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BADER RESIGNS!!!
The rumor that IHRA pres Bill Bader would be
stepping down has been going around the drag
racing community since IHRA’s first race
of the season at Rockingham Dragway. Rumors
had it that Bader was unhappy with Clear Channel's
increasing involvement with the day-to-day operations
of the IHRA.
Evidently there must have been some problems
that couldn’t be resolved as IHRA issued
a press release late in of the afternoon on
October 12 stating that Bill Bader had resigned
effective immediately.
Aaron Polburn
(Roger Richards Photo) |
Until the sale of the sanctioning body two years ago to Clear Channel Bader clearly
was in total command of everything at IHRA. It
has become obvious recently that was no longer
the case. Regardless of what he did with the IHRA
after purchasing it from a group of Pro Stock
racers in 1998 the fact is that had Bill Bader
not purchased the floundering sanctioning body
when he did it probably wouldn’t be around
today. In no small way he virtually saved the
IHRA from extinction. As president of the IHRA
Bill Bader completely changed the sanctioning
body during the period that he owned it. Among
the more significant changes Bader oversaw at
IHRA was the elevation of Alky Funny cars to professional
status and purse increases for the Pro Mod class
that elevated the status of that class.
Bader will be succeeded as president of the IHRA by long time partner and friend
Aaron Polburn who will take over the top spot at the Norwalk, Ohio based drag
racing and motorsports company immediately. [10-12-2004]
AMS ALL-STARS PREVAIL AT DRAGSTOCK
Scott Cannon Jr. turned out to be the hero
for the AMS All-Star team at the inaugural "Dragstock," staged
this past weekend over the 1/8th mile at Carolina
Dragway, near Jackson, SC. Driving his father's
famous blown Studebaker, young Cannon defeated
number-one qualifier John Lynam with a holeshot
in the last round of the day, giving the AMS
gang a 21-18 points win over the Flowmaster
Outlaws team. Lynam won the $10,000-to-win
Didicom Clash—a Quick 8 field featuring
an incredible 4.03 bump—on Saturday night.
Watch for a full report soon on DRO. (Ian
Tocher photo) [10-12-2004]
BOB STOTT CRITICALLY INJURED IN FALL
Bob Stott, patriarch of the racing Stott family,
was seriously injured Saturday night at Norwalk
Raceway Park after he fell from the back of
a golf cart during championship eliminations.
On the way to the top end, Stott fell and
struck his head on the ground. He was immediately
treated by the on-site doctor and quickly transported
by LifeFlight helicopter to Toledo St. Vincent
Hospital, where he remains unconscious and
in critical condition. Stott is heavily sedated
to stabilize his condition so the extent of
the injuries can be determined.
The Agent's best wishes go to Mitch, Quain
and the rest of the Stott family. [10-12-2004]
WILL 'THE PROFESSOR' TAKE A SABBATICAL?
As the Agent reported after the U.S. Nationals
at Indy, Warren Johnson is talking about hanging
up his helmet to concentrate on the dyno. With
his rumored interest in doing some R&D
development for a Chevy NASCAR team, 2005 may
be his last season behind the wheel of the
GM Performance Parts Pontiac, so he will concentrate
on bolstering Pro Stock engine performance.
The Agent keeps hearing the name Gene Wilson
popping up as a viable replacement for WJ to
join son Kurt on the track. [10-12-2004]
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