PATTERSON PUTS HEMI WHERE HIS WEDGE WAS

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With his new car unfinished in time for the upcoming ADRL race in Hattiesburg, MS, Thomas Patterson has no other choice but to start the season with a new engine combination, new crew and the same old car. The most significant change to the “Headhunter” team is a supercharged Hemi that replaces the traditional wedge-head combination that has resided between the fenders of the Vanishing Point Race Cars 1941 Willys for years. Add in the tuning expertise of “Doctor” Bill Barrett and team owner and Thomas' father, Richard Patterson, thinks it is no surprise they are ahead of the learning curve for the new combination.

“There’s more horsepower in this engine than we can put to the ground,” Thomas admitted. “We’re going to try some things here and there this weekend in Hattiesburg. I’m fully confident we’ll have this thing flying by the time we get to Gainesville.”

The Patterson team still has a state-of-the-art Plymouth Superbird on the way from Vanishing Point Race Cars. And yes, it will have a Hemi. (Ron Lewis photo) [2-21-2005]

BARKLAGE IN FOR McGINNIS. . .FOR NOW

According to the Agent's sources Zach Barklage will be driving Marty McGinnis's Jeffers Pro Cars-built '36 Chevy until Barklage gets his new 2005 GTO from Jerry Bickel Race Cars. Evidently the hang up on completing the car is that the GTO body is still being fabricated, so look for Barklage to be between the pipes of the '36 for at least the first ADRL and AMS/TLR races of the 2005 season. (Jeff Burk photo) [2-21-2005]