Canidae Sponsored Geiser Bros Pro 2 Truck to Debut as Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Relocates Season Opener

CANIDAE Pet Foods/Geiser Pro 2 Truck to open season in Las Vegas instead of Lake Elsinore due to series venue change

Jeff Geiser and his CANIDAE sponsored Pro 2 truck team will head to Las Vegas in two weeks for the season opener of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series which has relocated the first event of 2010, March 6th and 7th, to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Lucas Oil Executive Vice-President, Bob Patison spoke on the move to the new facility in Las Vegas. “Due to recent unrealistic demands made by the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park management, the environment of the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park no longer remains conducive to providing the atmosphere for a first class event. We have taken great pride in developing spectacular venues for our fans and racers alike to showcase the excitement of our short course off road racing series. While failing to meet their commitments, the management of the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park has complicated our relationship to the point that we now feel the best course of action is to transition away from this venue as we pursue an alternative site in the Southern California region. We are grateful to the staff of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for assisting us in making this as smooth a transition as possible while we look forward to our first event at this fantastic new location.”

Kicking off the 2010 season, rounds 1& 2 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series will be held on a brand new, mile long, purpose built track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway featuring the highest banked turn on the Lucas Oil Off Road circuit. With its ten turns and giant table top, this technical track brings the high flying door to door exhilaration of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series to Las Vegas for the first time ever.

Ticket prices are $30/day for adults, $10 for children. Weekend passes are available for $50/adult and $15/child. Children three and under are admitted free. Reservations are now being taken for a limited number of on-site, trackside R.V. spaces available on a first come first serve basis. To secure a weekend R.V. spot at $200 please contact Crystal Liby crystal@lucasoiloffroad.com.

Lee Excited to Get Back On Track at Firebird

With back-to-back races to kick off the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season, race teams have a chance to redeem themselves if they turned in a less-than-desired performance at the season-opening Winternationals at Pomona last weekend. Such is the case with Funny Car veteran Paul Lee and the Jim Dunn Racing team as they prepare for this weekend’s 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway just south of Phoenix. Despite missing the 16-car field at Pomona, Lee, a first-year driver of the CANIDAE Pet Foods/Lucas Oil/WileyX Chevy, is confident the team can shake off the cobwebs and turn in a solid performance at Firebird.

“(Pomona) was just one of those weekends; pretty much if something could go wrong it did,” Lee said. “The first two runs were a little sluggish because of the fuel system, but once Big Jim (team owner/crew chief Dunn) got some of that down, the third run had a .910-second 60-foot time and should do that every time. If we can get the 60-foot times under control then we’re going to do good, and at Pomona we started to do that. So that’s a good sign and a positive we can take away from the weekend.”

The 52-year-old Lee is a four-time national-event winner in the Funny Car category, winning once in 2008 in the IHRA Nitro Funny Car class and three times in 2004 in NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car. The former CFO of Boninfante Clutches now owns McLeod Clutches, a California-based high-performance clutch shop.

“One of the things I brought to the team this year with Nick Boninfante was our clutch tune-up,” Lee said. “We said to Jon (Dunn) and Jim (Dunn) that part of the goal this year was to help the team with their short times. Big Jim has the other half of the track. He makes plenty of power and his cars always run fast at the top end. I think this is a good combination with this clutch tune-up and his power, so I’m excited to get back on the track at Phoenix.”

A two-hour telecast of qualifying coverage for the NHRA Arizona Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD on Sunday, Feb. 21, beginning at 2:00 a.m. (ET). Coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD continues on Sunday, Feb. 21, when NHRA Race Day kicks off eliminator coverage starting at 11:00 a.m. (ET), and concludes with three hours of final-eliminations coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

Kirk Weeks

CANIDAE Driver Paul Lee Not Your Typical NHRA Rookie

Jim Dunn Racing's Driver for 2010 Fulfills Life-Long Dream with Full-Time Ride in the CANIDAE/Lucas Oil Funny Car

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When Funny Car driver Paul Lee straps into the CANIDAE Pet Foods/Lucas Oil/WileyX Chevy for the first time at this weekend's season-opening 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, there will probably be the requisite butterfly or two that any NHRA rookie racer might feel. Except the 52-year-old Lee with a degree from Wharton Business School and two graduate degrees from Rutgers isn't exactly your typical rookie. Nerves or not, the New Jersey native will see the life-long pursuit of a dream realized when the CANIDAE car is rolled to the line for the first round of qualifying at Pomona.

