and their restored cars. Eight awards will be bestowed in 2007. The award winners will attend the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. Each enthusiast's award-winning car will also be displayed in Mopar Alley at the SEMA show.

For information on the 2007 HEMI Challenge race series and Mopar's "Top Eliminator" award, visit moparspeed.com or mopar.com. For information on the Mopars at The Strip event, visit moparsatthestrip.com.

United States Auto Club (USAC) driver Jerry Coons Jr. now knows the meaning of the old saying, "When it rains, it pours." Coons and the RW Motorsports team brought their Mopar-powered Silver Crown car to Homestead-Miami Speedway full of high expectations for the season opener, but nothing seemed to go their way.

First, heavy South Florida rains soaked the 1.5-mile oval on Thursday, March 22, wiping out the traditional single-car time trails and forcing USAC officials to set the field "European style," timing the cars in clusters during practice. That left Coons in the middle of the starting grid, with the ninth-best time of the 17 entries. Then, in the 100-mile feature event on Friday, March 23, a gearbox problem sidelined Coons after just 42 of the 67 laps, relegating him to 15th-place for the night.

The USAC Silver Crown cars will sit idle for several weeks, competing next on May 5 at the immaculate new Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA. Coons, the defending USAC Midget Car Series champion from Tucson, Ariz., will compete in the entire 15-race Silver Crown season. For information on the USAC Silver Crown Series, log on to usacracing.com.