Danny Townsend named Grand Marshal

Danny Townsend named Grand Marshal for Lucas Oil Spring Spectacle of Speed
at Lucas Oil Raceway, April 29-May 1

<img src="http://www.insidetopalcohol.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=295&d=1301441644&thumb=1" align="right" borders="0"/>One of the North Central Division's most popular racers and a seven-time
NHRA Lucas Oil Division Champion Danny Townsend has been named Grand Marshal
of the Lucas Oil Spring Spectacle of Speed to be held at Lucas Oil Raceway
at Indianapolis, April 29-May 1.

Townsend won his first NHRA championship in 1984 in Competition Eliminator
followed by six more in Top Alcohol Funny Car, including a string of four
years straight from 1986, his first season in a Funny Car to 1989.

Townsend added Top Alcohol Funny Car titles in 1992 and 1999 before his
racing career came to a halt following a devastating crash in 2006 in the
final round of the Columbus, Ohio NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event.
The last event win of his career was at Bradenton, Fla. at the beginning of
the 2006 season.

Last season Bill Reichert broke out of a four-way tie for most North Central
Division championships winning his eighth, all in the Top Alcohol Dragster
category. Townsend, Comp standout Jerry Arnold from Kalamazoo, Mich. and
the late Don Woosley from Winchester, Ky. all have seven titles.

A lifelong resident of Muncie, Ind. Townsend made his mark well beyond the
Midwest borders of NHRA's North Central Division scoring nine NHRA national
event wins (4 in TAFC and 5 in Comp) along with 8 runner-up finishes
including the 1990 MAC Tools U.S. Nationals.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Spring Spectacle of Speed is the season opener in the
North Central Division's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Over 500 entries are
expected including 250 mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars,
Competition, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top
Dragster and Top Sportsman categories. Additionally, the event will be one
of the National Snowmobile Drag Racing Association point events for Pro
Stock Snowmobiles. The sleds have been modified for asphalt and reach
speeds of 150 mph.

Townsend will be on hand to visit with past and present racing friends and
special autograph sessions on Saturday and Sunday. For more information on
the NHRA Lucas Oil Spring Spectacle of Speed go to
www.lucasoilraceway.com<http://www.lucasoilraceway.com/> or the North
Central Division www.nhradiv3.com<http://www.nhradiv3.com/>.

DANNY TOWNSEND STATS:

o Last win in 2006 at Bradenton, Fla.
o First NHRA Divisional event win 1976 Blaney, SC
o 28 Divisional Event wins (22 in TAFC; 6 in Comp)
o 6 event wins at Lucas Oil Raceway (5 in TAFC; 1 in Comp)
o Multi-time national record holder in one of the most feared
A/Altered in the country.
o 7-Time Division Champion
1984 - Competition
1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1999 - Top Alcohol Funny Car
o 9 National Event wins (4 in TAFC; 5 in Comp)
o 8 National Event runners-up (7 in TAFC, 1 in Comp)