SPONSORS...
> Henkel Consumer Adhesives
 - Duck® Products
 - Loctite® Products
 - LePage® Products
 - DuckTapeClub.com
> Adger Smith Performance
> Tim Sloan Racing
> K&N Filters
> AutoMeter
> AutoShack
> Flatout Group
> Mickey Thompson
> Biondo Racing Products
> Hupertz Racing
> Davis Race Cars
> Goodyear
> APD Carburetors
> Parkway Cleaners
> Billy Nees Race Cars
> Dart
> Invincible Performance
> Huntsville Engines

G/CM '73 Dart Sport
2003 Stock World Champion
Owner:  Terry Knott


Hot Rod '67 Camaro
Motor City Natl's Winner
Owner: Bob Zapp


Super Stock '82 Camaro
Owner: Adger Smith


Mullis Dragster
Quaker City $10K Runner-Up
Owner: Matt Zapp


'74 Duster 360
2-Time $5K No-Box Winner
Owner: Stephen Beard


FF/SA '85 Turismo 2.2L
2-Time Class Winner
Owner:  Michael Beard

Milan, Mich. - With the long building process finally complete, Staging Light Motorsports debuted Adger Smith's Loctite-backed '82 Camaro at the Milan Dragway IHRA Division 3 Pro-Am.  Adger Smith's Performance Engines built the stout 277 cubic inch V6 Chevrolet.  On just his second pass, driver Michael Beard set the IHRA SS/BX National Record at a 9.979 @ 127.82 mph.  Beard followed up the record with a second round showing at the Pro-Am, and a third round at the Motor City Nationals.  

Beard would like to welcome Biondo Racing Products on board as an associate sponsor, whose practice trees, weather stations, and long-throw transbrake buttons give racers the edge they need to win.

Staging Light Team Doubles Up In Canada!
Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada - Two of the Staging Light Motorsports entries won at Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario, at the Mopar Canadian Nationals, presented by Castrol, part of the Hooters IHRA Racing Series.  After a mad two week thrash that went right up to literally the minute the team left for Canada, pilot Marco Abruzzi won Top Dragster in his first outing with the new car.  Michael Beard captured the Iron Man trophy in Stock Eliminator, making him two for two at Canadian events!

Beard Strings Together Wins For Duck Tape
Madison, Ohio - Michael Beard had a very fortunate month of June in Terry Knott's Duck Tape Dart Sport.  At Virginia Motorsports Park, Beard made his way to the semifinals of the prestigious Moser Axle Mania All-Star Shootout, and followed it up with wins at US131 (S/SS Combo), Grand Bend (Mopar Canadian Nationals), and Beaver Springs (IronMan Classic ET Combo).

Marco Abruzzi To Field Zapp Top Dragster
April 14, 2004

Madison, Ohio -  Marco Abruzzi, the 2003 IHRA Top Sportsman World Champion, plans to be twice as visible during competition this season due to the addition of a second car.

Normally found in his bright orange '68 Tim McAmis Top Sportsman Camaro, Abruzzi will also be driving a newly rebuilt 242-inch rear engine dragster. Invincible Performance Chassis of Leroy, Ohio has performed the complete 4-link upgrade on the car and installation of an IHRA legal wing.

"My goal is to chase points in Top Dragster by competing on the national level and at the required divisional races. Last season I drove this dragster at area bracket races and enjoyed myself," explained Marco. "I hope to attend as many big money bracket races as possible during off weekends."

Huntsville Performance Engines will be assembling the project's 598-inch big block. Optimal horsepower and unsurpassed durability will be delivered via top shelf products from Dart, Holley, Lunati, Victory 1, Milodon and Manley.

Abruzzi Racing Transmissions will transfer that horsepower to the rear end via a bullet proof Top Dragster powerglide assembled with quality BTE parts.

The team at Staging Light Motorsports in Madison, Ohio will provide vehicle lettering and team promotion. Formerly known as the Duck Tape dragster, the new look will include Abruzzi Racing Transmissions, Invincible Performance Chassis and Staging Light Graphics.
"I'd like to mention each of the companies that helped make this idea a reality. Thank you to Invincible Performance Chassis, Huntsville Engine, Dart Products, Lunati, BTE, Victory 1, Milodon, and Manley," commented Abruzzi.

More information on Marco can be gained by viewing www.abruzziracing.com or by calling Abruzzi Racing Transmissions at 330-369-1707. Invincible Performance Chassis can be found at www.invincibleperformance.com or by phone at 440-254-4491. Staging Light LLC is online at www.staginglight.com or can be reached by phone at 440-428-8072.

Duck®/Loctite® Racing Announces Associate Sponsors
April 8, 2004

Madison, Ohio – Excitement abounds for the Duck/Loctite Racing Team as the start of their 2004 Hooters IHRA Racing Series tour draws near.  Among the things generating excitement are new associate sponsors, new rides, road trips, and display opportunities.  The associate sponsors are not strangers to the team, as each product was on board Terry Knott’s championship-winning ’73 Dart Sport last season.  The team expresses its heartfelt thanks to K&N Filters, Mickey Thompson Tires, Auto Meter.

