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HIGHT REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Robert "Top Gun" Hight, who drove the Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang to two NHRA POWERade tour victories this season, is the winner of the Auto Club’s 2005 Road to the Future Award. The award, which annually identifies the NHRA tour’s Rookie-of-the-Year, was one of several presented during the season-ending awards banquet at the Westin Mission Hills Resort on Monday, Nov. 7. Hight, 36, who finished fifth in Funny Car points, was selected from among three other first year drivers: Jack Beckman, 39, of North Hills, CA, Erica Enders, 21, of Houston, TX, and Chip Ellis, 35, of Americus, GA.

"It was an honor just to be nominated," Hight said, "but to win this award for the Auto Club and my teammates at John Force Racing is unbelievable. The thing is, I don’t feel like I’ve done anything special I’m up here because John (Force) gave me a chance and because Jimmy Prock and the crew gave me a great race car." [11-08-2005]

MOLINARI MOVING ON

One of the Agent's sources at insidetopalcohol.com let him know that long time Crower clutch guru Bob Molinari has ankled that operation. Sources tell the Agent that Molinari tried to buy the clutch division of the company from the Crower family and when they wouldn’t sell he decided to open his own clutch business called, strangely enough, Molinari Clutches. [11-08-2005]

PSCA DRIVERS HIT JACKPOT AT VEGAS

Shannon Jenkins of Tuscaloosa, AL, won the $25,000 first prize at the PSCA Street Car Supernationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – and he’ll spend some of it to repair the engine. Jenkins’s 1968 Camaro was paired against Bill Glidden of Kingston, IL, in the Pacific Street Car Association’s Pro Street finale. All hopes of a traditional 200-mph, side-by-side final soon were dashed as Glidden experienced problems early in his run and coasted across the finish line at 77 mph and Jenkins’s engine expired just before he crossed the finish line to take home the $25,000 first prize money.

Steve Kirk of Monroe, GA, defeated Paul Langle of El Cerrito, CA, for Outlaw Street honors. Hot Street final was won by Matt Jones, who defeated Craig Gustafson of Encinitas, CA. Mike Keenin won the Drag Radial finale over Manuel Figueroa of Moorpark, CA. Monty Berney (shown) of Danville, CA, claimed the Heavy Street final over Heath Johnston of Sierra Vista, AZ. The Open Comp class victory went to Willy Reckscek of Moreno Valley, CA. Carl “Pizza Man” Cannavo of North Las Vegas won the Bracket 1 finale over Henderson’s Jerry Mock. (DRO file photo) [11-08-2005]