CORDOVA HONORED AT
IHRA AWARDS BANQUET
Cordova Dragway Park collected two major awards at the 33rd
Annual Hooters IHRA Awards Banquet on January 15, 2005.
Cordova Dragway Park was awarded the IHRA “Division
5 Pro-Am Track of the Year” for their outstanding
development and production of the event.
In addition, track operators Scott and Laura Gardner were
honored as the 2004 Track Operators of the Year for their
outstanding operation of a weekly race track. “We
were overwhelmed to be selected from nearly 100 IHRA tracks,”
said Laura Gardner. “We owe much of the thanks to
our employees who jointly strive for excellence at our facility."
The Gardners also won the title in 1997. In addition, in
2001 Scott Gardner was one of only five individuals ever
to be presented the "IHRA Award,” for an individual
who had the greatest positive impact on the sport of drag
racing. [1-18-2005]
HERBERT OPEN HOUSE JAN. 22
Doug Herbert Performance Parts will hold an Open House at
their new 100,000-square foot facility on Saturday, Jan.
22. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 1443
E. Gaston St. in Lincolnton, North Carolina. In addition
to Doug Herbert, Erica Enders, Scotty Cannon and drivers
from other racing series will be available for autographs.
One fan will win the opportunity to sit in the Snap-on Tools
dragster during an engine warm-up, and many racecars and
other vehicles will be on display.
The highlight of the day is sure to be the "Big Bang"
when a brick will be placed on the gas pedal of a car and
the engine will run until it explodes. Yee-haw! [1-18-2005]
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IT'S NOT OFFICIAL. . .
It has not been officially announced yet, but Ameriquest
Mortgage will be an associate sponsor on the Snake’s
Miller Lite Top Fuel dragster and will also become the Official
Mortgage Supplier to the NHRA. The Official Supplier status
will give Ameriquest direct access to the drag racing fans
attending NHRA events and to the Manufacturers' Midway.
The Agent also heard from a couple of sources that the finalists
for a full Ameriquest sponsorship came down to John Force
Racing and Snake Racing, as original proposals called for
funding of a complete Top Fuel operation. According to one
of the Agent’s operatives, Force’s deal would
have brought ESPN’s Mike Dunn back into the seat of
a dragster and the Snake’s deal would have formed
a new team for driver Melanie Troxel.
With yet another “Official” NHRA non-automotive
sponsor coming onboard, the Agent wonders what happened
to “growing the sport” with more competitors.
Instead of going to Prudhomme as an associate, why didn't
NHRA encourage a major sponsorship of a less well-funded
team, like Scott Weis, David Baca or Chris Karamesines?
[1-18-2005]
PAWUK RE-SIGNS WITH SUMMIT
As he has for 12 years, Mark "Cowboy" Pawuk will
again be a member of Team Summit Associates. Other racers
on the NHRA POWERade series receiving associate sponsorship
from Summit Racing Equipment include Jason Line, Larry Morgan,
Warren Johnson, Kurt Johnson, Tim Wilkerson, David Grubnic,
Scott Kalitta and Doug Kalitta.
Pawuk has made some changes to his Pontiac Grand Am Pro
Stocker over the past months.
"We've been burning a lot of midnight oil since the
2004 season ended, and I believe we've made some real progress,"
Pawuk said. "Obviously, we'll know the answer to that
one at Pomona!" [1-18-2005]
