CARRIER BOYZ RETURN TO IHRA ROOTS

Cory McClenathan, driver of the Carrier Boyz Racing Berryman Top Fuel dragster, will compete at the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series Sunoco World Nationals presented by PPG Automotive Refinish at Norwalk Raceway Park, Norwalk, Ohio, August 25-28. It will be the first time that McClenathan has competed in an IHRA sanctioned event.

"I know my team owners, Andy and Mark Carrier, are looking forward to
returning to Norwalk," McClenathan said. "They ran there last year but are no strangers to IHRA. Their father, Larry Carrier, founded IHRA back in the early 70's, and he and Bill Bader are pioneers of that sanctioning body. There is a lot of history between the Carrier family and the Bader family."

Andy and Mark's father Larry Carrier, known for his technological and marketing innovations, founded the International Hot Rod Association in 1970. During his ownership, he not only created new and exciting classes of competition but was responsible for new safety developments, many still in use today. In 1975, through Carrier's marketing insight, the IHRA became the first motor sport sanctioning body to attract the support of a major corporation when he signed R.J. Reynolds' Winston brand as a marketing partner.

Carrier sold IHRA in 1987 to former Funny Car driver and Texas Motorplex owner Billy Meyer. Since that time it has changed hands several times and is now owned by media giant Clear Channel Entertainment through its Clear Channel Entertainment - Motor Sports Division.

"Mark and I ran Norwalk last year for the first time as professional Top Fuel team owners," Andy Carrier said. "It was exciting and we knew if we could work things out that we wanted to return. Well, we're back and we're even more excited than we were last year. In fact, I think Norwalk Raceway Park is my brother Mark's favorite track in all of drag racing."

In addition to being the longtime owner of Norwalk Raceway Park, Bader owned IHRA and still serves as president of the sanctioning body. (Jeff Burk photo) [8-20-2004]

MORE NHRA TOP FUEL RULE CHANGES

As the Agent reported, NHRA tech officials talked with Top Fuel Crew Chiefs on Thursday August 19 in the Memphis pits about more changes to the rules for the way rear wings are attached to the cars by adding chrome moly bracing and utilizing a stronger bolting method.

The other part of the change mandates raising the minimum weight at the conclusion of a run to 2,225 pounds including the driver. These changes are to be completed as of the U.S. Nationals. (Zak Hawthorne photo) [8-20-2004]