 |
|
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Dec, 20, 2003 IHRA Restructures for Future Growth NORWALK, Ohio (December 15, 2003) - With the continual growth of IHRA/Clear Channel Entertainment - Motorsports, IHRA has restructured to better serve its clients and customers. The restructuring consists of four departments - Sales, Race Operations, Marketing, and Finance - reporting to President Bill Bader and General Manager Deb Bader. "This has been a long time coming for IHRA," said Bill Bader. "We have set goals for where the company will be in the coming years, and this restructuring will allow us to utilize our most important resource, which is our people." The Sales Department will report to Director of Sales David Thompson, who will be based in the Aurora, Ill., office. He will be responsible for all sales development for IHRA and will work closely with Clear Channel Entertainment - Motorsports' sales team. "I'm very excited that IHRA is now fully integrated with Clear Channel Entertainment," said Thompson. "Having the assets of Clear Channel Worldwide at it's finger tips, IHRA can now take it's marketing partnerships to the next level. "IHRA's partners can benefit from additional marketing opportunities with Clear Channel's entertainment, radio, outdoor, television and international companies. With Clear Channel's thousands of live events and the millions of impressions each year there isn't a better tool for IHRA to use to accomplish the goals and objectives of our partners. We are truly growing the awareness and reach of IHRA." Race Operations will report to Director of Race Operations Skooter Peaco. Working with him: Mike Baker, responsible for competition and technical services "Our racers can expect to see an overall improvement in the planning and execution of our Hooters National, Pro Am and Summit SuperSeries programs. The quality and timeliness of our events for both professional and sportsman participants is our top priority as we move forward." The Marketing Department will report to Vice President of Marketing Aaron Polburn. Working with him: Jim Marchyshyn, responsible for advertising and promotions The Finance Department will report to Director of Finanace Debra Sue Tobak. Working with her: Cindy Collins, responsible for bookkeeping Headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, IHRA is the fastest growing drag racing sanctioning body in North America. IHRA-sanctioned professional, sportsman and bracket racing provides competition opportunities for drivers at all levels, developing future starts through the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, IHRA Pro-Am Tour, Summit SuperSeries and the Junior Dragster Series. IHRA recently entered into an exclusive, multi-year agreement with SPEED Channel to televise the Hooters Drag Racing Series Saturday nights, reaching 63 million households in North America. Please visit www.ihra.com for more information.
TOP FUEL DRIVER STEVE HAMILTON TEAMS WITH JOHN MITCHELL RACING FOR 2004 ENNIS, Montana (December 18, 2003) - Steve Hamilton has announced he will race for John Mitchell Racing's Montana Express Top Fuel team during the 2004 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series. Hamilton, a 40-year-old African American from Lake Villa, Ill., has been racing for over 17 years. He began his racing career at Great Lakes Dragaway in the track's weekly points program, and eventually moved up to IHRA's Quick Rod class. He earned his Top Fuel license in 2000, and made appearances at two IHRA national events in 2002. "I'm pleased to be driving for John Mitchell in 2004," said Hamilton. "Mitchell who is known for his Montana Express cars and is also known with driver "Aussie" Dave Grubnick. But what few racing fans know is, Mitchell also started the careers of Top Fuel World Champion Larry Dixon and his current teammate Ron Capps, Funny Car World Champion Tony Pedregon, and Frank Pedregon." "I have worked with Steve for the past few months and see that he has the drive and the determination to make this program work," said Mitchell. "I believe he will become one of our sports best assets and will help take our team to a championship and the sport to the next level. He wants to win and be part of a team that can win championships. "I have developed new drivers before and their careers speak for themselves. Steve will do the same. We are ready for 2004 and look forward to having a successful year," added Mitchell. "Joining John's team will allow me the opportunity to receive much more seat time and experience," added Hamilton. "We plan to do a lot of testing over the next couple of months. This will help me to better develop as a driver." Mitchell's Montana Express team has competed in NHRA for the past few seasons, frequently finishing in the top 10 in the point standings. Hamilton will run the entire IHRA circuit in 2004. Hamilton is a former mechanic and has owned various companies, including a transmission shop and manufacturing company. He has been married for 21 years to wife Elona and has three children, Candice, Steven and Holly. Headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, IHRA is the fastest growing drag racing sanctioning body in North America. IHRA-sanctioned professional, sportsman and bracket racing provides competition opportunities for drivers at all levels, developing future starts through the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, IHRA Pro-Am Tour, Summit SuperSeries and the Junior Dragster Series. IHRA recently entered into an exclusive, multi-year agreement with SPEED Channel to televise the Hooters Drag Racing Series Saturday nights, reaching 63 million households in North America. Please visit www.ihra.com for more information.
