BALTZELLS GET NEW CAR, NEW SPONSOR

Lee and Mary Baltzell have a new sponsor with Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters to start the 2005 season and will have a new car by the second race of the NMCA's PRO/Edelbrock series.

Jerry Haas Race Cars is building a 2002 Trans Am but until it is ready the Baltzell's will continue with their '97 Firebird (yeah, it's for sale). Co-crew chief and Lee's brother, Robert, who owns the new car chassis, will drive the car at some Midwest outlaw races. [2-7-2005]

HEDMAN HEDDERS WILD STREET EXPANDED TO 8 NMRA EVENTS

Hedman Hedders Wild Street competition will be held at eight National Mustang Racers Association events (all except Bradenton, Florida), and these street-legal competitors will be asked to complete a 30-mile drive on city and highway streets before racing. All entrants are required to have fully street-legal vehicles, including registration, license, insurance, and state i.d. sticker. Hedman Hedders Wild Street awards not only the quickest car, but also features 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15-second winners. A complete NMRA-Denso Drag Racing Series 2005 Schedule, featuring Hedman Hedders Wild Street can be found at www.nmraracing.com [2-7-2005]

NO RUMORS BUT FACTS FOR ATLANTA DRAGWAY

Responding to rumors about monetary charges for "long" trailers and for pit vehicles, Atlanta Dragway's web site seems to have put them all to rest. According to a recent Atlanta posting, there will be NO charges for 30-foot or longer trailers in the pits for the

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2005 season. There will, however, be a $10 charge taken up for all pit vehicles at Atlanta Dragway and indeed throughout all of NHRA's Division 2. The $10 will be for vehicle registration, and according to the posting, "This policy is not in place to make a profit, it is simply a safety measure that must be implemented to control the use of pit vehicles and ensure everyone's safety."

The issue of children 16 years or younger riding pit vehicles in the pits was not addressed, and that has been a problem throughout tracks that host bracket competition all over the country. But a question remains: There is already a rule in association books about keeping 16-year-olds and younger off such vehicles, so why the $10 charge? At least it won't be $25, as several area bracket racers have stated and have let their feelings be known -- negatively, we might add --throughout several bracket racing web sites. 

Agent 1320 has also learned that this policy will be in effect at all NHRA-controlled tracks in 2005 at the direction of the sanctioning body's insurance carrier. The Agent thinks that too many pit vehicles such as motorized bar stools, skate boards, mini-choppers and golf carts with young kids driving have made the pits a more dangerous place than it should be and some action is long overdue.  [2-7-2005]