KUMRE LEAVES FOOTHILL FLYER
TEAM
Jerry Kumre Jr. and the Foothill Flyer AA/FC Nostalgia
Top Fuel team have amicably parted ways. No word yet on
who will drive the dragster for 2006. Kumre is, as they
say, weighing his options. [12-05-2005]
LAHAIE UN-RETIRES? NOT
An online site recently posted a wild rumor that retired
tuner Dick LaHaie offered his services to former employer
Doug Herbert following Wayne Dupuy's tragic car accident
on Thanksgiving. The rumor had apparently been originally
posted in an ESPN chat room by an anonymous fan. A simple
call to Don Prudhomme's Vista, Calif. race shop informed
the Agent that it's nothing more than a rumor. We were
told that it is "absolutely not true" from the
Snake Pit. [12-05-2005]
WHO WOULD FABIO BE?
The Agent read that NASCAR has contracted with the publisher
of the Harlequin Romance book series to produce steamy
women's novels with auto racing themes. The first in the
new series will be "In the Groove" written by
Pamela Britton.
The Agent is beginning to see a future for himself after
he retires from DRO and is already thinking of book titles.
There is always the bumper sticker line "Drag Racers
Do It in Four Seconds" -- but what woman would want
to buy that book? Guess the Agent better keep thinking.
[12-05-2005]
TRICKLE-DOWN THEORY?
The Agent mentioned last week that ABC/ESPN were deep
in negotiations for the new NASCAR TV contract beginning
in 2007.
Under
the newly signed eight-year $4.48 billion television deal
NASCAR's 36-race Nextel Cup and Busch series schedule
will be divided among Fox, Speed-TV, Turner's TNT and
ABC/ESPN. The deals with all the networks will run through
the 2014 season. Reportedly ABC/ESPN will pay about $270
million a year to split-up the final 17 races of each
season on the schedule between ESPN and ABC. All Busch
Series races will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN or ESPN 2.
The Agent spoke with Jerry Archambeault, Vice-President/Communications
for the NHRA upon his return from England with Tom Compton
and John Force. Archambeault noted, "I think NASCAR
coming to ESPN is good for the sport, we can only benefit
from the addition of NASCAR. With the increase of motorsports
coverage on ESPN it will compliment our NHRA POWERade
TV show." [12-05-2005]
