Warren and Kurt Johnson Comment on Eric Medlen's Passing

Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing

Sugar Hill, Ga., March 24, 2007 – NHRA Pro Stock racers Warren and Kurt Johnson offered the following thoughts on Friday's untimely passing of Funny Car standout Eric Medlen. Medlen, 33 succumbed to injuries suffered in a testing crash on Monday at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL.

"It's a terrible tragedy and a huge blow to drag racing," said Kurt. "I still find it hard to believe, but we've lost one of the sport's young stars. He was just out there on Monday, trying to get his junk to go faster, when something went terribly wrong. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Medlen family, and to everyone at John Force Racing.

"Competing in a different division, I really didn't know him all that well. However, of the six races he won in his career, I feel fortunate to have shared a winners' circle with Eric in Seattle. Standing next to him on the podium that day was probably the closest I was to him, and will always be a special memory. We're certainly going to miss him."

"Eric was one of the fan's favorites, and we've lost him way too soon," added Warren. "I always enjoyed his interviews at the top-end. Not only did he have something pretty interesting to say, but he always conveyed an incredible level of excitement, which the fans really picked up on. He was just a neat kid, and without a doubt, he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts go out to John Medlen and the entire Medlen family, as well as the entire John Force Racing organization."

Eric Medlen Succumbs to Injuries

NHRA.com reports that Eric Medlen has succumbed to his injuries from his Monday testing crash. Please keep the Medlen family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Rest In Peace, Eric Medlen. You will be missed.
NHRA.com report

Remembering Eric Medlen

KJ Has Mixed Emotions Following Gainesville Test

Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing

Fellow Racer's Accident Overshadows Happiness with ACDelco Cobalt’s Performance

Sugar Hill, Ga., March 20, 2007 – After a trying weekend at the ACDelco Gatornationals, Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team got right back to work on Monday, participating in a one-day test session at Gainesville Raceway. Making four passes in the Florida sun, they rediscovered the consistent performance that had eluded them in qualifying only two days before, as Johnson recorded the two quickest passes of his Pro Stock career, opening with a 6.584-second, 209.83 mph run followed by an equally strong 6.593-second, 210.08 mph pass on his second attempt.

Although these numbers are unofficial as they did not occur in national event competition, they did serve to lift the team’s spirits and give them a renewed sense of confidence heading into the next race in Houston, TX.

"I feel much better today than I did on Saturday," said Johnson. "All of our numbers were good, and we were racing under conditions that were not nearly as favorable as they were the last two days, including a racetrack that was almost ten degrees hotter and a 12 mph headwind that gusted even higher. The main difference, however, was the unfortunate lack of fans in the stands.

"I believe the combination we found today should put our ACDelco Cobalt in good shape for the rest of the year. With the information we gathered, there are some areas of the race car we won't even have to mess with from here on out, reducing the number of variables in the tune-up and making it somewhat easier to produce consistent, repeatable runs."

However, Johnson's enthusiasm was dampened by the on-track incident involving fellow racer Eric Medlen, who was seriously injured while making a test run in his Funny Car.

"When everything's said and done, what we do on the racetrack means little when something happens as it did to Eric Medlen on Monday," said Johnson. "It was a typical test day after the event, with everyone out there working on their stuff, focusing on making their race cars better, trying to go fast and learn something, but still having fun. Then something terrible like that happens. At the end of the day, you’re supposed to be able to go back to your hotel, or catch your flight home, not be laid up in a hospital bed. Fortunately, these incidents are rare, but when they happen, they remind you how dangerous this sport can be, and what really is important.

"Eric is a tough kid and a good racer, and right now our thoughts and prayers are with him, his father John and the Medlen family, as well as the entire John Force Racing organization, hoping he makes a complete and speedy recovery."

Nostalgia AA Top Fuel & A Fuel Weekend - May 18 & 19, 2007 at Atlanta Dragway

Atlanta Speed Shop (in conjunction with ORSCA and Year One Experience) will be sponsoring a nostalgia dragster event at Atlanta Dragway (Commerce, GA) May 18th and 19th. If you know anyone that wants to compete or come out and enjoy the fun, please help us spread the word!

