PRO MOD RULES CHANGE UPDATE

The Agent's most reliable sources tell him that, while IHRA tech director Mike Baker has told several racers he's at least thinking of implementing a rule change to slow down the supercharged Pro Mods, Baker said he wouldn't be making that rule change anytime soon. Evidently Baker has opted to wait to see how the three or four leading nitrous teams perform with 740 cubic inch engines.

Kudos from the Agent for Mike Baker who is showing some patience in the face of serious lobbying from the nitrous racers to make a rule change. [5-5-2003]

KUHNS, ANDERSON TEST NEW CAR

Kirk Kuhns took his just completed Pro Mod to the Super Chevy series race this past weekend at Pomona for some shakedown runs. The West Coast Pro Mod wizard has a couple of state-of-the-art Brad Anderson Hemis for power and ran a respectable 4.13 to the eighth mile mark on just the second lap. More info on this team when the Agent's operatives call him. [5-5-2003]

PROPOSED TAXES THREATEN BRISTOL

A story in the Bristol newspaper that appeared in the Thursday, April 24 edition covered a tax proposed by the county government on every ticket sold at Bristol Speedway. Although

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the tax appeared to be aimed at the events held at the circle track adjacent to the drag strip, officials at the track confirmed that the proposed taxes would also apply to the tickets sold at the drag strip.

In the story Bruton Smith was quoted as saying he would move his oval track races before he would pay. Wonder if he had the same plan for the drag strip? Local sportswriters told the Agent the whole deal went south fast when local fans found out that they would have to pay more for a ticket or (worse) Mr. Smith planned to move one of the two NASCAR races held at Bristol Motor Speedway to his track in Texas. Wonder if he was planning to move his NHRA date to Sonoma? [5-5-2003]

WHEELS ARE ROLLING 'ROUND THE CLOCK

Just can't get enough automotive-related programming in your life? Well, friends, your luck may be changing soon. Later this year comes the debut of Wheels TV! Announced in a press release from corporate headquarters in Acton, Massachusetts, Wheels TV is aiming for a fourth quarter startup, and will feature nothing but automotive programming twenty-four hours a day.

Wheels TV President Jim Barisano states, "We've been producing automotive programming for major networks for fifteen years. This experience will be put to good use with Wheels TV. The automobile plays a huge role in everyone's life, yet is under-served in the television world. Wheels TV is going to change all that."

Whenever the Wheels TV startup actually happens, it will be interesting to see if any drag racing related programming surfaces. Lord knows there are no shortage of drag racers dying to be on TV! [5-5-2003]

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