Inside The World Of Professional Drag Racing – Bob Wilber’s third book since his retirement from the sports PR and management world was officially released Tuesday by Palmetto Publishing.
During the pre-sale period (prior to actual publication) The Lost Manuscript rocketed to the top tiers of Amazon’s offerings, ranking in the top 1% of all books on sale at the retail giant, while absolutely dominating the Motorsports category, ranking No. . 1 during its pre-sale, earning a “Top Seller” badge on the platform.
Inside The World Of Professional Drag Racing
The book may be new to the market, but in terms of its entire life as a written work, it is now 22 years young. In 2001, while working for Del Worsham and the Checker, Schuck’s, Kragen Funny Car team as the organization manager and public relations representative, Wilber kept a full daily log throughout the season. At the end of the campaign, he printed one copy and within months misplaced it and lost track of it.
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22 years later, in May 2023, Wilbur and his wife stumbled upon the lone battered replica while preparing for a garage sale. After five months of painstaking editing and “cleaning” to bring it up to date in terms of software and operating systems, the book is now on sale and ready to ship. The title The Lost Manuscript obviously fits.
“It was so long ago that it was hard to remember that I did it, much less lose it,” Wilbur said from his home in Minnesota. “I didn’t worry about losing him all these years.” I never had a plan to do anything with it, so I just put it aside and put it out of my mind. And then we found him hiding in plain sight in our utility room here at home. The second I saw it, I knew we had to get this out there.
“NHRA fans are so dedicated. They have memories like steel traps, so I had a hunch they would love this. The diary follows the CSK team every day, throughout the year, in real time as it happened, both on the track and behind the scenes. So many details, which the average fan never knows about, are written in this diary. It’s a time capsule, time machine or whatever you want to call it a complete trip back to 2001 and how the underdog team Nitro Funny Cars found its footing and took it to the next level. I am delighted with it, and the sales response during the pre-sale period has completely blown me away. I never dreamed that I would ever sell something I wrote in such incredible numbers. I don’t write about the fees. There aren’t enough of them to be your target. I’m writing for me, for the reward of it, and for anyone who might enjoy what I put together. If the reader reviews are anything like the pre-sale numbers, I’ll be one very proud author.”
Wilber’s previous works include his autobiography Bats, Balls and Burns and his critically acclaimed work of historical sports fiction How Far? Both are also available on Amazon.
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With a constant eye on improvement, Elite Motorsports team owner Richard Freeman is fired up with the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing season just 22 days after Elite Motorsports turned on the final 2023 Pro Stock victory light.
“We have some of the best true partners in motorsport,” said an enthusiastic Freeman. “We have worked hard to develop deep relationships and understand each partner’s individual goals and objectives for joining our organization. We have a strong driver line-up and the talented individuals outside the car are equally strong. To have Jason Johnson and the group at Johnson’s Horsepower Garage be a major partner in our program and continue to increase their involvement around our team speaks volumes for how our team operates.
While the team is making some big changes in several areas, they also know better than to mess with success. Six-time Pro Stock World Champion Enders will continue to pilot the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance Camaro while her teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. will once again get behind the wheel of the JEGS / White Castle machine.
Drag racing fan favorite Bo Buttner is slated to be a member of the two-car Mountain Motor Pro Stock team starting in 2024 with the support of NHRA class sponsor Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage. The other driver will be named later. A two-time NHRA world champion, 27-time NHRA national event winner, four-time division champion and major league standout, Buettner will also move into the role of director of development for the elite motorsports team. The Elite Mountain Motor Pro Stock team will make their first races soon and if all goes well, they will be a two-car threat to win every event.
Bob Wilber On Linkedin:
“This new position will help foster new talent in and out of the car.” Winning NHRA events in 6 different categories and numerous bracket races, Bo is perfectly suited to help and advance this effort. We are in this for the long haul,” Freeman said.
“I look forward to racing the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars in 2024. “I know we’re going to have a great time,” Buttner said. “Helping develop the team at Elite Motorsports will be a fun project that will help ensure long-term success in and out of race cars.”
“I am very excited to further expand our partnership and relationship with Elite Motorsports,” said Jason Johnson, owner of Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage. “I look forward to seeing the new Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars and I think Bo’s new role with Elite will help grow and support all of its teams.”
Aaron Stanfield will drive the second Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Pro Stock entry starting in 2024. This effort will continue to have support from longtime supporters Janac Brothers Racing and JC3 Energy Services. In addition, Melling increased his participation with Stanfield during the Countdown to the Associate Championship for the upcoming season.
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“To say it’s been a crazy couple of days would be an understatement,” Stanfield said. “From winning Pro Stock at the NHRA Finals, my wife having our second baby to now driving a Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage car with the support of Melling and my longtime sponsors Janac Brothers Racing and JC3 Energy Service seems more like a dream than a reality.
“I’ve been paying close attention to all the competitors over the last few seasons, and Aaron is definitely a top driver,” Johnson said. “He is all business on the track and JHG looks forward to being there for all of his future successes!”
Melling Performance and Melling Engine Parts have been involved with Enders for several years and will continue to support her in all of her Elite endeavors. This relationship has grown within the Elite Motorsports team to include Melling marques more comprehensively across the entire elite fleet of high-powered racing cars.
“What a blessing it has been to ride with Erika for the past seven seasons,” said Mark Melling, CEO of Melling Engine Parts. “We really enjoyed our engagement with Aaron last year as well. We look forward to 2024 with fingers crossed there will be a fifth Pro Park Championship featuring Melling!”
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In one of the most anticipated additions to the 2024 season, veteran and drag racing legend Jag Coughlin Jr. will return to Pro Stock full-time in an exciting partnership with SCAG Power Equipment and their dealer network of over 1,500 people.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Jag Coughlin Jr. back in the Pro Stock car seat at Elite Motorsports,” Freeman said. “SCAG Power Equipment turned on for the last time