FLORIDA RENTAL?

The March 18-21 Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., is not one of the 14 races in which Funny Car driver Terry Haddock expects to compete this year in his Barrett

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Enterprises Chevy Camaro. But his crew chief, Paul Smith, will have something to do at that event -- keep an eye on and help out with his Top Fuel dragster.

That might mark the return of former Funny Car driver Johnny Gray, who resigned abruptly from the Chuck and Del Worsham-owned Checker-Schucks-Kragen team following his runner-up finish at the U.S. Nationals last September. Gray is interested in renting Smith's dragster, according to Smith.

Other candidates are Alan Bradshaw, the current Top Alcohol Dragster champion in the Lucas Oil Series, and class rival Marshall Topping.

Said Smith, "I can't sit home just because Terry's sitting home." [2-23-2004]

NO MORE HOSPITALITY

Many long-time NHRA members hunted in vain at the Pomona pits for their own NHRA Membership Hospitality Center. An oasis from the unpredictable weather extremes of SoCal, the canopied center provided a "Member's Only" meeting place with clean restrooms, tables, chairs, water and Coca Cola-brand soft drinks as part of NHRA membership benefits.

The Center had been a popular Fairplex fixture for the past few years, but according to a well-placed source, is a victim of last season's NHRA financial losses due to rain postponements. As an official NHRA statement put it, "Membership benefits constantly change and improve; NHRA hopes to introduce other benefits in the future." The members hope so too. [2-23-2004]

EARLY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Drag racing luminaries showed up for a special racing-themed memorabilia auction at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum to benefit the Pomona showcase of drag history. Auction items included everything from a late-'50s Puyallup Dragway poster to an old Irwindale Raceway jacket to a vintage Fremont Drag Strip jacket.

The auction led by Dana Mecum of Mecum Auctions raised over $35,000 to benefit museum operations. Spirited bidding for high-ticket purchases included a 1950s era racing helmet painted by famous hot rod artist Von Dutch for $2,500 and a 1961 Kent Fuller jacket with his 8.20 ET world record embroidered on the back for $3,000. Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen walked out with a vintage Northwest Funny Car match race poster for close to a grand. According to Sam Jackson, executive director of the Museum, "This type of event really helps the Museum continue to preserve motorsports' legacy." [2-23-2004]