Time to Tap It, NHRA Winternationals Open Today at Pomona

The 2012 NHRA season gets underway today at the Auto Club Speedway at Fairplex in Pomona. Come on out and join us for an exciting four days of racing with Jim Dunn and the debut of the Tap It Brewing funny car.

While at the races, be sure to stop by the new Jim Dunn Racing/Tap It Brewing apparel trailer and grab your share of Jim Dunn Racing / Tap It Brewing gear. There will be a sweet array of hats, t-shirts, and other great, high-quality items for fans to choose from and show their support.

At the end of each day's racing the fun continues. Tap It ales will be available after the races at the Finish Line Sports Grill, located on White Avenue, just south of Arrow Highway and the Longboard Bar, located by the main grandstand inside Fairplex, near the overnight RV site.

On Friday evening the Finish Line Sports Grill plays host to the Tap It girls and funny car driver Todd Lasenko who will be on hand signing autographs. Drop on in, meet the crew and Tap It with us Friday evening beginning at 7:00 pm. Visit the Tap It Brewing website.

CANIDAE Racing Takes 1st at Dome Valley Sand Drags, Places 13th of 34 in Trick Truck Class

The BITD Parker 425 started a day early this year due to the 1st Annual Tuba Water 4.25 RC race Wednesday night before Time Trials. The CANIDAE Crew had three RC Trucks running this race. This race being Scott Whipple’s first time driving an RC Truck, he had his work cut out for him. After a few heats of battling, Whipple took 2nd in the Best of the Worst heat. A great showing for his first time driving a RC Truck. As the night wrapped up the team headed back to the house to rest up for and exciting day of Time Trials in the morning.

Whipple was 80th off the line of 89 qualifiers, 34 being Trick Trucks while 55 were Class 1500’s. After the practice lap and 79 others tearing up the track it was Whipple’s time to go battle on the rutted, wooped out, silty course. He qualified 44th overall and 19th in the Trick Truck class with a time of 5:54.124 and averaging a speed of 50.83mph.

The following morning Whipple headed to Dome Valley to qualify in the 3rd Annual Dome Valley Top Fuel Shootout. Whipple and the CANIDAE Top Fuel Sand Drag Team are the world record holders. The CANIDAE Trick Truck crew stayed to tech the Trick Truck.

Check out this awesome footage of the Best in the Desert

Parker 425 race from the CANIDAE Pet Foods Trick Truck Team!

At Dome Valley, the CANIDAE Top Fuel dragster crew blew away the competition with a blistering pass of 2.24 seconds at 169mph in 300ft. This earned Whipple 1st Place Qualifier and a New Track Record. Back in Parker, the Trick Truck passed Tech Inspection and the pit meeting was underway while Whipple was back on the road again to Parker so he could start the Parker 425 in the CANIDAE #95 Trick Truck Saturday morning.

Before sunrise the CANIDAE Team was up and double-checking everything before the start. Whipple started the race and had a great first lap, making good time on the competition... (read more)

Tap It Brewing Company to Sponsor Jim Dunn Racing's NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car

Our friends at Tap It Brewing in San Luis Obispo, CA are on board as primary sponsor of the legendary Jim Dunn NHRA top fuel funny car team this year! The Dunn racing family and Canidae Pet Foods have been working together since 2008 and we couldn't be happier about their new sponsor.

“We're proud to have Tap It Brewing team up with us for the 2012 season," said team owner Dunn. "We have been in NHRA drag racing for a long time and we know what it takes to make the sponsor experience highly successful. Our car and crew are seasoned veterans and we're all looking forward to kicking off the season and showcasing our partnership with Tap It Brewing and all of our sponsors."

The 2012 NHRA season gets underway at the Auto Club Speedway at the Fairplex in Pomona, February 9-12.  Now that Jim Dunn Racing and Tap It Brewing have teamed up, we know that NHRA race fans are in for a treat discovering one the finest hand-crafted beers the West Coast has to offer.

We invite you to come on out and join us for an exciting weekend of racing with Big Jim Dunn and the debut of the Tap It Brewing funny car.  While at the races, be sure to stop by the new Jim Dunn Racing/Tap It Brewing apparel trailer [pictured below] and grab your share of cool Jim Dunn Racing / Tap It Brewing gear. There will be a sweet array of hats, t-shirts, and other great, high-quality items for fans to choose from and show their support.

