VOLUME XIX,  NUMBER 11 - NOVEMBER  2017

Mello Yello Championships come down to final event

Can Torrence hold off Brittany Force for his first championship?  (Ron Lewis photo)

 

All eyes are on Pomona, CA, this weekend as the Finals of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series brings the season to an end.

 

Steve Torrence will try to claim his first Top Fuel world championship. The eight-time 2017 winner holds a 20-point lead on Brittany Force and an 84-point lead on Doug Kalitta.

 

Funny Car points leader Robert Hight will try to hold off reigning world champ Ron Capps. Hight currently has a 15-point advantage.

 

Greg Anderson has the inside track on his fifth world championship, holding a 40-point lead on teammates Bo Butner and a 76-point advantage on reigning world champ Jason Line.

 

Eddie Krawiec’s bid for a fourth Pro Stock Motorcycle championship is within grasp, currently leading LE Tonglet by 150 points.  [11/10/17]

Pro Slammers at Sydney

Paul Mouhayet (right) congratulates Frankie Taylor on his win. (Jon Van Daal photo)

 

Jon Van Daal gives us a look at the Pro Slammer (Pro Mod) part of the competition at Australia’s Sydney Dragway where American Frankie “Madman” Taylor took the win at here.

 

Our Australia correspondent promises the rest of the IHRA East Coast Nationals results will be coming soon.  [11/10/17]

Veteran photographer Joel Gelfand retires

After a long career, drag racing photographer Joel Gelfand has announced that he is hanging up his camera. Gelfand tells the Agent that his legs just won’t stand up to the hours of standing on a hot racetrack and walking around the track and pits.

 

We’re sorry to lose you, Joel. Your legs might not be up to the strain anymore, but you still have “the eye.” Thanks for the great work over the years.

 

Here are photos Gelfand shot at Pomona on Thursday.   [11/10/17]

IHRA adds Sportsman Spectacular series for 2018

The IHRA will partner with longtime sponsor Summit Racing Equipment to field 20 Summit Sportsman Spectacular races over 10 double-race weekends in 2018.

 

"These new events continue that tradition and concentrate on the weekly racers who support their local tracks," IHRA Vice-President Skooter Peaco said. "We will have an entry-fee price point that is extremely affordable and offers two events during the weekend."

 

Each IHRA partner track is working on what Saturday's purse will be for their specific event, but all the Sunday events will be at least $5,000-to-win races.

 

In addition to having the opportunity to get two races for the price of one, the Summit Sportsman Spectacular events feature a set of unique bonus opportunities for all current IHRA Summit SuperSeries racers. There is also an event winner, runner-up and semi-finals contingency program that is available for all IHRA members who advance to the final two rounds each day.

 

The weekend program includes a test & tune, racer appreciation cookout and a golf cart race. The race weekend features several rounds of prizes from some of the top name manufacturers. IHRA Ironman trophies and large championship checks for event winners will be presented Saturday and Sunday. IHRA partner Imagine That Customs will also award a custom painted one-of-a-kind trophy helmet to one competitor at each of the 10 weekends.

 

The races will be run as one-eighth mile events and will feature a Box class and a Junior Class. No Box cars are welcome to run and will be run separately down to one remaining No Box car before joining the Box class. The final No Box car will receive a $1,000 bonus. Door Cars and Dragsters will also be run separately in Box for the first four rounds. 11.90 and slower Junior Dragsters will be run separately down to one remaining vehicle before joining the rest of the Junior category. There will be no double entries.

 

The IHRA says the list of host tracks, event dates, rules and online pre-entry registration will be finalized by November 30.   [11/10/17]

Junior Pippin passes

It’s with a measure of sadness and respect that we report the passing of Lewis G. “Junior” Pippin, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle stand out, on Nov. 5. He was 64 years old.

 

Pippin’s funeral will be Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. at Scot Ward’s Green Meadow Chapel, 699 American Legion Rd., Conyers, GA 30012. Visitation will be at the Chapel on Friday, Nov. 10 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon until the service.

 

So large was Junior’s foot print in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle drag racing world that Terry Vance of Vance & Hines Racing called upon P/S bike racer Chip Ellis to race a new VHR Harley Street Rod at the NHRA Finals, wearing his “Pippin Racing” leathers.

 

Junior was a good man who will be missed by many in the motorcycle drag racing community.  (Tim Hailey photo)   [11/10/17]

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