TWENTY PERCENT OVERDRIVE NOT A PROBLEM FOR SUPERCHARGED PRO MODS?

Based on recent testing at Route 66 Raceway after the NHRA national event where several supercharged Pro Mod teams posted serious numbers in testing, the recent

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overdrive reduction mandated by IHRA Director of Competition Skooter Peaco wasn't as devastating as some people (including DRO Editor Jeff Burk) thought.

According to sources, the Chuck Ford-tuned cars of Mike Ashley and Danny Rowe had eighth-mile e.t.'s of under 3.97 and 3.99 with Ashley recording a 6.17. The Darren Mayer-tuned AMS Corvette ran a 4.03 eighth-mile and 6.19 to the finish line. According to one crew chief, all this testing was done at supercharger overdrive of 20 percent. If this performance is carried over to the next IHRA and NHRA national events, perhaps those teams with supercharged powerplants better start ordering 15 percent overdrive pulleys since Peaco has stated more than once that if the 20 percent didn't do the job he would adjust the rules again. [5-26-2004]

NITROUS PRO MODS OVERWEIGHT

Mike Castellana, who was the winner of the Route 66 NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod event, told DRO that his car rolls over the scales at a portly 2530 lbs! That is 155 pounds over the 2375-lb. minimum weight for the class. Several former nitrous racers, including Stan Ray and Quain Stott, told DRO that their nitrous cars weighed in at 2380lbs. Both Castellana and Shannon Jenkins told DRO that they were having new cars built that would weigh in at about 2400 lbs. If that team's cars were able to run in the 'teens at over 2500 lbs, what could they run with a hundred pounds off of them? Can you say six-ohs.

The Agent wonders if Skooter Peaco and Mike Baker knew that team's cars (and perhaps others) were over 100 lbs over the minimum weight when he implemented rules to slow down the supercharged cars? [5-26-2004]

SCHUMACHER TO ADD SECOND DRAGSTER

Don Schumacher revealed to the Agent that in addition to all of the festivities of his hometown race at Route 66 Raceway, he's been working on proposals to add another Top Fuel dragster to join his multi-car stable. While no driver was named and no timetable was set for the introduction of a second dragster, Schumacher added, "The advantage of having a second Top Fuel car will benefit the team."

After the performance of his 330-mph Funny Cars over the weekend, setting more top speed and low e.t. marks should be no problem over the long NHRA POWERade season. [5-26-2004]