CORY MAC SPONSOR FOUND DEAD

Carrier Boyz Racing and driver Cory McClenathan are saddened by the death of Scott Negley, associate sponsor and friend, who was found in his hotel room this past weekend and pronounced dead from natural causes by Las Vegas authorities.

Negley, 42, owner of Negley Electric in Fresno, Calif., has been a mainstay on the rear wing of McClenathan's dragster since the 2002 season. He has also been associated through sponsorship with the cars of Gary Scelzi, Terry Haddock and Tim Wilkerson. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, and two children, Natalie Ann and John Stanley. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time. [10-20-2004]

FRED HAHN RETIRES

It was announced today that Fred Hahn has decided to retire from driving. Hahn and team owner, engine builder and tuner, Jim Oddy, are arguably the most dominant team in Pro Modified since the class's inception by the IHRA in 1990. Hahn and Oddy are the only Pro Mod team in history to win championships in every sanctioning body that sanctioned the class. The original "Buffalo Bad Boys" won championships in NHRA, IHRA, Super Chevy (both as a Pro Mod and Nitro Coupe), USSC and the Canadian Pro Mod Championship.

Hahn's accomplishment's during that period included being a charter member of the Sonny's Automotive 200-mph Club, the first Pro Mod driver in the Sixes, and a two-time recipient of the prestigious Car Craft Magazine All-Star Team award as Pro Mod driver of the year.

While driving for the team Hahn also held a full time job as a maintenance supervisor in a Buffalo, NY foundry. Unfortunately for Hahn, an uncertain economy has led to changes at his place of work that will not allow him to take the time off required for him to work on the race car during the week and drive at 15 or more national events.

"This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my driving career, but I really had no choice in the matter," Hahn said. "My real job simply won't allow me to take the time

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off to work with the team on the car and drive. I had no option. I have to retire from driving the best car in Pro Modified.

"Jim Oddy, his sons Dave and Dan, and (car chief) Billy Leverentz constantly gave me the best-prepared, most powerful race car a driver could ask for, every time I went to the starting line. As a driver I couldn't have asked for anything better."

Jim Oddy commented on his long-time driver and life long friend's departure, saying, "He's simply the best driver I've ever seen and he has proven that over and over during the past 16 years we've been racing as a team. He has won me more races and kept more cars from crashing than I can count. He's simply the best. The sad fact is that he had to do what was best for him and his family, which was to keep the job that pays the bills. We will all miss him."

That goes double for everyone at DRO too! (Jeff Burk photo)  [10-19-2004]