Team Press Releases

BATON ROUGE, La. (February 28, 2011) - The scene was terrifying, the mood in the air tense. For a couple of moments it wasn't known whether or not longtime Nitro Harley competitor Jay Turner was hurt, or worse. The sold out crowd at State Capitol Raceway stood on their seats, leaned on the fences, anything to try and catch a glimpse of the man who, just moments before, was rushing down the quarter-mile on only one tire, blasting fire out of the pipes at over 150 miles per hour all to the amusement of one of the largest crowds to ever watch a drag race in the state of Louisiana. But now all they were seeing were the flashing lights of emergency crews surrounding the two-time champ. For a few minutes the loudest sport in the world...

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUEBEC (February 28, 2011) - After a season getting his feet wet in Pro Modified Racing Association action, Steve Legare plans on making his mark in the upcoming PMRA drag racing season. "For the 2011 season we have made lots of changes, and we'll be ready for the first race," he said. The Legare Racing Team campaigns a 1968 Chevy Camaro, and Legare noted there have been many updates to the green Pro Modified for 2011. The car, which came from Finland's Hakan Nilsson and captured the FIA world title in its class for 2004, is a Tommy Mauney car powered by a 728-cubic inch Fulton Racing Engines powerplant. Legare added the engine has received not only new heads but a complete rebuild to the bottom end, along with a...

POMONA CA - Duane Shields of Las Vegas won the 51st annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline, beating Don St. Arnaud of Edmonton in the final round on Sunday, February 27. Shields ran consistently well throughout the weekend and qualified his A/Fuel Dragster in the pole position of the Top Alcohol Dragster class. The historic event was even more special as it celebrated NHRA's 60th year. After winning one of drag racing’s most prestigious events, it would appear that the win capped a great week for Duane Shields. But away from the track it was a difficult week as one of his close friends, Laurie Nason has been in a Las Vegas area hospital fighting for her life. And to start the week, Shields...

POMONA, Calif. – Simply making the show is no longer acceptable to Zizzo Racing. After a crushing first-round loss to Shawn Langdon Sunday at the 51st Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, TJ Zizzo and the PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner team weren’t pleased that they had some strong passes early in the week. They weren’t proud of the fact they can do more with less than nearly anyone in the NHRA Full Throttle Series garage. They were mad. They were mad because every person on this Illinois-based Top Fuel team felt today was the day they were going to shock the world. Instead, it was the members of Zizzo Racing who were in shock after seeing their rail begin smoking at half track at Auto Club Raceway, crossing the line with an ET...

Corning, CA - Kalifornia Katie Sullivan and the Sullivan Racing/Girls For A Change NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle team are pleased to announce a new associate-level sponsorship with K&N Filters Powersport division for the 2011 season. The deal will include product and monetary support for the 2011 season, with potential of growing into a larger deal for years beyond. "I like to work with Racers who are going somewhere!" said Johnny Jump, K&N's Powersport Division Brand Manager. Katie is 20 years old and has more drive and energy and is putting more into her career and this sport than many of the veterans out there. I learned that if I want to have racers on the K&N program that are going to get us publicity, then I need to work with...

Riverside, CA, February 25, 2011 - The start of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season on February 24th will mark the resumption of the hotly contested battle among Pro Stock competitors for one of seven guaranteed spots in the 27th annual K&N Horsepower Challenge which will be held on June 25th at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. In revealing some of the details of this year’s edition, K&N officials today confirmed that for the second straight year the eighth and final starting spot will be filled by a popular vote. “2011 marks our fourth year as the sponsor of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, and I’m proud to say the event continues to get bigger and better,” said Steve Williams, Vice President for K&N. “For example...

POMONA, Calif. – After laying down a 3.870 ET in the first round of qualifying for the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals Thursday and having Friday’s round canceled due to rain, TJ Zizzo and the PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel team were ready to hit the track Saturday at the Auto Club Raceway. But after two rounds, resulting in ETs of 4.636 and 3.952 respectively, Zizzo Racing saw their starting spot in Sunday’s eliminations drop from seventh to 11th. The team, led by Lisle, Ill.-native Mike Kern, hoped to repeat their time from Thursday and, for the most part, was able to accomplish that. Unfortunately, the No. 317 rail fell victim to engine gremlins at the end of both passes. “We had a little...

DOHA, Qatar - Despite disappointing red-light starts in the Arabian Drag Racing League's Battle for the Belts by both of B1 Racing's entries, the future is all green for the veteran-laced Pro Mod team from Bahrain. Given the state of current world politics and unrest, the question of continuing racing has crossed the minds of the team members and fans alike - but, according to Pro Extreme driver Josh Hernandez, the future is bright. "Of course, we are all concerned about the politics in Bahrain, but everyone I have talked with has assured me that the events are not as bad as the American and world media paints it to be. It's the nature of news. The Crown Prince is working through things, and everyone has confidence that it...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Leaf Racewear continues to play vital role in drag racing safety PMRA, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and Pro Bike & Sled Series Safety Team well equipped for an emergency LONDON, ONTARIO (February 22, 2011) – Safety is paramount in the operation of the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series, and Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment plays a vital role in this important aspect as the preferred safety equipment supplier of the three drag racing series Safety Initiative Program. “Our Fire and Rescue Team have an important job to do at our race events,” explained Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the PMRA, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the...