Notes scribbled on a cocktail napkin shaped like Mickey’s head 12/5/05
PRO MOD WAS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND The biggest buzz at the just completed PRI Show in Orlando, Florida,
was the Pro Mod class. Especially of interest was whether or not
a group lead by Mike Ashley’s crew could convince a certain
tire company to be one of title-rights sponsors for the NHRA exhibition
series. Despite a lot of rumors about an announcement coming from
NHRA at the PRI Show, none was forthcoming and I couldn’t
find any company that would say they had interest in backing the
series. Ashley did tell me, though, that he wouldn’t be the
main financial backer for the series. One thing is sure though,
everyone working with Mike Ashley is dedicated to securing a sponsor
for the NHRA Pro Mod series which could only be a very good thing
for Pro Mod and Pro Mod fans and racers. Ashley also introduced me to a couple of gentlemen; one has bought his Pro Mod operation and the other will drive Ashley’s Pro Mod at most races next year. Ashley did tell me that he would drive “selected” Pro Mod races next year. Glad you aren’t leaving Pro Mod completely, Mike. ADRL PRO MOD SERIES RACES WILL BE SEEN ON SUNDAY MORNINGS IN 2006 I just happened to be in the ESPN booth when ADRL head man Kenny Nowling and Master’s Entertainment’s Butch McCall sealed the deal that will see all seven of the ADRL races in 2006 air on the Sunday "Inside Drag Racing" time slot (right before NHRA2day airs). The races are scheduled to air on a one- to three-week delay. NEW RULES FOR PROPOSED FOR NHRA PRO MODS Mike Ashley spokesman Mathew Brammer told me that one rule change that would implemented if or when a sponsor for an NHRA Pro Mod series is secured is that IHRA rules would be followed with the exception of allowing turbocharged entries. I think that down the road regulating turbocharged Pro Mods is going to become a real problem for all sanctioning bodies. MOUNTAIN MEN UP IN ARMS IHRA’s announcement that they were considering allowing turbocharged small cubic inch powered cars to compete in their Pro Stock program has got more than a few of those racers upset. I saw some of them expressing their views to IHRA prez Aaron Polburn. A few have threatened to quit the IHRA series if the V-6 turbocharged cars are allowed to race. Right now the quickest of those types of cars haven’t run quicker than 6.44, which isn’t remotely quick enough to be competitive. NHRA IMPROVING THEIR RACE TRACKS? I was told by a couple of my sources that NHRA was in the process of spending upwards of $4,000,000 for improvements to the tracks they own i.e. Indy, Columbus, Atlanta, Gainesville, and Pomona (Okay, they don’t own that track but they have a long term lease on it). Supposedly the reason for the improvements was to ready the tracks for sale to Bruton Smith’s track management company. Since Tom Compton and his spokesman Jerry Archambeault were part of the John Force entourage in England and not at the PRI Show, I couldn’t call them for a comment. I’m sure I’ll hear something soon.
JEG'S PUTS UP $100,000 FOR NHRA PRO MOD. . .SORT OF You may have read the report other places that the JEG'S folks are going to put up $100,000 for a winner-takes-all race for NHRA Pro Mods. There is one little hang-up about the report though. I asked JEG’S spokesman Scott Woodruff about the deal when I saw him at the PRI Show and he said that, yes, they would do that -- but the deal was contingent on the NHRA Pro Mod series getting a sponsor or sponsors. He said nothing about JEG'S backing the series otherwise. A PRO MOD THAT IS GUARANTEED TO RUN AT NHRA NEXT SEASON I was visiting with my friend Steve Matusek, owner of Aeromotive fuel systems and a hardcore Ford racer in the “Super” classes with his Mustang convert powered by the Ford Shotgun motor, and he let it drop that he is having a new Mustang Pro Mod built at Larson Race Cars in Missouri. It will be powered by a “big” Ford engine with nitrous and he intends to run it in NHRA Comp Eliminator in the A/Pro Mod class as well as at selected Ford only events. WORLD STREET NATIONALS ON OCT 27-29 Over some great seafood at the Boston Fish House in nearby Winter Park, FL, Carl Weisinger, World Street Nationals major domo, told me that the date for next year's 14th Annual World Street Nationals is now Friday through Sunday Oct 27-29. Carl’s race is the granddaddy event for “Street Legal” racers. Did you know that Carl actually put on a “Street Legal” Nationals at Orlando Speed World back in 1981? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
