ALDERMAN TO DEBUT NEW STRATUS

Three-time POWERade Pro Stock World Champion Darrell Alderman will debut his new Hemi-powered Dodge Stratus Pro Stock entry at this weekend1s Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.

Alderman, who has been competing with a Dodge Neon for the first part of the season, will join teammate and team owner Allen Johnson with the new car. The team completed testing at the Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway on June 24th, and feel very confident in what they have for this weekend. Mopar factory teammate Gene Wilson also competes with a Dodge Stratus.

Johnson drove his Stratus to the semifinals during the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio. The Greeneville, Tenn., resident qualified the car fifth and knocked out Jim Yates in the first round and defending Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin, Jr. in the quarters. It was only the third time that Johnson had competed with the Stratus at a national event.

"The new Stratus will be a good car for us," said Alderman, who currently sits 10th in the POWERade Pro Stock title chase. "The car is much more drivable than the Neon was, and will be fine aerodynamically. The Mopar engineers, especially (aero engineer) Terry DeKoninck, have put a lot of time and effort in making this car competitive. The results will be shown on the race track." [6-26-2003]

O'REILLY TO SPONSOR NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE

Evidently subscribing to the "get 'em while they're young and they're yours for life" theory, O'Reilly Auto Parts has been named the title sponsor of the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing

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League, an entry-level series for kids ages 8 to 17. In the multi-year agreement, O'Reilly will have the exclusive right to market and promote the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League.

"Our title sponsorship of the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League enhances our expanding partnership with NHRA by providing a solid foundation for the NHRA drag racing champions of tomorrow," said Ron Byerly, vice president of advertising and marketing for O'Reilly Auto Parts. "We're thrilled with the opportunity to connect on a competitive level with NHRA's Jr. Drag Racing League membership and to provide an exciting championship environment for these kids."

The NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League will consist of weekly racing at many of NHRA's 140 member tracks and two regional championship events: The NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals, June 26-28 at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa.; and the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals, July 31-Aug. 2 at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. Both of the conference finals events will be televised on ESPN2. [6-26-2003]