At the end of each day's racing the fun continues. Tap It ales will be available after the races at the Finish Line Sports Grill, located on White Avenue, just south of Arrow Highway and the Longboard Bar, located by the main grandstand inside Fairplex, near the overnight RV site. On Friday evening, the Finish Line Grill Sports Grill will play host to the Tap It girls and funny car driver Todd Lasenko who will be on hand signing autographs.  Drop on in, meet the crew, and Tap It with us Friday evening beginning at 7:00 pm.

With over 60 years in the sport, Jim Dunn is one of the original pioneers of NHRA Drag Racing. He began his career as a competitor in 1950 when the popularity of the sport was starting to take hold on local strips throughout Southern California. Over the years, the acclaimed driver/crew chief/team owner has accumulated numerous wins and performance records. He won in AA/A, AA/FA, front-engine Top Fuel dragsters, and Funny Cars. In 2011, he was named number 27 on the NHRA's all time top 50 driver's list.

Tap It Brewing Co., located on California's central coast, is the maker of fine handcrafted ales artfully brewed in a variety of flavors from bold and intense to cool and refreshing. "The shift in American beer tastes continues to head more and more toward micro and handcrafted beers," according to Tap It sales manager Robert Garcia. "Our teaming up with Jim Dunn Racing is the perfect opportunity for us to expose the Tap It Brewing name to millions of NHRA fans and distributors around the country and we're excited to be on board," added Garcia.

Double Duty for Canidae Racing – Team Set to Fire Up Trophy Truck and Top Fuel Sand Dragster Over Action Packed Weekend

Coming on the heels of two top ten finishes at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, Canidae Racing looks to double up on the action this week competing in the trophy truck class at the "BITD BlueWater Parker 425" race and firing up their Canidae Pet Foods top fuel sand dragster at the 3rd annual "AZ vs Cali Top Fuel Shootout" at Dome Valley Raceway in Welton, AZ -- both on the same weekend.

Beginning on Thursday, the team will be at the BlueWater Casino & Resort for trophy truck time trials and qualifying in the morning and then take part in the Parker "Downtown Experience" and street fair being held for fans beginning at 3:00 pm. Team sponsor Canidae Pet Foods will also be on hand with free samples, coupons and goodies for pet owners and fans in attendance at the event. The day will wind up with an escorted parade of race vehicles back to the main pit area.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can follow the CANIDAE team’s progress before and during both races by visiting the team's Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/tdHKWZ or http://www.canidaeracing.com. Both will feature continual reports and photos direct from the team.

In the evening, driver Scott Whipple, will take a two and half hour trip south to Dome Valley Raceway to meet up with members of the T/F team, including master engine tuner Amos Satterlee, for Friday qualifying at the "Top Fuel Shoot Out". Whipple and the team currently hold the T/F world record on the dirt for ET with a 2.221 elapsed time at 172.79 miles per hour set in April of 2010. After heads up qualifying races on Friday, Whipple will head back to BlueWater for the Parker 425 race.

Come Saturday morning, Whipple will climb behind the wheel of the 800 plus horsepower Geiser trophy truck and along with team manager and co-driver Scott Gailey and the rest of the crew take on the grueling 425 mile desert race and their quest for the podium in the premier class of off road racing... [ read more ]

CANIDAE Racing Trophy Truck Team Eager for 2012 Laughlin Race

Armed with their custom built 800 HP 454 CI Dougan small block Chevy powerplant, the CANIDAE Racing team is ready to take on the first offroad race of the 2012 season, the 18th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge race in Nevada.

With entries to date from 13 U.S. states along with Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany and Mexico, Rounds 1 and 2 of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series will be held this coming Friday through Sunday (Jan. 13-15) along the banks of the Colorado River in the Southern Nevada resort destination of Laughlin.

For the first time in the history of the event, each day of the two-day Laughlin gathering (Jan. 14, Jan. 15) will be separate race events for purposes of championship points, prize money and trophies.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can follow the CANIDAE team’s progress before and during the Laughlin Desert Challenge race by visiting the team's Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/tdHKWZ or http://www.canidaeracing.com. Both will feature continual reports and photos direct from the team.

