ERIC MEDLEN TO DRIVE FOR FORCE

Rookie Eric Medlen will be in the seat formerly occupied by 2003 Funny Car Champion Tony Pedregon when the NHRA racing season begins next month. Medlen, 30, is the son of John Medlen, who was crew chief on Pedregon's Ford, and has been a member of the John Force Racing crew for the last eight years, serving as supercharger specialist for five years and most recently the "clutch guy."

He is licensed in Top Alcohol Dragster and has made test laps in both the SYNTEC Ford and Force's Mustang. The elder Medlen will continue to prepare the car for his son. [1-15-2004]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GREEK

DRO's hero Top Fuel driver the legendary Chris "The Golden Greek" Karamesines recently celebrated his 7? birthday with a bunch of his friends in Chicago and his girlfriend, Sandy Shields. The Greek is not only going to have new paint for his Top Fuel hot rod this year, but he told the Agent that he acquired a bunch of motor parts from fellow Top Fuel racer Jim Head, including a state-of-the-art supercharger. His schedule for the 2004 season isn't finalized yet, but he will be racing on the NHRA circuit. [1-15-2004]

TOLIVER, JOHNSON WILL TEST AT VEGAS!

The Agent hears that the Jerry Toliver/Alan Johnson Fuel Flopper team will be testing the Toyota-bodied Fuel Coupe at Las Vegas the middle of this month. According to our sources, the U.S. Army Top Fueler that Johnson tunes for Don Schumacher won't be in attendance. So the question is: is Johnson under contract to Schumacher with a proviso

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for him to have a Fuel Funny car team that would compete against Schumacher's own team cars?

Also, the Agent has heard nothing more about the rumored Schick Razor sponsorship of Toliver's car. The Agent finds all of this stuff "verrrry interesting." [1-15-2004]

JIMBO TUNING WEST COAST PRO MOD

Agent 1320 has learned that renowned nitro tuner Jimbo Ermalovich, who was last seen turning wrenches on the Creasy family Fuel Coupe, has taken over tuning duties on the Shelby GT-500 Mustang Funny Car that is part of the two-car Mike Ashley team. This year that car will be driven by West Coast Pro Mod veteran and national event winner Danny Rowe on the NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod exhibition series. [1-15-2004]