Each car and tow vehicle on the team will be outfitted with K&N Filters.  In addition to the replacement elements for stock air filters, K&N’s line of complete air intake kits provide an easy bolt-on increase of airflow and horsepower.  The installation is quick and simple.  Team manager Matt Zapp has already installed the systems on the Chevrolet Duramax dually, and on the ’00 Dakota.  The installations took between 10-20 minutes to complete, but the performance increase was instantaneous!  Don’t forget that K&N also makes oil filters; just another great way to protect your racing investment.

Mickey Thompson Tires have been on board for over 100 eliminator wins for the team.  They provide the ultimate in hook, consistency, and longevity – everything you need in a race tire.  “I like the fact that you can run a lot of air in the Mickeys,” said teammate Michael Beard.  “Terry’s Dart Sport has recorded 1.46 sixty-foot times with 20 psi in a 9x28” bias-ply tire.  That’s a stock-chassied car, and that’s just incredible.  I can’t wait to outfit Adger Smith’s Super Stock Camaro with Mickey Thompsons!”

Auto Meter has been a great supporter, and a partner in our learning process as well.  Auto Meter’s Mike Tritle has taught the team that there’s no such thing as too much data.  With the level of competition today, it is the teams who cover the smallest details that will find the winning edge.  “I always thought my Auto Meter Monster Tach was great,” explained Beard.  “When I first drove the Stocker with the Auto Meter Ultimate Playback, I was hooked.  You can learn a great deal about not only the car, but your driving habits as well.  This year, we are upgrading to the Ultimate Playback II, to find out what else we have been missing!

Adger Smith Joins Duck® Tape/Loctite® Team
January 30, 2004

Madison, Ohio – Staging Light Motorsports has announced that Adger Smith will join the Duck® /Loctite® products team in 2004. Smith, the owner of Adger Smith Performance Engines, is building an ’82 Camaro for Super Stock, which will be driven by defending Stock World Champion, Michael Beard.

The Super Stocker’s scheme will match the championship-winning ’73 Dart Sport, owned by Terry Knott, with the Loctite® and Duck® logos applied to the primarily red body. Staging Light Motorsports team manager, Matt Zapp, will again pilot the Duck® brand duct tape ’67 Camaro in Hot Rod. Additionally, K&N Filters will be on board each car as an associate sponsor.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for us," said Beard. "We are very fortunate and grateful to be able to call Adger Smith a member of our team. This will allow us to expand to three cars, to further promote the Duck® and Loctite® branches of Henkel Consumer Adhesives, our primary marketing partner.

"Adger is a perfect fit for us, not only because of his skills and his tireless dedication to the sport, but also because he knows how to simply go racing and have fun," continued Beard. "His experience and attention to detail has proven to make a deadly combination of cars that are not only fast, but also find the winner’s circle. We hope to be able to continue that tradition, and bring Adger Smith Performance Engines into the limelight once again."

Adger Smith set four IHRA World Records from 1971 to 1999, in H/Stock Optional, I/Stock Optional, D/Street Roadster, and E/Altered. He has 2 national event wins in the Stock/Optional class, 1971 and 1972, and an A/ED class win at the 1999 Sports Nationals. Adger was in the top ten of national points in Modified Eliminator when a devastating racing accident in September of 1999 took him out of the running. In 2000, Jim Cornett took the wheel, with Adger as the crew chief. The duo attained two Divisional runner-ups, finishing third in the Division 4 Modified standings.

Since 1972 Adger has built engines for Drag Racing, Dirt Track, Asphalt Oval, Drag Boat and Mud Racing. His ability to select the combination of parts and perform custom machine work powered many of his customers to the winner’s circle, as well as track championships. Adger Smith’s Performance Engines and Parts is located at 2802 West 7^th Street, Texarkana, Texas. Contact: 903-794-7223, or e-mail AdgersPerf@aol.com.

WHAT: First Annual Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival

WHERE: Veteran’s Memorial Park, Avon, Ohio (Avon is 20 minutes west of Cleveland, and is home to the number one brand of duct tape, Duck® brand duct tape.)

WHEN: June 18-20, 2004—Father’s Day Weekend Celebrate Father’s Day with dad’s favorite product!

WHY: To celebrate duct tape, its enthusiasts, and its wacky and fun uses. The festival also honors the history and heritage of the city that is proclaimed the “Duct Tape Capitol” of the world—Avon, Ohio—the home of Duck® brand duct tape.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• All duct tape enthusiasts and fans.
• People interested in the unique history and development of the city of Avon.
• Any person with interesting and one-of-a-kind duct tape talents!
• Anybody who doesn’t believe, or know, that ANYTHING can be done with duct tape…they’ll be turned into believers!

Staging Light Motorsports Signs K&N Filters
January 30, 2004

Madison, Ohio - Staging Light Motorsports is proud to announce the signing of K&N Filters as a major associate sponsor for the whole team.  K&N Engineering, Inc. has been the innovative leader in air induction and filter technology since 1969, serving the needs of the automotive, motorcycle, marine, industrial and military markets.  Their line of superior air filters and oil filters will aid both the race cars and tow vehicles of Staging Light Motorsports for the 2004 season.  For more information, visit www.knfilters.com