WHAT THE. . ?

Ever wondered what happens to all the Rose Bowl Parade floats after the last beauty queen has waved? California's Irwindale Speedway came up with the best idea we've seen. This entry ran 19.34 at 34.12 mph, which the Agent believes is an eighth-mile world record in the Florist Experimental class. (Mike Morgan photo) [2-2-2004]

VEGAS TESTING NEWS

Weekend testing at the Strip at Las Vegas netted solid ET's for some of the top nitro Funny Car teams. John Force topped testing with his 4.736/320.05, Castrol rookie Eric Medlen ran a best of 4.797/324.28 and Gary Densham ran 4.784/319.67. Team Schumacher's Whit Bazemore ran 4.861/318.62 and Gary Scelzi ran a best of 4.794/310.48. Current POWERade champ Tony Pedregon joined the battle with his Sunday 4.79/313.29 mph pass.

One of the major fuel teams showed up and tested with a new import from China: barrels of nitro imported directly from the source. With the increase of a barrel of the Official Fuel of the NHRA up 40 percent, at least one team is trying to remain on budget for 2004. The new price tag of a barrel is $900 for what was $650 at the same time last season.

Nobody is trying to make waves, but the dollar reality of newly designed cylinder heads, set-back manifolds, and new clutch and fuel management systems have proven tight for even the well-funded nitro teams this season. [2-2-2004]

SARGE WILL TELL IT TO THE MARINE

The popular cable television show, "Mail Call," will be at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix on Feb. 9 to tape a feature segment on the United States Army Top Fuel

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Drag Racing Team.

The show, which airs Sunday evenings on The History Channel and is hosted by award-winning actor and former Marine R. Lee Ermey, will be following the U.S. Army team as it concludes testing for the upcoming 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season. Additional taping for the piece, which is scheduled to air in March (exact date to be determined), will be conducted at the K&N Filters Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 19-22.

"Mail Call," which is one of the highest rated series on The History Channel, primarily focuses on military technology from the past, present and future. Any bets on whether Gunny tries to get a nitro-powered jeep? [2-2-2004]