STOTT TO DRIVE CSK FUNNY CAR IN 2005!?

The Agent hears that Pro Mod driver Mitch Stott has made the deal with Del Worsham’s CSK Funny Car team to drive the team’s third car for the 2005 season and will be leaving the Pro Mod ranks. Evidently the Radiac Abrasives money plus some other associate sponsorship money is enough to put the “mighty mouth” in the seat since Burkhart has been unable to secure funding so support a third car. Stott and Radiac’s Dave Pryor will add some real color to NHRA Fuel Coupe action. The Agent does recommend, however, that Dave keep his hands in his pockets. (Jeff Burk photo)  [9-8-2004]

TOP FUEL = FORMULA ONE

During an interview at the U.S. Nats, Larry Dixon was being interviewed about what kind of maintenance his Top Fuel team did between rounds. After listening to his answer it was obvious that, depending on the damage to the engine, the Dick LaHaie-led team can replace up to 90% of the drivetrain components after each round. A call to a couple of team owners about the cost of that maintenance reveals the average cost to be around $6000. The replacement cost for a new engine from pan to injector and fuel pump to clutch can exceed $75,000. Whooeee!

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A couple of team owners said they figure to make about 180 laps during a 23-race season. Do the math on that and check your wallet. You’d better have a couple of million to run a competitive Top Fuel team for a year. 

Back in the late 1980’s Top Fuel legend Gene Snow actually predicted that the class would come to that, and considered building two-part Top Fuel cars that split right behind the driver’s seat. His idea was to build three or four complete back-halves and rather than rebuild or replace parts between rounds, just to unbolt the old back half and install a new one. Maybe an idea whose time has come?  [9-8-2004]

PRO STOCK TRUCK LAWSUIT, PT 29

One of Agent 1320’s most reliable sources swears to have overheard a conversation between a couple of NHRA top level management types talking to each other about a settlement NHRA has offered to all of the plaintiffs of that infamous lawsuit. Supposedly the two suits were lamenting the fact that fighting the lawsuit had cost NHRA well over a million dollars in lawyer fees. DRO editor Jeff Burk opined in his most recent column that a settlement offer by NHRA before a trial seemed very remote but he also said that stranger things have happened. So, maybe the rumors that NHRA offered the group the title to the sanctioning body’s Columbus track was true...and stranger. [9-8-2004]

CANNON AND OAKLEY SPLITSVILLE

Agent 1320 hears that Oakley major domo Jim Jannard has pulled the plug on his sponsorship of the Mohawked One’s Pro Mod team after just one season. Just an opinion on the Agent’s part, but perhaps NHRA’s cavalier treatment of Cannon, the Pro Mod class, and its racers may have had some bearing on Jannard’s bailout. This is one case where the Agent truly hopes the inside info is dead wrong. Pro Mod needs Cannon, Jennard and Oakley remaining involved in Pro Mod in a large way. (Jeff Burk photo)  [9-8-2004]