WARDLOW FATALLY SHOT

Willie T. Wardlow, a long-time drag racer and founder of the Black Drag Racers Association, was shot in his Indianapolis business shortly before noon on Feb. 17. Wardlow, 62, was inside Elite Images Salon, a beauty shop he and his wife opened last summer, when two men entered the salon. Wardlow and the men reportedly exchanged words and then two shots were fired, hitting Wardlow in the abdomen and chest. He died later at an Indianapolis hospital.

Wardlow, perhaps better known by his nickname of "Mr. T," had promoted the Indy Soul Nationals, an event aimed at black drag racers, with limited success. Indianapolis police are still investigating the murder, but had few leads to follow. [2-18-2004]

COLLINS SUCCUMBS

Ron Collins, former crew chief of Doug Foxworth's Texas-based "Havoc" Top Fuel dragster team, died Feb. 11 after a year-long battle with cancer. Collins, 50, had also worked on Randy Parks' "Fluke" dragster, Paula Martin's Funny Car, Tom Akers' "The Wizard" Funny Car and Steve Foster's Top Fueler. He leaves his wife, Vicki, and son Christopher. [2-18-2004]

STILL TESTY

What do WJ, KJ, Rickie Smith, Jim Yates, Barry Grant, Larry Morgan, Mike Edwards, Troy Coughlin and V. Gaines have in common besides driving competitive Pro Stocks? They all made last minute laps at the Strip at Las Vegas during a final test session prior to the K&N Winternationals.

LVMS opened the gates for two more test days and the Pro Stock hitters showed up to check their new, heavier 16-inch bead-lock wheel and tire combo. The President's Day best runs were Kurt Johnson's 6.873/199.58 mph in his new Jerry Haas Chevy Cavalier,

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Mike Edwards1 6.883/199.70 mph and WJ led the mile per hour charge at 6.908/200.56 mph. This closed-to-the-public session included Cory McClenathan in the seat of the Carrier Boyz fueler who shook the tires and the funny car of Bob Gilbertson preparing for the new season.

In a Monday test session at Tucson's SIR, the dragsters of Rhonda Hartman-Smith and husband John Smith continued their weekend testing where Rhonda ran a best 4.740. Saturday and Sunday results netted best numbers for Brandon Bernstein's 4.569/325.22 and Gary Densham's 4.806/314.83 in his Auto Club of SoCal sponsored fuel coupe.

All the competitors must be in Pomona for parking on Wednesday, bringing to a close the longest pre-season testing on record. The 45th Annual NHRA Winternationals gets underway February 19 with Pro Qualifying sessions scheduled for 2:30 PM. The Agent and his operatives will be turning over nitro drums and hanging in the bars to grab the bits that will evolve into the 2004 drag racing season. (Photo by John Bishi, LVMS)
[2-17-2004]