PEDREGON SALUTES GARLITS

Frank Pedregon is saluting drag racing icon "Big Daddy" Don Garlits at the Gatornationals this week with some help from Kenny Koretsky, new owner of Nitro Fish Wear and driver of the NFW Pro Stock Dodge Stratus, and Doug Davenport of Motorsports Development. Pedregon's Dodge Stratus Funny Car will feature a picture of Florida native Garlits on each side.

"Not one driver has ever shown his appreciation of what Garlits has done for drag racing throughout the years," said Davenport. "That's what Frank, Kenny and the other sponsors are doing this weekend. Frank's car will be unveiled at a special ceremony before Friday's first qualifying run."

"It's been very exciting to see how this support for Don Garlits has grown," said Pedregon, a four-time Funny Car national-event winner. "Nitro Fish is a big part of it, along with Mac Tools, Summit Racing Equipment and Red Line Oil." [3-16-2005]

FIGSPEED TO SPONSOR TOP COMP IN DIVISION 6

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Figspeed, a speed and marine parts provider in Lake Havasu City, AZ, will be the new sponsor for the Top Comp class in NHRA's Division 6.

"The sportsman racers have always been great supporters of Figspeed, so it's nice to be able to give them something back and this program will be a great way to do that," said company owner Les Figueroa. The class champion will receive a $3,000 bonus at the end of the season, along with $1,500 to the runner-up and $500 to the third place finisher.

According to Division Director, Mike Rice, Top Comp is the fastest growing class in the division. [3-16-2005]

BOGACKI ENJOYS PRO VICTORY AT HATTIESBURG

Luke Bogacki, a 23-year-old Alabama transplant, claimed his biggest win of the 2005 season Friday evening when he wheeled his new Miller 4-link Dragster to victory over a red-lighting Paul Russell. Bogacki's win placed him in the top ten in B&M/Hedman Hedders Series points standings in both Pro Electronics and Pro Footbrake.

"This win has been a long time coming," explained an exuberant Bogacki. "We debuted this car and this combination at the Million Dollar Race last season [in late September], and although I've been pretty pleased with the car from the beginning, things just never came together. This was actually my first final round appearance in the new car." [3-16-2005]