KENNEDY HELPS GREEN'S BLUES?

The Snake's Skoal blue Monte Carlo may have turned the corner on its elusive tune-up at the NHRA Houston race. Driver Tommy Johnson Jr. drew John Force in the first round of eliminations, but was edged-out at the finish line running a 4.924. However the Mike Green-tuned coupe managed to make five consistent full-passes down the quarter-mile, grabbing a best effort 4.896 for the #5 qualifying slot.

Looks like the addition of Garry "Skippy" Kennedy to the Don Prudhomme nitro brain trust may have helped bring more reliability to the team. (Zak Hawthorne photo) [4-20-2004]

WANNA BUY A TIRE?

The Agent heard from a couple sources about a Houston Raceway Park Saturday evening conference in the Mac Tools pit. The post-qualifying meeting was between NHRA's Director of nitro racing, Ray Alley, and Kalitta crew chiefs, Don Prudhomme, Dick LaHaie

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and Force crew chiefs to discuss the decision to make the ultimate change to Goodyear's new 2096 tire.

It seems the gathering was brought about since one Top Fuel team may have bought up a dozen or so pairs of the old design 1486 slick, planning to run them for the immediate future. As a result of this high level summit NHRA has mandated that, starting in Bristol, the 2096 tire will be the only rear tire available to run in the nitro classes.

The Agent notes that when NASCAR makes a tire change every team must run the new tire regardless of how many units a race team may have in stock. [4-20-2004]

DENSMORE ON THE MEND

The Agent was pleased to hear that one of his favorite PR flacks and former columnist for DRO, Dave Densmore, has come through surgery on his neck to relieve pain. In his honor any surgery to relieve neck pain will hereafter be known as having a Densectomy. Densmore, the spin-meister for John Force's racing conglomerate is reportedly trying to get back to work this weekend for the NHRA race at Houston. [4-19-2004]