Remember, if you have a story lead or news that you
would like to share with us, or even some good old-fashioned gossip,
drop us a line at rumors@competitionplus.com.
From what we are hearing, NHRA Pro Modified racers better
work on their high-altitude tune-ups as there's a good chance the tour
could roll into Salt Lake City, Utah for one of the sportsman national
events. We're also hearing the No Problem Raceway SportsNationals, which
will conflict with the first IHRA Rockingham event of 2005. Another
location in the Midwest is being bantered. We're also hearing two Las
Vegas events, with the first of the two replacing the annual stop in
Memphis. (11-17-2004)
Despite what ESPN2 reported regarding Greg Stanfield's
future in Pro Stock, we are hearing that he will run the NHRA POWERade
tour in 2005. (11-17-2004)
Here's the latest regarding Top Stock eliminator's future.
We are hearing that an eleventh hour proposal by Hustler Magazine was
turned down by the IHRA. If this deal had gone through, one might wonder
if the class would be renamed "Topless Stock." We are awaiting
confirmation from the IHRA regarding this issue. (11-17-2004)
Could there be a turbo engine in a Willys? Word has
it the 1941 Willys that Big Dog runner Todd Tutterow formerly campaigned
in Pro Modified will now be equipped with a 500-inch twin turbo Kenny
Duttweiler piece originally built for teammate Annette Summer. Annettes's
'63 Corvette is currently equipped with a 600-inch twin turbo powerplant,
also from Duttweiler.(11-17-2004)
Looks like the IHRA Pro Stock team Quarter-Max Racing,
Jones, Stockseth & White are going change brands from Dodge to Chevrolet
for the 2005 season. The team has a new Chevrolet Cobalt on the jig
at RJ Race Cars now and has a new engine coming from Sonny's racing
engines. The team will be testing some time in January and February.
(11-17-2004)
There's a big question as to whether Dick Maskin will
field a Pro Stock team in 2005. If not, that leaves Rickie Smith without
a ride. (11-17-2004)
Could John Force be one of those team owners announcing
a non-automotive sponsorship? (11-14-2004)
If you love the SuperBird body style, you'll be in Heaven
once the 2005 season kicks off. Jim Geese at Vanishing Point Race Cars
is hard at work on one for Richard and Thomas Patterson of Houston,
Texas. The Pattersons switched over to a Hemi in the latter part of
the 2004 season. The jury is still out as to whether they will run on
the NHRA or IHRA tour. Knowing the versatility of the Pattersons, they
could run both. (11-14-2004)
There has been banter going around of a possible combining
of forces between the Top Fuel operations of Doug Herbert and Joe Amato.
ESPN2 confirmed such talk during their Saturday qualifying show. However,
representatives from each team convey this is an alliance that is not
going to happen overnight. (11-13-2004)
The 2005 season could be one of the best on record for
bringing in non-automotive sponsorships. We are hearing at least four
to five new companies. (11-13-2004)
The talk circulating around Pomona suggests that Stevie
Johns, driver for the Victor Cagnazzi team, will surrender his driver's
seat to Erica Enders for 2005. (11-13-2004)
Sources indicate the IHRA's Top Stock division has breathed
its last breath. The special category, which features heads-up and no
breakout racing for Stock eliminator cars, has been on life support
through sponsorship of GM Performance Parts. GM declined to back the
class following 2004. Expect the official announcement to come soon.
(11-12-2004)
Could Cruz Pedregon be one of the nitro flopper drivers
seriously considering a nostalgia Funny Car ride? (11-12-2004)
A new Top Fuel team making preparations for the 2005
Hooters IHRA tour has reportedly retained the services of veteran fuel
tuner Larry Meyer for next season. Meyer is best known as the crew chief
that spoiled John Force's domination of Funny Car in the 1990s when
he tuned rookie Cruz Pedregon to the 1992 Funny Car championship. Most
recently he worked with David Baca's NHRA Top Fuel team. Other notable
drivers and teams that have benefited from Meyer's expertise include
Tommy Johnson, Jr. and Don Prudhomme's Snake Racing, Gary Densham, Darrell
Gwynn Racing with Mike Dunn handling the driving duties, Shelly Anderson,
Brad Anderson, Chuck Etchells Racing, Lori Johns, and Tom "the
Mongoose" McEwen. (11-4-2004)
Word has it that former Mountain Motor Pro Stock standout
Tommy Lee will be running as a teammate of Steve Johns, at least at
the last race of the season in Pomona. Lee will apparently be driving
the Victor Cagnazzi-owned Chevy Cavalier that Erica Anders was testing
in Vegas on Monday following the ACDelco NHRA Las Vegas Nationals. (11-2-2004)
It looks like John Force’s son-in-law Robert Height has accelerated
the program that will eventually see him take a seat in one of Team
Force’s fuel floppers. Height made 8 runs in Vegas on Monday,
wheeling Gary Densham’s “Popeye” car to a best pass
of 4.75-seconds at 317 mph. He also posted bracket-like marks of 4.78
and 4.79. His first pass in John’s car also yielded a mark of
4.79 at 280. (11-2-2004)
AMS Administrator Kenny Nowling made it very well known to the crowd
gathered for the AMS awards banquet in Vegas that he doesn’t have
any idea what the rules will be for 2005, so “Please don’t
call me!” (11-2-2004)
Also on the AMS front, recently-crowned champion Mike Ashley reportedly
made a pass of 6.13 at 228 mph during testing in Vegas. The car was
running “very soft and very fat,” according to Gotham City
Racing insiders, taking to the track with 29% blower overdrive and weighing
2,600-lbs. (11-2-2004)
Could this actually happen? It’s a well-known fact that longtime
Pro Mod car owner and tuner Jim Oddy is searching for a replacement
for recently retired driver Fred Hahn. Apparently Oddy was overheard
talking with Scotty Cannon in Vegas, discussing how their years of competing
against each other in the fast doorslammer wars could come full circle
if Scott Cannon Jr. were to take over behind the wheel of Oddy’s
car, with his twin sons Dan and Dave turning the wrenches. The two former
rivals could then become Little league parents! (11-2-2004)
An option for the 12-race 2005 AMS schedule being kicked around is
to hold ten of the races in conjunction with NHRA national events, as
they were this season. The other two races would then take place at
NHRA Super Regional events such as the Sports Nationals at No Problem
Raceway Park in Louisiana, for example. Stay tuned for more on this.
