ROMINE AND HERBERT TO TEAM UP AGAIN IN 2002

Top Fuel competitors Paul Romine and Doug Herbert have reached an agreement to continue fielding the CARQUEST Auto Parts Top Fuel team as part of Doug Herbert Motorsports for the 2002 racing season.

"Doug (Herbert) and myself have been pleased with our agreement for this season," said Romine, who merged his Aerolite Racing team with Herbert's Snap-on Tools team following the 2000 racing season. "With Herbert Motorsports continuing to manage the CARQUEST Top Fuel team, the future is bright for continued success in IHRA and a promising outlook for NHRA competition."

Overseeing the Romine team is Mike McLaughlin, who tuned Don Lampus to an IHRA championship in 1999. McLaughlin will continue as Romine's tuner with Sam Shockley the crew chief.

STEVENSON ADDED TO NHRA COMMUNICATIONS STAFF

Gabrielle Stevenson has been hired as a media relations manager for the National Hot Rod Association, NHRA Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal announced.

Stevenson, 26, joins the NHRA following a career in which she has held sports writing positions for a variety of Bay Area newspapers. During the last year she worked as motorsports writer for the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek, Calif. She also has penned sports stories for the Vallejo Times-Herald, Auburn Journal and Daily Republic in Fairfield, Calif.

In her new position, Stevenson will provide national event media relations for the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series, as well as for other NHRA racing programs and series. In addition, she will write press releases, help with research and statistical projects, maintain relationships with national media outlets and contribute to the NHRA media guide and other NHRA Communications Dept. publications.

WE COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER...

Del Worsham, owner/driver of the red Checker-Schuck's-Kragen Pontiac Funny Car, has issued this statement regarding the postponement of the NHRA Keystone Nationals.

"We completely support the NHRA in its decision to put racing aside this weekend while we deal with the initial stages of this national emergency.

"All of us were shocked and stunned by what we watched on Tuesday. We have team members and their families in the New York and Washington metro areas, some of whom spend time in lower Manhattan and in the District of Columbia on a regular basis. There were other people we work with very closely, and who are dear friends, who were in Manhattan at the time of the attack. We spent quite a few anxious hours on the phone and on email (Tuesday) making contact with everyone and making sure they were all safe, and thankfully they were.

"Though our extended family survived, our hearts go out to the enormous amount of people who have lost so much and so many loved ones. Our admiration, our support, and our hearts also go to every American who has shown so much strength and resolve, especially the citizens of New York who had this tragedy invade their lives, right on the streets where they work and live.

"I would also imagine that very soon it will become our responsibility to get back out there, to show that our way of life cannot be halted. Racing cars very fast in a straight line may seem irrelevant today, but the truth is Americans are passionate about sports and about the way we live, and as a nation we are indignant that anyone would think they could take away our freedom and our passions. I think I can speak for every NHRA professional when I say none of us will let our fans or the public down, and we'll be ready to race as soon as we're called upon to get back on the track. I'm sure it will be emotional."

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