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| · 2013 Formula One F1 Driver Line-up, Rumor Round-up & 2014 Silly Season Rumors - February 10th (Feb 10, 2013)
· 2013 Formula One F1 Driver Line-up, Rumor Round-up & 2014 Silly Season Rumors - February 9th (Feb 9, 2013)
· 2013 Jerez: Formula One F1 Friday Test Results - Raikkonen, Lotus Fastest! (Feb 8, 2013)
· 2013 Jerez: Formula One F1 Thursday Test Results - Massa, Ferrari Fastest! (Feb 7, 2013)
· 2013 Jerez: Formula One (F1) Wednesday Test Results - Grosjean, Lotus Fastest! (Feb 6, 2013)
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NHRA Newsmakers: Feb 13, 2013
NEWS NUGGETS
INTRODUCING THE NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES ANNOUNCING TEAM FOR 2013: In 2013, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is taking a brand-new approach to its announcing system and alternating the role of lead announcer at national events between four individuals who each bring a unique perspective to the booth: Joe Castello, Nathan Hirschi, Alan Reinhart, and Bill Stephens, with support from veteran announcers Dennis Winegar, Mike English, Bruce Kamada, and Leo Taugher, along with a newcomer to the announcing fold, Derrick Beach. The team approach allows rotation of announcing staff between Pro and Sportsman coverage, taking the stage for the traditional pre-race festivities, and interviewing drivers trackside and at the top end. For some, these assignments will be comfortably familiar, and for others, they will represent new and exciting challenges. With this revised approach, fans are assured an entertaining and educational experience, no matter who is on the mic.
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 | WORSHAM RETURNS TO DRIVER’S SEAT AS MELLO YELLO SEASON OPENS: 2011 Top Fuel world champ Del Worsham is back in the saddle and is excited as ever to be competing in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. When Worsham hits his home track in Pomona for the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, Feb. 14-17, he will do so behind the wheel of the Connie Kalitta-owned DHL Toyota Camry, led by crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante Jr. Worsham, who was stellar in his last season at the controls of a Top Fuel dragster, returns to a very competitive Funny Car category as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season kicks off at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. During the off-season, Kalitta Motorsports named Worsham driver of the DHL Toyota Camry. “I definitely have some unfinished business there,” said the Villa Park, Calif., native. “I want to try to win a championship in a Funny Car. When this whole thing came about, I was for it. I felt honored that the Kalitta organization asked me to do this. I’m going to really work hard at being the best driver I can be and hopefully bring something back to the team. The first thing we want to do is qualify for a race. Then we want to try to make the Countdown [to the Championship playoffs]. I’d sure like to get in the top 10 and position ourselves to race for a Mello Yello championship in Funny Car, which I originally set out to do 20-something years ago.”
OKUHARA PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF RACING FOR DSR: Todd Okuhara has been promoted to the new position of director of racing for Don Schumacher Racing by team owner Don Schumacher. The native of Hawaii living in Brownsburg, Ind., will oversee DSR's seven teams and the world championship DSR fabrication and CNC/machine shops. His promotion leaves Phil Shuler as the sole crew chief on the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher Top Fuel dragster. The 44-year-old will begin his 20th season in NHRA competition when he arrives in Pomona for the Feb. 14-17 O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationalspresented by Super Start Batteries to open the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. He will direct an operation that won last season's world championships in Top Fuel with Antron Brown's Matco Tools team and in Funny Car with Jack Beckman's Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T. Okuhara became involved in drag racing while living in Honolulu and working at his father's machine shop in Kakaako and going to Hawaii Raceway Park. In 1993, he left for Southern California to work on the Funny Car owned by fellow Hawaiian and legendary drag racing crew chief Roland Leong. Okuhara moved to NHRA Hall of Famer Don Prudhomme's dragster in 1994 and remained with Prudhomme and won two world championships with driver Larry Dixon. Okuhara joined DSR in 2006 as crew chief on Beckman's Funny Car team. That year, the team set an all-time speed mark of 333.66 mph. In 2008, Okuhara was switched to run the Funny Car for Gary Scelzi, and a year later, he was paired with Shuler to crew chief a DSR dragster for Cory McClenathan and with Spencer Massey beginning in 2011.
