You can spot the die-hards at NHRA pro drag racing events by the T-shirts they wear or the signs they hold urging the sanctioning body to restore its nitro-methane classes to its trademark quarter-mile.
This protest had its share of supporters in the stands and in the pits eight months ago, but grumbling about the NHRA shortening races in its two premier classes from 1,320 to 1,000 feet has dwindled to mumbling, even among its traditionalist drivers…Â
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Racing is no exception when it comes to the slumping economy. With automakers in dire straits at present, dropping involvement in motorsport, especially sponsorships, will certainly tax teams and events from all venues of the sport.
While NASCAR is gearing up for its traditional annual kickoff, the Daytona 500 and related events, how its season will fare after the stock car giant’s main event is open to speculation. Teams have merged, sponsorship is way down, and layoffs at the race shops in the Mooresville, N.C., area have been heavy.
Chevrolet will be driven by the newly formed Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, an amalgamation of DEI and Ganassi. Driving for the entire Cup season will be Martin Truex and Juan Pablo Montoya…Â More info
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The National Sand Drag Association wants to schedule races west of San Jacinto, but the site’s proximity to potential habitat-conservation areas complicates the permitting process.
Four environmental groups have alerted Riverside County that they have concerns about proposed races. Once an application is submitted for a special-events permit, they want to comment about the effects on sensitive environmental resources.
In sand drag racing, specially modified vehicles with oversized tires race through off-road areas. The proposed site near San Jacinto …Â More info
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Toyota Speedway at Irwindale and other Southern California short tracks that host racing mostly on Saturday nights are gearing up for the 2009 racing season.
The Irwindale facility, considered one of the best short tracks in the nation, is a half-mile paved oval that features late-model stock cars.
Trucks and smaller cars called bandoleros and legends also compete at Toyota Speedway, which also hosts demolition derbies and figure-eight races.
The track’s notable events during the year include its NASCAR season opener March 21, the NASCAR Camping World Series 200 on July 4, the NASCAR Late Model final on Oct. 24 and the venerable Turkey Night race with sprint and midget cars Thanksgiving night.
On Oct. 17, the speedway also is scheduled to host a professional “drifting” event as part of the Formula Drift series’ schedule…Â More info