IHRA ADDS FUNNY CARS, WILL CHANGE SCHEDULE FOR '06

Well, we all saw it coming, but IHRA made the official announcement that a Nitro Funny Car class will be added next season, sponsored by Torco Racing Fuels. Torco owner Evan Knoll and the IHRA have entered into a three-year agreement. (See, there was a good reason DRO named Mr. Knoll our Man of the Year.)

"You couldn't help but see the fan reaction to Mike Ashley (shown) and Del Worsham in Rockingham," Knoll explained. "The place went crazy. We need to capitalize on that."

The Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car class will have a purse and payout structure the same as the revamped Top Fuel payout. In addition, IHRA will change their 2006 schedule so that nine of their 11 events no longer conflict with NHRA events, allowing teams to compete in both series. The revised schedule will be released next week. (James Drew photo) [11-03-2005]

POSTCARD FROM THE FRINGE

Bret Kepner probably visits more racetracks throughout the year than any other person in the sport. We've asked the DRO Bracket Racing Guru to send us an occasional postcard from his travels off the beaten track. Here is the first.

I found myself involved in a once-in-a-lifetime final round at Sikeston (MO) Drag Strip on October 29th when I lined up against Jim Kepner (no relation) of Paducah, KY, for all the marbles......

ORSCA RELEASES 2006 SCHEDULE

The Atlanta-based Outlaw Racing Street Car Association recently released a tentative schedule for next season, beginning New Year's Day with a non-points paying event at Albany, GA's US 19 Dragway, with a second non-points warmup slated for Mar. 17-19,

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at Carolina Dragway, near Jackson, SC. The ORSCA Year One points series will then be contested: Apr. 21-23 (Atlanta Dragway); May 19-21 (Carolina Dragway); May 26-28 (US 19 Dragway); June 9-11 (Track yet to be named); July 7-9 (Atlanta Dragway); Aug. 4-6 (US 19 Dragway); Sep. 1-4 (South Georgia Motorsports Park - unconfirmed); Sep. 29-Oct. 1 (Huntsville Dragway - unconfirmed); and Nov. 10-12 (Carolina Dragway). [11-03-2005]