Mopar Speed news 2004-12-06

Mopar Speed
Monday, December 6, 2004

NHRA PS

Mopar, Jeg's Racing and Don Schumacher Racing to unveil 2005 Pro Stock Ride

Mopar, Jeg's Racing and Don Schumacher Racing are set to unveil the 2005 Jeg's Mail Order/Mopar/Dodge Stratus R/T during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Ind., this week. Scheduled for Friday, December 10, at 1 p.m. EST, the unveiling will give the industry its first look at the machine that driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. will pilot in his chase for the 2005 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock championship.

Team personnel scheduled to address the media are Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Brand Strategy and Performance Mopar Parts; Don Schumacher, owner of Don Schumacher Racing; and driver Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Mopar's display will be located inside the B-Hall at Peninsula 1105.

USAC SC

Mopar open-wheel pilots among Sprint Car Poll award nominees

Four members of Team Mopar's open-wheel stable have been named as North American Sprint Car Poll Award nominees. Tony Stewart is nominated for the Non-Winged Team of the Year award for his role as the owner of the No. 20 and No. 21 USAC National Sprint Car Series teams. Jay Drake and Cory Kruseman have been named as Non-Winged Driver of the Year contenders, and Danny Lasoski is among the 410 Driver of the Year nominees.

The recipients of the North American Sprint Car Poll Awards will be named during a reception hosted by the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum on Thursday, December 9. The reception will begin at 6 p.m., EST, at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, Ind. Voting for the award winners is conducted in an Oscar's style manner by a selected group of media, manufacturers, sanctioning body officers and promoters.

The reception is held in conjunction with the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show and is free to all attendees.

Team Mopar shines on recent TV appearance

Race fans in the Indianapolis, Ind., area had an opportunity to watch three members of the open wheel racing community on television on Sunday. The Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises trio of Jay Drake, Larry Curry and Josh Wise appeared on Channel 13's "Sports Jam" program with Dave Calabro on Dec. 5.

Calabro discussed Drake's USAC National Sprint Car Series title, as well as Wise's first season with the team and Curry's part in overseeing the Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises programs. The trio were joined by several members of the Indianapolis Colts football team also making an appearance on the show.

Over the weekend, Drake was honored with a party to celebrate his 2004 USAC National Sprint Car Series title. The championship run was Drake's first national USAC title. Attendees of this week's Performance Racing Industry Trade Show will have the opportunity to test their skills against Drake in the Mopar Virtual Dirt Track Challenge, which is scheduled to run December 9-11.

WoO S

Lasoski contends for 2004 Auto Racing All-American team

Team Mopar's Danny "The Dude" Lasoski is among 44 finalists nominated for a spot on the 2004 Auto Racing All-American team. With seven categories represented, only two drivers from each of the categories will be chosen to create the team. Lasoski joins fellow World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series competitor Steve Kinser as an award nominee.

The Auto Racing All-American Team is voted on by nearly 300 members of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. The 2004 award recipients will be named at the AARWBA banquet in Pomona, Calif., on January 15, 2005.

Lasoski and the No. 20 Tony Stewart Motorsports team will begin their chase for the 2005 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series title on January 13 at the Parramatta City Raceway in New South Wales, Australia. The team will return to the United States in February to continue the start of the racing season.

WoO LM

"It's an honor to represent American dirt late model racing in Australia. It's a great opportunity to compete in the off season and to visit Australia. I hate that I will be away for Christmas and away from family, but they understand and are supportive."
    Steve Francis discussing off-season racing in Australia as a member of Team USA.

Francis to compete Down Under

Team Mopar World of Outlaws Late Model pilot Steve Francis has left for Australia, where he will spend the month of December as a part of Team USA. "The Kentucky Colonel" will compete throughout the month of December and part of January in the Super Sedan class Down Under. The trip marks Francis' third time as a member of Team USA during his career.

Francis will return from Australia in January, where he will immediately return to the seat of the Moring Motorsports Mopar/Valvoline/Freesport Recycling Centers Rocket Dodge for the Early Thaw Late Model event in Phoenix, Ariz. Last season, the No. 15 team started the season with a bang, winning twice and capturing the championship in the Early Thaw series.

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