Well, here’s something a bit different: A Pro Mod racer will move into the Pro Stock class.

Steve Matusek will make his NHRA Pro Stock debut next month in Denver at the Mile-High NHRA Nationals, driving the Richard Freeman-owned Elite Motorsports ’19 Ford Mustang that made its first appearance a month ago in Chicago.

Matusek will race all three events on the NHRA’s famed Western Swing in Pro Stock, campaigning a RJ Race Cars Mustang that showed promise right out of the gates with Freeman behind the wheel.

“With the history there and just that magical three-race swing, I thought it would be cool if we could put it together,” said Matusek, head of Aeromotive, Inc. “Richard liked the idea and the next you know, we’re doing it. It’s a cool class and the technology is awesome, and I like the fact that this is one of the classes where you have to still drive the car.”

Freeman’s business plan with the Elite Motorsports Mustang is for rental customers who want to race but don’t want to own their team, and it worked flawlessly in this instance. [06/28/19]

Pro Mod driver Jose Gonzalez has claimed a spot for the first time at the World Series of Pro Mod presented by J&A Service, Elite Motorsports, Big O Tire and benefiting One Cure, which takes place Aug. 9-10 at Bandimere Speedway.

The race will mark Gonzalez’s debut on Thunder Mountain, racing at an altitude of nearly 6,000 feet for the first time. He plans to take full advantage of the test session leading up the race.

“There’s a good couple days to test, and (tuner) Steve (Petty) has gone there before with Derek Menholt, so he’s got a good idea of how to race there,” Gonzalez said. “Altitude does not affect us as bad as other cars, so I think we should be okay. We’ve got a great group on this team and it’s hard to beat.”

Gonzalez has won two NHRA Pro Mod battles this season.  (Ron Lewis photo)   [06/28/19]

Race Star is a sponsor of Pro Stock racers Jason Line and Greg Anderson.  (Ron Lewis photo)

Race Star Industries will reward a $2,500 bonus to the Pro Stock team that has the lowest elapsed time during qualifying at NHRA national events. The Race Star Wheels Low E.T. Pro Stock Bonus will start with the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

The bonus will be awarded at every event in the Countdown to the Championship. In total, the bonus reward spans seven races and Race Star will be issuing the bonus via check directly to the racers after the final qualifying session.

“I have a lot of admiration for Pro Stock drivers,” said L.B. Davis, owner of Race Star. “They are some of the most talented drivers out there. Since the class is not running the full national event schedule this year, we wanted to give back in some way and our Race Star Wheels Low E.T. Pro Stock Bonus was one of the ways that we felt would be meaningful and would show our support to all of the teams.”  [06/28/19]

The Agent has been asked to give some NASCAR television numbers to compare with NHRA viewership and ratings.

Excluding rainouts, Fox Sports averaged 4.07 million viewers for its portion of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, up 2% from last year (3.98M), but down 17% from 2017 (4.90M). The most recent race from Sonoma, CA, on Sunday, June 23, had 2.48 million viewers on FS1 and a 1.5 rating.

Seven races have increased over last season, half of the 14 that have been run as scheduled, and tied with 2013 as the most at this point of the season since 2011.

Even with the increase, the numbers remained historically low. Outside of last year, the Sonoma race earned its lowest rating since at least 1998 and its smallest audience since at least 2002. It had a 3.3 and 5.20 million as recently as 2012.

The second half of the NASCAR season will be broadcast on NBC.  [06/28/19]

Moroso introduces a GM LS Louvered Windage Tray, Part No. 22943 for GM LS engines with ARP Main Studs and Moroso rear sump oil pans. The louvered design allows oil thrown from the rotating assembly to drain into the sump without splashing back, reducing windage, increasing power and cutting down on oil temperature. Manufactured from 16-gauge steel and mounts right to the main caps with the customer supplied ARP Main Stud Kits. Must use Corvette C-6 Dipstick and tube Part Nos. 12570788 & 12570787.    [06/28/19]