AMERICAN RED CROSS SALUTES NHRA: In acknowledgement of its support of the American Red Cross’ efforts to raise money for victims of Superstorm Sandy, the American Red Cross’ Los Angeles Region presented NHRA with a special plaque. During the 2012 season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, NHRA helped the American Red Cross set up a donation booth at the main spectator entrance at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and also promoted the American Red Cross’ online donation page through its many media channels. Jayne Goldman made the presentation recently to NHRA Executive Vice President/General Manager Peter Clifford at NHRA’s Glendora, Calif., headquarters. The plaque reads: “With deep appreciation to the National Hot Rod Association. Thank you for your generous gift to support disaster relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Your contribution helped to provide shelter, food, emotional support and relief supplies to families and communities in need — sending a message of comfort and hope. We are deeply grateful for your compassion and your generosity.” NHRA’s work with the American Red Cross on behalf of the Sandy victims is just the most recent example of NHRA’s outreach to Americans in time of disaster. After a devastating outbreak of tornados in the Southeast in the spring of 2011, NHRA and the Red Cross, with the help of NHRA racers led by Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson, raised funds at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. The monies went directly to help those affected by the tornado disasters. In 2004, NHRA participated in a similar effort, helping raise disaster funds for Hurricane Katrina victims through donation drops during the annual NHRA U.S. Nationals and vigorous promotion of the relief efforts through numerous channels.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 14-17: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the start of the 2013 season with new colors. After a dramatic ending to the 2012 season, drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock are looking to pick up where they left off and bring more heat to the track for the season-opener. The 2012 winners of the event are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock).
NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS, Firebird International Raceway, Feb. 22-24: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series makes its second stop of the 2013 season just south of downtown Phoenix. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points towards the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season points standings. The 2012 winners of the event are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock).
AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS, Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, March 14-17: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series makes its third of 24 stops of the 2013 season in the sunshine state of Florida. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points towards the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event are Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
HE SAID, SHE SAID
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVE PREPARED FOR SEASON OPENER AT HOMETOWN TRACK: With the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals race weekend already here, drivers spent the off season relaxing and testing their cars, but are eager to get back to the track. For Top Fuel pilot Shawn Langdon, it’s an opportunity to start the 2013 Mello Yello Series season off right in front of a hometown crowd. “I love racing at Pomona,” Langdon said. “As a kid growing up in Mira Loma, I got to go watch the Top Fuel drivers because when I got good grades in school, my dad would take me to the races as a reward. I got to see the drivers and get their autographs, and it was a special part of my life. Now, I get that home feeling every time I fly into the Ontario airport and drive to the racetrack. I lived there for 25 years, and it’ll always be a special place for me. It’s always great to see friends and family when we race at Pomona, and everyone’s really excited to go out there and watch us, so hopefully we can get the season started with a win. Putting that Al-Anabi car into the winner’s circle at the first race of the season would be the perfect way to start the year, and it would be great to enjoy it with my family. They were my supporters from Day One, so it would be special to win a race with them watching.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
15 NUMBER OF VICTORIES FUNNY CAR DRIVER JOHN FORCE HAS EARNED AT HISTORIC AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA: With 15 victories at the fabled dragstrip, the 15-time NHRA Funny Car world champion holds the title of winningest driver among all NHRA Mello Yello Series categories. Force has won the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals six times, including last season and also in 2010.
DID YOU KNOW…
DIXON, BEARD, AND RAPISARDA WILL COMPETE IN POMONA: Rapisarda Autosport International has accelerated its 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel drag racing program by entering the upcoming 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries with three-time champions Larry Dixon and Lee Beard leading the team’s charge into Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Feb. 14-17. The Rapisarda Autosport International organization, led by Australia crane mogul Santo Rapisarda and his sons Santo Jr. and Santino (Tino), announced its new association with Dixon and Beard last month with a proposed schedule starting at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville March 14-17. However, the Indiana-based team decided to step up its 2013 program with entries at the Winternationals next week and the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Int'l Raceway in Phoenix Feb. 22-24. The 2013 NHRA Mello Yello drag racing campaign marks the first time that Dixon and Beard have worked together in the Top Fuel ranks. “I have always competed against Lee but never worked with him,” said Dixon, the second-winningest Top Fuel driver (62 wins) in NHRA history. “I have admired his work from afar. Now that I see the behind-the-scenes effort Lee has prepared with the car and team with the Rapisarda family, it makes me very excited to come to Pomona. Lee has been very successful in the past, and I see this program being no different.”
PaddockTalk Perspective
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