SO LONG, JOHN, WE HARDLY KNEW YOU

The Agent hears from an NHRA insider that John Covarrubias, VP for Sales and Business Development, has departed the Glendora offices to find other career challenges. According to the insider, Gary Darcy, VP of Marketing and Sales for NHRA, will assume the duties of Covarrubias who was with the NHRA just since September of 2004. [11-16-2005]

NEW LOCATION, EVENTS FOR CALIFORNIA TRACK

As reported here since the mid-September Division 7 Points event, Fontana’s California Dragway will move to the Northern side of California Speedway. Thanks to a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the Auto Club of Southern California, construction on the relocation of the Dragway will begin in December and the 2006 season will officially begin in May of 2006 under the direction of Track Manager Dave Danish.

The announcement came at a Speedway news conference as part of a plan to develop a new NASCAR-oriented midway in the area where the current dragstrip is located. The new development will include a town center, a full service retail store, a concert stage and a full service outdoor café with cuisine by world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck. The media event also included four-time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon showing off the new speedway logo and colors to the media and Speedway Club members.

The AAA involvement was the third in the past two months including the naming rights to Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Pomona Raceway, sponsorship of the NHRA Safety Safari and now California Dragway under a five-year agreement. Speedway President Gillian Zucker said, “Auto Club of Southern California has made a huge commitment in recent months to growing drag racing throughout the nation and more locally in Southern California.”

In addition to Wolfgang Puck and Jeff Gordon for NASCAR, NHRA President Tom Compton proclaimed, “To maintain and preserve the right to race is very important to NHRA and we look forward to expanding our partnership to work to grow the drag strip and the possibilities of future events.”

ADVERTISEMENT

They’ll add a new NHRA SPORTSnationals to the Dragway schedule for Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2006 and hold a Division 7 event there on June 23-25 in addition to a weekly schedule on non-NASCAR weekends.

AAA Senior Vice President of Marketing Mike Johnson said, “Expanding our relationship with the Speedway to include the Auto Club Dragway fits very well within AAA’s national sponsorship of the NHRA Street Legal Program that encourages enthusiasts of all ages to always race responsibly on organized drag strips and not on our streets.”

With all the involvement of the Automobile Club of Southern California in drag racing, the Agent would have hoped drag racing’s Jeff Gordon (John Force) could have made the short trek to Fontana for this important media event wearing his Castrol/AAA colors. Where was our new Rookie of the Year, AAA-sponsored driver Robert Hight? All three of Force’s daughters have raced at the current California Dragway facility and the support of NHRA POWERade racers is essential to the growth of our sport on the local level. To really have California Dragway evolve into a destination for SoCal drag fans, a solid promotional and advertising program needs to be implemented to reveal one of our best-kept secrets. (James Drew photo) [11-15-2005]

BRUCE SARVER REMEMBERED

Funeral services for Bruce Sarver will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at Olive Drive Church, 5500 Olive Dr., Bakersfield, CA 93308. Flowers or remembrances should be sent directly to the church. Sarver, 43, committed suicide on Nov. 10.

DRO statistician Jim Hawkins put together a brief look at Sarver's racing career. Sarver started racing at the professional level in NHRA in 1996. From 1996-1999 he raced Top Fuel, racing 20 different opponents. He especially had Eddie Hill's number, according to Hawkins. Sarver was 8-2 versus Eddie. His best stats were a 4.575 e.t. and a 317.46 mph. His TF record was 31-66 with two final round appearances.

In Funny car, Sarver faced 23 different drivers between 2000 and 2003. He bested Jerry Toliver 7-2 and Al Hofmann 5-0. Sarver was much more successful in FC with a 61-57 record, six No. 1's, and eight final round appearances, two of them being wins! His best stats were 4.768 and 320.39. Goodbye to another racer the fans all loved! [11-15-2005]