JEG'S ENGINE MASTERS CHALLENGE, PT II

After the Agent put up a little note about the Engine Masters Challenge, he got some additional interesting info about the event. Apparently there were more than just a slew of small block Chevys and one Jon Kaase Ford at the event. According to one of the Agent's operatives who attended the motor-mania, there were several Fords including Kaase's winning effort, a couple of small block Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles, a Mopar wedge and, unbelievably, an AMC engine.

Oh, and the operative also said the winner of the power contest took home a cool hundred grand, the runner-up got $50,000 and third was paid $25,000. Next year DRO will cover this event. [12-30-2004]

MORE PRO MOD 'SILLY SEASON' RUMORS

Apparently, Tommy Lipar did give driver Von Smith his walking papers despite Smith's name appearing on the AMS/TLR list of drivers for the season opener at Gainesville. Sources tell the Agent that the team is selling their Jerry Haas Mustang. Instead they will

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go with the '57 Chevy the Lipar team recently acquired, with Josh Hernandez between the pipes and Howard Moon tuning the Brad Anderson Hemi. Word is that the team will have a second '57 built, but no word about who will drive that car. 

The Agent also hears that Mitch Stott is lobbying hard for that seat but if he doesn't get it will sit out the '05 season while building a '70 Barracuda and looking for backing for the 2006 season.

Also, look for a new early model 'Vette for the Mike Ashley camp to be completed before the new season starts, but no word yet as to year, driver or sponsor for the newest car. [12-30-2004]

JANIS BACK FROM MOPAR WIND TUNNEL

Word comes to the Agent that the car Mike Janis's PR person alluded to recently as being in the Chrysler wind tunnel has completed the tests. It is indeed a Dodge Stratus, as the Agent predicted, and is evidently very slick aerodynamically. That should come as a surprise to no one as aero is very important in the horsepower-challenged Pro Stock world and Mopar spent a lot of time making that body very "slick" for their Pro Stock teams. [12-30-2004]

NATIONAL TRAIL TO HOST SPORTSNATIONALS

Competitors from select categories of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be able to earn national event championship points when Ohio's National Trail Raceway hosts the inaugural NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals, July 28-31.

The NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals will feature a guaranteed purse of more than $50,000 with racers competing in six NHRA Lucas Oil Series categories, including Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. NHRA Lucas Oil Series national event points will be awarded to drivers in all categories except Super Street. The event will be the second all-sportsman event where competitors will be awarded national event points towards 2005 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships.

An added feature to the national sportsman event will be the running of the AMS Pro Mod Challenge, an exhibition program which competes at a limited 10-race schedule on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. [12-30-2004]