(11-2-2004)
Could a non-automotive company soon be announcing a
sponsorship of a major race team as well as a supporting program with
the NHRA? Our sources say you can bank on that one.(10-29-2004)
Various sources are reporting that 2004 may be the last
season of the marketing partnership between 2003 IHRA Pro Modified World
Champion Mitch Stott and sponsor Radiac. Let's hope this rumor is one
that doesn't pan out. (10-29-2004)
Could veteran Pro Modified driver Tommy Gray, Jr., who
recently filled the seat for Von Smith in his recovery of heart surgery,
soon be named the driver for a prominent Pro Modified team? Here's a
hint. They run a supercharged combination and have run very quick with
it. (10-29-2004)
Could Melanie Troxel's soon to be announced new sponsorship
have a NASCAR connection? (10-24-2004)
Word has it the IHRA has some pretty large irons in
the fire that could be announced soon. It could provide a huge boost to
the Aaron Polburn presidency. (10-20-2004)
The rumor mill is working overtime when it comes to
General Motors happenings. The word has it the Chevrolet Cobalts could
make their debut at next season's Gatornationals and while GM denies
the GTO in NHRA Pro Stock, a source tells us that the "goats"
could be the talk of the 51st U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. (10-13-2004)
"I am fearless, but I also have a &*%$ing
brain." - Whit Bazemore regarding his potential
decision to sit out of the car until the tire issue is resolved.
"I can see broken bones waiting to happen." -
Torco's Brian Pfiefer after company owner Evan Knoll informed him that
he'd just purchased a 450 cc dirt bike. Knoll later crashed and severly
injured his shoulder.
"They need to check the overdrive on that thing." -
An unidentified supercharged Pro Modified team owner after nitrous racer
Shannon Jenkins ran a 6.24 in unbearable conditions at Norwalk. The
quickest blower car was a 6.31 during the same session in which the air
was 3,750 feet.
"They're a bunch of no-nothings (NHRA). Some of us out
here have been running these cars for 50 years. Who would know how to
run these cars better than us?"- Top Fuel Team owner
Connie Kalitta on the recent rule changes to slow down nitro racing.
"Warren Johnson said that Ray Charles could get a
perfect light on a five tenths pro tree, so that's why I was singing
'Georgia on my mind' all the way to the winner's circle." - Martin
GM Performance Parts Top Stock winner Monty Bogan, Jr., after he beat
Tom Rix in the class final with a perfect reaction.
"Well boys looks like we have a Hot LZ." - Drag
Race Central's Larry Sullivan, a veteran of the U.S. Military, as three
parachutists attempted to land as the IHRA inadvertently launched their
pre-race fireworks display. LZ is military lingo for landing zone.
"He had to pay me to take his money." -Sunoco
Pro Stock racer Frank Gugliotta as he not only beat Rick Jones in the
final round in Martin, but also became a member of the Quartermax 6.40
Club sponsored by Jones. Jones rewarded Gugliotta with a check for
$1000.
"After what happened to Von Smith, I have no idea why
they'd want to put an Undertaker behind the wheel." - Veteran
Pro Modified journeyman Tommy Gray after being named the temporary
driver of Tom Lipar's "Dr. Moon's Rage" following Von Smith's
temporary heart surgery.
"If I knew exactly what it was, I'd put it in a bottle
and smuggle it back across the border!" - IHRA Stock
World Champion Michael Beard when asked about his proficiency of winning
national events in Canada. He's won the last three events that he's
entered across the border.om.
"Anyone who knows me knows I'm not going to lay down for
anyone and now Pat's got what he wants - a real flopper with this new
guy that took over for me. I just want everyone to know there are no
hard feelings and I wish Pat all the best luck in his HARD fight for the
championship." - Tony Christian on his departure as a
driver from the Pat Musi camp.
You %^@$^%$#%@&$%# are the reason I never wanted to come
back and race here anymore. -Funny Car racer Dale Pulde,
on what he told the NHRA's Ray Alley upon being disqualified for failing
the licensing recertification. The NHRA had reversed the decision on
allowing him to compete in Sunday's eliminations.
"By God we won't have a problem with those speakers once
the sun ges down and it gets dark in here..."- A
disruntled racer in the pits at Toronto Motorsports Park as IHRA
officials tested them well into the night on the Thursday before the
event began. Someone reportedly scaled the pole and cut the wires to the
excessively loud speakers sometime during the night.
"Where in the hell are we?" - Pro
Modified racer Scotty Cannon while on a dirt road in British Columbia.
Cannon had gotten lost on a dirt road in the province en route to a
match race in Alaska.