"I've been working towards this my whole life," said Lee. "Ever since I was 13 years old I knew what I wanted to do, and I've been drag racing ever since I was able to drive a car. It's taken me a long time, but now I'm finally there."

Lee is a four-time national-event winner in the Funny Car category, winning once in 2008 in the IHRA Nitro Funny Car class and three times in 2004 in NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Lee finished a career-best fourth in points in IHRA Nitro Funny Car in 2008 with a win at the Motor City Nationals at Milan (Mich.) Dragway and runner-up finishes at Rockingham (also No. 1 qualifier) and Martin (Mich.). He finished ninth in the class in 2007 and sixth in the class in 2006. He also has three wins in NHRA's Top Alcohol Funny Car class, all coming in 2004 when he finished in the top 10 in the final points standings. Last year Lee ran a limited Top Fuel schedule in IHRA.

Currently a resident of Anaheim Hills, Calif., Lee sat down for a Q&A discussing his circuitous path to NHRA's premier series, how he got interested in drag racing and what his goals are for him and the Jim Dunn Racing team.

Your thoughts on entering your first full season of Funny Car competition in the NHRA Full Throttle Series? "I'm pretty excited. Basically it's something I've been working towards my whole life. Drag racing is my passion. Ever since I was 13 years old I knew what I wanted to do, and I've been drag racing ever since I was able to drive a car. I worked my way up from my mom's 15-second Duster to Fuel Funny Car and I've driven pretty much every class in between. Most of my time's been spent in Alcohol Funny Car but my dream's always been to race a full NHRA Funny Car schedule and compete with the top cars and the top drivers. That's always been my goal. It's taken me a long time but now I'm finally there."

Your perseverance has finally paid off in a full-time Funny Car ride. What kept you going? "It's been a real long journey. I drove Alcohol Funny Cars for 18 years. Of course, during that whole time I always wanted to move up but just never got the opportunity. In 2005 I finally got the opportunity to get licensed and run a few races in Fuel Funny Car, mostly in IHRA for the last five years. We did pretty good, I won a race and went to six final rounds. We set a track record at Rockingham on my fastest pass which was a 4.79. I got to drive some good cars but it's been a long road, and it's never over because the goal is to win races and hopefully some day, if it works out, to win a championship. It's always been the goal to actually win a championship. You can't ever give up on your goals no matter what they are. I've been working towards this my whole life. Since I was 13 years old this is all I ever wanted to do was drag race. My whole life has basically been centered around drag racing. I own McCleod Clutches which is a high-performance clutch shop. It's obviously automotive related and my passion is cars. My whole life has revolved around cars and racing. When you do that, it's really not like a job. I feel I've been pretty fortunate in that respect."

How did you and the Dunns get together? "I used to be the CFO of Boninfante Clutches which is the supplier of clutch discs to all of the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams, and most of the teams use the floaters as well. The Dunns have been a customer of Boninfante for a long time, so I've known Jon (Dunn) and Big Jim (team owner/crew chief Dunn) ever since they started with the company, and then Jon and I are a lot alike and hit it off pretty good as friends. Last year I was an associate sponsor with their team and got to hang around with them a little more, so when the opportunity came up it was kind of a natural fit for us. I know them, I like their family, and they have a great family team which I like so I fit right in."

How did you get interested in drag racing? "There were a couple of events in my life that really developed my dream of drag racing. The first one was when I saw "Jungle Jim" Liberman at my local track, Atco (N.J.) Raceway. When I saw "Jungle Jim" do a halftrack burnout, back up 50 miles per hour and then win the round, that's when I knew I wanted to drive a Funny Car. And then after that set my fascination to the sport, not even two weeks later the movie Funny Car Summer about Funny Car driver Big Jim Dunn came out. I remember going to the movies and seeing that movie. I made my mom take me back four different times to the movie theater to see it. Now, all these years later after seeing Funny Car Summer and having that be one of the things that actually got me into drag racing, who would have thought all these years later I'm actually driving his car. It's unbelievable."

