JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE

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Even though he was out in the second round of the Brainerd race, Chip Ellis is a lucky man. He was lucky that he was at the event at all, bringing to an end a trying two weeks that saw the G Squared Motorsports 18-wheeler stolen from an Omaha hotel.

The rig was immediately recovered but all the racing equipment was missing. Days later, the Sarpy County Sheriff's office, the Iowa Highway Patrol, and local law enforcement from the Omaha area, recovered much of the contents -- including the team's current Buell chassis, three S&S Pro Stock engines, a new complete Kosman Buell rolling chassis and assorted spare parts -- and the team was able to compete last weekend.

"This whole team, including Chip, has been under a lot of pressure as the result of the theft of the rig and its recovery. As a result, while Chip had rode almost flawlessly through qualifying and the first round of eliminations, the stress may have caught up in this last round," said George Bryce, who along with George Smith are owners of G Squared
Motorsports.

"We'll regroup and go to straight to Memphis and pick up there," Bryce continued. "Thanks again to everybody that had anything to do with helping us during the last several weeks." [8-16-2005]

JEG'S ALLSTARS RACE KEEPS VENUE, CHANGES DATE

The JEG'S Allstars Race will continue to be contested at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, however the date for the 2006 event will move from fall to early summer.

The JEG'S Allstars Race will be held during the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, June 8-11, 2006. Due to the date switch, drivers in each of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series categories that are featured in the Allstars Race started accumulating points for the 2006 event on July 1, 2005. Points earned in July and August 2005 will count for both the 2005 and 2006 JEG'S Allstars events.

The best racers in the eight Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series categories from each of NHRA's seven geographic regions compete for team and individual honors and a share of the $100,000 purse in the JEG'S Allstars Race. The winning team splits $20,000 and the winners in the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories earn $7,000 each, while the winners in Competition Eliminator and Super Stock earn $6,000 each. Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street winners earn $4,500. Runners-up in all categories will get $2,000. The top points earners in each category will qualify to represent his or her division at the JEG'S Allstars Race. Points are based on in-division races only. [8-16-2005]

STREET CAR SUPERNATIONALS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER

The Street Car Supernationals will take place November 4-6 2005 at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The elite "best of the best" in each street car racing category are expected to compete for the largest payday in street car racing history. For more information go to www.streetcarsupernationals.com. [8-16-2005]