NHRA today named Roy T. Abacan as its new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to oversee the financial and accounting organization as well as certain other functions of the sanctioning body.

Abacan, a CPA, who holds a degree in economics with an emphasis in business from University of California, Los Angeles, excels in business planning, strategy development and execution.  He is skilled in all facets of financial planning and analysis, complex operational improvement initiatives, and systems evaluation, design, enhancement and implementation.

Abacan will report directly to NHRA president Peter Clifford.  [05/31/17]

Well, no, it isn’t exactly for drag racing, but…. How cool!

Prestone Products Corporation will join this year’s Hot Rod Power Tour™ for the first time in the company’s 90-year history. Prestone’s custom yellow 1971 De Tomaso Pantera (shown) built by iconic custom car duo, the Ringbrothers, will lead the way as the tour kicks off in Kansas City, Missouri.

Prestone will also take a classic 1969 Chevrolet Camaro along on the tour. Bringing refreshments and tunes to the tour will be Prestone’s custom hybrid cooler and stereo system, with parts donated by Optima Batteries, K2 Coolers and Kicker.

Joining Prestone on its high-performance journey is former Vice President of Operations at Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, Mike Copeland, and owner of Stoner’s Speed Shop, Blake Stoner. Both well-respected veterans in the industry, Copeland and Stoner plan to engage with fans of Prestone during the tour.  [05/31/17]

A celebration of the 95th birthday of racing legend Alex Xydias will be held on Saturday, June 17, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Petersen Garage at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA.

The event, with MC Dave McClelland, will benefit the Pete Chapouris III Welding and Fabrication Program at the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts (AXC), a program of the Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) at The Learning Centers at the Fairplex. It is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Xydias was the founder of the famous So-Cal Speed Shop in Burbank, CA. He drove the “So-Cal Streamliner,” the first streamliner powered by a flathead Ford to go over 200 mph. For tickets go to www.tlcfairplex.org/AX95 or call 909-865-4205.  (DRO file photo)   [05/31/17]

Forrest Lucas and his wife, Charlotte.  (Michael Fischbeck photo)

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) announced today that Forrest Lucas will receive the Bob Russo Heritage Award at the 29th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony Presented By Bridgestone on June 28, at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach. The award, named in honor of the longtime motorsports journalist and historian, is presented at the recommendation of the MSHFA Board of Directors in recognition of the recipient's contributions to motorsports throughout their career.

Few people have done more to support motorsports at every level in the U.S. than Lucas, the founder of Lucas Oil Products, Inc. Lucas and his wife Charlotte founded the company in 1989. Motorsports became the cornerstone of the company’s marketing strategy a few years later, an involvement that has extended to sponsorship of race teams, events and series at all levels, from the grassroots to NHRA, NASCAR, AMA Motocross and IndyCar.

Tickets for the 2017 Induction Ceremony can be purchased by calling 386.681.6843 or through the MSHFA website at www.mshf.com.  [05/31/17]