MOPAR SUPER STOCK HEMI CHALLENGE AIRS THURSDAY

Coverage of the Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge will air on ESPN2 Thursday, November 11, at 3:00 p.m. (ET) and repeat on Wednesday, November 17 at 4:30 a.m. (ET).

Jeg Coughlin drove Michael Ogburn and Harry Holton's West Coast Hemi's Barracuda to a victory in the Mopar Super Stock Hemi Challenge. The two-time Pro Stock champ and former Sportsman ace had never even sat in Holton's 8-second Super Stock entry prior to the start of qualifying for the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. However, that didn't prevent him from dominating the 22-car field and walking off with the $10,000 first place prize. (Jeff Burk photo)  [11-11-2004]

A PRO MOD GIFT FROM TORCO AND IHRA

Torco Race Fuels, through the efforts of their motorsports advisor and Competition Plus publisher Bobby Bennett, have put together a program for an eight-car "Showdown" for IHRA Pro Mods that will be contested at IHRA's Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals July 22-24, 2005 at Martin, MI. The winner will take home $20,000; runner-up $9,000; semi-finalists $2,500, and first round runner-up pays $1,500. 

Additionally the program will pay at each national event prior to the shootout will pay out the following: #1 qualifier $400, #2 qualifier $300, #3 qualifier $200 and #4 qualifier $100. The Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout drivers will begin accumulating points at the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in March 2005. The Torco folks also put together programs for other professional classes in IHRA.

A tip of the Agent's fedora to Mr. Bennett and the folks at Torco for supporting the racers. [11-11-2004]

IT'S THE GREEK'S BIRTHDAY

Today is the birthday of DRO's favorite septuagenarian hero, Chris Karamesines. Depending on which driver's license he uses he is either 73,74,or 75.

One of his friends, Larry Lones, emailed the Agent suggesting that the only way to know the Greek's true age is to use carbon dating. Very funny, Larry! Happy Birthday, Chris, from Jeff Burk, Chris Martin, the Agent and all the staff at DRO.

On his birthday Karamesines went 4.809 at 301.74 to qualify 12th. (Jeff Burk photo) [11-11-2004]

NEW PRO MODS BEING BUILT

It's the time of year that new Pro Mods are being built by racers regardless of which sanctioning body they intend to race with. The Agent has been told that Tommy Lipar has having a new '53 'Vette being built for the 2005 season. We also hear that G-Force Race Cars owner Jim

Salemi is finishing up a brand new '67 Camaro to replace their '63 'Vette which has been sold. The body is a carbon fiber unit from Synergy Composites and owner/driver Mike Stawicki will keep his Chevy wedge motor in the car.

The Agent also heard a rumor that a Texas Pro Mod racer is building a Plymouth Superbird for the 2005 season. If that rumor is true, the Agent can't wait to see that high-winged car with about sixty inches of body hanging out over the front wheels at a race track.

The Agent also confirmed that Brad Anderson will be picking up a new Pro Mod this week from the Jerry Haas shop in St. Louis and he plans on running a two-car team with daughter Shelly in one car and son-in-law Jay Payne in the other. Anderson hasn't committed to which circuit he will run with in 2005. [11-11-2004]