For information about entering the event, contact Julius Hughes at the Atlanta Speed Shop (770-534-1560 shop - 770-356-3468 cell).

Flyer

Georgia Racers at the Gatornationals

by Marvin T. Smith

It wasn’t a particularly good day for Georgia drag racers at the Gatornationals this weekend. In the professional ranks, Bob Vandergriff did qualify, but lost in the first round. Recent Georgian Whit Bazemore, now of Indiana, made it to the semi-final round for the best showing. Georgia currently lacks a nitro funny car (anyone want to step up?). In Pro Stock, last race’s winner Kurt Johnson failed to qualify, and dad Warren Johnson lost the first round. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Georgia’s favorite son Chip Ellis qualified fourth in the field with an outstanding 6.930 at 192 mph, but lost round one on a holeshot. Pro Modified standout Eddie Ware failed to qualify, but recent Georgian Dan Rowe lost in round two to eventual winner Joshua Hernandez. Georgians made a better showing in Alcohol Funny Car. Steve Harker qualified Number 5 and lost in round two. Mark Billington qualified Number 8 and made it to the semi-finals, turning a career best speed of 257.24 in his losing effort. In Competition Eliminator, Don Eberly lost in round 3, and in Stock Eliminator, Jeff Adkinson made it all the way to round 5. Terry Cross also made a good showing, losing in round 6 (semi-finals) of Super Gas.

Thanks guys and better luck next time!

Marvin's Gatornationals Photos

BAZEMORE DRIVES TO SEMIS AT GAINESVILLE, MOVES TO THIRD IN TOP FUEL STANDINGS

News From David Powers Motorsports
CONTACT: Ted Yerzyk

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18, 2007) – Whit Bazemore advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive race Sunday afternoon at Gainesville Raceway. The 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner moved to third place in the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

Bazemore started from the No. 4 position, the best of his brief Top Fuel career, after qualifying with a 4.542-second elapsed time. In the opening round of eliminations, the veteran nitro pilot bested Michael Gunderson, then second-year pro Hillary Will, before losing traction and falling to two-time champion Larry Dixon in the semifinals.

Facing off against the upstart Florida Top Fuel racer, the longtime Matco Tools driver used a slight jump at the start to score the wire-to-wire victory. Bazemore’s rail dropped a cylinder, but still powered to a run of 4.694 seconds at 306.40 mph to easily defeat Gunderson, whose dragster lost traction early and slowed to a 13-second elapsed time.

Bazemore advanced to the semifinals for the second straight race by knocking off the Top Fuel starlet from Michigan. The drivers used nearly identical reaction times before the Matco Tools rail pulled away for the win. Bazemore blasted to a run of 4.609 at 317.42 to hold off Will’s run of 4.710 seconds. It’s the second straight race that Bazemore had defeated Will.

In the semifinals, the veteran drivers used solid reaction times, but the Matco Tools dragster lost traction early and slowed to a 9.117-second effort. Dixon’s orange and white rail labored to a run of 5.165 seconds to advance to his first final round of the season.

"It wasn't a bad weekend," Bazemore said. "We struggled with our consistency in qualifying, but so did a lot of teams. It was a tricky track. I was disappointed that I didn't catch it quicker in the semis. But, we moved up in the standings and our teammate is still the point's leader. We're going to test tomorrow and hopefully make this Matco Tools team even stronger."

The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals, March 30-April 1, at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. Bazemore advanced to the final round at the Houston track in 1998. He qualified ninth at the Houston race last year.

