FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Rosa, CA 5.15.13: After just one race into the 2013 season, Jim Murphy's WW2 Racing team has jumped to the front page headlines in Nostalgia Top Fuel news. After a round two loss at the 2013 March Meet, long time friend and tuner Tim Beebe told Jim that he was tired and not having fun anymore and he would no longer be making the long trek from his home in Montana to the races.

That in itself is news, however what transpired in the last two weeks may trump that. After a one on one at Bakersfield with Frank Ousley who owns the March Meet winning Crop Duster, a seed was planted that has resulted in the sale of the turn-key championship car to Murphy. Like others running the current Top Fuel class, Ousley did it for fun but took it one step further. He also has a Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car. With a shortage of help, less travel to race and a full calendar with the funny car, the dragster became the expendable step child.

Last week Murphy flew back to Ousley's to seal the deal which was contingent on the car/engine as represented and him fitting in the cockpit. With the engine being 8 inches further out than his current car, some pedal manipulation was all it took for Jim to fit comfortably into the Neal & Parks car.

Next month Murphy will be hauling an empty trailer to the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion at Bowling Green, KY. where he will take delivery of, then race the turn-key dragster. Murphy is keeping Ousley's combination and Frank will be on hand to lead the way.

Murphy stated that, "The deal was more than fair and I'm excited about the prospects of having a car that can literally hit the ground running, and is capable of winning races and setting records. Plus it will be fun to race at Beech Bend again. Tim & I ran our rear engine dragster there a number times in the seventies."

Following the race in Kentucky the car will come home with Murphy who is up in the air on its fate. Contrary to rumors, he still has his Thornhill car sitting in the shop ready to race so there are more than a couple scenarios that could play out.