In NHRA, the company captured eight consecutive Funny Car championships, and Davis led development of the new Ford BOSS 500 nitro engine, the first new nitro engine in drag racing the past 40 years. He also was a major player in safety initiatives in both Champ Car racing and NHRA, where use of Ford Blue Box data recorders is now mandatory. In his most recent job, the 47-year-old Wolfe had global responsibility for all powertrain computer control software applications and powertrain calibration, including drivability and emissions.

NEW RESPONSIBILITIES: Toyota announced Friday that Lee White will become president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A on July 1. The company's motorsports activities will be consolidated under Ed Laukes, corporate manager of marketing for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. White and Laukes will replace Jim Aust, who previously announced his plans to retire on June 30 as vice president of motorsports at TMS and president at TRD.

White, who has been senior vice president of TRD, will be responsible for all TRD activities in the U.S., including engine development, manufacturing, chassis design/development, team/manufacturer relationships, manufacturer/sanctioning body relations and engineering support for Toyota teams participating in NASCAR, USAC, NHRA, Grand-Am and Off-Road competition.

Laukes has served as corporate manager of motorsports marketing since last year and will be responsible for all TMS motorsports activities, including public relations and marketing operations, which encompass strategy, research, sponsorship, advertising and merchandising activation.

CARPENTER GRABS POLE: Rookie Patrick Carpentier grabbed his first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Canadian driver, whose last pole came in a Champ Car in 2004 on the road course in Laguna Seca, Calif., was among the drivers who had to wait out a nearly two-hour rain delay before getting a shot at qualifying for Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301. "It's amazing," said Carpentier, who took his first pole on an oval track with a fast lap was 129.776 mph. "The car was great and rotated beautifully through the middle of the corner. It was just stuck on the track. I'm real happy."