Licensed NHRA Nitro Funny Car Driver Chris King has been named the driver of the Mike Harrigan-owned “Fool’s Gold” Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car based out of West Palm Beach, FL, and will compete in all eight 2020 Funny Car Chaos events.

King, a 24-year veteran firefighter from Chicago, IL, earned his Nitro Funny Car competition license in Paul Richards’ nitro funny car under the guidance of Paul Smith late in 2018. King has been actively pursuing sponsorship partners to make his dream of competing in the NHRA “Big Show” a reality and it taking the nostalgia FC ride in the meantime.

King requested and was issued the competition number 343, a significant number for its importance to him personally and to the fire service as it is the number of FDNY firefighters killed on 9/11 in The World Trade Center terrorist attack.

“I requested the number so we could memorialize and pay tribute to those that died in the line of duty that day,” King explained.

He plans to promote first responders and fire safety with his racing.

“We will be out making a difference in the public and giving back with public safety events including family friendly interactive safety education, displays of the race car with fire dept vehicles, and giving away smoke detectors and FireAde extinguishers to those in need. It’s a great way to get involved and gain brand recognition in a positive way.

“The more people we can get in front of, the more people we can help be fire safe and hopefully save lives. That’s the goal of The Ronnie Thames Foundation and my goal as firefighter,” King continued. “It’s been a childhood dream to race a nitro funny car. I’ve been very close and so far, nothing has worked out, but I will not give up on accomplishing my goals and dreams. The right partner is out there and I am actively searching to find them.”  [02/17/20]

Foley returned to the driver’s seat during a preseason test session at Wild Horse Pass in late January, where he made a series of test passes to gain data and upgrade his license. It was the team’s first time hitting the track since their 2019 debut at the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, where Todd Paton drove the car. (T.J. Miller photo)

Doug Foley and his Foley Lewis Racing team will start their 2020 season at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, Feb. 21-23 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Foley made his Top Fuel debut with the IHRA in 2004 and last raced with the NHRA in 2011.

The team is co-owned by Foley’s longtime racing partner Tim Lewis and led by co-crew chiefs Scott Gaddy and Jack Wyatt.   [02/17/20]

Exciting news for E.T. bracket racers has been announced at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, IL. For the first time in its history, racers in the Carl’s 4WD & Performance ET Championship Series will be invited to participate in a special event during the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Friday, Oct. 2, for the King of the Arch Championship Runoff. The top two racers in the final point standings in each class will be eligible to compete for the Arch title.

“The top two in points in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle will face off in a three-round runoff to be named King of the Arch and receive a special-edition trophy produced exclusively for this event,” said WWTR Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair.

In addition, participants who register to compete to earn points in the 10-race Carl’s 4WD & Performance bracket series also will be eligible for bonus cash awards at each event – as well as participation in the $100,000 Contingency Connection Racer Rewards program.

2020 Carl’s 4WD & Performance bracket series schedule

April 4 (Saturday) – Race No. 1 with ADRL

April 11 (Saturday) -- Race No. 2, Easter Bunny Classic

April 25 (Saturday) -- Race No. 3

June 6 (Saturday) -- Race No. 4

July 11 (Saturday) -- Race No. 5, Mid-season Championship Night and awards

July 18 (Saturday) -- Race No. 6, with Super Chevy Show

July 25 (Saturday) -- Race No. 7

August 1 (Saturday) -- Race No. 8

September 5 (Saturday) -- Race No. 9, NHRA King of the Track and Focus Fest

September 6 (Sunday) -- Race No. 10, Season finale and Randy Drake Memorial   [02/17/20]

(Bloomberg photo)

General Motors has announced that they will wind down sales, design and engineering operations in Australia and New Zealand and retire the Holden brand by 2021.

Holden, one of Australia’s most iconic brands with some 1.6 million vehicles on the road, began in the 1850s as a leather and saddle maker. It has been part of GM’s brand portfolio for nearly 100 years. Holden is a popular brand with the Australian drag racing community.

GM ended Holden manufacturing in 2017 and imports the majority of the Holden models it sells in Australia, mostly from South Korea and Thailand. However, with sales of Holdens plummeting, GM could not justify the investment to continue building right-hand drive vehicles, according to GM President Mark Reuss.  [02/17/20]