FRAM-AUTOLITE EXTENDS SONOMA SPONSORSHIP:

Honeywell Consumer Products Group has extended its title sponsorship of an NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Infineon Raceway, it was announced this week by NHRA officials. In the multi-year agreement, FRAM automotive filters and Autolite spark plugs will sponsor the exciting event, annually the third stop of the grueling three-race NHRA Western Swing, and NHRA’s only tour stop in scenic Northern California. The commitment maintains Honeywell Consumer Products Group’s position as a high-profile NHRA sponsor, as the company’s FRAM brand is the Official Oil Filter of NHRA and its Prestone brand is the Official Antifreeze/Coolant of NHRA. Honeywell also is title sponsor of Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan, who drives the FRAM Boost dragster, and Funny Car driver Bob Gilbertson, who drives the Prestone/Autolite Dodge Stratus. In addition, FRAM is an active associate sponsor for many NHRA professional teams, and every Funny Car and Top Fuel winner crowned this season has powered their dragsters with Autolite spark plugs. FRAM also participates in NHRA’s lucrative contingency program.

NEW OWNERS AT BIR:

Brainerd International Raceway, Minnesota’s premier motorsports facility and host of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals POWERade Drag Racing Series event, has been sold to BIR Holdings LLC, held by Jed and Kristi Copham of Forest Lake, Minn. The new owners plan to continue the current drag racing programs and road course racing programs while searching for new racing events for BIR’s patrons and racing customers. The sale in no way affects the running of this year’s 25th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, scheduled for Aug. 10–13. The 600-acre facility, long held by Sports Resorts International Inc., a Michigan-based company, will be known as Brainerd International Raceway and Resort.

WYOTECH NAMED OFFICIAL NHRA TECHNICAL SCHOOL:

NHRA and WyoTech jointly announced that WyoTech, a highly respected group of technical schools, has been named as the Official Technical School of NHRA. As such, WyoTech can use the NHRA logo in advertising and promotional campaigns and will receive signage at all NHRA national events. WyoTech also will be featured in many NHRA-driven marketing initiatives. “We are very pleased to be named the Official Technical School of NHRA,” said Tim Schutz, president and chief operating officer of Titan Schools, Inc., the operating division of Corinthian Colleges to which the WyoTech schools belong. “WyoTech has been involved in racing through Jr Dragster, Top Dragster, Super Comp and many other racing venues. We currently sponsor Steve Johnson Racing in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Bruno Massel, host of NHRA Sport Compact Racing TV Series, in Competition Eliminator. We see a direct correlation between the NHRA fan base and the WyoTech student population and believe NHRA will be a key component of our continued growth as one of the leading technical training providers in the country.”

SCHUMACHER CONTINUES TOP FUEL CHARGE:

With four straight final round appearances, including two victories and two runner-up finishes, Tony Schumacher continues his rapid climb in the Top Fuel point standings. He now sits in third, 126 points behind leader Doug Kalitta. Schumacher, who at one point in the season was as low as ninth in the standings and more than 350 points out of first, credits his U.S. Army team, led by crew chief Alan Johnson, for sticking with the game plan and staying in the hunt. Now he focuses his charge toward running down Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster in the season’s final eight races. “I’d like to say we don’t care what Doug does but that would be a lie,” Schumacher said. “We watch what he does in qualifying and I’m smiling when he goes out early on race day. It’s not personal. I like the guy. We’re friends. But my sole purpose in life right now is to win the championship and he’s in the way.”

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