GOODGUYS SHUFFLE 2001 YEAR END RACE DATES

The Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing Association announced today that it will hold this year’s "Fuel & Gas Finals" at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield the weekend of November 3 & 4. The date change was necessary due to a comprehensive modernization project at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma. Originally the Goodguys schedule had the Fall Classic scheduled for September 8 & 9 at Sears Point, followed two weeks later by the season-ending Fuel & Gas Finals, September 21-23 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

When construction is complete at Sears Point, track officials point out that it will mirror the "Strip" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, complete with VIP suites atop the permanent 15,000 seat west-side grandstands as well as a brand new racing surface featuring 600 feet of concrete launch pad.

"It’s well worth the wait," said Gary Meadors of Goodguys. "When they’re done with the new drag strip at Sears Point, it will unquestionably be the nation’s finest dragstrip capable of producing world record runs!"

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The Funny Car class is beginning to look like the Pro Stock class where winning rounds comes down to leaving the starting line on time, and that should really separate the men from the boys. This is going to put a lot more emphasis on the drivers. Before, it didn't used to be a big deal to get into the show. You worried about getting lane choice. Now, just to get into the show is a major accomplishment." -- Ron Capps, driver of the Skoal Funny Car

PEP BOYS NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF NHRA JULY RACE AT POMONA

Pep Boys Parts, Tires, Accessories, and Service will be the title sponsor of the NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals, the first nighttime drag race in Southern California in more than 20 years. American Racing Custom Wheels has agreed to provide support to the race as presenting sponsor.

The Pep Boys NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals presented by American Racing Wheels will be held July 5-7 at historic Pomona Raceway. Qualifying runs will be on Thursday and Friday with final eliminations on Saturday night. A special curfew has been arranged to run the vehicles until 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and until 10 p.m. on Saturday. The unique event will feature a full compliment of professional racing, with national points at stake in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. In addition, all sportsman categories, including Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car, will compete.

Adding to the historical flavor of the event will be an eight-car qualified field of front-engine top fuel dragsters. Other nostalgia vehicles will be featured in exhibition formats, including fuel altereds and gas coupes.

RACING HELMETS TO BE RAFFLED FOR CHARITY

If you’re attending the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill or the Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing in Columbus, Ohio, here’s your chance to win something neat and do something charitable at the same time. The Central Ohio Pontiac & GMC dealers will be selling $1.00 raffle tickets for a chance to win two Simpson Racing helmets signed by 43 of the drivers on the NHRA circuit. Proceeds will go to the Columbus Children’s Hospital.

On Thursday, June 14, a group of Pontiac drivers will pay a visit to the hospital to sign autographs and meet some of the kids. Mark Pawuk’s Summit Racing Pro Stock Pontiac Grand Am will also be on display there. A tip of the Agent’s cap to all who participate.

HAAS RACING IS FLATOUT FLYIN’

Flatout Group of Mundelein, Ill. has stepped up as a Major Sponsor for the Haas Racing/IHRA Top Dragster team. Flatout, maker of decals, graphic products, and high-performance gaskets, is experimenting with the latest state-of-the-art "Holographic" vinyl materials and has designed an "Aero/Dogfight" graphics scheme for the dragster.

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