R1 BAZEMORE (.113) 4.694 ET, 306.40 MPH def. Gunderson (.132) 13.389 ET, 78.48 MPH

R2 BAZEMORE (.086) 4.609 ET, 317.42 MPH def. Will (.091) 4.710 ET, 303.35 MPH

R3 Dixon (.067) 5.165 ET, 193.74 MPH def. BAZEMORE (.081) 9.117 ET, 91.03 MPH

www.matcotools.com

Schumacher, Capps, Anderson and Stoffer Win the NHRA POWERade ACDelco Gatornationals

NHRA Recap
Photos

COOVER FAMILY GETS SECOND WIN IN AS MANY WEEKS AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007


(Commerce, GA - March 17) In spite of the chilly forecast, Atlanta Dragway racers converged on the track to enjoy the first Summit ET series points event for 2007. Dennis Coover won last weekend at the DRR event, and enjoyed watching his son Ryan take the win in tonight's Motorcycle action.

"This win is dedicated to Ricki's mom, Mollie and Larry Barefoot," said Debbie Blackwell, wife of Super Pro winner Ricki Blackwell, who lives in nearby Homer. The two time track champ (1991 and 1997) faced Jefferson, Ga. racer Stacy Blanton in the final, and used a .034 second holeshot to take the victory stripe 0.0043 seconds in front of Blanton's '05 Undercover dragster. Blackwell's '68 Chevy II (powered by miscellaneous spare parts) turned in a 6.212 at 108.88mph performance (6.18 dial), besting Blanton's otherwise great 5.002 at 134.31mph (5.00 target). Robby Brown ('95 S10 - Winder, Ga.) was the lone semi-finalist. "The truck and trailer insurance was due. This win came just in time," added Blackwell.

The dreaded green shirt re-appeared in the Pro winner's circle tonight. Toby Barnes of Newnan, Ga. won his first Atlanta Dragway event for 2007 against Kenneth Mason's Canon, Ga. based 1993 Camaro Z/28. Mason's car ran a great 7.23 at 96.29mph (7.22dial), but due to the reaction time difference, crossed the big end stripe behind Barnes' '70 GTO, which turned in an off
the throttle, but winning 7.59 at 85.87mph (7.48 dial). Barnes had been struggling with engine temperature problems all day. In the early rounds, he had trouble warming up the engine, which he had modified to run alcohol. Prior to the final round, his water pump motor locked up, and he had some trouble cooling down, but because he was running alcohol, which helps cool
the engine, he was still able to compete. After the event, his youngest son Brandon said to him, "Dad, you snuck in there again!" Woody Bryant ('89 Camaro - Bowman, Ga.) earned the semi-finalist purse.

Seventeen year old Kyle Cothran from Buford, GA won the first Sportsman event at Atlanta Dragway in 2006, and repeated the feat tonight, in the same '04 S-10 Blazer. Cothran's "victim" this time was former champ Scott Preves of Monroe, Ga., piloting his trusty '93 Lumina, which has over 250,000 miles on the clock. Cothran won the event at both ends of the track, stopping the timers with a 17.11 at 71.29mph (17.10 target), while Preves broke out a bit with a 16.59 at 84.33mph (16.61 dial) trying to catch Cothran. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) finished the day in the semi-final round.

Although Dennis Coover was still happy about last weekend's DRR Series win, he was even happier to see his son Ryan Coover win tonight in Motorcycle action, putting a Coover into the winner's circle for the second week in a row. Coover's '01 Honda was very close to its 6.88 second mark, breaking out slightly with a 6.877 at 105.59mph. However, the win was his the moment opponent William Ring, Jr. left the starting line 0.002 seconds early, lighting up the dreaded tomato colored bulb with his '05 Suzuki. Ring chose to complete his pass anyway, carding a 6.89 at 103.06mph (6.85 dial). Michael Tlupa ('87 Suzuki - Loganville, Ga.) and defending champ Paul Cavanaugh ('02 Hayabusa - Loganville, GA) were the semi-final pair.

Thirteen year old Jacquelyn Lastinger from Lilburn, Ga. enjoyed the first 13-17 Jr Dragster class win of 2007 against Brittany Carter (16 - Anderson, SC). Lastinger posted an 8.19 at 76.74mph (8.03dial), and Carter crossed the finish line moments later with an 8.61 at 74.26mph (8.49 dial). The semi-final trophy earner was Brett Bowman (15 - Homer, Ga.).

