UTTERBACKS MAKE THE SCENE

Get a chance to hear that glamorous racing couple, DRO columnists Jeff and Pammy Utterback on radio. They will join car owner Jeff Gaynor on Speed Scene Live at www.speedsceneracing.com on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. Pacific) discussing life on a Nitro Funny Car race team. Listeners can email or phone in during the show. Scott "Lucky" Hudson hosts the only racing radio show dedicated to the Sportsman drag racer. [12-20-2004]

COLUMBUS GETS NEW SPORTSNATIONALS RACE

It hasn't been announced yet but Agent 1320 got it from several very
good sources that NHRA will soon announce the long awaited second Sportsnationals, which will be held at NHRA's Columbus, Ohio track the last weekend in July. We hear that Jeg's Mail order will be a big backer of both Sportsnationals.

Also scheduled for July 29-31 is the IHRA National event in Cayuga, Ontario, Canada and the NHRA National event held at Bruton Smith's Sonoma, California racetrack. Since the NHRA race will be part of the AMS series, Pro Mod racers will have to make a choice as to which series they will support on that date. [12-16-2004]

REV, FUEL, AND BLOCK CONTROL FOR NHRA'S TOP FUEL CLASS or WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY KENNETH?

NHRA and MSD Ignitions have issued press releases concerning the rev limiter program they have developed at the insistence of NHRA's Ray Alley. The device is an electronic rev

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controller that, according to an MSD spokesman, won't be adjustable in the field. So, whatever rpm it is set at when a team installs prior to a race, is it. According to the MSD spokesman, the unit has to be returned to MSD to change the settings.

Here is the burning question. If, as the NHRA press release says, the unit is "a fixed RPM timing controller to be set within the current range obtained by top teams," who decides what that rpm range is?

The release also requires all NHRA teams to have forged blocks and burn an NHRA-approved nitromethane only. The Agent wouldn't have Mr. Alley's job at any salary. [12-16-2004]

NEW BLUE DREAM TEAM

With the shrinking of Snake’s Funny Car effort now a reality, there have been some changes to the crew of the remaining Skoal Blue team. Tommy Johnson’s crew lineup will now consist of crew chief Mike Green, assistant crew chief Johnny West. Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler will come over from the former Ron Capps Skoal Green team as assistant crew chiefs too.

Plans for pre-season testing include both of the Las Vegas sessions and the Phoenix test. With all the eyeballs at the top of this brain trust, Don Prudhomme should be looking for a strong turnaround in the 2005 season for his single flopper. (Zak Hawthorne photo) [12-16-2004]

DRIVERS SIGN ON FOR PMRA SERIES

Seventeen racers have signed on for the inaugural season of the Pro Modified Racing Association. Racers signed at this time are Ralph Andreacchi, Al Billes, Bruce Boland, Joe Boniferro, Raymond Commisso, Dave Earhart, Jack Grainy, Kasey Janzen, Mike Janis, Joe Lilienthall, Mark Nielsen, Don Pocock, Tony Pontieri, Larry Sinke, Carl Spiering, Rob Sporring, and Mike Stawicki.

The organization will hold five events in 2005 at tracks in the area around Ontario and Quebec, Canada and New York state. [12-16-2004]