GARLITS ALWAYS WAS AHEAD OF THE CURVE

The Agent commends NHRA and Goodyear's quick action to address the safety issues in Top Fuel. A different tire and enclosing the cockpit will help. The Agent finds it somewhat ironic though that Don Garlits' mono-strut Top Fuel car design is over 15 years old and in addition to the mono-strut rear wing it also has an enclosed cockpit. Sadly, just as Garlits had to lose part of a limb before Top Fuelers went from the engine in front of the driver to behind, it may have taken the loss of a driver to convince the racing community to enclose the driver. Now, about that mono-strut idea. . . . [7-1-2004]

JANIS VS CANNON MATCH RACE

If you're in the Buffalo, NY area, you may want to swing over to Lancaster Motorsports Park on July 2, where Pro Mod racers Mike Janis and Scotty Cannon will have a best two-out-of-three match race. Cannon hasn't had much success since returning to the Pro Mod ranks this season, a class that he once dominated. Janis (above), from nearby Elma, NY, was the 2001 IHRA Pro Modified champion, but has also been struggling this year. One thing is almost certain: one of them will get a win this weekend. (Jeff Burk photo) [7-1-2004]

CANNON SHOT PT 2: GO NORTH, YOUNG MAN

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The Agent got word that Pro Mod's busiest match racer, Scotty Cannon, also has a match race scheduled in the next few weeks in Alaska. A quick look at the National Speedway Directory lists only one track, Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer. According to reports, it will take Cannon and crew about 100 hours to tow from VMP where they have a match race to the Alaska facility. The Agent doesn't know what Cannon's fee for the match race is, but is willing to bet that it's large! (Jeff Burk photo) [7-1-2004]