Ten year old Wesley Mayfield from Gainesville, Ga. enjoyed a holeshot victory against Chris Bowden (10 - Homer, Ga.) in the 8-12 Jr Dragster final. Mayfield slowed his machine to an 8.98 at 70.41mph (8.90 dial) to take the win against Bowden, who was closer to the mark with a 9.15 at 68.98mph (9.11 dial), but second across the finish line. Dylan Hutchins (12 - Monroe, Ga.) made it to the semi-final round.

------------------------------------------------
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ricki Blackwell '68 Chevy II Homer, GA 6.212 108.88 (6.18)
R/U: Stacy Blanton '05 Undercover Jefferson, GA 5.002 134.31 (5.00)
Semi: Robby Brown '95 S-10 pickup Winder, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Toby Barnes '70 GTO Newnan, GA 7.59 85.87 (7.48)
R/U: Kenneth Mason '93 Z/28 Canon, GA 7.23 96.29 (7.22)
Semi: Woody Bryant '89 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kyle Cothran '04 S10 Blazer Buford, GA 17.11 71.29 (17.10)
R/U: Scott Preves '93 Lumina Monroe, GA 16.59 84.33 (16.61)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ryan Coover '01 Honda Cartersville, GA 6.877 105.59 (6.88)
R/U: William Ring, Jr. '05 Suzuki LaGrange, GA (foul) 6.89 103.06 (6.85)
Semi: Paul Cavanaugh '02 Hayabusa Loganville, GA
Semi: Michael Tlupa '87 Suzuki Loganville, GA

-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Wesley Mayfield 10 Gainesville, GA 8.98 70.41 (8.90)
R/U: Chris Bowden 10 Homer, GA 9.15 68.98 (9.11)
Semi: Dylan Hutchins 12 Monroe, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacquelyn Lastinger 13 Lilburn, GA 8.19 76.74 (8.03)
R/U: Brittany Carter 16 Anderson, SC 8.61 74.26 (8.49)
Semi: Brett Bowman 15 Homer, GA
Semi:


Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2004 events, including the 27th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on April 26 - 29, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to
www.atlantadragway.com .

COOVER FAMILY GETS SECOND WIN IN AS MANY WEEKS AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007


(Commerce, GA - March 17) In spite of the chilly forecast, Atlanta Dragway racers converged on the track to enjoy the first Summit ET series points event for 2007. Dennis Coover won last weekend at the DRR event, and enjoyed watching his son Ryan take the win in tonight's Motorcycle action.

"This win is dedicated to Ricki's mom, Mollie and Larry Barefoot," said Debbie Blackwell, wife of Super Pro winner Ricki Blackwell, who lives in nearby Homer. The two time track champ (1991 and 1997) faced Jefferson, Ga. racer Stacy Blanton in the final, and used a .034 second holeshot to take the victory stripe 0.0043 seconds in front of Blanton's '05 Undercover dragster. Blackwell's '68 Chevy II (powered by miscellaneous spare parts) turned in a 6.212 at 108.88mph performance (6.18 dial), besting Blanton's otherwise great 5.002 at 134.31mph (5.00 target). Robby Brown ('95 S10 - Winder, Ga.) was the lone semi-finalist. "The truck and trailer insurance was due. This win came just in time," added Blackwell.

The dreaded green shirt re-appeared in the Pro winner's circle tonight. Toby Barnes of Newnan, Ga. won his first Atlanta Dragway event for 2007 against Kenneth Mason's Canon, Ga. based 1993 Camaro Z/28. Mason's car ran a great 7.23 at 96.29mph (7.22dial), but due to the reaction time difference, crossed the big end stripe behind Barnes' '70 GTO, which turned in an off
the throttle, but winning 7.59 at 85.87mph (7.48 dial). Barnes had been struggling with engine temperature problems all day. In the early rounds, he had trouble warming up the engine, which he had modified to run alcohol. Prior to the final round, his water pump motor locked up, and he had some trouble cooling down, but because he was running alcohol, which helps cool
the engine, he was still able to compete. After the event, his youngest son Brandon said to him, "Dad, you snuck in there again!" Woody Bryant ('89 Camaro - Bowman, Ga.) earned the semi-finalist purse.

