Crampton in, Troy Jr. out of Kalitta TF dragster

​Troy Coughlin Jr. (Tim Marshall photo)Troy Coughlin Jr. has removed himself from the seat of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster, citing a desire to get more experience in the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks. The third-generation driver has been racing the Kalitta Motorsports entry for the first 17 races of the 2017 season.

 

"I hope to be drag racing my entire life so this is not the end by any means,” Coughlin said. “This is just something I felt I needed to do at this time. I'll be back racing in the Sportsman ranks very soon."

 

​Richie Crampton  (Jeff Burk photo)Former Rookie of the Year and U.S. Nationals champion Richie Crampton has been named as the driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta Motorsports, effective immediately. He will begin his tenure for Kalitta Motorsports at the historic U.S. Nationals and will remain in the seat for the balance of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.

 

"It was a huge honor to get the call from Jim O (Oberhofer) asking if I could finish out the year with the team,” said Crampton. “Connie Kalitta is a legend, and for me to get an opportunity like this is unreal. I am excited to jump into the SealMaster Toyota dragster and see what we can do. I never knew if I was going to be able to drive a Top Fuel dragster again, so I am extremely grateful for this opportunity."

 

Crampton formerly drove for Santo Rapisarda in his native Australia and for Morgan Lucas Racing in the USA.  [08/28/17]

Cordova fans forgive IHRA

Fans seemed to forgive the IHRA for their move of the World Series of Drag Racing to Memphis last year. (What were they thinking?) There were full grandstands on hand to see co-Grand Marshals Mike Dunn, current IHRA president, and Roland Leong, his former tuner, along with NHRA racers Del Worsham, Larry Dixon, and lots more as the 64th edition returned home.  (Scott Bessee photos)    [08/28/17]

Hubbard doubles up at Rockingham Powerfest 5

Few bracket racers ever have been as scalding hot as Joel Hubbard II was during the Yuengling Brewery Powerfest 5 at Rockingham Dragway. Winning one big money bracket race is one thing; winning two in a single weekend is something else again.

 

Hubbard, of Lancaster, SC, beat Ken McArthur of Mt. Olive, NC, in the Saturday Super Pro final and then got a free ride into the winners’ circle on Sunday when Salisbury, NC’s Ron Phipps was guilty of a foul start. Over the weekend, Hubbard won 17 racing rounds and headed home Sunday night with $10,000 in purse money.

 

The third $5,000 share of the Super Pro purse was snatched up on Friday by Michael Paschal of Pleasant Garden.

In the Footbrake class, it was evident that South Carolina is home to an awful lot of fast Chevy trucks. On Friday, Pageland’s Aaron Brock drove his 1985 Chevy S-10 to victory and on Sunday, Bill Clardy of Loris, SC, got the $2,000 top money at the wheel of his 1974 Chevy LUV truck.

 

In between the two, Shannon’s Troy Brewer got a Footbrake win on Saturday in something other than a truck and prevented a South Carolina sweep of the category by besting Jim Wood of Laurens for the big money.

 

The Jr. Dragster category was dominated by Rowland’s Hayden Dial who won on Friday and Saturday and lost in the Sunday final when he missed his target time by .004 of a second, handing the win to Conner Caulder of St. Paul’s.

 

The racing was typically tight, with several races determined by less than .001 of a second.

 

“That was the rule more than the exception,” track owner Steve Earwood said, as almost 350 cars took part. “Lots of perfect lights. Lots of .001 and .002 breakouts, and a perfect run on Saturday by Tucker Creech who had an incredible three perfect lights during Saturday’s race.”  [08/28/17]

Farndon puts ‘Play It Loud’ AA/FC up for sale

Fred Farndon has listed his AA/FC car operation for sale. The Firebird is the former “Violator” owned by Mike and Shawn Bowen, which was the three-time winner of the DRO AA/FC Challenge championship.

 

The Chaparral trailer and Dually are also for sale. Contact Fred at nfcfour4four@yahoo.com.

 

We’re sorry to see you on the bench, Fred. Sincere thanks for your efforts this season.  (Jeff Burk photo)  [08/28/17]

IHRA to run SSNC Finals on eighth mile at Dragway 42

After consulting with Dragway 42 track management and having a lot of competitors ask about the format of the event, the IHRA has decided to contest the Sept. 22-24 Summit Sportsman National Championship Finals under an eighth-mile format.

 

“The track got a late start on getting open this year and have not had a chance to run a lot of quarter-mile events yet this season,” said IHRA Division Director Jon O’Neal. “We fielded a lot of questions from racers on the format for the event that were competing at the Empire SSNC in large part because most of our SSNC competitors have never been to this facility since it was completely rebuilt.”

 

The top end has not had a chance to be broken in yet as the track has been regularly running mostly eighth-mile events since they opened. New GM, Gary Harper, is working hard daily on prepping the top end of the racing surface but there is only one quarter-mile event on the track's schedule between now and September 22nd.

 

Additionally, the track’s fuel pumps have not been installed yet so a Sunoco fuel truck will be on site during the weekend to handle all the fuel needs for our competitors.  [08/28/17]

Funeral set for Tom Schiltz

Visitation for long-time photographer Tom Schiltz will be held Tuesday, Aug. 29, 4-8 p.m. at Karlo-Libby Funeral Home, 5000 Everhard Rd. NW, Canton, OH 44718. The funeral will be held Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ, 415 S. Main St., North Canton, OH 44720. He died on Friday, Aug. 25, at age 72.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Student Loan Foundation of North Canton (www.ncstudentloan.org) or the North Canton Heritage Society (www.northcantonheritage.org).

 

Bret Kepner has written Tom’s obituary at here. [08/28/17]

Lencheski named director of international sports marketing agency

Chris Lencheski, former Vice Chairman and CEO of IRGSE (the owner of IHRA), has been appointed to lead the global sponsorship division of MP & Silva, a full service global sports marketing agency. He has been a senior adviser to the Group and Board of the company since 2015.

 

MP & Silva’s current sponsorship portfolio is heavily anchored in premium U.S. properties, including the representation of Monumental Sports and Entertainment's full suite of assets, the NY Red Bulls Arena naming rights, and the Miami Heat jersey patch.

 

Lencheski will be based in New York and manage the company’s global sponsorship team across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.  [08/28/17]

VOLUME XIX,  NUMBER 8 - AUGUST   2017

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