TUBS FOR TOP FUEL

DRO's West Coast editor Darr Hawthorne is in Denver covering that race and while there he checked in on the shielding being installed in Top Fuel cars to better protect the drivers. He was there while Brad Hadman was explaining his product to Tony Schumacher and Ed McCulloch.

He also wandered over to Doug Herbert's pit and took this photo of Murf McKinney's shield for his chassis. (Darr Hawthorne photos) [7-16-2004]

SCHUMACHER ADDING MORE CARS AND TEAMS TO OPERATION

At St. Louis Don Schumacher told one of the Agent's operatives that currently it costs about a half-million dollars a race weekend to run all of his teams. Evidently that number is going to get even bigger as Schumacher let it be known at Denver that that he will probably be adding a second Top Fuel car within 60 days, will soon add a second Pro Stocker, and could have a third Pro Stocker in 2005 that would run a limited schedule. And just think how people and racers in the sport panicked when John Force announced that he would have a three-car team. By the Agent's count next year Schumacher may have nine professional teams and so far the Agent hasn't heard one complaint. My, have times have changed.

Oh and one last thing -- Schumacher told Agent 1320 that he is building a new 100,000 square-foot shop to house all of his teams. Move over, Rick Hendrick and Jack Roush, there's a new sheriff in the race car arena. [7-16-2004]

RATS INVADE ENGLAND

Kentucky engine builder Don Green took his famous "Rat Trap" fuel altered to England for a couple of exhibition burnouts. The Agent got a little nostalgic looking at the photos forwarded to us by his crack PR guy Englishman Andrew Kirk. Green grass, no guardrail and a short wheelbase fuel burner. Evidently Green is still building racing engines and running the alt. According to the press release that came with the photo the fuel alt recently ran a best of 6.60/229. Way cool. [7-16-2004]

PULDE TESTS PLEUGER CAR AT 'THE PATCH'

Dale Pulde, Steve Pleuger and the rest of their posse recently went to Bakersfield to test their radical single-pump, single-mag fuel coupe, trying to get dialed in for a debut at either Seattle or Sonoma. According to the Agent's operative, the team made one squirt: The car had a 1.02 60-footer, moved to the right, straightened out, shook just before the 330 cone and Pulde clicked it. Contrary to some rumors, the car has a clutch and fuel management -- and they are unusual. [7-16-2004]