NHRA NAMES DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE MARKETING
Kelly Clancy has been named director of corporate marketing for the National Hot Rod Association. Clancy joins NHRA with more than 20 years of experience in the marketing field – including 10 years with California Speedway, where she managed all media, advertising, sponsor programs, and pre- and post-race ceremonies as director of advertising and promotions.
Clancy played an integral role at California Speedway from its 1997 debut and was instrumental in bringing a second NASCAR NEXTEL Series event to that facility in 2004. While there, she formed relationships with sponsors such as the Automobile Club of Southern California, among others, developing and executing media and sponsor promotions as well as cross-promotional activities.
In addition to her experience with California Speedway, Clancy also served as account supervisor with Saatchi & Saatchi/LA, overseeing the Toyota Motorsports account. At the agency, she managed all local, regional and national level promotions, sponsorship and motorsports advertising for the account. She graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from The University of Southern California. [11-9-2006]
BECKMAN LOVES POMONA, HE EVEN GOT MARRIED THERE
In the past two weeks Jack Beckman has been in a whirlwind. He claimed his first NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car title in only his fourth Funny Car race on Oct. 31 in Las Vegas, then married his longtime girlfriend Jenna Lucy on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum at the Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.
Now, the driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger R/T looks to this weekend's Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the same track at which he works as an
instructor for Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School, and where he is also a two-time (1998 and 2003 Winternationals) Super Comp winner.
"My first two national-event wins came here," says Beckman. "I work here full time, and I just got married here on Tuesday. I've got a bunch of friends that haven't been to the races in 15-plus years coming out, and we're coming off a win.
"You wanna talk about someone having momentum and luck on their side? I feel pretty good heading into this weekend.” (Ron Lewis photo) [11-9-2006]
SAFETY SAFARI MEMBER GRICE TO RETIRE
After more than 10 years traveling fulltime with the NHRA Safety Safari presented by AAA, Jere “Lefty” Grice, who turned 65 at the Seattle race, will retire after the 42nd annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Grice’s involvement with NHRA drag racing began like many others’ – when he raced the first car he ever owned, a 1948 Plymouth with a ’54 Dodge V8 engine, near his home in
Louisiana in 1956. It wasn’t long before a friend Grice met at a local speed shop, announcer Dave McClelland, persuaded him to work at NHRA tracks part time. Grice worked in construction and as a television photographer before signing up fulltime with NHRA.
In 2006, Grice logged more than 30,000 miles pulling the registration trailer behind the Emergency 3 GMC one-ton dually. His job description has changed through the years: from fire driver (when Grice was one of the first responders to accidents on the track); to equipment maintenance worker to Top End, where Grice implemented a system of common hand signals that helped drivers know when and where to turn off of the track after the finish line. The tire dragger he invented for track maintenance is the one used at POWERade Series events today. [11-9-2006]
SCHALPI SETS PSCA RECORD
Contrary to the PSCA race report in the new issue of DRO Pro Mod verteran John Scialpi and his supercharged ’57 Chevy did indeed backup the 6.437 he ran early with a 6.471 lap in the semi-finals to set the new PSCA ET record, his 6.471 Our apologies to John and his clutch man and son Kenneth Scialpi for the error. A tip of the agent’s hat to the driver/tuner and crew.
