PAUL ZGODA RETURNS TO IHRA FUNNY CAR ACTION

It's been nearly two years since veteran IHRA Pro Funny Car driver Paul Zgoda's horrific transmission explosion during qualifying at the ACDelco Canadian Nationals in Cayuga,

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Ontario, Canada. This year's June 11-13 event will not only mark Zgoda's return to IHRA competition, it will be his first time behind the wheel of his flopper since the incident occurred.

"I've had some mishaps in race cars before. There was an incident with a submarine strap years ago that I'd rather not get into, but this was the worst," said Zgoda.

At the 2002 event, the transmission explosion caused serious injuries to Zgoda's left foot and leg. His left ankle was broken is several places and an artery severed. He also suffered compound fractures of his toes and required skin grafts on his foot. [6-8-2004]

JESSE JAMES INJURED

Scott Kalitta's Top Fuel dragster sponsor, West Coast Choppers' Jesse James was injured on June 5 while driving a Victory Circle chassis Monte Carlo Super Late Model at SoCal's Irwindale Speedway. James won the first of two four-lap Figure 8 heat races for his first speedway victory. In the second Lucas Oil Super Late Model race James was running 20th when he veered into the crash-wall in turn four, heavily damaging the right front of his Chevy. Emergency crews helped a shaken James from the racecar into the ambulance for a trip to nearby Arcadia Methodist Hospital accompanied by his girlfriend, actress Sandra Bullock. He never lost consciousness, but had facial lacerations and a broken left ankle.

As one observer remarked, "It was a good thing he was wearing a HANS Device; he took a hard hit." The bad-boy TV personality and master fabricator was not admitted for a hospital stay, but his crew withdrew his Figure 8 car from the feature scheduled for later that evening. (Zak Hawthorne photo) [6-8-2004]

WICHITA TRACK MANAGER INJURED

Wichita (Kansas) International Raceway track manager Wayne Roberts remains in the hospital in serious condition with burns to his face, arms and upper torso after the alcohol container he was using ignited. The latest report had Roberts resting in fair condition in the intensive care burn unit at St Francis Medical Center. The popular 50-year-old track manager was cleaning the drag strip starting line area with alcohol when the container burst into flames. [6-8-2004]