GILBERTSON TO SWITCH TO STRATUS FOR '06

Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has decided to switch to a Dodge Stratus body for next season.

"I've got to thank Don Schumacher Racing and Ed McCulloch for making this happen," Gilbertson said. "They're switching to the new Dodge Charger and they let us buy the Stratus bodies they ran this year. They are a lot lighter than anything we've ever had in the past which will help us lose some weight."

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Gilbertson plans to lost some weight himself over the off-season. "No more Waffle House for me. Salads and turkey are my new favorite foods," he said, promising to be a "lean, mean racing machine in 2006."

Gilbertson will take his old car and join many NASCAR drivers at the annual "Stocks For Tots" Christmas charity event on Tuesday, December 13th at the Penske Racing facility in Mooresville, North Carolina. Stocks For Tots was created in 1989 as a way to bring together stock car racing and its fans, while adding awareness of the child abuse program in North Carolina. The idea was to collect toys and raise money during a festive, family-oriented holiday event.

"NASCAR is a big deal around here," Gilbertson said. "I figured the fans coming to this show should know what real horsepower is so I'm going to bring my Funny Car up there, sign some autographs and promote NHRA POWERade Drag Racing." (Ron Lewis photo) [12-01-2005]

DRAG BOATS ON TELEVISION

If you like our coverage of the drag boats, you'll want to check out the IHBA Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series season opener which will be televised on SPEED Channel Saturday, Dec. 3 at 11:30 a.m. (ET) [12-01-2005]