Seventeen year old Kyle Cothran from Buford, GA won the first Sportsman event at Atlanta Dragway in 2006, and repeated the feat tonight, in the same '04 S-10 Blazer. Cothran's "victim" this time was former champ Scott Preves of Monroe, Ga., piloting his trusty '93 Lumina, which has over 250,000 miles on the clock. Cothran won the event at both ends of the track, stopping the timers with a 17.11 at 71.29mph (17.10 target), while Preves broke out a bit with a 16.59 at 84.33mph (16.61 dial) trying to catch Cothran. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) finished the day in the semi-final round.

Although Dennis Coover was still happy about last weekend's DRR Series win, he was even happier to see his son Ryan Coover win tonight in Motorcycle action, putting a Coover into the winner's circle for the second week in a row. Coover's '01 Honda was very close to its 6.88 second mark, breaking out slightly with a 6.877 at 105.59mph. However, the win was his the moment opponent William Ring, Jr. left the starting line 0.002 seconds early, lighting up the dreaded tomato colored bulb with his '05 Suzuki. Ring chose to complete his pass anyway, carding a 6.89 at 103.06mph (6.85 dial). Michael Tlupa ('87 Suzuki - Loganville, Ga.) and defending champ Paul Cavanaugh ('02 Hayabusa - Loganville, GA) were the semi-final pair.

Thirteen year old Jacquelyn Lastinger from Lilburn, Ga. enjoyed the first 13-17 Jr Dragster class win of 2007 against Brittany Carter (16 - Anderson, SC). Lastinger posted an 8.19 at 76.74mph (8.03dial), and Carter crossed the finish line moments later with an 8.61 at 74.26mph (8.49 dial). The semi-final trophy earner was Brett Bowman (15 - Homer, Ga.).

Ten year old Wesley Mayfield from Gainesville, Ga. enjoyed a holeshot victory against Chris Bowden (10 - Homer, Ga.) in the 8-12 Jr Dragster final. Mayfield slowed his machine to an 8.98 at 70.41mph (8.90 dial) to take the win against Bowden, who was closer to the mark with a 9.15 at 68.98mph (9.11 dial), but second across the finish line. Dylan Hutchins (12 - Monroe, Ga.) made it to the semi-final round.

------------------------------------------------
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ricki Blackwell '68 Chevy II Homer, GA 6.212 108.88 (6.18)
R/U: Stacy Blanton '05 Undercover Jefferson, GA 5.002 134.31 (5.00)
Semi: Robby Brown '95 S-10 pickup Winder, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Toby Barnes '70 GTO Newnan, GA 7.59 85.87 (7.48)
R/U: Kenneth Mason '93 Z/28 Canon, GA 7.23 96.29 (7.22)
Semi: Woody Bryant '89 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kyle Cothran '04 S10 Blazer Buford, GA 17.11 71.29 (17.10)
R/U: Scott Preves '93 Lumina Monroe, GA 16.59 84.33 (16.61)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ryan Coover '01 Honda Cartersville, GA 6.877 105.59 (6.88)
R/U: William Ring, Jr. '05 Suzuki LaGrange, GA (foul) 6.89 103.06 (6.85)
Semi: Paul Cavanaugh '02 Hayabusa Loganville, GA
Semi: Michael Tlupa '87 Suzuki Loganville, GA

-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Wesley Mayfield 10 Gainesville, GA 8.98 70.41 (8.90)
R/U: Chris Bowden 10 Homer, GA 9.15 68.98 (9.11)
Semi: Dylan Hutchins 12 Monroe, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacquelyn Lastinger 13 Lilburn, GA 8.19 76.74 (8.03)
R/U: Brittany Carter 16 Anderson, SC 8.61 74.26 (8.49)
Semi: Brett Bowman 15 Homer, GA
Semi:


Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2004 events, including the 27th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on April 26 - 29, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to
www.atlantadragway.com .