Ever since the plans were unveiled for a new drag strip in NASCAR's backyard in Concord, N.C., it was just a matter of time before NASCAR drivers would express more interest in the NHRA POWERade Series.
Kevin Harvick, Inc. announced that they will be teaming with Top Fuel driver Bob Vandergriff Jr. in hopes of fielding a car in the class in 2009.
"I think we have a unique opportunity to provide unprecedented reach for companies looking to achieve their objectives through motorsports," Vandergriff said. "As this deal evolves, we want to offer the companies aligned with Harvick-Vandergriff Motorsports the chance to use the best of NHRA and NASCAR through the same program. We'll have the capabilities to provide something no other team can offer.
"I'm extremely excited about this opportunity with Kevin and his wife DeLana. Our ideas of how to market our motorsports programs and our long-term goals are the same."
Vandergriff, who has reached 12 career Top Fuel final rounds, is currently sponsored by UPS, which is heavily involved in NASCAR. UPS, the official delivery company of NASCAR, has sponsored a Cup Series car since 2001 with driver Dale Jarrett and with current pilot David Reutimann.
Along with running the UPS dragster, a team car with another sponsor backing could be huge in helping the Harvick-Vandergriff Motorsports team make the Countdown for the Championship.
"The response from the companies we've spoken to already has been tremendous," Harvick said. "Everyone at Kevin Harvick Incorporated and Richard Childress Racing has become extremely interested with what's happening in the drag racing world through our friendship with Bob. The more we come to understand what is happening in the NHRA series, the more attractive it's becoming as a whole."
Announcements regarding the driver and sponsors will be forthcoming.
This wouldn't be the first time a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner has expressed interest in the NHRA. Both Joe Gibbs and Jack Roush have spent time in the series.
Vise-versa, 69-time NHRA winner Kenny Bernstein owned the No. 26 Cup car from 1986-1995.
Force Makes History Even though Ashley Force has yet to score her first career Funny Car win, she was able to make some history in the class with her runner-up finish in the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Force became the first female to take the lead in the Funny Car point standings after making her second consecutive final round appearance. She now holds a five-point advantage over the driver who beat her in the finals at Vegas, Tim Wilkerson.
"This is a competitive category so I'm just glad to be anywhere in the points system period," Force said. "But I really want to get that first win. I'm getting married at the end of the year and I feel like I'm always the bridesmaid not the bride."
Schumacher Fined for Fuel Violation Don Schumacher Racing was fined $100,000 for possessing nitromethane fuel that was in violation of the regulations per the 2008 NHRA Rulebook.
NHRA determined the violation prior to Sunday's eliminations in Vegas.
Schumacher is expected to appeal the fine.
Community Comments The following are comments from a Blog from February 11 regarding possible NASCAR team owner's interest in the NHRA.
I don't know if I would like any NASCAR guys getting into NHRA competition. I kind of like the separation of having totally different owners/teams. I guess if I had to pick it would be cool to see someone like Hendrick start a Pro Stock team. Pro stock is the one class missing some good competition and big names. Funny Cars have Force, Capps, Pedregon, where as Top Fuel has Schumacher, Bernstein, Dixon.
I know this much though, the NHRA events are much more fan friendly. Free pit passes, drivers signing autographs between rounds, heck I actually had some drivers talk to me. Asking me if I was having fun and where I was from! I was nearly speechless because I am so used to drivers just signing autographs. -RacingOne Community Member dalejrfanfreak
I also do not want to see any NASCAR owners getting into NHRA. The NASCAR guys would bring so much money that other teams in NHRA don't have, they would put a lot of the smaller teams on the trailer for good. People say NASCAR is too corporate, has changed too much and isn't as good as it used to be. As a seasoned racing fan, I can say NHRA now is as good as NASCAR used to be. I don't want to see it change the way NASCAR did.
If I had to pick one owner though to join the NHRA, how about Robert Yates! Now that he's retired from NASCAR he would have the time for it, and he would be a hands on car owner, building his own engines...etc, not just running the team from a desk. I agree there needs to be a competitive Ford team in Pro Stock and Yates could do as much for Ford as any other owner. -RacingOne Community Member TF337
