Scelzi on Force attention: “I think it’s a problem”

The subject is 14-time world champion John Force and his little girl, Ashley Force - who is second in the Funny Car points. Radio interviews, television spots and non-stop spotlight - Scelzi doesn’t think it is fair.

“Yes. Absolutely. I think It’s a problem,” Scelzi said on Friday at Bristol Dragway before qualifying for the eight-annual O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. “I think it’s even a bigger problem now with Ashley, that the whole TV show is all about them whether they win, lose or not. I know that they draw ratings.

“Everybody loves Ashley. She’s a beautiful, well-spoken girl. She’s done a great job driving the race car, but this class isn’t just John Force and his family. It’s the rest of us, and it’s a problem.”

Herbert moving on after tragedy

By Rick Sheek (rsheek@starhq.com)
BRISTOL — Doug Herbert may be mired at 10th in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points, but he has a smile on his face.
He’s by no means content with the Snap-OnFranchise.com dragster, but the fact he is trudging on after the most tragic event his his 40 years is a [...]

Cory Mac finds good fit at Schumacher Racing

NHRA Photo (Cory McClenathan delivers a win earlier this season)
By Wes Holtsclaw (wholtsclaw@starhq.com)

BRISTOL – After driving for an array of owners, Cory Mac has found the perfect fit.
One of Top Fuel’s most popular and successful drivers, Cory McClenathan began a new chapter to his career this season with Don Schumacher Racing.
Right off the bat, Schumacher [...]

Three-time champ Coughlin has seen drag racing evolve

By Wes Holtsclaw (wholtsclaw@starhq.com)
BRISTOL — Jeg Coughlin Jr. has seen drag racing evolve in many ways from a young age
“I’ve grown up around the sport since diapers, so to see all the different segments the sport has evolved has been awesome,” Coughlin said last Wednesday. “It’s a professional sport and it’s grown by leaps and [...]

Simple formula leads to success for Wilkerson

By Wes Holtsclaw (wholtsclaw@starhq.com)
Tim Wilkerson’s formula for success is simple.
Thus far, it has paid dividends for the Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS.
“My goal is to qualify right off the bat every race,” Wilkerson said by phone Wednesday. “If we do that, we’re going to go some rounds. That’s just all there is to [...]

Line off to great start

By Wes Holtsclaw (wholtsclaw@starhq.com)
The fastest driver in Pro Stock is off to a great start in 2008.
Jason Line, driver of KB Racing’s Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP, currently leads a tight points race in the Pro Stock division where four drivers are separated by 22 points.
Line has reached the final round four times with one [...]

Fuller focused on another shot at title

By Rick Sheek (rsheek@starhq.com)
The inaugural Countdown to the Championship format likely cost Rod Fuller his first NHRA Top Fuel championship, but instead of being bitter the David Powers Motorsports driver is focused on regaining another shot.
“It was really hard to swallow,” Fuller said by phone earlier this week. “They changed the format last year, and [...]

Schumacher in charge of Top Fuel division

By Wes Holtsclaw (wholtsclaw@starhq.com)
They call him ‘Sarge’ for a reason.
For the last four seasons, Tony Schumacher has been in charge of the NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel division.
And given his start to the 2008 season, the U.S. Army dragster doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
After winning his NHRA record fourth consecutive Top Fuel [...]

Bernstein looks to get on track at Bristol

By Wes Holtsclaw (wholtsclaw@starhq.com)
BRISTOL — Even Brandon Bernstein will admit it. His Budweiser Lucas Oil team has struggled this season.
“Our team has struggled a little bit,” the second generation driver said last week at the Troutdale Dining Room. “We haven’t gotten a win yet. We got to the finals in Gainesville. As of late, the [...]

Force already among racing’s elite

 By Rick Sheek (rsheek@starhq.com)
Forget her gender, the blood line is there and she’s proven she’s among the elite of her sport.
Ashley Force, daughter of 14-time NHRA champion John Force, prevailed last month at Atlanta. She became the first woman in Funny Car history to reach the winner’s circle.
“It’s been a long road,” Force, 25, said [...]