The Laughlin event features course qualifying for the Trophy Truck class on Friday followed by two separate and independent races, the first on Saturday and the second on Sunday.  Sponsor CANIDAE Pet Foods will also be on hand with coupons and free samples for fans during contingency and safety inspections being held on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the Edgewater and Colorado Belle Hotels on Casino Drive in the heart of the Laughlin resort area...(read more)

Team CANIDAE Racing Heads to Their First Henderson "250"

The last 2011 race of the Best in the Desert "American Off-Road Racing Series" gets underway this coming Saturday in Henderson, Nevada. The TransWest Ford Henderson "250" takes place on a loop track with the Trophy Truck class covering the course 3 times for a total of 240 miles.

The CANIDAE Off Road Race team and their impressive 850 plus horsepower Trophy Truck are ready for the event. This team has performed well this season and is looking forward to capping off the season with a strong finish.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can follow the CANIDAE team’s progress before and during the Henderson "250" race by visiting the team's Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/tdHKWZ or http://www.canidaeracing.com. Both will feature continual reports and photos direct from the team.

Before drivers take the green flag on Saturday, the City of Henderson will help create a great atmosphere for race fans and families by closing their downtown city streets to regular traffic on Friday allowing race vehicles, contingency sponsors and street vendors to take center stage... (read more)

World Record Holder CANIDAE Racing Top Fuel Sand Drag Team Returns to Action this Weekend

CANIDAE Racing's top fuel sand drag team led by driver Scott Whipple and master engine tuner Amos Satterlee will be back in action at the Southern California Sand Drag Association "Pumpkins and Paddles" race being held October 21-23 at Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, California.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can visit www.canidaeracing.com Friday through Sunday to follow the CANIDAE Sand Drag Team's progress with live reports and photos coming in from the field.

CANIDAE Racing comes into the weekend holding world records on the sand track for quickest elapsed time (ET) 2.221 seconds and fastest miles per hour at 166.05 mph.

Fans in attendance will be in for a treat as drivers and teams from all over the Western United States fire up their nitro burning, flame throwing dragsters and line it up for exciting, side by side racing.  Racers will be competing for SCSDA titles in Pro Classes, Sport Classes and Youth classes throughout the weekend... (read more)

CANIDAE Racing Gears up for Best in the Desert Blue Water Desert Challenge

The CANIDAE Off Road Racing Trophy Truck team will compete at the Best in the Desert Blue Water race in Parker, Arizona this October 13th through 16th. Recently, at the Vegas to Reno race, the CANIDAE Team drove hard and powered through the rugged terrain to achieve a strong 5th in their class, only 21 seconds off 4th place, and only 7 minutes shy of a podium finish. At the end of the Vegas to Reno race, CANIDAE Racing driver Scott Whipple said, "What an awesome day. We have the best crew who worked together as a team flawlessly." Whipple's comment capped off one of the best performances the team has turned in since entering the Trophy Truck class.

At this next race, the team will take on the challenge of a 26 mile loop course near the Blue Water Resort and Casino in Parker. This is a 3 lap race repeating each day of that weekend for a total of 146 miles for the Trophy Truck class entrants. Racers will take on the famous Parker Python, a rough section of jumps during the third and final lap of each day as spectators cheer them on. Combined results from both days determine the winners.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can follow the CANIDAE team’s progress before and during the Blue Water Desert Challenge race by visiting www.canidaeracing.com for photos and reports direct from the team.

The Best in the Desert Blue Water race has something for every race fan including the beautiful backdrop of the Colorado River, time trials and two day racing action over a challenging course, and nighttime fun all courtesy of the Blue Water Resort & Casino, Colorado River Indian Tribes and the town of Parker... (read more)

Photo credit Mike Wilson Photography.

Fresh Off Their 5th Place Finish at Vegas to Reno, CANIDAE Racing Heads to Inaugural 2011 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy Desert Challenge!

