CRUNCH TIME

Interstate 15, the major artery between the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas, was host to a huge 66-car fog-shrouded pile-up on the morning of April 1, closing all lanes of the highway through Cajon Pass for about seven hours. According to reports, 59-year-old

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drag racing veteran and supercharger wizard Mert Littlefield was involved in the incident when he locked the brakes on his truck and trailer, skidding into an empty double tank trailer rig.

Onboard with Littlefield was his 20-year-old son Brad and Brad Anderson's wife, Lee, who were unhurt. Apparently the truck was a total loss but it sounds as though the enclosed trailer may have protected the alky funny car on the way to the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas. According to one report, fire workers had to cut Littlefield from the wreckage and they were fortunate to have avoided any collisions from the rear.

While being interviewed on L.A. television news with blood running down his face from broken window glass, Littlefield said, "The scariest part was I was trapped in there for a few minutes. I'm okay, just scratched up."

The team has cancelled their plans to race in Las Vegas this weekend. [4-2-2004]

SUMMIT CREATES LINGENFELTER MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT

To honor the late John Lingenfelter, Summit Racing Equipment has created the Summit Racing Equipment-John Lingenfelter Memorial Fund for Engineering Excellence at Penn State University. The new endowment fund will support the Society of Automotive Engineers Formula Racing Team within the College of Engineering at Lingenfelter's alma mater. Lingenfelter was a member of the Summit Racing team from 1997 until his death in 2003.

The SAE Formula Racing Team is a hands-on program in which students design and build small Formula-style racing cars as part of a national engineering competition. Those wishing to make a contribution to the fund may send a check payable to Penn State to: Marc McMullin, Director of Major Gifts, Penn State College of Engineering, 101 Hammond Building, University Park, PA 16802. For more information go to www.summitracing.com/LingenfelterFund. (DRO file photo by Jeff Burk) [4-2-2004]

MILLICAN BRINGS IT HOME FOR DRO AND NII

Two extra sponsors didn't slow down the Clay Millican machine at the IHRA season opener in San Antonio, as the three-time IHRA Top Fuel champ continued his domination of the class. Millican drove the Lehman Racing dragster sponsored by Werner Enterprises (and DragRacingOnline.com and nii communications, inc. of San Antonio) to their first win of the new season.

The race coverage will appear in DRO as soon as editor Jeff Burk stops jumping up and down with glee. (Do we know how to pick 'em, or what?) (Jeff Burk photo) [4-2-2004]