NHRA ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGES

NHRA officials today (June 30) notified Top Fuel and Funny Car teams of two rule amendments effective immediately. The first race after this change will be the Mopar Mile-High Nationals, July 16-18 at Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

The rule changes include specifying a new tire for Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors and requiring roll cage shielding for all Top Fuel dragsters.

The cause of last weekend's accident at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis is still under investigation and no conclusions have been reached by NHRA.

NHRA calls these rule changes "interim steps" and will evaluate additional steps as their investigation continues. [6-30-2004]

RUSSELL SERVICES SET

Funeral services for Darrell Russell, 35, who was killed June 27 in a crash during the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, will be Friday, July 2. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 400 W. Oxford St., Tomball, Texas. Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. July 1 at Klein Funeral Home, 1400 W. Main St. in Tomball.

Instead of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to a trust fund. Send to Darrell Russell Memorial Fund, Partners Bank of Texas, P.O. Box 60369, Houston, TX 77205. (DRO file photo by Zak Hawthorne) [6-29-2004]

HART SERVICES SET

C.J. "Pappy" Hart, 93, died June 25 after suffering a stroke on May 27. Visitation will be

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June 30, 4-8 p.m. at Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary, 1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana, CA. The funeral will be held July 1 at 11 a.m. at Waverly Church, same address.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made on behalf of C.J. Hart to Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW), 4 Hance Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.

It was a tough weekend for the drag racing community. [6-29-2004]