KARP 'FOLLOWS A DREAM' TO E-TOWN

Arnie Karp will rejoin the NHRA tour at this weekend's K&N Filters Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ. Karp will be in the seat of Jay Blake's "Follow A Dream" Alcohol Funny Car.

Blake was injured and blinded in a 1997 forklift accident. He formed the "Follow A Dream" not-for-profit organization and turned to fielding a drag racing operation, first in Super Comp and then moving to AFC prior to the 2003 season. He purchased Frank Manzo's 2002 car and put Todd Veney in the seat.

Karp, a hitter during the 1980's at the wheel of the "Boston Strangler" Alcohol Funny Car, knows about overcoming physical adversity also. He suffered from life-threatening kidney disease, but was saved by the donation of a kidney by a crew member. It's an ironic twist that Karp will make his return in the seat of Manzo's old car since Frank Manzo was often his opponent in the early days of East Coast competition.

"Jay Blake is an extraordinary guy," Karp said. "He has given motivational speeches at well more than a thousand schools, and at businesses around the country. He's totally blind, but believe me, he has a 'vision' for this sport and for what we can do to help other people. He actually even donated a kidney to his father earlier in life, so we have a true connection there.

"We plan to have a lot of fun racing, but neither one of us would be doing this if there wasn't a better reason to be out there," Karp added.

Blake's organization is at www.followadream.org. Learn more about polycystic kidney disease at www.pkdcure.com. [6-16-2004]

TOLIVER HIRES HOGAN AS CO-CREW CHIEF

Jerry Toliver has hired Richard Hogan to be co-crew chief with Keith Adams on the Schick Quattro Funny Car team beginning with the NHRA K&N Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ.

Hogan, from Ennis, Montana, grew up in drag racing and began working with Marvin Schwartz in 1979. He also worked with Don Garlits, Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme and John Mitchell before joining Alan Johnson's race team.

"Schick's headquarters is in Milford, Conn., so this is the first time we've had a race in their area," said Toliver, "We're excited they are coming out to see what we do and what our sport is all about." [6-16-2004]

FREAKS ON TV

The nationally syndicated motorsports radio series, SpeedFreaks, will be added to the SPEED Channel as a half-hour television show described in a press release as an "in-your-face summer TV adventure that blends the worlds of motorsports and entertainment." The show will debut on Monday, July 12 at 8:30 p.m. (ET)

Oh boy. It's not bad enough that the Agent has to listen to the Freaks, but now he'll have to look at them too. (We're really waiting for "Monster SpeedFreaks" on the Discovery Channel -- with Paris Hilton and Jesse James. Whadda ya think?) [6-16-2004]