The CANIDAE Pet Foods Off Road Racing team will be one of the inaugural competitors at the first Robby Gordon SPEED Energy Desert Challenge race held this September 29 through October 2 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

In their previous race at Vegas to Reno this year, the CANIDAE Team drove hard and powered through the rugged terrain to achieve a strong 5th in their class, only 21 seconds off 4th place, and only 7 minutes shy of a podium finish. At the end of the Vegas to Reno race, CANIDAE Racing driver Scott Whipple said, "What an awesome day. We have the best crew who worked together as a team flawlessly." Whipple's comment capped off one of the best performances the team has turned in since entering the Trophy Truck class.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can follow the CANIDAE team’s progress before and during the Robby Gordon SPEED Energy Desert Challenge race by visiting www.canidaeracing.com for photos and reports direct from the team.

The Robby Gordon SPEED Energy Desert Challenge is a joint effort among NASCAR driver Robby Gordon and Mi7 Events that will be staged on a 900-acre parcel of private property located on the east side of N. Sheep Lane in Tooele, across from Miller Motorsports Park. The race will take place on a 7-mile desert-racing course constructed specifically for this event and will provide spectators with an excellent view of all the action and access to the drivers for autographs... (read more)

CANIDAE Racing Takes a 34th Place Start and Turns it into a 5th Place in Class Finish at Vegas to Reno Race

The CANIDAE Off Road Racing team qualified in 34th place out of more than 270 entries at this year's Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno offroad race. The 34th place starting position put them 19th off the starting line in their Trophy Truck class. Driving hard and powering through the rugged terrain, co-drivers Scott Whipple and Scott Gailey kept pushing the truck throughout the race to finish a strong 5th in their class, only 21 seconds off 4th place, and only 7 minutes shy of a podium finish. The Vegas to Reno race is over 500 miles long and the CANIDAE Team turned in a 10 hour, 19 minute and 10 second time on course.

The event was blogged live at the team's website and Facebook fan page and attracted more visits and comments then any other race in the team's history. "Reports and pictures kept coming in from CANIDAE as we watched the live tracking at Best in the Desert. We saw them making their way forward through the pack, doing better and better as the race went on. They even lost a cylinder part way through and just kept right on making great time and passing other teams. It was exciting and we're all really happy for the crew," said Marlon Coffman, long time supporter... [read more]

CANIDAE Racing Heads into the BITD Vegas to Reno Race with a "Rad" New Look and a Whole New Attitude

Canidae Pet Foods Trophy Truck
with Co-Driver Scott Whipple

The CANIDAE Off Road Race team is putting the final touches on the #95 Trophy Truck for the 2011, Best in the Desert, Vegas to Reno Off Road Race. This amazing event is the longest off road race in the United States at well over 500 bone-jarring miles. "Just to finish this epic race is a huge accomplishment, but we're looking for more than that," said co-driver Scott Gailey who continued "the CANIDAE crew has been working hard, the truck is ready and we're coming in prepared to win it."

The CANIDAE Team's 800 HP 454 CI Dougan small block Chevy Trophy Truck is sporting a new paint scheme by RADesigns for the historic race and completed final performance testing on August 11 to ensure the truck is in prime condition.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can follow the CANIDAE team’s progress before and during the race by visiting www.canidaeracing.com for photos and reports direct from the team, and for up-to-the-minute race course mapping for speed and position during the race.

Starting in the desert heat of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday August 19th, 150 plus competitors will begin the long trek north along Highway 95 all the way to Reno, Nevada. During the race, they will endure high temperatures, severe dust, sharp rocks and... [read more]

CANIDAE Racing Trophy Truck Team Ready to Take on Baja!

When the CANIDAE Pet Foods Off Road team decided to compete in the Trophy Truck class, they built their tough-as-nails truck with one track in mind... Baja! The Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is a magical place where legends are made and hearts are broken, along with expensive machinery.

The 43rd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the second-oldest desert race in the world, will take Team CANIDAE over 500 miles of the roughest terrain that Baja has to offer this coming June 4th. Starting in Ensenada, Mexico the course will run through scenic country then down to the Valley de Trinidad where temperatures can reach 115 degrees. Things begin to cool down as they head toward the Pacific Ocean and then back to Ensenada. Team CANIDAE will have to battle more than 40 other Trophy Trucks as well as Mother Nature and Baja itself.

LIVE BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT: Race fans can visit www.canidaeracing.com during the race to follow the CANIDAE Trophy Truck Team's progress with live reports and photos coming in from the field as mobile service allows. Don’t miss a second of the action! (read more)

Photo credit Mike Wilson Photography.