FULL HOUSE AT BLACK SUNDAY!

The "Black Sunday" race put on by the United Black Drag Racers at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis was a huge success any way you looked at it. DRO editor Jeff Burk

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was at this event just as he was when the first one was held some 20 years ago. There were probably fewer than a hundred cars at that first event, including the spectators'. At this year's race there were 615 cars entered by 11:00 a.m. on Friday. According to track officials, the spectator count on Black Sunday equaled the number that showed for the Sunday of the NHRA national event held at that same track in June.

Look for complete coverage of the event soon in DRO, including a race report by none other than Bret Kepner who wrote a story for the "Midwest Racer" newspaper on the first event when the Burkster was the editor/publisher at that rag back in the Seventies. [9-20-2004]

NEW STRATUS FOR BRAD ANDERSON

The Agent has confirmed that Brad Anderson and his driver Jay Payne will be testing a brand new Jerry Haas-built Dodge Stratus at the St. Louis track sometime after the NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas. This confirms the rumor that Anderson will be parking the '67 Murray Anderson Pro Mod-style "swing-arm" suspension car and will replace it with a conventional Pro Stock-style car with a four-link suspension. Look for Anderson and Payne to become instantly competitive. [9-20-2004]

LEONARD HEMI CHEVY IN PRO MOD

The Agent hears that an unknown Pro Mod racer has had Sonny Leonard build a 500-inch supercharged engine using the Hemi-Chevy heads developed by Leonard for IHRA Pro Stock competition. According to the Agent's source, the smaller motor will make more boost than the standard 526 inch engine which is the norm for the class.

A call to the Agent's engine guru verified that a smaller engine (say 500 ci) will indeed make more boost than a 526 ci engine, but how much more and will it convert to e.t. at the dragstrip, is something that isn't yet known. The Agent will bring you more as the info comes in. [9-20-2004]

SIGN HERE, PLEASE

Friday afternoon at the U.S. Nationals, the Drag Racing Association of Women held an autograph session in Nitro Alley. Taking part were Joe Amato, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, Larry Dixon, Tommy Johnson, Morgan Lucas, Angelle Savoie, Tony Schumacher, Rhonda Hartman-Smith and John Smtih. (photo by Dave Wallace) [9-20-2004]