HOT ROD REUNION AT BREMERTON

Bremerton Raceway in Washington state will hold their Inaugural NW Hot Rod Reunion on August 7-8. The non-profit Handlers' Racing Assn. will hold a charity autograph session featuring Dale Armstrong, Gary Beck, Rob Bruins, Jerry Ruth, Walt Austin and many other northwestern U.S. driving greats. They've even scheduled a cackle fest. How cool is that! For more info and driving directions see www.bremertonraceway.com. [7-9-2004]

IHRA CHANGES FRIDAY QUALIFYING TIME

The Agent is happy to report that IHRA finally came to the same conclusion that DRO has been sharing with our readers for sometime: that most IHRA fans can't get off on Fridays to watch a 2:00 p.m. pro qualifying session, and that the fans who have been attending the afternoon sessions are generally plenty torqued when they find out all they could see Friday after 5:00 p.m. was sportsman racing.

So, Friday qualifying will now move from mid-afternoon to evening, allowing for a second "Night of Fire" at all five remaining IHRA national events this year. The pro sessions will be at 7:00 p.m. except for the July 16-18 Motor City Nationals at Milan (MI) Dragway, which will begin at 7:30 p.m.

A tip o' the Agent's fedora to IHRA's powers-that-be for this decision. [7-6-2004]

SARKISIAN AILING

Word comes to the Agent that Ed Sarkisian has suffered a stroke. The drag racing historian, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, is in the Intensive Care Unit at Rhode Island Hospital. Our best wishes for him and to his wife, Marge, and family. [7-6-2004]

GATEWAY SCSS SHOOTOUT RESULTS

Fenton, Missouri's Derrick Roeslein, who scored a runner-up in the 2004 Southside City Speed Shop Street Car Shootout Series at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, IL back on April 27th, became the series' eighth different winner of nine completed events when he upset the most recent winner, Mike Faller, of Springfield, IL, in an all-Chevy Camaro final round on June 29.

Roeslein's silver 2002 Camaro qualified second behind defending champ Faller's 11.23/122 blast. For the second consecutive event, the pole position changed hands seven times during the three-hour qualifying period. Faller's "Katfish" 1998 Camaro, (aka "LSWon1"), made a test run only ten minutes before the final, but stumbled to an 11.58 with timing troubles. Despite a brilliant 0.032 Reaction Time in the final, however, the timing problems continued for the FastRides.com machine and the Roeslein & Associates Z28 was able to power away for the win.

Michael Shultzius annihilated his own SCSS Series 4-Cylinder Track Records with a tremendous 12.12 at 116.27 mph in his Project240.com 1989 Nissan 240SX. The 2-Litre powerhouse qualified eighth and was the only non-V8 in the 16-car field. Laurence Bass broke his tie with Granite City, IL's Clint North and became the only competitor to earn six SCSS "Fastest Street Car Qualifier" decals so far in the 2004 series. Past SCSS Series Track Record holder Brian Orsbon drove his 2004 Dodge SRT to the quickest FWD effort of the event, a solid 13.14 at 105.76 mph, to qualify 33rd in the program.

Chevrolets now lead Fords 6 to 3 for overall wins. (Results and photos by Bret Kepner) [7-6-2004]