ROBERT PATRICK’S "HOMECOMING" TO IHRA SUNOCO PRO STOCK IN 2004 Written by Bobby Bennett Jr. FREDRICKSBURG, Va. (December 19, 2003) – After several years of running 500-inch Pro Stockers, former IHRA Sunoco Pro Stock standout Robert Patrick is excited about returning to what he considers his home in the mountains…mountain motors, that is. Patrick, 32, a second-generation drag racer from Fredericksburg, Va., will be making his first appearance on the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series since 1997. Patrick cites the IHRA’s twelve-race schedule as a major factor in his decision to return to the series. "This is like a homecoming of sorts for us," added Patrick. "I really like the people at the IHRA. There’s a great group of racers out there and I’m looking forward to mixing it up with them. Family really means a lot to me and the birth of my daughter convinced me to look in this direction. The schedule works out perfect for us and with the sponsorship programs that we have in place, it will all work out fine." Patrick left the IHRA tour at a time when the GM cars were dominant. He returns to a fraternity dominated by the "Blue Oval gang." Being in a Ford is something that comes natural for Patrick, whose family operates the Purvis Ford dealership in Fredericksburg. That is why Patrick summoned award-winning engine builder Jon Kaase to prepare the big-inch Ford powerplant to go in his Jerry Bickel Ford Escort. Patrick feels that he has a strong combination. "I feel like we have as good a chance as any of the leading teams out there," explained Patrick. "I am very excited to be working with Jon Kaase. He is a great engine builder. Kaase built one of my engines back in 1992 and we were still winning races with it four years later. The IHRA Pro Stock class is a very tough class and we’re coming in prepared for a serious battle." Patrick’s drag racing career began in the IHRA Top Sportsman division dating back to 1991. One year later, the 21-year old Patrick and his father Eli made the jump to the mountain motor Pro Stock division. Their first national event victory came during the 1993 season at the World Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Patrick also scored victories in Norwalk 1995 and 1996. In four of six seasons, Patrick finished top ten in the point standings. Patrick reached ten final rounds, winning eight times. Patrick’s 2004 tour will be made possible through sponsorship
from Purvis Ford, EZ Care Vehicle Service Contracts and Automotive
Development Group. TONY GILLIG RETURNS TO IHRA SUNOCO PRO STOCK NORWALK, Ohio (December 9, 2003) - Tony Gillig will return to the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series in 2004 competing in Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock. Gillig last competed in IHRA in 1998, where he finished runner-up for the Pro Stock world championship, winning the last race of the year at the World Finals in Shreveport, La. "We are really excited about our return to the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series," said Gillig, whose overall IHRA Pro Stock statistics include two wins and one runner-up. "We had a great year last year winning the championship in the Fun Ford Weekend Series and we look forward racing with them again. I feel we have the team and the equipment to be a contender in IHRA and the Sunoco Pro Stock Championship is our goal." Gillig will drive a new R J Race Cars Ford Mustang with a Jon Kaase Racing engine. Racing for ASSC Racing, which Gillig won a Fun Ford Weekend Series championship with in 2003, the team will make the switch from small blocks and blowers to a "mountain motor" where Gillig originally started. Gillig will be assisted by his long-time crew chief and father Bob Gillig, who helped Pete Berner to a top 10 finish in 2003. The car will be delivered at the end of the December, and pre season testing will begin mid-January in Florida. The team will also compete in the 12-race Fun Ford Weekend Series that begins March in Orlando, Florida. After a three year career in NHRA, Gillig took a year off and was offered a ride in the ASSC Racing Pro 5.0 Ford Mustang in 2003. Tim Huston of ASSC Racing placed Gillig behind the wheel of the centrifugal supercharged small block Ford for an all out assault on the Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 class. The team set the record for the quickest and fastest supercharged car in the class at 6.58 seconds at 214.08 mph. In the 12 race series, Gillig made nine final round appearances and won four events to win the Fun Ford Championship. Two weeks later, Gillig and Team ASSC qualified #1 in Pro Street at the World Street Nationals and won the event. 2004 TOP STOCK UPDATE First through third place points finishers will be recognized with trophies at the 2004 awards banquet. IHRA has reviewed many different rules structures and proposals from everyone involved with the class. No matter what direction or rules package the class could take, no one was really satisfied that the class would grow and prosper. It is unfair to the competitors and fans to move forward with a class that we are not convinced has a chance for long-term success. Therefore, IHRA Top Stock will be discontinued as a heads-up eliminator
at the conclusion of the 2004 season. IHRA currently maintains an
index for Top Stock style cars within our current Stock Eliminator
program and will continue to do so in the future. This will enable
participation at all Hooters IHRA Racing Series and Pro Am events
in 2004 and beyond. Nov. 26, 2003 Bumper To Bumper renews "NIGHT OF FIRE" Sponsorship for 2nd annual IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals
The inaugural event in 2003 was the first national drag racing event in Western Canada, and marked IHRA's third event in the country, the other two in Grand Bend, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario. "The first race drew such a great response from fans and racers alike," said Sales and Marketing Manager Gary Ritz. "The advisory counsel of store owners voted unanimously to be part of this event again. We are happy to be involved and suspect this year it will be even larger." The Rocky Mountain Nationals featuring the Bumper to Bumper "Night of Fire", race number five of the 12-event Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series, features professional and sportsman racers competing in a three-day race at Budweiser Motorsports Park, including Top Fuel, Pro Modified, Funny Car and Pro Stock. Saturday's "Night of Fire" headlines the event with professional qualifying under the lights, exhibition and jet cars, and a giant fireworks display. The track is located just south of Edmonton, adjacent to the Edmonton International Airport. "Last season's event was amazing," stated Kimberly Reeves, Budweiser Motorsports Park Event Coordinator. "The entire Western Canadian market welcomed the event and everyone is enthusiastic about its return. "That type of support is reflected in Bumper to Bumper's renewed commitment to the race. They have a longstanding history of supporting motorsports in Western Canada. We are glad to have them aboard," added Reeves. Headquartered in Edmonton, Bumper To Bumper has 105 auto part stores located in Western Canada, from Thunder Bay, Northwestern Ontario to Eastern British Columbia including the Yukon, and Northwest Territories. Bumper To Bumper distributes a full range of automotive repair parts, equipment, tools, and accessories to the wholesale and D.I.Y. markets.
August IHRA Zone archives are here July IHRA Zone archives are here June IHRA Zone
archives are here May IHRA
Zone archives are here
|