What was your first drag racer? "I borrowed my mom's '74 Plymouth Duster six-cylinder car as my first drag car. I took it to Atco Raceway on Friday nights. I even used to take my dates there. I would tell my mom I needed to borrow the car to go out on a date, and then I would take my date to Atco which was only about 15 minutes from my house. I would go race the car and she didn't know it. In fact, she didn't know it for two years. Today she loves telling that story about how I started racing by borrowing HER Plymouth Duster. After that I just worked my way up. I got my own car and started racing that, and then door cars that were faster and faster, and then worked my way up to race Super Pro, and then I had an eight-second car. After that I had my first Alcohol Funny Car in 1988 and really raced them until 2005. My best year was 2004 when I won three NHRA national events and finished in the top 10."

Your thoughts on this weekend's 50th anniversary of the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona. "This will be my first Winternationals. I've been to the track many years, but being from the East Coast I just never raced at any of these West Coast tracks. Now that I live out here, the 50th annual Winternationals is going to be the first time I race at Pomona. I have visited there many times as a spectator but I've never actually gotten to race there. This will be my first race there and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be great."

Will you be at any disadvantage racing at tracks for the first time? "As far as the driving the car, no. You're only going on 1,000 feet of the track. In a Fuel car you're a high-speed jockey. You're only as good as your horse, and Big Jim provides the horse. The hard part of drag racing at this level is the tune-up. The tuner has the hardest job. Going from track to track is more the tuner's challenge than it is for the driver. But as far as driving the car, that's really not going to have any effect on me."

What are your goals for this season? "I want to win some races. Big Jim's always been able to win races, and I want to win some races, win some 'Wallys' for Big Jim, CANIDAE, Lucas Oil, WileyX and all of our great sponsors.

Will you have a learning curve driving the CANIDAE/Lucas Oil/WileyX Chevy? "I've driven Fuel Funny Cars since 2005, so I don't see any problems. It's a McKinney car so the fit is the same. Getting into a team's procedures or routine is always the hardest part. Every team has a different routine about what they do, so just getting used to Big Jim's routine will be the biggest part. I need to get use to what HE wants me to do, so he'll let me know."

Have you ever raced to 1,000 feet? Will that make a difference? "No, I've only raced at a quarter-mile. In IHRA the last five years it has been a quarter-mile. It's no big deal; the race will just be shorter. I understand why they do 1,000 feet, but that extra 300 feet sure is a lot of fun."

Tell us about your hobby of skydiving. "I haven't done that for a little while but I'm getting ready to start up again. I kind of stopped for about five years, but I'm thinking about starting up again now that I live in California. But I did it for more than 18 and I have over 1500 jumps, so I did it for a long time. It's an adrenaline rush, just like drag racing. Racing's always been my passion and then skydiving was something to do when I wasn't at a race to get that excitement. My uncle owned the second commercial skydiving center in the country back in New Jersey, so it's kind of been in the family."

You have a business degree from the Wharton Business School at the Univ. of Pennsylvania and an MBA and your law degree from Rutgers. Not exactly a racer's resume, is it? "No, but I look at that as a compliment. Everybody always asks me about that. Someone with that educational background is not the stereotypical racer, but to each his own. My passion has always been drag racing. But college and education have helped open doors because drag racing at this level costs money and the only way you can really do it is to be successful in business. My education has enabled me to do that, and it's all been towards the one goal of being able to race. My parents were big into education so I was influenced by them, and I'm happy for that. I went to college and graduated and I have two graduate degrees, and I don't regret one bit of that. It was the best thing I ever did. Everybody has a different path, but that's the path I chose."

A two-hour telecast of qualifying coverage for the NHRA Winternationals Finals can be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD on Saturday, Feb. 13, beginning at 11:00 p.m. (ET). Coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD continues on Sunday, Feb. 14, when NHRA Race Day kicks off eliminator coverage starting at 10:00 a.m. (ET), and concludes with three hours of final-eliminations coverage beginning at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Kirk Weeks

Canidae Supports Charity at Anaheim 3 Supercross

Canidae All Natural Pet Foods 'Goes Pink' at Anaheim 3 Supercross Race to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

CANIDAE Pet Foods and CANIDAE Racing are proud to have a rich tradition sponsoring charity events for both people and pets throughout North America. This Saturday, February 13, we will join Feld Motor Sports, Angels Baseball, and many other generous sponsors at Anaheim #3 in support of finding a cure for breast cancer.

