tina's blog

From: Tina To: Kels Sent: Thu, January 21, 2010 12:58:35 AM Subject: Re: (no subject) That is awesome!. Now I have to think of some cool stuff to send you. Did you like the racing stuff or more of the girlie stuff you can't get there any suggestions are helpful. In a message dated 1/21/2010 12:03:01 A.M. Central Standard Time, Kels writes:

I thought some might be interested in a simple dialog between a female soldier in the Iraq and myself. We met through Twitter and have a shared love of drag racing. I am letting you pick it up from the beginning…. In a message dated 1/5/2010 11:52:27 P.M. Central Standard Time, Kels writes: How are ya?

Having an average day. Finally kicking back into racing mode and am ready to move forward. This year everything is new, new sponsors new way of doing things but things have been very receptive and not so many closed doors. Sometimes I think that with a good foundation I can just keep building on it and things will get easier but I am finding that to often the only thing left standing is that foundation and now for another season I will have to build it all over again.

Biographical Sketch Tina Stull was born in Fullerton, California, where she grew up with her parents and three siblings. Her family attended First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton under the Pastoral care of then new pastor Chuck Swindoll. She graduated from Troy High School in 1983 and attended USC for several semesters, then transferred to Westmont College in Montecito, CA. She earned a BA degree in Economics and Business in 1989 after attending a special semester with International Business Institute. This program was an intense study of economics and marketing in foreign regions such as the Soviet Union, Scandinavia and Western Europe. Following graduation Tina worked in Retail and Food Management, Car Sales, Video Production, Accounting, and Integrative Counseling for Neurological disorders. Married in 1991 to film director Tim Kiser, the two produced everything from music videos, television to industrial videos. In 1993 Tina retired from co-owned business Nitro Productions in order to be a full time mother. Soon after Stephanie’s arrival, both the business and marriage collapsed. With a new start Tina and daughter ventured on. Tina was first introduced to the sport of Drag Racing back in the late 90's when her father was working with Joe Gibbs, owner of a Funny Car/Top Fuel team. Football coaching legend, Joe Gibbs and his team was a huge influence in her becoming involved in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). In 1998 Tina went to the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School in Pomona, California to see if she had what it took to actually drive one of these dragsters, As soon as she made her first pass in a super comp car she knew this was what she wanted to do, but her dreams were temporarily put on hold. In 1999 Tina married a San Antonio Retired Army veteran and she and her daughter moved to Boerne, Texas. It wasn't until 2002 when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer (Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) that her dream to drive and manage a professional drag racing team came back to the forefront. She realized for the first time, it was Now or Never if she wanted to go racing. In 2007 after a couple of visits to BAMC’s burn and amputee center, she decided to ask the track for some tickets to share with the Soldiers and their families, thinking the track would be a great way to take a break from the endless hours of rehab. From there the program grew from 50 tickets to as many as 6000 tickets per event. What started out as an outreach to the wounded became an opportunity to say thanks to all that serve. In 2008 she finished 42nd in the world points in the Super Comp class and 10th in her division. She has visited over 30 military bases and installations and has distributed over 50,000 tickets and 2 tons of free materials to the troops. She has worked with Country Western stars, professional sports teams, and has spoken in over a dozen prisons. Her background in SPECT Imaging and PTSD has given her a unique understanding of the stresses on troops in the military. Currently she is working with several military focused ministries to provide on-going opportunities for both Troops and their families.

Mar 20-22* Jegs Cajun SPORTSnationals Belle Rose, LA* Mar 27-29 OReilly NHRA Spring Nationals Houston, TX April 3-5* Texas Motorplex Dallas Ennis, TX* May 7th Fort Hood TX - PX Appearance Meet and Greet May 13 Fort Hood TX PX Appearance May 15-17* Houston Raceway Park Houston, TX* (5000 tickets)* June 17 Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Co June 19-21* Bandimere Speedway Denver, CO Divisional (1500 tickets)* June 20 AM 91 KPOF Radio Interview June 24 Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, co July 10-12 Bandimere National Denver. Co July 11 Denver Post Interview July 24-25 Houston Raceway Park Houston, TX*26 August 26 Fort Levenworth, KS August 27 Fort Riley, KS Aug 28-29 Heartland Park Topeka Topeka, KS Sept 16 Fort Polk, LA Sept18-20* No Problem Raceway Belle Rose, LA.* Sept 24-27 O’Reilly Super Start Batteries Dallas, TX Oct 2-5 TBA Oct 23-25* Thunder Valley Raceway Park Noble, OK Oct 29-Nov1 Las Vegas National Las Vegas, NV Nov 5-8* Las Vegas Divisional Las Vegas, NV

Press Release - April 12, 2009 For Immediate Release Women Drag Racers team up to provide a day at the races for the troops and their families. Partnering with track owners, sponsors and charities, troops are able to experience drag racing from the drivers perspective. Ladies of the NHRA Host Troops in Dallas Ennis, TX. - Four women racers gave thanks to some 4000 US Military troops and their families at last weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event held at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, TX across April 3-5.

*Tickets for troops will be available. Mar 20-22* Jegs Cajun SPORTSnationals Belle Rose, LA* Mar 27-29 OReilly NHRA Spring Nationals Houston, TX April 3-5* Texas Motorplex Dallas Ennis, TX* April 24-26 Memphis Motorsports Park* Memphis, TN TBA May 1-3 OReilly Midwest Nationals St Louis, IL May 15-17* Houston Raceway Park Houston, TX* May 29-31 O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals Topeka, KS June 19-21* Bandimere Speedway Denver, CO* July 24-25* Houston Raceway Park Houston, TX* Aug 28-29* Heartland Park Topeka Topeka, KS*

2008 SCHEDULE 1/24 Airing of Tommy Thomas “How to Beat the Odds” Dish Network 262 10:30pm 1/31-2 Bill Glass Prison Ministries McAllen TX 2/10 Military Warriors Support Foundation –AVEDA Benefit Event – Donated item 2/24 BASS PRO SHOPS with Car & NASCAR (Meeks) San Antonio, Tx 9-6 2/26 Military Warriors Support Foundation – Boerne, Texas Event (Gov Rick Perry) 3/1 Fort Sam Houston Joni and Friends 3/6-8 Bill Glass Prison Ministries Huntsville TX 3/11 BAMC San Antonio – National Guard car – Soldier visitation

I appreciate those of you who contacted Interstate Batteries and asked them to reconsider dropping the NHRA program, I can't thank you enough for your loyalty. As of yesterday we have tickets for 10 races this year and I have every intention of continuing our program to honor our Troops and their families, but I want to remind you that without Interstate Batteries we would have never had the ability or the vision to start such a ambitious program.

Las Vegas will be the final race for the 2008 season. I have free tickets for the troops and their families. Please use the ticket request link and request your tickets. Print the confirmation letter that you will recieved after you complete your request. This will be exchanged at the track for your actual tickets. If you have questions call Welcome Home Troops at 951-385-2774. 8-5pm (messages will be checked promply) For more information go to www.lvms.com NHRA Lucas Oil Drag racing series When : November 9th, 2008 Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway 7000 Las Vegas Blvd.