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.
Could longtime alcohol tuner Steve Boggs be headed for
the professional nitro ranks? (12-06-2004)
Remember the Budweiser Super Team unveiled in the mid-Eighties?
Word has it that Torco Race Fuels may be doing just the same thing to
be announced later this week. From what we're hearing, the checklist
includes three Top Fuelers, a Nitro Funny Car, two Top Alcohol Funny
Cars and a Top Alcohol Dragster. Word has it that Larry Meyer could
be tuning one of these entries. (12-06-2004)
The first of the hard liquor sponsorships is said to
be announced today with Richard Childress Racing being the benefactor.
Could drag racing be next? Probably not, some sources say, considering
there has never been a formal ban on distilled spirits within the sport.
(12-03-2004)
The word floating on the streets in certain circles is that a well
known nitro team that returned to the sport last year after a layoff
has a final meeting with one of the rumored non-automotive sponsors.
Word should come this afternoon. (12-01-2004)
A call to veteran engine builder Sonny Leonard has put
to bed some of the rumors floating around regarding a big-inch motor
being prepared to run the NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge. If a nitrous
racer ran a 6.08 in Bradenton as speculated by some, it was done without
Leonard's knowledge or participation. One of the popular rumors floating
around is that Leonard is building an 815-inch motor to run on one stage
of nitrous. If Leonard is attempting such a thing, he's denying it on
the record. What he's not denying though is that he's just finished
dyno testing a motor for Quick Eight nitrous racer Billy Pilcher using
the Chevrolet Hemi (or as he calls it "semi-Hemi") heads and
the end result was an 80 horsepower gain with a 737-inch engine. He
says he'd be glad to build an 800-plus engine if someone is willing
to pay for it. (12-01-2004)
There has been much speculation that an announcement
regarding Ron Capps' plans for 2005 was going to be made at the upcoming
PRI show, but insiders say this is not going to happen. Don't expect
anything official until sometime later. (11-26-2004)
Here's an interesting note in light of the IHRA's decision
to reduce the Funny Car field to eight cars for 2005. Apparently two
Pro Modified competitors have been seriously considering making the
move to the alky flopper ranks for next season. How this will effect
their decision to switch classes now remains to be seen. (11-24-2004)
Is there a big change in the wind? Apparently the IHRA
has sent a letter to all Funny Car competitors informing them that the
fields will be reduced to 8 cars beginning next season. In addition,
the letter supposedly states that purses will be increased, but as a
high-profile racer commented, “they’ve made the carrot bigger
but moved it further away from the cart.” Expect to hear more
on this real soon. (11-23-2004)
There’s a very strong possibility that there will
be more than one three car team in NHRA Pro Modified competition in
2005. In addition to the Gotham City team of Mike Ashley, Troy Coughlin
and Danny Rowe, another high-profile team owner is reportedly planning
on fielding a trio of supercharged hot rods himself. (11-23-2004)
Despite long-standing speculation that New England Dragway in Epping,
New Hampshire was going over to NHRA sanctioning, it appears that such
a move will not be forthcoming. Inside sources indicate that the group
that runs the track was not willing to invest the amount of money it
would require to upgrade to what NHRA wanted. The clincher came when
it was disclosed that the NHRA was only interested in the facility for
divisional events and not the hoped-for national event. (11-23-2004)
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)
"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.
