CLEAR LAKE, MINN., AUG. 17 - Chaffee Motorsports, owner of Top Alcohol Funny Car "American Dream," Snyder Motorsports, and David Smith, a track enthusiast and photographer, announced today the Operation Interdependence® Low ET Challenge to be held at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals August 30 - September 4 at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The Low ET Challenge will benefit Operation Interdependence, a nationwide non-profit organization that is the premier Civilian-to-Military Delivery System® in the U.S.

Operation Interdependence volunteers deliver 50,000 Civilian Rations® (dubbed C-rats®) per month to deployed troops, military families, veterans' hospitals and VFW's. C-rats shipped to troops on the front lines are packed in quart-sized plastic baggies and contain items such as snacks, personal care products, and most importantly a letter of well wishes from a thoughtful person back home. The Operation Interdependence delivery system does not impact military resources and ensures that at mail call everyone gets a package. For many soldiers, it's the only communication they receive from home. Items that do not meet Operation Interdependence shipping standards are donated to military families and veteran's organizations. Since launching in December 2001, Operation Interdependence has delivered over 1 million C-rats WITHOUT impacting military resources. To learn more go to www.oidelivers.org.

Chaffee Motorsports is a family owned and operated Top Alcohol Funny Car Race Team from Minnesota. The "American Dream" theme was designed and painted by Gage Chaffee, driver and youngest son of owner's Ron and Barb Chaffee, and represents the family's goal of serving all branches of the military and following their racing passion.

"American Dream" prominently features the Operation Interdependence logo, which Chaffee has displayed at no cost to the organization since 2002. Chaffee and his family are also volunteers for Operation Interdependence. Chaffee's support of Operation Interdependence is made possible due to the generosity of sponsors Dent Wizard and Minneapolis Auto Auction.

As part of the Low ET Challenge, Chaffee is offering a limited edition "American Dream" - Operation Interdependence Low ET Challenge T-Shirt that will be available beginning with the Indianapolis event. Chaffee is asking a $20 donation to Operation Interdependence for each T-shirt. All proceeds will benefit Operation Interdependence. Because Chaffee is not appearing at the Mac Tools Nationals, Mick Snyder of Snyder Motorsports - the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car 2004 and 2005 Division 3 Champion - and David Smith will have the T-shirts available at the track. Race fans can also support the effort by mailing their name, address, phone number and email address along with a donation check (suggested $20 donation) made out to Operation Interdependence to:

Chaffee Motorsports
10383 55th Street
Clear Lake, MN 55319

T-shirts will also be available online at Smith's website at www.davesdragpics.com. The limited edition T-shirts are available as long as supplies last.

Smith will also award drivers with low elapsed times throughout qualifying in the Top Alcohol Funny Car, Injected Nitro Dragster and Blown Alcohol Dragster with an Operation Interdependence Low ET Challenge commemorative plaque and $250. Smith has organized similar benefit events in memory of drivers Darrell Russell and Shelly Howard who lost their lives in racing incidents. Chaffee Motorsports will also be honored for their support of Operation Interdependence.

For more information on Operation Interdependence® go to www.oidelivers.org.
For more information on Chaffee Motorsports go to www.chaffeemotorsports.com.
For more information on Snyder Motorsports go to www.snydermotorsports.com.

 

Contacts:
Gage Chaffee, Chaffee Motorsports - (612) 991-6634
Faye Eson, Operation Interdependence - (281) 217-6032
David Smith - (973) 670-3129

 

 

 

 

2006 picture links

Drivers galleries

Division one Lebanon

Division three Joliet

Englishtown Super Nationals

Carquest Auto Parts Nationals Joliet

O Reilly Summer Nationals Heartland Park Topeka

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta Dragway

O Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals Baytown Texas

Gainesville AC Delco Gator Nationals

Truck and Tractor Pulling

Englishtown Funny Car Reunion

Have you driven a ford lately

All the photos in my arsenal will be posting in their entirety here

 

I am proud to say I am a huge drag racing fan. My favorite classes are Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car, mostly because of the people involved in those two classes. They are friendly, they open their pits up to their fans and they deserve much more exposure and respect than what they get. I am very fortunate to work for a company that allows me to take the time off to attend many events every year.

One of my favorite drivers and teams was the Shelly Howard racing team. As most are aware she was tragically killed in a testing accident along with her son Brian. This has had a profound affect on myself and the Top Alcohol Drag Racing fraternity, and one of the reasons I have decided to have my own web site.

A part of this site will be dedicated to Shelly and her racing legacy.

Included will be many photos of her from the past few years, and a dedication to her called the "Memorial Top Alcohol ET Challenge".

The ET challenge came about when the two Top Alky classes lost their low qualifier bonuses in 2004. At selected events I present the low qualifiers in TAFC, A/F and BAD $250.00 each and a memorial plaque recognizing their achievement.

The two different photo pages (Divisional and National) will be up soon