Saturday also marks the return to Anaheim of Rockstar Energy Suzuki Canidae team riders Tommy Hahn on his 450 and West Coast Lites riders Ryan Morais and Hunter Hewitt. Team members will participate in the charity efforts signing special pink shirts to be auctioned off after the race at www.supercrossonline.com. CANIDAE will also supply shirts that will be signed by the winners of the Supercross Lites and Supercross Main Events to add to the auction.

CANIDAE Pet Foods has made special arrangements to support the event's "Pink" theme by launching pink CANIDAE Racing shirts into the stands for lucky fans to take home. Our standard green banners and tuff block covers will be replaced with a pink design to demonstrate added support for this important cause.

All proceeds from the auctioned merchandise will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation For the Cure.

CANIDAE All Natural Pet Foods Teams Up With Lucas Oil Products

Corona, California (February 1, 2010) - Today it was announced that CANIDAE All Natural Pet Foods has aligned itself in a marketing partnership with Lucas Oil Products and the far reaching motorsports properties that fall under the Team Lucas umbrella. No stranger to motorsports marketing, CANIDAE will add to its already impressive list of racing interests that include the NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car of Jim Dunn Racing, the Rockstar Energy Suzuki CANIDAE Pro Supercross and Motocross Team, CANIDAE Sand Drag teams and the CANIDAE Pet Foods off road Trophy Truck and Class 6 Truck.

"This connection with Lucas Oil Products provides us with the opportunity to share our message of Responsible Pet Ownership and the CANIDAE product line to the national and worldwide audience that is passionate about motorsports and their pets. Each of these individual series that Lucas Oil oversees provides unique and exciting racing and we can't wait to be a part of it," said CANIDAE Director Scott Whipple, himself a sand dragster record holder and co-driver of the CANIDAE Pet Foods Trophy Truck.

This comprehensive program will provide CANIDAE with a full slate of national grass roots racing event programming and on-site activation opportunities to complement their high profile motorsports endeavors. Along with fielding teams in many of the involved series, CANIDAE will be the Official Pet Food of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series and the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series.

"All of the folks at CANIDAE share our enthusiasm for racing," said Lucas Oil Products Executive Vice-President Bob Patison. He continued, "We are delighted that they see the wide ranging marketing opportunities that are created with this partnership and we look forward to working with them side by side to accomplish their goals."

About CANIDAE All Natural Pet Foods

Founded out of love for pets and animals, CANIDAE Pet Food, Inc. manufactures and distributes a complete line of healthy, meat-based, holistic, all natural dog food, cat food, and gourmet pet treats sold worldwide through independent pet food retailers including over 7,000 locations throughout the United States and Canada. For the most recent information about CANIDAE and its line of healthy pet products, visit www.canidae.com

About Responsible Pet Ownership

In accordance with its philosophy of promoting Responsible Pet Ownership through proper nutrition and care, CANIDAE All Natural Pet Foods is the title sponsor of the Responsible Pet Ownership blog which provides helpful tips and advice for caring pet owners. This daily RPO blog exists as a free service to all pet owners, offering articles from a range of professional pet authors on topics such as natural nutrition, training and exercise, veterinarian care, planned breeding, spaying and neutering, and supporting reputable breeders and rescue groups. Pet owners can subscribe to these informative daily articles at canidaepetfood.blogspot.com

About Lucas Oil Products

Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket, featuring a line of engine oils, greases, gear lubes and problem-solving additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the number one selling fuel treatment and additive products manufacturer in America and Canada. Lucas Oil Products has long been directly involved in the American racing industry at all levels through multiple vehicle sponsorships and racing events.

