SPORTSMAN POINTS CHANGES AT IHRA

IHRA is working on a program for 2005 that will allow Sportsman racers to accrue both Mr. Gasket Pro-Am points and Hooters National event points at the same Pro-Am event. Not all Pro-Am events will be affected.

"It'll be like racing at two events for the cost of one, making it the 'Best of Both Worlds,'" said Skooter Peaco, IHRA Director of Racing Operations. Peaco worked with Tom Kreager, Director of Track Development and Service and with Mike Baker, Director of Competition and Technical Services, to make it easier for Sportsman racers to make points.

Three sites are confirmed: Cordova Dragway Park (May 13-15); Tulsa Raceway Park (July 1-3; and San Antonio Raceway (Aug. 5-7). Two more are in the development stage and should be announced in the next few weeks. [11-24-2004]

IHRA REDUCES ALKY FUNNY CAR FIELD

Look for an official announcement after the Thanksgiving holiday from the IHRA that they will reduce the size of their Alky Funny Car field from the 16-car field that they ran at their 2004 national events to a more manageable eight-car field for the 2005 season.

Both the IHRA and NHRA have had problems with dwindling car count and downtime due to oildowns with their Alcohol Funny Car programs in recent years and this decision by IHRA won't come as a surprise to many IHRA racers. The eight-car field won't be very popular with IHRA's funny car racers but it will put some drama back into the qualifying program for their fans and improve the competition in eliminations. (Jeff Burk photo) [11-24-2004]

SPEED CHANNEL COURTING NHRA

Even though NHRA is signed with ESPN through 2006, the Agent's sources indicate that the folks at Speed Channel have been talking to NHRA about the possibilities of the Speed Channel broadcasting their races when their contract with ESPN expires. The Agent hears that the president of the Speed Channel has tried to talk to NHRA prez Tom Compton about the possibilities.

This scenario actually could happen. ESPN has made no secret of the fact that they will try to get the NASCAR broadcasts back on their network when NASCAR's contract with the Fox Network and NBC expires in 2006. If ESPN gets NASCAR then NHRA might be better off on another network where they would be the main attraction instead of competing with NASCAR for ad revenue and viewers. [11-24-2004]

RIEGER, SUMMER RACING WITH THE AMS?

The Agent hears that the new AMS Pro Mod rules allowing turbocharged engine combinations to compete has got the interest of multi-time Pro Street World Champ Bob Rieger. Sources tell the Agent that Rieger (above) has ordered a new car to be built and if that is true you can bet he's been on the phone to his engine guru Ken Duttweiler about an engine.

The Agent has also heard that Annette Summer who has campaigned a turbo-charged Outlaw Pro Mod for a couple of years could be running with the AMS Outlaws next season. (Jeff Burk photo) [11-24-2004]