LEPPANEN NEW CIFCA PRES

Jamie Leppanen has replaced long-time president Jim Maher of the California Independent Funny Car Association. The group has released the schedule for their 21st year of racing: April 9 at Sacramento Raceway; May 14 at Southwestern Int'l Raceway (Tucson, AZ); June 18 at Top Gun Raceway (Fallon, NV); July 2 at Rocky Mountain Raceways (Salt Lake City, UT); July 23 at Sacramento Raceway; Aug. 20 at Southwestern Int'l Raceway; Sept. 3-4 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; and Sept. 16-17 at Sacramento Raceway.

Junior dragster standouts Leah and Lindsey Pruett will join the CIFCA this year, campaigning a Pontiac Firebird (shown). In addition, Will Martin, son of former NHRA Top Fuel driver John Martin, will be running a recreated version of his father's Jam-Air Special Funny Car. For more information go to www.cifcaracing.com. (Tim Marshall photo) [3-3-2005]

BILLES NAMED CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR FOR 2004

Al Billes, driver for Jim Oddy’s Summit Racing Equipment backed Pro Mod team, was named Canadian Pro Driver of the year by Canadian internet magazine Dragrace Canada after receiving 47 percent of the votes that were cast in online voting.

Billes (who is from Barrie, Ontario, Canada) finished second in Championship points in both the NHRA and IHRA Pro Mod circuits in 2004 before he joined Jim Oddy’s team for the 2005 season. The team will concentrate on winning the IHRA World Championship in 2005, but Billes will also compete in a five race series for the Canadian Pro Mod championships driving the ’53 ‘Vette he drove in 2004. [3-3-2005]

MORE SPECS FOR FUEL CARS FROM NHRA

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This just in from NHRA: the MSD 8971 Pro Mag Digital Retard Control and MSD 7570 Graphic Editor, both with the version 2 upgrade will be mandatory in all Top Fuel and Funny Car vehicles beginning with the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 17-20. No other units will be allowed on any Top Fuel or Funny Car vehicle.

Goodyear Tire Update: As was announced at the middle of the 2004 racing season, the only available and accepted Goodyear tire for NHRA competition in Top Fuel and Funny Car is the 1430 model number. [3-2-2005]

MORE BS FROM GEORGE HOWARD!

The Agent received this note from the folks at Huntsville Dragway regarding their recently announced Street Legal class. They have added a second class to their NO B.S. Street Legal category. The first class rules are as follows: All cars must be tagged and insured, have stock suspension, have all lights, and cruise 10 miles to prove street worthy; no wheelie bars and no trailers. They've added a second class now with these rules: Back-half cars only, big DOT approved tires, no wheelie bars, no trailered hot rods and a 10-mile cruise to prove street worthy. [3-2-2005]