For more information about Lucas Oil Products, please visit www.LucasOil.com

CANIDAE Racing Takes on the “Legend”

No one knew that what started in 1972 as the Big River “400” would turn into the legend that has become the Parker 425. Through its many changes, the Parker 425 has been the unofficial start to the off-road race season. It is the first “true” desert race of the year (SCORE’s Laughlin Desert Challenge is a short course style desert race in January) and everyone who is anyone will be there! Best in the Desert took the race over in 2004 and it has continued to become the premier desert race in the United States. There’s no better way to start your racing year then with the Bluewater Resort & Casino Parker "425", The Legend!

CANIDAE Racing, fresh off of their impressive finish at the Laughlin Desert Challenge with their brand new #95 Trophy Truck (also known as “Trick Truck” in BitD races) has decided to enter the Parker 425, even though the race was not originally part of the team’s hectic schedule. “We ran so well at Laughlin that we wanted to see how we stacked up at a true desert race before heading to San Felipe,” said team co-driver Scott Gailey. “We need to get this team some practice in a real world race scenario if we are going to challenge for the Championship,” he added.

Hard charging co-driver Scott Whipple will start the race and hand the truck over to Gailey at the halfway point. The team will evaluate their position at that point and do what they need to do for the win. “This is a long, tough race that is won with consistency and team work,” said Whipple. “No question that we have to be fast, but it is never the guy that leads at Check Point 1 that ends up winning,” he added. "I guess that is what they mean by 'to finish first, you first must finish.'"

Unlike the Baja races, “chasing” is not allowed at US races. Chasing is where the team’s support vehicles “leap frog” around the course to catch the race truck as it flashes by to offer mechanical aid and fuel at predetermined positions. If the truck has a mechanical failure, the support vehicle can actually run on the race course to get to the race truck to help get the truck back in the race. In the Parker 425, the chase teams will be stationed at one of five pits located around the course and if the truck breaks and cannot make it to the pits, the race is over for the team. CANIDAE Racing has come up with a great plan and has entered a second vehicle in the race to carry extra parts and the ability to tow the vehicle to the next pit if needed. Driven by two time Parker 425 winner, Jason Cobb, this Class 1 car (Class 1500 in BitD) has been specially equipped with a spare transmission, 3rd member, axle and other parts for the Trophy Truck to help ensure a finish for CANIDAE Racing. “While it is hard to not be racing for a top finish in my own class, it is a privilege to be part of such a great team and to be able to have this unique opportunity,” said Cobb. “If the #95 truck has a great day like I think they will, that will make it all worth it. This is a big picture scenario and it is clear that we are a team and all pulling on the same end of the rope,” he finished. Cobb is working hard to finish a brand new CANIDAE Class 6 truck to be unveiled at this year’s Baja 500.

CANIDAE Racing asks you to join them on their adventure at the Bluewater Resort & Casino Parker "425" in person. Please stop by the main pits and say "hi" and get your dog a treat. If you cannot make it, you can tune into live race coverage at www.bitd.com starting on Thursday and lasting throughout the race on Saturday. Please join us as we strive to take the checkered flag at this historic event.

Ion Earth will provide real-time tracking of the race overlaid on a course map. Follow the progress of Team CANIDAE live as they go for the win. The Ion Earth website connects to the GPS transmitters installed in the vehicles allowing race fans to pin-point the location of each truck as they traverse the 425 mile course. Don't miss a moment of the action. Head to www.ionearth.com and click on the CANIDAE Racing link.

CANIDAE Racing is supported by Lucas Oil, KC HiLiTES, Simpson Race Products, MasterCraft Safety, BF Goodrich Tires, Torco Race Fuels, Fox Race Shox, K&N Air Filters, XRP Hoses and Fittings, Redline Race Engines, and Losi R/C Products.

CANIDAE Pet Foods was founded out of love for pets, the importance of family, and the belief in having fun and enjoying life. CANIDAE is excited to be able to share with the passionate fans of racing our philosophy of “Responsible Pet Ownership” through proper nutrition and care featured at www.canidae.com and on our racing site at www.canidaeracing.com.

At CANIDAE Pet Foods we are committed to providing our valued customers and their pets with the highest standard of excellence for product quality, palatability and customer satisfaction. We stand behind the guaranteed analysis of each and every one of our products and invite racing fans everywhere to discover the benefits of feeding their pets CANIDAE and FELIDAE All Natural Pet Foods.

Jason Cobb