ATHEY GOING TOP FUEL

Agent 1320 got a call from Pro Mod owner/driver Quain Stott to say that Paul Athey, who has been driving a Quain Stott-prepped Pro Mod for several years with sponsorship from the Mohegan Sun Casino, is going to take that sponsorship money to the Grant Flowers Top Fuel operation. Athey will drive in Top Fuel at IHRA events next season. He may take a lap in the car this weekend at the IHRA race in Martin, MI. (Jeff Burk photo) [8-13-2004]

ALL DOORSLAMMERS ALL THE TIME?

The Agent hears that there is a group of investors out there considering an all doorslammer drag racing series. Basically their thoughts are that a lot of door car racers (especially in the bracket classes) are going to or have quit trying to compete at major bracket races where seven-seconds dragsters are dominating. This group thinks a lot of bracket racers would come back to the track if they didn't have to run against dragsters or spend ten grand to upgrade their current doors to be competitive with the dragsters. Which basically means they need a consistent seven-second, 200-mph door car. [8-13-2004]

NO IHRA NATIONAL EVENT TRACKS GOING TO NHRA...YET

The Agent reported a while back that the IHRA track in Epping, NH was in negotiations with NHRA to change sanctioning bodies. Apparently the New Hampshire track (which is close to Boston) and a Michigan track close to Detroit have both expressed interest in switching camps, but only if the tracks would get an NHRA national event -- and that is the fly in the ointment.

One of the Agent's sources at NHRA said that although they would like to get into those markets the tracks simply didn't have the pit area, highway access and seating to accommodate an NHRA national event and that the tracks would have to solve those problems before it could even be considered. [8-13-2004]

HEAD, ORMSBY JOIN MENARD TEAM

The Menards/Color Fast racing partnership has added two drivers to their race team.

Jim Head brings more than 20 years of racing experience to the team. He won his first U.S. Nationals in 1984 and has finished consistently with top 10 points in top fuel and funny car competition since then. Jim has run career best times of 4.53 seconds at over 331 mph.

Gary Ormsby, Jr., son of famed drag racer Gary Ormsby, Sr., began his drag racing career in 1996, and by the next year finished second in points at the West Coast Super Eliminator Association Championships and eighth place in overall points for Division 7. Since then, Gary has driven for Mike Johnson's Giant Bicycles Blown Alcohol Dragster Team, Edgecombe Racing, Frank Gilchrest's Texas Stagecoach A-fuel dragster, and Darien & Meadows A-fuel team.

The team will be racing at most of the NHRA venues this year. The Menards/Color Fast Funny Car will return to racing at Brainerd, Minnesota on August 12- 15 with Jim Head at the throttle. Then, look for Gary Ormsby, driving the Menards/Color Fast Top Fuel dragster at Indy on September 1-6. [8-13-2004]

RAY PRICE RACING BACK ON TRACK

As Ray Price continues to improve from his injuries incurred at Las Vegas in May of 2003, he is bringing road racing and drag racing champion, Tripp Noble, to the S & S Cycle Thunder in the Valley Nationals presented by Smith Brother's Harley-Davidson at Bristol Dragway for his first top fuel appearance with the team.

The Ray Price Racing team has been to Rockingham for several test and tune sessions with Noble twisting the throttle. Price is very pleased with Noble's enthusiasm and team spirit. In just a few test sessions, Noble has already run a 7.02 at 202 mph, and the team hopes for strong numbers this weekend at Bristol for the AHDRA race. At Bristol, Noble will divide the riding chores between VRod and Top Fuel. He will continue riding Don Tilley's VRod as they campaign for the national championship in that class. [8-13-2004]