Wed, 9 Jan 2002, 08:28 AM NHRA POWERade Series Start to Test in Tucson January 25 - 27

Courtesy of Mike Lewis

INDIANAPOLIS -- Many of the leading NHRA professional teams have committed their participation in the PRO National Warmup January 25 - 27 at Southwestern International Raceway (SIR) in Tucson, Arizona with additional entries expected. The PRO National Warmup is conducted annually by SIR for the Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) with proceeds used to fund PRO activities including the PRO driver insurance plan.

Among the stars of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series coming to Tucson will be six-time and reigning Top Fuel Champion Kenny Bernstein with his record holding 332 MPH Budweiser King dragster. Joining Bernstein will be eleven-time Funny Car Champion John Force with his Castrol GTX Mustang along with team drivers Tony Pedregon in the Castrol Syntec Mustang and Gary Densham in the Auto Club of Southern California Mustang.

Additional Top Fuel entries include Doug Herbert and his Snap On Tools team, IHRA Champion and NHRA contender Clay Millican's Werner Enterprises machine, Wyatt Radke and the Western Racing entry and former Alcohol Dragster racer Ken Zeal who will take the reins of the Bill Miller Engineering dragster in 2002. Also working feverishly, hoping to make it to Tucson, is the Gwynn/Steinbrenner New York Yankees team with new driver Andrew Cowin.

The Force brigade will test alongside several of the teams likely to figure into the POWERade Funny Car points chase in 2002. Del Worsham and new teammate Johnny Gray will be in Tucson with their Checker, Schucks, Kragen Pontiacs hoping to better their five-win 2001 season in 2002. Dean Skuza will unveil his sleek new Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus in Tucson and figures to be a threat to the POWERade championship having run near the head of the pack through 2001 with a body designed eight years ago.

While many Pro Stock teams traditionally test in Florida and Texas, Memphis winner George Marnell will join his fellow PRO members in Tucson with his Marnell Motorsports Grand Am.

The PRO National Warmup begins with a private test day on January 24 and is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day, January 25 through 27. A strong contingent of NHRA Sportsman teams will join the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock fields each day. For additional event information, contact SIR at 520-762-9700.